“General Cao Cao greets the two generals!”
Naturally, Cao Cao recognized both men.
Lowering his posture, he cupped his fists respectfully and said with complete sincerity, “I am merely Cao Cao, a defeated general. What virtue or ability do I possess to deserve both of you coming here to receive me in person? It should have been I who paid my respects to you.”
“My being able to come to Chang’an is entirely thanks to the kindness of you two generals. Therefore, I have prepared two valuable gifts for you—gifts that may help you pacify the turmoil in the Central Plains.”
“Oh?”
Guo Si and Li Jue exchanged glances, suspicion flashing in their eyes.
Guo Si spoke first.
“You certainly have a silver tongue, Cao Mengde. If you were truly capable of pacifying the Central Plains, why would you have come all the way to Chang’an?”
“Exactly.”
Li Jue also scrutinized Cao Cao.
The two had originally intended to intimidate him upon arrival.
Instead, Cao Cao’s reaction had completely exceeded their expectations.
“Please don’t be impatient, gentlemen.”
Cao Cao looked at them and asked, “Have either of you heard of the traction trebuchets used by the Yellow Turbans in Yan Province?”
“Are you saying you can build such a weapon?”
Guo Si swallowed involuntarily, his expression turning serious.
Li Jue likewise fixed his gaze on Cao Cao.
Naturally, both men had heard of the Yellow Turbans’ siege engines.
The information had come through Zhao Qi’s letters, and they had been greatly astonished at the time.
Later, however, they had gradually put the matter out of mind.
Now that Cao Cao mentioned it again, they immediately recalled that formidable weapon.
“That’s right.”
Cao Cao answered calmly.
“I dare not claim I can reproduce it perfectly, but the trebuchets I build should possess roughly ninety percent of its power.”
He had personally observed the trebuchets mounted atop city walls.
How could he not have studied such a remarkable siege engine?
Its operating principles were quite similar to those of the Yellow Turbans’ traction trebuchet and were by no means an intricate mechanical secret.
“Hahaha!”
Li Jue’s eyes lit up.
“Mengde, you’ve put real thought into this. Come back to my residence with us—we’ll hold a banquet in your honor.”
It was obvious that he was tempted.
For the Liangzhou Army, such a siege weapon would be like adding wings to a tiger.
“Hahaha! General Li speaks well.”
Guo Si laughed heartily.
“We should certainly welcome Mengde properly.”
“Hahaha, I’m deeply honored by the esteem of you two generals…”
Cao Cao laughed along as though he had taken no offense whatsoever at being stopped on the road.
Thus, Guo Si and Li Jue escorted Cao Cao directly to their residence— without even requiring him to first pay his respects to the Emperor.
As for the completely ignored Zhao Qi, he headed alone for Weiyang Palace.
……………..
Meanwhile, Pingyu, Runan Commandery, Yu Province
Inside the prefectural hall—
“Excellent work, worthy brother Yuheng!”
Seated at the head of the hall, Yuan Shu looked at the letter in his hand, his face full of admiration.
He had never expected that the so-called Lü Bu would be dealt with by Zhang Jing before even reaching Puyang, making it unnecessary for Ji Ling to intervene at all.
What did that prove?
It proved Lü Bu was weak!
At least, that was how Yuan Shu saw it.
“My lord.”
Yan Xiang spoke gravely.
“Zhang Yuheng is by no means an ordinary man. We must never underestimate him, or the consequences could be disastrous.”
One or two victories might be dismissed as luck.
But to remain undefeated— calling that luck would be going far too far.
More importantly, Zhang Jing had never shown the slightest hostility toward Yuan Shu.
Instead, he had somehow managed to leave Yuan Shu thoroughly impressed.
Even Yan Xiang himself couldn’t understand why.
“You’re worrying too much, Yan Xiang.”
After taking a sip of honey water, Yuan Shu waved dismissively.
“I know exactly how capable Brother Yuheng is.”
“But there’s no need for you all to regard him as an enemy. Rather than wasting your thoughts on him, you’d do better to focus on Yang Province.”
“As for Wang Lang, the Administrator of Kuaiji…”
“If he insists on being stubborn, then show him no mercy. We must secure Yang Province before the end of the year so that we can prepare next year’s campaign against Jing Province.”
At this point, Yuan Shu could truly be described as basking in success.
With Lü Bu no longer causing trouble in Yan Province, he could devote his full attention to his campaign in Yang Province.
“We obey!”
The assembled civil and military officials cupped their fists in unison.
………….
Changshan Commandery, Ji Province
Heishan Army Headquarters
“Zhang Yuheng has become unstoppable.”
“I can no longer compare to him.”
After hearing his subordinate’s report, Zhang Yan wore a deeply conflicted expression.
After all, Lü Bu had once beaten the Heishan Army into submission.
Yet after going to Yan Province, he was promptly captured by Zhang Jing and thrown into prison.
At that moment, Zhang Yan’s emotions were indescribably mixed.
It was the feeling of not wanting your brother to suffer— but also not wanting him to be driving a luxury car while you’re still struggling.
He had already accepted that his “brother” had upgraded to a nice ride.
But now he’d gone from a luxury SUV to a Bugatti.
That was simply too much.
Who could possibly take that in stride?
“Lord Chief.”
Wang Dang looked toward Zhang Yan.
“Do you think Yuan Shao will still campaign against us?”
“I don’t think so…”
After pondering for a moment, Zhang Yan replied somewhat uncertainly,
“Now that Lü Bu has been defeated by General Yuheng, I doubt Yuan Shao will dare make any rash moves. Still, we should send an envoy to Gongsun Zan.”
“As long as Gongsun Zan doesn’t join forces with Yuan Shao, we can rest easy.”
With Lü Bu out of the picture, Yuan Shao had completely lost his means of tying down Yan Province.
That also meant it would be far more difficult for him to commit a large army to an offensive into the Taihang Mountains.
“Wise as always, Chief!”
The others’ eyes lit up as they grasped the key point.
As for Gongsun Zan, unless he had lost his senses, there was no reason for him to cooperate with Yuan Shao.
They were fairly confident of that.
Besides, they had once been allies with Gongsun Zan.
…………..
Dong’e County, Dong Commandery, Yan Province
Inside the county office’s main hall,
Zhang Jing sat in the seat of honor while his civil and military officers occupied the seats below.
Standing in the center of the hall was a giant of a man—over nine feet tall, broad-shouldered and powerfully built, his hair hanging loose, his body bound tightly with ropes.
There was only one person who could receive such treatment.
Lü Bu.
“Zhang Yuheng!”
Lü Bu glared at Zhang Jing in exasperation.
“I’ve already said I’m willing to serve under you! What more do you want?”
…
Zhang Jing remained silent.
It was his first time meeting Lü Bu in person.
And, to be honest, he had quite the headache.
It wasn’t because Lü Bu refused to submit.
Quite the opposite.
After going hungry for less than two days, Lü Bu had been loudly proclaiming his willingness to surrender.
Even so, Zhang Jing refused to lower his guard.
What if it were only a feigned surrender?
What if the moment he got close, Lü Bu suddenly attacked and killed him?
After all, Lü Bu’s martial prowess was on an entirely different level from his own.
So Zhang Jing simply kept him imprisoned for several more days.
Looking at the man before him—with thick eyebrows, sharply sculpted features, and a face that seemed carved by a knife, radiating heroic vigor—
Zhang Jing couldn’t help but admire him.
This guy really is ridiculously handsome.
Being that handsome ought to be illegal.
“My lord.”
Xi Zhicai stepped forward respectfully.
“Lü Bu’s past conduct is proof enough that he is a petty man who values profit over loyalty and changes sides whenever it suits him. I ask that you think this through carefully.”
“I concur.”
“Please reconsider, my lord.”
Following Xi Zhicai’s words, Guan Hai and the other generals all voiced their agreement.
“Bullshit!”
Lü Bu immediately became anxious and hurriedly protested, “When have I ever been greedy for profit or fickle and disloyal?”
“I’ve merely wandered through life for half my years, lamenting only that I had never met a worthy lord.”
“General Yuheng is unmatched in benevolence and righteousness.”
“He is the enlightened lord Heaven has destined for me!”
— The end of the Chapter–
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