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Lü Bu sat on his horse, tilting his head back and letting out a long, drawn-out "O yooo" cry. He instantly felt the pent-up frustration in his chest and heart ease considerably, and a slight smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
Staying in Luoyang these past days had been stifling to the point of death!
He had matters on his mind but could not speak of them.
He couldn't even find someone to drink with, forced to drink alone at home in frustration.
Now, although he had quite a few generals under him, none were as close as before.
Zhang Liao, due to various messy affairs in Hongnong recently, had been stationed there with troops and hadn't returned to Luoyang. And that kid Gao Shun was always so rigid. Invited for drinks, he would decline seven or eight times out of ten due to "business," and the remaining one or two times, they'd drink in silence. It was truly somewhat frustrating…
Wei Xu, though somewhat related to him by marriage, now addressed him every time with "Marquis of Wen," as formal and stiff as a replica of Gao Shun, equally boring.
Cheng Lian was a brave warrior he had recently promoted from the ranks, with exceptional skill. But to drink casually alone with him… well, they weren't that close yet…
As for Song Xian and Hou Cheng, they were talented officers recommended by Minister of Works Wang Yun. Both were from Taiyuan, their skills quite good, capable of leading troops. But being newcomers, like Cheng Lian, it was hard to speak of any deep closeness.
But now, he was finally out of Luoyang City. Although not leading a separate army, his state of mind was somewhat more relaxed. Though Luoyang was prosperous, it always felt like a cage, where even standing upright seemed somewhat difficult.
Add to that the woman who had somehow secretly crept into his heart, whom he simply could not forget—her petite figure, gentle voice, the tenderness of her bowed head… Why did heaven let me meet you, only to see you in another's embrace…
Alas!
Lü Bu couldn't help but let out another long sigh.
Thinking of this, Lü Bu began to feel irritable again. He brandished his Sky Piercer halberd, patted the Red Hare beneath him, and said, "I say, old fellow, shall we run for a bit?"
The Red Hare seemed to understand what Lü Bu was saying. It twitched its ears a few times, stretched its neck, and snorted loudly.
Lü Bu laughed heartily, "Hahaha! Good! Let's run a stretch! Attendant, order the entire army to increase speed!" With that, regardless of whether the troops behind could keep up with the Red Hare's speed, he spurred his horse into a gallop.
The Red Hare was clearly extremely excited, picking up speed rapidly. In the blink of an eye, it went from the middle of the column to the very front. When it overtook the leading horses at the head, it even stretched its neck and neighed triumphantly…
The vanguard consisted of Lü Bu's old Bingzhou veterans. Seeing the Red Hare's arrogant display, they also roared with laughter and began to gallop wildly after Lü Bu. Instantly, dust filled the air, the raised sandstorm like a high wall crashing towards the supply troops behind.
Li Su, bringing up the rear with the supply train, stamped his feet in frustration upon seeing this. He had just opened his mouth, wanting to stop this pointless action, when the oncoming dust filled his mouth. By the time the wind and sand subsided, the old Bingzhou veterans of the vanguard had long since dwindled to mere black dots disappearing ahead…
"Damn it all!" Li Su spat out a mouthful of sand and cursed. That idiot kept pulling this stunt along the journey, simply making Li Su unable to en…
Unable to endure it, yet he had to endure further.
In terms of rank, Lü Bu, having risen later, was higher than Li Su. In terms of martial prowess, he surpassed Li Su by a dozen streets. In terms of learning, eloquence, of course Li Su was superior. But the problem was Lü Bu never competed with anyone in learning or eloquence…
Alas!
Li Su could only sigh long and order the rear infantry to quicken their pace. However, he knew full well that that scoundrel Lü Bu would likely gallop ahead to roughly the distance where they should make camp, then stop, letting the horses rest while waiting for Li Su to catch up and set up camp.
It was just hard on himself. Every day was like this: dismantle the camp in the morning, eat dust all day trailing behind these beasts, then hurry along, finally catching up to the leisurely, idly wandering Lü Bu and his vanguard, only to have to set up camp again…
Back then, he had once reaped looks of admiration from that scoundrel. But now…
Alas!
Li Su couldn't help but heave a long sigh.
×××××××××××××
Han Hao, stationed at Mengjin, was in low spirits.
When Han Hao first formed his troop, it was only because after the Yellow Turbans, many scattered bandits caused trouble in the countryside. To protect his homeland, he gathered a group to defend the towns and counties.
But precisely because of this, he was recruited by Wang Kuang, the Administrator of Henei, to serve as an Attendant.
He had originally thought Administrator Wang appreciated his talent and trusted him, hence recruiting him for the commandery post. Little did he expect that wasn't the case at all…
The General of Chariots and Cavalry, Yuan, was stationed in Ye City, ordering Wang Kuang to dispatch troops to Mengjin, pointing swords towards Luoyang. So he and Wang Kuang led troops here, camping north of Mengjin, facing Dong Zhuo's camp directly across the great river.
Yesterday, Du Yang, the former Magistrate of Heyin, arrived under Dong Zhuo's orders. As soon as they met, he wept bitterly. Uncle Du Yang's entire family, young and old, had fallen into Dong Zhuo's hands. Having no choice, he had followed Dong Zhuo's command to come as an envoy to persuade surrender.
On one side, familial ties; on the other, loyalty and righteousness. In the end, Han Hao chose to refuse Dong Zhuo and sent Du Yang away. But little did he expect that no sooner had he tearfully seen him off than he was summoned to Wang Kuang's tent.
"Is your maternal uncle the Magistrate of Heyin?" Wang Kuang asked, a smile on his face but a cold glint in his eyes.
Han Hao saluted with cupped hands, "He is."
"Oh? What did he come for?" Wang Kuang pressed tightly.
"To persuade me to surrender." Han Hao had no intention of hiding it.
Wang Kuang nodded, smiling slightly, his hand resting on the table as he stared at Han Hao. "Oh? And your intention?"
"I am an official of the Han. How could I surrender to rebels?" Han Hao turned slightly and saluted in the direction of Luoyang City.
"Oh? Since that's the case, where is the Magistrate of Heyin now?" Wang Kuang lowered his eyelids.
Han Hao's heart skipped a beat. "I sent him back after reprimanding him."
"Oh? Why not behead him?" Wang Kuang suddenly looked up, fixing his eyes intently on Han Hao, as if trying to dig out Han Hao's inner thoughts from his expression.
Make me behead my own maternal uncle? This…
Han Hao blurted out, "When two armies face off, envoys are not to be killed."
Wang Kuang remained silent for a long while before saying, "Good. The troops are stationed here, consuming considerable supplies. I have a letter here. I trouble you, Yuansi, to return to Huai County and deliver it to the Commandery Deputy, to raise some military provisions and bring them here. Your troops can be temporarily commanded by Commandant Chen." As he spoke, he took out a letter from the table and had a guard hand it to Han Hao.
"As you command…"
After leaving Wang Kuang's tent, Han Hao looked up at the sky. White clouds still drifted, but his heart suddenly stirred, remembering the former Capital Commander Hu Muban…
Alas!
Han Hao couldn't help but heave a long sigh.
Had this world already changed to one of only blood and iron, with no room for familial affection?
Had this world already changed to one where one's own worth could only be proven with rolling heads?
Suddenly, a fast horse galloped in, clearly bearing urgent military news. Upon reaching the camp gate, the rider could barely hold on, tumbling off his horse. Several soldiers hurried forward to support him, gave him a few sips of water, then practically carried him into Wang Kuang's tent…
Han Hao instinctively wanted to return to Wang Kuang's tent but stopped in his tracks. Staring at the letter in his hand, he remained silent for a long time. In the end, he turned, gathered his twenty-some personal guards, and left the Mengjin camp, heading for Huai County.
*****
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