Chapter 25: Lü Bu Among Men

  Lü Bu returned to Tiger Trap Pass, this time he beheaded over a thousand people, it was considered a great victory, naturally there were sacrifices of pigs and sheep, rewarding the three armies without mention.

  At night, Lü Bu sat in the big tent, set up a banquet, and Zhang Liao and Gao Shun accompanied him on both sides. After drinking several cups, Lü Bu laughed loudly: "The rebels of Guandong are really not worth mentioning, tomorrow I will lead the army to fight again, and I must kill these coalition forces until their souls fly away."

  Zhang Liao shook his head and frowned: "Fengxian, this is not right!"

  "What's the meaning of this?" Lü Bu asked in doubt.

  Zhang Liao couldn't help but smile wryly in his heart. When it came to martial arts, Lü Bu was unmatched in the world, but when it came to schemes and plots, Lü Bu wasn't quite up to par. This wasn't because Lü Bu's thinking wasn't meticulous or that he was born foolish - someone who could practice martial arts to Lü Bu's level must be exceptionally clever.

  Lü Bu simply overestimated his own bravery and looked down on schemes and intrigues. There are many such characters, for example Zhang Fei is a typical example.

  He is not incapable of using strategy, but rather unwilling to use it. However, when really forced to a certain extent, Zhang Fei will also play tricks. The great general Yan Yan of Shu and Zhang He under Cao Cao did not believe this point, so they were deceived by Zhang Fei.

  Lü Bu and Zhang Fei are comparable, but Lü Bu surpasses him in every way!

  "Could it be that Gong Sun has forgotten the purpose of our trip?" Gao Shun said coldly.

  "Oh!" Lü Bu was choked by Gao Shun and smiled wryly: "How could I have forgotten... It's just that... it's just..."

  "There's nothing else to say, tomorrow you must... lose!" Gao Shun said coldly.

  As for Gao Shun's attitude, Lü Bu had long been used to it. The three of them had known each other for over a decade, and Gao Shun rarely showed his smile.

  Lü Bu sighed and said: "Yi Qian (Gao Shun's style name), I understand, you don't need to remind me again and again."

  Gao Shun grunted, picked up the clear water in front of him, and slowly said: "Feng Xian, you and Wen Yuan have been a bit too reckless this time. The allied army has tens of thousands of troops, and you're charging into battle with just a hundred men. If something goes wrong..."

  Lü Bu burst out laughing: "You're worrying too much, the Allied Forces of the East are just a motley crew. They're no match for my Bianzhou Iron Cavalry."

  Zhang Liao sighed and said, "This is exactly what I and Yi Qie are worried about. The various lords of Guanzhong hastily assembled their armies, with low combat effectiveness. Moreover, the various lords and governors have different intentions, each with their own thoughts, all hoping that others will make an effort. I'm afraid that if you win again tomorrow, these people may disperse in a hurry!"

  "Impossible! I have killed dozens of their generals, and long since incurred the deep hatred of these lords and old traitors. Will they flee?" Lü Bu muttered to himself.

  "It's not that I'm afraid of ten thousand, but rather the one in ten thousand. Tomorrow, you will definitely flee in defeat. Only then can we use the Eastern Coalition Army to force the old thief into a corner and obtain military power for ourselves." Gaoshun finished speaking, didn't wait for Lv Bu's response, stood up and hastily exited.

  Seeing Zhang Liao's sarcastic expression, Lü Bu sighed: "I hope tomorrow I won't lose too much face."

  The next day, Yuan Shao led his troops out to battle. Due to the heavy losses suffered from Lü Bu's cavalry charge yesterday, Yuan Shao was still shaken and thus deployed a square formation today.

  This is an extremely short defensive formation, with long spears standing outside, and archers behind the long spearmen, densely packed. If Lü Bu wants to lead his army to charge again today, he will either be skewered by the long spears or shot into a sieve by the arrows. On both sides of the large formation are the allied forces' only cavalry, which the various lords have managed to scrape together, totaling over 10,000 horsemen.

  But it doesn't matter, when attacking a city, cavalry is still not as effective as infantry, and the use of these cavalry is to deliver the final blow.

  What made Yuan Shao overjoyed was that Lü Bu was still challenging in front of the formation today. It is known that the defending side will not easily take the initiative to attack. Lü Bu's battle yesterday had already suppressed the morale of the allied army, and under the circumstances of one side weakening and the other growing stronger, closing the city gate tightly was the right thing to do.

  Cao Cao also found Lü Bu's actions somewhat strange, but with the arrow already on the bowstring, it had to be shot. Yesterday's plan was already set in motion; if Li Ru's persuasion failed, then Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan would have to engage Lü Bu in a pincer movement.

  Looking at Lü Bu holding the Guandao, standing alone on horseback in front of the formation, Li Chong couldn't help but secretly admire Lü Bu's bravery. He exchanged greetings with Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, then rode his horse towards Lü Bu.

  Yesterday's heavy snow has stopped, the accumulated snow in front of Tiger Trap Pass is very deep, submerging the war horses' legs, and their hooves make a "squeaking" sound when stepping on the snow.

  Just like taking a stroll in the silver-wrapped heaven and earth, Li Chong arrived in front of Lü Bu with a carefree expression. But Li Chong's heart was not as relaxed as his appearance; he wasn't afraid that Lü Bu would kill him - in ancient times, it was rare for an envoy to be killed - but rather, Lü Bu's gaze was like the edge of a knife, stimulating his nerves.

  He deliberately put on a leisurely appearance, just so that Lü Bu wouldn't underestimate him. Thanks to the director of later generations, Li Zhong's performance was very successful.

  Two people were a horse's distance apart, Li Chong stopped in his tracks and carefully looked at this number one fierce general of the Three Kingdoms. Lü Bu's face was like a sharp knife carved out, with clear-cut features, his whole body emitting a wild aura, a pair of sharp eyes like wolves on the grasslands, emitting an icy aura.

  "Yanmen Li Chong and Li Zihui have met with Duke Wen!" said Li Chong, clasping his fists.

  "Oh..." Lü Bu felt that Li Chong did not have any hostility towards him, and his icy expression slightly eased up. He asked in a low voice: "What are you here for? Are you trying to persuade me, Lü Bu, to surrender?"

  Li Chongzhao smiled and said: "Is it or isn't it."

  "What's the meaning of this?" Lü Bu asked in doubt.

  Li pointed to the middle army and smiled: "For them, I am a general who has come to persuade surrender, but for myself, I just want to take a look at Lu Bu, the bravest warrior in the world."

  "Haha......" Lü Bu laughed loudly and asked with great interest: "Lü Fengxian, the bravest warrior in the world... what's so funny?"

  Li Zhong sighed softly and said slowly: "The unparalleled martial arts, isn't it just a glance, less than a glance!"

  "Hmm..." Lü Bu let out a cold hum, his body bursting with intense killing intent, staring tightly at Li Chong, and said in a deep voice: "You think you can take advantage of me? Can't the Guandao in my hand even behead a mere guest?"

  Li Chong bitterly smiled and said: "How dare I play tricks on Duke Wen? Everything I just said is the truth."

  Before Lü Bu could get angry, Li Ru said in a deep voice: "In this world, whether it's literature, painting, poetry, music or architecture, everything can be passed down and appreciated by later generations. However, the ultimate martial arts skills can only be heard of, but never seen again. Does Lord Wen think he is immortal?"

  Lü Bu slowly opened his mouth, clearly shocked by Li's words. After a long time, he smiled and said: "That's right, the ultimate martial art is to see one eye, less one eye, Lü Fengxian will eventually die."

  Li Zhongxin smiled contentedly and said: "Having seen Duke Wen is enough, Li Zhong bids farewell."

  Lü Bu smiled and said, "I won't see you off."

  Li Chong suddenly shouted loudly, "Lü Fengxian, that Dong thief has disrupted the imperial court, cruel and inhumane. Don't you still abandon darkness for light and surrender to the righteous army..."

  Lü Bu was taken aback for a moment, then understood that Li Shou was putting on an act. He let out a hearty laugh and shouted loudly: "The rebel from Guandong has risen in arms against the Emperor, ignoring the imperial edict... The Grand Tutor is wise and benevolent..."