Chapter 154

"Dong Bu is too useless! Changancheng is so sturdy, yet he was defeated just like that!"

"Big Brother, what do we do now?"

"The Xiliang soldiers still have nearly one hundred thousand, and they are defending Changancheng. It will be very difficult for us to break in."

All the generals looked over, waiting to see how the Lord would decide.

Liu Bei looked toward Changancheng.

"The two thieves Li Jue and Guo Si have just taken control of Changancheng; if our army attacks, we might not be unable to take it."

"The Emperor is trapped in a predicament; I cannot stand idly by. The whole army, begin crossing the river!"

Taishi Ci and the others were filled with admiration. Lord Liu Xuande is truly loyal and righteous!

Changancheng,

Li Jue, Guo Si, and Fan Chou were gathered in the palace drinking heavily.

"Haha, Wang Yun, that old fool, said he wouldn't pardon us back then. Look at him now, he’s dead!"

"Lu Bu claims to be invincible, but look at him—he was sent scurrying away by us in just a few days!"

They all felt they were capable again!

The wealth and women in Dong Zhuo’s Mei Dock also belonged to them now; life seemed even more comfortable than when Dong Zhuo was around!

Li Ru had lost Dong Zhuo’s protection and could only serve as Li Jue’s strategist.

Jia Xu was closing his eyes and resting, not saying a word.

"Report~!"

"Generals, General Who Pacifies the West Liu Bei has brought one hundred thousand troops from Hedong and is currently crossing the river at Pujin Ferry!"

"Liu Bei?!"

"Why is he here?!"

Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, and the others were all shocked. These people had been defeated by Liu Bei many times before.

Especially last time, they had been shot very miserably by Liu Bei’s heavy crossbows.

Just hearing Liu Bei’s name gave them a stress reaction!

The few who had just been full of ambition were instantly panicked!

"What do we do?"

The three looked toward Li Ru!

Li Ru was good at poisonous schemes but not skilled at leading troops in battle.

With Dong Zhuo dead, he seemed to have lost his backbone as well.

"Everyone, the defenses of Changancheng are sturdy. Even if Liu Bei attacks with one hundred thousand troops, we can hold out."

The three felt slightly relieved. That’s right, Liu Bei isn't a god either. Both sides have similar troop numbers; can he really turn the world upside down?

"At worst, we’ll just wear him out!"

"Right, as long as we don't let him trick us out of the city, we won't be defeated!"

They were indeed cowardly, but their tone had to be fierce!

Jia Xu’s eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had realized something.

"Generals, listen to me..."

Li Jue and Guo Si both looked toward Jia Xu.

"Jia Wenhe, if you have any strategy, speak it out."

Jia Xu bowed.

"You all know that I was the one who persuaded Liu Bei to rely on Lord Dong back then."

After Jia Xu finished speaking, he couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable.

Li Jue asked curiously,

"Weren't you tricked miserably by Liu Bei? Why bring that up?"

Jia Xu sighed.

"That is why I know Liu Bei is a man of deep schemes and meticulous thought, and I have had contact with him."

Guo Si and the others nodded in succession. They had all been tricked by Liu Bei, so of course they knew!

They grew impatient. If Jia Xu was here to reminisce about past hardships, he should get out!

Seeing their unfriendly expressions, Jia Xu quickly got to the point.

"Think about it, why did Liu Bei come to attack Changancheng?"

"Was it because Wang Yun summoned him, saying the Emperor was in trouble?"

Everyone nodded; that was the logic.

Jia Xu continued,

"Now that Wang Yun has committed suicide and the imperial court is controlled by you, the Generals, and the Emperor is safe and sound, you are all definitely meritorious ministers."

Li Jue sighed with emotion.

"That’s right, we are great meritorious ministers! That scoundrel Lu Bu wanted to hijack the Emperor, but we drove him away!"

Fan Chou said in a muffled voice,

"I killed several chaotic soldiers who wanted to take advantage of the chaos to seize wealth! They seemed to be Bingzhou soldiers!"

As he threw this dirty water, the others rolled their eyes secretly. Hadn't this guy seized plenty himself?

Jia Xu looked around.

"Now that the imperial court is stable, what reason does Liu Bei have to attack Changancheng?"

Everyone’s eyes lit up. That was the logic.

"Liu Bei claims to be loyal and righteous, right? Attacking us is attacking the Emperor!"

"Right!"

"Generals, with the imperial court newly stabilized, you—no, the Emperor—can enfeoff officials to the various warlords to stabilize the situation."

"I am willing to go as an envoy to Liu Bei, carrying the Emperor’s edict to enfeoff him with an official position, and make him withdraw his troops!"

Li Jue nodded.

"Good, enfeoff Liu Bei with an official position and make him withdraw his troops!"

The few then became unhappy again. They had just become Generals, and Liu Bei hadn't done anything, had just become the General Who Pacifies the West, and now he was being promoted again?

Unhappy as they were, let them go fight Liu Bei? They absolutely didn't dare.

After discussing, Jia Xu took the edict and prepared to set out as an envoy.

Li Ru caught up with Jia Xu and sighed.

"Wenhe, it may be difficult for us to meet again after this. I wish you a journey of a thousand miles."

Jia Xu cupped his hands.

"Is there anything I can do for you, brother?"

Li Ru whispered a few words.

Jia Xu was stunned on the spot. "The Lady of Weiyang is not dead?"

Jia Xu thought for a moment.

"Alright then. Liu Bei is benevolent and virtuous; he will certainly give the Lady of Weiyang a way to survive."

The two cupped their hands and said goodbye. This parting was for a lifetime!

Fengyi Commandery,

Liu Bei’s army was marching toward Changancheng, majestic and kicking up dust!

"Report~!"

"Lord, there is a group of people ahead claiming to be envoys from the imperial court. The leader says he is an old acquaintance of the Lord, Jia Xu from Liangzhou, courtesy name Wenhe."

"Understood, bring them over!"

Liu Bei did not expect that the envoy from the imperial court would be Jia Xu.

"Zhang Wenyuan, notify everyone to rest on the spot and set up pots to cook."

"Understood!"

Zhang Fei laughed heartily.

"Big Brother, is that Jia Wenhe from Luoyang last time? Let me receive him."