Chapter 234

"General Fan Chou sent soldiers to report."

"Announce them!"

"Lord, Liu Bei led troops to forcibly cross the Yellow River and set up camp on the west side of Pujin Ferry, waiting for our army!"

"West side?! Forcibly cross the Yellow River?"

Dong Zhuo almost thought he had misheard. Thinking from the other side's perspective,

if he were Liu Bei, he should be shivering with fear right now, or at best, defending against the enemy at Pujin Ferry.

Forcibly crossing the Yellow River and setting up camp on the west side? He's crazy!

"How many troops did Liu Bei bring this time? Does he not want the other four sides anymore?"

"Lord, Liu Bei has thirty thousand troops, twelve thousand cavalry, and the rest are infantry!"

Dong Zhuo's expression was somewhat blank, clearly unbelievable, and then he laughed.

"The Eared Thief is courting death; with ten thousand cavalry and a total force of thirty thousand, he dares to fight a decisive battle with me!"

"Listen to my order; this time I will wipe out the Eared Thief at Pujin Ferry!"

Li Ru wanted to speak but stopped; he was not as optimistic as Dong Zhuo, but he knew that Dong Zhuo would not listen to any other views right now.

Pujin Ferry, Liu Bei's camp,

"Are you Du Ji?"

Liu Bei looked at the young man before him.

He hadn't expected that after setting up camp, before Dong Zhuo's great army arrived, he would wait for a top-tier talent.

Du Ji, from Jingzhao, was recommended to Cao Cao by Xun Yu in original history and served as the Administrator of Hedong.

In that era of war, he actually led the commoners of Hedong Commandery to a moderately prosperous life!

Du Ji had outstanding political achievements in Hedong, often the best in the world. The grain and fodder for Cao Cao's expedition to Xiliang were entirely supplied by Hedong Commandery, with much left over.

He repaired water conservancy, established schools, encouraged land reclamation, and even supported the commoners in raising chickens and ducks, eventually leading the commoners of Hedong to be the first to reach a moderately prosperous level.

How could he let such talent go!

Du Ji bowed deeply. "Lord Xuande, your benevolence and righteousness are known throughout the world, and your might shakes the Nine Provinces; I have admired you for a long time."

Liu Bei walked over and helped Du Ji up.

"Bohou is a great talent; how about I appoint you as the Hedong Commandery Assistant?"

Du Ji was moved inside; he hadn't expected that just after defecting, he would be entrusted by Liu Bei with the position of Commandery Assistant, which is only second to the Commandery Administrator.

Currently, the Hedong Commandery Administrator is Guan Yu's father-in-law, the head of the Pei family.

"Subordinate will definitely do my best to help the Lord govern Hedong well."

Liu Bei nodded and had people escort Du Ji and his family across the river to go directly to Anyi to take office.

Guo Jia cupped his hands.

"Lord, with the great battle imminent, we have gained another good talent; this is a sign of great victory, showing that many people are optimistic about our army."

Liu Bei laughed.

"Good, let the soldiers rest well and wait for the great battle with Dong Zhuo!"

On the flat area west of Pujin Ferry,

Liu Bei's thirty thousand troops were arrayed against Dong Zhuo's one hundred thousand troops five hundred paces away.

Both sides were observing each other.

Dong Zhuo pointed at Liu Bei's side.

"With only thirty thousand people, he dares to fight a decisive battle with our army; Liu Bei must have lost his mind!"

The soldiers beside him burst into laughter.

Li Ru cupped his hands.

"Lord, Liu Bei is not a reckless person; daring to fight a decisive battle with our army this time, he must have something to rely on."

Niu Fu shook his head on the side.

"Li Ru, you are too cautious. Behind Liu Bei is the Yellow River, and the surroundings are flat; there are no ambushes and no reinforcements. Liu Bei is a lone army!"

Li Jue also said,

"Ridiculous, this Liu Bei still wants to learn from the Overlord of Western Chu and break the cauldrons and sink the boats. Lord, I am willing to be the vanguard and crush Liu Bei!"

Meaning Liu Bei was just like that, wanting to copy Xiang Yu's homework...

Dong Zhuo also laughed heartily.

"Good, today I will wash away the shame! Kill the Eared Thief!"

Li Ru, however, had his brows furrowed tightly. Although Liu Bei only had thirty thousand people on the opposite side,

the entire army was silent and as immovable as a mountain; the momentum of the mountain seemed unshakable—it was a strong army!

Lu Bu's eyesight was good, and he was also secretly shocked. Liu Bei's troops were already this strong? Fortunately, our army's number was three times his! ===== CHAPTER 235 =====