Chapter 53

The situation in Luoyang became increasingly chaotic.

Dong Zhuo and Ding Ding Yuan's armies clashed outside the city, with a battle every day.

Although Ding Ding Yuan's troops were not numerous, his generals were not bad.

Lu Bu was brave and skilled in battle; he had never lost a duel.

The young general Zhang Zhang Liao was also quite good!

The Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry were also exceptionally elite!

Bahe Bahe Bali wanted to regain his face, but his two A-San subordinates were stabbed off their horses by Lu Bu in just two moves!

He became instantly obedient, not daring to face Lu Bu at all!

Only then did he realize the huge gap between himself and the top-tier generals of the late Han Dynasty!

Because of the deaths of the two A-San contestants, the national fortune of the A-San country instantly dropped by one-third, natural disasters occurred frequently, and earthquakes, tsunamis, and locust plagues emerged one after another!

The physical constitution of the A-San citizens also declined significantly, and the entire country was on the verge of collapse.

Only then did the people of the Xia country realize how good Liu Bei was.

"Wuwu, it's a good thing we have Liu Liu Daer; otherwise, what would we do?"

"Yeah, look at those A-San; they are so miserable now."

"Bahe Bahe Bali used to act like he was the best in the world, but now he's cowardly beyond measure."

"Go Liu Bei!"

At Lu Zhi's residence,

"Liu Xuande, Dong Zhuo impeached me at court. Now that I have lost my official position, I do not want to stay in this Luoyang."

Lu Zhi was exhausted; during the court meetings these past few days, he was the only one arguing with Dong Zhuo.

Now that he had been dismissed, he suddenly had the idea of returning to his roots.

"Liu Xuande, I plan to return to Zhuoxian."

Liu Bei sighed.

"Teacher is loyal, but it is a pity that this Dong Zhuo is too powerful and has already controlled most of the court ministers."

"Liu Xuande, find a way to return to Taiyuan Commandery; I fear this Luoyang can no longer hold us."

Liu Bei, however, shook his head and whispered something to Lu Zhi!

Lu Zhi was greatly shocked.

"Liu Xuande, you are prepared to sacrifice yourself?! You must not!"

Liu Bei said firmly,

"Teacher, this is all what you taught me: sacrifice the small family for the sake of the greater good; it must be done!"

Lu Zhi burst into tears.

"Liu Xuande, Teacher is not as good as you!"

The livestream comments increased significantly.

"Damn, what did Liu Bei and Lu Zhi say again?"

"The big-eared thief is earning Lu Zhi's tears again? This guy is definitely up to no good!"

"Whispering again, what is there that I, a VIP, cannot hear!"

That evening, Liu Bei sent men to escort Lu Zhi's family back to Zhuoxian.

Lu Zhi was also smart; knowing that Dong Zhuo saw him as a thorn in his side, he took a side path across the Yellow River, avoiding Dong Zhuo's pursuit.

At Cai Yong's residence,

Zhao Yun said with concern,

"My Lord, Dong Zhuo now controls most of the military power in Luoyang, and your staying in Luoyang is also fraught with danger. It would be better to return to Taiyuan as soon as possible."

Liu Bei did not have this intention yet.

"Zhao Zilong, no rush. Dong Zhuo is lawless; someone must deal with him."

Zhao Yun was stunned, then moved beyond measure.

"My Lord is truly loyal. You will be in great danger like this; it would be better to return to Taiyuan and plan long-term."

Zhang Fei said carelessly,

"Zhao Zilong, what are you afraid of? That scoundrel Dong Zhuo, I can poke a few of him to death with one spear. These past few days, the old brute has been beaten by Ding Ding Yuan until he's wailing; he's not powerful at all!"

Zhao Yun was speechless.

"Zhang Yide, although Ding Ding Yuan has won a few battles, the gap in military strength between the two sides is huge. Moreover, Dong Zhuo's subordinates Li Jue and Guo Si will soon arrive in Luoyang. By then, Ding Ding Yuan will be in trouble."

Liu Bei did not speak; he knew that the one Ding Ding Yuan should be most careful of was his own wolf cub, his foster son Lu Bu!

"The square-sky halberd is specialized in stabbing foster fathers; it seems Ding Ding Yuan doesn't quite understand this principle."

Xiliang Camp,

"Bastards, trash!"

Dong Zhuo was exceptionally furious.

His old rival Lu Zhi had run away, and he had sent men to intercept him, only to intercept nothing!

During the day, Lu Bu had killed a little kid with every strike of his halberd, killing several of Dong Zhuo's commandants and forcing him to flee back to camp in a sorry state!

"This Lu Fengxian is too strong!"

"If I could obtain Lu Bu, why worry about not conquering the world!"

Dong Zhuo was also jealous of someone else's fierce general!

Li Su saw an opportunity and cupped his hands.

"My Lord, I am a fellow townsman of Lu Bu from Jiuyuan. I know this man is brave but lacks strategy and forgets righteousness for profit. I am willing to use my three-inch tongue to persuade Lu Bu to surrender!"

Dong Zhuo's eyes lit up; Lu Bu surrendering—this could really happen!

"How do you plan to persuade him to surrender?"

Dong Zhuo struggled with the decision.

In the end, Li Su took Dong Zhuo's beloved horse, Red Hare, and a bag of jewelry and went to Lu Bu's place for a gathering.

Li Su brought the Red Hare horse and went to Lu Bu's camp for a gathering.

With a string of rhetoric, he painted Dong Zhuo as a great hero and dizzied Lu Bu.

"Virtuous brother, I, Li Su, have neither talent nor courage, yet I have become a Colonel under Lord Dong. You have both courage and strategy, yet Ding Ding Yuan only lets you be a Registrar; this is too insulting!"

Lu Bu was also unhappy; at the alumni gathering, Li Su, whom he used to look down upon, had actually become a Colonel!

To say he wasn't bitter inside would be a lie!

He was completely moved, and besides, Dong Zhuo had also sent him the Red Hare horse and a bag of jewelry.

Li Su added,

"That Liu Bei is a weaver of mats and a seller of sandals. Although he can fight a little, if it weren't for his teacher Lu Zhi, how could he have been enfeoffed as a Marquis and become the Prefect of Taiyuan Commandery?"

Lu Bu sighed deeply.

"Indeed, I lack a background; how difficult the road ahead is."

Li Su quickly offered Lu Bu a pillow.

"Virtuous brother, Lord Dong appreciates you very much. As long as you do this..."

The livestream comments increased significantly.

"Damn, I even believed what Li Su said."

"If ancient lobbyists went into pyramid schemes, they would probably make a fortune!"

"Reasoning with logic, moving with emotion, and tempting with profit—this Li Su used them all!"

"Is Li Su sick? Why bring our Liu Liu Daer into this!"

"Dong Zhuo obtained this fierce general Lu Bu and took off instantly!"