Chapter 37: Chapter Thirty-Seven: My Son Fengxian

Lu Bu's main camp has been besieged by Liu Bei's troops for several days; now the camp has run out of food and water. During this period, Gao Shun also considered leading the Assault Camp to break out of the encirclement, but whoever came up with the wicked idea of digging a moat and setting up antlers directly trapped them inside.

Now, as soon as anyone comes out of Lu's camp, Liu Bei's troops shoot arrows and hurl stones beyond the antlers, so not even a bird can fly out.

Actually, the arrows don't affect the Assault Camp's brave men that much, but the huge stones hurled by the catapults are truly deadly!

The three thousand people in the camp have been out of food for two days, and worse, the water source has now been blocked by Liu Bei's troops!

Gao Shun looked at some lazy soldiers lying on the ground and wanted to whip them, but thinking that these soldiers haven't eaten for two days, he now cannot demand more from them.

Meanwhile, the eight hundred Assault Camp soldiers continue to strictly follow Gao Shun's orders; they are among the finest troops of the Three Kingdoms, and even Gao Shun himself feels proud of them. But thinking that such excellent soldiers might be starved to death here fills Gao Shun with reluctance.

Gao Shun ordered Cao Xing, Hou Cheng, and Cheng Lian to be summoned, and the several of them consulted together on how to escape the present predicament.

Cheng Lian was a die-hard fan of Lu Bu; when Hou Cheng suggested surrendering to Liu Bei, Cheng Lian flipped the table, the two argued fiercely and drew swords at each other, and Gao Shun and Cao Xing stopped them.

Afterwards, the two parted on bad terms, seeming ready to lead their respective followers into a fight.

Gao Shun felt helpless; now caught between advancing and retreating, logically surrendering to Liu Bei would be the best choice, but the loyalty in his heart could not agree to do so.

Lu Bu fled into the mountains with Chen Gong, after which Chen Gong suggested that Lu Bu go and meet the remaining troops in the main camp; when they reached the vicinity of the camp, it was obvious they had just turned back.

Liu Bei had deployed a full thirty thousand Jing'an Army to encircle this place, and the Four Tiger Generals Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Xu took turns day and night leading patrols.

Lu Bu may be overconfident, but he is certainly no fool!

Although in intelligence Lu Bu and Dian Wei are like a pair of clueless brothers, his trait of seeking profit and avoiding harm has been fully displayed in Lu Bu!

Liu Bei has now consolidated all his forces in the city; Zhang Liao was revived by the physician Liu Bei summoned, and given Zhang Liao's serious wounds, Liu Bei further used a Life Healing Technique to treat Zhang Liao.

Liu Bei has already used the Life Healing Technique twice; the first time was to cure Jia Xu's son of a malignant illness, and when Jia Xu learned of this method he was moved to tears, his loyalty rising straight to 100; the second time was for Liu Bei to treat Zhang Liao's internal injuries this time.

Jia Xu also deeply understood Liu Bei's intentions, so he used the fact that they both had once served under Dong Zhuo to go and visit Zhang Liao.

"Wen Yuan, how is your health now?"

Zhang Liao had just been able to get off his sickbed; hearing Jia Xu's words, Zhang Liao gave a bitter smile and said.

"I still need to thank Lord Liu for his rescue; thinking that we still plotted to take Lord Liu's Xuzhou... sigh..."

Jia Xu stroked his beard and laughed.

"It seems Wen Yuan's body has already recovered considerably; no doubt, my lord long ago received a Dao Technique from an immortal that costs a portion of one's lifespan, able to make dead flesh grow and heal severe injuries in a few days; for Wen Yuan brother to be so valued by my lord truly makes others envious."

Actually, this speech is just an excuse Liu Bei used to placate Jia Xu; besides, ancient people are inherently superstitious and readily believe in supernatural powers, and moreover Liu Bei indeed rescued his own son, so Jia Xu instantly became a fan.

Zhang Liao's expression moved; having been revived by the physician, he was also fully aware of his previous injuries; even if such wounds heal, they would likely reduce his strength considerably. However, after Liu Bei examined him that day, his body recovered quickly, and now he feels his strength surpasses before.

At this moment, Jia Xu explained the reason, and Zhang Liao felt moved to the point of almost shedding tears.

"Why does Lord Liu treat Zhang Liao with such great favor!"

Jia Xu patted his shoulder and comforted Zhang Liao.

"My lord knows your loyalty, Wen Yuan; a wise bird chooses its tree to roost, Lu Fengxian is not a dark lord, you should still give it proper thought."

After saying that, Jia Xu flicked his sleeves and left; Zhang Liao lay in the infirmary, recalling Jia Xu's words to him, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

In the dark, windy night, with nowhere to go, Lu Bu and Chen Gong hid in a farmer's cowshed in the countryside, gnawing on hard dry biscuits; Lu Bu felt more and more miserable the more he thought.

"A true man should roam the battlefield; how can we hide here? Sir, I think we should go see Liu Bei and make peace!"

"Ah, now we can only do this; Xuzhou is under a nationwide warrant for us, all our troops have been captured by that Liu Bei scoundrel; the Assault Camp, though brave, is like a cup of water to extinguish a cartload of fire—of little use, and besides they cannot break out now."

Lu Bu's face lit up with excitement; surrendering has always been his forte as Lu Fengxian!

"Sir, then let's go see Liu Bei today! I haven't had alcohol or meat for several days!"

Chen Gong looked at this honest, simple man and could only sigh and nod in agreement.

The next day, Liu Bei was discussing with his civil and military officials how to gain an advantage over Cao Cao when a soldier ran in from outside the government office to report that a tall and a short man, calling themselves Lu Bu and Chen Gong, had come to seek an audience with the prefect.

Liu Bei's eyelid twitched slightly; is this Lu Bu kid that bold? He dares to come to our door!

Liu Bei hurriedly led Jia Xu, Chen Deng, and the Three Tiger Generals Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun out; amidst them, the nine-foot-tall Lu Bu, with a smug look, was surrounded by a hundred soldiers, yet he appeared utterly fearless.

This guy really deserves a beating!

Meanwhile, Chen Gong stood there honestly, letting Lu Bu shout and yell.

"Quickly bring out Lord Liu! I am Lu Bu; tell them that if they find my lord they will surely be richly rewarded."

The soldiers were also bewildered, looking at each other; none dared to lay a hand on this fellow.

Liu Bei waved his hand; his personal guards separated the soldiers, and Lu Bu, seeing Liu Bei surrounded by attendants, instantly rejoiced and dropped to one knee before Liu Bei.

"Jiuyuan Lu Bu greets you, my lord; this whole affair is a misunderstanding—my lord Liu, please let me explain in detail!"

As for kneeling before people... General Lu Fengxian has already become immune to it.

Liu Bei was about to open his mouth to scold when the voice of Little Lu Ban suddenly sounded.

"The system detects that Lu Bu now wishes to ally with the host; it offers three suggestions."

"One, adoptive son Lu Bu, who specializes in stabbing his adoptive father; just see if the wise and intelligent host has the courage and confidence to subdue Lu Bu as his adoptive son! Reward: the host's all attributes increase by five points, and grant the host twenty points of Human Emperor's Fortune; specifically, Human Emperor's Fortune is exclusive to the host, which can greatly boost the host's charm value, and upon reaching 100 it can cause some ministerial generals to voluntarily defect;"

"Two, three-surname household slave, a mere commoner! If the host rejects Lu Bu, this unprincipled wretch, and kills him on the spot, the host can obtain a set of supreme-grade armor and the Crimson Sky Treasure Sword once used by the High Ancestor;"

"Three, among men Lu Bu, among horses the Red Hare. Temporarily accepting this Lu Bu, the host can obtain five uses of the Life Healing Technique; after all, having Lu Bu as a subordinate carries risk, and the system is not one devoid of human sentiment."

Ah! This damn system!

How is this supposed to be a choice?

This sneaky trick is clearly meant to make it impossible to refuse having that troublesome Lu Bu as a subordinate!!

Thus, looking at the proud, grinning, handsome Lu Bu, Liu Bei stepped forward, gave a tentative support, and uttered the line that thundered through the whole assembly.

"My son Fengxian, quickly rise; this is surely a misunderstanding, my son Fengxian!"