Chapter 38: Gao Shun Releases His Military Authority

When those words were spoken, Jia Xu beside them burst out laughing, Chen Deng looked at Liu Bei with a hint of surprise, Guan Yu and Zhao Yun glanced at each other, and the Second Uncle at this moment also opened his squinting little eyes.

Chen Gong slightly opened his mouth, but after surveying the surroundings he wisely chose to stay silent.

The most outrageous was Zhang Fei, who, ignoring the kneeling Lu Bu whose face was flushed, burst into a loud laugh.

Liu Bei continued to speak solemnly to Lu Bu.

"Feng Xian is a hero of the age; who wouldn't like to have a fierce general like Feng Xian under their command? Feng Xian, feel free to follow your father and together we shall achieve great deeds!"

Lu Bu was initially a bit embarrassed, but hearing Liu Bei praise him and recalling that Liu Bei is now an imperial uncle of high status, he thought, perhaps I am now a distant relative of a little emperor?

Besides, I, Lu Bu, have never been opposed to taking a godfather!

So this world's number‑one fierce general, whose brain is a bit lacking, gladly clasped his fists and said,

"Having been spared by my oath‑father, I shall forever be at his side, horse and saddle, repaying his kindness!"

Liu Bei opened the system and scanned the kneeling Lu Bu.

"Lu Bu, Strength 100, Intelligence 20, Politics 50, Command 82, Health 99, loyalty to the host 15."

Damn!

Damn, Lu Feng Xian, how did you manage that loyalty score? It's lower than your IQ of 20!

The point is, you kid still have a bright smile; with that acting, your IQ shouldn't be only 20!

He made a small mental snark, then Liu Bei, also beaming, helped Lu Bu to his feet, grasped Lu Bu's two sturdy arms, and joyfully patted his shoulders.

"With Feng Xian's aid, where can my father not go in the world? And Mr. Gong Tai?"

Today Liu Bei's "fatherly kindness and filial piety" scene with Lu Bu truly refreshed Chen Gong's perception; hearing Liu Bei call his name, Chen Gong snapped out of his bewilderment and hurried forward.

"Chen Gong pays respects to the imperial uncle; today I act entirely on your orders!"

Liu Bei nodded "satisfied", but inwardly muttered, that old brat Chen Gong clearly doesn't want to join me!

"Then Feng Xian, go to your former main camp and persuade a few of Gao Shun's men to surrender. Gao Shun has killed many Xuzhou soldiers of mine; be sure to bring him here, I will deal with him personally! Yi De, take men and accompany Feng Xian's son on a trip."

Lu Bu also wanted to perform well under Liu Bei's command, so that when he rebels later he can strike unprepared.

Liu Bei pulled Zhang Fei over, gave him instructions; Zhang Fei nodded, raised two thousand cavalry, and took Lu Bu to the Lu army's main camp outside the city.

Along the way, Zhang Fei deliberately insulted and provoked with words, and Lu Bu grudgingly agreed.

"Feng Xian's nephew! When Third Uncle charges forward in the future, you must be ahead of me, Third Uncle!"

Lu Bu patted his robust chest, answered enthusiastically, but in his mind he had already struck this black‑faced thief a hundred times with his Fang Tian Halberd.

"Of course, Zhang San Shu, rest assured!"

Upon reaching the Lu army's main camp, Zhang Fei whispered with Xu Huang; Xu Huang was a bit surprised but ordered the removal of the antlers, and Lu Bu seized the chance, spurred his horse forward and called for Gao Shun and others to come out.

"Gao Shun, you wait and open the camp gate, come out and surrender to my oath‑father Liu the Imperial Uncle; from now on we are all family!"

Gao Shun ordered the gate opened, and Cao Xing, Hou Cheng, Cheng Lian and others led troops out of the camp.

Gao Shun, his face bitter, said to Lu Bu below the city,

"We subordinates intend to fight to the death; why, my lord, have you accepted that scoundrel Liu Bei as an oath‑father?!"

Lu Bu, already mocked by Zhang Fei all the way, now even his own men dared to mock him?!

Lu Bu roared in anger,

"Gao Shun, you are an external‑system commander; I have always promoted you, yet you slaughter Xuzhou troops and now commit treason here! Men, seize Gao Shun!"

Cao Xing and Cheng Lian stared at each other; Gao Shun's complexion turned deathly pale as he let out a wretched laugh,

"Lord, you want to use me as Liu Bei's convenient favor? Then I shall fulfill your wish!"

Beside him, Hou Cheng gave a grim smile and kicked Gao Shun's calf; Gao Shun had been sharing his rations with his soldiers these days and now had almost no strength.

Hou Cheng's kick sent Gao Shun sprawling to his knees, then Hou Cheng clasped his fists and said to Lu Bu,

"Lord, during this time Gao Shun has spoken disrespectfully to you, claiming our defeat is due to your caprice; I think Gao Shun deserves death!"

Cheng Lian opened his mouth, about to speak, but the hot‑tempered Cao Xing could not hold back.

Cao Xing pointed at Hou Cheng's nose and cursed,

"Hou Cheng, you were the first to defect to the Xuzhou troops, and now you're so eloquent?"

The words 'defect' now sounded especially grating to Lu Bu's ears; even Cao Xing dared to mock him?

Lu Bu roared furiously,

"Everyone, stop! Men, bind Cao Xing and Gao Shun together!"

A few junior officers surged forward and bound Gao Shun and Cao Xing together.

At this moment Gao Shun's heart was ashen, he no longer resisted, and the soldiers of the Xian Zhen Camp, seeing their commander captured, tried to rush forward to rescue. The eight hundred troops of the Xian Zhen Camp raised their weapons and surrounded everyone, and then several deputy commanders prepared to advance.

Seeing this, Gao Shun shouted,

"The Xian Zhen Camp remains under the lord today; from now on I am no longer its commander. Brothers, serve the lord faithfully in the future, and may the lord take care of himself!"

Lu Bu, seeing the elite troops of the Xian Zhen Camp favor Gao Shun, felt jealous and thought he could not keep Gao Shun, as these external commanders remained a lingering threat.

Then Gao Shun strode boldly toward Zhang Fei and Xu Huang, with Cao Xing following closely behind.

"Generals, take me to see Imperial Uncle Liu! Whether you kill or maim me, Gao Shun accepts…"

Zhang Fei patted Gao Shun's shoulder and laughed,

"Fine man! I, Zhang Fei, cannot tolerate petty scoundrels causing mischief; rest assured, my elder brother is not one to shy away from right and wrong."

Gao Shun and Cao Xing could no longer hear any words; the saying that there is no greater sorrow than a dead heart seemed apt.

Immediately, Gao Shun and Cao Xing were escorted by Zhang Fei's men into Xuzhou City, while Lu Bu consolidated all his troops, and the indomitable Xian Zhen Camp was handed over to Cheng Lian.

From then on, Lu Bu was, in name, fully submitted to Liu Bei; everyone speculated about Liu Bei's thoughts, but only he himself could truly know them.