Chapter 641

Not long after, Duan Yu took a seat not far below Liu Hong.

The singing and dancing began again.

Only this time, there was a glimmer of light in Liu Hong's eyes.

"Official Duan," Liu Hong said, looking at Duan Yu with a smile on his face, "I have been looking forward to your arrival in Luoyang for a long time."

"Now that you are here, I can finally set my heart at ease."

"You are a tiger general of this age; you will surely be able to defeat the enemy and secure victory."

"Do you have any brilliant strategies for defeating the enemy?"

Liu Hong inquired.

Duan Yu had already spent the entire afternoon studying this at home.

Since he had already promised Zhang Rang that he would send troops to Yingchuan, he had to start from Yingchuan.

"Your Majesty, I believe we should first send troops to Yingchuan to crush the rebel forces entrenched there, so as to prevent the rebels in Yingchuan and Jizhou from linking up and echoing each other."

"Then, we can take advantage of the momentum to move south and sweep away the rebel forces in Runan and other areas."

"As for Jizhou, it has the natural barrier of the Yellow River, making it difficult for the rebels to cross."

"Removing the crisis around Luoyang first is the superior strategy," Duan Yu said.

"Good."

Liu Hong slapped his thigh in excitement and said, "I knew it! As long as you arrive, defeating the rebels will be a matter of course. If you have any needs, just say the word."

Duan Yu immediately shook his head, bowed, and said, "To suppress the rebels for the country and fight for Your Majesty is my bounden duty; I dare not ask for anything more."

"Excellent!"

Liu Hong laughed and praised him loudly, "I did not trust you in vain; you have not disappointed me."

"Compared to those old things..."

When mentioning the "old things," Liu Hong gritted his teeth.

"These old dogs have enjoyed the grace of the nation for generations, yet they do not know how to share the country's burdens and instead act as enemies to me and the state everywhere. I wish I could kill this pack of old dogs."

The "old dogs" Liu Hong was referring to were certainly people like Yuan Kui and Yang Ci.

Zhang Rang had already said that morning that Yang Ci and Yuan Kui were pressuring Liu Hong to appoint more members of the Partisan faction.

They had demanded the governorships of four provinces in a row.

"And those two pieces of trash, Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun—it makes me angry just thinking about them."

"Official, I heard from the Grand General that you only have ten thousand troops on this trip. Why don't I issue an imperial decree so that after you arrive in Yingchuan, you can directly command the troops of those two, making Zhu Jun and Huangfu Song both obey your orders? What do you think?" Liu Hong said.

Command the troops of Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun?

Duan Yu shook his head almost without thinking.

That would not do.

Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun were, respectively, a blade in Yuan Kui's hand and a man recommended by Yang Ci.

They were effectively the spokesmen for Yang Ci and Yuan Kui.

If he were to command them, wouldn't that be the same as directly opposing Yang Ci and Yuan Kui?

No.

If those two were under his command, it would be strange if they didn't cause trouble; he would only be dragged down by them.

He intended to fight a war of maneuver and a blitzkrieg.

The key was flexibility.

If the two of them followed Yuan Kui and Yang Ci's orders to hold him back, how could he execute his plans?

"Your Majesty, there is no need for that."

"Although I only have ten thousand troops, I have never held those rebels in high regard."

"Ten thousand troops are sufficient."

Duan Yu rejected Liu Hong's proposal.

"Very well, since you do not need it, then so be it." Liu Hong raised his wine cup and said, "Come, Official Duan, I toast you with this cup to bolster your spirits for the journey!"

"When you return victorious, I will personally go outside the city to welcome you."

After three rounds of wine and the meal had been enjoyed, the night was already deep.

Liu Hong, unable to hold his liquor, was supported by palace maids and young eunuchs back to his sleeping quarters.

Duan Yu, meanwhile, rose and walked toward the outside of the palace.

Since he had finished his audience with Liu Hong, he would have to march to Yingchuan early tomorrow morning.

The Junior Eunuch Zuo Feng was still waiting for Duan Yu outside the Jiade Hall.

As for Jian Shuo, perhaps because he felt embarrassed earlier, he was no longer outside the palace gate of the Jiade Hall.

Duan Yu walked all the way out of the imperial palace.

Just as Duan Yu was about to step out of the palace gate.

A palace maid chased after him.

The maid ran up to the Junior Eunuch Zuo Feng, said two words, and then walked toward Duan Yu.

Upon reaching Duan Yu, the maid bowed first.

Then, she took something out from her bosom.

"General Duan, this is what the Empress asked me to pass on to you."

The maid lowered her head and said in a low voice, "The Empress says she awaits your victorious return."

After speaking, the maid turned and left.

Duan Yu looked down at the object in his hand, puzzled.

By the faint light of the surroundings and the moonlight, Duan Yu saw clearly what was in his hand.

His expression changed, and he immediately tucked it away into his bosom.