Chapter 753

That night.

The West Camp outside Guangzong City.

Inside the main military tent, Dong Zhuo was putting on a suit of armor.

Hua Xiong stood behind Dong Zhuo, helping him fasten the armor.

"Sigh..." Dong Zhuo let out a sigh and said, "These past few years, I've become lazier with each passing year."

"Back when we were in Liangzhou, we would ride horses and hunt together. Back then, I was nowhere near this fat; now, even putting on armor is a struggle."

"Yi'er was still small back then, and she would often sit on my shoulders."

"You were also younger back then than you are now."

"In the blink of an eye, I've grown old."

"My lord is not old at all."

Hua Xiong, while helping Dong Zhuo with his armor, said, "If it truly came to mounting a horse and killing the enemy, among all the civil and military officials in the court, there are few who could surpass you, my lord."

"Even that Lu Zhi is no match for you, my lord."

"Haha." Dong Zhuo laughed heartily and said, "Old is old, and I have no more grand ambitions."

"A couple of years ago, I was still thinking about being enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed as a general, but now I don't have those thoughts anymore."

"Yi'er's child is also grown, and I haven't even caught a glimpse of them yet. Once I return to Hedong this time, I must go to Liangzhou to take a look, no matter what."

"And you... having followed me for so many years, you haven't gained any benefits."

"Look at Li Jue and Guo Si; how long have they been by Ziyi's side, and now they are already Commandants and Captains. After Ziyi comes to Jizhou this time, when I return to Hedong, you should go to Ziyi's side as well."

"Over there, Ziyi will surely put you to good use."

After putting on his armor, Dong Zhuo turned around to look at Hua Xiong.

Hua Xiong immediately stepped back half a step, then knelt on one knee and cupped his hands: "My lord, did Hua Xiong do something wrong to make you unhappy?"

"My lord, Hua Xiong..."

"Eh!" Dong Zhuo hurriedly stepped forward to help Hua Xiong up.

"What kind of talk is that? I just feel that I am old and my life is nearing its end. Staying here with me, when will you ever earn a title?"

"If you go to Ziyi's side, it won't take many years before you are enfeoffed with a title, which would give your descendants something to rely on."

Hua Xiong, kneeling on the ground, shook his head and said: "My lord, this subordinate does not need any title."

"This subordinate only wishes to follow you, my lord."

"I am grateful that you did not abandon me back then. If not for that, Hua Xiong would still be herding horses today. To have reached this point is already a grace bestowed by you, my lord."

Dong Zhuo smiled and patted Hua Xiong on the shoulder: "Alright, alright, get up."

"I know you are loyal; otherwise, having been to Ziyi's side so many times, you would have long since asked to stay there."

Just as Dong Zhuo was speaking, Li Ru, dressed in a black robe, walked in from outside.

"Wenyou is here." Dong Zhuo greeted Li Ru.

After entering, Li Ru said with a grave expression: "My lord, there is an urgent matter."

Looking at Li Ru's face, Dong Zhuo furrowed his brows and asked: "What is it?"

"My lord, I feel that Lu Zhi suddenly inviting you to a banquet is problematic," Li Ru said.

Hmm?

Problematic?

Dong Zhuo raised his eyebrows: "Wenyou, explain in detail."

Li Ru also furrowed his brows tightly and said: "My lord, I pondered this all afternoon, and I keep feeling that there is something wrong here."

"So, this afternoon, I sent scouts from the army to Lu Zhi's East Camp."

"And I discovered some clues."

"What clues?" Dong Zhuo asked suspiciously.

"The scouts discovered that Lu Zhi's two cavalry battalions are mobilizing troops and are preparing to leave the camp at any moment."

Dong Zhuo rubbed his chin, then stepped back a few paces and sat on the table in front of the main seat in the tent, saying: "Mobilizing troops?"

"That shouldn't be a problem, should it? I reckon Lu Zhi invited me today to discuss launching an attack on Guangzong."

Li Ru shook his head, his eyes narrowed slightly as he said: "My lord, ever since you and Lu Zhi launched the campaign to Jizhou together, have the two of you met even once?"

Dong Zhuo was stunned, then shook his head: "Not yet."

"Then, my lord, you and Lu Zhi have been besieging Guangzong for so long; have you met Lu Zhi even once?"

Dong Zhuo shook his head again: "No."

"And those previous times Lu Zhi requested you to send troops to attack Guangzong, did he ever come in person?"

Dong Zhuo still shook his head.

"Does my lord understand Lu Zhi?" Li Ru asked.

After a slight pause, Dong Zhuo said: "I suppose I understand him."

Lu Zhi is a famous scholar and great Confucian, and his fame has long since spread throughout the four seas.

His uprightness and his mastery of both civil and military arts are known to everyone.

"Since my lord knows Lu Zhi's character, you should be clear that Lu Zhi is a man of fierce integrity. Why would he invite you to a banquet just to gain military merit for attacking Guangzong?"

"Isn't that the same as currying favor with you, my lord?"

"Lu Zhi is a renowned Confucian of the realm; how could he do such a thing?" Li Ru said with great suspicion.

Dong Zhuo had thought the same thing when he first heard that Liu Bei had come to invite him.

Indeed, with Lu Zhi's reputation, why would he take the initiative to invite him?

What kind of person is Lu Zhi?

He studied under Grand Tutor Chen Qiu and the great Confucian Ma Rong, and is a fellow disciple of the contemporary great Confucians Zheng Xuan, Guan Ning, and Hua Xin.

He is a colleague of world-renowned Confucians like Ma Ridi and Cai Yong.

And what is he?

A mere border-region warrior.

He only reached this point by sending gifts to the eunuchs in the palace and by relying on the Yuan clan.