Chapter 1084: That Is Not True

"I did not expect Lu Bu to be so brave." Yuan Shao clenched his fists, his gaze filled with both anger and unwillingness, "Yan Liang and Wen Chou were both fierce generals in my army, and yet..."

Cao Cao’s expression was heavy; he patted Yuan Shao on the shoulder and comforted him: "Benchu, on the battlefield, victory and defeat are common occurrences for a military strategist. Although Yan Liang and Wen Chou were brave, Lu Bu is a rare fierce general in the world; this is not a fault of the battle. We need to deliberate carefully and must not act on impulse."

Yuan Shao took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions: "Mengde is right; we cannot lose our footing because of a momentary setback. Now, we must find a way to restrain Lu Bu to ensure a chance of winning."

The two returned to the tent and summoned the warlords and strategists to discuss countermeasures together. Inside the tent, the atmosphere was tense and serious; everyone knew that the upcoming battle would determine their destiny.

"Lu Bu’s bravery is unparalleled in the world." Cao Cao looked around at everyone and spoke slowly, "If we want to defeat him, we need to use wisdom, not force."

Just then, a strategist stood up and bowed: "General Cao’s words are reasonable. Although Lu Bu is brave, he is arrogant; we can use this point to set a trap and lure him into it."

Hearing this, Yuan Shao’s eyes lit up: "This plan is excellent! But how exactly should it be implemented?"

The strategist elaborated on his plan in detail, and everyone nodded in agreement after hearing it. Yuan Shao slammed the table and said loudly: "Good! Let’s act according to this plan. Everyone, this battle concerns the overall situation of the world; we must go all out and must not have the slightest slack!"

A few days later, the coalition followed the plan, deliberately exposing flaws to lure Lu Bu into leading his army in pursuit. Lu Bu indeed fell for the trap, leading his army deep into the coalition’s territory, but did not expect to fall into the trap carefully laid by the coalition.

For a time, arrows rained down. Although Lu Bu was incomparably brave, he could not withstand this overwhelming offensive. He swung his halberd, charging left and right, trying to break out, but the coalition soldiers poured in like a tide, one after another.

Lu Bu was seriously injured but still insisted on fighting; his figure on the battlefield was like a bolt of lightning, and no one could stop him wherever he went. However, in the end, two fists could not fight four hands, and Lu Bu finally fell in a pool of blood.

The coalition soldiers cheered; they knew that Lu Bu’s death meant that Dong Zhuo’s influence had completely collapsed. Yuan Shao and Cao Cao smiled at each other; they knew that the victory of this battle was not only a blow to Dong Zhuo but also an affirmation of their leadership ability and wisdom.

"Mengde, after this battle, what should we do?" Yuan Shao looked at Cao Cao, his eyes shining with anticipation.

Cao Cao pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Benchu, now that Dong Zhuo has been removed, the world is not yet settled. We need to continue to join hands and plot a grand cause together. I am willing to join you in restoring the majesty of the Han Dynasty and letting the people of the world live and work in peace."

Hearing this, Yuan Shao was excited: "Mengde, with your words, I, Yuan Shao, can rest assured. Let us work together, and we will surely achieve a great cause!"

The two shook hands tightly, their eyes shining with longing and firmness for the future. They knew that although the road ahead was still full of thorns and challenges, as long as they moved forward together, nothing could stop them from moving forward.

The coalition continued to move forward, recovering more cities along the way, and their power continued to expand. The prestige of Yuan Shao and Cao Cao also spread throughout the world, becoming heroes in the hearts of the people.

However, with the expansion of power, the differences between the two gradually emerged. Yuan Shao advocated for the rapid unification of the country and the restoration of the authority of the Han Dynasty; while Cao Cao paid more attention to the livelihood of the people, believing that they should develop steadily and unify gradually.

This day, the two sat in the tent again, discussing future strategies. Yuan Shao was passionate; he slammed the table and said loudly: "Mengde, now that we have strong soldiers and horses, it is the best time to unify the country. We should take this opportunity to sweep the world in one fell swoop and restore the brilliance of the Han Dynasty!"

Cao Cao appeared calmer; he shook his head and said slowly: "Benchu, unifying the country is not a task that can be accomplished in a single day. Although we have great power, the people are not yet settled, and the hearts of the people are not stable. If we are eager for success, I fear it will be counterproductive."

Hearing this, Yuan Shao furrowed his brows: "Mengde, you are wrong. Now our morale is high; if we do not cut the Gordian knot, by the time the warlord forces rise again, we will fall into endless disputes."

Cao Cao looked at Yuan Shao, a flicker of helplessness flashing in his eyes: "Benchu, I understand your concerns. But unification cannot be achieved by force alone; it requires the hearts of the people and wisdom. We should first stabilize the hearts of the people, develop the economy, and let the people live and work in peace. Only in this way can we truly achieve unification."

The two expressed their own opinions and argued endlessly. The atmosphere in the tent became increasingly tense, and other warlords and strategists also expressed their opinions one after another, but they could never reach a consensus.