Chapter 18

However, what was rather strange was that Guan Yu had already released Hua Xiong from his internal energy restriction and had not assigned a dedicated guard to watch him, yet Hua Xiong remained in the rear camp without attempting to escape. Chen Xi speculated that it was probably because Hua Xiong couldn't bring himself to do so.

"Zijian, surrender," Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, after feasting with Hua Xiong, once again began to persuade him to surrender. Hua Xiong had already recovered from the previous defeat thanks to his extraordinary physical constitution.

"Yun Chang, Yide, I understand what you are saying, but Minister Dong has been kind to me. I will not surrender to anyone until he abandons me or is defeated," Hua Xiong said with a hint of melancholy. "As I said before, if Minister Dong is defeated and I become a man without a master, I will surrender to Lord Xuande. But that is unlikely to happen."

"Not necessarily!" Chen Xi lifted the tent flap and saw the three burly men sitting on the ground, eating large pieces of meat and chatting.

"Mr. Chen, greetings," Hua Xiong saluted.

"Why don't we make a bet? I know you have great confidence in Dong Zhuo. If Dong Zhuo is defeated at Hulao Pass, retreats to Chang'an with the people of Luoyang, and then burns Luoyang to delay the allied forces, you should surrender. Because what he will do next will disappoint you greatly. He is no longer the Dong Zhongying of Xiliang; he has been blinded by the prosperity of Guandong and is no longer the valiant hero who once gathered heroes and was generous with his wealth," Chen Xi said calmly.

Hua Xiong remained silent, just looking at Chen Xi. After a long while, he finally spoke, "You don't understand how strong Minister Dong is."

"By saying that, you agree to the bet," Chen Xi smiled. "I know better. The strongest warriors, the best elite troops, and the best strategists in the world, but the one leading them is not the strongest ruler. On the contrary, the current Dong Zhongying is at best a third-rate ruler."

"The strongest warriors in the world!" Zhang Fei's eyes widened, and Guan Yu slightly opened his eyes to look at Chen Xi. They only noticed this part, and didn't pay attention to the rest.

"Yes, the strongest warriors in the world," Hua Xiong said dejectedly. "Yun Chang and Yide, you may be a bit stronger than me, but compared to Lü Bu, I think even the two of you together might not be able to defeat him."

"Really?" Guan Yu asked solemnly.

"The third strike you dealt me made me feel as if I were facing him. You can imagine how strong he is," Hua Xiong said with a bitter smile.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's faces showed a spark of battle spirit, their eyes gleaming. They really wanted to experience such a powerful opponent, and the path ahead would become clearer through him.

"General Hua, remember what I said when those things happen," Chen Xi said, ignoring the battle spirit of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. After all, with their skills, they could still run away if they couldn't defeat Lü Bu.

"The strongest warriors in the world?" The Du Bo training cavalry outside the tent also heard their conversation. Since Guan Yu and Zhang Fei didn't lower their voices, and the other party had keen hearing, the Du Bo on horseback touched the sword at his waist, tightened his silver spear, and picked up the bow and arrow hanging from the horse, silently gazing at Hulao Pass.

"Father, I humbly request to reinforce Hulao Pass!" Lü Bu asked for battle again. He already knew that Hua Xiong had broken through in battle but was still killed by three strikes. Such a skilled warrior was exactly what he had been waiting for.

Dong Zhuo waved his hand, signaling to Li Ru.

"Hulao Pass is naturally secure with General Xu's defense. However, a rebellion has occurred in our rear, and Han Sui has once again incited the Qiang people. Although Generals Li Que and Guo Si can suppress it, we should still recall Xu Rong to stabilize the rear. The Chancellor will personally lead the army to Hulao Pass to confront the Guandong warlords!" Li Ru said with a calm expression. No one would have guessed that this thin, scholarly figure was actually Dong Zhuo's top strategist.

To be honest, Li Ru was already somewhat disappointed with Dong Zhuo. The pleasure-seeking Dong Zhuo seemed unable to follow the plan Li Ru had initially hoped for.

Born into a humble family in Guanxi, Li Ru despised the aristocratic families' control over wisdom and ideas. He harbored the dream of sweeping the world and remaking the heavens and earth, and had gradually pushed Dong Zhuo to this position of second to none. Unfortunately, the prosperity of Guandong had blinded Dong Zhuo's heart, and the current Dong Zhuo was merely cruel, cruel to the point that he no longer thought about why he had reached this position.

This was why Li Ru wanted to recall Xu Rong to stabilize the rear. Xu Rong at Hulao Pass was not because Li Ru underestimated the Guandong warlords, but because those people genuinely could not defeat Xu Rong and take Hulao Pass.

As long as Xu Rong was at Hulao Pass, the Guandong warlords could only be frustrated. This nameless general had risen from a border soldier to a commandant, and his experience far exceeded that of the warlords in the Central Plains who had not experienced war. His loyalty would never waver.

Dong Zhuo was too strong, and this was something Li Ru realized only in retrospect. When other warlords were still thinking about how to gain territory and people, they already had the momentum to swallow the world. Li Ru had inadvertently laid a foundation so solid that even facing the entire world, they could not be defeated.

Because of this solid foundation, the generals who had come to Luoyang under Dong Zhuo's leadership had already become accustomed to pleasure and no longer retained the fierce demeanor of the Xiliang warriors.

What Li Ru needed was a founding emperor who could sweep the world, break the old rules, and establish new ones under his guidance, not a fat, pleasure-seeking man blinded by the prosperity of Guandong.

However, years of support and the initial efforts made Li Ru believe that the current Dong Zhuo was just blinded by the prosperity and the solid foundation. If he could be given a wake-up call, he could return to the path Li Ru had prepared for him. As long as his dream was realized, even if he met the same fate as Shang Yang, he would have no regrets.

"Very well, then let's mobilize the generals to join me in defeating the Guandong rats!" Dong Zhuo agreed to Li Ru's proposal without much thought.

Although Dong Zhuo was blinded, the habits formed over years of working with Li Ru still remained. Since his most capable strategist said so, he would follow his advice. "Fear not, I have the strongest warriors, the most elite troops, and the mighty Hulao Pass. I will deal with the Guandong rats!"

However, Dong Zhuo did not see the slight shake of the head from the scholar sitting next to Li Ru. Jia Xu already knew Li Ru's thoughts.

"Agreed!" The generals responded loudly.

"The first battle will be mine!" Lü Bu said after scanning the generals. "Although Hua Xiong annoyed me, I will avenge him!"

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