Chapter 22

Chapter 656: Reunion with Choxian (1)

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Huayin Camp. Guanxian Army Camp.

Huangbosong set up camp and unpacked his belongings not far from the ferry. He planned to join forces with Madeng, Hanshu, and others after receiving supplies from Chang'an.

Huangbosong was discussing military strategy with his advisor. As expected, the main topic was how to cross the Hangu Pass and the Han Pass.

"We can no longer cross by force."

"Although they are a ragtag group, we have lost too many men to Lu Bu."

"We must acknowledge our losses. Besides, since we did not lose our main force, it is not a total loss."

"The problem is that our main force was damaged in crossing the Hangu Pass and the Han Pass."

Huangbosong shook his head.

"We can reinforce with Madeng and Hanshu's troops."

Huangbosong smiled smugly and then raised his index finger.

"It's time to settle things with Lu Bu."

"Is there any way to do it without using our main force? It seems there is no other option but to make peace..."

The advisor did not think for a moment that Huangbosong would make a humiliating peace with Lu Bu.

After all, who knew Huangbosong's character better than he did? The idea of Lu Bu receiving a vast amount of military supplies and treasures from Huangbosong was unimaginable.

But it happened.

"Peace... we must make it."

The advisor's eyes widened at Huangbosong's words.

"Really, my lord? You really intend to give Lu Bu military supplies and grain..."

The advisor hesitated to use the word "give." A long sigh escaped Huangbosong's lips.

"Ah~! On the way here, Zhangxi said she would use a desperate strategy for me."

"Zhangxi's desperate strategy... that would mean the beauty trap... My lord, although Zhangxi is not officially one of your concubines, she is still your woman."

"What do you mean? I don't like it either. How could I want to use such a despicable method? But Zhangxi is determined, and her plan is quite plausible."

The advisor had no choice but to nod.

The beauty trap is indeed a good strategy to gain much with a small sacrifice.

"Zhangxi's beauty is enough to make any man lose his senses. I doubt Lu Bu will be any different."

"Do you think it's a good strategy, too?"

The advisor nodded solemnly.

"There are a few variables. If Lu Bu prefers men... but I don't think that's likely."

"Of course not."

"That's why I said 'if.' Honestly, we don't know. I've heard that Lu Bu has only one wife and hasn't added any more concubines. So it's a reasonable assumption."

"That's true. Well, there might be no beauties in Bingzhou. And... what other variables are there?"

Huangbosong was confident that Lu Bu did not prefer men. Or rather, he wanted to believe that.

The advisor, of course, felt the same. His brother, Sajian, was already a prisoner, and he did not want to imagine him being humiliated by Lu Bu.

The advisor shook his head to clear the horrific thoughts. It took a while for his vision to clear before he spoke again.

"Another variable could be that Lu Bu has many concubines in secret, or that his wife is more beautiful than Zhangxi."

Huangbosong snorted.

"Tsk! In Bingzhou... that's a ridiculous idea. Besides, even if his wife is beautiful, it's not something to worry about."

"Even if there are beauties in the world, how can there be none in Bingzhou?"

"Even if there are, it doesn't matter. How many people in this world only look at one person? People's hearts change just as the world does."

The advisor had no choice but to nod. He was also getting tired of Huangbosong's daughter. If his wife were not Huangbosong's daughter, he would have taken concubines long ago.

"Are you planning to send Zhangxi alone?"

"Zhangxi wants to take Anxi and Zhenxi with her. She also said she would use the treasures she received as gifts. Isn't that admirable?"

The advisor was greatly surprised by Zhangxi's boldness upon hearing Huangbosong's words.

'Zhangxi is ready to be given to the enemy and has the ambition to rise to a high position. Such a woman... if she were born a man in these troubled times, she could easily have made a name for herself... What a pity, what a pity.'

Han was a country that followed the principles of Confucianism, so a woman could not rise to the highest position. Even the powerful Empress Dowager, who could replace the emperor, could not become the emperor herself.

No matter how great a heroine Zhangxi was, she would ultimately be just one of Huangbosong's concubines. Even if she accomplished something significant, all the credit would go to Huangbosong.

"If she fails, she won't return alive. She might end up in a miserable state..."

The advisor knew well the fate of the victor and the vanquished. Even someone not as wise as him would know that the victor gets everything, while the vanquished loses everything. Even if they survived, they would suffer a hard life until death.

A woman as beautiful as Zhangxi would likely end up as a lowly plaything.

"I don't want to think about failure. If I must, I should think about the consequences for me. Tell me, what are the gains and losses?"

"The best outcome for you would be if Lu Bu lost his life. But the probability is very low. Even though Zhangxi has learned martial arts, she is no match for a general."

Huangbosong raised his index finger and said.

"If he falls for her charms, it would be different. And even without a hidden dagger, she could use poison... If she gains his favor, using poison is also possible. After all, you didn't gather so many beauties just for this day, did you?"

"Actually, I intended to use them on Dong Zhuo or Yuan Shao, but Lu Bu will be the first victim. If poison doesn't work, what benefit would there be for me?"

Huangbosong asked, and the advisor answered eagerly.

"During the Warring States period, when Confucius was in charge of the state of Lu, the world admired and envied the peace and prosperity of Lu. But they also feared it."

"Why are you suddenly talking about Confucius?"

"To explain the beauty trap used by the state of Qi. At that time, Qi could not just sit and watch Lu become powerful."

"So what did they do? Did they send beauties to Confucius to corrupt him?"

Huangbosong showed interest. He had not heard much about a beauty trap being used on Confucius.

"No. Confucius was not someone who would be swayed by women."

"True. He was a sage, so that's unlikely. Then who did they use the beauty trap on?"

"They sent eighty beauties and one hundred and twenty fine horses to the high minister of Lu, Jisun Si."

"Eighty beauties? Who could be so bold?"

Huangbosong, who had once controlled Guanxian with ease, had never thought of sending eighty beauties to the enemy.

Eighty? Just sending three required a lot of deliberation.

"The high minister of Qi, Yuxu, used the beauty trap on Duke Ling of Lu and Jisun Si. Think about it. With beauties in front of them, would they notice anything else? The record says they indulged in pleasure for four days and nights, which is not a lie."

"So... did the plan succeed?"

"Despite Confucius's repeated warnings, the ruler and the high minister of Lu accepted the women. They neglected state affairs to indulge in pleasure, and the people's hearts turned away. Confucius was greatly disappointed and left Lu."

Huangbosong seemed pleased with the fate of Duke Ling and Jisun Si, patting his knees.

"I must send Zhangxi to Lu Bu. If I send even my cherished concubine, Lu Bu will not want to continue the fight."

"Right. Send a letter proposing peace, along with three beauties, ten fine horses, and gifts."

"Good! I can already see Lu Bu's future. Handle it as you see fit."

"I will follow your orders, my lord!"

Zhangxi, along with Anxi and Zhenxi, retraced her steps. A large ship was filled with gifts for Lu Bu.

Huangbosong decided to send the gifts generously, believing that if Lu Bu did not cause trouble from the rear, it would not be difficult to cross the Hangu Pass and the Han Pass, and even to overthrow Dong Zhuo.

Standing at the bow of the ship, Zhangxi faced the river wind and reaffirmed her resolve.

'I will surely achieve great things and become the most precious person in the world.'

However, Zhangxi was not the only woman heading to Lu Bu. Jieguo, who had been staying in Yangshan, also came to Lu Bu. Moreover, Choxian was on her way to Zhongtian.

Jieguo's belly showed no signs of swelling, yet Lu Bu warned her to be careful.

"Be careful when you walk. No, I'll hold your hand."

"Don't make such a fuss... My belly isn't even showing yet. Men are always so worried..."

"Jieguo, you should be careful even now."

"Our Gao Shi warriors have no worries. My ancestors hunted bears and gave birth to children..."

Jieguo claimed that her mother had hunted a bear and given birth to her, which was hard to believe. There was no way to verify it, but thinking of the Gao Shi warrior women, it seemed plausible.

Jieguo, who usually spoke like a man, sometimes showed rare and precious behavior in front of Lu Bu.

"Even if I have a son, don't be disappointed. The first son is the foundation of the household, isn't he?"

"Wouldn't you prefer a daughter?"

"A daughter is the pillar of the family. Only a daughter can carry on the Yan family name."

"I can give up a daughter."

Lu Bu was envisioning a happy future with Jieguo in his own way.

Jieguo had already lain down with her head on Lu Bu's thigh. Lu Bu glanced down to see if she was asleep, but with the fangxiang mask on, he couldn't tell.

The grotesque mask with multiple eyes was enough to ruin the mood.

Looking at the terrifying fangxiang mask, which could appear in nightmares, made him feel nauseous. Jieguo, sensing Lu Bu's discomfort, asked softly.

"Should I take off the mask? You're mine, so you can see my face."

Lu Bu was about to say yes. Jieguo had already loosened the mask's ties. But Lu Bu couldn't bring himself to remove her fangxiang mask.

Suddenly, Shangkai rushed in with urgent news.

"Commander, Western Inspector... no, Western Secretary is here to see you."

At this point, Lu Bu still did not realize the severity of the situation.

"Has he been crying because he hasn't seen me in a while? Since he's come after so long, I'll go and embrace him. Tell him I'll see him tomorrow when it's light."

"Western Secretary has brought Lady Chao with him."

This news was like a bolt from the blue to Lu Bu. He had hurried the attack on Guanxian to avoid a reunion with Choxian.

He had avoided it as much as he could, but now he could no longer avoid it.

'This is a disaster.'