Chapter 27

Chapter 661: The Battle of Hualagou (1)

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Guo Jia's words were quite aggressive. If it were Jiafu, he would not have spoken so directly.

Of course, Guo Jia's straightforwardness also had its benefits. It helped Lü Bu understand the current situation more accurately.

"Betrayal...?"

"I do not think my choice of words was wrong. But now that I think about it, perhaps it would have been better not to say anything."

"Didn't I say there would be no complaints or reprimands about your military strategy? And your words are not wrong. But what can I do? I am someone who prioritizes my family over the world..."

Neither Lü Bu nor Guo Jia was wrong.

Isn't it true that one should cultivate oneself and manage one's household before governing the state and bringing peace to the world?

In that sense, Lü Bu's words could not be considered bad. How could someone who cannot even protect their own family talk about ruling the world?

On the other hand, Guo Jia's words also made sense. Lü Bu, who wants to rule the world, should not prioritize personal matters over the world.

When two values clash, making a decision becomes even more difficult. But there was always a solution.

"Sir, I will also apologize to you."

Chaoxian suddenly bowed to him. Guo Jia was at a loss for what to do.

"Why are you doing this, Lady Chao? I know you must be resentful of me."

"At first, I was. I was deeply resentful."

"But it seems you are not now. Can I take this as a sign of hope? If I offend my lord and his consort, my future will be in jeopardy."

"Your actions, despite knowing the consequences, show that you are indeed a person of great virtue, Sir."

Chaoxian's words brightened Guo Jia's expression. He clasped his hands together and said to her,

"You are indeed worthy of being the lady of our camp."

"Let's put this aside and get to the main point. I will help you complete your military strategy."

* * *

The next evening.

Lü Bu was rubbing his temples vigorously.

"So, what are you telling me to do?"

Lü Bu raised his voice at Guo Jia and Chaoxian.

"General, I do not mean to belittle Lady Chao. I do not intend to dismiss her because she is a woman. However, there is one thing that is clear: we should never listen to a woman's advice on military matters."

"Sir, isn't it natural that women know women best? In this matter, you should follow the advice of your concubine."

"Even if my words are blunt, please forgive me, Lady Chao. But isn't it true that women often do not understand their own hearts?"

Lü Bu held up his palm to stop their argument.

"Enough, enough! I have made my decision."

Both Guo Jia and Chaoxian looked at him, waiting to see whose plan he would choose.

"I will combine both of your plans depending on the situation."

Although Lü Bu said this, it was essentially a notification that he would do as he pleased.

Soon, the news came that Zhang Xi had arrived, and Guo Jia and Chaoxian withdrew. As she left, Zhegao met Zhang Xi at the door and removed her mask.

"Your body will be torn to pieces and hung as a warning."

Zhegao's eyes and voice were filled with malice, but Zhang Xi did not flinch, calmly meeting her gaze.

Was her inner feeling different? No, it was not. She was even delighted.

'From her appearance and tone, she doesn't seem to be Han. But given her hostility, she must be closely related to Lü Bu. Lü Bu is a man, and the one wearing the mask is a woman.'

Zhang Xi was one of those who believed that a man and a woman could not be just friends. Moreover, she did not know Zhegao's true identity, so she assumed Zhegao was just another concubine of Lü Bu.

'Everyone said Lü Bu only kept one consort and did not increase his concubines. It was all a lie. This is good, very good.'

Zhang Xi now calculated that seducing Lü Bu would not be difficult.

"General, you are known to keep only one consort and not increase your concubines. That's surprising."

"That is true."

"Then who was the woman I just saw?"

"Not everyone I keep becomes a concubine. You are not Huang Bosong's concubine, are you?"

Lü Bu sank back into his chair, and Zhang Xi, like the previous day, looked around his room.

Her gaze fell on the book on the desk. It was the same book, the same page as yesterday. This meant that Lü Bu had not read any further today.

Lü Bu said without looking,

"That book is actually placed there by my subordinate as a decoration. I cannot read such difficult books, can I?"

Zhang Xi turned around.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I wanted to show you my true self. I do not want to win your heart with cheap tricks."

"Why do you want to win my heart? General, if you wish, I can sing and dance for you."

"I also want to have deep conversations with you."

Lü Bu said this with a calm demeanor, and Zhang Xi tilted her head.

"That is also possible if you wish. If you say so, I will embrace you right now."

But Lü Bu shook his head.

"I, Lü Fengxian, am a greedy person. If I only wanted your body, I would have found a courtesan. I want both your body and your heart."

* * *

"Getting the body is easy, but getting the heart is difficult. I, though a lowly woman, do not want to give my heart away so easily."

"Is that also a prepared line? Did Huang Bosong tell you to say that? To make me interested?"

"Sir, he does not care about such things."

"Then you are just a collection item for Huang Bosong...?"

Zhang Xi smiled.

"Perhaps. But when the owner changes, the use also changes. How will you use me? The hilt of the sword is in your hands."

Lü Bu declared,

"If you do not decide to embrace me, I will not take you into my arms."

"What if I never have that feeling, even until I die of old age?"

"Then there's nothing I can do. I do not intend to force you."

"Why do you want my heart so much? What difference will it make?"

Lü Bu reached out his hand. Zhang Xi reluctantly gave him her hand.

Zhang Xi thought Lü Bu just wanted to hold her hand. But Lü Bu obtained information just by touching her hand.

'Calluses on her palm... She must have practiced sword dancing, but it's not just that. She must be a skilled swordsman.'

Lü Bu thought Zhang Xi might draw a dagger if necessary. Of course, Lü Bu was not afraid of assassins.

"Taking someone by force without love is not the act of a true man. It is also not something a person should do."

"Do not give me false hope, Lady. If you develop feelings for the General, you will only end up hurting yourself."

"That is uncertain."

"Even if you become my lover, I will not make you my consort."

Lü Bu's lips curved into a smile.

"That is not impossible. Nothing in this world is permanent. In these times, is it a flaw to replace concubines?"

"I, Lady, have lost my purity."

"What does that matter...?"

Lü Bu roughly pulled her hand, and Zhang Xi found herself deeply embraced by Lü Bu.

"Once in my hands, I will never let you go. You will eventually become my woman. But I do not want to skip the process of getting to know each other."

While Lü Bu spoke, Zhang Xi, who was in his arms, was deep in thought.

There was no need to rush. It seemed she could easily win Lü Bu's heart. No, it would be better to wait and see. She needed to observe the outcome of Huang Bosong's battle before making her move.

Zhang Xi suddenly pushed Lü Bu's chest and stepped back.

"General, I have an urgent request to make."

"Let's hear it."

"I am a gift from Lord Huang to the General."

Zhang Xi reminded Lü Bu of why she was there. This was also a way to pressure him to stop the conflict with Huang Bosong.

"Are you afraid I will break my promise and attack Huang Bosong?"

At Lü Bu's words, Zhang Xi's eyes welled up with tears.

"If the General attacks Guanxian, Lord Huang will think it's because I failed to serve you well."

"Is there a problem with that?"

"My family... they are..."

Zhang Xi trailed off and covered her face with her sleeve, as if she did not want to show her tears.

She said it was because her family was being held hostage, so she had no choice but to become Lü Bu's concubine.

But Zhang Xi had no family. How could Lü Bu know?

He gently pressed her thin wrist. Zhang Xi tried to resist, but she could not match Lü Bu's strength.

As if embarrassed to show her tear-streaked face, Zhang Xi turned her head. Lü Bu's hand persistently caressed her neck and then her cheek.

"Do not worry. I will keep my promise. Write a letter yourself. I, Lü Fengxian, promise not to attack Huang Bosong's army unless he attacks first."

Zhang Xi's expression brightened.

"Really?"

"I am a man who values promises. If I say I will keep my word, I will. Isn't that what integrity means?"

Lü Bu said this and stood up.

"I will also stamp it with my seal."

"Still..."

"We must be careful about the other women who came with you. From tonight, you will sleep here."

Lü Bu said this and raised his hands.

"You will sleep alone."

* * *

When Zhang Xi returned, she told Anxi and Zhenxi about what had happened in Lü Bu's room. Anxi and Zhenxi busily prepared the writing materials.

"How should we write it?"

Anxi, holding the brush, asked. Zhang Xi smiled.

"Lü Bu is highly skilled in martial arts and always surrounded by guards, making it difficult to eliminate him."

Of course, this was a lie.

Even though they had a sisterly relationship, Zhang Xi's own interests came first.

Since only Zhang Xi had been summoned by Lü Bu, there was no way for the others to verify her words. So she could easily lie.

"Should we write that using poison is also difficult?"

"That might be true. To poison Lü Bu's food, we need to gain his trust. We cannot do anything else while we are with him."

"That's true. But if we only report bad news to Lord Huang, it might not be good."

"I said we would accept a truce. And it seems possible to gradually undermine Lü Bu's resolve. The rumor that he only keeps one consort and does not increase his concubines is false. Moreover, he seems to be deeply infatuated with me, causing some tension with his other concubines."

"Should we write that?"

Zhang Xi nodded, and Anxi began to write diligently.

Even though the words were absurd, they were their own secret code.