Chapter 86

Chapter 720: A Dilemma, The Horse Prepared for Huang Bosong (1)

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Zhaodao paused for a moment before continuing to speak.

"Our task is to uncover the emperor's indiscretions. However..."

Zhongyan, sensing why Zhaodao had stopped, said,

"Uncovering the emperor's indiscretions shouldn't be too difficult. But should we report it directly to Empress Dowager Xia? If we do, we might..."

Zhongyan left his sentence unfinished for the same reason as Zhaodao. Since Laoshi and Caiyong were away from the capital, no one in the palace knew that Zhaodao was on Lü Bu's side.

To Empress Dowager Xia, Zhaodao was merely a talented eunuch. Would she spare the life of someone who knew about the emperor's indiscretions?

People cannot be perfect, but the emperor must be. There should not be a single flaw. If the emperor made a mistake, and if there were only a few who knew about it, it would be best for them to disappear. This is the reality of the palace's law.

"That's right. If we do, the four of us might be killed without anyone knowing."

"Ultimately, our lives belong to the venerable one, and we were prepared when we returned to the palace. However, we cannot die in vain."

"I agree. That's why I'm asking for your help again, seniors."

Zhaodao bowed to them and continued.

"First, we should inform the venerable one. In the meantime, we will observe the outcome of this matter. Once the truth is revealed to some extent, we will report it to him again. He will surely guide us. What do you think?"

The three eunuchs nodded in agreement.

To these four, Zhaozhong was like a god. With Zhaodeng gone, Zhaozhong was the greatest pillar among the eunuchs, and there was no one who could match him.

Zhaozhong's answer, given after experiencing all kinds of situations in the palace, would be beyond doubt.

Zhaodao, having gained their agreement, prepared the ink and brush to write a letter to Zhaozhong.

* * *

Zhaodao's letter was delivered to Zhaozhong in Hedong after passing through several hands over several days.

Zhaozhong read the letter and fell into deep thought.

"Should I inform General Lü? Or should I not?"

His dilemma was whether to inform Lü Bu about the emperor's indiscretions. However, he soon shook his head.

"No, no. It's not the right time yet. There's no need to inform him until the situation becomes clearer. Now is the time to focus all efforts on pacifying Guanxian. It's too early to discuss the matter of the capital."

He decided not to inform Lü Bu because he did not know the full extent of the situation. Zhaozhong believed it would not be too late to inform him once the circumstances were clear.

However, the content of Zhaodao's letter was indeed intriguing.

"If this is handled well, a storm might blow through the capital. Who could be the one manipulating the emperor from the shadows?"

Zhaozhong's doubts multiplied. There were not many who could manipulate the emperor from behind the scenes. But it was not the end. To read the grand strategy, one must think several steps ahead. To do so, one must first understand the next move.

"There are only two people in the world who can manipulate the emperor. One is Empress Dowager Xia, and the other is the Daoist priest Simiaomiao."

Zhaozhong quickly narrowed down the possibilities.

"Empress Dowager Xia? She is a person of great ambition. Moreover, she has experienced all kinds of situations in a short period, so she can act differently from what she shows. However, it would be self-defeating for her to ally with the Mingmen Society."

Yesterday's enemies can become today's allies, laughing and drinking together. This is the nature of politics.

But there was a huge, insurmountable wall between Empress Dowager Xia and the Mingmen Society. It was the issue of lineage, specifically Empress Dowager Xia's humble origins.

Because Empress Dowager Xia was of humble birth, those who did not recognize her son as the current emperor were the Mingmen Society.

The Mingmen Society supported Empress Dong and now had the intention of placing Prince Jinliu on the throne. Therefore, Empress Dowager Xia and the Mingmen Society were like water and oil, unable to mix.

"Then it must be Simiaomiao... But can a mere fake Daoist who only writes talismans really control the emperor and move the world?"

Zhaozhong shook his head again.

"No, no. Simiaomiao is not capable of such a feat. But what if there is another person behind him?"

Suddenly, Zhaozhong slapped his knee.

"The Great Venerable One could easily manipulate Simiaomiao. But the Great Venerable One is no longer in this world."

In Zhaozhong's mind, Cao Cao's face appeared. To him, the 'Great Venerable One' was 'Zhaodeng.' Zhaodeng's legacy must have been passed on to Cao Cao.

"It must be Cao Aman. Indeed, he has been quiet for too long. With the vast wealth left by the Great Venerable One and the support of the Cao and Xiahou families, Cao Aman would not easily back down."

Zhaozhong instinctively felt that Cao Cao was moving again. He hummed a tune and tapped the desk with his fingers, his expression gradually brightening.

"Even the Great Venerable One would be a challenge, but Cao Aman is not my match. Let's see... How can I turn this to General Lü's advantage?"

The question of whether to inform Lü Bu was now a separate issue. The key for Zhaozhong was how to put the capital into Lü Bu's hands.

Although Lü Bu was loyal to the Han dynasty now, the Han dynasty was already in decline.

There was no need for Lü Bu to repeat the mistake of Dong Zhuo, who clung to a dynasty on its last legs.

For Lü Bu to establish a new dynasty, the Han dynasty must first fall.

"The current emperor will surely be an obstacle for Lü Bu. The same goes for Dong Zhuo. They are people who must disappear at some point. If Cao Aman dirties his hands, it would be the best outcome for General Lü."

With his conclusion made, Zhaozhong called his subordinates.

"Hey! Are you out there?"

Before he finished speaking, several eunuchs hurried in and bowed. Zhaozhong nodded and said,

"We are going to Hanguan. Prepare yourselves."

* * *

Zhaozhong went to Hanguan, but the Lü Bu he sought was still at Hangu Pass.

"Mr. Guo, how long do we have to wait? If we attack now, we can sweep them away in one go."

Lü Bu was urging Guo Jia to launch an attack. However, Guo Jia always dissuaded him.

"General, the time is not right yet."

"When will the time be right? They are already out of supplies and their morale is at rock bottom. With all the conditions for victory in place, why hesitate to launch an attack?"

"Attacking the Guanxian army now is like eating a piece of meat that is cooked on the outside but still dripping with blood on the inside."

"Some undercooked meat can be delicious. It seems you haven't thought of that, Mr. Guo?"

Lü Bu's words made Guo Jia smile.

"Isn't that what you mean by the taste of battle? Think about the time you were caught wearing Jiang Yiduan's clothes to infiltrate Hangu Pass."

"That was my mistake, but this is a different matter."

"We can further weaken the enemy and lower their morale. Wait four more days."

But Lü Bu shook his head vigorously.

"We need to crush the Guanxian army quickly to advance and pacify Guanxian. Only then can I meet Diaochan."

"Why didn't you avoid her before, and now you are so eager to see her?"

"By now, her anger should have subsided."

Guo Jia seemed to understand something and raised one corner of his mouth.

"Ah, I see! Now I understand."

"Understand what?"

"Permit me to say, the desire for battle and lust are in a relationship where one can suppress the other. A mature adult has desires, regardless of gender. Especially for a hero like you, who spends most of your days in solitude, how can you not miss your concubines? Why not take a beautiful woman from Guanxian as a concubine?"

Lü Bu waved his hands vigorously.

"How can I face Diaochan when I'm in this situation? And who am I to make someone a lifelong concubine?"

"Can a hero's multiple concubines be a flaw?"

"That's why I said it's a flaw. Don't bring it up again. Now, just give me a chance to fight."

"Very well, I will arrange it for you."

Guo Jia's words made Lü Bu's face light up.

"Really? You will? Where should I go? I want a battlefield where I can charge through the red earth..."

Lü Bu's desire was obvious. He wanted a battlefield where he could break through a single point. That was the kind of battlefield he desired. However, Guo Jia had no intention of providing such a battlefield.

"There will be a time to deploy Dangyiji, but it is not now."

Guo Jia pointed to the map on the desk.

"The Guanxian army is trapped between Hangu Pass and Hanguan."

"Can't they move through the mountains? There is only one road on the plain."

"The mountain troops of the Guanxian army are Jiang Yiduan. However, they were defeated by General Gao Shun and the Hanzhen camp when they attacked Hanguan from the east."

"News from Hanguan?"

Guo Jia nodded.

"The messenger bird sent from Hanguan escaped halfway, causing a delay in the news."

Messenger birds were faster than carrier pigeons but had a wild nature, and one in ten would escape like this.

Just as soldiers might desert, how could a mere bird endure all the difficulties and troubles?

"Even carrier pigeons only reach their destination seven times out of ten. We must accept this."

"I'm glad you don't complain."

"There is no such thing as a perfect person. I am skilled in martial arts but lack talent in literature. We must accept what we can."

Accepting reality is the foundation for solving the problems at hand. However, Huang Bosong could not accept the current reality.

* * *

"I, Huang Bosong, have become a rat in a trap. How many deserted last night?"

"Several hundred, I would say. My lord, it seems we should turn back to Dongdu."

"What nonsense! How far is Luoyang that you suggest turning the army around?"

"Lü Bu has already taken Hangu Pass. We can no longer receive supplies. Our grain is almost depleted, and the soldiers' morale has long been at rock bottom."

The Guanxian army's strategist, Siyuan, had no choice but to use the bitter word 'retreat.'

Objectively, the current situation was a defeat. A crushing defeat. There was no chance of a turnaround.

"I didn't expect Jiang Yiduan to fall so easily. What did the Red Silk Corps do?"

"My lord, change your mind. Admit defeat and return to Guanxian to regroup. Only then can you plan for the future."

Despite Siyuan's repeated advice, Huang Bosong did not change his mind. Of course, his stubbornness had its reasons.

"I cannot do that. Do you know my age? It's already difficult to return to Guanxian, and even if we do, it will take several years to reorganize and gather supplies. By then, I..."

Considering Huang Bosong's age, there might not be another opportunity. How could Siyuan not know this? He had to use the bitter word again.

"You have two grown sons. They can serve the young lord, and I, Siyuan, will lead another advance to Dongdu."

Huang Bosong shook his head.

"I know my sons better. They are not capable of founding a dynasty. Moreover, there is no way to return to Guanxian. We couldn't even cross Hanguan, let alone Hangu Pass, which Lü Bu guards."

Huang Bosong knew the situation was absolutely unfavorable for the Guanxian army. But he believed he had no choice.

"Give all the beauties to Lü Bu. Hand over all the wealth we have. Then he will surely open the way for us."

"Lü Bu will not keep his word. To pacify Guanxian, he must eliminate me. How can he let me go? And retreating with so many troops would be a blow to my pride."