บท 247: 242. Lu Bu Need An Ally
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It was in the evening when they finished, after lighting up all of the fire camps and torches, the mannequins were put up and after everything care done and ready, Lu Bu led his army to retreat toward Beihai whole also taking supplies from towns and villages that he and his army passed by.
Cao Cao and Liu Bei's army doesn't realize that the encampment in front of them is empty until the next day, when Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, and Ju Shou notice something amiss with the sentries on top of the watchtower.
Also, the torches are still on because normally after the sun rises, all of the torches are put off to save wood and cloth being used to create the torches, the three of them convey their suspicion to Cao Cao and Liu Bei.
Liu Bei doesn't understand their suspicion or act like he doesn't understand, while Cao Cao immediately understands their concern and orders Xiahou Yuan and Xiahou Dun to approach Lu Bu's encampment alongside their unit to probe them.
Receiving the order, both Xiahu Yuan and Xiahou Dun approached Lu Bu's camp with their unit with utter caution, but when they finally near Lu Bu's camp they could see that the guards were makeshift mannequins.
Fearing the worst, the two immediately lead their men to enter the camp and when they enter what welcomes them are empty campgrounds with a few mannequins swearing old equipment.
Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan split up and led their units to explore the camp, and after spending several minutes they some clues that indicate Lu Bu and his army were retreating to Beihai the capital of Qing Province.
The two of them conclude so because of the horses and Lu Bu's men's footprints that headed to the east, of course, they could be wrong but they are 100% sure of their deduction, especially Xiahu Yuan who is an expert on hunting due to his archery skills and love to hunt animals.
Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan returned back to Cao Cao and Liu Bei's command tent, where they conveyed their findings and their assumption to everyone there.
Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, and Ju Shou after hearing what they said agreed with their assumption and were sure that the reason Lu Bu was retreating was that he had a problem with his supply line After all, that's the only reason that can make him retreated since his position are stable even though he doesn't have the advantage.
Cao Cao was furious when he knew that he was being tricked by Lu Bu and Chen Gong, previously he knew that Lu Bu and Chen Gong would do it so they could withdraw safely, but now he fell to the same trick without him knowing about it.
Cao Cao's anger was calmed down by Liu Bei who lamented that they had fallen to the trick but said something good which was since Lu Bu had fallen back to Beihai, this meant his supply condition was truly bad.
Isn't this a great situation for all of them, even though Lu Bu will surely collect more supplies on his way back to Beihai, how much could he collect if something like a failed harvest happened?
These words were a wake-up call for Cao Cao, after glancing at Liu Bei who he knew sometimes hid his abilities under the facade of a kind and benevolent man, Cao Cao ordered his army and Liu Bei's army to prepare themselves to pursue Lu Bu.
Everyone cupped their hand receiving the order, Guo Jia interrupted the solemn situation where he had something to convey concerning Lean County in the north where he thinks something is happening there.
Guo Jia: "My Lord, since Lu Bu has retreated to Beihai, this means Lean County in the north is without strong defenders and could be taken down, I have a feeling that something is happening there which is detrimental to our battle against Lu Bu."
Cao Cao: "Hmm? Why do you think so Fengxiao? Shouldn't we focus all of our army to attack Lu Bu who's retreating to Beihai?"
Guo Jia: "Because I have thoughts that Chen Going would have sent a contingent of men to Lean County, fathering supplies from there for Lu Bu's army which could prolong our siege battle in Beihai."
Liu Bei: "Ju Shou does what Master Guo Jia said is true? Is there a possibility that Master Chen Gong sent someone to Lean County to gather some supplies?"
Ju Shou: "My Lord at first I'm not sure, but after repeatedly thinking about what Master Guo Jia said, and knowing Chen Gong he would surely do so due to Lu Bu's Army in dire need of supplies right now."
Xi Zhicai: "My Lord and Lord Liu Bei, I think what Guo Jia said is not wrong, we should send a contingent consisting of men from both My Lord and Lord Liu Bei to Lean, hindering even destroying Lu Bu's men who are gathering supplies there."
Cao Cao: "I see so it's not just Feng Xiao, Master Ju Shou and Zhicai also think the same, well then Brother Xuande what do you think? I will send some of my men alongside your men if you agree."
Liu Bei: "Since Brother Mengde said so, then I will agree to send some of my men alongside yours, My General Sun Guan will lead 10,000 of my men on this joint army to Lean County."
Cao Cao gives a hearty laugh and nods his head after hearing Liu Bei's words, he then proceeds by saying that he will send Yu Jin leading 20,000 men to join Sun Guan I nheaidng toward Lean County.
Since Cao Cao and Liu Bei agreed to their suggestion, the three advisors then proceeded to arrange a strategy for Sun Guan and Yu Jin to not only hinder or even destroy Lu Bu's effort to collect more supplies, but also subjugate Lean County.
While all of this is happening, back to Lu Bu who's leading his army back to Beihai where they were gathering supplies from one of the towns that is on their path, Lu Bu's men take all the supplies they see by force and Lu Bu allows it to happen.
Chen Gong who saw this immediately protested Lu Bu's conduct of allowing his army to do so, because not only did it make the people of Qing Province resent Lu Bu, but his army lost the disciplines they had cultivated for so long, just like a bunch of bandits.
Zhang Liao also agrees with this point made by Chen Gong, but Lu Bu doesn't care and dismisses their protest by saying that he would repay the suffering the people have faced because of him, right now he needs the supplies to face Cao Cao and Liu Bei.
Lu Bu's answer blocked any words that Chen Going wanted to say, he knew what Lu Bu said was correct but causing the people to suffer would only lose the support of the people, which Lu Bu needed right now more than ever.
After taking control of Qing Province, Chen Ging realized that the Nobles and Merchants that supported Lu Bu's insurrection were because Liu Bei and Ju Shou cutting them off from the corruption they were doing.
So when they heard that Lu Bu would overthrow Liu Bei, they immediately agreed to join his side in ending Liu Bei's reign in Qing Province, that's why Chen Gong wanted to rely on the common people just like Liu Bei relied on their support for his rule over Qing Province.
Chen Gong: "My Lord since we will lose some support from the people, and those Nobles and Merchants only cared for their own profits, we need to search for an ally as we can't stand alone with our condition right now."
Lu Bu: "Ally? Gongtai you do realize our reputation right now is almost as bad as Dong Zhou, who among the Lords of the land who wanted to ally with me? Especially facing off against Cao Cao and Liu Bei!"
Zhang Liao: "My Lord and Master Chen Gong, I have a suggestion maybe we can ally with Lord Liu Biao, he has the men and supplies to face off against Cao Cao and Liu Bei with the entire Jing Province at his disposal, and with him attacking from the rear where he has the element of surprise on his side.*
Chen Gong: "General Zhang Liao, Liu Biao will be the best choice if he stops acting like a coward hiding in his province, and without grand ambition, he will only stay inside Jing Province where no one will attack him, the only one who can truly contend with him are Cao Cao, Lie Fan, and Liu Yao right now."
Lu Bu: "Then who if not Liu Biao Gongtai, Liu Yao will not help us attack Liu Biao especially since Liu Biao is like a shield for him against Cao Cao and Lie Fan. Oh, what about Shi Xie who's in the south?"
Chen Gong: "Shi Xie is no help for us My Lord, he controls the entire Jiaozhi Province, but he is an opportunist and with our condition right now alongside the distance between our land he is not a choice for us."
Lu Bu: "If it's not Shi Xie then who? Wait don't tell me to wanted to suggest me to ally with him the bastard?!"
Chen Gong: "If the name that I thought taboo is the same as My Lord, then yes Lie Fan is the only really we can rely on right now with the current situation we face."
Lu Bu: "No! I don't agree with his allying ourselves with Lie Fan! That bastard is coveting my daughter!"
Chen Gong shakes his head and lets out a sigh, he knows that Lu Bu will disagree because of this. Lu Bu has told him about what transpired in Chang'An where the rumour of Dong Zhuo covering his daughter.
How he is furious about Dong Zhuo and then finds out that his only daughter is interested in Lie Fan, even though there are signs of her falling in love with him due to their encounter at Hulao Pass.
Ever since he discovered this, Lu Bu wanted to behead Lie Fan when he ever had the chance to meet him, but right now the situation is dire and Chen Gong knew that if they wanted to survive, the only person who could face both Cao Cao and Liu Bei, also willing to give them a chance to listen to what they wanted to say.
Chen Gong then began to persuade Lu Bu, saying how his personal feelings can't hinder the survival of his force, and it's not yet proven that Lie Fan was even interested in Lu Lingqi, it's just Lu Lingqi who showed that she was interested in Lie Fan.
Lu Bu who heard the first line of what Chen Going said managed to calm down, but after hearing the second line he became angry again asking how could Lie Fan isn't interested in his daughter, describing how her beauty is unparalleled and doesn't lose to Lie Fan's current wives, Chen Gong doesn't understand how could Lu Bu sudden changed what he said previously while Zhang Liao can only shake his head.
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu
Age: 27 (194 AD)
Level: 15
Next Level: 938.000
Renown: 645
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 571.700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 906 (+20)
VIT: 598 (+20)
AGI: 583 (+10)
INT: 587
CHR: 93
WIS: 509
WILL: 397
ATR Points: 0
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