Chapter 34: The Phoenix is Coming (Seeking Collection)

  Less than three hundred steps away from Yuan Shao's mansion was Yuan Shu's residence.

  In the study, Yuan Shao sat in the middle with a flickering gaze, as if he was thinking of something.

  Cao Cao hastily arrived, cupped his hands in greeting, and sat down opposite Yuan Shao. He picked up a wine cup from the table, drained it in one gulp: "I'm parched to death."

  Yuan Shao's eyebrows slightly raised, almost smiling: "Meng De, what's so urgent?"

  I just went on a trip to Mengjin.

  "Mengjin?" Yuan Shao hesitated for a moment: "What are you going to Mengjin for? Ding Yuan has arrived in the city."

  "I'll go find Lü Bu." Cao Cao leaned in towards Yuan Shao. "The reason Lü Bu was defeated by Zhang Yang is that he underestimated him, but this is a good opportunity for you, Prime Minister. If you can recruit Lü Bu under your command, he will be a rare and powerful general."

  Yuan Shao's eyebrows slightly furrowed, he didn't think so. He had also placed high hopes on Lü Bu, but unexpectedly Lü Bu was all show and no substance, not only failing to defeat Zhang Yang, but instead being defeated by him. This made Yuan Shao very disappointed. Cao Cao letting him go win over Lü Bu at this time, he wasn't very interested.

  Yuan Shao showed no interest, Cao Cao became anxious: "Ben Chu, even if Lü Bu was exaggerating a bit, he still fought Zhang Yan for dozens of rounds. Zhang Yan is known as the 'King of Northern Territory's Spear', not an ordinary person. Otherwise, Your Majesty wouldn't have asked Dong Zhuo for Zhang Yan at their first meeting. From this, it can be seen that Lü Bu's martial arts are far from ordinary people's comparison. How could he be discarded like a worn-out shoe just because of one defeat...

  Yuan Shao furrowed his brow: "Meng De, I know you mean well. However, this matter was originally Han Dang's responsibility, and now if I intervene, I'm afraid it will conflict with him. You also know that Han Dang is currently very displeased with me, because of Lü Bu, a mere warrior, brothers are at odds, wouldn't we be ridiculed? Let's wait for a few days, after Han Dang cools down, I'll bring it up again. Lü Bu can't escape anyway."

  He smiled and said, "Apart from you and me, I'm afraid no one else dares to provoke Highway."

  Cao Cao wanted to speak but stopped. Yuan Shao's words were quite heavy. He didn't dare mention himself in the same breath as Yuan Shao. If he continued, would Yuan Shao think he had changed his mind and wanted to recruit Lü Bu for himself? Cao Cao knew his own limitations; without the backing of the Yuan brothers, Lü Bu could be friends with him but wouldn't serve him loyally like he did the Yuan brothers, a man with eunuch connections.

  Alas, the gate is bigger than heaven.

  Cao Cao changed the subject: "After the mutiny in Luoyang, the Emperor has taken some measures, compared to his previous confusion, he seems to have understood many things. Now, how should we respond?"

  Yuan Shao secretly sneered, knowing that Cao Cao was probing for something. He glanced at Cao Cao and raised his arm. Cao Cao was puzzled and followed the direction of his arm to see a round object in Yuan Shao's sleeve emitting a dark red glow. He was taken aback: "What treasure is this?"

  "Feng Luan." Yuan Shao took out Feng Luan and played with it in the palm of his hand, his face lit up by the glow of Feng Luan: "Meng De, you and I have been friends for many years, like brothers, so I won't hide it from you. At the moment when Zhu Que's fire started, I felt the pulse of Feng Luan." He raised his head, smiling but not quite smiling at Cao Cao: "Meng De, the phoenix is coming, peace can be expected. Meng De, do you want to be a capable minister or a treacherous hero?"

  Cao Cao took a deep breath, his eyes wide with shock. After a long while, he bowed to Yuan Shao: "The phoenix has arrived, the sage is born, and the world is blessed. This is also a blessing for me. I am willing to be a humble subject under the wise ruler."

  "Hahaha……" Yuan Shao burst out laughing, patting Cao Cao's shoulder intimately: "Mengde, I was just joking with you, why be so formal? Can't I trust you? Get up quickly and help me think of a plan to deal with Dong Zhuo."

  Cao Cao bowed his head, and the corners of his eyes twitched. At first, Yuan Shao wanted to recruit Dong Zhuo and other border generals into the capital, but Cao Cao disagreed. Now Dong Zhuo had indeed become a scourge, and Yuan Shao was going to ask him for advice. However, Yuan Shao's attitude was very relaxed, and he obviously did not really consider Dong Zhuo a danger, saying this only to ease the atmosphere.

  Cao Cao pondered for a moment: "Although Ding Yuan had been the governor of Bingzhou, his reputation was not sufficient, he was brave but lacked strategy. In my opinion, we should let Wang Zishi (Wang Yun) take charge and bring the Bingzhou army under our command. This way, Dong Zhuo will be isolated and collapse without a fight."

  Yuan Shao raised an eyebrow and nodded repeatedly: "Good, this is a great plan. Wang Zishi is a famous scholar in Pingzhou and also a member of my party. If he appears, it would be perfect. Even if the Governor has any opinions, they won't blame me."

  Cao Cao let out a sigh of relief.

  ……

  Lü Bu paced back and forth in his tent with his hands behind his back, like a caged beast.

  The curtain was lifted and Zhang Liao walked in. Lü Bu glanced at him and forced a smile: "Wen Yuan, is there something?"

  Zhang Liao was very young, just barely out of his teenage years, and was the youngest among the heroes under Ding Yuan's command in Bian Province. He was also one of the most valued by Lü Bu. Like Gao Shun, Zhang Liao enjoyed Lü Bu's trust.

  "Just found a fine horse, had it sent over, first offer it to the ancestors then ride it."

  As soon as he mentioned the horse, Lü Bu thought of that red-maned horse and remembered the tears in its eyes. He felt a pang of heartache. He turned his head and forced a smile: "Thanks for your trouble, Wen Farong, but I think it won't be needed. Cao Cao just came by and said he'd give me a good horse."

  Zhang Liao furrowed his brow: "Cao Cao? That eunuch's descendant?"

  "It's not him personally." Lü Bu smiled complacently: "He was sent by Yuan Benchu to pay his respects. Heh heh, Yuan Shu looks down on me, and I have no way out? These two brothers, although they both come from the Yuan family, their insight is quite different."

  Zhang Liao did not speak. He knew that Lü Bu was proud and especially needed affirmation from others at this time. Yuan Shao was willing to recruit him, which was the best outcome. Looking around the world, who else had a greater appeal than Yuan Shao? This could also be considered as "losing a horse to find a gain", who knows if it's not a blessing in disguise.

  "Wait until I get a good horse, and then I'll fight Zhang Liao again." Lü Bu's face turned cold, his eyes narrowed slightly, with some hesitation: "However, that gun of his seems to be somewhat unusual."

  "Feng Xian also thinks so?" Zhang Liao's eyes lit up: "I was just about to mention this matter. Zhang Yi was able to fight Feng Xian to a draw that day, I think it's not just because of the horse, the spear in his hand is also somewhat unusual. Being able to infuse true energy without damaging it is definitely not an ordinary product."

  "Do you think so too?" Lü Bu pondered: "What virtue or ability does Zhang Yue have to possess such a treasure?"

  Zhang Liao smiled: "He is now in the imperial palace, where there are many treasures. It's not surprising that he has a precious spear. Your Majesty can let him lead the vanguard and give him an imperial horse. Giving him another precious spear is also reasonable."

  Lü Bu's eyebrows rose, recalling the time Tianzi was on the palace wall to help Zhang Xiu observe the battle and boost his morale. He thought Zhang Liao made sense. Thinking of the favors Zhang Xiu had received, Lü Bu felt envious and resentful. However, thinking that Yuan Shao sent someone to pay respects, he relaxed again.

  "Wait till I seize his horse next time and take away his spear, then see how he can still be proud."

  Zhang Liao also smiled, but there was a faint sense of unease between his eyebrows.

  The third update, seeking recommendations, seeking collections!

  Wish all book friends a happy National Day!