Chapter 41: Giving Away Horses

  Lü Bu dismounted and looked at his panting horse, feeling like kicking it to death. It had only run for less than a dozen laps and was already exhausted like this; if they were to engage in a fierce battle, how many rounds could it last?

  These days, Lü Bu has been practicing his martial arts diligently, waiting for Cao Cao to send him a good horse so he can go and challenge Zhang Yang again to avenge his previous defeat. However, after sending the message, there was no news from Cao Cao, which made Lü Bu's heart anxious. He had boasted that if Yuan Shao didn't send someone to invite him, then he would lose face.

  As time went on, Lü Bu became increasingly restless and insecure. Even in front of his subordinates, he felt a little ashamed. His hopes were becoming more and more distant, but the shame was getting thicker and heavier, and he began to resent Cao Cao and Yuan Shao.

  These aristocratic young masters look down on people like me, they only recognize Ding Yuan.

  Lü Bu's anger grew as he thought about it more, and with a swift kick, "Ka Cha" sound, the willow tree by the roadside was kicked into two pieces.

  "Offering sacrifices..." Just as Zhang Liao was about to persuade him, he suddenly looked into the distance and hastily said: "Someone is coming."

  "Good horse!"

  Zhang Liao immediately also praised: "Good horse, this horse is even better than Zhang Yi's riding horse."

  "Ah, ah." Lü Bu's eyes lit up with excitement as he couldn't help but rush over to the horse. As he approached, he realized it was Jia Xu and his expression turned gloomy. He had originally wanted to see who the horse belonged to, and if possible, buy or seize it. But since it was Jia Xu, he didn't dare be so presumptuous. After all, people from West Liang weren't easy to mess with, not to mention that Jia Xu had the Emperor backing him.

  "Come to welcome me?" Jia Xu smiled and sized up Lü Bu, pulling the reins of Chì Tù tightly. Chì Tù was impatient, snorting and shaking its head and tail.

  As soon as he saw Red Hare, Lü Bu's heart began to beat uncontrollably and his eyes shone brightly, as if he had seen a beauty of the world. His whole heart was on Red Hare, but he had to force himself to be polite to Jia Xu: "Wenhe, where are you going?"

  "Come and receive the imperial edict." Jia Xu sized up Lü Bu, taking in his piercing gaze without responding: "The Emperor is pleased with Ding Yuan's achievements and wants him to be appointed as the Protector of the Xiongnu and also govern Pingzhou."

  "Isn't it to make him the Imperial Guard... or something?" As soon as Lü Bu spoke, he knew he had misspoken. The Emperor had never said anything about making Ding Yuan the Imperial Guard; that was the idea of the Yuan family. This was the Emperor's way of driving Ding Yuan out of Luoyang and cutting off one of the Yuan family's arms. As soon as this thought occurred to him, Lü Bu sneered again - the Emperor was thinking too simply, it would be strange if Ding Yuan agreed. He hastily changed his words: "Then is this horse... a gift for Commander Ding?"

  There is an unspeakable sense of loss in his tone, and even a hint of unwillingness.

  Jia Xu shook his head from afar. "No, this Red Hare was bestowed upon Zhang Fei by the Emperor."

  "And mine..." Lü Bu smiled and suddenly felt something was off. He raised his head, staring at Jia Xu: "What did you say?"

  "Feng Xian didn't hear clearly?" Jia Yu raised an eyebrow, seemingly smiling yet not: "Or is it that Feng Xian refuses to accept?"

  "This horse is a gift for... me?" Lü Bu stared with his mouth agape, finding it hard to believe.

  "This horse is Lord Dong's beloved treasure, and all the generals in Liangzhou admire it, but none can ride it." Jia Xu smiled and said: "A few days ago, Lord Dong presented this horse to Your Majesty, who was very fond of it and often rode it. That day, because of the horse's lack of strength, we were defeated, and Your Majesty felt sorry for it, thinking of giving the horse to General Fu. He wanted to come in person, but these days the imperial affairs are busy, and he couldn't get away, so he asked me to bring the horse."

  Lü Bu's heart was bursting with rage, and he could no longer hear what Jia Xu was saying. He hastily snatched the reins from Jia Xu's hands and mounted his horse. Chi Tu was furious, let out a long whinny, and stood up on its hind legs.

  Lü Bu burst out laughing: "Good horse, if you can throw me off, I am not Lü Bu of the human world."

  The red hare jumped and leaped, tossing about several times, but couldn't shake Lü Bu off. Enraged beyond control, it spread its four hooves wide, like a flowing flame, and galloped wildly into the distance.

  ……

  Hong Chi, Cao Cao suddenly stood up and gazed into the distance.

  A crimson warhorse galloped from afar, with a single rider on its back, whose laughter was as thunder to the ears.

  Cao Cao's face suddenly changed, and he was silent for a long time.

  "What's wrong?" He Tong furrowed his brow and yawned: "Where did this rogue come from, disturbing people's peaceful sleep?"

  "There's nothing." Cao Cao pondered for a moment: "It seems to be Lü Bu, I don't know where he got a good horse from and is testing its strength now."

  He snorted with a laugh: "Such an unrefined and boorish fellow, his heart is led by things, his will follows the trend, he has only one trick up his sleeve, how can he have great wisdom in his heart?"

  Cao Cao's eyes flickered, and he asked again: "Bo You brother, if the Pingzhou army is controlled by the emperor like the Liangzhou army, can the situation in Luoyang still be in our hands?"

  He Cong smiled faintly: "Gentlemen are in harmony but different, while petty people are the same but not in harmony. The people of Bianliang are all rough and unrefined, only seeking profit. Those who interact with each other for profit will end their relationship once the profit is gone. How can they be united in heart and morality? Meng De, you have a strong presence, but your learning is not solid, and your mind is not stable. Now that things have come to this point, what else do you have to hesitate about? Don't worry, the phoenix will arrive, and peace can be expected. You can follow the sage with an easy heart and create a new dynasty."

  Cao Cao held his breath, and then burst out laughing. Hei You said this, obviously he had long known Yuan Shao's phoenix fate, knew that the phoenix egg in Yuan Shao's hand was about to hatch, the phoenix would be born, and a sage would reappear.

  He didn't respond to He Cong's words, looked up and gazed into the distance, then suddenly said: "Cai Bojie has arrived."

  He Daoyuan yawned again, stood up and listlessly tidied his clothes. Cao Cao saw this and joked: "Brother Boqiu's spirit is not good, are you thinking too much?"

  He Da looked at Cao Cao and burst out laughing: "You dare to tease me, you're not idle either. I heard that the song girl you married is pregnant again, often with tiger's roar?"

  Cao Cao was taken aback, then burst out laughing: "Rumors stop at the wise. Where did this tiger's roar come from? It's just me using my vocal cords to help with my martial arts training."

  "Tiger shape?" He Yong smiled and said: "Meng De is making rapid progress."

  Cao Cao nodded and sighed: "I'm very curious about what kind of momentum the Phoenix Formation will have."

  "You will have a chance to see it." He paused for a moment and then said: "Soon."

  Cao Cao didn't ask again, adjusted his clothes, and leaped onto his mount, Absolute Shadow. He galloped towards the approaching carriage team in the distance. After running for over a mile, he arrived before the carriages and shouted: "Is this Chen Liu's Cai Bojie? I am Cao Cao, the young master of Pei State, here to welcome you."

  The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a delicate little face appeared, glanced at Cao Cao, and then disappeared behind the curtain again. A clear voice like an oriole's rang out: "Father, someone has come to welcome you."