"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Hua Xiong said with utter disdain, "I am perfectly fine right now."
"Zichuan ordered me to capture you alive, you're really lucky. Your loyalty later moved me, otherwise, you would've been dead long ago," Guan Yu glanced at Hua Xiong and said indifferently.
"Stop, both of you need to calm down for a moment. We should think about how to deal with Lyu Bu. If we can't defeat him, the Coalition Army has no hope left. Lyu Bu alone is enough to reduce the morale of the Coalition Army to nothing," Chen Xi hurriedly intervened. If Guan Yu and Hua Xiong started fighting again, it would never end, especially since Hua Xiong had set his mind on not losing face even if it meant holding on till his last breath. The thought of them fighting was unbearably frustrating.
When Lyu Bu was mentioned, everyone fell silent. That was beyond their capabilities; the guy was simply not human.
"What about a relay battle?" Chen Xi suggested.
"Not a good idea," Hua Xiong was the first to object.
"You don't have a say in this. Second Brother, what do you think of this proposal?" Chen Xi glared at Hua Xiong before turning his head to the Second Brother.
"It won't work. Lyu Bu can't be worn down by one or two people," Guan Yu was no fool, and naturally knew when to be proud and when to be cautious. Against a mighty opponent like Lyu Bu, one had to keep a low profile or die!
"Gang up?" Chen Xi continued to probe.
"I refuse!" Zhang Fei glared angrily at Chen Xi.
"Alright, Yide will take the lead tomorrow, let's settle it at that," Chen Xi glanced at Zhang Fei and said.
At these words, Zhang Fei immediately deflated but then stubbornly shouted, "If I must take the lead, I'll take the lead. Second Brother, remember to cover for me!"
Chen Xi rolled his eyes. Despite Zhang Fei's rugged appearance, he turned out to have quite a few tricks up his sleeve, "I never said Second Brother can't cover for you. We'll all cover for you together tomorrow. Hua Xiong, are you going or not?"
All four people looked at Hua Xiong, three super experts, and one full of cunning, Hua Xiong immediately broke out in a cold sweat, especially with Zhang Fei glaring at him with his bulging eyes.
[You already said we're going together. If I don't go, how will Big Beard view me in the future! I despise you!] Hua Xiong glared back at Chen Xi, dissatisfied.
"I'll go!" Hua Xiong steeled his heart, "But get me a change of clothes and a few Short Spears, it's agreed, I'm definitely not facing Lyu Bu. If my cover is blown, all the Concubines and Singers back at home will be done for."
"That's the spirit of brotherhood! Come on, let's drink!" Saying so, Zhang Fei brought over a jar of wine and filled their bowls. After gulping it down and wiping his beard wet with wine, he said, "Tomorrow, you'll see how old Zhang takes down Lyu Bu!"
Chen Xi just smiled without responding. From what he had learned before, the gap between Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Lyu Bu in this world was much larger than he remembered. If Guan and Zhang together were slightly superior to Lyu Bu in his memory, then in this world, even their joint effort wouldn't be enough to defeat Lyu Bu—the same degree of increase in strength only made the strong even stronger!
Chen Xi cradled his drink while pondering, he seemed to have gotten used to this kind of life. Although there were no computers, no internet, no forums, no pop stars or movie stars, this life somehow felt more relaxing to him.
[Liu Xuande was indeed a decent choice, but Cao Cao was truly the most promising one. What a pity, they are not compatible. Oh well, could I really bring myself to harm these fellows who drank with me until they were drunk and still remembered to carry me back home?]
Chen Xi thought helplessly, using his spiritual power to suppress his emotions. He realized that he had unwittingly begun to think from the perspective of Liu Bei's faction.
[Well, let it be, just let it be. It's not a big deal. If I am with Liu Bei, then so be it. Liu Bei is now reputable and promising. As long as we defeat Lyu Bu next, he will surely catch Dong Zhuo's eye. Then, there will be plenty of opportunities to maneuver. Ha-ha, I may not excel in strategic wisdom, but my vision is there!]
Chen Xi slowly closed his eyes and continued his train of thought. Perhaps Liu Bei was not the best choice, but Chen Xi, who had now become involved with Liu Bei's faction, also understood it was the most suitable one for him.
[If I have the chance to recruit some great generals, like Huang Zhong, Gan Ning, Taishi Ci, Wei Yan, Chen Dao... all tough characters. Let me think about where these people are. It's time to form a Fantasy Faction.] As he ruminated, Chen Xi's thoughts wandered farther and farther away.
While Liu Bei was living carefreely, Lyu Bu had already swaggered his way to Hulao Pass, where Li Ru was waiting for him in the residence within the pass.
"Greetings to the Chancellor and to the Military Advisor." Lyu Bu and others paid respects to Dong Zhuo, who sat in the seat of honor, and then to Li Ru.
"How did it go?" Li Ru asked calmly.
"At least fifty thousand soldiers have deserted after tonight, and it is unlikely there were many casualties." Lyu Bu gestured to Zhang Liao, who stepped forward to speak; Lyu Bu was not adept at these detailed tasks.
"Lavish a wine feast. Fengxian, did you gain any victories?" Dong Zhuo waved his hand, and the wine banquet that had been prepared in advance was quickly laid out. After Lyu Bu left, Li Ru had ordered the preparation of the feast. Regardless of success or failure, Lyu Bu was worth winning over, even if Dong Zhuo was muddled. But Li Ru had not lost his sense of judgment.
Lyu Bu felt a bit embarrassed but did not lie, "None. Although I encountered Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, Yuan Shao was staunchly protected by two individuals, and I did not focus on killing him due to an itching for battle, which allowed him to escape. As for Cao Cao, he only arrived after the enemy general who killed General Hua was defeated."
"Oh? There was actually someone who could withstand Fengxian." Dong Zhuo was intrigued.
Li Ru took a roll of white silk from his sleeve and handed it to Dong Zhuo, with the reports on Liu Bei and others from the past few days all included.
"Such a pity. It's actually those three. We once had a meeting, and they even 'saved' me once. Wen Youi, is it possible to win him over?" Dong Zhuo mused, not sure of his own thoughts. Dong Zhuo, who had since arriving in Luoyang and gained Lyu Bu, quelled his aspirations of connecting with heroes from all over the world, but now interest sparked within him again, showing signs of his former prowess that had once dominated Xiliang.
Li Ru was startled, then quietly rejoiced in his heart. What he feared most was that Dong Zhuo would lose his ambition, but before he could issue a severe wake-up call, Dong Zhuo regained his former vigor upon seeing the reports.
[Good, good, just a momentary lapse, it's great to have ambition, great to have ambition.] Li Ru was instantly filled with confidence. As long as the boss had ambition, he could bring under him all the heroes of the land.
"This matter is not easy. If we want him to thoroughly commit to our side, it won't be easy, but to divide and conquer is as simple as turning one's hand. The Eighteen Feudal Lords, after all, are eighteen different forces. But now is not the right time. First, let them understand our strength, and naturally, some will come to our side." A glint of sharpness flashed in Li Ru's eyes as he shook off the decadent air of his days in Luoyang. His whole being was invigorated.