Chapter 1181: Solo Raid into the Den
Chapter 1181: Solo Raid into the Den
October 18, 2017
Outside Luoyang City, beyond the main camp of the Coalition of Warlords, stood the Imperial Capital Administrative Office.
Nearly two thousand cavalrymen, clad in blood-red attire and armor, stood before a million-strong coalition army with an air of calmness, treating the massive force as if it were nothing.
In contrast, the coalition forces facing them, though considered elite, and backed by a million troops, seemed to pale in comparison to the formidable presence of this cavalry unit.
One side had two thousand, the other a million, but before even considering their strength, the Iron Blood Guard had already crushed their opponents in terms of morale.
This was not surprising. After all, the Iron Blood Guard, despite their small number, had remarkable achievements and prestige. Moreover, Lu Hai Kong and his exceptionally formidable Elite General Corps stood before them. Under such circumstances, it was normal for the coalition, lacking their main general, to feel overwhelmed.
However, the coalition was not entirely helpless. Despite some initial chaos and anxiety, their formation remained intact, and the more they withstood Lu Hai Kong's pressure, the more resilient they became.
This caught Lu Hai Kong off guard. He scanned the army with his eyes, then withdrew his gaze, not paying too much attention to them. He quietly awaited the response from the coalition.
Lu Hai Kong's behavior at this moment was peculiar. Given his personality, it was highly unlikely for him to wait patiently like this when dealing with enemies. His demeanor seemed more like that of a negotiator than a warrior.
Meanwhile, on Dong Zhuo's side, upon hearing that Lu Hai Kong had arrived outside their camp, there was a brief commotion. They had expected Lu Hai Kong to meet them at a distance from their camp, but never imagined he would dare to come right to their doorstep, causing many of them to furrow their brows.
Lu Hai Kong's sudden appearance outside their camp not only surprised Dong Zhuo's forces but also made them lose face in terms of morale.
Initially, Dong Zhuo and the other warlords were prepared to meet Lu Hai Kong outside, but Li Ru intervened and sent a messenger to invite Lu Hai Kong into their camp.
At this point, it was clear that Lu Hai Kong intended to negotiate. Regardless of his intentions, he had come, and they had to at least engage in talks. However, before any discussions, Lu Hai Kong's formidable presence needed to be subdued.
Lu Hai Kong, you came to negotiate with us. Regardless of your plans or calculations, now that you're here, the coalition's morale must not be overshadowed by yours. Otherwise, in any negotiation, we will be led by your nose.
You think you're so tough and arrogant? Then why are you standing at the gate? If you're so capable, come inside and talk!
Li Ru presented Lu Hai Kong with a dilemma. Regardless of whether Lu Hai Kong chose to enter the camp or not, the momentum he had built with his two thousand cavalry would be suppressed. Then, when they started negotiations, it would be much easier, and the initiative would lean more towards the coalition.
This is why interactions between powerful forces are so complicated; even a simple meeting involves intricate maneuvers.
One could say that from the moment the coalition and Lu Hai Kong made contact, their game of wits had already begun.
After Li Ru's order was conveyed, the coalition began their preparations, not to receive Lu Hai Kong but to go out and meet him. They didn't believe Lu Hai Kong would enter their camp.
Despite this being their stronghold, Lu Hai Kong, even at his most rampant and arrogant, would never dare enter their military camp.
However, they miscalculated once again. No one, including Li Ru, anticipated that Lu Hai Kong would not only enter their camp but do so alone, akin to a lone warrior marching into enemy territory.
When Li Ru's invitation for Lu Hai Kong to join them in the camp reached the camp's entrance, Lu Hai Kong's lips curled into a slight smirk. After briefly informing the nearby warlords, he rode solo into the coalition's encampment.
Lu Hai Kong's bold move astonished everyone. The soldiers blocking his path were dumbfounded, never expecting him to dare enter their camp alone.
In reality, it wasn't just the soldiers who were stunned. As Lu Hai Kong rode his warhorse into the coalition's main camp and directly approached the warlords' tents, the atmosphere within became momentarily awkward.
Even though they had received news of his arrival, seeing Lu Hai Kong in person still left them somewhat incredulous.
From the moment Lu Hai Kong entered the camp, the atmosphere grew oppressive. The twelve warlords, seated in a circular formation, displayed varying degrees of hesitation on their faces, and many averted their eyes, unable to meet Lu Hai Kong's gaze.
After all, these were the most elite warlords in the realm, each commanding hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of subjects. Yet, faced with Lu Hai Kong, who had brazenly ventured into their midst alone, they appeared short of breath, despite Lu Hai Kong being the only one present at that moment.
"Surprised?" Lu Hai Kong asked, his voice carrying a hint of amusement as he scanned the twelve warlords before him, their expressions a mix of shock and awe.
In the 16th year of the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, in the 9th month, on the 1st day, the coalition's main camp was filled with tension.
Upon hearing Lu Hai Kong's words, Dong Zhuo, seated in the position of honor, finally snapped out of his daze.
Gazing at Lu Hai Kong, who had fearlessly ventured into a camp of a million soldiers and remained calm and composed, Dong Zhuo's expression grew complex. He felt a mix of admiration, confusion, and anger. These emotions brewed within him for a moment before he finally sighed, "Well done, Lu Hai Kong. You boldly entered this camp of a million warriors. What great courage and presence you possess!"
Lu Hai Kong shook his head and replied calmly, "I have no extraordinary courage or presence. I dared to come here because I knew you posed no threat to me."
There was no arrogance, no pride, and no sarcasm in his tone, only a flat delivery as if he were discussing something mundane.
Had anyone else spoken in such a manner, the over a dozen warlords present would have taught them a lesson in manners. But Lu Hai Kong was different. Many of these warlords had boasted about how they would deal with Lu Hai Kong, but now that he stood before them, alone and unafraid, their confidence had evaporated.
Lu Hai Kong glanced at the twelve warlords and strode forward. He took a seat at the vacant spot in the round table where they were gathered, then addressed the group. His gaze, rather than hostile, seemed to regard them as old friends who had let him down.
"After the battle against the foreign forces, I wanted to find an opportunity to chat with you all. Now that you're here, let's take this chance to discuss some matters."
(End of Chapter)
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