Chapter 506: Lu Zhi's Invitation
Chapter 506: Lu Zhi's Invitation
September 25, 2017
The situation with the Yellow Turbans had never been particularly favorable from the very beginning.
In Ji Province, Zhang Jiao had finally managed to breach Ye City with a powerful move, and was about to take advantage of the momentum to capture Wucheng, pressing towards the capital of Si Province, Luoyang. However, Lu Hai Kong burned their supply lines, and even killed the second-in-command of the Yellow Turban Army.
This immediately put the Yellow Turbans in Ji Province in a dire predicament.
Not long after Lu Hai Kong arrived in Wucheng, Gongsun Zan in You Province led five thousand White Horse Corps and fifty thousand elite troops to attack Zhongshan Commandery.
On the other side, in Yu Province, Bo Cai was slowly retreating towards Ji Province under the encirclement and suppression of Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun.
Even without considering Lu Hai Kong's forces, the situation in Ji Province was already not looking good.
At this point, Zhang Jiao should no longer be thinking about capturing Si Province, but rather how to ensure his own survival amidst the offensive.
Gongsun Zan had fifty thousand and five thousand troops, Huangfu Song had one hundred thousand, and Zhu Jun had one hundred thousand, totaling two hundred and fifty thousand grand army. In terms of numbers, the Yellow Turbans were not at a disadvantage.
The grand army in Ji Province numbered around thirty thousand, and Bo Cai's retreating legions towards Ji Province also numbered in the hundreds of thousands. In terms of numbers, the Yellow Turbans had an absolute advantage.
In fact, if the Yellow Turbans could truly mobilize their internal alchemist powers, they might not be at a disadvantage against the Han Dynasty. However, the Yellow Turbans' alchemists were too scattered.
Not only were there Yellow Turban Taoists, but there were also those who followed Daosheng Zhang, those who followed the Yellow Turban Holy Maiden, and even those like Zhang Yan Ye Jun Ru who secluded themselves in the deep mountains, indifferent to the Yellow Turbans' survival. If these people were truly united as one, Luoyang might have been captured long ago.
Of course, Lu Hai Kong couldn't manage the internal affairs of the Yellow Turbans, and he didn't want to at this time.
After entering Wucheng, Lu Hai Kong's Phantom Guard began to prepare to contact Bing Province.
Moreover, Lu Hai Kong and his group had arrived empty-handed.
Although the warriors in Wucheng greatly admired Lu Hai Kong's group, the higher-ups in Wucheng did not welcome them.
Even if Lu Hai Kong's group had performed a battle where the weak defeated the strong, Lu Hai Kong's background as a mountain bandit and his eunuch identity made him very unpopular here.
Of course, another very important point was that before Lu Hai Kong's arrival, they had also made arduous efforts for the Han Dynasty, risking their lives in battle.
Why should Lu Hai Kong be revered as a hero upon his arrival? What about them? What about their generals? What about their original efforts? With Ding Yuan inciting trouble on the side, Lu Hai Kong was basically ostracized by the higher-ups in Wucheng.
However, Lu Hai Kong didn't care about being ostracized; he had anticipated this situation from the start.
Lu Hai Kong came to Wucheng merely to recuperate. After the Bloodbath Legion's Bloodthirsty Rampage side effects passed, Lu Hai Kong would lead his troops away, returning directly to Taiyuan Commandery from Shangdang Commandery.
Lu Hai Kong and Zhao Er's journey to Wucheng was purely an accident; Lu Hai Kong hadn't planned to venture so deep into Ji Province.
On one hand, they had gotten carried away in the heat of battle, and on the other, they suddenly received news of Zhang Jiao's troops besieging Ye City, leading to a misstep in decision-making. Thus, Lu Hai Kong brought Zhao Er and the others along.
Although the gains along the way were not insignificant, they had deviated from their original strategy of development instead of attacking the Yellow Turbans.
Fortunately, this deviation wasn't too severe and wasn't a major issue.
In Wucheng, inside Lu Hai Kong's tent.
Lu Hai Kong was examining his actions along the way, engaging in self-reflection, when Zhao Er entered.
"My Lord, Lu Zhi has sent someone to invite you to the main camp, saying there's an important matter to discuss."
Lu Haikong's brows furrowed slightly upon hearing this. It had been three days since he entered Wucheng, and this was the first time such a situation had occurred. He didn't consider this a good sign.
Regardless of whether it was a good or bad matter, since they had invited him, Lu Haikong decided to go and take a look.
Lu Haikong made simple preparations and brought Dian Wei with him. Led by the person Lu Zhi sent, they arrived at a large camp.
When Lu Haikong arrived, the camp was already filled with people. Lu Zhi, Ding Yuan, and several high-ranking military officers were present, among whom Lu Haikong spotted Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.
As soon as Lu Haikong entered the camp, the lively discussions immediately ceased, and all eyes turned towards him.
Lu Haikong had been a leader for over two years, and such a scene was nothing new to him. However, as he entered the camp, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Lu Zhi and the others were seated in two rows along a long table, and the seats on both sides were almost full, leaving only the last seat on the right for Lu Haikong.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on Lu Haikong, clearly intending to make fun of him.
They were up to something!
Lu Haikong, accompanied by Dian Wei, went straight to the first seat on the left, where Ding Yuan was seated. Without saying a word, he stared directly at him!
In a 6-1-9-1 formation, it was clear that this was a deliberate arrangement!
It was evident that this was Ding Yuan's doing. Among the high-ranking officials in Wucheng, although many looked down on Lu Haikong, only Ding Yuan had the motive to orchestrate such a scheme.
Lu Haikong was never one to take insults lying down. Since Ding Yuan intended to embarrass him, Lu Haikong didn't mind striking back and slapping Ding Yuan's face.
The atmosphere in the room immediately became tense. Lu Haikong and Dian Wei didn't utter a word, but their bodies exuded a surging aura.
They seemed ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.
Lu Zhi, seated at the head of the table, frowned upon seeing this. "Who arranged this? Quickly, make room for Lu Haikong!"
Although he didn't like Lu Haikong, at this moment, he had to step in as a peacemaker and asked for the seat on the right to be vacated for Lu Haikong.
Seeing this, Lu Haikong was taken aback, then he looked deeply at Lu Zhi, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He turned and walked to the last seat on the right and sat down.
Some people in the room were confused by Lu Haikong's actions, while others furrowed their brows, seemingly not expecting Lu Haikong to be so difficult.
In truth, while Lu Zhi appeared to be a peacemaker, if Lu Haikong had sat in the first seat on the right, he would have unknowingly positioned himself below Lu Zhi and Ding Yuan in the military hierarchy.
Lu Haikong realized that Lu Zhi might have had a hand in this arrangement.
Once this seating arrangement was established, Lu Zhi could command Lu Haikong with a clear conscience, a typical bureaucratic tactic. Lu Haikong hadn't expected to encounter such a situation today.
However, with Lu Haikong sitting at the last seat, the situation changed significantly. As a governor and a friendly ally, it was unusual for him to be seated at the end. At this moment, the one who should feel embarrassed was not Lu Haikong but Lu Zhi.
"Governor Lu, what's the meaning of this?" Lu Zhi's brows furrowed.
"I, Lu Haikong, come from a military background and don't concern myself with such formalities. This seat is fine, and besides, I'm just an outsider listening in on your military meeting."
As Lu Haikong spoke, Lu Zhi's expression changed slightly...
(End of Chapter)
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