Chapter 46: Li Su Ye walked to Luoyang

Certainly, here's an improved version of the paragraph with some revisions for clarity and flow:

Hu Zhen gazed into the distance while Lu Bu stood resolute and brutal. He yearned for Lu Bu to kneel and plead for mercy, to beg for entry, but instead, Lu Bu turned away and executed him.

On the pass, all that met the eye were the relentless waves of troops from Wuyang. Initially, one could witness the fierce combat between Lu Bu and the formidable Baima Yicong. After conquering the Baima Yicong, the situation on Hulao Pass was far from ideal, yet Hu Zhen comprehended the battlefield's unfolding events.

However, a lone white horse cavalryman was making it exceptionally challenging for Lu Bu to break through. Hu Zhen wondered how many enemy generals were stationed in front of Hulao Pass. Regardless of Lu Bu's might, it seemed improbable that he could emerge unscathed.

The resentment and usurpation of credit in their prior encounters in Yangren had caused Hu Zhen considerable turmoil within Luoyang city. Now, those accumulated grievances seemed to evaporate, leaving Hu Zhen with a refreshing sense of clarity and purpose.

"Look, General!" Just as Hu Zhen relished this rare moment of tranquility, a fellow general approached, wearing a grave expression.

"What's amiss?" Despite his irritation, Hu Zhen recognized the general as a trusted subordinate. He followed the general's pointed gaze and, to his astonishment, saw the coalition forces reassembling beneath Guancheng. A renewed siege?

No… Could Lu Bu's fate be sealed so swiftly?

Hu Zhen found it hard to believe. No matter how dire Lu Bu's situation, he should be able to endure the day. Why had the coalition forces regrouped with such haste?

Furthermore, a dire revelation dawned on Hu Zhen. Most of the vanguard troops had followed Lu Bu, leaving him with only 2,000 soldiers. Hu Zhen worried that this small force might not withstand the impending assault.

"Hurry, summon Li Su!" Hu Zhen's demeanor shifted urgently. In truth, the majority of Hulao Pass's defenders fell under Li Su's command. In a bid to cut off Lu Bu's escape route, he had covertly ordered Li Su's arrest. Now, with Lu Bu's fate uncertain and the coalition forces launching an attack, Hu Zhen realized that without Li Su, he couldn't muster the original defenders of Hulao Pass.

"Right away!" Ya Jiang swiftly complied and hastened to release Li Su.

As Hu Zhen scrambled around the gate, he first organized those capable of assisting him in defending. Some areas already had defenders in place. Hu Zhen then grasped the fact that he had no trusted aides under his command, thanks to his estrangement from Hua Xiong. Since their previous collaboration following Hua Xiong's removal, during which they assisted Lu Bu, he had developed a strong aversion to Hua Xiong. Consequently, they were both excluded from Hulao Pass this time.

But the absence of Hua Xiong's aid wasn't his primary concern. The most troubling issue was the disunity among the troops.

Though he wasn't a virtuous character, Hu Zhen possessed years of combat experience and could discern the soldiers' reluctance to follow him.

Whether they were from the Xiliang Army or not, seeing Hu Zhen, who had essentially locked out their main general, Lu Bu, made it difficult for them to find conviction in his leadership.

Once Li Su was released, he stormed up the tower in anger. He scrutinized Hu Zhen, who was orchestrating the defense, and, regardless of whether the other was a confidant of Dong Zhuo, grabbed Hu Zhen's collar and shouted, "Hu Zhen, what right do you have to imprison me!?"

"Don't dwell on that now; the city's defense takes precedence. Rally your men and repel the enemy!" Hu Zhen forcibly moved him aside, pointing outside the city walls. "The enemy has already launched their attack."

"Where is Feng Xian? Why are you in charge here?" Li Su quickly grasped that something was amiss. He scanned the area, but Lu Bu was nowhere in sight. As the vanguard general, Lu Bu should have held this position. Why was there no sign of him?

Hu Zhen replied ambiguously, "He has defected to the enemy!"

Li Su was dumbfounded. Had Lu Bu really switched sides without warning?

But a swift realization overcame Li Su. If Lu Bu had truly betrayed them, could they be standing here conversing like this?

A city defender approached Li Su and murmured a few words to him. Instantly, Li Su's complexion darkened. It was apparent that someone within their ranks intended to betray Lu Bu, perhaps even seeking to eliminate him.

Seeing Li Su's reaction, Hu Zhen understood that he couldn't keep the secret any longer. He furrowed his brows and confessed, "I was merely jesting with him. Who would have thought he would infiltrate the enemy lines without a word?"

"Let's focus on defending the city for now," Li Su replied, his countenance shifting between somber and composed. Though he felt uneasy about the situation, he recognized the immediate need to protect the city. He set up defenses and prepared to repel the relentless assault of the coalition forces. However, he couldn't help but adopt a defensive stance toward Hu Zhen. After all, Hu Zhen had just "joked" about locking out their commanding general, which raised doubts about his loyalty.

Despite the fierce onslaught from the allied forces, Hulao Pass's terrain made it a challenging target. After an initial surprise attack, they successfully defended the city. Li Su, who had long experience guarding the pass, had prevented any breaches before reinforcements arrived.

As the sun began to set after a day of relentless combat, the coalition forces gradually withdrew their troops, having made no significant gains. Hu Zhen avoided encountering Li Su and retreated to his own camp to rest.

Li Su ascended the city tower to inspect the defenses and gathered information on the day's events. He had operated within Hulao Pass for an extended period, and even though Hu Zhen was a confidant of Dong Zhuo, he couldn't exert total control immediately.

The uncertain fate of Lu Bu weighed heavily on Li Su. In this era, regional loyalties held significant sway, and he had anticipated that once Lu Bu arrived, they would all work together to achieve great feats. However, Lu Bu's sudden demise, seemingly betrayed by his own, deeply disturbed him.

During the day, the pressure of the coalition forces had left little room for reflection. Now, in the quiet of the night, Li Su's unease grew. He detested traitors who backstabbed their comrades in war, and when combined with his inexplicable half-day confinement and Hu Zhen's previous treacherous behavior, he became increasingly certain that once Dong Zhuo returned, Hu Zhen might accuse him first.

With this realization, Li Su decided that rather than allowing the cunning Hu Zhen to take the initiative and file a complaint, he would go straight to the Taishi (Dong Zhuo) and clarify the situation. Regardless of whether Lu Bu returned alive or not, he could ensure his own reputation remained untarnished. As for how to deal with Hu Zhen, if Dong Zhuo still favored him in this matter, Li Su would need to contemplate his own future.

With this determination, Li Su gathered his personal guards and departed the city quietly, heading straight for Luoyang. As for Hulao Pass, Hu Zhen was so capable; he could guard it himself. Even if the city ultimately fell, that would be Hu Zhen's problem, not Li Su's.

Early the next morning, when Hu Zhen rose and prepared to continue his rounds, he discovered that Li Su had left during the night. Hu Zhen's heart sank. Li Su and Lu Bu hailed from the same hometown; undoubtedly, they had gone to make their grievances known. Moreover, Hu Zhen's actions the previous day were indeed questionable, and he knew he could bear the blame if things went awry.

"General, the coalition is attacking the city once more!" A general approached Hu Zhen and saluted.

"The coalition..." Hu Zhen hesitated briefly, then clenched his teeth and declared, "Open the city gates! Dong Zhuo has committed an injustice and harmed a valued general. I am ashamed to be associated with him!"