Hypocritical Wang Yun

Before leaving, Lu Bu had two things to take care of.

Lu Bu rode his horse to the captured eunuchs Zhao Zhong and Guo Sheng and smiled faintly, "Mind if I borrow something from you two?"

Zhao Zhong and Guo Sheng immediately bowed as if pounding garlic, "General, feel free to ask for anything. We beg for mercy."

Lu Bu coldly smiled, "I'll borrow your heads!" With that, his Sky Piercer halberd swept through, and the heads of Zhao Zhong and Guo Sheng rolled to the ground. Gao Shun quickly had the heads picked up and hung them on the horse.

Lu Zhi was puzzled, "General Lu, what is the meaning of this?"

Lu Bu glanced at Empress Dowager, who was now under the protection of Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and others, "The edict from the Empress Dowager has already sentenced He Jin and He Miao to death. Their subordinates fear the eunuchs might use their names to claim their lives. These two eunuchs' heads are enough to make them feel at ease."

Lu Zhi stroked his beard and laughed, "Killing two birds with one stone. Yuan Xian's considerations are thorough. Even the dead can be utilized."

After borrowing the heads, Lu Bu persuaded Lu Zhi to participate in protecting Empress Dowager. He feared that the Yuan faction might take advantage of the situation to completely control Empress Dowager and issue arbitrary edicts.

Once Lu Zhi had moved away, Lu Bu turned to look at Song Xian and Cheng Lian. These two individuals were a bit unhappy because they didn't seize the opportunity to plunder the palace like Wei Xu did.

Lu Bu ordered them, "Each of you takes your soldiers. Song Xian, let the little eunuch lead the way to raid the residences of those big eunuchs outside the palace. Cheng Lian, investigate the homes of those high officials colluding with the Ten Eunuchs. They must have received a considerable amount of wealth. You are sure to gain a lot from this. However, you must not embezzle anything; it must all be turned in. I will distribute it to you afterward. I, Lu Fengxian, will never let anyone suffer a loss. Also, absolutely no indiscriminate killing or arson; violators will be executed!"

Originally, Lu Bu was just a minor scribe without the authority to command them. However, over time, Lu Bu's image as a war god leading from the front had deeply penetrated the hearts of the Bing Province soldiers. Moreover, with Lu Bu's well-planned deployment and the vast wealth obtained by the Bing Province army, they had no reason to be dissatisfied. Not to mention, Lu Bu had gained the trust of Empress Dowager and was appointed as the Glorious Marquis. They willingly accepted orders, and they even forgot to seek permission from Ding Yuan.

Knowing that there were likely many private soldiers in those residences, Lu Bu, in order to protect the Bing Province soldiers from unnecessary casualties, sought another decree from Empress Dowager. This allowed Song Xian and Cheng Lian to lead their men to dismantle any resistance they encountered.

Leading three thousand Bing Province cavalry, Lu Bu charged towards the Left and Right Feathered Forest Army camps.

Just as he left the palace gate, he saw a middle-aged man with a tall hat, sword-like eyebrows, and a righteous aura leading three to four hundred scattered soldiers rushing into the palace. They shouted, "Eradicate the eunuchs! Uphold the great Han!"

Seeing them pretending to be righteous, Lu Bu found it amusing and shouted at them, "You're too late!"

The man, riding a white horse and over fifty years old, rushed forward, sternly asking, "Wang Yun, the Prefect of Henan, is here. Who are you, laughing with joy at the death of the Grand General?"

Hearing the name Wang Yun, Lu Bu's anger surged. He cursed directly, "What the hell does it have to do with you!"

In history, Wang Yun used Lu Bu like a rag, throwing him away after use. After using Lu Bu to eliminate Dong Zhuo, Wang Yun seized power. When Lu Bu asked him to pardon the remnants of Dong Zhuo's forces, Wang Yun refused. When Lu Bu asked him to reward Dong Zhuo's wealth to court officials and soldiers, he refused again. Wang Yun looked down on Lu Bu, treating him merely as a swordsman.

If it weren't for keeping this conspirator to remove Dong Zhuo as bait, Lu Bu would have killed this old bastard immediately.

Wang Yun, used to maintaining a righteous façade, had never heard such insults. Staring wide-eyed, he pointed at Lu Bu, "You, you dare to insult a high-ranking official!"

Lu Bu sneered, "You're just a Prefect of Henan, and in the midst of all these court officials and ministers, you're nothing!"

However, this old man was quite skilled at licking others' backsides. When he served as the Inspector of Yu Province, he clashed with the Ten Eunuchs. Zhang Rang spoke ill of him in front of Emperor Ling of Han, leading to his imprisonment. Later, he licked the backsides of He Jin and Yuan Wei, was reinstated, and promoted to Prefect of Henan (equivalent to the Secretary of the Municipal Committee in the future celestial capital). Furthermore, he licked the backsides of Dong Zhuo and became the Minister of Works, in charge of education (equivalent to the chief elder responsible for spiritual civilization in the future celestial capital).

Wang Yun saw Lu Bu's three thousand cavalry with a murderous aura and didn't dare to let his three hundred troops approach. He could only vent his anger verbally, "Wait and see, I will report to the Empress Dowager and charge you with the crime of insulting a high-ranking official!"

Lu Bu was fed up with this old bastard and really wanted to lift his Sky Piercer halberd and stab him through the heart.

Seeing Lu Bu's fierce expression, Wang Yun could only retreat on horseback, "Arguing with an unwise man like you tarnishes my decency!"

Lu Bu saw Wang Yun urging his horse away like a rabbit, and combined with the knowledge that Wang Yun would be massacred along with his family by Li Jue and Guo Si in the future, his anger quickly dissipated.

Lu Bu was well aware that the likes of Wang Yun, born into aristocratic families, would never allow military commanders from humble origins like Dong Zhuo and himself to control the court. In this era, if one Wang Yun died, there were probably countless others from so-called aristocratic families and clean-streamed ministers.

Only someone like Cao Cao, who supported the rise of the humble and common families against the aristocrats, was on the right path. Flattering people like Dong Zhuo was useless; figures like Yang Biao and Wang Yun would still plot against him.

Lu Bu was about to turn his horse's head and go to subdue the remaining soldiers of He Jin when he was stunned by Wang Yun's strange behavior.

Wang Yun, eyes straight ahead, sat upright on his horse with an air of righteousness, walking towards the palace gate. However, when he reached a disheveled palace maid, Wang Yun stopped his horse abruptly. The noble and righteous expression on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a lecherous and obscene look, so obscene that it was hard to describe.

Lu Bu found it strange. How much charm could a disheveled palace maid have to turn someone like Wang Yun, who was usually upright and responsible for social education, into a flower thief?

Lu Bu signaled Gao Shun to surround Wang Yun's troops with the cavalry, then walked towards the palace maid.

Seeing that the palace maid kept her head down, emitting a dazzling glow despite being covered in dust and tears, Lu Bu knew that she must have encountered an exceptionally beautiful woman. He quickly dismounted, lifted his Sky Piercer halberd, and walked up to the palace maid.

Wang Yun, seeing Lu Bu wanting to approach the palace maid, shouted loudly, "Villain, do you want to rob the palace maid? How dare you commit such a heinous act? Aren't you afraid of being executed along with your entire family?"

Lu Bu raised his halberd, and Wang Yun couldn't dodge in time. The sharp tip of the halberd was aimed directly at his throat as Lu Bu cursed viciously, "You, a so-called righteous man who steals women and engages in prostitution, dare to spout nonsense about a palace maid?"

Wang Yun, displaying a look of not fearing sharp objects and appearing loyal and loving towards the people, said, "I wanted to invite this palace maid to take refuge in my home during the turmoil. After the situation calms down, I will personally escort her back to the palace."

Upon hearing Wang Yun's words, Lu Bu suddenly recalled certain things. He stepped forward and pulled up the palace maid, staring directly at her face. Despite being covered in dirt and tear stains, her enchanting beauty was still evident.