Chapter 18: Li Ru's Thoughts

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However, what was odd was that even though Guan Yu had released Hua Xiong's Inner Qi, he didn't assign anyone to guard him, but Hua Xiong just stayed in the rear camp and didn't flee. Chen Xi figured it was probably because Hua Xiong couldn't bear to lose face.

"Zijian, surrender," Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, having eaten and drunk their fill with Hua Xiong, once again started urging him to surrender. The previous attempt had failed, but Hua Xiong had recovered by relying on his exceptional physical quality.

"Yunchang, Yide, I understand all that you're saying. However, Minister Dong has shown me kindness, and unless he abandons me, or he is defeated, I will not surrender to anyone else," Hua Xiong shook his head and spoke somewhat dejectedly, "As I said before, if Minister Dong is defeated and I become a masterless man, I will surrender to Lord Xuande, although such an event is unlikely to happen."

"Not necessarily, though!" Chen Xi lifted the tent flap and saw three stout men sitting on the ground, clutching large pieces of meat, eating, drinking, and chatting leisurely.

"I've seen Mr. Chen," Hua Xiong greeted with a salute.

"How about a bet? I know you have great confidence in Dong Zhuo. If Dong Zhuo is defeated at Hulao Pass, takes the population of Luoyang and retreats to Chang'an, and then, to delay the Coalition Army, sets fire to Luoyang, then you should surrender. Because what he's going to do next will greatly disappoint you. He is no longer the Dong Zhongying of Xiliang. His eyes, dazzled by the prosperity of Guandong, can no longer see as they once did—the Dong Zhongying who would gather valorous heroes and was generous and righteous is gone," said Chen Xi with an indifferent expression.

Hua Xiong didn't speak, just looked at Chen Xi. After a long while, he finally uttered a few words, "You don't understand how strong Minister Dong is."

"So, you agree," Chen Xi said with a smile, "I understand better than you; the strongest military generals, the most elite troops, the best strategists, but the one leading them is not the strongest Monarch. On the contrary, the current Dong Zhongying can at most be considered a third-rate Monarch."

"The strongest military generals in the world!" Zhang Fei's eyes bulged, while Guan Yu slightly opened his eyes to look at Chen Xi, focusing only on this statement, not listening to the rest at all.

"Yes, the strongest military generals in the world," Hua Xiong said despondently, "Although Yunchang and Yide, you might be a bit stronger than me, compared to Lyu Bu, I fear that even the two of you together might not be able to defeat him."

"Really..." Guan Yu asked in all seriousness.

"The feeling your third strike gave me—I could tell how strong he is," Hua Xiong said with a bitter smile.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's faces flashed with a hint of fighting spirit, and their eyes sparkled with eagerness. They truly wanted to experience the strength of that fierce warrior, as the road ahead would probably become clear on his account.

"Then you've agreed, General Hua. Remember these words when those events come to pass," Chen Xi said, paying no mind to the fighting spirits of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Let them be; anyway, given their skills, they could run away from Lyu Bu if they weren't able to beat him.

"The strongest military general in the world, huh?" The Capital Chief training the cavalry outside the tent also overheard the conversation of the few men, as Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and the others hadn't lowered their voices, and the other party just happened to have keen hearing. Sitting on the horse, the Capital Chief touched the Sword at his waist, tightened his grip on the Silver Spear in his hand, and picked up the bow and arrows hanging on the horse and silently looked towards Hulao Pass.

"My child earnestly requests reinforcement at Hulao Pass!" Lyu Bu once again sought to join the battle, aware that Hua Xiong had achieved a breakthrough on the battlefield, only to be killed with three strikes. This kind of expert was precisely whom he had been waiting for.

Dong Zhuo waved his hand, signaling to Li Ru.

"With General Xu stationed at Hulao Pass, it is certainly safe. However, a rebellion has arisen in our rear, with Hann Sui once again inciting the Qiang People. Although Generals Li Que and Guo Si could suppress it, we should still dispatch Xu Rong to take command of the rear. Minister Dong, lead the grand army to face the Guandong Lords at Hulao Pass!" Li Ru said indifferently. Without mentioning a name, no one would guess that this frail-bodied civil official was actually Dong Zhuo's top strategist.

Now, Li Ru had grown somewhat disappointed with Dong Zhuo. The indulgent Dong Zhuo seemed no longer capable of methodically achieving what Li Ru had initially hoped for.

Li Ru, who hailed from the Humble Family of Guanzi, despised the domination of intellect and thought by the Great Aristocratic Clan. Clutching the dream of sweeping the world clean to reshape heaven and earth, he had step by step elevated Dong Zhuo to a position second only to one but above millions. Regrettably, the affluence of Guandong had confounded Dong Zhuo's mind, and now Dong Zhuo was merely tyrannical, so much so that he often neglected to recall why he had originally assumed this position.

That was why Li Ru insisted on recalling Xu Rong to command the rear. With Xu Rong at Hulao Pass, it wasn't that Li Ru underestimated the Guandong Lords, but that those fellows honestly had no chance of overturning Xu Rong and capturing Hulao Pass.

As long as Xu Rong held Hulao Pass, the Guandong Lords could only lick their wounds in defeat. This obscure commander had risen from a frontier soldier to the rank of Colonel, and his experience simply could not be matched by the lords of the Central Plains who had not faced warfare. Likewise, his loyalty would never waver for others.

Dong Zhuo was too powerful, a realization Li Ru only made in retrospect. While the other feudal lords were still pondering how to gain territory and followers, they had already developed a momentum capable of engulfing the world. Unintentionally, Li Ru had built such a solid foundation that facing the entire world, it was impossible for them to be utterly defeated.

Yet, due to this solid foundation, the generals who came to Luoyang had grown complacent under Dong Zhuo's leadership, losing the vigor of the fierce warriors of Xiliang.

Li Wenyou needed an emperor who could sweep across the world, shatter the old rules, and under his guidance, establish new ones. Not a fat man blinded by the prosperity of Guandong.

However, years of mentorship and the initial fervor made Li Ru believe that Dong Zhuo's vision was merely clouded, blinded by his formidable foundation to all dangers. All Dong Zhuo needed was a stark wake-up call to redirect him onto the path Li Ru had previously prepared. As long as he could fulfill his dream, even if he ended up dismembered as Shang Yang, he would have no regrets.

"Is that so? Then summon the generals to join me in an outbound campaign from Hulao to defeat the Guandong vermin!" Dong Zhuo almost instantly agreed to Li Ru's proposal.

Though Dong Zhuo might have been deluded, the habit of relying on Li Ru over many years persisted. If his most trusted strategist said so, then that was the plan. Fear not, I have the strongest military generals, I have the fiercest soldiers, I also have the Mighty Hulao Pass. Guandong vermin, your Elder Dong is coming to undo you!

But Dong Zhuo did not notice the civil official seated next to Li Ru silently shaking his head in resignation. Jia Xu already understood Li Ru's thoughts.

"Agreed!" the generals responded loudly.

"Leave the first battle to me!" Lyu Bu declared after scanning the circle of generals. "Although Hua Xiong did annoy me, I will avenge his death for him!"