Chapter 24: Figuring Out How to Deal with the Enemy

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Hua Xiong said disdainfully. "I'm perfectly fine."

"Zichuan had me capture you alive. You're very lucky. Your loyalty moved me afterward, otherwise, you'd already be dead," Guan Yu said coldly, glancing at Hua Xiong.

"Stop, you two calm down first. Let's think about how to deal with Lü Bu. If we can't beat Lü Bu, the coalition has no hope. Lü Bu alone can crush the coalition's morale to zero," Chen Xi quickly intervened, not wanting Guan Yu and Hua Xiong to start fighting again. Especially since Hua Xiong, determined not to lose face, would stubbornly resist even if he was beaten down, making the fight incredibly frustrating.

Mentioning Lü Bu made everyone fall silent. That guy was beyond their capabilities, practically inhuman.

"How about a relay battle?" Chen Xi suggested.

"No way," Hua Xiong was the first to oppose it.

"You have no right to speak. Second Brother, what do you think of this proposal?" Chen Xi glared at Hua Xiong and then turned to Guan Yu.

"It's impossible. Lü Bu isn't someone we can exhaust with one or two people," Guan Yu said, understanding when to be proud and when to be humble. Against a master like Lü Bu, they had to be cautious. Not being cautious meant death.

"How about a gang fight?" Chen Xi continued to guide.

"I'm not doing it!" Zhang Fei glared at Chen Xi.

"Fine, you'll lead the charge tomorrow, it's settled," Chen Xi said, glancing at Zhang Fei.

Hearing this, Zhang Fei deflated but then stubbornly shouted, "I'll lead the charge, but Second Brother, you must cover for me!"

Chen Xi rolled his eyes. Zhang Fei might look reckless, but he had plenty of tricks up his sleeve. "I didn't say Second Brother couldn't cover for you. We'll all cover for you tomorrow. Hua Xiong, are you coming?"

All four looked at Hua Xiong—three super warriors and one cunning strategist. Hua Xiong immediately broke into a cold sweat, especially with Zhang Fei glaring at him.

"If I don't go, Big Beard will despise me," Hua Xiong thought, feeling resentful. "I'll go! But get me a change of clothes and a few short spears. Also, I'm definitely not going near Lü Bu. If I get exposed, my concubines and singers at home will be finished."

"Now that's brotherly! Come, let's drink!" Zhang Fei grabbed a wine jar and filled everyone's bowls. After downing a bowl, he wiped the wine from his beard. "Watch how Old Zhang takes down Lü Bu tomorrow!"

Chen Xi smiled and didn't respond. From the information he had gathered, the gap between Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Lü Bu in this world was much larger than in his memory. In his memory, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei could slightly outperform Lü Bu together. But in this world, even their combined efforts wouldn't be enough to defeat Lü Bu. The same level of enhancement only made the strong stronger.

As Chen Xi held his wine and pondered, he realized he had grown accustomed to this life. Although there were no computers, internet, posts, or celebrities, this life gave Chen Xi a sense of relaxation.

"Liu Xuande is a good choice, but Cao Cao has more potential. Unfortunately, they can't be compatible. Oh well, if I ever have to face off against these guys I drink with, who carry me back after I get drunk, could I bear it?" Chen Xi thought, feeling helpless. Using his mental strength to suppress his emotions, he knew one thing clearly—he had unknowingly started thinking from Liu Bei's perspective.

"Oh well, it's fine. Following Liu Bei is okay. Right now, Liu Bei has fame and influence. As long as we defeat Lü Bu, he will surely catch Dong Zhuo's eye. Then there will be many opportunities to manipulate the situation. Haha, my strategic skills might not be great, but I have the vision!"

Chen Xi closed his eyes and continued thinking. Liu Bei might not be the best choice, but for Chen Xi, it was the most suitable.

"When I get the chance, I'll recruit some great generals like Huang Zhong, Gan Ning, Tai Shi Ci, Wei Yan, and Chen Dao. They're all formidable. Let me think about where they are and form a dream team." As he thought, Chen Xi's mind wandered further.

While Liu Bei lived comfortably, Lü Bu had leisurely arrived at Hulao Pass. Li Ru was already waiting for Lü Bu in the inner mansion.

"Greetings, Prime Minister. Greetings, Military Advisor," Lü Bu and his men bowed to Dong Zhuo and then to Li Ru.

"How did it go?" Li Ru asked calmly.

"At least fifty thousand soldiers deserted after tonight's raid, but the casualties shouldn't be too severe," Lü Bu indicated Zhang Liao, who stepped forward to report. Lü Bu wasn't good at handling such detailed tasks.

"Bring out the wine! Fengxian, did you gain any heads?" Dong Zhuo waved his hand, and the already prepared banquet was quickly set up. Li Ru had ordered the preparations as soon as Lü Bu left, knowing Lü Bu was worth winning over, whether he succeeded or failed. Although Dong Zhuo might be muddle-headed, Li Ru wasn't.

Lü Bu felt a bit awkward but didn't lie. "No, I saw Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, but Yuan Shao had two people protecting him with their lives, and I got too excited to focus on killing him. Cao Cao arrived only after the enemy general who killed General Hua appeared."

"Oh, someone could hold you off?" Dong Zhuo was curious.

Li Ru pulled out a roll of white silk from his sleeve and handed it to Dong Zhuo. The intelligence about Liu Bei and his men was all on it.

"What a pity it's those three. We met once, and they even 'saved' me once. Wenyou, can we win them over?" Dong Zhuo, for some reason, regained his old ambition upon seeing the intelligence. The same ambition he had when he dominated Xiliang.

Li Ru was stunned but then delighted. He had feared Dong Zhuo losing his ambition. Seeing him regain his old spirit, Li Ru's confidence surged.

"Fortunately, it's just a temporary lapse. As long as he has ambition, it's good. With ambition, I can conquer the world," Li Ru thought, feeling confident. As long as his leader had ambition, he could dominate the world's heroes.

"This won't be easy. Completely winning them over isn't simple, but dividing them is. After all, the coalition is made of eighteen different lords. For now, let's show them our strength. Naturally, some will join us," Li Ru said, his eyes gleaming. The decadence and frustration from the Luoyang period were swept away, and he was rejuvenated.