Liu Yan chatted with Chen Gong for a while before excusing himself due to feeling unwell. At that moment, Tian Feng arrived, and although Chen Gong had already assumed that his side was firmly aligned with Liu Bei, he didn't want to appear rude when Tian Feng came personally.
"Since you're not feeling well, Wei Shuo, please rest. Tian Yuanhao has come, and although it's inevitable that our two sides will eventually merge, I must still show him courtesy. I hope you'll forgive me," Chen Gong said with a smile, taking Liu Yan's excuse of illness at face value. If Liu Yan hadn't claimed to be unwell, Chen Gong wouldn't have bothered to meet with Tian Feng.
Liu Yan discreetly wiped away cold sweat, maintaining a calm expression as he bowed to Chen Gong. "Why such formality, Gongtai? There's no need for apologies between us. In the future, when we serve under the same roof, I'll look to you for guidance."
Having been a refined gentleman for so long, Liu Yan had mastered the art of saying the right thing to the right person. Even though he had suspicions, he maintained a serene demeanor, speaking words that brought a smile to Chen Gong's face.
"Well said, well said." Chen Gong stroked his beard, clearly pleased. "Thanks for the kind words. Since you're not feeling well, I won't keep you."
After Chen Gong left, Liu Yan finally felt the full extent of his anxiety. He silently cursed Chen Xi for not following conventional tactics while also planning his escape. Fortunately, Chen Gong, with his scholarly demeanor, allowed Liu Yan to come and go as he pleased. Since Chen Gong assumed Lü Bu would soon side with Liu Bei, he never imagined Liu Yan would think of fleeing. Thus, when Chen Gong went to meet Tian Feng, Liu Yan quietly slipped away unnoticed.
When Lü Bu and Zhang Liao returned, both were silent. After a long pause, Lü Bu spoke. "Wen Yuan, do you think Chen Zichuan's schemes are truly so terrifying? Could he have set this plan in motion so early, causing my mind to be thrown into chaos?"
Zhang Liao could only smile wryly. "It's often said that those embroiled in the situation can't see clearly, while outsiders have better perspective. Now that I've pieced everything together, I see it more clearly. Chen Xi likely just wanted to create a favorable impression or maybe laid down a casual trap to add pressure on Li Ru and deepen Dong Zhuo's suspicions. That's probably why he hesitated when you asked him and only remembered later."
As for the current outcome, Zhang Liao could only describe it as a twist of fate. Who could have predicted that Lü Bu's obsession would lead him to place such importance on a single letter, resulting in today's outcome?
Of course, Zhang Liao couldn't say all of this aloud. He still hoped to join Liu Bei's side. A ruler who valued benevolence might not always succeed, but if he did, his subordinates would benefit greatly. None of the great generals or ministers wanted to face the fate of being discarded like old tools once their usefulness had ended.
"I've heard people say that Chen Zichuan always plans ahead. That must be the case here. But you certainly shook him with that strike," Zhang Liao sighed. "Still, given where we stand now, we should keep moving forward. Military Advisor Chen was right: It will be hard to survive between Yuan Shao and Liu Bei."
"I want to return to Bingzhou!" Lü Bu turned to Zhang Liao and declared.
"Will we fight or negotiate?" Zhang Liao asked with a bitter smile. He had already decided to leave. If Lü Bu's answer didn't align with his principles, he planned to leave and head for Chen Xi's camp after returning to the base.
"Chen Zichuan always plans ahead, does he?" Lü Bu lifted his halberd, the sharp edge reflecting his determined face. "Why fight? If the Central Plains aren't suitable for me, then I'll go back to being the Flying General of the northern frontier, the god of war in the north. I'll make the barbarians tremble at my name!"
"I'll leave the battles in the Central Plains to Yuan Benchu and Liu Xuande. I'll return to being the Flying General of the North, the god of war. I won't involve myself in the battles here!" Lü Bu said arrogantly. "The icy winds and snow of the northern frontier, the boundless wilderness—I, Lü Fengxian, will be the first to blaze that trail!"
"I'll follow you to the ends of the earth, unwavering and eternal!" Zhang Liao reined in his horse and solemnly declared. "This will be a difficult path, Fengxian. Are you sure you want to walk it?"
"I will reclaim Yunzhong, Shuofang, Wuyuan, and Dingxiang!" Lü Bu looked back at Zhang Liao. "I'll show the Xiongnu and Xianbei that those lands belong to the Han people. Bingzhou has nine commanderies, not just five. I will take them all back and prove that the greatest province in the realm is not Yizhou, but Bingzhou in the north!"
"Reclaim them? And what if the people of Bingzhou don't accept you?" Zhang Liao asked, piercing directly at Lü Bu's weakness. "I've heard Yuan Benchu has been doing well there."
"Yuan Benchu? I don't look down on him, but he can only defend what he holds. He might protect Taiyuan, Shangdang, Shangjun, Xihe, and Yanmen, but he can't reclaim the lost lands! His focus is on the Central Plains. He won't take them back!" Lü Bu sneered. "As for our people—I believe they will accept us!"
"Very well, I'm with you!" Zhang Liao clasped hands with Lü Bu. "Just like when we left Bingzhou in glory, remember your words—we'll bring back Yunzhong, Shuofang, Wuyuan, Dingxiang, and the half of Yanmen that belongs to my homeland!"
The Northern Xiongnu and Xianbei had no idea that, in the Central Plains, two men were planning to take back the territories they had claimed. But even if they did know, they would dismiss it. In the chaos of the Central Plains, reclaiming lost lands was far more difficult than simply defending them.
"Good! I think Gao Shun and the others have long wanted to return to Bingzhou. This time, we'll fight our way back!" Lü Bu felt a great weight lift from his heart.
"Now for the final question, Fengxian. This question will determine our future. Returning to Bingzhou will inevitably lead to conflict with Yuan Shao. How will we handle that?" Zhang Liao asked.
"Chen Gongtai will handle it! We just need to return to Bingzhou. Let the others play their games in the Central Plains!" Lü Bu replied casually. With the last of his burdens lifted, he felt an unprecedented sense of relief. Even his mind, which had been clouded, seemed to clear up.
"Very well," Zhang Liao nodded, though he sighed inwardly. Returning to Bingzhou wouldn't be easy.
The question Zhang Liao had posed would shape their future, but since Lü Bu had answered, Zhang Liao didn't press further. Perhaps ignorance was bliss, and simply fighting for their ideals was the best path. Yanmen, his homeland, was now under the barbarians' control. Jiuyuan, Lü Bu's homeland, had already been fully occupied by the invaders.
This was the real reason Lü Bu had been reluctant to return to Bingzhou. He had led the Bingzhou wolf riders away, but in doing so, he had left Bingzhou to fall under foreign rule. His people had been displaced, and now, he had resolved to correct that mistake. What had been lost would be reclaimed!
Allowing the people of Bingzhou to suffer under foreign rule was a disgrace. Fearing to face that disgrace was the mark of a coward. Even if that coward was powerful enough to ride through the world unchallenged, he would still be a coward. Now, Lü Bu was determined to reclaim his lost dignity and prove himself!