No matter what Zhang Liao wanted, right now Lü Bu, who was furious and troubled over Wei Xu's death and struggling to explain it to his wife, would never retract his order. He was like an enraged tiger, impossible to calm down with any reasoning.
"Wen Yuan, the Camp of the Righteous will be under your command," Gao Shun said calmly, glancing at Zhang Liao.
"Gong Zheng..." Zhang Liao looked at Gao Shun in confusion. Others might think Gao Shun didn't care about losing command, but Zhang Liao, who was also from Bingzhou, knew just how much effort Gao Shun had put into the Camp of the Righteous.
"With you leading them, I'm reassured," Gao Shun said, his eyes clearly conveying his trust in Zhang Liao.
"This..." Zhang Liao didn't know what to say, but he had to admit that Gao Shun entrusting the Camp of the Righteous to him was better than handing it over to anyone else present.
"Wen Yuan, take command of the Camp of the Righteous," Chen Gong, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. Lü Bu's expression was already showing signs of displeasure, and Zhang Liao and Gao Shun's conversation had only further angered him.
Gao Shun said nothing, and just as Zhang Liao was about to respond, he noticed the meaningful look in Chen Gong's eyes. He instantly understood and said, "In that case, I will temporarily take command of the Camp of the Righteous."
Lü Bu nodded, casting a glance at Gao Shun. Gao Shun clasped his fists in salute and then headed out of the tent. He seldom participated in military discussions, and Lü Bu rarely informed him of such matters.
As Gao Shun passed by Zhang Liao, he patted his shoulder. Zhang Liao felt a moment of suspicion—he had noticed a distinct weakening in the Camp of the Righteous' spirit. However, this wasn't the time or place to question Gao Shun, so he decided to ask him about it after the meeting.
"Alright, I have successfully defeated the Hebei army after departing from Puyang. Gongtai's first phase of the plan is now complete," Lü Bu boasted with pride. And he had reason to be proud—he had decisively beaten the Hebei army with inferior numbers. If it weren't for Xun Chen and his men, the Hebei forces would have been utterly crushed.
"Now that this is done, we must focus on dealing with the Taishan Army. Zhang General has already reported that our enemy has changed from Hua Zijian to Guan Yun Chang," Chen Gong said, mentioning Hua Xiong and Guan Yu with some trepidation. After all, based on the current information, Hua Xiong was undoubtedly a top-tier strategist and commander, and Guan Yu had been in a strategic position of dominance throughout his battles in Licheng and Jizhou.
"Liu Ziyang and Hua Zijian have already headed to Bingzhou. They must have sent forces in response to learning that Cao Cao has gone to Chang'an to support the Emperor. This shows that Liu Xuande's confidence and loyalty to the Han cannot be underestimated," Chen Gong said with a solemn expression. However, he also felt a secret satisfaction—he admired loyalists like Liu Bei.
"Hmph, such audacity! Is he not worried about being surrounded and losing his key ministers?" Lü Bu growled, his tone reflecting his frustration at being underestimated by Liu Bei.
"It's better for us if they underestimate us. That way, we can defeat them more easily," Chen Gong said with a light smile. He knew that Liu Bei wasn't underestimating Lü Bu at all. On the contrary, sending Guan Yu, who had been guarding the north, was a clear sign of how seriously Liu Bei took Lü Bu.
"Once I defeat Yuan Benchu's Hebei forces and Liu Xuande's Taishan army, this vast world will surely be mine to dominate!" Lü Bu declared arrogantly. His recent victory in northern Yanzhou, where he had bested Yuan Shao's forces, had revived his confidence in his ability to conquer the land.
Chen Gong frowned in confusion. Hadn't they agreed to focus all their efforts on defeating Yuan Shao and Liu Bei, then wait for offers from potential allies? Now it seemed that Lü Bu's ambitions were flaring up again. This was ridiculous.
"Guan Yun Chang is Liu Xuande's second brother. He has been stationed in the north, guarding Qingzhou. His personal arrival shows that he intends to eliminate us. However, if we can withstand this thunderous assault, we will become a prized ally between Yuan Benchu and Liu Xuande in the north. This is how we can secure our future interests," Chen Gong said seriously, fixing Lü Bu with a stern gaze.
It wasn't that Chen Gong doubted Lü Bu's abilities—Lü Bu was undoubtedly a powerful warrior and capable leader, especially against non-Han opponents. But as a ruler, Lü Bu lacked the necessary judgment and discipline, and he struggled with inconsistent rewards and punishments.
"Hmph, I'll first defeat Guan Yu. Back at Hulao Pass, they were all defeated by me. Let's see how much they've improved now," Lü Bu said with disdain, casting a dismissive glance at Chen Gong.
Chen Gong sighed inwardly. Lü Bu's biggest flaw was his lack of self-awareness. He was too easily swayed by praise and remained stuck in the mindset that he was still the undisputed number one in the world.
"So be it. Let's first defeat Guan Yu," Chen Gong nodded. He already knew that Guan Yu would be the commander, with Guo Jia as his strategist. Despite this formidable combination, Chen Gong felt no fear. In terms of strategy, he feared no one, and in terms of combat prowess, Lü Bu was unrivaled. Additionally, their wolf cavalry was well-trained, and though provisions were somewhat scarce, their overall strength wasn't inferior to Guan Yu's forces.
"Report!" Just as Lü Bu was about to express his satisfaction after defeating the Hebei army, a messenger rushed into the tent.
"What is it?" Lü Bu glared at the messenger, his gaze so fierce that it made the man's heart skip a beat.
"A challenge letter from Zhang Yide's camp," the messenger said, keeping his head down, not daring to meet Lü Bu's eyes.
"Bring it here," Lü Bu ordered, his expression darkening as he remembered Zhang Fei from Hulao Pass.
Lü Bu took the paper envelope, which had the words "Battle Challenge" written on it. He sneered coldly and tore it open. "Zhang Fei, you wretch! You seek death!"
After reading just a few words, Lü Bu roared in fury and slammed his fist down, shattering the table in front of him into splinters and leaving a large crater in the floor. The letter, however, remained intact at the center of the crater, glowing faintly with a protective light, unharmed by the force of his blow.
"Zhao Zilong, you will die too!" Lü Bu, consumed by rage, ignored where he was and struck again. His immense strength obliterated the letter, creating an even deeper hole in the ground. The entire camp seemed to shake from the impact.
Chen Gong's sharp eyes had caught a glimpse of the letter before Lü Bu destroyed it. The words were clear: "You three-faced slave, a scum without loyalty, honor, or filial piety! If you have the guts, face me in single combat tomorrow!"
Zhao Yun had no idea that by simply preparing a few pieces of special paper for Zhang Fei, he had earned Lü Bu's eternal enmity. But there was no denying that Zhang Fei's insult had struck a nerve, and Lü Bu's failure to destroy Zhao Yun's carefully crafted letter on the first try had only fueled his rage.
With bloodshot eyes, Lü Bu grabbed his Sky Piercer halberd and stormed out of the tent. He was determined to kill Zhang Fei. If he didn't, he wouldn't be able to swallow his anger. He would kill Zhang Fei and then hang him up for all to see!