"This horse is called Curly Red Hare, a fine steed brought back by Zhang Shiping from the southern barbarians. Only the most extraordinary warriors can tame it. General Guan, do you have the spirit to conquer it?" Zhao Yun asked with a smile, patting Curly Red Hare's neck. The horse snorted and immediately dashed away like a fiery streak, while Guan Yu leaped into the air, becoming a blur of green as he landed on the horse's back.
Whether it's the fiery Red Hare or the Curly Red Hare, any Red Hare seems destined to be Guan Yu's companion. Without a Red Hare, Guan Yu's life wouldn't be complete. It's the Red Hare that truly elevates Guan Yu to the pinnacle of his journey.
After all, it was with the Red Hare that Guan Yu became the "God of War." People may forget about Guan Yu's wife or his father, but they always remember his Red Hare.
The Red Hare dashed away like a blaze of fire, but Guan Yu moved fluidly, pushing his limits as he landed on the horse's back. No matter how Curly Red Hare ran, jumped, flew, or twisted in midair, Guan Yu held on tightly, determined that this horse was meant for him.
After a series of wild maneuvers, Guan Yu finally tamed the Curly Red Hare, riding it down with satisfaction. The horse had resisted because it could sense that Guan Yu genuinely wanted to ride it, unlike Zhao Yun, who only kept it as a pet without riding it. But in the end, it couldn't escape Guan Yu.
"Thank you, Zilong," Guan Yu said, clasping his fists in gratitude as he sat on the horse. He now had a burning desire to ride the Curly Red Hare and face off against Lü Bu. He was confident that even if he couldn't win, he wouldn't get injured.
"General Guan looks like he's brimming with energy, ready to take on Lü Bu. Are you planning on sparring with him?" Guo Jia teased with a smile. He could sense Guan Yu's excitement. Ever since Zhang Fei was injured, Guan Yu had been in low spirits. Even after sending Zhang Fei back to Xuzhou, his mood hadn't improved much.
"Lü Bu is indeed formidable. Even with the Red Hare, I'm still not his match," Guan Yu said, tugging on the horse's mane. By this time, the Curly Red Hare had completely submitted to Guan Yu, no longer resisting and even trying to curry favor by shaking its head. "But another round with him is definitely necessary."
As he spoke, Guan Yu dismounted and handed the Green Dragon Crescent Blade and Red Hare to Zhou Cang, instructing him to prepare the horse with armor and bells—everything needed to make it look magnificent, to Guan Yu's satisfaction.
"Hmm, it seems everyone is in high spirits. How about we go challenge Lü Bu this afternoon?" Chen Xi suggested. He couldn't stay in Guan Yu's camp for long; the construction of the city at Linyi was more important. To bring Chen Lan and Fan Jian over, the new city had to be built, or he wouldn't feel at ease.
"Aren't we being a bit hasty?" Chen Chi interjected. As the logistics officer of this army, he felt that challenging Lü Bu on the same afternoon that Chen Xi arrived, while the soldiers were still tired from marching and currently cooking, might be rushing things.
"We don't need many people, just a few hundred will do. While I don't particularly like Lü Bu's character, given the current situation and his courage, we could host the duel on our side," Chen Xi said after some thought. The situation hadn't yet escalated to the point of antagonizing Lü Bu, and Lü Bu's strength made it impossible to capture him.
"Yes, we can invite Lü Bu over to our side for the challenge. We don't need a large force, eight hundred to a thousand men will suffice," Guo Jia agreed, glancing at Chen Xi as he continued.
"Exactly. After all, our goal is to win Lü Bu over, and a friendly sparring session can help build rapport and bridge the gap between us," Chen Xi added with a calm smile, while Guo Jia followed up with a similar suggestion.
"Is that so?" Guan Yu frowned. While he acknowledged Lü Bu's prowess, he couldn't stand Lü Bu's lack of character.
If Lü Bu hadn't committed patricide, Guan Yu might have been willing to accept him, even if Lü Bu was arrogant, lacked social skills, and had a problematic mind. But with the crime of patricide, coupled with disloyalty and disrespect, Guan Yu couldn't imagine serving under the same roof as him.
"Just kidding—it's only a cover. If Lü Bu comes over for a friendly spar, what do you think Tian Feng would make of it?" Chen Xi chuckled, understanding Guan Yu's expression and knowing that someone as loyal and righteous as Guan Yu could never align with Lü Bu.
"Tian Feng would certainly see it as a serious threat. But given the current relationship between the three sides, he would know that there's still room to salvage the situation and would rush to renegotiate with Chen Gong," Guo Jia said with a smile, picking up the conversation.
"Tian Feng would likely go personally, leaving the camp under the command of Yuan Tan and possibly Yan Liang—Yan Liang might not even be there," Chen Chi quickly deduced, clapping his hands as he realized what was happening.
"Then we attack without hesitation," Chen Xi said with a grin. "Send a strong general with cavalry to charge in, burn and kill, then retreat. And don't forget to taunt Tian Feng—whether or not it was his doing, blame him!"
"Our forces are new here, and our formation isn't stable yet. Challenging Lü Bu to a friendly duel and trying to win him over makes sense. With Zichuan here, his status and rank are sufficient to negotiate favorable terms quickly. This will have a significant impact on Tian Feng's calculations," Guo Jia nodded, offering further explanation.
Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, and Xu Chu all came to the same realization. After a brief discussion, it was decided that the task of raiding the camp would fall to Xu Chu and Chen Chi, while Chen Xi would send a letter to Lü Bu as the commanding general.
The letter was carefully crafted through a series of discussions and eventually framed as an invitation to a friendly sparring match to foster mutual understanding and, who knows, possibly work together in the future. The language was polite and gave Lü Bu plenty of face.
"Prepare the food. Let the soldiers have a hearty meal. Oh, and prepare lunch for Lü Bu's side too. Maybe not too much meat, but make sure there's plenty of steamed buns and rice," Chen Xi said with a smile. After all, for many soldiers who had often gone hungry, even plain steamed buns with a bit of salt were satisfying enough.
"We're not short on food. Since it's a friendly spar, let's leave a good impression," Chen Chi agreed, though he sighed as he remembered Lü Bu's suspicious nature. "I'm just worried Lü Bu won't eat it."
"Don't worry. With his strength, even poison couldn't kill him. Besides, he knows no one would resort to such underhanded tactics at this level," Chen Xi replied casually.
"Since it's a friendly spar, we should provide ample food and drink. Cook the remaining half of the beef, and prepare a large jar of medicinal spirits, slightly diluted, along with a smaller jar of undiluted liquor. If we're going to show sincerity, let's show it fully!" Guo Jia shot a glance at Chen Xi, a bit dissatisfied with his stinginess. After all, this was supposed to be a friendly exchange through martial arts!