Ji County, You Province State Prefecture.
"What did you say?"
Liu Yu stared at the Official in front of him, eyes wide, "Guan Yu's unit left the pass without authorization and hasn't returned? Some soldiers from Yan Rou's unit are also missing?"
"Yes."
The Official nodded, "Guan Yu's unit left the pass ten days ago, and Yan Rou's soldiers went missing about eight days ago."
Just then, the Official from Yuyang Commandery walked in.
"Governor, five hundred State Prefecture soldiers from Yuyang Commandery have been missing recently."
"What?"
Liu Yu stood up, "Even the State Prefecture soldiers from Yuyang are gone?"
"Huh?"
The Yuyang Official looked bewildered, "Even?"
The Official next to him quickly explained.
"Holy crap?"
The Yuyang Official was startled, "In just ten days, You Province has inexplicably lost three thousand five hundred soldiers?"
Liu Yu looked at the Yuyang Official.
"Did you ask Gu Yong what exactly happened?"
"I did."
The Yuyang Official nodded, "He told me not to ask."
"Don't..."
Liu Yu choked, looking at the other Official.
"What about Yan Rou's side?"
"He also told me not to ask," that Official said.
"How outrageous!"
Liu Yu was furious, "Mobilizing troops without permission, are they trying to rebel?"
"Come here!"
Liu Yu shouted loudly, "Immediately send men to Yuyang and Ning County to have Gu Yong and Yan Rou come see me in Ji County!"
"And send men out of the pass to find Guan Yu and bring him back!"
"Understood."
A minor official responded, then turned to leave.
"Wait."
Wei You called out, looked at Liu Yu, and pondered, "Governor, Guan Yu, Yan Rou, and Gu Yong... they are all former subordinates of Marquis Xuanwei."
"What if they are Zhang Ziqing's former subordinates?"
Liu Yu angrily said, "Does that mean they can do whatever they want in You Province just because they are Zhang Ziqing's former subordinates?"
Wei You shook his head, waving his hand to signal the others to leave first.
Seeing Wei You act this way, Liu Yu couldn't help but ask, "Zi Shan, what is this for?"
Wei You slowly stood up.
Liu Yu quickly stepped forward to support him.
Six years had passed since Wei You pacified Zhang Xin; he was now in his twilight years, frail and old, with difficulty in his legs.
"Thank you, Governor, for your consideration."
Wei You thanked him, propped up his cane, and whispered, "I suspect the disappearance of these soldiers is related to Marquis Xuanwei."
"Zhang Ziqing? Isn't he dead?"
Liu Yu was stunned, then suddenly realized.
"You mean his old subordinates went to avenge him?"
Although Liu Yu was unwilling to get involved in the conflict between the Partisans and Dong Zhuo, he couldn't possibly ignore such a major event as the feudal lords' campaign against Dong Zhuo.
Coupled with Dong Zhuo's widespread propaganda, the news of Zhang Xin's death had long reached his ears.
In Liu Yu's eyes, this young fellow Zhang Xin was good in every aspect except for his humble origins.
Whether it was governing a region, leading troops in battle, or his loyalty to the imperial court, he was impeccable.
Upon hearing of Zhang Xin's death, Liu Yu had even sighed in regret and was so upset that he couldn't eat for a whole day.
Since he felt this way, it made sense that Guan Yu and others who had long received Zhang Xin's favor would send troops to avenge him.
West from Gaoliu was Yan Gate; heading south from there would lead to River East, and then to Chang'an.
When Zhang Xin campaigned against Liang Province back then, Guan Yu's unit took this very route.
"Not so."
Wei You shook his head, "I suspect Marquis Xuanwei isn't dead at all."
"Not dead?"
Liu Yu was stunned, "If he isn't dead, why would Dong Zhuo so widely publicize it? Not only did he have the imperial court bury him with the rites of a duke, but he also had the Son of Heaven personally escort his coffin..."
"What does Dong Zhuo gain by doing this?"
Indeed.
Zhang Xin's funeral had already been held in Chang'an, and even the grass on his grave had begun to sprout.
Liu Yu didn't understand.
As Zhang Xin's defeated opponent, if Zhang Xin were to reappear, wouldn't Dong Zhuo become the laughingstock of the world?
Wei You initially also thot Zhang Xin was dead, especially since Dong Zhuo's procedures were so complete.
But the continuous disappearance of Youzhou Soldiers made him reconsider whether Dong Zhuo was up to something.
After all, Fat Dong isn't a normal person either.
Three thousand five hundred soldiers, not a small number, but not a large one either.
Even if these few former subordinates of Zhang Xin gathered these soldiers, it would be virtually impossible to march all the way to Chang'an and kill Dong Zhuo.
During Guan Yu's years stationed in You Province, Wei You had met him twice.
This man wasn't foolish; he wouldn't be unaware of this principle.
Yet, the Youzhou Soldiers still disappeared.
This made Wei You suspect whether Zhang Xin wasn't dead at all, but instead had reac hearing this, a smile appearing on his face.
"Young man, this is all this old man can do for you..."