: With the skill of General Yu She, one can slay Lü Bu!

……

After hearing Yu She's explanation, Yuan Shu seemed to understand, but he was still suspicious. "Even so, Guan Yu is an unknown person. Even if he is killed, it will not show how powerful Hua Xiong is."

"That's right! Just as my lord said, that's why I'm going to recommend him in public, to create momentum for Guan Yu, to praise him as unparalleled in the world, as if he were a god."

Yu She sighed with regret, "Who would have thought that Hua Xiong was all talk and no action, and that his strength was so lacking!"

I presumptuously claimed that Guan Yu could kill Hua Xiong in three rounds, but he killed him with a single strike upon entering the battle, thus ruining our lord's great undertaking. This was truly not my intention.

When this was mentioned, Yuan Shu also deeply agreed.

"Let alone you, even I couldn't have predicted that he, a mere horse archer, could actually kill Hua Xiong."

However, according to your plan, if you want Guan Yu to be killed by Hua Xiong, why risk your life to guarantee his death?

If he dies in battle, how will you handle the situation?

"Otherwise, how could the feudal lords believe in Guan Yu's bravery and strategy?"

Otherwise, even if Guan Yu were killed, how could Hua Xiong's prowess be demonstrated?

Otherwise, how could I have angered my lord so much that he stormed off the table and feigned discord with me, so as to avoid the other lords suspecting that this was all my lord's doing?

Yuan Shu was taken aback by the question, and Yu She seized the opportunity to speak:

"As for the promise of life guarantee, I will only say that I will leave my head behind for now and keep my body for use. I will go out into battle to avenge Guan Yu and fight Hua Xiong to the death. How could the lords not agree?"

"When this humble general raises his spear and rides on horseback, he will pierce Hua Xiong with a single thrust, placing his head in the tent. This will not only glorify our lord's reputation but also allow us to return with this great achievement. Do the other lords truly intend to kill this humble general?"

Yuan Shu: "..."

That makes so much sense!

If everything unfolds according to Yu She's plan, then at this very moment, the one sitting in the main tent receiving everyone's admiration will undoubtedly be Yuan Shu.

Unfortunately……

"Hey! Look at the mess you made! Why did you have to pick that horse archer of all people?"

If you had simply praised that archer and then sent him into battle to be killed by Hua Xiong, none of this would have happened.

Having finally managed to smooth things over, Yu She breathed a sigh of relief, his face full of flattery.

"Indeed, this humble general was short-sighted, acted cleverly, and ruined the lord's grand plan."

"Rest assured, my lord, if there is a next time, I will certainly be the first to charge into battle, slaying enemy generals and capturing their flags, to bring glory to you."

Yuan Shu was satisfied and patted him on the shoulder with a light laugh.

"Zichuan's abilities and skills are still reliable. Remember to do your job well next time, make more achievements, and don't disappoint me again."

"I am willing to go through fire and water for my lord, even unto death."

The two men looked at each other and smiled, their relationship as ruler and subject complementing each other perfectly.

……

When news of Hua Xiong's execution and the rout of his troops reached Dong Zhuo's court, everyone was terrified.

"With Hua Xiong's abilities, how could he be killed with a single strike?"

Dong Zhuo urgently summoned Li Ru to discuss the matter.

Li Ru advised, "Now that we have lost our general Hua Xiong, our army's morale has been dampened, while the enemy's strength is overwhelming."

The eighteen warlords formed an alliance, bringing together the talents of the nine provinces and commanding a million troops. Wise ministers and strategists were as numerous as carp crossing a river, and countless capable and extraordinary individuals were present.

The warlords jointly elected Yuan Shao as their leader and appointed Yuan Shu as the general in charge of logistics and provisions, all of whom admired the reputation of Yuan Shao, whose family had held high office for four generations.

Grand Tutor Yuan Kui, uncle of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, has disciples and former officials all over the land, and his faction in the court is deeply entrenched. If a change were to occur, with inside help from within and outside, the entire Han dynasty would fall into the hands of the Yuan family, and we would all be fish on the chopping block.

As he spoke, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. "Since the Yuan brothers have openly rebelled against the court, why not take this opportunity to kill Yuan Kui and intimidate the people of the court? From now on, the Prime Minister will have sole control of the government and no more obstacles."

With this worry eliminated, the Prime Minister can personally lead the army to suppress these eighteen rebel groups.

Dong Zhuo agreed, and ordered Li Jue and Guo Si to lead troops to exterminate the entire Yuan family, including Grand Tutor Yuan Kui, Grand Master Yuan Ji, their mother and sisters, and more than fifty others, regardless of age.

Seeing that the Yuan family, the most powerful family of the time, had been executed, Dong Zhuo's cruelty and ruthlessness terrified the court and the public. All the officials trembled with fear and dared not disobey.

Dong Zhuo then raised an army of 200,000, which was divided into two routes. One route was led by Li Jue and Guo Si with 50,000 troops to guard Sishui Pass, while he himself led an army of 150,000 to guard Hulao Pass with Li Ru, Lü Bu, Fan Chou, Zhang Ji and others.

……

When news of the Yuan family's complete annihilation in Luoyang arrived, the warlords who had been waiting and feasting in Suanzao every day since the Eighteen Routes Alliance, observing the situation without making any progress, finally made their move.

Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu wept bitterly, pointing to the sky and cursing Dong Zhuo. They then angrily raised their troops and marched straight to Hulao Pass, vowing to kill the traitor Dong Zhuo to serve the king!

Upon reaching the battlefield, Dong Zhuo observed from the city wall. Seeing the banners of the allied forces of the various lords covering the sky and stretching across the mountains and plains, he asked his generals, "Who dares to go into battle?"

Lü Bu responded and stepped forward to request orders, saying, "I regard the lords outside the pass as nothing more than weeds. Now I am willing to go out to fight and cut off their heads, which will be hung on the city gate."

"good!"

Dong Zhuo was overjoyed, "With Fengxian here, I have nothing to worry about!"

Lü Bu then picked up his halberd, led a group of men, and rode out of the city to challenge them.

"With Lü Bu of Jiuyuan here, who dares to fight me?"

He wore a purple-gold crown with three prongs, a red brocade robe with a hundred flowers from Sichuan, held a halberd, and rode Red Hare. He was awe-inspiring and majestic.

Yuan Shao then asked his generals, "Who dares to go into battle?"

Fang Yue, a famous general from Hanoi, was about to request permission to fight, but Yuan Shu preemptively shouted it out.

"I have a great general, Yu She, who can behead this official!"

As he spoke, Yuan Shu stared intently at Yu She, his meaning clear and unspoken.

"Zichuan, why aren't you going to fight? Or are your words about rushing out first to slay generals, seize flags, and make a name for yourself throughout the world just empty talk?"

Clearly, Yu She's previous words had not completely dispelled Yuan Shu's doubts. The only way to regain his complete trust was to achieve fame in a single battle and greatly enhance his prestige.

Yu She glanced at Yuan Shu, who was closing in step by step, and then at Lü Bu, who stood imposingly on the battlefield. He was quite conflicted.

Although Yu She was self-assured, he estimated that there were no more than five people in the world who could kill him.

Encountering Hua Xiong was already bad luck, but then meeting Guan Yu was even worse.

But no one can be unlucky forever, and it's impossible for Yu She to be unable to defeat every enemy general he encounters.

Lu Bu is renowned and has a formidable reputation. If he is not just a name without substance, what if he is actually quite strong and has the courage of Hua Xiong?

If Yu She were to go into battle now, wouldn't that be sending him to his death?

To save his life, Yu She gritted his teeth and spoke, even under pressure from Yuan Shu.

"On the battlefield, morale is of paramount importance."

Although I am not talented, I am confident that I can defeat Lü Bu. However, if Guan Yu were to take the field, he could cut Lü Bu down with a single stroke…”

Unexpectedly, even Guan Yu refused his request after he said this.

"No, no!"

Last time, I was deeply grateful to Zichuan for his kindness in offering me Hua Xiong's head. I felt unworthy of such a gift and am extremely grateful.

To compete with Zichuan for credit at this time would be unjust and would invite ridicule from the world.

This is absolutely unacceptable; never mention it again.

Yu She: "..."

"Yu She!"

Seeing that he was still hesitating and delaying, Yuan Shu's suspicion was almost overflowing, and he looked at him with extreme hostility.

"If we don't fight now, when will we? Quickly kill Lü Bu and do not disappoint me."

……