Three Kingdoms Mythology World.

Chapter 2660 First attack the mind, then the body!
The news of Cao Cao's increased number of strategists and generals has spread throughout the player community. Cao Cao, it seems, managed to recruit so many talented individuals through a seemingly roundabout approach. Perhaps some of them are historical strategists and generals... whom players don't recognize.

The portraits of the extra people around Cao Cao were also recorded by those who were interested, and they spread.

When Lin Mu saw a figure as strong as a bear, carrying a strange large sword on his back, his pupils suddenly contracted!
Xu Chu!!!
We may have lost Hua Tuo and Chen Gong, but we have Xu Chu!

However, it wasn't over yet. When he saw a certain extremely low-profile strategist, he was shocked again!
Cheng Yu, Cheng Zhongde, is an epic historical strategist!

Cao Cao's fate wasn't a calamity at all, but rather a blessing in disguise bestowed upon him by Heaven!

He hadn't received this kind of treatment in his previous life's trials...

Lin Mu was well aware of the prowess of these two men. Xu Chu, a renowned super general on the Heavenly and Earthly Divine Generals List, possessed exceptional martial prowess, unparalleled loyalty, and the courage to fight ten thousand men. On the battlefield, he would undoubtedly be a sharp blade in Cao Cao's charge.

His reputation for bravery was renowned throughout the history of the Three Kingdoms, and ordinary generals could hardly withstand him.

Cheng Yu was a resourceful and shrewd strategist, a crucial advisor in Cao Cao's camp. He possessed exceptional insight into situations, a keen understanding of the big picture, and remarkable planning abilities. Furthermore, he excelled in internal affairs management, making him a rare and multifaceted genius!
Whether in domestic affairs or military matters, he provided Cao Cao with many crucial suggestions and was one of the founders of the Cao Wei group!

When the east is dark, the west is bright... No wonder he was Cao Cao!

But that's not all. When Cao Cao began to return to Dongjun, many wealthy merchants started to support him, providing him with grain, horses, and people, which directly led to the rapid growth of Cao Cao's army.

Fate... Fate my foot!

Cao Cao went to farm reputation, recruit talent, gather resources, and increase his troops...

Originally, it was thought that Cao Cao's camp would be severely weakened by the loss of Hua Tuo, Chen Gong, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, and others. Unexpectedly, Cao Cao not only recovered quickly but also benefited from the misfortune and gained such powerful assistance.

This is completely different from the outcome of Cao Cao's assassination attempt on Dong Zhuo in his previous life. In that life, Cao Cao fled directly east back to Dongjun, where he began to distinguish himself.

In this lifetime, Cao Cao reaped numerous rewards without any deliberate promotion, making many players extremely envious.

Soon, Cao Cao returned to Dongjun. However, he didn't immediately issue a proclamation against Dong Zhuo. Instead, he focused on strengthening his army, integrating his strategists and generals, and allowing them to work together seamlessly. Simultaneously, he recruited more troops to build up strength for his later plans.

During this process, many player factions came to Dongjun to join Cao Cao. Cao Cao did not refuse them, but he also selected the best and best from among them, integrating many player factions to form a force with considerable strength.

Among the players, Ji Beiqin, Jiang Chenglong, Xuan Yuan Changying, Zhu Xuan, and others are all frantically plotting.

They had a premonition that the positions of the eighteen warlords would be extremely important in this campaign against Dong Zhuo, and that being elected would play a pivotal role in the subsequent struggle for supremacy among the warlords.

Unfortunately, unlike Liu Hong and Empress Dowager He, Dong Zhuo, who controlled the court, did not sell official positions to players on a large scale. The positions of county magistrate, prefect, governor, and provincial governor, which involved the responsibility of governorship, were subject to strict vetting of players. Even Ji Beiqin was unable to regain the position of prefect.

This made many players in the Chinese server extremely hate Dong Zhuo. Cutting off someone's path to officialdom was like the hatred of having one's wife stolen or one's father murdered!
Moreover, the eighteen warlords were at least prefects; otherwise, they weren't considered true regional warlords and were looked down upon and disregarded, just like Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. Even if they achieved merit, it wouldn't be of much use. Top-tier lord players in the China region had no desire to be mere foot soldiers.

While countless people were frantically accumulating strength and preparing for war, the situation in Luoyang, the capital city, appeared stable on the surface, but undercurrents were actually surging.

While Cao Cao was stirring up trouble, a rumor circulated in the capital and many other places that General Lin Mu had defected to the powerful minister Dong Zhuo and become Dong Zhuo's lackey!

Clearly, that undercurrent was flowing toward General Lin Mu!

Many people's views have changed after the Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo incident, especially their views on Lin Mu.

Ding Yuan was a brave and daring man who died for the imperial court with honor. Dong Zhuo, though ambitious and ruthless, was also a brave and daring man.

Lin Mu, who commands the National Protection Army and the National Defense Army, doesn't even dare to enter the capital city of Luoyang. What a coward!
Lin Mu's law-abiding behavior was instead perceived as cowardice, lack of courage, and lack of ambition.

Before, they fawned over the Ten Attendants; now, they fawn over Chancellor Dong Zhuo. They haven't changed at all!

Lin Mu, still in the palace, remained unmoved upon hearing these rumors. He understood that someone was deliberately smearing him, attempting to damage his reputation to achieve some ulterior motive.

My vigilance was heightened to an extreme level!
"The rumors and gossip in Luoyang... hehe, aren't they all under Dong Zhuo's control..." Lin Mu sneered, then looked at Li Jue, who was fast asleep not far away.

This guy has been coming over frequently lately; he's probably being monitored.

Dong Zhuo is about to take action against him!

After Dong Zhuo seized power in the court, he eliminated dissidents and promoted his cronies; these two steps were basically completed.

Whether Lin Mu is a dissident or not... Judging from his frequent attendance at Dong Zhuo's banquets and his willingness to follow Dong Zhuo's orders to find the national treasury, he is neither a dissident nor a confidant; at most, he is a potential threat.

As the matter concerning Empress He escalated, more and more people in Dong Zhuo's camp turned their attention to Lin Mu.

The largest brothel in Luoyang, the capital city, Zuiyuelou, had been raided by Dong Zhuo. Its former glory was destroyed in a single night.

Courtesans and the like became the exclusive possessions of the Western Liang warlords.

This matter actually caused quite a stir in Luoyang, the capital city. Because Zuiyue Tower was the choice and dream of many, with a complex web of connections.

No matter how complex it was, it was still swept into the dustbin of history by absolute power.

The reason why Zuiyuelou suffered such a disaster was actually because of Lin Mu.

After Dong Zhuo gained immense power, his desire for Empress Dowager He intensified, and because the time bomb of Liu Bian remained unresolved, he gradually became obsessed!
Yang Biao, Lu Zhi, Zhu Jun, and others have all been apprehended. After a thorough investigation, it was determined that they had no chance of taking Empress Dowager He away. A meticulous check from top to bottom revealed that only Lin Mu was involved in the case.

Dong Zhuo's camp also found clues in Zuiyue Tower.

The songstresses who had entertained Lin Mu had all disappeared, as had the so-called Hui Niang and some of the courtesans... Most importantly, they discovered that the owner of Zuiyue Tower was Empress Dowager He.

Lin Mu had been here when Empress Dowager He disappeared, and there were traces of teleportation at Zuiyue Tower...

Numerous clues have gradually proven that Lin Mu may have manipulated Empress Dowager He.

Zuiyue Tower was thus directly destroyed.

Lin Mu knew that the raid on Zuiyue Tower was just a microcosm of Dong Zhuo's series of actions, and that Dong Zhuo would definitely have more tricks up his sleeve once he gradually learned the truth.

"Making me carry out missions is actually a form of house arrest..." Lin Mu thought to himself as he looked around.

After some thought, Lin Mu continued to rest calmly and composedly.

The mission continued the next day.

As time passed, the atmosphere in the palace grew increasingly oppressive, like the calm before a storm.

Lin Mu secretly observed everything around him. Although the Imperial Guards hadn't changed much, their solemnity and vigilance had become even more pronounced.

Lin Mu had a premonition that a powerful move would be used to deal with him.

Sure enough, the next afternoon, Li Ru went directly to Lin Mu.

In a grand hall, Lin Mu and Li Ru sat facing each other, and servants deftly poured tea for them.

Looking at the shrewd-looking Li Ru, Lin Mu felt a pang of emotion. After Dong Zhuo's death, what became of Li Ru...? Could he perhaps seek refuge with another warlord?

"General Lin, why do you look at me so strangely? Have I done something wrong?" Li Ru asked Lin Mu, puzzled.

"I'm just amazed that Dong Zhuo has such a talented person under his command," Lin Mu said with a faint smile.

"Dong Zhuo's current position owes much to your contributions, sir!" Lin Mu said with a faint smile, looking at the tea. He dared not drink the tea now, lest he inadvertently fall into a trap.

At this point, Lin Mu no longer addressed Dong Zhuo as Chancellor or Lord Dong... he addressed him by his given name.

As if sensing Lin Mu's wariness, Li Ru smiled slightly.

We're all smart people; this is pretty much a showdown.

"Today, I, Li, have come to see the general alone because I have something to ask him."

"Where is Empress Dowager He?" Li Ru asked, his question aimed straight at the heart of the matter.

"Empress Dowager He...heh...isn't she in General Huangfu Song's hands?"

"Or rather, isn't Empress Dowager He in your hands?"

“Like Empress Dowager Dong…” Lin Mu said with a meaningful smile.

Upon hearing this, Li Ru was shocked, his pupils suddenly contracted, as if Lin Mu opposite him had seen through him!

"Your strategy is to first win people's hearts and then their bodies!" Lin Mu said before Li Ru could respond.

Li Ru wanted to continue talking to regain some initiative, but Lin Mu saw through him directly, as if he were naked at this moment and Lin Mu could see through his thoughts!
"The strategist behind the general is quite formidable!" Li Ru said quietly after a moment of surprise.

Lin Mu smiled slightly upon hearing this. Indeed, Li Ru's schemes had been largely seen through by Guo Jia, Xun You, and Xi Zhicai.

First, they raided Zuiyue Tower, then spread rumors, and then began to frame others... Guo Jia and the others guessed that Dong Zhuo might operate in the same way as Empress Dowager Dong, staging a scene where Lin Mu killed Empress Dowager He, or even Lin Mu killed Liu Bian.

“General, I never expected that Empress Dowager Dong was also in your hands!” At this moment, Li Ru uttered a unique point of view.

He quickly deduced this viewpoint from Lin Mu's words.

Lin Mu was neither surprised nor rebuttal to Li Ru's reaction.

It turns out that Empress Dowager Dong was kidnapped by the Great Wilderness Territory beforehand.

As for the imposter Empress Dowager Dong, that was just a staged act put together by Dong Zhuo.

Today, they are going to do it again.

(End of this chapter)