Three Kingdoms Mythology World.

Of course, even if Dong Zhuo had not usurped the Han throne at this time, the Han court would have long lost the power to command the world, and various warlords would have risen up, forming a situation of warlord separatism.

The Great Han Dynasty was nothing more than a signboard that had long been hollowed out.

Dong Zhuo's act of removing this sign actually gave everyone the right to openly expand their power and establish their own kingdoms. This is why none of the warlords sent troops to stop him.

Lin Mu tapped his fingertips lightly on the table and looked up at Li Ru: "I understand the reasoning Wen You is giving. Since I have already agreed to a ceasefire, I will naturally not go back on my word. I just don't know if Wen You has any other intentions besides bringing this up."

Li Ru picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly spoke as he put it down: "Since the general understands, then I will be frank. Besides the ceasefire agreement, I have another matter to discuss with the general."

"Oh? What kind of deal?" Lin Mu asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Many are secretly coveting this grand event. If any other lords rebel when you go to Chang'an, will you be willing to take action?" Li Ru looked around and then turned his gaze to Huang Zhong and Taishi Ci.

Their strength has spread throughout the entire land. With their help, great things can be accomplished!

"What? You're asking us to come and protect you?" Upon hearing this, Huang Zhong, Taishi Ci, and the others in the tent all changed their expressions. No one expected that Li Ru would actually take the initiative to ask for help!
Lin Mu was also taken aback for a moment, then chuckled and shook his head: "Wen You, given the current hostile situation between our two forces, are you willing to believe that we would stand by you? We're already being generous by not secretly causing you trouble..."

"The world is bustling, all for profit. The world is in turmoil, all for profit." Li Ru slowly uttered this famous saying about the supremacy of profit.

“As long as the benefits are sufficient, even mortal enemies can turn hostility into friendship,” Li Ru added.

Lin Mu stared at Li Ru for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter: "What a fine example of how interests can turn hostility into friendship! It seems Dong Zhuo is going to have to pay the price..."

"This general agrees!" Lin Mu smiled and immediately said decisively without the slightest hesitation.

Li Ru was slightly taken aback upon seeing this. He hadn't expected Lin Mu to agree before he even mentioned the payment...

Lin Mu's decisiveness made Li Ru feel a little uneasy... Could it be that Lin Mu's scheme in the dark was even more terrifying and secretive?
Or perhaps Lin Mu's true intention was to deal with the other warlords?!

Is this just a matter of going with the flow?

It's unclear whether Lin Mu is aware that once Dong Zhuo sets off from Mei County, the abdication process will officially begin, and other warlords cannot disrupt it, otherwise they will suffer severe karmic consequences.

Moreover, at that time, Lord Dong Zhuo's power will reach its peak. If Lin Mu and other warlords plot against Lord Dong Zhuo, they will suffer divine retribution and calamity, which is no small matter.

That is why Dong Zhuo dared to send invitations to warlords such as Lin Mu, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Cao Cao to come and observe.

On that day, the protagonist of the world was our lord, Dong Zhuo!

All the powerful lords who possess the destiny of the dragon must bow down to him!
Therefore, Dong Zhuo's camp was not afraid at all.

Both sides, from their own perspectives, believe they have the advantage!
Regardless, having received Lin Mu's confirmation, Li Ru finally felt relieved and stood up again to bow to Lin Mu, saying, "In that case, I won't stay any longer, lest I be discovered by spies from other lords and ruin everything."

Lin Mu did not try to stop him and immediately stood up: "I will see Wen You out of the camp."

After Li Ru's figure disappeared outside the camp gate, Taishi Ci couldn't help but speak up: "My lord, Li Ru is a man with treacherous intentions. Can we trust what he says? Could it be a trap deliberately set by Dong Zhuo to incite infighting among us warlords?"

"Whether it's genuine or a trap, we're going to be competing with other warlords who are secretly involved anyway. With Dong Zhuo's camp coordinating things, it'll be easier for us to deal with them, and we'll actually save ourselves a lot of effort," Lin Mu said with a smile.

"If we face a coalition of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, the pressure will be immense," Huang Zhong said, frowning.

“This time, Wang Yun may only be in contact with Cao Cao, Ma Teng, and others,” Lin Mu replied.

The Night Shadow Legion already knew that Ma Teng had sided with Dong Zhuo, and they also knew that Ma Teng was personally leading an elite army of 500,000 men on a clandestine march towards Chang'an. On the surface, Ma Teng and his men were only accompanied by a few thousand.

"As for Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, they probably have no contact. The Yuan family participated in several previous operations against Dong Zhuo, but each time they failed... Wang Yun is not involving the Yuan family this time..." Lin Mu said meaningfully.

In fact, many people have already speculated that there is a mole within Yuan Shikai's organization, or that Yuan Shikai's fortunes have turned sour, with a series of misfortunes. Therefore, they refuse to cooperate with him.

Everyone was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. They had never imagined that the problem would originate from the Yuan family... after all, they had paid a bloody price.

"My lord, according to the information from the Night Shadow Legion, the Bingzhou army is likely stockpiled in Meiyang City. Their target is clearly Mei County."

“Mei County is Dong Zhuo’s stronghold, so it cannot be said to be of little importance! Should we send more forces to conquer Mei County?” Yu Jin, who had been silent for a long time, asked.

Even the Night Shadow Legion wasn't entirely certain about the whereabouts of the Bingzhou army, but they were generally on the right track.

“I know that Mei County is actually the real battlefield!” Lin Mu said solemnly.

"Unfortunately, the specific situation in Mei County is completely unknown. The Night Shadow Legion couldn't even infiltrate a single point."

"Logically speaking, the Bingzhou army would have acted immediately, because Lü Bu knew all too well what Dong Zhuo had and the layout of Mei County."

"Let them charge ahead first..."

"I wonder if Cao Cao, Ma Teng, and others have secretly hidden troops..." Lin Mu said slowly.

"Han Shengziyi, Wen Qianwenzeyouping... You are all going to Mei County this time, so be careful. Although Chang'an is extremely dangerous, Mei County is also one of the centers of the vortex," Lin Mu instructed.

This time, Lin Mu only took Dian Wei to Chang'an, while Huang Zhong, Taishi Ci, and the others went to conquer Mei County.

"I don't seek great achievements, but only to avoid great losses!" Lin Mu said earnestly.

"Yes, sir!" Everyone nodded emphatically.

Afterwards, the group continued discussing the relevant matters...

……

In the residence of the Minister of Works in Chang'an.

Lu Bu, travel-worn and weary, secretly returned to the Situ Mansion.

Instead of paying his respects to Situ Wang Yun first, he rushed straight to the backyard to find Diao Chan.

However, what Lü Bu didn't know was that his hurried figure had already caught the eye of Wang Yun, who was hiding in the shadows.

"Has the Grand Tutor not arrived yet?" From the shadows, Wang Yun asked the steward with a blank expression.

"We're at the door," the butler replied immediately.

Lü Bu and Dong Zhuo both came to the Situ residence one after the other. Clearly, this was arranged by Wang Yun on purpose.

In a quiet, fragrant courtyard, Diao Chan stood in the lotus pond, admiring the flowers, her face showing neither joy nor sorrow...

As soon as Lu Bu's loud footsteps approached, Diao Chan immediately changed her expression, becoming filled with sorrow and grief.

"Alas... what to do... what to do..." Diao Chan's sighs echoed in the lotus pond.

As soon as Lü Bu entered, he heard Diao Chan's mournful voice, and his heart ached. Actually, he had come to question Wang Yun about why he had married Diao Chan to Dong Zhuo; wasn't it agreed that she would marry him?

During his absence from Chang'an, this unexpected turn of events occurred.

Although he had a vague feeling that something was wrong, he did not question Wang Yun, but went directly to find Diao Chan.

"Diao Chan..." Lu Bu called softly.

Upon hearing this, Diao Chan immediately turned around. When she saw Lü Bu, she was overjoyed, but then, as if remembering something, she sighed and turned away, not daring to look at Lü Bu.

This smooth, effortless movement broke Lu Bu's heart...

Before Lü Bu could speak, Diao Chan immediately said, "Why isn't the General in the palace with the Grand Tutor...?"

"I...sigh..." Lu Bu sighed softly, not knowing what to say, unable to utter any words of reproach.

"Does the general resent my decision to marry the prime minister?" Diao Chan asked softly.

"General, although I am not the biological daughter of Minister Wang, he has treated me as his own daughter. Since meeting you, I have fallen in love with you. Minister Wang has betrothed me to you, and I have been hoping to have someone to rely on for the rest of my life. This would be my greatest wish. But the Grand Tutor has a bad heart and wants to force me to marry him. I wish I could die immediately, but because I have not been able to say goodbye to you, I have to endure this humiliation and live on. Today, I am fortunate to meet you again. My wish has been fulfilled. Since I cannot serve you, I wish to die in front of you to show my will."

As she spoke, Diao Chan slowly walked to the edge of the lotus pond, intending to jump in.

Who was Lü Bu? No woman would commit suicide in front of him. He immediately grabbed Diao Chan and said affectionately, "Chan'er, I don't blame you... I knew your heart all along. I only regret that I was sent away by Dong Zhuo and could not protect you or meet you to talk."

"I never expected him to find a loophole!" Lu Bu said bitterly.

Diao Chan began to sob, her eyes glistening with tears, her face filled with sorrow. She slowly said, "I cannot be your concubine in this life, but we can only meet in the next."

Lu Bu said with heartache, "Chan'er, don't be impulsive. If I cannot take you as my concubine in this life, I am no hero. I will definitely rescue you from this predicament!"

Diao Chan nestled in Lü Bu's arms, sobbing, "General! Waaah~~~~ I feel like every day in this mansion is a year. I force a smile every day, but secretly I cry. I beg you to have pity on me and save me as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Lü Bu tightened his grip on his arm, feeling the warmth emanating from it, and his heart fluttered. A strange fragrance wafted into his nostrils, making him feel somewhat lightheaded…

"Let me devise a better plan!" Lu Bu gently took the beauty's arm, feeling her softness, as if he had fallen into a gentle embrace.

"Waaah!~~~~" Diao Chan continued to sob softly...

Seeing the beauty in his arms like this, Lü Bu felt as if his heart had been cut dozens of times.

However, what Lü Bu didn't know was that at that moment, Dong Zhuo appeared at the other end of the lotus pond. As soon as he entered, he saw Lü Bu embracing Diao Chan.

Dong Zhuo's eyes widened, a surge of rage rising from his chest. He roared, "You little brat Lü Bu, how dare you seduce my beloved concubine!!!"

Lu Bu and Diao Chan were enjoying their time together when Dong Zhuo saw them and was immediately shocked upon hearing this.

Without arguing, Lü Bu simply transformed into a streak of green and vanished.

Diao Chan's expression changed, and she continued to sob.

Dong Zhuo leaped lightly, jumping directly from one side of the lotus pond.

Although he has become much fatter, his strength remains; he is nothing more than a lotus pond.

"You shameless woman, how dare you have an affair with Lü Bu!" Dong Zhuo's anger intensified. He wanted to slap Diao Chan, but when he saw her tearful face, he couldn't bring himself to do it and could only angrily rebuke her.

Diao Chan collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. After a moment (waiting for Lü Bu to leave), she suddenly lunged at Dong Zhuo, lamenting, "Grand Tutor, Grand Tutor, Grand Tutor! I was admiring the flowers in the back garden when Lü Bu suddenly appeared. I was about to avoid him, but that scoundrel said, 'I am the Grand Tutor's son, why should I avoid you?' With that, he drew his halberd and chased me into the Lotus Pavilion. I saw his ill intentions and feared that I would be forced into this situation and would dishonor the Grand Tutor. I wanted to throw myself into the lotus pond, but this scoundrel grabbed me. Just as I was in the midst of life and death, the Grand Tutor came and saved my life."

Good heavens, Lu Bu had only been gone a short while when Diao Chan immediately shifted all the blame onto him, claiming that she was forced by him and had no power to resist.

However, this trick actually worked.

Dong Zhuo had always loved Diao Chan more than his own life. Seeing her so weak and pitiful, his anger had already subsided considerably, and he blamed all the faults on Lü Bu.

Dong Zhuo held Diao Chan's soft, cotton-like body, inhaling her extremely pleasant fragrance. Perhaps it was the scent of Diao Chan's virginity that made him so intoxicated.

"This traitor dares to seduce my beloved concubine! I swear I will kill him!" Dong Zhuo awoke from his reverie and immediately vowed to kill his shameless adopted son, Lü Bu.

Upon hearing this, Diao Chan's crying gradually subsided, but her shoulders continued to tremble. She remained prostrate on the ground, too afraid to get up. Her pitiful appearance only deepened Dong Zhuo's pity for her and his hatred for Lü Bu intensified.

Meanwhile, at the entrance to the lotus pond, Wang Yun, hidden in the shadows, appeared and disappeared...

Feeling the tenderness in his arms, Dong Zhuo said softly, "My beloved concubine, there is no need to cry anymore. With me here, I will surely uphold justice for you."

Diao Chan smiled gratefully, gently stroking Dong Zhuo's chest, and said softly, "Thank you, Grand Tutor, for not punishing me."

At this moment, Dong Zhuo trembled, and a surge of dragon energy burst forth. For some reason, he suddenly said, "If... I were to bestow you upon Lü Bu today, what would that be like?"

Diao Chan was also shaken, and a strange power emanated from her, making the surrounding fragrance even stronger. She then cried out, "I would rather die than suffer this humiliation."

As she spoke, she broke free from Dong Zhuo's embrace and prepared to jump into the lotus pond.

Lotus Pond: Damn it, it's so shallow, you won't die if you jump in! You're all brain-dead!
Upon seeing this, Dong Zhuo immediately pulled Diao Chan back, saying, "This, this, I was just joking."

Diao Chan's expression changed, and she asked in a low voice, "Was this Li Ru's idea? He has a deep friendship with Lü Bu, so he devised this plan, but he doesn't care about the Grand Tutor's dignity or my life."

Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo waved his hand and said, "No...no. No matter what, how could I bear to abandon you?"

"Hehe... They say women are like clothes, and brothers are like limbs. Grand Tutor and Lü Bu are father and son, which is more important than brothers... Alas... I only regret that my life is too short." Diao Chan cried again, pretending to be a pear blossom in the rain.

Dong Zhuo gently embraced Diao Chan again, saying tenderly, "My beloved, there's no need to cry anymore. When our joyous day arrives, I will go with you to live in Mei Wu, where we can share happiness and I will ensure you have no worries."

Diao Chan seemed very moved and leaned on Dong Zhuo, saying excitedly, "Thank you, Grand Tutor."

After leaving the lotus pond in the backyard, Lü Bu did not go to find Wang Yun, but instead hurriedly returned to his residence.

Upon returning to the mansion, one sees many rare items displayed in the main hall.

"Who gave it to you?" Lü Bu asked.

"The Grand Tutor just sent someone to say that Marquis Wen has been traveling and working hard lately, and he must be tired," the steward standing to the side immediately replied.

"You old scoundrel, you've gone too far!!!"

(I'm too busy today, so only one update!) (End of Chapter)