weaving

Chapter 1466 Are you telling the truth?
It was the third day of the eighth lunar month, around dusk.

Luo Rucai led a hundred personal guards to the Yongning Earl's residence at the Dragon King Temple.

"General Luo, you are too kind. We hit it off immediately, so there's no need for such formality." Inside the command tent, Marquis Zhang Cheng of Yongning looked at the four large red wooden chests at the tent entrance and spoke with a smile, appearing very amiable.

Luo Rucai also smiled and bowed, saying, "I have long admired your name, Lord Lord, and I have been wanting to pay my respects to you for a long time. However, I was worried that the upcoming battle would distract you, so I delayed until today."

"Ha ha……"

Marquis Yongning, Zhang Cheng, chuckled a few times before saying, "Since General Luo has already submitted to the court, the Emperor's reward will arrive soon; at the very least, he should be appointed as a General. You and I are now serving as generals in the same court, so there's no need for such formalities!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Rucai smiled somewhat awkwardly. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed Ji Gui giving him a meaningful look. A thought struck him, and he quickly knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist, and said, "Lord, I know that my sins are grave, and I dare not even hope for the court's offer of amnesty. But now, I am fortunate to have been spared by the Earl of Yongning, who is willing to go to great lengths for my sake. I will never be able to repay such kindness."

Although I, Luo, have been pacified twice and returned to the rule of the imperial court, I would never dare to act as a military officer before the Earl of Yongning. In my heart, the Earl's dignity surpasses the authority of the imperial court!

Looking at Luo Rucai kneeling before him, Zhang Cheng smiled with satisfaction. He slowly walked forward, gently helping him to his feet, and said to him, "Rucai, get up quickly... get up and talk."

Unexpectedly, Luo Rucai not only did not get up, but instead knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Lord, I am a rough man and can't talk about any profound principles. The words I just said were taught to me by Military Advisor Ji."

"Don't underestimate me just because I don't know many characters. I'm very discerning, and I can tell good people from bad. From today onward, I'm loyal to the Earl of Yongning. I'll serve you faithfully and obey your every command. I, Luo Rucai, will never disobey you!"

Zhang Cheng saw that Luo Rucai's words sounded very sincere, but people's hearts are unpredictable, so he couldn't be sure whether Luo Rucai was telling the truth or not. Therefore, he wanted to test him again.

“Rucai, we are all serving the court and the emperor, get up quickly... Please get up and speak.”

"Hmph, the imperial court? Not a single good person among those officials in the imperial court. Who knows... they might just 'discard me after I've served my purpose' one day," Luo Rucai said in a deep voice.

He kowtowed again, saying, "My lord, once I've made up my mind, nothing can sway me. I've come today to pay my respects to you, my lord, and I've pledged allegiance to your Yongyi Army."

If you don't agree today, I'll stay kneeling here and won't get up!

The scene suddenly became awkward. The Earl of Yongning was supporting Luo Rucai with both hands but could not help him up. Letting go was not an option, but continuing to help him up would only make him press down harder and refuse to get up.

“Commander-in-Chief, General Luo is sincerely willing to surrender, so please agree to his request!” Chen De, who had stayed in Guide Prefecture for a period of time and had some contact with Luo Rucai, spoke up for him first.

When Liu Yuchi saw Chen De pleading for Luo Rucai, he cursed himself inwardly, "What a coward! I let someone else win the lottery for nothing."

"Commander-in-Chief, Yu Chi also believes that General Luo is sincere. Please grant his request!"

With a rustling sound, everyone in the command tent knelt down. Chen Yongfu, Chen Zhong, Lin Fangping, He Zhenxiong, Hu Yiwen, Liu Chengzhu and others all knelt down to plead for Luo Rucai. Even Hu Zichen, who had been utterly defeated by Luo Rucai in Zhuxian Town, did the same.

Because of his advanced age, Sun Shixiang did not kneel down, but he still spoke up to plead for leniency.

At this moment, the Earl of Yongning released Luo Rucai's arm and stopped trying to help him up. Instead, he returned to his chair with a cold expression and said loudly, "Luo Rucai, were you telling the truth just now?"

Seeing that things were turning around, Luo Rucai quickly replied, "Every word I said is from the heart."

He then added, "What Luo just said is not only our true feelings, but also the heartfelt words of tens of thousands of soldiers in Cao Cao's camp!" "Good." Zhang Cheng stopped pretending with him and immediately agreed, "Since you have such thoughts, I, the commander, naturally cannot disappoint the hearts of tens of thousands of loyal and brave soldiers in Cao Cao's camp."

"Luo Rucai, let me ask you..." Zhang Cheng's tone suddenly turned icy: "My Yongyi Army values ​​military rules and discipline the most. Can you stand it?"

"This humble general accepts!"

"Now that you are under my command, you can no longer act as recklessly as before. You must obey orders in everything you do, do you understand?"

"Your subordinate understands!"

"Okay, now stand up and speak."

It was only then that Luo Rucai stood up with the help of Lin Fangping and Zhang Mingyuan. Perhaps because he had been kneeling for a long time, he swayed involuntarily after standing up.

Zhang Mingyuan quickly helped Luo Rucai up again until he was steady on his feet before turning around and stepping aside.

"Rucai, I have prepared a banquet to welcome you. Let's talk about the rest while we eat."

"I will obey the Commander's orders."

Zhongjun Zhang Mingyuan turned around and left the command tent to arrange the serving of dishes.

The command tent was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation. Liu Yuchi and Chen De introduced the generals of the Yongyi Army to Luo Rucai, and everyone naturally exchanged pleasantries.

…………

If Luo Rucai was originally quite unwilling about the matter of surrendering, fearing that the Earl of Yongning would be defeated by the rebel army, then he would have bet his fortune on the wrong place.

To this end, he also prepared a backup plan for himself—secretly corresponding with Zhang Xianzhong, the Eighth King, to communicate in secret, claiming that his surrender was just a pretense to allow him to recuperate temporarily.

Luo Rucai further stated in the letter:
Li Zicheng had ulterior motives. I helped him out of kindness, but he wanted to devour my troops in order to enhance his reputation as the "Chuang King". Forced by circumstances, I left Li Zicheng and sought to develop independently.

Unexpectedly, Li Zicheng even sent troops to pursue him, and he was defeated. Helpless, he pretended to surrender to the court, and after he had recovered a little strength, he went to Yinghuo Mountain to join Zhang Xianzhong and continue to live a carefree life.

Zhang Xianzhong naturally believed this without a doubt, because after his previous defeat by the government army, he had gone to seek refuge with Li Zicheng, intending only to borrow some troops in order to recover.

Li Zicheng not only refused to lend him troops, but even wanted to detain him in his camp as a hostage in order to win over Zhang Xianzhong's old troops. Fortunately, he was able to escape the tiger's mouth with the help of Luo Rucai.

Luo Rucai even lent him some troops and provided him with armor and weapons. He always remembered this kindness and naturally would not refuse Luo Rucai!

However, things were different now. Yongning Earl Zhang Cheng had won a great victory and defeated the rebel army in one fell swoop, which made Luo Rucai's mind start to wander again.

With the constant persuasion of his strategist Ji Gui, Luo Rucai broke off contact with Zhang Xianzhong and went alone to the Dragon King Temple to pledge his loyalty to Zhang Cheng, the Earl of Yongning.