Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 104 A marriage alliance with Lü Bu: a strategy that avoids alienating relatives.

Inside the Chenwang Palace, the candlelight crackled as it burned. When the emperor spoke of Fengxiao's scheme once again, the assembled officials fell silent.

Although no one had ever met this strategist named Fengxiao, they had often heard of him.

Furthermore, the changes that occurred after the lord obtained the Imperial Seal, and the flawless strategies he devised along the way, all convinced everyone of his plans.

Yuan Shu slightly raised his eyes, glanced at the assembled officials, and looked at his top general.

Where is Ji Ling?

"The end will be here."

"Do you dare accept the general's orders?"

"How dare you not?"

"Good! I hereby order you to lead an army of 30,000 to Pei State to attack Liu Bei. Do not seek victory, but merely delay him."

"After I conquer Liang, I will return to join you."

Ji Ling was about to accept the order, but then he remembered what Lu Xun had just said, hesitated for a moment, and changed his mind.

"How dare I disobey my lord's command?"

If Liu Bei were merely a nobody, I would consider him nothing more than a target for sale. However, if, as Lord Lu says, he were to join forces with Lü Bu to attack us…

As Ji Ling spoke, he seemed to notice the strange looks people were giving him, and fearing that he might lose his current reputation, he continued.

"It's not that I'm afraid of those three-surname servants, but I'm afraid that they won't be able to fight back, and I'll be outnumbered and ruin my lord's important plans."

My lord, as you know, this wasn't the first time the three brothers Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei had done this at Hulao Pass.

If we add Lu Bu to the mix, with their superior numbers, I'm afraid even if I have the ability to defeat ten thousand men, I will find it difficult to use my skills.

"If my lord can keep Prince Bofu here..."

Sun Ce knew something was wrong as soon as he heard this. "You, Ji Ling, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, are very wicked. I almost got killed by Guan Yu today. And you want me to fight Lü Bu?"
"Father! Forgive my bluntness, but Lü Bu is invincible in this world. No one in the world can rival him except General Ji Ling."

With General Ji Ling in Pei, there should be no problem. I can personally lead three thousand fierce soldiers to capture the capital of Liang within ten days and bring the King of Liang to an audience with my adoptive father.”

After speaking, Sun Ce looked around at the generals present and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that after Lei Bu and Chen Lan died, no one else was going to join him in leading troops.

Why would you ignore Jian Yong, an easy target, and instead go and fight Lü Bu? You, General Ji Ling, should bear the consequences of such a renowned and powerful achievement yourself.

“I am very pleased that Ce’er has such filial piety. However, I will give orders when we arrive in Liang. There is no need to rush.”

Yuan Shu outwardly offered some words of encouragement with apparent satisfaction, but as for the three thousand soldiers and such? He intermittently ignored them, then smiled and said to Ji Ling:

"Just as Bo Fu said, with General Ji Ling, who is unparalleled in the world, what do we have to fear from Lü Bu?"

Ji Ling: "."

My lord, that's what you said when you sent Lei Bu and Chen Lan to fight Guan Yu. Hearing you say that now I'm scared myself, you know?
Although he had used the brilliant strategy taught by his lord to defeat Guan Yu in three rounds and become famous throughout the world, Ji Ling had become more confident and felt that he was at least no less than Guan Yu.

But after all, Lu Bu was the best among men and Red Hare among horses. Lu Bu's reputation as the best in the world had been around for so many years. Ji Ling thought to himself that although he was also a top-notch general, he was still a little scared when he really faced Lu Bu.

"Don't worry, Ji Qing. Han Yin is already preparing the betrothal gifts. I will ask for Yao'er to marry Lü Bu's daughter."

By then, I will be related to Lü Bu by marriage. Why would he still lead his troops to attack me for the sake of Liu Bei, an outsider?

This is precisely the plan that Fengxiao offered, a way to prevent estrangement between relatives.

As he spoke, he instructed his attendant to hand Ji Ling a brocade pouch that had been prepared beforehand, and gave Ji Ling a meaningful look.

"This secret pouch contains a solution; if Lü Bu invites you to a banquet, you can open it and find the answer."

What's remarkable is that Ji Ling actually understood that look.

This must be the same martial arts technique that defeated Guan Yu in three rounds last time!
He understood immediately and was no longer flustered. He raised his head and accepted the order.

"Since our lord is personally leading the campaign against Liang, there is someone here to oversee things, so there should be no problem."

The emperor and his minister made their decision, but the master and disciple who were listening in on the sidelines stared at each other blankly.

Yuan Yao: Teacher!!! Me? I'm going to be married off to Lü Bu's daughter? But I'm only seven years old! Teacher, please think of something and say a word for me!

However, after the initial panic, he had another thought.

If I had my father-in-law Lü Bu to help me, wouldn't it be like adding wings to a tiger when dealing with the traitor Sun Ce?
As expected, my father still loves me.

While Yuan Yao was lost in thought, his feelings a mix of joy and sorrow, his teacher Liu Ye was even more deeply troubled.

Yuan Shu wants to form a marriage alliance with Lü Bu?

Oh no! If he joins forces with Lü Bu, how can Liu Bei survive? If Liu Bei dies, without the south to restrain him, Cao Cao will be in grave danger.

But after the initial shock and panic, he also had a change of heart.

If the marriage partner is Lü Bu, then perhaps there's no need to worry so much? After all, Lü Bu has always been fickle; if he can kill his adoptive father, he can kill his in-laws just as easily.

Yuan Gonglu's clever plan backfired, and Lü Bu might just deliver a fatal blow at the crucial moment.
Of course, he would definitely find an opportunity to send out the intelligence he had gathered after returning, but he was destined to never deliver such truly useful intelligence to Cao Cao's camp once he was being watched.

Leaving aside the complicated thoughts and feelings of the master and apprentice, let's talk about Yuan Gonglu, who sits high on the throne.

How could he not know that this plan of keeping distant relatives apart was a joke to the fickle Lü Bu?

However, Lü Bu's fickleness was not limited to Yuan Gonglu alone!
Offering substantial benefits in exchange for a marriage alliance would be enough to persuade Lü Bu to betray Liu Bei and not join forces with him to attack Ji Ling.

With this buffer period, he could first wipe out Jian Yong in Liang, and then deal with Liu Bei and Lü Bu, who had once again challenged Yuan Shu.

　Here it comes! Whew! ()
　　
　
(End of this chapter)