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

Chapter 109 Who Dares to Stand Against Me? Ji Ling is Unparalleled in This World

Meanwhile, on the other side, Ji Ling advanced rapidly and reached the southeast of Pei County, where he set up camp.

As Yuan Shu instructed, they displayed banners during the day to obscure the mountains and rivers, and set up fire drums at night to shake the heavens and the earth, displaying an attitude of not giving up until Liu Bei was destroyed.

Liu Bei led over ten thousand remnants of Chen State's army to Pei State, where he also joined forces with several thousand of Mi Zhu's troops, bringing his total strength to approximately twenty thousand.

Having learned from the experience of Changping, he dared not defend the city with his entire army again. Although his forces were small, he still sent out 10,000 men.

This army, commanded by Guan Yu, went out of the city to set up camp and establish a pincer movement.

This would allow for constant monitoring of Yuan's army's movements and disruption of their defensive fortifications, preventing a repeat of the Changping tragedy.

The two sides have been locked in a stalemate in Pei County for a long time. Although Ji Ling's troops are few, even if he launches a full-scale attack, Pei County will not be captured overnight.

However, Liu Bei was worried about Jian Yong and the Liang Kingdom, fearing that after Yuan Shu's main force won a great victory in the Liang Kingdom, he would bring a large army to press on the border.

Unfortunately, his forces were small and morale was low, so even a strong attack on Ji Ling would be difficult to achieve. Therefore, he often hoped for reinforcements from Lü Bu.

Now that Lü Bu has not arrived for a long time, and he has also heard that Yuan Shu has proposed a marriage alliance with Lü Bu, hoping to form a bond between them, he is even more worried.

"Sun"

Liu Bei opened his mouth as if to speak, but after looking around at the people, he suddenly stopped, his eyes slightly red, and asked Mi Zhu again.

"Zizhong, what do you think we should do now?"

Ji Ling may not be able to break into the city in a short time, but I fear that Xianhe Office will not be able to hold out.

Once Yuan Shu regains control of Liang, and with the momentum of a great victory, joins forces with Ji Ling and leads troops to attack, how can Pei County hold out for long?

If Lü Bu were to assist, Yuan Shu's main force would be in the north, unable to defend both ends.

If we join forces with him and defeat this army in front of us, perhaps Yuan Shu will be wary of being attacked from both sides and will temporarily retreat.

Unfortunately, I recently heard that Yuan Shu intends to form a marriage alliance with Lü Bu, and the reinforcements that Fengxian mentioned have yet to arrive. I wonder what his intentions are.”

Mi Zhu pretended to think it over, but couldn't come up with a good solution, so he could only offer words of comfort.

"General Lü should understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold,' and he will not sit idly by and watch his lord perish."

Moreover, Chen Yuanlong is still in Xuzhou, so even if Yuan Shu uses a scheme, he will surely expose it.

Perhaps Lü Bu's army is already on its way; my lord, please be patient and wait a few more days."

"This is the only option for now."

As the two men spoke, they sighed repeatedly. Suddenly, a soldier reported that Lü Bu had led his troops a mile from the county and set up camp in the southwest.

Liu Bei was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately ordered Mi Zhu to prepare some wine and food to reward Lü Bu's army as a token of his gratitude.

In the opposite camp, Ji Ling also learned of this matter and his expression changed drastically. He immediately sent a letter to Lü Bu, rebuking him for his lack of integrity.

Our lord has been a high-ranking official for four generations, a renowned family in the world, and people admire his family but cannot enter.

Now that the marriage proposal is being made, it already shows that Liu Bei is willing to humble himself and marry into the family. The marriage is still under discussion. What is General Lü's intention in leading troops to rescue Liu Bei at this time?

If you wish to refuse the marriage, please state it clearly. You are hesitant, neither accepting nor rejecting, and what do you intend to do?
Any further delays will be met with ruthless execution from Ji.

After reading it, Lü Bu was somewhat annoyed by Ji Ling's arrogance, but for the sake of his own strategy of balancing Yuan Shao and Liu Bei, he suppressed his anger and sent a similar letter to Ji Ling.

[Bu has only one daughter, whom he cherishes like a precious jewel. The matter of marriage is a matter of life and death for her, so how can he make a decision so easily?]

As a father, it's only natural for Bu to consider this.

As for aiding Liu Bei? I have absolutely no such intention. Please, General, attend the banquet tomorrow to discuss the details.

Upon receiving the letter, Ji Ling knew the time was ripe. He opened the plan left by Yuan Shu to deal with Lü Bu, his expression inexplicably strange.

He was anxious about finding these ingenious tools, unlike the hidden weapons he had used against Guan Yu. In such a hurry, how could he find them?
No sooner had he ordered his men to search than he received a report that the items needed had already been prepared by Yuan Gong and sent from Shouchun along with a batch of military supplies.

They had not known the purpose of this item before, so it was stored in the warehouse. Now that they needed it, they retrieved it immediately.

Ji Ling was overjoyed and busied himself with preparations for attending the banquet to see Lü Bu the next day.

Having arranged a meeting with Ji Ling, Lü Bu also sent a message to Liu Bei's camp, inviting him to a banquet the next day. Liu Bei assumed Lü Bu was coming to help, and since he wanted to discuss the matter of sending troops to defeat Yuan Shao, he had no objection.

The next day, Liu Bei, along with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, arrived at Lü Bu's camp. Before seeing Lü Bu, they heard his voice.

Although Lü Bu was already wary of Liu Bei at this time, in order to maintain the balance between Yuan Shao and Liu Bei, he would not want to alert Liu Bei, so he kept the matter to himself and remained calm for the time being.

Lu Bu greeted him with a hearty laugh, his warm greeting reminiscent of their first meeting in Xiapi.

"Bu has come as agreed and has now come to your rescue."

My dear brother, remember the promise you made that day. If you achieve success in the future, do not forget it!

Liu Bei expressed his gratitude, saying he would never forget it.

After Lü Bu invited him to sit down, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood behind him with their hands on their swords. Just then, someone came to report: "Ji Ling has arrived!"

Liu Bei was greatly alarmed. "General, you invited me here today not to discuss strategies for defeating Yuan Shao, but to help Yuan Shao and kill me?"

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei glared at each other, drawing their swords as if to fight. Ji Ling entered and, seeing this tense scene, burst into laughter.

"Good! General Lü, if you help me kill this big-eared thief, I will definitely ask you for the greatest credit, and I will also lead my faction to Shouchun to fully support your beloved daughter as the Crown Princess."

"If my beloved daughter becomes empress and my grandson becomes emperor, it's not impossible that the general will one day also be granted a princely title."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was terrified and angrily rebuked Lü Bu.

"Lu Fengxian, do you intend to help Yuan Gonglu become emperor?"

"Today I will only die; I am ashamed to be associated with you, a fickle and treacherous man who has neither ruler nor father."

"You traitorous thrice-surname servant, how dare you harm my elder brother? Take this sword!"

"Ji Ling, don't hurt my elder brother, or I, Guan, will fight you again."

In an instant, Ji Ling, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were all about to make a move, and the entire banquet was thrown into chaos.

No!
"Stop attacking, everyone! Anyone who lays a hand on me will be killed first!"

Lu Bu hurriedly ordered his generals to take up their spears and form a battle formation to "pacify" both sides. Only after both sides calmed down did he speak words of comfort.

"I have specially invited both of you to this meeting to discuss this matter. Please do not have any doubts."

Liu Bei, unaware of her intentions, felt uneasy, and Ji Ling immediately withdrew and returned.

“My lord has commanded me to capture and kill the big-eared thief. What is there to discuss between us?”

"General, today you must either kill him or kill me. Why waste words?"

Seeing that Ji Ling was about to leave, and his attendants were unable to stop him, Lü Bu was also annoyed that he had not given him face.

"I've already said, don't move! Anyone who moves will be killed!"

As he spoke, he reached out and grabbed Ji Ling, lifting him up like a child, to teach him a lesson and let him know who truly was the unparalleled number one in the world.

Unexpectedly, this played right into Ji Ling's hands!

Amidst everyone's incredulous gazes, Lü Bu let out a cry of pain, filled with shock and rage.

"How dare you!"
Ji Ling, you!!!

At this moment, Lü Bu's hand was covered in blood, indicating that he was injured.

They had barely exchanged blows, and before anyone had even seen Ji Ling make a move, they saw Lü Bu get injured.

People at the time were utterly horrified, and their gazes toward Ji Ling were filled with astonishment.

This item was specially commissioned by Yuan Shu and sent from Shouchun.

Ji Ling was wearing a suit of armor covered in sharp spikes, resembling a hedgehog, beneath her outer robe.

If Lü Bu were caught off guard and reached out to seize him, wouldn't he end up with his hands covered in stabs?

(End of this chapter)