Liu Bian at the start, so you're called Dong Zhuo, right?

After listening, Liu Bian remained silent for a long time.

"Mengde".

He suddenly spoke:

"Xiahou Dun, you've been with me for so many years, you know how skilled Xiahou Yuan is."

"If those two were to face Lü Bu, what would their chances of victory be?"

Cao Cao was taken aback, not expecting Liu Bian to ask this.

He pondered for a moment, then frowned and said:

"Does Your Highness want me to tell the truth?"

Liu Bian nodded.

Cao Cao took a deep breath:

"If Yuan Rang and Miao Cai join forces, they can easily defeat them in thirty rounds. With good luck, they might even be able to go fifty rounds without losing."

"If you're fighting alone—"

"Defeat is certain within twenty rounds."

Liu Bian's pupils contracted slightly.

He had witnessed the Xiahou brothers in action. On that day in the marketplace of Luoyang, when the slave traders surrounded them, Xiahou Dun didn't even have to exert much force before a burly man was sent flying.

Later, when he was chosen as the martial arts instructor for the Eastern Palace, he cleaved a wooden stake as thick as a bowl in two.

With such strength, he couldn't even last twenty rounds against Lü Bu.

"What if..." Liu Bian paused.

"What if we add Cao Ren, Cao Hong, and Cao Chun?"

Cao Cao shook his head:

"Your Highness, this is not a matter of numbers."

He stood up and looked outside the hall.

"As I just said, being able to defeat ten thousand men is not just about strength."

"It's eyesight, it's courage, it's the decisiveness in that instant. The more people like that you have, the more satisfying it is for him to kill."

He turned around and looked at Liu Bian.

"A true warrior who can defeat ten thousand men is not one who can kill ten thousand men, but one who can make ten thousand men afraid to step forward."

Liu Bian's Adam's apple bobbed.

Cao Cao seemed to see the darkness in his eyes, and suddenly softened his voice:

"Your Highness need not worry too much."

Liu Bian looked up.

Cao Cao smiled and said, "Victory on the battlefield has never been decided by one man or one horse."

"No matter how fierce Lü Bu was, he still needed to eat, drink, and obey military orders. He was ultimately just a human being."

"If we really have to face him—avoid his sharp edge, cut off his supplies, disrupt his formation, and win his heart."

"To leave him with no outlet for his power."

Cao Cao paused, then added a sentence.

"Besides, there isn't only one Lü Bu in the world."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bian's eyes lit up.

He suddenly remembered the good news that had come from the court assembly a few months ago—

"—In Zhuojun, Youzhou, there was a righteous leader named Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande, who gathered more than a thousand local warriors and followed the Commandant to suppress bandits. Under him were Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, both exceptionally brave and fierce, who had distinguished themselves in several battles."

He looked at Cao Cao, the man who had said "Guan Yu is my beloved" in his previous life.

In his past life, reading history and novels, Cao Cao's appreciation for Guan Yu's talent almost became a famous scene. But he always regarded that as something that happened later—as Hulao Pass, as Xuchang, as Huarong Road.

But things are different now.

Lu Bu emerged ahead of time, Dong Zhuo raised his position ahead of time... The wind blown by the butterfly fan has already disrupted many of the established patterns.

Since the order is messed up, the "opponent" will also be ahead of schedule.

"Mengde," Liu Bian suddenly spoke, "do you know Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei?"

Cao Cao's brow furrowed: "Your Highness is referring to—that leader of the righteous army in Zhuojun, Youzhou?"

Liu Bian nodded.

Cao Cao thought for a moment and said, "I have heard of it."

"Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande, is said to be a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, but his family fell into poverty and he made a living by weaving mats and selling shoes."

"As for Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, they are his sworn brothers, and are exceptionally brave and fierce. As mentioned in the battle report a few days ago, they followed the captain to suppress the bandits and made meritorious contributions in several battles."

Liu Bian looked at him and spoke slowly and deliberately:

"Two of those three are also capable of defeating ten thousand men."

Cao Cao was stunned for a moment, then the excitement in his eyes was almost impossible to suppress:

"If such people truly exist, letting them drift away in the chaos of war would be the greatest waste."

Liu Bian smiled: "Mengde, could you go in my stead?"

Cao Cao understood immediately and cupped his hands in greeting, saying:

"I understand, I will take care of it immediately."

He turned to leave, then glanced back at Liu Bian, his tone softening:

"Your Highness, rest assured. A sword has its uses, and so do people. Someone like Lü Bu... might not be willing to be Dong Zhuo's sword for the rest of his life."

These words were like a cold breeze, blowing away the tightest bond in Liu Bian's mind.

Yes—the famous general Lü Bu was also the famous traitor who served three masters.

Cao Cao bowed again and strode out of the hall.

He recalled the history of when Cao Cao first met Guan Yu. It was during the campaign against Dong Zhuo, at the Sishui Pass.

At that time, Guan Yu killed Hua Xiong while the wine was still warm, and became famous in one battle.

But in this life, Dong Zhuo had not yet entered the capital, Hua Xiong had not yet appeared, and Guan Yu was still selling mung beans in Zhuojun.

He wanted to get ahead of everyone else.

Get this person under your control first.

-

Inside the Zhangde Hall.

Emperor Ling of Han leaned back on his couch, holding two imperial edicts in his hands.

The document on the left is for Lu Zhi: "Increase the fief by a thousand households, reward five hundred gold coins, and promote him to the rank of General of Chariots and Cavalry."

The document on the right is for Dong Zhuo: He is granted an additional 800 households in his fief, a reward of 300 gold coins, and is promoted to General of the Vanguard, while still commanding the Xiliang troops.

Zhang Rang knelt to the side, cautiously glancing at Emperor Ling's expression.

"Your Majesty, this reward..."

Emperor Ling ignored him and stared at the two edicts for a long time.

Then he suddenly laughed.

"Lu Zhi won, he deserves a reward. Dong Zhuo was the first to charge, he deserves a reward too," he murmured. "But tell me, who really won this battle?"

Zhang Rang lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to breathe.

Emperor Ling of Han did not expect him to answer.

He simply tossed the two edicts onto the table and closed his eyes.

"Issue the decree."

-

When the news reached Dong Zhuo's army, Dong Zhuo was drinking in his tent.

After hearing the imperial edict, he stood up, bowed in the direction of Luoyang, and smiled broadly.

"Your subject Dong Zhuo thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

But as soon as the messenger left, the smile vanished.

He threw the imperial edict on the table, picked up the wine bowl, and took a big gulp.

Lu Bu stood to the side, clad in armor, his posture upright.

Looking at Dong Zhuo, he asked in confusion:

"Godfather, on such a joyous day, how can you not be happy?"

Dong Zhuo glanced at him and suddenly laughed.

That smile was different from before—

Just now it was addressed to the envoy, now it's addressed to Lü Bu; there's an indescribable meaning behind it.

"Fengxian," he began, his voice low, "tell me, what did Lu Zhi gain this time?"

Lu Bu thought for a moment and said, "I will increase his fief by a thousand households and promote him to General of Chariots and Cavalry."

"Yes." Dong Zhuo nodded. "He is the commander-in-chief and deserves these. I am the deputy general, and I was awarded the rank of General of the Vanguard for my merit in the first assault."

He paused, then put down the wine bowl:

"But guess, in His Majesty's heart, who truly won this battle?"

Lu Bu remained silent.

Dong Zhuo didn't expect him to answer.

He simply stood up, walked to the tent entrance, and looked at the Xiliang cavalry outside, squads and rows of them, their armor gleaming, their momentum overwhelming.

"Fengxian," he suddenly spoke.

Lü Bu stepped forward: "Your subordinate is here."

"Tell me, between our Xiliang soldiers and Lu Zhi's northern army, who is more capable in battle?"

Lu Bu, completely unaware that this question implied treason, spoke without the slightest hesitation:

"The Northern Army is all show and no substance. When our Xiliang soldiers trample them with their iron hooves, they will naturally collapse like a landslide."

Dong Zhuo laughed heartily after hearing this.

He put his arm around Lü Bu's shoulder and said loudly:

"Come on! Let's drink!"