“Yu Jin pay respect to the lord!” Yu Jin was about to dismount to pay his respect but was instead prevented by the black fatty. This black fatty was Cao Cao, Cao Mende. Although Cao Cao was a man who suspects everything, he was also a wise man, after his safety was guaranteed, he calmed himself and was able to figure things out!
“I did not expect that in the Lu Bu army, in addition to Chen Gong, there was another individual of such profound talent!” From using Xiahou De’s banner to the stratagem of sowing dissention, he was able to grasp the timing accurate to perfection! Had it not been Xiahou Dun’s messenger’s arrival at the perfect time, perhaps Cao Cao would have died in Xiapi!
“Wei Xu, Song Xian, this Prime Minister have wronged you. I should not have suspect you all nor should I have killed Hou Cheng! You can step aside! I declare you all to be innocent, step down and replenish your lost troops with strong men of your choosing from the Qing Province soldiers. As for Hou Cheng, I have already ordered his burial; one reserved for honorable officials!” Cao Cao have a particular charisma! When one reached the level of charisma like Cao Cao, they would be standing above millions of men, their orders will be the will of heaven, no one will dare disobey!
However, such a person lowered his head and apologized. He even forgave Song Xian and Wei Xu of guilt and allowed them to replenish their troops!
Had Song Xian and Wei Xu not met Lu Bu, they really might’ve fall for it.
“Lord Cao! In this world, there exists but two heroes whom I, Wei Xu, was willing to serve. The first was my elder brother and the next was you, Lord Cao. Had we not met our elder brother, then perhaps Lord Cao would’ve been our master! However, I am sorry, we are unable to do as you requested!” said Wei Xu as he held his fist.
“Is there really no way?!” Cao Cao did not give up.
“Attention soldiers! Today, us brothers cannot apologize enough for you all for we ask you all to die with us here! Apology I will say no more, once we reached the netherworld, us brothers will make up for you all even if we have to be horses or oxen!” using their actions, Wei Xu and Song Xian told Cao Cao their decision.
“We are willing follow the generals to death!” Song Xian and Wei Xu, although a bit useless, are still generals who have led troops for years. In the army, they still have the will of their soldiers.
“I understand!” Cao Cao closed his eyes, raised his hand and swept it down. When he opened his eyes, he was filled with murderous intent. “Do not let a single one live! Sha!” The tyrant Cao Cao mercilessly declared for the massacre.
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Due to having women and children, the Lu Bu army was advancing quite slow. Soon, Gao Shun and his Formation Breaker have caught up to Lu Bu.
“Gao Shun?!” Lu Bu frowned. “Why are you here?! Weren’t you supposed to be hinder the enemies?!” For this breakthrough, the end army composed of Gao Shun’s Formation Breaker was supposed to block the enemies from proceeding with their lives. For them to be here, perhaps Gao Shun was scared of death?!
No, that’s impossible! Lu Bu shook his head. Gao Shun had been working for him for a long time, thus he knew what kind of character Gao Shun was. As the saying goes, how he who serves depends on how he who commands! If it was someone like Liu Mang who places his life as the utmost importance then his soldiers would certainly excel at fleeing!
As for Gao Shun, just look at his Formation Breaker! One could tell Gao Shun’s disposition from the motto of his Formation Breaker - ‘Burst the formations, death to all enemies!’
“General Gao Shun, why are you back?!” Although Lu Bu didn’t want to directly inquire Gao Shun as it would show that he was distrustful of his subordinate but Chen Gong, who was next to Lu Bu, did not cared for it.
“The military advisor is here too?!” Gao Shun held his first toward Chen Gong. “Reporting to the lord, Old Song and Old Wei… they…”
“What about them?!” Although Song Xian and Wei Xu have hurt Lu Bu’s heart, Lu Bu was still concerned about them. As an older brother, one must always forgive one’s younger brother.
“They...they…!” Gao Shun was already a man who didn’t know how to communicate well, and now, he was having an even more difficult time.
“Did they replace General Gao as the end army to block the Cao army?!” Chen Gong helped Gao Shun finish what he wanted to say.
Lu Bu looked at Gao Shun, Gao Shun nodded.
“Boren, Zigao?!” These were the courtesy name of Song Xian and Wei Xu. Lu Bu turned around and looked toward Xiapi. Sounds of fighting resounded from the city gate.
Two wounded armies blocking the gate, they are stalling time with their lives! Perhaps in a minute or perhaps in a second, there would be a soldier who would forever close his eyes!
Lu Bu paused for a bit. He took a deep breath and said. “Relay my orders, all three armies was to mourn for passing of Generals Wei Xu, Song Xian and Hou Cheng!”
[TL: in case you forgot, Lu Bu split his troops into 3 armies. First is lead by Zhang Liao, the Vanguard (aka. Front army). Lu Bu led his own remnant troops with Liu Mang and was protecting his family in the middle army and Gao Shun was leading the Rearguard (end army) consist of the Formation Breaker.]
“Lord?!” Chen Gong was shocked. What Lu Bu wanted to do would mean that Wei Xu, Song Xian and Hou Cheng did not conduct any betrayal! What Lu Bu wanted to do also meant that there would be people spreading rumors of him afterward!
After all, the reason why Xiapi was lost was all because of these three men!
“Was my words empty?!” Lu Bu looked at Chen Gong and Gao Shun sternly.
“Eh!” Gao Shun lowered his head, a tiger’s gaze wasn’t something that anyone could withstand.