Just as Yang Biao and Lu Zhi were each lost in thought, the Yuan brothers had already assembled their personal guards.
However,
Upon hearing that Yang Biao intended to accompany them with his men, the two brothers suppressed their immediate urge to depart.
Safety first!
If someone could escort them along the way, no one would willingly rush out with just a few hundred men.
Yuan Shao, who was always adept at building relationships, bowed to Lu Zhi:
“Shao thanks Lord Lu here!”
“You’re too kind~!”
Facing Yuan Shao’s thanks, Lu Zhi smiled and, as if casually, asked:
“Are you two brothers going to welcome the Grand Commandant alone?”
“This…”
Yuan Shao’s expression froze at the question, and he instinctively glanced around at the others present.
He also started to realize.
That’s right!
Were they really going to go, just the two of them?
These people usually clung to their Yuan family so tightly.
Why were they silent now?
Damn it!
They say things cool down when people leave.
Their Yuan family hadn’t even left yet, and they were already so unwelcome?
With this thought,
Yuan Shao, disregarding why Lu Zhi had asked such a question, turned directly to find old Cao.
“Mengde, what is it? Aren’t you accompanying me to welcome the Grand Commandant?”
“???”
Cao Cao, who had inexplicably been dragged into this, was bewildered and looked at Yuan Shao with confusion in his eyes.
What was going on?
No, seriously?
If you brothers want to compete to show your diligence, go ahead, why are you dragging me into this?
I don’t rely on your Yuan family for a living, do I?
It’s just…
Seeing Yuan Shao’s increasingly cold expression, Cao Cao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Forget it!
Since Yang Biao was bringing a large army for escort, he might as well go.
There was no need to offend the Yuan family over such a minor matter!
With this thought,
Cao Cao took a deep breath and forced a smile onto his face.
“Benchu, what are you saying? How can I not be there to welcome Uncle?”
“Hmph~!”
Yuan Shao snorted upon hearing this, his expression improving considerably.
However,
When he turned to face the provincial governors and prefects, his expression turned unpleasant again.
“What about all of you?”
“…”
Facing Yuan Shao’s stern gaze, the lords exchanged glances.
Logically speaking,
Even if these people were not Yuan Shao’s elders, their status was higher than Yuan Shao’s.
Yet, even so,
Facing Yuan Shao’s gaze, very few dared to meet his eyes.
This was the influence brought by family!
If Yuan Shao weren’t from the Yuan family, he would have probably been beaten to death by them long ago!
But there was no helping it!
Who knew that Yuan Shao was not only from the Yuan family but also the eldest illegitimate son?
Moreover,
This trip to welcome the Yuan Grand Commandant was indeed a matter of face.
What was going on?
The Yuan family hadn’t even done anything yet, and you all wanted to distance yourselves?
What were you thinking?
Even if the current Emperor were to pass away, the new emperor would still be chosen by families like the Yuans.
Are you jumping ship now?
Are you looking for death?
Thinking of the terrible consequences of settling accounts later, everyone, including Ding Yuan, crowded around.
“Young Master Yuan, please don’t misunderstand. Aren’t we waiting for Lord Yang to organize the troops?”
“That’s right!”
“It’s too unsafe for such a large group of us to travel with only personal guards.”
“Indeed, indeed!”
“Lord Yang…”
Saying this, Ding Yuan looked at the somewhat stunned Yang Biao beside him and asked with a wry smile,
“How long do you think it will take? We should ideally set off before dark!”
“Ah?”
“This…”
Glancing at the provincial governors and prefects who were engaged in a heated discussion, Yang Biao’s brow furrowed again.
Something was wrong!
It was very wrong!
Didn’t they say it was just the Yuan brothers going to welcome him? Why were so many people here suddenly?
This escort duty would be difficult!
Uh?
No!
This wasn’t about escorting or not, but whether there was something suspicious going on.
Lu Zhi was too enthusiastic!
Even if he wanted to curry favor with their aristocratic families, he wouldn’t be so relaxed, would he?
If these provincial governors and lords left, who would manage the soldiers when battles broke out?
“Wenxian, don’t worry!”
Seemingly sensing Yang Biao’s concern, Lu Zhi, who was beside him, said calmly:
“Those Yellow Turban bandits are now too afraid of us to attack us proactively!”
“On the other hand, you!”
“Your small group is a bit too few and could easily become their target. Why don’t you pick another ten thousand men to bring along?”
“This…”
Hearing Lu Zhi’s worried tone, Yang Biao instinctively followed his lead:
“That’s not necessary. More people slow us down. Twenty thousand is about right!”
“That’s fine too!”
Seeing that Yang Biao’s attention had been diverted, Lu Zhi then looked at the group of lords, thoughtfully pointing at one of them who was secretly smiling.
“Xuande, since they are all going, you should go too and gain some experience!”
“Ah?”
Liu Bei, who had just been relieved that he didn’t have to flatter the Yuan family, instinctively pointed at himself.
“Master Lu, you mean… I should go too?”
“Yes!”
Lu Zhi nodded affirmatively, his tone full of apology:
“After you go, please convey a message to Grand Commandant Yuan for me. Say that I still have to oversee the army and cannot get away. Please trouble you to go on my behalf!”
“This… that…”
“Hm?”
Seeing that Liu Bei seemed to want to refuse, Lu Zhi raised an eyebrow, his tone becoming slightly stern.
“Xuande, do you have any objections?”
“No, no…”
Liu Bei shivered and instinctively waved his hands, but realizing it was wrong, he quickly nodded:
“Master Lu, please rest assured, Bei, Bei will definitely deliver your message!”
“That’s good!”
Seeing Liu Bei agree, Lu Zhi turned to Yang Biao, who was still somewhat stunned.
“Wenxian, this unworthy student of mine, please take care of him on the road.”
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing…”
Yang Biao, having regained his senses, nodded with a smile, his suspicions in his mind dissipating once again.
It seemed he had been overthinking things!
Lu Zhi was even sending out his disciple, and his tone was so sincere. It seemed he had completely decided to pledge allegiance to their aristocratic families.
This was a good thing!
And,
If he remembered correctly, this Liu Xuande seemed to have imperial bloodline?
It seemed that Lu Zigan not only wanted to ally with the aristocratic families but also wanted to support his disciple to ascend the throne.
What a pity!
Someone from a common background, not controlled by the aristocratic families, would never be accepted.
Because if this fellow became difficult to manage, they wouldn’t even have a means of restraint.
Who asked him to have no ties?
Why did those aristocratic families always choose those with large families when supporting the young emperor?
Easy to control!
As long as the lifeline of their families was held, the young emperor would not dare to act out.
Or rather,
With the family's concerns, the young emperor's parents would have to obey.
Only then,
Could these aristocratic families obtain what they wanted through gentle means.
As for forcefully deposing the young emperor?
Don’t be ridiculous!
Did they really think that the remaining members of the imperial family and the royal relatives were just decorations?
They might not care about changing emperors.
Why?
Because even if they wanted to intervene, they themselves couldn’t take that position.
Rather than that, it was better to turn a blind eye and not bother!
But if you wanted to change to an emperor of a different surname?
Or wanted to change the dynasty?
Did you think we were blind?
We royal relatives could tolerate many things, but we could not tolerate being stripped of our status!
If you are undermining our foundation here, then don’t blame us for fighting you to the death.
If nothing else,
The Liu family’s royal relatives of the Han Dynasty, if they united, could probably muster hundreds of thousands of troops again.
With this thought,
Yang Biao sighed with some regret, his gaze towards the distance becoming profound.
There were too few people!
Although his Yang family had tried their best to reproduce, the only one of his descendants who was competent was Yang Xiu.
What about the Yuan family?
Slightly better!
But there were only these two fools, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, and they often fought with each other.
How could this lead to great achievements?
No!
He would find a wife for that brat Yang Xiu as soon as he got back, and he had to have at least ten or eight children.
Yang Xiu: “???”
………………
After dawdling for several hours, the main force finally set off before dark.
However,
Although they had twenty thousand elite soldiers, they couldn’t travel fast with a group of lords.
Who knew that most of these people were primarily civilian officials?
But these civilian officials still had to ride horses!
It wasn't that there were no carriages.
But seeing their colleagues riding horses, who was willing to admit they were inferior to others?
So, everyone rode horses!
Thus,
The group, under the escort of twenty thousand elite soldiers, ambled towards their destination.
Unfortunately!
What Yang Biao and the others didn’t know was that Lu Zhi did not relax after they left.
“Someone!”
After waving to a personal guard beside him, Lu Zhi, with a grim expression, ordered:
“Summon a few generals to the command tent for a meeting, and also, order the entire army to be on high alert!”
“Ah?”
The personal guard was stunned and looked uncertain.
He had heard the entire conversation!
His general’s reason for refusing to welcome Grand Commandant Yuan was that it was inappropriate for the entire army to move camp.
But now?
With this thought, the personal guard leaned in and asked uncertainly:
“Ge-General, ordering the entire army on high alert means moving camp!”
“What nonsense are you spouting?!”
Lu Zhi, who was already in a bad mood, glared fiercely at the talkative personal guard.
“If I told you to pass the order, then go pass it. If you delay any longer, you will be dealt with according to military law!”
“Yes, yes…”
The personal guard nodded in a hurry, and fine sweat even appeared on his forehead.
He was truly frightened by Lu Zhi’s cold gaze!
Having followed Lu Zhi for so long, this was the first time he had seen his general so angry.
With this thought,
The personal guard dared not delay for a moment and rushed out of the command tent like lightning.
Soon,
Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun, who had been waiting for the summons, arrived at the central command tent one after another.
“General~!”
Upon seeing Lu Zhi, Huangfu Song said eagerly:
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty must have been harmed by those aristocratic families!”
“I know!”
Lu Zhi did not seem surprised by this and said with a hint of calmness:
“Only by handing over His Majesty can those Yellow Turban bandits possibly spare them!”
“After all…”
“The Yellow Turban bandits’ target is His Majesty, and that Luoyang, which symbolizes power!”
“But, but…”
Listening to the conversation between Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun, who was beside them, asked with some confusion:
“How dare they?”
“If His Majesty perishes and Luoyang falls, then our Great Han will be finished!”
“Heh heh…”
Hearing Zhu Jun’s confused voice, Lu Zhi let out a cold laugh.
“It is true that our Great Han is finished, but their Great Han will then rise!”
Huangfu Song: “???”
Zhu Jun: “???”