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

Chapter 89 I have General Lei Bu, who can rival Guan Yu.
Seeing that Liu Bei's army had already sounded the retreat, and Ji Ling was leading his troops to meet them, Lei Bu and Chen Lan exchanged a glance, immediately spurred their horses into battle, and shouted!
"With Lei Bu/Chen Lan here, who dares to fight me?"

However, Liu Bei's army had already sounded the retreat, and with strict military discipline, who would dare to fight them?
Lei and Chen were so pleased with themselves on horseback that they felt as if they had won a battle.

Although there were only two personal guards, they did not dismount upon seeing General Ji Ling, but simply bowed respectfully from their horses.

Ji Ling frowned slightly, but given their growing fame, he didn't want to argue and instead asked about his lord's recent situation.

Upon hearing from Lei and Chen that Yuan Shu's reinforcements were about to arrive, Ji Ling simply abandoned the camp, which had been damaged by days of fierce fighting, and retreated to Chen County, the capital of Chen State, not far behind, to await joining forces with Yuan Shu.

Not long after, Ji Ling looked out from the city wall and saw a large banner with the character "Yuan" fluttering in the wind, and a carriage pulled by six horses slowly approaching.

He hurriedly led Lei Bu and Chen Lan to welcome Yuan Shu. Once Yuan Shu entered the city, the group immediately gathered in the county government hall to discuss military matters.

Upon hearing that Lei and Chen had led five hundred men into battle without dying, Liu Bei was so shocked that he sounded the retreat, and Yuan Shu was speechless for a long time.

Ji Ling was unaware of his thoughts and simply reported the military situation respectfully.

"Reporting to my lord, Liu Bei's army numbers approximately 50,000 and is currently stationed at Changping County, confronting our army."

His troops were all elite soldiers from Danyang, whom Tao Qian had relied on to conquer the world in the past; they should not be underestimated.

Before Ji Ling could report, Lei Bu and Chen Lan interrupted.

"General Ji Ling, why boost the morale of others while diminishing our own? Liu Bei's army is elite, but isn't our army also elite?"

"I think General Ji Ling has probably been trapped in the camp by Liu Bei for days and has long lost his fighting spirit."

Based on our last battle, Liu Bei's army is nothing but a rabble; it doesn't need many soldiers. My lord, you only need three thousand men; the two of us will surely slay Liu Bei!"

Despite saying this outwardly, Lei and Chen both wore expressions of loyalty and righteousness.

In reality, it was because when they last saw Liu Bei's army and heard of their reputation as unparalleled generals, they sounded the retreat and "returned in terror," which gave rise to other thoughts in their hearts.

If they really had the chance to lead three thousand soldiers out on their own, with the current reputation of the two brothers, they could go anywhere in the world. Why should they stay in Yuan's camp as personal guards and suffer humiliation?
With their unparalleled reputation as generals, which of the feudal lords in the Nine Provinces would not appoint them as generals, and which would not rely on them as their trusted ministers?
Especially recently, regarding the incident with Liu Pi and Gong Du, although the lord did not believe their "slanderous and fabricated" lies.

However, whenever Lei and Chen thought of the words from that day: "Make good preparations, and do not disappoint me," they felt uneasy about coming to attack Liu Bei.

If we could get three thousand soldiers to lead the army out, wouldn't that be like fish entering the sea or birds soaring into the sky?
Even if we don't go north to join Cao Cao, we could still take advantage of Liu Bei's kindness and follow the example of Lü Bu, seizing Yuzhou as a base while he is fighting against our lord.
Meanwhile, Lei and Chen harbored ulterior motives, believing that with their reputation, they could go anywhere in the world.

Upon hearing that there were three thousand soldiers, one man's eyes lit up, and he immediately stepped forward.

It was Sun Ce!

"If there are three thousand soldiers, there is no need for Generals Lei and Chen to take action. I, Ce'er, am willing to take down Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei for my adoptive father and eliminate this major threat."

Lei Bu/Chen Lan: "."

They were both shocked. Someone would actually steal something like this?
The fact that we dared to utter such arrogant words means we were prepared to defect to the enemy as soon as we left.

Three thousand to fifty thousand? Someone actually believes that? How dare you?

"Why would a mere big-eared bandit need Young Master Bofu? The two of us only need a thousand soldiers, and we will surely defeat the enemy!"

"I hereby pledge my life; failure to do so may result in my execution!"

Sun Ce: "."

This time, Sun Ce was shocked!

I know you two are unparalleled generals, but it's too exaggerated to say that a thousand soldiers can defeat an enemy of fifty thousand.

How can you expect me to soar to the heavens like a bird or swim in the ocean like a fish, thus escaping this cage?
Thinking of the predicament he had been in Yuan Shao's camp these past few days, Sun Ce gritted his teeth and spoke.

"My godfather, you are wise! The plan only requires five hundred men. I swear I will not return until Liu Bei is defeated!"

Lei Bu and Chen Lan cursed Sun Ce's arrogance in their hearts, wondering why he would fight over something so suicidal. They exchanged a glance and shouted in unison, "We only need twenty-eight riders! We will launch a night raid on Changping and settle the score in one battle!"

Sun Ce: "."

Such a farce made Ji Ling anxious.

"My lord! Do not heed the words of Lei and Chen. The three brothers Liu, Guan, and Zhang are no ordinary men and should not be underestimated."

"Twenty-eight horsemen launching a night raid on Changping? That's just a joke."

Yuan Shu certainly knew that Lei Bu, Chen Lan, and Sun Ce all had their own ulterior motives. What decent person would lead such a small force to defeat the enemy?
However, before he could speak, a soldier came to report.

"My lord, Liu Bei has led his army to attack, and his vanguard Guan Yu is challenging us to battle right below the city."

Upon hearing this, Ji Ling, who was eager to demonstrate his unparalleled feat of defeating Guan Yu in three rounds in front of his lord, immediately volunteered for the challenge.

"A defeated opponent dares to challenge?"
"My lord! I, Ji Ling, am willing to go and will surely slay Guan Yu beneath the city walls."

Yuan Shu gave him a strange look. "The method for dealing with Guan Yu was taught to you in my letter. Do you think I don't know how capable you are?"
Relying on the advantage of hidden weapons, they caught Guan Yu off guard and defeated him once. Did they really think that Lord Guan was not prepared this time?
Therefore, he did not agree to Ji Ling's request, but instead smiled and looked at Lei Bu, saying to the generals:
"Guan Yu, Guan Yunchang? He's just a mere archer at Sishui Pass! Why would I need my top general, Ji Ling, to go out and fight?"

"I have the unparalleled general Lei Bu, who can rival Guan Yu!"

Lei Bu: "???"

"What's wrong, Lei Bu? Didn't you just say you wanted to break through Liu Bei's camp with twenty-eight riders? Now that it's just Guan Yu alone, are you afraid instead?"

"My lord, it's not that I'm afraid, it's just..."

"Just what?"

Yuan Shu's eyes were unfathomable as he looked down at him.

"Was everything you just said a deception of the emperor?"

Meeting Yuan Shu's icy gaze and being forced into a corner by his words, Lei Bu was momentarily at a loss for what to do.

Yes, just now he boasted that twenty-eight riders could defeat Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's army of fifty thousand. How come now that there is only Guan Yu, he is retreating?
At this moment, the generals were still jeering and shouting.

"With the peerless general taking action, Guan Yu is doomed."

"General Lei Bu has now beheaded Guan Yu and hung his head at the East Gate, which will surely terrify Liu's army."

"With the peerless general here, Guan Yu is nothing to worry about."

Hearing these discussions around him, Lei Bu knew that he probably couldn't avoid this situation this time.

Lei Bu may be afraid of Guan Yu and dare not fight, but Wushuang Shangjiang cannot!

If he retreats now, wouldn't his great reputation be ruined in an instant?
Just then, Yuan Shu offered him a cup of honey water.

"In the past, at Sishui Pass, Guan Yu warmed wine before beheading Hua Xiong. Today, I will also warm a cup of honey water to accompany you."

General, do not disappoint me. I am here, awaiting good news.

Lei Bu: "."

He bowed deeply, offering a respectful salute, and said, "Yes!"

Then, amidst the expectant gazes of his generals and with a heart full of trepidation, he rode out of the city.

(End of this chapter)