Chapter 20: Ding Yuan Pressures Lü Bu

  It wasn't until many days later that Lü Bu and his men returned to Jiuyuan Valley.

  All the way back, they were so hungry that they could only afford to eat sparingly. During the retreat, they had six days' worth of dry rations, but they were both tired and starving, and it took them eight days to get back, so they could only barely make ends meet by eating frugally.

  Everyone was basically starving, but only Ma Chao wasn't very hungry. Everyone had brought eight days' worth of dry rations according to military orders, but this kid was afraid of being hungry so he privately prepared four more days' worth, so only he didn't starve.

  Finally arrived home, looking at the valley that had been away for more than ten days, Ma Chao felt particularly close. After staying in the valley for another day, when counting the number of people, Ma Chao only discovered that among those who returned, there were no familiar people such as Sun Yi, Hao Yang and Wang Da, not even Huang Bin who was his opponent during training exercises.

  There is only one answer, they all died in the Battle of Mt. Dingjun and will never come back. Ma Chao was heartbroken for a while, but he knew that being heartbroken wouldn't help. Indeed, that's just how things were, but Sun Yi and Wang Da reconciled with each other with a smile at the last moment, which is good.

  Lü Bu ordered the entire army to gather at the drill ground, and Ma Chao walked towards the drill ground. After everyone had arrived, Lü Bu shouted loudly: "Brothers, we're back! But most of our brothers didn't make it back, however they did not die in vain, nor was their blood shed in vain, look!" As he spoke, Lü Bu raised a human head with his right hand.

  "This is the head of Tan Shi Huai, I have brought it back! Let's use it to offer sacrifices to our deceased brothers!" After saying that, he had Tan Shi Huai's head hung on the top of the Pingzhou army flag. Alas, Tan Shi Huai, a Xianbei leader, a generation of heroes, ended up in such a state.

  The soldiers below boiled over and shouted in unison: "Flying General! Flying General! Hurray! Hurray!"

  Tan Shi Huai can be said to have a great vendetta with the people of Bianzhou, so his death brought tremendous encouragement to the soldiers below. Tan Shi Huai died at the hands of his own army, which was also considered as avenging the countless comrades and civilians who were killed by him.

  The applause lasted for a long time, and it can be seen that everyone's hatred for Tan Shi Huai has reached what extent.

  Lü Bu raised his left hand, and the soldiers stopped their shouting. "Brothers, tomorrow I will go out with our commander-in-chief. For these days when we are not here, please everyone guard the camp well, until we return!"

  Lü Bu returned to his military tent, and the soldiers below also returned to their respective camps.

  On the second day, Lü Bu and his four men set out on horseback. Why were there four people? It was because Zhang Yang had also brought Ma Chao along. Lü Bu had been in a great mood these days, and Ma Chao had helped him before, so he didn't say anything about having one more person. Gao Shun was originally not talkative, and since Lü Bu didn't have any objections, he naturally wouldn't say much either.

  They rode horseback for more than a day and finally arrived at their destination on the afternoon of September 12. They came to a desolate cemetery outside Yunzhong City, Pingzhou Prefecture, where there were no people in sight.

  Zhang Yang said to Ma Chao, "This is the burial ground of all the Pingzhou generals who died in battle at Yunzhong many years ago. Gong Sun Zan, Fu Yi and my father are also buried here."

  Ma Chao felt a deep sense of reverence after learning this; this was the resting place of the loyal and patriotic generals who had protected their homes and defended their country, and it was only right that they should be revered by people for generations to come.

  Lü Bu and the three of them arrived in front of the three tombstones, Ma Chao also followed. The three knelt down, Lü Bu took out a wooden box and placed it in front of the tombstone, opened it, and Ma Chao saw that it was the head of Tan Stone Huai. This is what they brought to worship their ancestors.

  Ma Chao saw that all three of them had knelt down, so he also knelt down, but he was kneeling behind Zhang Yang.

  "Father, your unfilial son Lü Bu has come to see you! I have finally avenged my enemy and repaid the debt for you!"

  Lü Bu spoke with a voice choked with sobs, and both Gao Shun and Zhang Yang also shed tears, showing how much hatred had been pent up in them for so many years. The pressure on them was indeed too great.

  Lü Bu continued to say a few more words, nothing more than that he had not been here for many years and was finally able to come now, and that he would bring his wife and daughter together in the future.

  Gao Shun and Zhang Yang also muttered a few words, Zhang Yang's words even added Ma Chao to it. Zhang Yang said in front of the tombstone: "Father, I've made another friend, today he came with me to visit you!"

  Ma Chao heard that it was about him, he hastily said: "Uncle, my name is Ma Chao, Ma Mengqi, I am a friend of Zhi Shu's brother, today I came to see you, you are the people I admire most in this life!" After finishing, Ma Chao also kowtowed three times. What Ma Chao said was all true, his previous life had always admired revolutionary martyrs, and he had never changed on this point.

  Ma Chao finished kowtowing, then followed Lü Bu and the others to kneel for a while. The four of them mounted their horses together and left the tomb outside Yunzhong City, preparing to return to Jiuyuan Valley. On the way back, they brought the severed head with them. Lü Bu said that Dian Wei's head would definitely be useful in the future.

  They didn't rush back, so it wasn't until the last two days that they arrived at Jiuyuan Valley. As soon as they entered the valley, all four of them felt something was off, but by the time they reacted, it was too late. The entrance to the valley had already been blocked by people, and in an instant, they were surrounded on all sides by layers of people who weren't their own, but rather soldiers from Pingzhou, numbering several thousand, surrounding the four of them tightly.

  Lü Bu and his three companions had just grasped their weapons when a voice came from outside, "Lü Fengxian, aren't you going to quickly dismount and surrender?"

  Lü Bu was greatly shocked when he heard the voice. Gao Shun and others were not familiar with this voice, but he was very familiar with it. The speaker was none other than Ding Yuan, the current governor of Bingzhou. How did Ding Yuan get here? This is bad! What can he do now? It must be that the matter of the surprise attack on Puyang has been exposed, and that's why he came to this place.

  Lü Bu was right, and Ding Yuan had indeed come for this reason. On the first day of September, Lü Bu led his troops to defeat the Xianbei general Tanshihuai at Puyuan Mountain, beheading him and taking his head as a trophy. Four days later, Governor of Bing Province Ding Yuan received accurate information about who did it, how many men and horses were involved, and he knew every detail without error, showing that there were also spies from the Bing Province army in the Xianbei royal court.

  It's also possible that no one from the Bianzhou army made it in. When Ding Yuan received the news, he was shocked. He knew that Tan Chitu had died because at the beginning of September, the Pohan Mountain Xianbei Wangting had already sent out a message, but they said that Tan Chitu had died of illness, and Ding Yuan didn't suspect anything at all.

  Earlier, Xiaozao had already sent out intelligence saying that Tan Shihua's body had not been good in recent years, so he thought it was very normal for him to die suddenly.

  By the fifth of September, he received the exact news and was extremely surprised. There was a happy side, but also an angry side. The happiness was that Tan Shi Huai was not dead from illness, but was killed by the Han army, which made him proud, as it was someone from the Pingzhou army who killed him. In the past, Tan Shi Huai had killed so many Pingzhou generals and civilians, and now he had finally avenged them.

  Ding Yuan, although old in years, still had a fiery spirit. Upon hearing this, his blood boiled with indignation. However, he was also enraged by Lü Bu's audacity - privately recruiting soldiers and leading them to launch a surprise attack on Puyang Mountain. Who gave him the authority? This was a violation of military regulations, punishable by beheading.

  Lü Bu was someone he had met a few times before. To be honest, Ding Yuan still quite admired Lü Bu. Lü Bu's martial arts skills were high and strong, his bravery in battle was fierce, and he had the deep admiration of the soldiers. But this matter had sounded an alarm for Ding Yuan. Lü Bu didn't even have much power yet, but he dared to privately recruit and deploy troops on his own. What would happen when he became more powerful? Maybe in the future, he wouldn't even put his current position as governor of a single province in his eyes. No, this Lü Bu must be strictly suppressed, only then could he understand.

  Thinking of this, Ding Yuan ordered the whole army to find Lü Bu. After searching for several days, they finally found Jiuyuan Mountain Valley. Ding Yuan led 10,000 elite soldiers and took over Jiuyuan Mountain Valley, while more than 300 people left behind by Lü Bu were all controlled.

  At first, Lü Bu and his four men went to the clouds, but before long, Ding Yuan arrived. These days, he had been guarding the mountain valley, waiting for the rabbit.

  Lü Bu heard that it was Ding Yuan's voice, and he was more surprised. He really didn't think that Ding Yuan would come to find him so soon. Lü Bu had also thought before that paper couldn't wrap fire, and there were no walls without gaps. That matter would be known by others sooner or later. So he brought back the head of Tan Gong, which could also serve as an explanation in the future. He didn't expect that it would come in handy so soon.

  Lü Bu is not very afraid now, he understands Ding Yuan a bit, Ding Yuan Ding Jianyang, this person is absolutely a great Han loyal minister. As a loyal minister, since he has made such great achievements, even if he has broken many military rules, it can still be offset by his merits. Moreover, Ding Yuan seems to appreciate himself and will not harm him easily.

  Can't help but say that Lü Bu is a man who knows how to think and analyze at critical moments. Ding Yuan indeed didn't want to kill him, this guess was correct. Lü Bu thought about it and got off his horse, hanging his halberd on the horse. Gao Shun, Zhang Yang, and Ma Chao looked at each other and could only get off their horses too.

  The surrounding soldiers subdued them and were about to bind them, when Ding Yuan said: "No need to tie them up, take them directly to my account!"

  "Yes!" The soldiers responded to the promise and pushed Lü Bu and his three companions into Ding Yuan's large tent. In the tent, apart from Ding Yuan in the center, there was one person on each side of him.

  After the soldiers pushed Lü Bu and his four men into the big tent, Ding Yuan waved to the soldiers, "You all go down!"

  "Yes!" The soldiers took their orders and retreated.

  "Lü Bu, do you know your crime?" Ding Yuan questioned Lü Bu.

  "Fabric is innocent!" Lü Bu shouted, stamping his foot and addressing Ding Yuan.

  "Hmph!" Ding Yuan snorted, "Falsely transmitting military orders to recruit soldiers, secretly launching a surprise attack on Pohan Mountain - these are all capital offenses. How dare you say you're innocent?"

  "That's right, I did it all by myself. Whether you want to kill me or cut me up is entirely up to you!" Lü Bu was still quite arrogant at this point.

  "Good, have men take Lü Bu out of the tent and behead him!" With Ding Yuan's order, two soldiers walked in from outside the tent, ready to drag Lü Bu out to be executed.

  "Feng Xian, what's wrong with you!" Gao Shun spoke up beside him.

  "Yes, Feng Xian, if we are going to die, let's all die together. The three of us have a share in this matter!" This was said by Zhang Yang.

  But Lü Bu didn't even look at them, and instead stretched his neck to shout at Ding Yuan: "Everything was done by me alone, if you want to kill, then kill quickly, no need to hesitate!"

  "Oh? You're quite bold, wanting me to kill you. Well, I won't kill you then. All of you, get out!" Ding Yuan ordered the soldiers to withdraw from the tent.

  "I know you all have a share, don't worry, none of you can escape!" Ding Yuan said to the four people.

  " Ding Guan's crime is unforgivable, but I don't know if military law allows for offsetting of merits and demerits?" Lü Bu asked.

  "What merits do you have to speak such big words?" Ding Yuan retorted.

  "There is a reward for beheading Dian Wei, and his head is now on my horse!" Lü Bu said proudly.

  "Bring it up!" Ding Yuan ordered, and in a moment, the soldiers brought up a wooden chest.

  Ding Yuan took a look and indeed it was Tan Shi Huai's head. Ding Yuan had seen Tan Shi Huai when he was young, so he recognized his appearance. It was really him. Well done, Tan Shi Huai, you also have today! The countless soldiers and civilians who died in Pingzhou can finally rest in peace. Thinking of this, Ding Yuan's eyes became moist. If it weren't for Lü Bu violating military orders, he really wanted to give Lü Bu a hug.

  "It's true that Dian Wei was beheaded, but how can you prove that he was the one you killed? The Xiongnu king of Puyang said that Dian Wei died of illness!" Ding Yuan questioned, naturally knowing what had happened, but still wanting to make things difficult for Lü Bu.

  "Hahaha, Ding Yuan you fool! I, Lü Bu, led a thousand elite troops to launch a surprise attack on Puyang Mountain and killed Tan Chou. Would the Xianbei royal court acknowledge this? A thousand Han soldiers under the noses of 150,000 elite troops killed their leader, if you were the Xianbei king, would you acknowledge it? Ding Yuan, you'd better kill me quickly! Alas, I, Lü Bu, will die at the hands of this foolish governor!" Lü Bu appeared to be ready to sacrifice himself, while a hint of cleverness flashed in Ding Yuan's eyes.

  "Alright, Lü Bu, since you want to die, I'll grant your wish! Guards, take Lü Bu outside and behead him as a warning to the public!" As soon as Ding Yuan gave the order, the people on his left side knelt down.

  "Hold on, Lü Fengxian may have disobeyed the military rules first, but considering he made great contributions by killing Tan Shi Huan, his merits and faults cancel each other out. Please spare his life!" The man said firmly, and the person to his right also knelt down, "Please spare his life!"

  "This...". Ding Yuan originally didn't want to kill Lü Bu, and now his subordinates gave him an excuse, so he took the opportunity to "go with the flow", "Alright, today I'll spare your life for the sake of these two who begged for mercy, but you can't escape punishment. From today on, Lü Bu is demoted to a commoner, Gao Shun, Zhang Yang and Ma Chao are each demoted two ranks!"

  Gao Shun, Zhang Yang and Ma Chao all thanked him, only Lü Bu was somewhat bewildered and at a loss, being demoted to commoner was even more unbearable than being killed.

  "Everyone get out!" Ding Yuan said, and Lü Bu and his three men retreated.

  They returned to their own military account, sorted out their things. Lü Bu was demoted to a commoner and could no longer be in the military camp, so they had to pack up and leave. However, looking at him like that, it's clear he's not reconciled. Gao Shun and Zhang Yang advised him, but actually they thought being able to escape with their lives was already pretty good.

  At this moment, Ding Yuan walked in from outside the account.