Chapter 67: Pacifying the Western Qiang

  "Idiot."

  Li Ru cursed under his breath and shot a glance at Li Jue.

  Li Jue thought for a moment, then suddenly understood and was overjoyed. He hastily stepped forward and said: "Your Excellency, Zhonglang Jiang Lu Zhen is skilled in battle and has many military achievements from the campaign against Guandong. He can take on this important task."

  Niu Fu suddenly realized and hastily agreed: "I agree with this proposal."

  The Western Liang generals under Bei and Li also came over with their troops, all of them submitting to Emperor Wu.

  Next were the courtiers of the imperial court, who had long since become cunning old foxes and dared not miss the opportunity to curry favor. They all chimed in with their approval. Regardless of whether they truly recognized Luo Zheng's abilities or not, as long as they could see infighting within the Western Liang army, it was always a delightful thing for them.

  Finally, Guo Qu, Fan Chou, Zhang Ji and others also expressed their agreement.

  Going to Xiliang is a miserable task, let Luo Zheng go, it's better than going myself.

  Guo Si, Fan Chou, Zhang Ji and others had no grudges against Lü Zheng, but on the one hand they did not want to offend Niu Fu and Li Jue, and on the other hand they were afraid that this bitter task would fall on their own heads. They could only follow the principle of "die together as sworn brothers rather than die alone in poverty", and so they joined in the persecution.

  Only Lü Bu's face was very unsightly, feeling that he had been robbed of the opportunity to make a meritorious achievement.

  In Lv Bu's view, going to Liangzhou was a difficult task, but at the same time it was also an opportunity to make achievements.

  Ma Teng and Han Sui were powerful, but according to Lü Bu's temperament, he indeed did not put Ma Teng and Han Sui in his eyes.

  Luo Zheng's face was expressionless, but his eyes looking at Li Ru, Li Jue and Niu Fu were cold and terrifying.

  Dong Zhuo was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly understood, and his eyes towards the many ministers and Western Liang generals were somewhat unusual.

  Niu Fu and Li Jue took advantage of the situation to squeeze out Luo Zhen, wanting to send Luo Zhen to be exiled in Liangzhou, which everyone could see through.

  After all, Xiliang is not peaceful now. With two big warlords Ma Teng and Han Sui occupying one side, going to Liangzhou at this time will be absolutely unhelpful and may even get killed by Ma Teng and Han Sui in Xiliang.

  Recommended Luo Zheng to go to Liangzhou, with unspoken intentions and hidden meanings.

  But Li Ru's proposal is also correct, now is indeed the best opportunity to go west to Liangzhou.

  If we can gain a foothold in Liangzhou, it will be of great benefit for Dong Zhuo to pacify Liangzhou in the future.

  Dong Zhuo looked at Luo Zheng and asked: "What does Shengping think?"

  Lu Zhen immediately knew that Dong Zhuo had already approved the proposal, and he could no longer make excuses or find pretexts. Except for making Dong Zhuo unhappy, there was no other meaning to it. He stood up and said: "Your Excellency has given orders, and this general will not disobey."

  "General Shengping's talent is indeed the best candidate to go to Xiliang."

  Dong Zhuo's face showed a pleased expression, and he was still extremely approving of Luo Zheng's ability.

  After taking over the army from Hu Zhi, he was able to defeat the Central Plains and force the Eastern Lords to retreat. Later, under the siege of the Eastern Lords, he circled around and successfully returned to Luoyang, which can be considered a great military achievement.

  This time going to Liangzhou, it is not a great general who is intelligent and brave, able to conquer and fight well, that cannot be in charge.

  Since all the generals agreed, Dong Zhuo also went along with it.

  It's better to let Luo Zhen suffer a bit than to have a group of trusted generals become disheartened.

  Lu Zheng asked: "I don't know how many troops and horses will the master let me bring along?"

  Dong Zhuo asked Li Ru, "How many more troops can our army mobilize?"

  Li Ru replied, "At present, the main army is resting and reorganizing, and the three armies are short of food. We also need to guard against the rebels from Guandong returning in force. At most, we can only allocate 8,000 troops and 10,000 stones of grain; any more than that would be impossible."

  Dong Zhuo turned to look at Luo Zheng and asked, "What does Shengping think?"

  Luo Zheng's heart was seething with murderous intent, but his face remained expressionless. He bowed respectfully and said, "This subordinate has no objections."

  Dong Zhuo finally revealed a smile and said with pleasure: "Although the 8,000-strong army is a bit less, Ma Teng and Han Sui are also rushing to rest and reorganize their troops at this time. It's estimated that there won't be much food and grass for the soldiers, so it shouldn't be a big problem. With Sheng Ping's ability, after arriving in Liangzhou, he will definitely be able to stabilize the situation as soon as possible. When I thoroughly pacify Liangzhou later, Sheng Ping will take the lead in meritorious service."

  Luo Zheng said with a determined expression: "Thank you, sir. I will definitely not disappoint your orders."

  The trip to Liangzhou was settled, and everyone felt relieved.

  Li Ru's face was calm and composed, without a hint of unusual color.

  Niu Fu, Li Jue and others were delighted with the misfortune of others. Ma Teng and Han Sui are not easy to provoke, this time they brought this hairless kid to Liangzhou, even if he was not killed by Ma Teng and Han Sui, it is estimated that he would have lost a layer of skin.

  Even if he returned to Luoyang, he could be given a crime name for being unfavorable in battle.

  However, to be on the safe side, it's better to find an opportunity to secretly remind Ma Teng and Han Sui, lest they be defeated one by one by this hairless kid, and again achieve great merit, which would make things even harder to deal with.

  As for Guo Si, Zhang Ji, Fan Chou and other high-ranking officials in the court, they showed sympathetic expressions.

  Only Lü Bu had a gloomy face and looked at Luo Zheng with an unfriendly gaze.

  They also discussed some details of establishing the Protectorate of the Western Regions, and the court meeting soon came to an end.

  In whispers and nods, civil and military officials filed out of the grand hall in an orderly manner.

  Luo Zheng followed behind, and in the eyes of Li Ru, Li Jue, Niu Fu and others, there was a terrifying killing intent flashing by. The gaze towards Guo Si and others was also somewhat cold, these people who had fallen into the well and hit the rock bottom had become enemies today as well.

  It's unknown how many more days Dong Zhuo has left to live, and how much longer these people can continue to prosper.

  However, Diao Chan has already been taken into her own home, and it is unknown whether Wang Yun can still successfully assassinate Dong Zhuo.

  If Dong Zhuo had lived too long, it would not have been a good thing for himself.

  Ruo Zheng didn't sell out Wang Yun because he wanted to keep him around so that he could plot against Dong Zhuo and take his life.

  Back in the mansion, Gan Qian and Ren Yan were sitting together under the lamp, chatting intimately like sisters.

  "Your husband is back."

  When Luo Zheng entered the door, the two women hurriedly stood up and came over to greet him.

  Ren Yan helped Luo Zheng take off his morning clothes and put them away, while Gan Qian was busy preparing hot water for bathing.

  "No need to rush!"

  Luo Zheng waved his hand and walked over to the couch, letting the two women sit beside him. After looking at them for a while, he let out a regretful sigh and said, "In a few days, we'll be leaving Luoyang. You two pack up everything that can be taken."

  Ren Yan's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't dare ask more questions.

  Gan Qian asked: "Is your husband going to serve in a local government?"

  Luo Zheng nodded and said: "Go to Liangzhou."

  Liangzhou?

  The two women cried out in unison and their faces changed color.

  Gan Qian worriedly said: "I heard that Liangzhou has been in a state of war, Ma Teng and Han Sui are fighting, the court sent several governors but they were killed before arriving at Liangzhou. Husband, did you offend someone in the imperial court? Why would you be sent to Liangzhou?"

  Ren Yan also had a worried face, apparently very pessimistic about the chaotic situation in Liangzhou.

  Luo Zheng frowned and said: "These things, you women don't need to ask about."

  "Yes, milord."

  Gan Qian sighed and stopped asking questions.

  The next morning, Dong Zhuo petitioned the Emperor to: first, promote Ma Teng and Han Sui; second, issue an edict to rebuild the Hu Qiang Commandery, appointing Luo Zheng as the Central General of the Hu Qiang Commandery, leading 8,000 troops west into Liangzhou to pacify and govern the Western Qiang, defending the borders.

  Luo Zheng returned to the mansion and immediately gathered his trusted advisors for a meeting.

  Li Meng and Wang Fang etc., upon hearing they were going to Xiliang, all changed color one by one.

  Wang Fang was furious and scolded loudly, cursing all the ancestors of the Western Liang generals and high-ranking officials in the imperial court.

  Only Xu Chu and Zhao Yun remained unchanged in their expressions, with a calmness as if Mount Tai had crumbled before them without changing their complexion.

  Li Mengtian's face turned blue with rage, and he said bitterly: "Ma Teng has 50,000 troops, Han Sui also has 30,000 troops, but the Prime Minister only gave General eight thousand troops, ten thousand stones of military rations. Isn't this pushing us into a fire pit?"

  Luo Zheng discontentedly said: "Less complaining, now let's discuss what to do!"

  Li Meng sighed and stopped talking.