Chapter 44: Wang Lei Debates Xiahou Dun

  Wang Lei smiled, his slightly foolish face revealing an expression as if he had seen a long-lost good friend. But this expression made Xia Hou Dun's hair stand on end, his face full of vigilance. Earlier, he had clearly seen this little guy wielding a black gold spear, killing people left and right, with blood splashing everywhere, truly ruthless.

  This expression now makes him feel even more dangerous.

  This person is absolutely a smiling tiger.

  Xiahou Dun was on his guard, but suddenly found that Wang Yue's fierce tiger camp and the soldiers of Xinshi County had all gathered around him, surrounding his men.

  Xiahou Dun's heart skipped a beat, and he felt even more that something was amiss.

  One careless move and you might lose your life.

  Xiahou Dun said with a smile: "County Lord, I absolutely did not lie. My brother Xiahou Yuan and I had already discovered another group of people lurking in the shadows. Because this group has been hiding in the dark, we deliberately led the guards to kill them, and indeed lured out the bandits."

  He let out a light sigh and said regretfully, "Even so, we still couldn't suppress the Big Ear Bandit and the Red Face Bandit. It's truly shameful. Fortunately, the general arrived with his troops at the critical moment and defeated the Big Ear Bandit. The general's arrival was like a heavenly army descending from the skies!"

  Xiahou Yuan's mouth twitched slightly, thinking that his brother's face was getting thicker and thicker. When he saw the Xiongnu people, he could say that a living person was dead, and now when talking to this young county magistrate, he could say that a dead person was alive.

  Wang Lei chuckled twice and said: "Since you are a man of great virtue, I will let the matter drop."

  Dian Wei said: "My lord, they are also bandits."

  Xiahou Dun's eyes widened in anger and he retorted: "This military officer, we are not thieves, but rather passionate about helping those in need."

  With disdain on his face and a scornful curl of his lip.

  Wang Lei waved his hand and said, "Not a single war horse has been lost, so I won't pursue the matter. You can leave." Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan were after all Cao Cao's men, and Wang Lei didn't have any ill feelings towards Xiahou Dun. Moreover, there was no direct conflict of interest between them, and Wang Lei was now offering a favor that would be beneficial in the future. He believed he would meet Xiahou Dun again someday.

  Xiahou Dun stood there in a daze, without leaving.

  Xiahou Yuan pulled and tugged, but Xiahou Dun remained motionless.

  Wang Lei was puzzled and asked: "Why don't you leave?"

  Xiahou Dun took a deep breath, let out a soft sigh, and said: "Sir, it's not that I'm being presumptuous to stay behind, but because of the battle with Dae Soo earlier, my guards suffered heavy casualties. If we were to leave like this, it would be difficult to explain to their families. After all, the dead and wounded guards need to be compensated, and they cannot be neglected."

  Wang Lei responded with an "oh", but didn't continue the conversation.

  Xiahou Dun did not expect Wang Yue not to respond, thinking that this kid is cunning.

  It seems like I have no choice but to be straightforward.

  Xiahou Dun dismounted and bowed, saying: "Sir, I was able to defeat the bandits with the help of my men. Moreover, many of my guards were killed or wounded in the battle. Don't you think it's fair that I get one-third of the warhorses? These 600 warhorses, you can have two-thirds and I'll take one-third. You're the magistrate of Wudu County, wealthy and influential, so 200 horses are just a trifle to you, not worth worrying about. What do you think?"

  Wang Lei blinked his eyes and thought that Xia Hou Dun's face was thick enough.

  His gaze turned to Xiahou Yuan, but saw Xiahou Yuan turn his face away, not daring to meet his gaze.

  Xiahou Yuan is better, his face is thinner.

  Wang Lei muttered to himself for a moment, then said: "Xiahou Dun, it's not that I don't want to give them to you. I see your losses before my eyes, but the owner of this batch of war horses is not me, it's the county magistrate of Xinshi County. Even if I lead the troops to turn the tide, I'm not in charge."

  "Yes, the war horse is from Xinshi County."

  At this time, one of the squadron leaders who was escorting the war horses stepped forward and shouted.

  He looked up with disdain and contemptuously at Xiahou Dun.

  "Shut your mother's fart, I didn't let you speak, don't interrupt." Xia Hou Dun glared at him with a fierce gaze that made Tun Chang retreat two steps. When he looked at Wang Lei, his expression was filled with smiles again, and he said: "Sir, you are really too kind-hearted, so kind-hearted that I can't bear to look at it. Listen to my analysis, this batch of war horses belonged to Xinshi County when they didn't encounter the Dae ear thief, but just now when the Dae ear thief joined forces with the Red Face Thief to attack, the Dae ear thief had already gained the upper hand, and the soldiers of Xinshi County were defeated one after another. In other words, the owner of this batch of war horses has changed hands, and for a short time, it became the property of the Dae ear thief."

  He smiled and said solemnly, "You led the troops to defeat the Great Ear Bandits. This batch of war horses was transferred from the Great Ear Bandits' hands, so you are the master of this batch of war horses."

  "Nonsense!"

  Tun Chang looked at Wang Lei and said sincerely: "Sir, this man is also one of the robbers. Please behead him, sir. After we escort the war horses back to Xinshi County, the county magistrate will surely thank us heavily."

  "How dare you!"

  Dian Wei glared at him and was so frightened that he retreated two steps back.

  They pout and look innocent, but these people are too vicious!

  Wang Lei smiled and said slowly, "Brother, the military commander under my command has a straightforward temper. Once he gets angry, he easily kills people, even I can't persuade him to stop. Be careful, or you'll be killed unjustly. Alas, it's all because of my poor teaching."

  Tun Chang was taken aback, he saw that the county magistrate was not an easy person to deal with, and hastily said: "Your Honor is a wise and intelligent person, you will certainly not be deceived."

  "Of course, I won't be deceived."

  Wang Lei smiled lightly and said faintly, "Xia Hou Dun, I'm going to escort this batch of war horses back to Wuji County. When the new magistrate of Xinshi County arrives in Wuji County, I'll personally talk to him. Your suggestion is completely agreeable to me. Why don't you come with me to Wuji County and then negotiate with the magistrate of Xinshi County? What do you think?"

  When he spoke, Wang Lei suddenly tightened his grip on the snake spear in his hand.

  Sunlight shines, a streak of cold light flashes on the spearhead.

  Xiahou Dun snorted inwardly and thought to himself, "You're clearly speaking with a forked tongue. If I go, it's unlikely I'll return." After careful consideration for a moment, he said, "Sir, 200 warhorses are indeed a bit excessive. How about this: you give me 100 warhorses, and I'll set off immediately. What do you think?"

  Wang Lei shook his head and said: "Xiahou brother, the war horse is not mine, I cannot act arbitrarily."

  Xiahou Dun still wouldn't give up and continued: "Fifty war horses!"

  "General Xiahou, we only have 600 war horses in total. You're asking for 50 of them, which is already one-tenth of the total number. Even if I know you're a man of your word and willing to support you, these war horses don't belong to me, so I can't just give them to you."

  "Sir, give me twenty-five horses."

  "Ah~~ twenty-five horses, you think one horse is cheap? It's very expensive, can't give you twenty-five horses."

  "Elder, I don't ask for much, ten fine steeds will suffice."

  Xiahou Dun was on the verge of collapse, he thought his face was thick enough, and even if he became Wang Xue, he would be embarrassed to refuse again, but Wang Xue remained unmoved, which was really a blow to him.

  This person's face is too thick-skinned.

  Wang Lei let out a soft sigh and said, "Alas... Brother Xiahou has already spoken to this extent. If I continue to refuse, it would be impolite. I'll take charge of this matter. You and Xiahou Yuan can each take one horse and leave."

  Xiahou Yuan's mouth twitched and his face looked very ugly.

  Dian Wei smiled lightly and thought to himself: You guys are competing with our lord, it's simply courting humiliation.

  Xiahou Dun let out a soft sigh and thought to himself, "I'm convinced."

  "He bowed his fist and said: 'Sir, you are willing to support the two horses, Xiahou Dun is grateful. If sir has leisure time, he must come to Pei State's Xiao County, I will definitely entertain sir well.'"

  "Alright, alright! Someone come and bring two horses for Xiahou brothers!"

  He waved his hand and the soldiers under his command led two horses over.

  Xiahou Dun took over two horses and let his guards ride them, then bid farewell and left.