Chapter 17: Victory and Defeat are Determined by Lü Bu's Temperament

  Chang'an City was in a state of chaos. The area around the west gate was even more chaotic, with cries of killing and wailing echoing through the sky.

  The people in the city would never have believed that those remnants of the Western Liang, who were said by the scholars to be "scattered and fleeing like wolves" after Dong's death, had arrived at the foot of Chang'an so quickly!

  What's even more astonishing is that this great Han dynasty capital, which had been reinforced several times by Dong Zhuo, the supposedly impregnable city of Chang'an, was actually breached without a sound.

  What about the tens of thousands of troops in the city?

  What about Lü Bu, the invincible under heaven?

  This is not only the doubt in the hearts of the military and civilians in the city, but also Wang Yun, who holds the position of Shangshu Ling, is furious, regardless of his demeanor, slapping the table and scolding.

  "Lü Bu! You villain! You have wronged the great Han! You have wronged the Emperor! You have wronged me, an old man! You villain!......"

  A few hours ago, you Lü Bu were still patting your chest and saying that with Lü Fengxian around, the Emperor and Wang Zifu would definitely be safe. What's the result? The shouting and killing sounds outside, the sound of horseshoes and countless torches, the loud noise almost turned the entire Chang'an city upside down.

  "Old master! The bandits from Western Liang have entered through the west gate, General Lü is leading the troops to fight in the alleys! You'd better hurry up and leave!" A servant-like person rushed in, knocking on the door in a flurry.

  "What's the hurry?!" Wang Yun feigned calmness and scolded the servant, "Isn't General Lü suppressing the rebellion right now?! General Lü is the bravest in the world, these Western Liang bandits are just a bunch of clowns! We, as masters, aren't even flustered, what's there for you, a mere dog slave, to be anxious about?"

  "Ah... " The family servant's face was flustered, and after being scolded by Wang Yun, he became even more fearful. After hearing Wang Yun's exaggerated praise of Lü Bu's bravery, he finally calmed down slightly and stuttered: "Master, please calm down, Master, please calm down!"

  "Has Hu Changshi returned?" Wang Yun asked, pretending to be nonchalant.

  "He hasn't returned yet, just a moment ago the servant reported that there was a riot in the prison, and now the city is in chaos again. It's possible that Hu Zhangshi may have been delayed on his way back." The house servant replied cautiously.

  "What!" Wang Yun shouted in surprise: "Imperial prison riot? Why wasn't such a major event reported?"

  "This, Master Wang had instructed before, no one is allowed to disturb you when you are resting. Moreover, the person who came said that Miss Lü was also among them, so Hu Changshi should be safe... So..." The house servant was scared by Wang Yun's sudden ferocity and stuttered out a few words.

  "Lü family... Lü Bu! I was going to marry my daughter to you! You ungrateful son! You've wronged me!" Old Wang realized at this moment that Hu Changshi's situation was probably more bad than good.

  "What about Cai Bojie? Is there any news?"

  "Has there been no news? I fear he must have died in the riot!"

  "Dead? Haha, that's a good one." Wang Yun's face twisted in anger, and he shouted: "Then go bring me his corpse!"

  "Old Master?!"

  "Get out!"

  In the furious mind of Wang Yun, Lü Lingqi appeared in the prison, definitely with Lü Bu's intention. Although Lü Lingqi was young, she had learned true martial arts from Lü Bu and because Lü Bu was deeply favored by Dong Zhuo at that time and was adopted as a godson, most people in the Western Liang army knew this Miss Lü. The purpose of Lü Lingqi's visit to the prison was also clear.

  When Wang Yun wanted to release Cai Yong from prison earlier, Lü Bu had mentioned a sentence. Seeing that Wang Yun insisted, he didn't say anything more, but unexpectedly, Lü Bu actually rescued Cai Yong at this critical moment.

  "Come back!" Wang Yun seemed to have suddenly thought of something, and suddenly said to a servant who was about to run out the door: "Is Wei Xu still in the mansion?"

  "Wei... Wei Xun?" The old servant's nerves were disrupted by Old Wang's sudden and rapid thinking, and he hastily replied: "At that time, the master was about to rest, and General Wei was not seen, General Wei had already left."

  "Left? Hmph! Conveniently left, indeed!" The green veins on Wang Yun's forehead jumped slightly a few times, and his face calmed down. He said to the house servant, "If Xi Men can come in, how many thieves can enter too? Go to the kitchen and bring me a cup of ginseng tea. You dog slave, you've made it so that I won't be able to sleep tonight."

  Wang Yun's expression was calm and he didn't seem to care about the Western Liang army's invasion. He also felt more at ease in his heart, repeatedly saying: "Yes, yes! I'll go now!"

  "Ah!!"

  Just as the servant was about to turn around and leave, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back, and a triangular bulge appeared on his chest. All his strength seemed to drain away like a river bursting its banks. His vision blurred, and in the distance, Wang Yun's face, which had always been stern and dignified, was now twisted with murderous intent.

  "Guards! This man is a spy from the Western Liang army, and he dares to attempt to assassinate me. Does he think I'm that traitor Dong Zhuo?!" Wang Yun calmly pulled out a silk handkerchief from his sleeve and slowly wiped down Lü Bu's returned Seven-Star Sword, then instructed the guards at the door.

  "Ah!"

  "Also prepare horses for me, and hurry to the imperial palace!"

  "Ah!"

  Chang'an City West, the west gate has already fallen. Zhang Liao led his cavalry to quell the rebellion. However, the cavalry was originally a type of soldier suited for open fields and was not effective on these narrow streets with houses closely packed together. Although they were superior in physical strength and military discipline compared to the worn-out Western Liang remnants who had traveled long distances, the mobility that the cavalry took pride in had become useless at this moment. Furthermore, the difference in numbers between the two sides was too great, and the endless stream of Western Liang soldiers pouring in from the city gate made Zhang Liao's troops appear exhausted.

  "Brothers! We are the elite cavalry under General Lü's command! General Lü's divine prestige views these Western Liang bandits as pigs and dogs. How can we let General Lü be humiliated?" Zhang Liao loudly rallied his exhausted soldiers, occasionally glancing in the direction of Lü Bu's mansion.

  "Kill!!"

  "Kill!!"

  "The government army is powerless! Come with me and rush into the city!"

  "Generals Li and Guo have given the order, and Chang'an has been taken! The city will be plundered for three days!"

  "Capture Chang'an! Plunder for three days!"

  The exhausted Western Liang army soldiers were suddenly enraged by Li Jue and Guo Si's order, their eyes reddening in an instant. The morale that had been slightly suppressed by Zhang Liao's ferocity instantly reached its peak. In an instant, the number of deaths and injuries in Zhang Liao's army surged, and the momentum was momentarily halted.

  "General Lü! General Lü has arrived!" Just as Zhang Liao was exerting great effort to behead a Western Liang general, someone beside him suddenly shouted excitedly.

  Lü Bu!

  Lü Bu has arrived!

  A crimson-clad rabbit, a bewitching demonic spear, and a man with an aura of murder!

  The momentum emanating from this lone horseman was enough to suppress the morale of the several thousand Western Liang soldiers that had just begun to rise.

  "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

  Behind Lü Bu, a team of horses with heavy armor and full-body black armor soldiers rushed forward. The dull sound of horseshoes made the surrounding sky-shaking killing sounds quiet down, as if there was only the sound of this army's horseshoes beating in the world.

  "Ah! It's an ambush!"

  "Crash into the camp! My god?! This is going to be a mess of flesh and blood!"

  Lü Bu led the vanguard troops to arrive, causing the soldiers who were fighting with Zhang Liao to suddenly lose morale.

  "Wen Yuan, you've worked hard! Do you still have the energy to follow me in another charge?"

  "What's there to be afraid of?!" Zhang Liao's slightly tired face revealed an excited expression as he shouted.

  If it's said that the fierce battle between the Western Liang army and Zhang Liao was like a river crashing against rocks, then the arrival of Lü Bu and the Ambush Camp was like a river reversing its flow. With each swing of his Heaven Halberd, lives were taken away, and the silent Ambush Camp seemed like the god of death harvesting lives in the dark night, instantly blocking the Western Liang army's steady pace into Chang'an City.

  Lü Bu's personal prestige had already intimidated the several thousand Western Liang soldiers, and with the fearless charge of the Tiger Trap Array, in just a few moments, he had already begun to gain control of the situation.

  It seems that Lao Wang's heart is not very broad, but his vision is unique.

  "Hurry and report! The Grand General Wang Yun of the Han Dynasty requests an audience with Your Majesty!"

  The palace guards, who were already on edge from the cries of "Kill!" in the darkness, saw a white-haired old man approaching on horseback and immediately raised their guns to form a phalanx. But unexpectedly, it turned out to be Wang Yun.

  "Let no one stop him! The Emperor commands Wang Zitu to come and see him at once!"

  Before the guards could respond, a sharp voice came from atop the high walls of Chang'an Palace, as if waiting for Wang Yun's arrival for a long time.

  Inside the Weiyang Palace, the young Han dynasty emperor, Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, was anxiously looking at the thick night outside the palace, with several elderly officials in court attire standing below the steps, whispering to each other.

  "His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!"

  "Come quickly! Come quickly!"

  The eunuchs finished singing and drinking, Emperor Xian of Han Liu Xie had already stood up from the jade steps, urging repeatedly.

  "Your humble servant Wang Yun pays his respects..."

  "Alright, alright, Wang Ai Qing, is it true that the Western Liang army has returned to the city? Is this really happening?" Liu Xie's words were trembling with hope as he looked at Wang Yun, hoping to hear some reassuring news from the old pillar of state.

  It's really hard for this eleven-year-old young emperor, since the old man passed away, he hasn't had a peaceful day. Every day, either being manipulated by the ministers or wandering around in exile.

  It was easy for Wang Situ to assist the Emperor with loyalty and sit firmly in his position, but after only a few days of peace, news arrived that Chang'an City had been attacked.

  "Your Majesty, please be at ease!" Although Old Wang also had his own worries, in front of the Emperor and the other ministers present, he still maintained a composed demeanor, smiling as he said: "Indeed, there are several troublemakers causing chaos in Chang'an, but it's just a minor skin condition. I have already ordered General Feng Wu to quell the rebellion, and I expect good news to arrive shortly. Your Majesty and all of you can rest assured."

  When they heard that Lü Bu had sent troops to quell the rebellion, the faces of the officials present, with Liu Xie at their head, looked a little better. Liu Xie himself appeared as if he had just woken up from a nightmare and forced a smile, saying: "Since Wen Hou has taken action, I am sure that I will have nothing to worry about! Later on, there will certainly be good news coming in, let's see how I should reward you all!"

  "This..."

  While all the ministers were whispering to each other about the Emperor's proposal, Wang Yun slightly raised the corner of his mouth and stood up to say: "Your Majesty, Lü Bu has already arrived at Wen County, with the title of General of the Left, and the rank of General of the Three Armies. Although he has made great contributions to the court, but..."

  Before Wang Yun's words had fallen, the questioning glint in the eyes of the ministers was already apparent.

  What does Lao Wang mean? Suppressing Lü Bu? At this time, should we use the trick of "killing the rabbit and flying the bird"? It shouldn't be. Didn't you, Wang Yun, just become Lü Bu's cheap father-in-law a moment ago? If it's not this meaning, is there another meaning?

  Indeed, under the suspicious gaze of the ministers, Wang Yun spoke clearly: "Lü Bu is a man with little kindness and few principles, his nature is treacherous. The previous example of Dong Zhuo is before us, although Lü's family ultimately turned back to the right path, but their past crimes are still a warning. Moreover, this time in the chaos of Chang'an, its root cause was that Lü Bu's family minister Wei Xu privately colluded with the bandits' son, resulting in the strong city of Chang'an being breached in an instant. Lü Bu's pacification of the rebellion is actually without any merit, so I think..."

  Wang Yun's words made the senior officials present frown, and Emperor Xian was speechless on the throne. No one expected Wang Yun to kick Lü Bu when he was down at this time.

  Wang Yun would never have thought that his words, which he believed utilized the contradictions between Lü Bu and Wei Xu to frame Lü Bu first, were actually so close to the truth.

  Just as the officials were suspicious of Wang Yun and Lü Bu's sudden falling out, there was a sudden commotion among the guards outside the palace. A small yellow gate guard rushed into the hall in a panic, his voice trembling with sobs, crying loudly: "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! The Xiliang bandits are looting Chang'an, Li Jue and Guo Si have already arrived at the palace gates, reining in their horses and shouting that Your Majesty's rewards are unfair!"

  Chang'an City! Has it been breached?!

  The entire hall fell silent for a moment!

  "What about Lü Bu?" King Yuen's old face turned blue with rage, his veins bulging like an orange peel. He grabbed the little yellow gatekeeper and bellowed in a loud voice.

  "It is reported that General Lü's troops are few and cannot resist the enemy, so he has broken out of Chang'an and gone east!"

  "What?! This brat! He actually disregards the Emperor and myself! Actually... actually..." Wang Yun's eyes, filled with bloodshot veins, seemed to find it hard to believe this matter.

  "What about Lü Bu's family?"

  "Vanished into thin air!"

  "Ah! Lü Bu has deceived me!" Wang Yun shouted, his expression suddenly changing from the dark and sinister look he had when accusing Lü Bu to the emperor, his face turning pale as a mouthful of blood foam burst out!