Chapter 32: The Black Mountain Bandits Arrive (Part 1)

  Since that night when Lü Bu and Qin Xu had a half-true, half-false conversation, Lü Bu never came to visit Qin Xu again, as if he took Qin Xu's last words as a joke. Cai Yan also mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

  It was Mrs. Lü, however, who came every day with Lü Lingxue to ask after Qin Xu's well-being and show her concern, making Qin Xu feel very embarrassed. Lü Lingxue also became much more stable due to Qin Xu's "righteous assistance" and stopped causing trouble for him.

  Cai Yong, a great Confucian scholar, seemed to have adopted the attitude of being content with whatever he encountered. After settling down in the mansion of the Governor of Henan, he would go out every day to visit friends and return home drunk, but it's unknown how this stubborn old man had so many friends in Henan.

  The maids and attendants in the governor's mansion seemed to have received orders, and none of them came over easily. Yan Shi and Diao Chan also didn't use maids to serve them, and the entire inner courtyard was empty and deserted. The soldiers from the Trap Array Camp that Qin Xu was familiar with also hadn't been seen for many days because they weren't allowed to enter the inner mansion easily.

  Just as Qin Xu was suspecting that Lü Bu was indirectly punishing him for meddling in other people's business, Sima suddenly appeared before his eyes after a long absence.

  "Qin Zhubao, have you been feeling unwell these past few days?" Sima Mao still had that lazy demeanor, as if he didn't care about anything, and when speaking to Qin Xu, he wasn't as serious as Lao Xun.

  "Dead cat? How did you sneak in? Be careful or Miss Lü will discover you and use you for practice!" Qin Xu said irritably.

  "Miss Lü, we can't beat you, only you, Qin Zhuguan, can tame her." Sima Mou winked at Qin Xu and said: "Today is my shift, Master wants me to inform you that there will be a military meeting in the afternoon, and your name is on the list!"

  "Want me to join?" Qin Xu was somewhat stunned, not understanding what Lü Bu meant.

  He had been hanging out in Lü Bu's army for almost two months, and after leaving Chang'an, he was either fleeing or ill, Qin Xu had never had any formal business, suddenly hearing that he was going to attend the military account meeting, Qin Xu was also a little curious.

  "That's right, the master himself instructed, tsk, tsk, Qin Zhongbo is indeed unmatched in the master's heart." Sima Mao had a look of envy and jealousy that was as fake as it could be.

  Qin Xu had never participated in a "military meeting" of Lü Bu's army before, and he had no experience like this in his life. Following the principle of being low-key due to his young age and shallow experience, Qin Xu chose the lowest position near the door when following Sima Meng to the main tent outside the bad city, and waited honestly for the arrival of the big bosses.

  Zhang Liao and Gao Shun knew Qin Xu, Gao Shun didn't need to be said, together from Chang'an to Hebei. For this cold-faced and warm-hearted man, Qin Xu was sincerely admired. Zhang Liao also had a connection with Qin Xu, and even "helped" Qin Xu avoid punishment by Lü Bu once, which could be considered as having a relationship.

  The two were Lü Bu's trusted and beloved generals, and their positions in the military tent were also at the forefront, sitting on either side of the main case. As for the others who arrived one after another, Qin Xu was taken aback, and the generals looked curiously at the young man wearing a scholar's uniform who suddenly appeared inside the military tent, but after a few glances, they sat upright in two rows, waiting for Lü Bu to ascend the tent.

  "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

  At this time, the military meeting was held to drum and fire cannons to show majesty. Fortunately, Qin Xu had mentally prepared himself, otherwise he might have been startled by the sudden thunderous cannon fire and urgent drumbeats, and who knows what kind of joke would have come out of it.

  Lü Bu strode in, his armor gleaming to the beat of the drums, followed by two others. One was a scholar, dressed in elegant attire, with three long whiskers and an air of refinement about him, while the other was surprisingly Zhang Yang.

  "My lord!"

  "My lord!"

  All the generals stood up and saluted, but the direction of their palms made Qin Xu see through the trick.

  No wonder the attitude between these armor-clad generals made Qin Xu look a bit awkward, it turned out that not all of them were Lü Bu's military generals.

  Zhang Yang's army had once clashed with Lü Bu's forces on the battlefield of Dong Zhuo, so it was likely that there were old enemies among these two groups. Moreover, some of them were former generals under Ding Yuan, and they would not have a good impression of Lü Bu's army.

  Who is this middle-aged scholar? Haven't heard that Lü Bu or Zhang Yang recently found a military advisor?

  "Generals, take your seats, raise the curtains!"

  Just as Qin Xu was sizing up this scholar, Lü Bu's majestic voice began today's military council.

  In the military camp, Lü Bu's words carried absolute authority, and even a single glance could leave these seasoned generals gasping for air. As for Qin Xu's arrival, Lü Bu merely gave him a cursory glance, seemingly uninterested. It wasn't until after exchanging greetings with Zhang Yang and taking their seats that he subtly nodded at Qin Xu.

  Lü Bu's subtle movement, though covert, made Qin Xu the invisible focus. The generals sitting across from Zhang Yang couldn't help but glance over, their eyes flicking to Qin Xu and back again. Especially the middle-aged scholar sitting at the low table beside Zhang Yang, who was scrutinizing Qin Xu with great interest, making him feel somewhat ill at ease all over.

  "Gentlemen, Governor Zhang has received a scout's report that this year the wheat in Hebei is ripe. The Black Mountain bandits, numbering over 50,000 and claiming to be 100,000 strong, have crossed the mountains and are coming to plunder Hebei and seize its grain. They have already set up camp in the mountains north of Huai City, a hundred li away. What good strategy do you generals have?" Just as Qin Xu was at a loss for words, Lü Bu cleared his throat and spoke in a low voice.

  "Bandits from Heishan border? So many people?"

  "Yes, the Black Mountain bandits are said to have a hundred thousand men, with influence spanning three provinces of Ji, You and Bing, claiming to have a million. It's probably not an exaggeration."

  "Is it? Are we going to lose money again this time?"

  As soon as Lü Bu's voice fell, the generals present in Zhang Yang's army were in an uproar. Looking at the six or seven leaders of Lü Bu's army, led by Zhang Liao and Gao Shun, who were all sitting upright, Zhang Yang couldn't help but blush slightly. He said loudly: "Since it's a military council, everyone should speak up! General Yang, you are my famous general in Hebei, you speak first!"

  Zhang Yang pointed at a robust man sitting in the first row of his own army and asked loudly.

  "Ah!" The big man named by Zhang Yang stood up and saluted him, saying: "I'm a rough man, I don't understand what strategy is, nor do I bother with alliances or clever tricks. All I know is to fight when the enemy comes and to defend when they attack. That Black Mountain bandit has only one head and two arms, what's there to fear?"

  General Yang didn't know whether he was being serious or just making a veiled reference, but as soon as the words were out, Lü Bu's face flashed with anger, and even the middle-aged scholar sitting below Zhang Yang's hand slightly changed his expression.

  Isn't it a joke to mention Longzhong and Lianheng? You're talking big, but with this level of ability, you still call yourself a rough man? Why don't you understand that Lü Bu is like a magpie occupying the nest of others, turning the guest into the host? It's just that General Yang has a very casual attitude, and he sits at the head of all the generals in Zhang Yang's army, so no one dares to speak up.

  "Yang Chou! You're being unreasonable! Let you say how to deal with the Black Mountain army, what are you dragging other things for?" Zhang Yang was also a person who had seen big waves, this speech not only reprimanded Yang Chou and gave face to the people on Lü Bu's side, but also indirectly helped Yang Chou avoid Lü Bu's opportunity to attack. Being able to live under the eyelids of a powerful lord like Yuan Shao and still thrive, naturally has his own way of dealing with people.

  Listening to the tone, Lv Bu's generals were not fools either. They naturally heard the meaning behind Yang's words. However, they were guest troops after all, and with Zhang Yang's words as a buffer, they could only dare to be angry but not speak out. Only Qin Xu had an expression that was different from the others, his face didn't look gloomy and unbearable, instead, he revealed a hint of a smile.

  "Yang Chou! How can Zhang Yang be so protective of Yang Chou?" Qin Xu thought to himself in confusion, really wanting to tell Zhang Yang, "Brother, stop protecting this little brat, your life will be taken by him someday."

  At this time, Yang Chou had not yet fallen out with Zhang Yang over the matter of Lü Bu, although some signs had appeared, but were still within Zhang Yang's control. Zhang Yang also knew that Yang Chou's words were too hurtful, so after speaking on behalf of Yang Chou, he quickly shifted the attention of the crowd and turned to a middle-aged scholar who was sitting down, cupping his hands in respect and saying: "General Yang has said something with which I am in full agreement. We are all rough men, while Mr. Xu is a wise strategist under General Yuan's command. Does he have any good strategy to share with us?"

  Is it Lord Xǔ's strategist? Could it be him?

  Just as Qin Xu was suspecting the man's identity, the scholar solved his doubts first. After listening to Zhang Yang's words, the man slowly stood up, tidied up his clothes, slightly bowed his head as a greeting, and said loudly: "I am Xu Shu, nice to meet all of you generals. Don't worry, it's easy to defeat the Black Mountain bandits!"

  Xu You?

  Montenegro?

  Yuan Shao!!

  As soon as Qin Xu heard Lü Bu say that the Black Mountain bandits wanted to raid Hebei and seize the summer grain, he felt something was off. And when he saw Xu You's behavior, an incident from this era flashed into his mind like lightning, suddenly making him understand the meaning behind Xu You's actions and the series of movements before, a cold smile involuntarily appearing at the corner of his mouth.

  What a Xu You! What a Yuan Shao!

  Not only did he take advantage of Zhang Yang's fear of Yuan Shao to establish a foothold, but also made the officers and men of Hebei produce a psychological fear that they could not pass this hurdle without Yuan Shao's help. Previously, he wanted to use Lü Lingqi's marriage to control Lü Bu through so-called alliance, and get the loyalty of a world-renowned general at a very small cost. This calculation is too precise, isn't it?

  But Qin Xu knew that Xu You, or rather Yuan Shao's true purpose, was probably not just that!

  At this point, Qin Xu couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief in his heart, it's still good to have an advisor by his side. Looking at Old Yuan, he had advisors coming out of the woodwork, and with just one small trick that came to mind, it was enough to keep Lü Bu and Qin Xu's group busy for half a day, if not for Qin Xu's foresight, they might have even been fooled into falling for it.

  "Yuan Gong and Zhang He had an old relationship, so naturally he wouldn't just sit back and watch the Black Mountain bandits being so rampant. Now that Xu You has arrived, he definitely won't let the Black Mountain bandits enter He Nei even a single step..."

  Xun Yu was making a wish with a stream of words, Qin Xu sighed in his heart that this big brother was indeed Cao Cao's good friend and lucky star. He could see through Cao Cao's lies and gave half of Hebei to Cao Cao, so he must have had something extraordinary about him.

  Lü Bu's gaze seemed to stop unintentionally on Qin Xu, as if asking for his opinion.

  I really want to tell Lü Bu loudly, don't listen to this guy's nonsense! He has evil intentions!

  Qin Xu closed his eyes and remained silent, secretly shaking his head at Lü Bu.