Chapter 55: Lü Bu's Feelings! Lü Rui as Dad?

  "General Hou Cheng? How is it?" Wei Xun and Song Xian saw Hou Cheng, who was leading the Red Hare horse, at a corner of the city tower below the east gate of Xiaopei.

  "Success! I've got Red Hare and the Heaven-Defying Halberd. Lü Bu has no mount or weapon, it's like cutting off one of his arms. Now I'll go to Cao's camp and surrender. You two get on the city wall and wait for an opportunity to capture Lü Bu. At that time, Cao will surely reward us heavily!"

  "Alright, let's follow General Hou's plan! We'll go and prepare now. We must capture Lü Bu and present him to Lord Cao!"

  "Hum, Hou Cheng nodded and ordered his personal guard to open the city gate, then he left the city!"

  "Rui'er, get up! The lord wants us to discuss matters in the main tent!" Guo Jia entered Lü Rui's military tent and pushed him.

  "Huh?" Lü Rui's eyes were blurry, he rubbed his eyes and let out a sigh, saying: "What? A meeting?"

  Looking at Lü Rui still not waking up, Guo Jia had no choice but to take the lid of a inkstone from the table and put it on Lü Rui's face. Lü Rui shuddered and immediately woke up, what a piercing cold!

  "Master?" Lü Rui looked at Guo Jia in confusion.

  "Rui Er, Master has summoned everyone to discuss matters in the main tent, hurry up!"

  What's going on? Cao, the husband, is actually discussing official business at this hour? Lü Bu reluctantly got up from bed and followed Guo Jia to the main tent. As soon as they left the military tent, there were still stars in the sky? What urgent matter does Old Cao have that needs to be discussed now?

  Very soon, the two arrived at Cao's main account. Lü Rui met a new face here, and the helmet seemed to be someone from Lü Bu's army. Could this be Hou Cheng? Has he come to surrender?

  Cao Jun and his men arrived at the main tent, Cao looked around and said: "Everyone, this is General Hou Cheng, who has come to surrender today. At the same time, Wei Xun and Song Xian in Xiapi City will respond to our army at dawn and open the east gate of Xiapi to let our army enter the city!"

  "Your Excellency, has Hou Cheng's surrender been verified?" Man Chong stepped forward and asked with a bow.

  "Burning needn't worry, General Hou Cheng has stolen Lü Bu's Red Hare horse and Fang Tian painting halberd. Such sincerity, isn't it enough?"

  "I'm willing to be punished, please forgive me, my lord!" Lü Bu's horse and weapon were stolen, it was a big sincerity, without these two things, Lü Bu was basically a toothless tiger. Hou Cheng surrendered with sincerity!

  "Hmm, Benning is a supervisor, performing his duties, what crime does he have?"

  "Thank you, sir!"

  "I hereby issue the order: Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, you two will have your troops prepare food at the third watch and set out at the fifth watch. General Hou Cheng will lead the way and take control of the four city gates of Xiapi. Li Dian, Yue Jin, you two will lead your troops to quickly go to Lü Bu's camp after the city gate is opened and capture Zhang Liao, High Shun and other generals. Yu Jin, you will lead your own troops to work together with all the generals to patrol Xiapi City, if there are any who resist, kill them without exception!"

  "The rest of you follow me with troops to guard the rear, our army will control Xiaopei after that, and then enter the city!"

  "Yes!" Everyone took orders and left.

  Cao Cao was giving orders in the military camp, while Lü Bu sat on a large chair on the city tower of Xiaopei, holding his halberd and looking exhausted as he gazed into the distance.

  After being soaked in the flood, Xia Pi was already at his last gasp, and it was only a matter of time before he was breached. Lü Bu was considering how to give his family a good home, taking the army to break out? Afraid not? Then there is only one way to entrust someone else. But who can be entrusted with this task? With this question, Lü Bu's eyelids slowly closed, and he fell asleep!

  "Does your eye feel uncomfortable?"

  "Oh, it's dawn already, is Cao's army going to attack the city again today?"

  "What's going on?!" How did this happen? Lü Bu looked around, only to find himself bound by thick ropes.

  "Wei Xu, Song Xian? What are you going to do?" Looking at Wei Xu and Song Xian with a military advisor looking at him, Lv Bu's heart skipped a beat, and a bad idea rose from his mind.

  "Haha, Wen Hou, let Ben Si Kong tell you the reason!"

  Cao led the crowd step by step from under the city wall to the top, and when Lv Bu saw Cao, he understood everything.

  "Is Lord Cao at peace? This rope is tied too tightly, please loosen it, Lord Cao!"

  "Wen Hou is a fierce tiger. If he were to be untied, wouldn't he hurt people? What would you do?" Cao teased Lü Bu.

  "Lord Cao, now that I have suffered a defeat, I, Lü Bu, am willing to submit and surrender. If you do not reject me, I am willing to serve under your command. With my cavalry's bravery in Pingzhou added to your exceptional talent and broad vision, how can we fail to conquer the world?"

  "Oh?" Cao listened and was taken aback for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Is Lord Wen really willing to surrender? What do you all think?"

  "Lord Cao, have you forgotten the deaths of Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo? Is Lü Bu a man who keeps his promises?" Liu Bei cupped his hands and spoke to Cao.

  "Alas, Liu Da'er, you're causing trouble again! 'Lord Guan said that Marquis Wen is untrustworthy, but Lord Guan himself is also an unrighteous person. Have you forgotten the incident at Yanmen Gate? If it weren't for Marquis Wen, would Lord Guan be standing here today?' Lü Bu said indignantly."

  Everyone listened and looked at Liu Bei in a flash. Liu Bei was shocked in his heart, what a difficult child to deal with! "Hou Ye, this statement is wrong, Xuande just thought of Cao Gong, Cao Gong pacified Xuzhou, must fight against Yuan Shao in the north, if Wen Hou betrayed in front of the array, Cao's army is in danger!"

  Great, Big Eared Liu indeed knows how to fathom people's thoughts. Cao Cao's magnanimity has a premise, that is, it doesn't endanger the safety of the Cao army. If Lü Bu were to betray him, the Cao army would surely be annihilated, and the cost would be too great. Suspicious old Cao wouldn't let Lü Bu off!

  "Liu Dairen is a shameless and unscrupulous scoundrel!"

  "Lord Cao, don't listen to this man's nonsense!" Lü Bu glared at Liu Bei with indignation and hastily explained to Cao.

  Cao smiled and said, "Lord Wen, Xuande is right. If a fierce tiger wounds someone, it will also be seriously injured!" Although these were joking words, everyone present understood that Lü Bu was doomed!

  Lü Bu smiled helplessly, understanding Cao's meaning. Lü Bu looked at Cao and said: "Lord Cao, I am not afraid of life or death, my only concern is for my wife and children. I want to entrust them to someone."

  "Rest assured, Mr. Wen, our company will definitely take good care of your family!" Cao's wife loved doing this kind of thing, whenever she found a beautiful woman, she would recruit her!

  "Sir Cao is wrong! The person entrusted by Lü Bu is not Sir Cao!"

  "What?" Cao was taken aback, daring to think that he wasn't going to entrust himself, but rather thought that Lü Bu was afraid of his family being harmed and wanted to curry favor with him. But it seemed he had misread the situation!

  Cao Cao looked at Lü Bu and asked: "Duke Wen, I don't know to whom you want to entrust your wife and children?"

  Lü Bu turned around and said to Lü Er: "I want to entrust my wife and children to you, brother Lü Er!"

  Everyone was stunned, Lü Rui was also stunned. "Lü Bu and I are of the same clan?" No way? Chenliu and Wuyuan? Far from it! Lü Rui pointed to himself with his hand and asked: "Wen... Wenhou? Are you referring to me?"

  "Exactly!"

  "Is he the Marquis of Wen? Although Lü Rui also has the surname Lü, Lü Rui is a native of Chenliu, while the Marquis of Wen is from Wuyuan. The two places are far apart, how can they be from the same family?"

  "Haha, Wen Hou, Rui Er's father is a close friend of Ben Si Kong and Ben Si Kong's father. Are Rui Er and Wen Hou cousins?"

  "Sir, you are not aware that the Lv family of Wuyuan and the Lv family of Chenliu both originated from the Lv family of Nanyang. I am a general who was adopted from Chenliu to Wuyuan. This matter is only known to the head of our household and Bu, outsiders do not know about it. Lu Rui and I are brothers within five degrees of mourning!"

  Hearing Lü Bu's tone, which left no room for doubt, and seeing the look in his eyes, everyone looked at Lü Rui again, as if they saw some similarities between the two? Lü Rui was taken aback, could it be that Lü Bu was telling the truth?

  "Hmm, if Rui'er is indeed the younger brother of Wen Hou, then I, Si Kong, will take responsibility for Rui'er and entrust Wen Hou's clan to him!"

  "It's not just a entrustment, Bu Zhi's daughter must acknowledge Lü Rui as her father and enter his clan, and Lü Rui must treat her as his own daughter!"

  "Alright, I'll agree with you!"

  "Maternal uncle?" Lü Rui was stunned, no way? How could it be more and more unreliable as they spoke? If it's true... Letting Lü Bu's daughter become my daughter? And enter my clan? This... Shouldn't they be discussing this with me? The two of them... How did they ignore me?

  "Rui'er? Can a brother within the clan entrust his relatives and not be allowed to respond?" Cao asked Lv Rui with a questioning tone.

  "Rui'er, be careful with the entrustment of your brothers within the clan!" Guo Jia whispered to Rui's ear and glanced at Cao with his remaining gaze.

  Alas, I forgot that we are in ancient times now. You are the lord and I am your humble subject. Old Cao is our master and also the father of Zhong Cheng. The Han Dynasty rules with filial piety and also relies on clan power. If this were true, Lü Rui would still have to "be a dad"!

  "Understood!" Lü Rui reluctantly acknowledged with a single word.

  "What basis does Wen Hou have for his words? How can we believe him?" Liu Dai'er interrupted again, unwilling to let Lü Bu off the hook!

  Liu Bei spoke, and everyone discussed it. Right, how could Lü Bu prove it? Lü Bu looked at Lü Er and said: "There is a family tree in my mansion that clearly records the relationship between me and the Chenliu Lü clan. Can the Minister of Works order someone to bring it over for verification?"

  "Wen Hou smiled and said, 'Even family trees can be forged at home, how can we rely on them?'"

  "Liu Da'er, this is our family tree, how can it be fake?" Lü Bu glared at Liu Bei in anger.

  "Wen Hou, a family tree is not a reliable basis!" Cao also looked at Lü Bu with a hint of curiosity, trying to probe whether Lü Bu was telling the truth.

  "What?" Lü Bu was stunned.

  "My lord, I have a way to prove whether or not what Duke Wen said is true!" A low and mournful voice suddenly came forth.

  Liu Bei was startled and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a person wearing a bamboo hat, dressed in a raincoat, with a mask on his face, suddenly appearing beside Cao Cao.

  Liu Bei asked: "Lord Cao, who is this man?"

  "Xuande needn't be surprised, this man is just a guest in our household!"

  Grass, the mysterious strategist is out to scare people again!

  "Do you have a way to prove Lü Bu and Ririn's relationship?"

  "Your Excellency, we can verify the relationship in public! Just take out a finger bone of Duke Wen and I have a way to prove whether what Duke Wen said is true or not. However, I need to cut off one of Duke Wen's fingers on the spot!"

  "Hahaha, a dead man, what would he care about one finger? Come on!"

  "Ah, Zhang Kang, go and take off Lü Bu's little finger!" Cao ordered Xu Chu to cut off Lü Bu's little finger.

  Lü Bu shook his teeth and his little finger was cut off and handed over to the mysterious strategist.

  The mysterious strategist publicly took out Lü Bu's finger bones, washed them clean, then divided them into two segments and dried them over a fire.

  The mysterious strategist looked at the crowd and said: "Everyone, look, this is a segment of Lord Wen's finger bone. I am not a member of Lord Wen's clan, my blood cannot dissolve in it." The mysterious strategist cut his palm with one stroke, and fresh blood flowed out, but did not dissolve into Lü Bu's bone.

  Everyone nodded after watching. This method is unscientific, what a bunch of fools!

  "Your turn, Lord Hou!" The mysterious strategist handed a small bowl in front of Lü Rui.

  Grandma's, it's time to take the blood, no way, only let go, dissolve into the bones? Impossible, at this time the bones are not calcified, and no blood will dissolve in, even if you have a blood relationship with Lü Bu, it's impossible!

  Lü Rui heated the small knife with fire, then scratched his arm and let out some blood. He disinfected the wound with liquor and had the army doctor bandage it up. I've got knowledge, tetanus is not to be trifled with!

  The mysterious strategist took over Lü Rui's blood, smiled at Lü Rui, and then walked to the side of Lü Bu's finger bone. He dripped the blood onto another one of Lü Bu's finger bones. Suddenly, the finger bone and blood dissolved together, and the white finger bone turned red, a deep red color that came from within!

  Impossible, there must be a problem, this is not scientific. At this time, Lü Rui saw the mysterious strategist smile, Nai Nai was deceived, definitely something fishy going on! Stupid ancient people, this is unscientific!

  "Haha, Lü Bu is indeed my cousin, does Cao Gong still have doubts?"

  "My lord, after verification by those under me, it is found that Marquis Qi and Marquis Wen are brothers within the clan, and their blood relationship is quite close!"

  "Alright, that makes sense. In that case, Rui'er, you take care of the family for Wen Hou!"

  "Yes, Uncle!" Oh, Nainai, this is so bitter that it can't be expressed!

  "Lord Cao, Lü Bu has something to discuss with his sworn brother. Please grant us a private room for the two of us to talk. If Lord Cao agrees, Lü Bu will die, and he will make the captured men surrender to Lord Cao!"

  Lü Bu's handwriting is really big, in order to confess his past deeds? And also help Cao Cao persuade him to surrender?

  "What?" Cao hesitated, two people alone in one room?

  "Is Cao Gong afraid that I will harm his younger brother? Humph, Cao Gong can send brave and loyal soldiers to follow him, but Lü Bu won't untie the rope, what can he do?"

  "Alright, Zhong Kang, you and E Huai come with me. Yuan Zhi will accompany Rui Er to the front, just at the side of the arrow tower!"

  "Yes, milord!" Then, Lv Rui and the other three entered the arrow tower.

  "Brother Rui, I never thought you were really my cousin!" Lü Bu exclaimed.

  "Brother!" Lü Rui was very helpless, but he had no choice but to accept it. This was a principle that the ancients believed in, and even Song Dynasty forensic scientist Song Ci regarded it as true. How could he not acknowledge it? Although it was definitely unscientific, Lü Rui was definitely being deceived!

  "Originally, I was determined to die for the country, but I was worried that there would be no one to take care of my wife and children at home. Now that you, my wise younger brother, are here, I have no regrets!"

  "Brother, rest assured! I will definitely take care of your family!" As for Lü Bu, Lü Rui had a deep respect for him, not for anything else, but for Lü Bu's love for his family, which was unmatched among the Three Kingdoms' lords.

  "Ru Di, brother's daughter, maiden name not convenient to tell, she entered Ru Di's clan after, Bu hoped she changed her name to single character An, a lifetime of peace and safety, Ru Di helped her find a good family, brother's wish fulfilled!"

  "Elder brother, rest assured, is there anything else you would like to entrust me with?"

  "Madam Bu, please take good care of my younger brother. I have a concubine with stunning beauty, she is my most beloved, please also take good care of her. As for the others, you can handle them as you see fit!"

  "Hmm, Lü Rui understands! Is there anything else you'd like to entrust to me, brother?"

  "Quickly, brother, fetch me a pen and ink! I need to write some documents!"

  The brush and ink were quickly placed in front of Lü Bu, along with a few pieces of silk cloth. "Brother?" Looking at Lü Bu, Lü Rui hesitated for a moment, should he untie the rope? Lü Bu was not bad to his family members, but if he were to make a move... himself?

  "Brother, no need to be difficult, just use your mouth!" After finishing speaking, Lü Bu used his mouth to hold the brush and started writing. Isn't that right? Lü Bu was originally a clerk, but history didn't say he had this incredible skill, did it? Writing with his mouth?

  Soon, Lü Bu finished writing four documents. One was for his own family, one was for Zhang Liao and others, one was for the Lü clan of Wuyuan, and another was the document where he would adopt his daughter to Lü Shuang.

  As Lü Bu walked out of the arrow tower and headed towards the execution ground, Lü Rui watched his receding figure with mixed emotions. The number one hero in the world, Lü Bu, was actually such a gentle and family-loving person. Thinking back to Lü Bu's words earlier, they were sincere, and he had truly regarded Lü Rui as his own younger brother, entrusting him with genuine feelings that couldn't be faked!

  Was I underestimating Lü Bu's noble heart with a petty mind? In any case, Lü Bu was still good to his family. A lord who takes care of his household is rare in the Three Kingdoms! Lü Rui shook his head helplessly, he still couldn't change history!

  Wait? Nainai's, I've been deceived again! Become a father?