Chapter 14: The First Appearance of Yanluo Wang, Lü Bu Becomes a Marquis

  Cao Xing was tying his belt when he saw Lü Bu charging towards him. He was so frightened that he was stunned and couldn't move. Later, when he saw Lü Bu rush past him and stab to death the woman who wanted to kill him, he came back to his senses. Just as he was about to thank Lü Bu, he saw Lü Bu ride over, lift up a foot and kick him. He shouted: "What are you stunned for? Quickly go help!"

  Cao Xing was kicked in the foot, but he was still happy in his heart. He replied with a "yes" and quickly ran to tie up the livestock.

  Lü Bu lost only one man in this raid. They captured thirty or so horses, seventy or eighty head of cattle and sheep, as well as furs, grain, and valuables. Several men packed the spoils into dozens of large and small bundles. The horses, cattle, and sheep were tied together in one place, waiting for dawn on the second day to begin their return journey.

  Zang Ba took command of Lü Bu's army. The corpses were piled up, totaling thirty-seven Xianbei people killed, including sixteen able-bodied men and twenty-one old people, women and children. Among them, eight able-bodied men died at the hands of Lü Bu, and eleven old people, women and children. Zang Ba added another knife to each person's throat, killing two who were seriously injured but still alive.

  After everyone finished, Gao Shun asked Lü Bu: "What about the tents and the corpses?"

  Cao Xing was overjoyed today and blurted out: "It would be best if a fire burned everything to ashes."

  Lü Bu cast a cold glance at him and said to Gao Shun, "If we set fire to burn everything, the smoke will inevitably rise high into the air, making it easy for us to be discovered from afar, and thus wasting our efforts. Let's just leave it as is. Tonight, you all continue to take turns keeping watch, and at dawn, we'll head back."

  Everyone took orders, and Lü Bu said again: "There is still one thing to remember. In the future, when going out to plunder, do not call my name, so as to avoid being talked about by others and causing unnecessary trouble."

  Everyone should say "yes".

  Gao Shun asked: "If there's something urgent, how should we call...call Your Excellency?"

  Lü Bu's chin slightly raised, his head tilted to one side, his left hand gently scratching his chin thought: "Just call me... Yan... Luo Wang."

  Wei Xun listened and was somewhat puzzled. He asked: "This Wang Mofei is indeed familiar, but who is this Yan Luo?"

  Lü Bu listened, and it seemed that he had not yet been called the King of Hell. He curled up the corner of his mouth and smiled slyly: "The King of Hell is a collector of human lives."

  Everyone was shocked and frightened: what a King Yanluo, this County Lieutenant Lv is indeed a Yanluo, killing people is really efficient. Lü Bu returned and summoned the crowd to gather in front of a bonfire to discuss matters. Lü Bu asked Zang Ba: "What is the surname and name of the person who died in battle? Is there any family?"

  Zang Ba Dao said: "That person is called Li Quan. In his family there is still a 11-year-old younger sister, and no one else."

  Lü Bu nodded, and said: "You all listen. From today on, for every hunting trip outside the border, eight-tenths of the spoils will go to the military camp's logistics department as military supplies. Gao Shun, you will also serve as the officer in charge of military supplies. The remaining two-tenths will be divided equally among those who participated in the hunt, with each person getting one share. If there are any casualties, and they have families, their shares will go to their families, which will not be included in the consolation gold, and the consolation gold will be calculated separately. If there is no family, their shares will be used as military supplies. Can you all understand?"

  Everyone should say "yes."

  Lü Bu's eyes gleamed with a fierce light, and he coldly shouted: "My bandits only plunder the barbarian slaves. Without my army's orders, you are not allowed to plunder the people of Great Han, nor are you allowed to plunder within the borders of Great Han. Those who disobey will be beheaded."

  The crowd was shocked and frightened by the sound, but in their hearts they admired Lü Bu. Previously, people only revered Lü Bu's bravery, but now they also knew that Lü Bu defended the Great Han, and a sense of kinship arose naturally.

  Lü Bu looked around at the crowd and said, "We all come from humble beginnings, but from today on, we are all comrades-in-arms. From now on, we will share the same joys and sorrows, wear the same uniforms, and eat the same food. No one is allowed to harbor private grudges or personal interests. If anyone secretly seeks personal gain and I find out, they will be severely punished. My orders are not to be disobeyed; if anyone dares to defy my military commands, I will make them understand the consequences."

  Everyone saw everything with their own eyes, knowing that Lü Bu was ruthless and had a fearful expression in his heart. They naturally did not dare to disobey his military orders. Later, Lü Bu ordered Cheng Lian to go on patrol first and told Gao Shun to call him at dawn. Then he lay down to sleep by the campfire with everyone else.

  Lü Bu slaughtered for a while, now resting is good sleep, only feeling like he had just fallen asleep, when someone was calling him.

  "Yan Luo Wang...... Yan Luo Wang......" Lü Bu woke up to find it was Gao Shun calling him. He thought to himself: Gao Shun is indeed a man of his word.

  Lü Bu was awakened by Gao Shun, this time without getting angry, but instead stood up straight. He mounted his horse and ordered the crowd to drive the horses, cattle and sheep towards Shoucheng.

  Lü Bu rushed on this trip, unlike before, and went straight south without stopping. When he was hungry, he ate some dry food on horseback and didn't stop along the way. Lü Bu personally urged from behind, not to mention people. The horses, cows, and sheep were driven to cry out in unison.

  Lü Bu was at the back, and if he found any of them walking slowly, he would lash out with his whip. Indeed, some of the weaker animals couldn't walk anymore. Lü Bu would then take a rope to tie up the stragglers and hang them on horseback or oxen. If he found that some weak animals really couldn't move, he would kill them with one knife and let the cattle carry them as goods.

  Although they were in a hurry, due to the large number of livestock, it wasn't until nightfall that they had only covered half the distance. The group stopped to rest, and everyone worked together to unload the goods from the animals' backs. Cheng Lian went on patrol voluntarily. Lü Bu ordered someone to bring over a cow calf that had been killed because it couldn't walk anymore, skinned and roasted it. After eating their fill and drinking enough, they slept well through the night, and set off again at dawn.

  Ten men went out to plunder, nine returned. The troops didn't see the north gate of Shouchun until the fourth day at nightfall. Lü Bu had Gao Shun lead the troops back to the military camp to divide up the spoils. He himself took a cow and a sheep to meet with County Magistrate Wang.

  Wang Biao was greatly surprised to see Lü Bu. He hastily asked, "Ah, General Lü, you've returned! Did you encounter the Xianbei cavalry? How come it's been three days since your departure and no news of your return has arrived, worrying me to death?"

  Lü Bu smiled and said: "Thank you for your concern, sir. We didn't encounter the Xianbei cavalry, but we did run into a group of horse thieves."

  Wang Biao asked in surprise: "Horse thieves? Where are the horse thieves?"

  Lü Bu said, "I think it was the mountain bandits of Yīn Shān. That day, I led my troops to explore and encountered a group of cavalrymen thirty miles north. At first, I thought they were Xianbei cavalrymen, so I followed them from afar. Unexpectedly, that group of cavalrymen went to plunder a Xianbei tribe. I then ordered my border army to observe from a distance. After the bandits had plundered the Xianbei tribe and their strength was somewhat weakened, I led my troops in a surprise attack and killed all the bandits. Coincidentally, we obtained some spoils of war. This is what we seized from the bandits, specially brought to offer to you, sir. Please accept it." After finishing speaking, he led the cattle and sheep over to Wáng Piāo.

  Wang Biao took the reins without hesitation, handed them over to his followers beside him, and then looked up and down at Lü Bu. Seeing that Lü Bu's clothes were all stained with blood, it was clear that he had been through a fierce battle. Then he bowed to Lü Bu and said: "General Lü is indeed a brave warrior, but... I have something to say, I don't know if I should say it or not?"

  Lü Bu said, "Sir, speak freely."

  Wang Biao said: "Lu County Wei's suppression of the horse thieves is indeed good, but Lu County Wei should know that the main task for the northern border troops is to investigate whether the Xianbei will invade the south. If Lu County Wei loses soldiers due to other matters and delays the investigation, it would be extremely detrimental to the lives of the 3,000 people in the northern border."

  Lü Bu listened to Wang Biao's nagging and was very annoyed. He had thought that by bringing the cattle and sheep to give to Wang Biao, he would be able to deceive him about his own plundering activities. But unexpectedly, this Wang Biao was so afraid of the Xianbei bandits on the border that all he could think about was having Lü Bu's soldiers scout out the Xianbei's movements for him.

  Lü Bu's expression turned colder as he spoke, "I meant well, Your Excellency can rest assured. If the Xianbei make any move, I will report it to you immediately. I have other matters to attend to, farewell." With that, he left.

  Lü Bu's anger really frightened Wang Biao. Seeing this, Wang Biao hastily grabbed Lü Bu's hand and said in a gentle tone: "General Lü... please don't be angry, I was only worried about the safety of the three thousand people of Shuofang."

  Lü Bu thought of Wang Biao's attitude towards Gao Shun when he first arrived, and his heart turned ruthless. He threatened: "Lord Wang, if there was no Lü Bu, Gao Shun and others would have been killed by the Xianbei cavalry that day. Today I came with good intentions, but if Lord Wang still disdains my handling of affairs, I will resign from this county magistrate position. Hmph! At that time, it will be just a few dozen border soldiers in Shuofang. Don't mention the Xianbei cavalry, even if they encounter bandits, they will also lose their army. By then, see who will inform you of the Xianbei's movements."

  Wang Biao was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. He tightly grasped Lü Bu's hand and spoke kindly, saying: "What are you talking about? When have I ever been dissatisfied with the way you handle things, General Lü? Don't be angry, I'm just slightly reminding you. Please don't mention resigning again; in the future, military matters will be decided by you. I only have one request to make of you."

  Lü Bu said disdainfully: "But it's a Xianbei movement."

  Wang Biao smiled and said, "Exactly. Just this matter."

  Lü Bu said: "This is easy to say. As long as the lord does not interfere with my military affairs, I will report to the lord whenever there is any movement from the Xianbei."

  Wang Biao listened and put down his heart, saying: "So it's good. In fact, although this official is also a military marquis, he just hangs on to the title. This official has never asked about military affairs. If it weren't for this official not being able to afford the salary of the military marquis, this official would be willing to give up the position of military marquis to County Lieutenant Lu."