Qu Yi suddenly came to his senses during Lu Bu's questioning.
Over the past year or so, my level has improved rapidly.
This is the result of sparring with Zhao Yun, Taishi Ci and others!
It is true that a master can only improve by fighting with masters!
Although he was injured and his physical fitness declined a lot, his combat experience and moves became more and more proficient. As a result, his overall strength did not decline that much.
That's why Lu Bu was so arrogant and used one hand to deal with Qu Yi, but he ended up being put in a passive position, which made Lu Bu feel ashamed.
However, when Qu Yi faced Lu Bu, he had to explain why his skills were improving day by day.
Seeing that Lu Bu was doubtful, Qu Yi became alert. If he didn't answer well, he might be exposed!
He thought of a clever idea and sneered, "I think Wen Hou has become weaker!"
"Although I was injured, I still felt a sense of injustice in my heart, so I practiced diligently every day, hoping to recover my strength in the future and seek justice from Yuan Shao!"
"But what has Wen Hou been doing these past few years?"
"Excuse me, but Marquis Wen is still a long way from defeating Guo Si, right?"
"Has Lord Wen lost his edge in the past few years and thought that being the lord of a place is enough and he has lost the ambition to make progress?"
Qu Yi's words touched Lu Bu's sore spot. After escaping from Chang'an, Lu Bu had been hiding from place to place and had a very hard time. Thinking back on it now, he felt quite ashamed. He slammed the wine cup on the table and was speechless for a while.
Qu Yi knew that Lü Bu was easily deceived and easily believed others. Seeing that Lü Bu's attention was diverted by his words, Qu Yi was about to strike while the iron was hot when someone outside the window applauded and said, "Well said, General!"
Everyone looked closely and saw that it was Chen Gong. He walked in slowly, bowed to Wen Hou and said, "Greetings, Wen Hou."
Then he said to Qu Yi, "Greetings, General."
Seeing this, Lu Bu quickly found a way out and said with a laugh, "Gongtai, you've come just in time. Why don't you sit down and have a drink?"
Chen Gong heard this and politely declined, "I can't drink much, so I won't spoil Marquis Wen's mood."
"Gong came here to report to Marquis Wen that there is news that the Baibo Army has crossed the Yellow River to the south and joined Yang Feng and Dong Cheng to serve as the emperor's vanguard to jointly resist Li Jue and Guo Si."
"Now the two sides are fighting for hundreds of miles, with casualties on both sides."
Qu Yi pretended to be nonchalant while drinking, but he listened to every word Chen Gong said.
He thought to himself that the young master was indeed a man of great foresight, and that the Baibo bandits had indeed intervened in the fight for the throne!
As a result, the Baibo bandits, one of the three major forces in Henei County, could not escape for the time being, leaving only Zhang Yang and Lu Bu!
He secretly wiped his sweat. He had followed Yuan Xi for a long time and had learned some skills to deceive people. But it was also thanks to Chen Gong's arrival that Lu Bu did not continue to ask questions.
When Lu Bu heard the word "Son of Heaven", he gulped down a large mouthful of wine and said, "Let them fight as they please. What has it got to do with you?"
"What do you think, Gongtai?"
Chen Gong saw this and said, "Wen Hou, the general is right. We must do something at this time."
"And how we do it now will determine where Wen Hou will stand in the future."
Lu Bu said in a muffled voice: "Sir, do you want me to go and welcome the emperor?"
Chen Gong looked at Qu Yi and Yan Shi's Lu Lingqi after hearing this. Lu Bu understood and said to Chen Gong, "In that case, I will go and talk to you in detail after the banquet."
After hearing this, Chen Gong sighed slightly in his heart, thinking to himself, it's already this late, and he's still thinking about drinking. How can he accomplish anything great if he does this?
Qu Yi stood up shakily, clasped his fists towards Lu Bu and said, "Wen Hou, I have had enough wine and the fight just now is also satisfying. I will take my leave and go back to rest."
After hearing this, Lu Bu stood up and walked to Qu Yi and said, "Dezhou's halberd method does not require brute force to win. It has the essence of using softness to overcome hardness. It is suitable for women to practice."
"I have a little daughter who likes to practice martial arts. If Dezhou is free, why not teach her a few moves?"
Qu Yi was hesitating, but Lu Lingqi was very happy and came over quickly and said, "Greetings, sir."
Lu Lingqi was indeed thinking about it. She was certainly interested in Qu Yi's halberd skills, but another thing was that as Yinhu's bodyguard, he must know Yinhu's whereabouts.
Lu Lingqi had a big plan in mind. She planned to find Yinhu's whereabouts and take revenge!
Seeing that Lu Lingqi was performing the disciple etiquette, Qu Yi was slightly moved and said, "If the girl does not despise my lack of talent and knowledge, I will not let down the trust of Marquis Wen."
"It's too late today, let's talk about it tomorrow!"
Yan watched Qu Yi walk away and grumbled to Lu Lingqi, "Why would a girl learn martial arts? What if she gets her face scratched?"
"Just make a few gestures when the time comes, but don't move, seriously."
Lu Lingqi supported Yan, listened to her nagging helplessly, and went back to her room together.
When everyone had left, Lü Bu asked Chen Gong to sit down and said, "I am now staying in Zhang Yang's territory, so it is not appropriate for me to resort to violence. What do you think, Gongtai?"
Chen Gong sighed and said, "Does Lord Wen know that Chenliu is now under siege by Cao's army and is about to collapse?"
Lu Bu's face changed. "I have already sent a letter to Zhang Miao and Zhang Chao to abandon Chenliu. We are short of food right now and cannot compete with Cao Cao anymore."
Chen Gong said: "I'm afraid they are surrounded and can't escape even if they want to!"
"Does Lord Wen want to sit back and watch them die?"
Lu Bu sighed: "What should I do?"
"Gongtai understands that we can't defeat Cao Cao now!"
Chen Gong was also a little depressed. He was good at strategy but not good at military affairs. Not only did Cao Cao have many talented military advisors under his command, but Cao Cao himself was also good at commanding battles, which made him much better than Lu Bu.
In addition, Lu Bu's side was mainly composed of light cavalry, which was easily restrained. After losing several battles, Lu Bu now had a headache when he heard Cao Cao's name, and had a vague feeling of fear of fighting.
Chen Gong said decisively: "Marquis Wen, you must not retreat again and again."
"The best way right now is to persuade Zhang Yang to help, or to find strong reinforcements outside!"
"If Marquis Wen can form an alliance with Yuan Gonglu and marry your daughter to him, Yuan Gonglu will surely send troops to rescue us!"
He thought that Lu Bu would agree. Under the current situation, only Yuan Shu had the strength to confront Cao Cao. In addition, Yuan Shu sent Sun Ce to seize Xuzhou some time ago, but was stabbed in the back by Cao Cao. The two sides had already torn their faces apart.
If Lu Bu shows goodwill to Yuan Shu now, he will definitely send troops to help attack Cao Cao. This is the best option at present!
However, what Chen Gong did not expect was that Lu Bu showed hesitation. "But Yinhu sent someone to tell him that Yuan Gonglu will die within three years."
After hearing this, Chen Gong was stunned. It was Yinhu again?
Will Yuan Shu die a violent death?
Chen Gong's first reaction was, this hidden tiger couldn't have any purpose, right?
How could it be such a coincidence that someone was sent to report the news at this time? It was as if they were deliberately trying to sabotage the alliance between Lu Bu and Yuan Shu?
But Chen Gong had to take Yin Hu's words seriously. After all, the other party had not only predicted the locust plague, but also predicted the death of Tao Qian. These were all prophecies that came true!
There are many alchemists in this world who can predict the future, but they all speak evasively and vaguely. It is unprecedented to be able to speak so directly and affirmatively as Yinhu did, and to confirm it immediately.
Chen Gong lowered his head and began to think.
If it were me, it wouldn't matter if Yuan Shu died within three years. At least I could help Marquis Wen in these three years, and the price would be just a daughter.
But Chen Gong didn't dare to say this to Lu Bu. Lu Bu doted on his only daughter very much. If she became a widow, wouldn't he be blamed?
So Chen Gong swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. Who wouldn't be afraid of being punished later?
He said, "Marquis Wen, if we don't seek external help, we will have no choice but to give up Chenliu."
"It's not a big deal if we lose Chenliu County, but if Marquis Wen lets his allies die without helping them, I'm afraid he will be criticized."
Lu Bu was a little annoyed, "What does Gongtai say?"
"I can't conjure up food and rations!"
Chen Gong hesitated for a moment and whispered, "It's not that there is no solution."
"I heard an idea from Zhang Yang's adviser Dong Zhao."
Lu Bu asked, "What's the idea?"
Chen Gong said, "Send someone to Luoyang to meet the emperor, and then have the emperor issue an edict to ask Cao Cao to stop the war."
Lu Bu's eyes lit up when he heard this, "That's a good idea!"
He thought that based on his friendship with Liu Xie, this matter would have great potential!
Chen Gong sighed, "But Lord Wen, the emperor is riding in the carriage, and all parties are fighting for it. It is as difficult as dealing with Cao Cao."
Lu Bu said angrily: "This doesn't work, and that doesn't work either. What else can we do?"
Chen Gong said: "Then there is a third way."
"Cao Cao and the Black Mountain Army have a grudge. If Marquis Wen promises them a generous reward, the Black Mountain Army will come out to help and lift the siege of Chenliu."
After hearing this, Lu Bu fell into deep thought.
This idea seems good, right?
Lu Bu's idea now is very simple. As long as the ones who die are not his own soldiers, everything will be fine.
He said, "This plan is worth a try."
"Then we will ask Gongtai to send someone to communicate with Zhang Yan of the Black Mountain Army."
Chen Gong hesitated for a moment, "The Black Mountain Army will not help without a reason. What conditions are Wenhou going to promise?"
After hearing this, Lu Bu said, "What else can I offer?"
"How about I send someone to curry favor with the emperor and ask him to issue an imperial edict to promote Zhang Yan?"
Chen Gong thought to himself, isn't this going back to the old ways?
He patiently advised: "After the battle between Wen Hou and Cao Cao, his strength was damaged, and there are not many conditions that can impress Zhang Yan."
"I heard that Zhang Yan has a son who is about the same age as Marquis Wen's daughter. Why not..."
After hearing this, Lu Bu interrupted Chen Gong and said, "Sir, please don't mention this matter anymore. Yuan Gonglu is a third-rank official for four generations. What is Zhang Yan?"
"Then we might as well look for Yuan Gonglu!"
Chen Gong thought to himself, you didn't start from scratch either, so you're no different from Zhang Yan.
However, his original intention was not to attack Zhang Yan. Seeing that Lu Bu was reluctant to talk, he said, "Yuan Gonglu may have died a violent death, but his son may not."
"Perhaps his son will be able to build a great career in the future."
"Gong thought about it and thought that Yuan Gonglu was the strongest at this time, and only he could fight against Cao Cao."
"Whether it's welcoming the emperor or asking the Black Mountain Army for help, none of them is as reliable as marrying Yuan Gonglu."
After hearing this, Lu Bu was hesitant for a moment.
If Qu Yi hadn't brought Yin Hu with him, he might have agreed at this moment.
But thinking that if Yuan Shu's forces were destroyed, Lu Lingqi would also be implicated and killed, Lu Bu felt really undecided.
He finally said, "I'll discuss this with Zhang Yang tomorrow."
After hearing this, Chen Gong sighed inwardly and had to say goodbye and leave.
Zhang Yang's men were divided into several factions. Dong Zhao had clearly stated that he wanted to surrender to the emperor, but Sui Gu and his men said they wanted to help the Black Mountain bandits.
I am optimistic about Yuan Shu, but after all the talk, what will be the result?
Chen Gong wondered what that Yinhu wanted to do.
He vaguely felt that this person definitely had some ulterior motive!
Yuan Xi, the hidden tiger and vicious tiger suspected by Chen Gong, was already on his way to Yongnu.
He lifted the curtain of the car and saw refugees everywhere on both sides of the road.