Chapter 49: Father-in-law (2)

  "What about General Yuan?!" After General Yuan was sealed off, he was ranked second among the two thousand stone generals, slightly higher than Lü Bu's Pingdong General and Xuzhou Mu. However, after Old Yuan became emperor, his family of four generations and three dukes had already been defeated by him.

  So Lü Bu called him by his name, and secondly, Lü Bu and Yuan Shu were both figures of the same period, Yuan Shu was a vassal lord, and so was Lü Bu.

  "The Emperor is waiting for your arrival in the palace!" Yuan Yao said with a smiling face.

  "Call General Lü!" Liu Mang was displeased. If you call Lü Bu 'Father-in-law', then what am I?

  "Huh?!" Yuan Yeo was about to show his dissatisfaction with Liu Mao, how could Lü Bu's subordinates be so unrecognizable? But then Lü Bu spoke up.

  "What a big tone!" Lü Bu had a hint of anger, did Yuan Shu really think he was an emperor? He didn't even come to greet him when he arrived, and instead sent a mere palace guard to announce the imperial edict? Now he's waiting for him in the palace?

  "Ah?!" Yuan Yao's face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he could only say "Father," before Liu Mao reminded him on the other side.

  "General Lü!"

  Yuan Yao didn't bother with Liu Mao anymore, but was afraid that Liu Mao would interrupt, so he glared at him and shouted: "General Lü, my father the emperor is ill and cannot receive guests. I hope General Lü will understand!"

  "Fallen ill?!" Lü Bu was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses. Being beaten up by Cao like that and not falling ill would be strange. Lü Bu had lost Xuzhou but wasn't too heartbroken. After all, from the beginning, Lü Bu didn't have any territory of his own. Whether it was Yan or Xuzhou, they were all taken by force - Yan from Cao, Xuzhou from Liu Bei.

  Yuan Shu was different, though. Yu Province was originally his territory, and the Yuan family had a large population there, so it could be said that he was the most popular choice. Yang Province was also occupied by Yuan Shu early on, occupying two provinces, and Old Yuan could have competed for the Central Plains, but now he has been defeated by Cao Cao, losing Yu Province, and Yang Province has also been broken, his emperor dream is about to end, how can he not be heartbroken?

  "Lead the way!" Lü Bu didn't say anything. He and Yuan Shao were like sworn brothers, both having been made a mess of by Cao Cao.

  The deeper into the city, the more desolate it becomes. The common people are scarce, but there are many soldiers. Old Yuan has indeed reached a dead end. Shouchun is the seat of Yangzhou and also Old Yuan's main base. If his main base is like this, other places can be imagined.

  It wasn't until they walked into the city that everything changed. Palaces! Buildings! Flying eaves and walls! Every place was made to be extremely beautiful, a stark contrast to the desolate appearance outside.

  "Isn't this Hanbai jade?!" Liu Mang finally felt the difference under his feet, pure white like clouds, transparent like jade, wasn't this Hanbai jade? Using Hanbai jade to pave the floor?!

  This road is no less than ten thousand meters long. Yuan Shu really spared no expense! Even the palaces of Xuchang are not so luxurious.

  These ten thousand meters of Han Baiyu jade could form a heavy cavalry, if it were to be turned into grain and hay, it would be enough for the people of Huainan to eat for a year. But it was used as flooring instead.

  Even if Lü Bu had stayed in Luoyang and Chang'an before, he was still stunned for a moment.

  "Old Yuan, Old Yuan, if you don't perish, it's truly unbearable for heaven and earth!" On the one hand, the extravagance of the feudal lords has never reached this extent. The only explanation is that Yuan Shu has become extremely cruel and evil. No wonder Shouchun is desolate and hopeless, who dares to stay in such a city?

  Shouchun has been breached once, and this Han Baiyu is new now.

  Liu Mang and others shook their heads straight away.

  "General Lü, my father is in the main hall!" Yuan Yao stopped and said.

  "This is the imperial court?! Yuan Shu's emperor dream isn't bad at all, everything is of a standard not one bit lower than that of ancient emperors. Others used the wealth of an entire nation to build theirs, but he managed to pull it off with just two provinces, this kind of person can also be considered a talent."

  "Cough! Cough!"

  On the imperial court, a thin figure was coughing incessantly, while several delicate figures were mouth-to-mouth, this is to spit phlegm.

  Saw someone entering the temple, a thin figure pushed aside the two maids on either side and sat down with an air of superiority, trying to show off his dignity.

  You'd be surprised, these princes have a certain aura of superiority that's accumulated over time.

  If Liu Mang didn't know that the person on the dragon chair was Yuan Shu, he would have thought it was some other imperial family's emperor.

  "Your Majesty, General Lü has arrived!" Yuan Yao said to Yuan Shu who was sitting on the dragon throne.

  Liu Mang looked at the emaciated figure on the dragon throne, trying to maintain its dignity. Wasn't Old Yuan supposed to be an emperor? Where were his civil and military officials? Where were his guards? Why was there only a handful of palace maids in the entire main hall?

  Lü Bu spoke first, looking at the emaciated figure. He couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. He still remembered when eighteen vassals joined forces to overthrow Dong Zhuo, and Yuan Shu was full of vigor and spirit as the deputy leader, second only to Yuan Shao in terms of influence. But now he had become nothing more than a frail old man barely clinging to life.

  "May you have a safe journey!" Lü Bu clasped his fists in farewell.

  "Everything is fine! Thanks for your concern!" Yuan Shu also spoke up

  What he said was just a matter of face-saving for Liu Mang, everything is fine now, and only Shouchun is left. The former overlord of the two states can now only be reduced to one city, with less than 10,000 soldiers and fewer than ten generals, and there is always the possibility of being destroyed at any time.

  "However, Prefect of Xu Zhou, how did you have the leisure to come to Yang Zhou!" Yuan Shu looked at Lü Bu with a sarcastic gaze, actually ridiculing him for losing Xu Zhou.

  Lü Bu didn't get angry, "I heard from Meng De that Shouchun is quite good, so I came to take a look. And also to see you, highway!" Lü Bu's meaning was: You, Shouchun, have been taken down by Cao Mengde before, what are you proud of?

  Lü Bu and Yuan Shu, two warlords of the late Eastern Han dynasty who can be considered as negative role models, are now facing each other.

  Yuan Yao's expression was tense, his old man was almost done for. If Lü Bu were to rush up, he'd probably be finished off with just two punches.

  Liu Mang is also worried, Director Lü, Director Lü, calm down, don't be impulsive. It's not hard for you to kill Old Yuan, but it's hard for you to rush out of this Shou Chun Palace.

  The two of them burst out laughing at the same time, and that sound had a sense of understanding, helplessness, and a kind of affectionate feeling.

  "Speak up, Feng Xian. You've come to Shou Chun, you must have something in mind! In this chaotic world, how many of those who can become a lord are fools? It's just that people's desires differ."

  "The highway is still like this! I came this time to ask for grain and grass! Being driven out of Xuzhou by Cao Mengde, but not bringing enough grain and grass, so I came to your Shouchun!" Lü Bu replied, "Don't worry, I, Lü Bu, will definitely borrow...!" Lü Bu wanted to say some reasons to persuade Yuan Shu, but unexpectedly, Yuan Shu agreed with one mouth.

  "Grain and fodder are easy to talk about!" Yuan Shu said with a smile. "We can't take out too much, but 5,000 dan is still available!"

  "Five thousand stones!" Lü Bu hesitated for a moment, with these five thousand stones enough for the two hundred thousand troops to reach XinYe.

  Liu Mang's eyebrows furrowed. Was Old Yuan really so easy to talk to? Lü Boss had even sent troops to attack Old Yuan before.

  "Thanks for the road then!" Lü Bu said with a clutched fist.

  "Why should we speak of two households when we are all one family?" As expected, Yuan Shu began to show his true colors.

  "A family?!" Lü Bu exclaimed in surprise.

  "Feng Xian, your dog son is not young anymore, and he has never had a proper wife. The marriage arrangement we originally set was delayed due to various things. Now that we've met again, it's time for the two of them to get married!" Yuan Shu said with a smile, looking at Lü Bu.

  Old Yuan's plan is really good, 5,000 stones of grain and grass were exchanged for only one of Lü Bu's daughters. On the surface, it seems like a loss, but in reality, it was a huge gain. When Lü Bu came to borrow grain and grass, would Yuan Shu lend or not? If he lent directly, Yuan Shu would definitely be resentful, why should I suffer the wrath of heaven and men by searching for civilian supplies, while you, Lü Fengxian, just say a few words and take it away?

  If you don't lend it! Lü Bu is not a good talker, once the war starts, he will rely on the 10,000 remnants in Shouchun. What can be used to fight against Lü Bu?

  Now I'm willing to give it to you, as long as you marry your daughter to me.

  Lü Bu's daughter is married, and marrying Lü Bu's daughter is equivalent to marrying the entire Lü Bu army. It's like tying the Lü Bu army to one's own chariot. Providing grain to Lü Bu is just like taking from one hand and giving with the other. Moreover, he has gained several tens of thousands of troops for free, with Lü Bu as his vanguard, and now Yuan Shao can continue to dream of being emperor for a few more years.

  "Come and pay respects to your father-in-law!" Old Yuan didn't even wait for Lü Bu's response, directly pulling his precious son over.

  "Yuan Yao, greetings to Father-in-law!" Yuan Yao half-knelt down and bowed his head.

  Oh no, someone's trying to steal my wife!