Chapter 33: Lü Bu Surrenders to Cao Cao

  "I am a great man, how can I be like a little girl crying and wailing? Get up for me!" Lü Bu roared at Cao Xing who was still lying on the ground.

  Cao Xing originally rushed over in a hurry, but didn't expect Lü Bu to treat him like this. However, after hearing Lü Bu's words, he felt ashamed in his heart. It turned out that the general wasn't blaming himself for not guarding the grain well, but was dissatisfied with his own daughter's attitude and hated himself for not being ambitious enough. Suddenly, Cao Xing's heart was filled with shame.

  Lü Bu looked at the big fire in front of him and calmly said to Cao Xing: "Hurry up and lead the soldiers to put out the fire, save as much grain and grass as possible. I'll go to the main tent to take a look." After finishing speaking, he didn't wait for Cao Xing's response and hastily rode his Red Hare horse towards Ding Yuan's main tent in the Pingzhou army camp.

  When Lü Bu ran to the front of Ding Yuan's big account, the entire Pingzhou army had gradually stabilized, and the disturbance in the front camp had stopped. They were fully prepared for a severe battle to prevent the Xiliang army from coming to raid the camp. This shows the military leadership abilities of Gao Shun and Zhang Liao.

  When Lü Bu hastily lifted the flap of Ding Yuan's large tent, he found that the entire tent was in disarray, with wine cups and bamboo slips scattered all over the ground.

  Hiss! When he saw the position of the commander-in-chief in the center of the big account, Lü Bu took a deep breath. Originally, in the center of the big account, a headless corpse sat upright in front of the case.

  Lü Bu's eyes were filled with tears, his trembling hands stretched out in front of him as if to grasp something, and a wave of anger surged through his heart.

  Lü Bu thought of Ding Yuan's various deeds. Although he had not been very satisfied with his time under Ding Yuan, he recalled how Ding Yuan had taken care of him and appreciated him when he first joined the army. Later, for some reason, Ding Yuan began to suspect and suppress him. However, seeing Ding Yuan's headless corpse now, Lü Bu also felt a tinge of sadness in his heart.

  "Ah....! Hao Meng, I will kill you!" A mournful roar came from Ding Yuan's large tent, echoing throughout Yun Xiao and spreading throughout the entire Pingzhou camp.

  "Hahaha..." Just then, when Qiu Shui returned to the Western Liang army camp, a loud laughter came from the tent. Upon hearing this laugh, Qiu Shui knew it was definitely Dong Zhuo's voice.

  After Yuanshui and Li Su entered the camp, they found that the camp was filled with wine feasts. On the table in front of Dong Zhuo, there was a head, which was Ding Yuan's head!

  What a ruthless heart Haomeng has! When he went to Pingzhou Army, Qiushui had already inquired about the situation of the generals in Pingzhou. Ding Yuan suppressed Lv Bu, but treated others quite well. Lv Bu killing Ding Yuan is somewhat justified, after all, an unparalleled martial general was appointed as the chief clerk, a civil official in charge of military supplies and rations, which sounds harshly put, is just an accountant.

  Haomeng was indeed a capable person, and Ding Yuan had treated him with great favor; otherwise, Haomeng would not have been able to command so many soldiers.

  Dong Zhuo saw Ding Yuan's head, and the gloom of the past few days was swept away. He actually set up a banquet in the military camp with his generals.

  When he saw Dong Zhuo and Li Su return, Dong Zhuo patted his own belly and laughed loudly: "My beloved is back, come in quickly, haha!"

  Qiu Shui hastily stepped forward two steps, bowed to Dong Zhuo and said: "Thank you, sir." After that, he sat down at the table on the left side of the first row. Li Su also bowed his hands in return and sat down below on the right side.

  Don't look at the seat arrangement, but it's actually quite regular. As Dong Zhuo's first general under his command, Qiu Shui sat in the first seat on the left side of the military commander, and no one else would say anything about it. If you don't have enough strength, randomly taking a seat can offend people, and that's the kind of offense that can get you killed.

  Just as Qiu Shui and Li Su had taken their seats, a general with a smoky black face and wearing armor walked out, holding a cup of wine and respectfully said to Qiu Shui: "I have long heard of the General's divine might. Today's battle with Lü Bu was truly earth-shaking. I offer my respects to the General with this cup."

  Qiu Shui heard the other's words and although he had already guessed who it was in his heart, he still asked with a puzzled expression on his face: "Who are you?"

  "Haha, Autumn Water is actually Hao Meng, the great general of Pingzhou Army. Today, he came to surrender and offer Ding Jianyang's head." Dong Zhuo explained with a hearty laugh.

  Qiu Shui's face turned cold and filled with disgust as soon as he heard the truth. He couldn't help but feel a strong sense of hatred towards him, after all, Ding Yuan had treated him kindly, yet this person had killed his own master for temporary gain. What a despicable person! Qiu Shui sneered: "So it's you, a traitor who betrays his master for personal gain, humph!"

  "Hahaha...!" The military camp burst into loud laughter after hearing Akane's words.

  Hao Meng's face was filled with embarrassment after hearing Qiu Shui's words, and her heart was filled with resentment towards Qiu Shui.

  Dong Zhuo saw that all the generals were mocking Hao Meng, although Dong Zhuo also looked down on Hao Meng in his heart, but he still waved his hand to stop the ridicule of his subordinates, and with a happy face, he said to Qiu Shui: "Thanks to Qiu Shui, Pingzhou army would have fallen into such a situation."

  At this time, Qiu Shui bowed to Dong Zhuo with a hint of his eyes: "Where, where, today is still thanks to Li Su, otherwise, how could the Bingzhou army have no food or grass, and I would not have such merits."

  Dong Zhuo saw the look in Qiushui's eyes and knew he had underestimated Li Su. He quickly stood up and said, "It's all thanks to Li Su, haha!" After that, Dong Zhuo rewarded Li Su with some gold, silver, and jewels.

  Li Su felt deeply grateful in his heart after seeing Qiu Shui speak for him, but when he saw Dong Zhuo only rewarded him with some gold, silver and jewels and then no longer paid attention to him, Li Su's heart was filled with resentment. He had persuaded the Bingzhou army to surrender and never again be enemies of the Xiliang army, yet all he got in return was this meager reward.

  Compared with the grand banquet of the Western Liang army, the Pingzhou army was completely different at this time.

  In the main tent of Pingzhou, Lü Bu sat on the commander's seat with a gloomy face. The generals under him entered the tent one after another, each looking disheveled and lowering their heads, not daring to look straight at Lü Bu.

  "Tell me, how many troops have we lost?" Lü Bu gritted his teeth and said in a low voice to the various generals in the camp.

  At this time, all the generals were too ashamed to raise their heads and report. Only one person, Gao Shun, stepped forward after hearing Lü Bu's inquiry and said in a cold voice: "My lord, the grain and grass in the main camp have been destroyed, and now there is less than three days' worth of food. The governor has been killed, and the camp is in great chaos. Now, out of the 70,000-strong army, only more than 60,000 people are left." After finishing speaking, he calmly retreated to his own position.

  After Ding Yuan's death, Lü Bu relied on his prestige in the Bian province army over the years and naturally became the master of the Bian province army.

  Lü Bu felt a great headache in his heart after hearing Gao Shun's words. Even if they set out to return to Pingzhou now, the grain and grass would not be enough to support the army's safe return. Moreover, the Western Liang army was still eyeing them covetously across the river.

  Lü Bu said coldly: "Everyone, at this moment our army is at a critical juncture of life and death. Does anyone have a good strategy?"

  All the generals heard Lü Bu's reply, and they all looked embarrassed, not knowing what to do. Only Zhang Liao showed a hesitant expression at this time, wanting to say something but not daring to speak. Lü Bu saw Zhang Liao's face and calmly said: "Wen Yuan, can you have a good strategy to solve the crisis of our army?"

  Zhang Liao heard Lü Bu's question and no longer hid, looked up at Lü Bu, and said with a difficult expression: "My lord, the whole army already knows that the military grain and grass have been burned, the army has no will to fight, and the morale is low. If the Western Liang army comes now, then our army......" Zhang Liao didn't dare say the rest of his words, but others understood what he meant, yet there was nothing they could do about it.

  Gao Shun also stopped and said with a difficult expression: "My lord, I found out in Luoyang a few days ago that Dong Zhuo's next 200,000-strong army will arrive soon. At that time, the Western Liang army will have 300,000 horses."

  Gao Shun's words were like adding fuel to the fire, and Lü Bu's face turned even colder after hearing them. He stroked his head thoughtfully with one hand, while the other generals in the army dared not utter a word, seeing Lü Bu's expression. After all, Lü Bu's decision was related to the fate of the entire Bingzhou army of over 600,000 men.

  A moment later, Lü Bu glanced at his generals, gritted his teeth, and sighed: "Wen Yuan, go to the Western Liang army and say we surrender." As soon as Lü Bu said the word "surrender", he seemed to have lost all his strength. Since becoming a general, Lü Bu had never uttered the word "surrender" before; this was a great humiliation for his self-esteem, and at the same time, he was filled with resentment towards Hao Meng.

  All the generals in the account heard Lü Bu's words and let out a sigh of relief. After all, if they continued to fight hard, there was only one way to die, who would still want to die?

  "Yes." Zhang Liao stood up and replied solemnly to Lü Bu.

  "However, if we are to surrender, it must be on our terms. Go tell Dong Zhuo that first, I want the head of Hao Meng to offer as a sacrifice to my adoptive father; secondly, if Pingzhou army surrenders, they must receive the same treatment as Xiliang army." Lü Bu instructed Zhang Liao with a face full of resentment.

  Zhang Liao received Lu Bu's order and hastily rode a fast horse towards Luoyang.

  "Hahaha!" The entire Western Cool Army camp was filled with laughter.

  "A report, Governor. Zhang Liao requests an audience." A sturdy and strong bodyguard wearing black armor hastily ran into the tent, knelt on one knee, and respectfully said to Dong Zhuo.

  "Haha, the provincial troops have arrived." Dong Zhuo excitedly shouted out when he heard his subordinate's words.

  "Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir!" The civil and military officials under his command flattered Dong Zhuo, who was in high spirits.

  "Transmit." Dong Zhuo said with a majestic wave of his hand.

  Zhang Liao received the order from the soldier and walked into the camp with a majestic air. When he went in, he found that Dong Zhuo's army was filled with celebratory wine, and Zhang Liao's heart was filled with sorrow.

  When Zhang Liao entered the tent, the originally lively banquet suddenly became quiet. The generals in the tent looked at the incoming leader of Pingzhou and quietly waited for the decision of the Pingzhou army.

  "My lord, this man is Zhang Liao, a great general under the command of Bianzhou, with the bravery of a thousand men, and can be called an excellent general."

  Dong Zhuo's eyes narrowed slightly after hearing Qiu Shui's words. Dong Zhuo knew that Qiu Shui was a proud and arrogant man, and the fact that he called Zhang Liao a fierce general showed that his martial arts skills were extraordinary. He quickly stood up and ran to Zhang Liao's side, saying enthusiastically: "So it's General Zhang! I've long heard of your great name. Now that you've come to join me, I definitely won't let your talents go to waste."

  Zhang Liao was deeply grateful to hear Qiu Shui's words, and he hastily cupped his hands in respect, saying: "Thank you, Lord Dong, for your kindness. My general, Lü Bu, is willing to lead the Bingzhou army to surrender to you. However, before we do so, I hope that you will agree to two conditions from us."