Chapter 143 Lu Zhi in Trouble – Part 1 (1/2)
Chapter 143 – Lu Zhi in Trouble – Part 1
The arrangement for the deployment was completed by Dong Zhuo and Wang Yun.
Zhu Jun, Huangfu Song, and Dong Zhuo would be the commanders of their own private armies.
Zhu Jun and Huangfu Song had 75,000 elites as their private force. They used to have only 50,000 men. However, He Jin and He Xing escaped from Luo Yang, leaving their 50,000 soldiers behind. Thus, the two generals took them in and turned them into their subordinates.
Dong Zhuo had 250,000 mixed force of militias and elite soldiers with him, so he did not need to conscript more soldiers. But he was not an honest man either as he would take only 100,000 elites with him to cut the cost of his provision supplies while to rest of his militias would be transferred to Liu Ping, who insisted that he would accompany the troops as well.
As a result, 400,000 soldiers were preparing their crusade against Zhang Jiao and Zhang Tong. Before the end of August, they would deploy and march to Julu!
…
…
Later that day.
Cao Cao and Lu Zhi met up at Cao Cao's private resident.
When Lu Zhi stepped inside Cao Cao's Manor, he was surprised. All servants and subordinate of Cao Cao had been preparing to move out of the Capital. All he had to do was a signal or an order, then all servants and his private troops would begin sneaking out of the city.
”I see that you're leaving. Where are you going if I may ask?”
Questioned by Lu Zhi, Cao Cao shrugged and served his guest a simple tea.
”I've contacted my family in Chen Liu. I'll restart my new life there.”
Lu Zhi grinned after he heard the word ”Restart”.
”It's not a restart, it's 'Building a new army”, isn't it?”
Cao Cao paused and gave Lu Zhi a wry smile. ”Please don't spread it.”
”I know, Ha-ha! Well, let's get to the point. What do you want to do, Mengde?”
The easygoing face of Cao Cao turned solemn. He gazed into the eyes of Lu Zhi.
”We've found the third prince Liu Xie. One of He Jin's agent is hiding the child somewhere in Julu City.”
Lu Zhi mentally trembled the moment he heard the news about the third prince, and he was in the city of his disciple no less!
”Yuan Shao has already taken Dowager He and He Jin to Nanpi City. I think he is planning to make Ji Province as his home base after he secures the prince.”
”Then, what's that has to do with me?”
”I've heard that Zhang Tong is your disciple. So I have a favor to ask you.”
This time, it was Lu Zhi's turn to get serious. He was laid back since he had arrived in Cao Cao's Manor. Once he realized that Cao Cao had something to do with Zhang Tong, his face changed.
”Speak.”
”Please tell your disciple, do not give the prince to Yuan Shao or kill the prince!”
”…”
Both of them stopped talking. Cao Cao knew that Lu Zhi was not a simple person. He would understand his intention with a few words.
”What do you take me for? Do you think I will sell out my disciple for you?”
Lu Zhi understood Cao Cao's intention. Cao Cao wanted to create a friction between Tong and Yuan Shao so that they could slow down their domestic development and would waste their times glaring at each other's throat.
This was a cunning move of Cao Cao. If both armies were at odd, Cao Cao could buy times to build his own army and catch up with them.
”There is no free meal in this world. What will you exchange for this favor?” Lu Zhi asked.
This middle-aged minister was sharp. He bargained the requested favor for Cao Cao's favor on the spot. If his prediction was right, it should be something about the new edict of Liu Ping or Cao Cao could give him a surprise.
Nodded Cao Cao, he replied. ”I'll help Zhang Tong for two favors. First, my newly established army will sabotage Liu Ping's supply bases during his crusade. Two, I will lobby all warlords in every province to form a coalition against Liu Ping!”
Listening to Cao Cao's proposal, Lu Zhi narrowed his eyes and fell into deep thought. This cunning fox was worthy of Sima Fang's praise. Sima Fang was the one who recommended Cao Cao into the imperial court, so he should not be a simple person.
'It seems that Cao Cao's two favors are his initial plans. But since I've shown up here, he wants to reap more profits from the plans he has prepared.'
'I can refuse it right away, but I don't know what kind of back up plans he has.'
'He can easily side with Liu Ping if I were to refuse, then his new army will join forces with the Imperial Troops.'
'Tong has 60,000 to 70,000 soldiers and Ding Yuan has roughly 50,000 men. Fighting against 400,000 will be difficult. But if Cao Cao force were to add into those 400,000, Tong wouldn't stand a chance.'
'So this is that kind of proposal, huh? The proposal that you cannot refuse? Such a nasty tactic.'