Chapter Twenty-Three: God of War

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At that moment, outside Luoyang, deep within a military camp, several torches crackled inside a great tent.

A fire had been lit in the tent for warmth. A burly man sat beside it, roasting several yams skewered on thin branches.

The tent flap was lifted, and two men entered.

The burly man roasting the yams looked up and waved with a grin. “Come in, come in, Bo Ping, Wen Yuan. You arrived at just the right time—the yams are almost done.”

Zhang Liao chuckled. “Things are certainly comfortable here with Registrar Lü. Not only is it warm, there’s food as well.”

Gao Shun gave a solemn salute. “My respects, Registrar Lü.”

Lü Bu pulled two barbarian stools from behind him and casually set them down beside himself, motioning for Zhang Liao and Gao Shun to sit. “There’s no need for such ceremony. Sit. Ah, I still think these stools are much better. Ever since we came to Luoyang, we’ve had to kneel all day until our knees ache. I truly don’t know how these people can get used to it.”

Zhang Liao laughed and took the roasted yam from Lü Bu’s hand, turning it over the flames without replying.

Gao Shun, however, nodded. “Kneeling is a matter of etiquette. Registrar Lü would do well to grow accustomed to it.”

Lü Bu let out a grunt and shook his head. “I’m just a rough soldier. Why should I bother getting used to all that etiquette? By the way, Wen Yuan, the two of you were inspecting the camp just now. How are the men doing?”

Zhang Liao shook his head. He took the yam from the fire and held it beneath his nose. It did not seem fully cooked, so he returned it to the flames and continued turning it.

“Not very well. The weather is growing colder, and some of the men lack sufficient clothing. I’ve already sent people to gather more firewood to keep them warm. The real problem is that our provisions are running low…”

“Wen Yuan and I made some calculations,” Gao Shun continued, his eyes filled with hope as he looked at Lü Bu. “At most, we have another twenty days. If we receive no fresh supplies by then, we’ll run out of food. Registrar, has the provincial governor found a way to secure provisions?”

Lü Bu silently shook his head.

Zhang Liao lowered his head and let out a long sigh.

Gao Shun remained silent for a while before suddenly saying, “Two days ago, I met several villagers outside the camp who were heading south. I asked them about the situation in our homeland, and they cursed me for it.”

Lü Bu and Zhang Liao both looked puzzled and hurriedly asked why he had been cursed.

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Gao Shun picked up a branch and stirred the fire, causing the flames to leap higher. In a heavy voice, he said, “We withdrew, and as a result, the Xianbei came south early this year…”

Lü Bu’s brows shot up. “Those barbarian slaves! How dare they! Once we return, we’ll slaughter every last one of them—”

Zhang Liao’s face brightened. “Does that mean we’re going back? When do we leave?”

“Er…” Lü Bu deflated like a punctured wineskin, all his momentum draining away. “No. We haven’t received orders yet…”

Gao Shun said, “I’m going to say something I probably shouldn’t, but some of the men still don’t know why we had to withdraw from Bing Province. Others have asked me who will guard the frontier now that we’ve come south. I don’t even know how to answer them.”

“That’s right,” Zhang Liao added. “We originally came here to eliminate the eunuchs who had thrown the government into chaos. Now that their leader has been executed, we still haven’t set out…”

He did not continue. The reason they had not yet departed was difficult to discuss, since it involved their commander’s superior. A junior officer such as Zhang Liao had no business commenting on such matters.

Lü Bu scratched his head. “I asked Governor Ding about it just the other day. He told us not to be impatient, saying that even if we were going back, we should first gather enough provisions for the journey.”

Zhang Liao glanced at Lü Bu but said nothing. He continued turning the yam over the fire, inwardly sighing.

His Registrar Lü was sometimes a little too simple-minded, unable to see what lay plainly before him. Governor Ding was obviously making excuses, yet Lü Bu had failed to understand.

A provincial army stationed in the imperial capital already violated military regulations. No matter how many reasons there might be, there was no justification for remaining there indefinitely. Now, if Governor Ding merely announced that they were returning, the court would probably sell its last pots and pans to gather enough provisions for the journey. How could it possibly be so difficult to arrange?

The problem was not that there were no provisions. Governor Ding had simply not yet squeezed every advantage from the situation.

Gao Shun was just about to speak when Zhang Liao discreetly stepped on his foot. Gao Shun immediately understood and closed his mouth.

Lü Bu frowned. He had not noticed Zhang Liao’s movement, but he sensed that something about the atmosphere was strange. He simply could not determine what was wrong.

“They should be ready now!” Zhang Liao divided the roasted yams among them. He blew on his carefully, then peeled away the charred outer skin. At once, the fragrant aroma of the yam filled the tent.

Lü Bu blew the ash from his yam and tossed it lightly a few times before tearing off the skin and taking a bite. It was so hot that he hissed and puffed breath through his lips.

“Ah… Wen Yuan… hiss… you really are the better cook… Delicious…”

At that time, Lü Bu was still a pure soldier at heart. Although he held the title of registrar, the clerical work was handled by the camp’s civilian clerks. Most of his time was spent training troops and commanding them.

When Ding Yuan had arrived in Bing Province, he had discovered Lü Bu and given him command of troops against the Xianbei barbarians. Lü Bu had been delighted and had devoted himself to the task. Bing Province was his homeland, after all. With his extraordinary martial prowess, he was protecting his native soil, and in protecting its people, he found honor and happiness.

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But now Ding Yuan had ordered the army to withdraw south. Lü Bu did not understand why, yet he still obeyed. At that moment, he continued to believe that Ding Yuan was a good man. And if Ding Yuan was a good man, he would not harm him.

As for the political affairs of the imperial court, Lü Bu did not understand them, nor did he wish to. They were too convoluted. It was far simpler to settle matters with a single stroke of the blade.

Perhaps they should wait a few more days?

As he ate, Lü Bu pondered the matter. Perhaps another eight days—no, five would do. Then he would ask Governor Ding again.

The provisions were running low, and his horses seemed to have grown thinner. Things could not continue like this…

* * *

Ding Yuan was also waiting inside his great tent. He was waiting for Dong Zhuo’s reply.

A few days earlier, he had arrived only a little later than Dong Zhuo, causing the great honor of escorting the emperor back to the capital to fall into the hands of that wretch from Liang Province. Even thinking about it made Ding Yuan furious.

Ding Yuan had been born into poverty and had not read many books, but he had always been diligent in his studies and eager to improve himself. To rise to his present position as Governor of Bing Province, he had relied on no one. He had clawed his way upward entirely through his own efforts.

For so many years, he had gone from a young man burning with ambition to a man burdened by illness. Who could understand his hardships? Who could sympathize with him?

He had guarded the frontier for years and won countless victories against the barbarians, yet he had never managed to enter the circle of powerful ministers at the imperial court. Now that he was growing older by the day and his body was weakening, should he not consider his family, his children, and his descendants, even if he did not consider himself?

He could not let his descendants suffer the same hardships he had endured.

When he received General-in-Chief He Jin’s secret edict, Ding Yuan immediately recognized it as an extraordinary opportunity. He had decisively led the Bing Province army south to support the emperor.

Unfortunately, fate delighted in playing tricks. Though he had reached Luoyang first, General-in-Chief He Jin had been swayed by the words of his younger sister and become hesitant. As a result, he merely stationed his troops at Mengjin, and in the end Dong Zhuo had seized the initiative.

It was true that Ding Yuan had received the honorary title of Commandant of the Capital, but what use was that? Could it compare with the benefits Dong Zhuo had gained? The thought sent his anger surging ever higher.

The letter he had sent to Dong Zhuo ought to have arrived by now. Why had that military brute from Liang Province still not replied?

Could it be that the man dared to look down on him?

The Iron Cavalry of Bing Province under his command was no force to be trifled with.