Chapter 104: Without Saving the Emperor, There's No Honor in Continuing to Live

Not only did Lu Bu refuse to attend the banquet at Yuan Shao’s residence, but he also declined the lodging prepared for him.

After leaving the imperial palace, he returned with Liu Bei and their entourage to the encampment outside Yecheng where they had been stationed.

Throughout the journey, everyone wore somber expressions, devoid of any conversation.

Upon reaching the camp, Lu Bu could no longer suppress his fury and erupted in rage.

“That old thief Yuan Shao! How outrageously disrespectful!”

“This general captured Yuan Shu and presented the Imperial Jade Seal—how does his merit compare to mine? He has no right to cling to the title of Great General! Why should I tolerate such humiliation?”

“And even forcing the Emperor to grant undeserved rewards!” Lu Bu raged, his anger boiling over.

He had eagerly anticipated entering the palace today, expecting to be appointed as the Great General. Yet, unexpectedly, Yuan Shao shamelessly refused to relinquish the position!

Moreover, it was clear that before bestowing any titles, the Emperor sought Yuan Shao’s approval. Even if Lu Bu were foolish, he understood this meant Yuan Shao was coercing the Emperor, preventing him from making decisions independently!

So while it appeared as though the Emperor was granting honors, in reality, every appointment was solely decided by Yuan Shao!

Zhang Fei’s impression of Lu Bu had significantly improved, and he now stood firmly with him, cursing vehemently, “That shameless old thief Yuan Shao! Offering just a Marquis title and some worthless Governorship of Jing Province to appease my Dage? It’s like slapping someone across the face and then offering them candy - his intentions are clearly malicious!”

Had Guan Yu not held him back tightly at the imperial court earlier, Zhang Fei would have undoubtedly rushed forward to give Yuan Shao a tongue-lashing!

Liu Bei’s expression was grim, filled with sorrow as he lamented, “The Emperor’s authority wanes; even granting rewards is no longer within his control, subjected to such humiliation by Yuan Shao. When our sovereign is humiliated, we ministers must bear the burden. If we fail to rescue the Emperor, how can us loyal subjects of Han face living in this world?”

Witnessing Liu Xie cautiously seeking Yuan Shao’s guidance on bestowing titles in the Great Hall today pained Liu Bei deeply. Had it not been for his remaining rationality, he would have drawn his sword and struck down those present.

In comparison, his own appointments seemed utterly insignificant.

“Dage, why don’t second brother and I sneak into the imperial palace and rescue the Emperor?” Zhang Fei clenched his fists, seething with indignation.

After all, the Emperor himself addressed his dage as ‘Imperial Uncle’. With his nephew in peril, how could Zhang Fei possibly turn a blind eye?

“Yecheng is Yuan Shao’s stronghold. There’s no way you two could freely bring the Emperor in or out,” Liu Bei immediately dismissed Zhang Fei’s suggestion.

Lu Bu gritted his teeth, suggesting, “Why not let this general feign attendance at the banquet? Once inside Yuan Shao’s residence, I’ll use my double-bladed halberd to hack that old traitor into a thousand pieces!”

Liu Bei harbored resentment toward Yuan Shao for refusing to relinquish his position as Great General, but he was also incensed by how Yuan Shao had the Emperor under his control. The Emperor trusted him implicitly and relied on him deeply, so as a loyal servant of the Great Han, how could Liu Bei not alleviate His Majesty’s burdens?

“No! Killing Yuan Shao may be easy, but rescuing Your Majesty would prove difficult.” Liu Bei hastily restrained Lu Bu, who seemed ready to act impulsively.

“Yuan Shao is different from Dong Zhuo. His power does not stem solely from himself but rather from the influence of the Yuan clan and their backing. Even if we assassinate Yuan Shao, his advisors, fierce generals, and heirs will remain, capable of inheriting everything he possesses.”

“Even if you were to kill Yuan Shao, we couldn’t possibly rescue Your Majesty from within the imperial palace. In fact, it might worsen his situation further.”

Killing Yuan Shao wouldn’t be challenging at all. Earlier in the imperial court, whether it was Lu Bu, Guan Yu, or Zhang Fei, any one of them could have effortlessly severed Yuan Shao’s head. Not even Yan Liang and Wen Chou could have prevented it.

However, the real issue lay in the fact that eliminating Yuan Shao would not change the Emperor’s predicament. Upon Yuan Shao’s death, his sons would inherit his power, leaving the Emperor still constrained with no improvement in his situation. Moreover, they had no means of extracting the Emperor from Yuan Shao’s stronghold without risking their own lives.

“This infuriates this general beyond measure!” Lu Bu seethed, his eyes blazing with impotent rage. He knew Liu Bei was right, yet deep down, he felt intensely frustrated.

For this mission to escort Yuan Shu to Yecheng, Lu Bu had brought only a thousand troops. His fierce generals like Zhang Liao and Gao Shun were stationed at major cities in Xuzhou and Yangzhou, while even Chen Gong remained in Shouchun.

Had he foreseen these circumstances, he would have mobilized tens of thousands of soldiers instead.

He could then directly storm Yecheng, behead Yuan Shao, and accompany Yuan Shu on their final journey together.

Liu Bei continued, “Yuan Shao’s immense power stems from controlling Bing, Qing, and Jizhou provinces, bolstered by the prestige of the Yuan clan being three generations of high officials for four successive dynasties.”

“At present, we lack the capability to rescue Your Majesty from confinement. Our only option is to steadily develop our strength and eventually confront Yuan Shao head-on.”

“Currently, we hold Shouchun and several cities within Yangzhou. Once we drive out Cao Cao and Sun Ce, we will control two provinces. With Xuzhou and Yangzhou as our foundation, we can aim to conquer Jiangdong and Jingzhou, paving the way for greater achievements!”

Liu Bei demonstrated his keen analysis and understanding of the current situation.

Lu Bu’s recent defeat of Yuan Shu and his presentation of the jade seal to the Emperor greatly enhanced his reputation. By capturing Yangzhou, they would secure two provinces as their base, offering potential future growth strong enough to challenge Yuan Shao!

“Ahh, this general is well aware,” sighed Lu Bu, looking disheartened. “But it pains me that His Majesty must endure under the thumb of that old traitor Yuan Shao, constantly walking on eggshells.”

Upon hearing this, everyone sighed deeply.

After a long moment, Lu Bu abruptly rose to his feet, determination written on his face. “This general will go to the palace and meet with His Majesty to inform him of my intentions. Only then can we put His Majesty’s mind at ease!”

Five years ago, he had abandoned the Emperor while fleeing Chang’an. Later, when the Emperor sought refuge from him upon returning to Luoyang, Lu Bu, lacking sufficient troops and supplies, did not come to his aid. This negligence led to the Emperor falling into peril once again—escaping the clutches of the Cao thief only to encounter the Yuan traitor.

Now, with strong forces under his command, Lu Bu vowed not to abandon the Emperor as before. Even if unable to rescue him immediately, he must make it clear that he was no fickle villain! He, Lu Bu, remained a loyal servant of the Great Han!

“This general will return shortly!” Filled with fervent determination, Lu Bu swiftly exited the camp and hurried towards Yecheng.

Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei exchanged glances as they watched Lu Bu depart.

Guan Yu, concerned, asked, “Dage, do you think something might go wrong?”

“It shouldn’t,” Liu Bei replied, somewhat uncertain. “Even if Yuan Shao despises Fengxian intensely, he wouldn’t dare harm him within Yecheng.”

At the Yuan Manor.

Upon returning with his advisors and generals, Yuan Shao convened a heated discussion.

“Lu Bu is arrogant and conceited, utterly disrespectful—treating our lord as if he’s beneath notice! He must be taught a lesson!” Chunyu Qiong fumed angrily.

Not only had Lu Bu rejected Yuan Shao’s goodwill today, but he also showed no regard whatsoever, acting outrageously insolent!

An insult to their ruler demanded retribution; even if Yuan Shao could tolerate it, Chunyu Qiong certainly could not.

Hearing this, Ju Shou merely glanced at him and replied mildly, “How do you propose we teach him a lesson? By leading troops to besiege his camp or by challenging him to a one-on-one duel?”

“If you choose the former, you’ll earn our lord the reputation of envying successful subordinates. And for the latter… I’m unaware that General Chunyu possesses bravery comparable to Lu Bu’s.”

Ju Shou had never favored Chunyu Qiong, believing he often undermined strategic plans. While ignoring him during regular times was manageable, since Chunyu Qiong was present today, Ju Shou felt compelled to confront him directly.

Chunyu Qiong flushed red and retorted, “As his subject, should I just stand by while my lord is insulted? If you’re so clever, come up with a better plan!”

Ju Shou’s expression remained placid. “Only brutish warriors like yourself concern themselves with fleeting matters of honor. Our lord has a broader vision; he would never stoop to contesting with Lu Bu over such trivial rudeness.”

These words flattered Yuan Shao, ensuring he wouldn’t recklessly confront Lu Bu at this moment.

Simultaneously, Ju Shou subtly undermined Chunyu Qiong.

Seeing Chunyu Qiong’s face turning nearly liver-colored, Yuan Shao finally spoke up.

“Gentlemen, why do you think Lu Bu rejected my goodwill?”

Initially, Lu Bu had eagerly sought to pledge allegiance to him, but Yuan Shao deemed him unworthy. Now, not only did Lu Bu ignore his gestures of kindness, but he also displayed clear hostility towards him.

Could it be that rejecting Lu Bu’s offer years ago led to this bitter resentment when they met again?