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If one were to compare ranks, Lü Bu, the current hotshot, naturally held a higher title than Hu Zhen. But this wasn't a chance encounter on the streets of Luoyang. They were on a military campaign.
As soon as the words "Cavalry Supervisor" were spoken, Lü Bu knew there was nothing more to say. He answered sullenly, "I obey!" Then turned his horse and left, without another word to Hu Zhen.
Seeing Lü Bu respond only verbally, without even a trace of a saluting gesture, leaving just like that, Hu Zhen couldn't help but grind his teeth. A surge of old and new grievances churned in his heart, making the veins bulge on his forehead.
In Hu Zhen's view, Lü Bu's behavior was a public defiance of his command authority!
He had given a clear order, yet Lü Bu not only failed to execute it immediately but dared to come and question it!
He hadn't saluted upon arrival, nor upon departure!
He acted as if this general did not exist!
Han Dynasty etiquette was very particular. If Lü Bu had made some gesture—a fist in palm, a slight bow, nothing large, just a token—it would have fulfilled the ritual and wouldn't have set Hu Zhen's teeth on edge.
It's like in later times: a subordinate barges into the manager's office without knocking, then immediately questions one of the manager's decisions, then leaves by turning his back and walking out without a word.
How would that manager feel about such a subordinate?
But Lü Bu himself was already filled with rage. How could he care about Hu Zhen's face? In Lü Bu's heart, he suspected that Hu Zhen, still holding a grudge over the previous incident at Beimang Mountain, was deliberately picking a fight.
Of course, Hu Zhen hadn't forgotten the Beimang Mountain incident. But his order earlier had indeed been based on practical necessity. However, things were different now.
Hu Zhen watched Lü Bu lead his cavalry ahead noisily, his eyes narrowing slightly. Apart from the unpleasant history with Lü Bu, to him now, Lü Bu was an extremely unstable element lurking within his army, a serious headache.
"On this campaign, I shall have to behead one wearing a green sash to bring order."
Hu Zhen muttered unconsciously, startling Ye Xiong beside him.
The "Green Sash" was no small matter. In the Han administrative system, it referred to the green silk ribbons used to tether official seals of office. According to the laws of the land, only high-ranking officials—those of the Nine Ministers rank or those earning a salary of two thousand dan or more—were entitled to wear it. In this entire military column, who fit that description? Aside from Hu Zhen himself, who held the rank of General of the Household, Lü Bu was the most prominent figure matching that status.
The implication was far too obvious!
Ye Xiong quickly said, "General! You must watch your words!"
Hu Zhen froze, realizing he had let something slip. He quickly looked left and right, then continued leading the troops forward, pretending nothing had happened.
××××××××××××
At Guangcheng Marsh, inside the newly set-up camp.
Inside Lü Bu's large tent, a campfire blazed. Lü Bu sat majestically on a wooden stool, one hand propping up his cheek, lost in thought. Beside him, Wei Xu squatted by the fire, poking at the logs with a branch to make it burn brighter. Cheng Lian tended to the hanging pot, occasionally stirring it with a ladle to prevent sticking.
None of the three spoke.
This time, Lü Bu had brought Wei Xu, Cheng Lian, and Song Xian. Gao Shun and Hou Cheng remained at the Luoyang training ground. And Zhang Liao had been commanding troops alone in Hongnong for quite some time, reportedly because some powerful families there had formed an alliance and started a rebellion.
Sigh...
Lü Bu stared at the flames of the campfire, frowning. He found himself increasingly not his own master. Was this the life he had originally wanted?
Lü Bu wasn't sure, didn't know.
Suddenly, a guard outside announced that Song Xian had arrived.
Song Xian lifted the tent flap, walked in, and saluted Lü Bu with clasped hands.
Lü Bu didn't move. He gestured for Song Xian to sit and said, "What news?"
Song Xian took a wooden stool offered by Wei Xu, sat to one side, glanced at Lü Bu, shifted his eyes slightly, hesitating, then said, "Reporting to Marquis Wen, Xian heard a rumor at the central army camp. I don't know if it's true..."
Lü Bu said lazily, "Speak freely."
Song Xian lowered his voice. "I heard that Protector Hu intends to behead someone with a green sash to consecrate the army banner."
Lü Bu suddenly straightened up, his eyes wide open.
Wei Xu lost his aim and nearly stuck his own hand into the fire. Cheng Lian almost flung the ladle away, splashing some broth onto the flames. Instantly, a large cloud of smoke and ash billowed up, enveloping the four men in the tent.
Their figures, due to this accident, flickered and warped within the smoke.
×××××××××××××
Lü Bu's cavalry had arrived first. After setting up their own camp, it was only natural they wouldn't help the infantry pitch theirs. Moreover, the infantry's equipment was mostly carried on supply carts. Even if Lü Bu's cavalry had wanted to help, they couldn't.
The infantry had also set up their own tents and drawn their provisions, beginning to cook the evening meal.
The soldiers, having marched all day, were exhausted, even the fittest among them. They just wanted to eat early and get a good rest.
Suddenly, a scout rode in from a distance, galloping hard. After giving the password, he dismounted and rushed urgently towards Hu Zhen's large tent.
"What?!" Hu Zhen couldn't believe it. He stood up abruptly, his eyes wide, and asked again, "Are you certain of what you saw?"
The scout replied, "Due to the dim light, this humble one couldn't see clearly. But I indeed saw no weapons or armor."
"Well..." Hu Zhen didn't say more. He waved his hand and dismissed the scout.
Yangren was unguarded?!
Then where had Sun Jian gone?
To the east or to the west?
That was unlikely. Why bypass the main road to cross mountains and ridges? Besides, with Mount Shaoshi on the left and Guangcheng Marsh on the right, high mountains and deep marshes, it wasn't as if there were no roads. That route was out of the question. Getting lost in the mountains could mean the annihilation of the entire army.
Then perhaps only one possibility: he had withdrawn south to Liang County, then followed the mountain range to Yangcheng. This would mean leaving them here, setting up a feint to the east and strike to the west, then turning to attack Luoyang!
Hu Zhen thought more about it and felt it increasingly likely. If Sun Jian really adopted this strategy, then by the time Hu Zhen led his troops to Liang County, Sun Jian would have already bypassed Mount Shaoshi and be at Luoyang's gates!
Hu Zhen paced back and forth in his tent, his hands behind his back, calculating and weighing carefully. But he didn't notice that the scout who had just left had no sweat stains on his back...