"The Xianbei are coming! Brothers, retreat!!"

When the Xianbei cavalry approached the granary, one of the officers in charge of guarding it immediately roared and led his soldiers to ride straight towards Gaochang City.

"Thanks, brothers!!"

Watching the retreating figures of the Han soldiers, the deputy commander in charge laughed and shouted, then began to instruct his men to move the grain and supplies.

At the same time, Li Ru also led his men into the capital of Cheshi.

The remaining women in the city showed no panic at all as the Xianbei soldiers entered the city. They stood on both sides of the street, watching the Xianbei cavalry enter the city with blank expressions.

In their view, no matter who comes, they are destined to be humiliated.

However, to their surprise, these Xianbei people, who also had disheveled hair and wore sheepskin clothing, did not start looting as soon as they entered the city, unlike the Xiongnu people before them. Moreover, they looked at them with unusual kindness, and some even took out food and threw it into the crowd.

The women in Cheshi Royal City were also somewhat bewildered by this situation. They couldn't believe that the steppe cavalry, who had always represented barbarity, had become so amiable.

Facing the puzzled and confused gazes of the women, the Xianbei cavalrymen in the group couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Having committed too many evil deeds in the past, it's no wonder he's being questioned like this now; he can't blame anyone else.

Soon, the procession arrived at the square in front of the palace.

"That Xie Zhiyu really can't change his nature!"

Looking at the palace, which had been completely ransacked by Xie Zhiyu, and the rooms with even the doors and windows removed, Li Ru couldn't help but shake his head, a hint of disdain on his face.

A guard stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Sir, it seems that nothing has been left in the city. The brothers may not even be able to find a single piece of winter clothing!"

"It's alright!"

Li Ru raised his hand: "Send someone to Gaochang City immediately and tell them I have important matters to discuss with them!"

"Yes, sir!"

The guard agreed, then turned his horse around and rode away.

Before long, the men sent by Li Ru arrived at the city of Gaochang.

The city guards, who had already received Yuan Shao's orders, did not delay and quickly brought him to the government office.

"Greetings, generals!"

As soon as they entered the hall, Li Ru's guards bowed to Yuan Shao and his entourage.

Yuan Shao, sitting at the head of the table, smiled and waved his hand: "No need for formalities. What brings you here today?"

"In response to General Yuan, my master, Li Ru, has specially instructed me to come and request an audience with you all. He has important matters to discuss, and I hope that you will not hesitate to grant me an audience!"

Upon hearing the guard relay Li Ru's request, Yuan Shao said amiably, "Very well, go and tell your master that we will await his arrival at noon, twenty li north of Gaochang City!"

"Please rest assured, General Yuan, I will take my leave now!"

Li Ru's guards were overjoyed and quickly and respectfully agreed before taking their leave.

After watching the other party leave, Yuan Shao looked at the generals present and said with a smile, "Generals, please prepare yourselves and come with me to meet this Li Ru!"

"Haha, what else is there to prepare? Let's go now!"

Before anyone could speak, Dong Zhuo, who was sitting to the side, burst into laughter and impatiently got up and walked out.

Since their last drinking session, Dong Zhuo has gained a better understanding of Li Ru.

In his view, with Li Ru's talent and ability, if he stayed in the Han Dynasty, he could at least become a high-ranking official, if not a prime minister.

As a result, Li Ru was willing to give up his promising future for the sake of the Han Dynasty, and devoted himself to the grasslands, where he suffered all kinds of hardships.

This dedication and perseverance reminded Dong Zhuo of his first scholar friend, Chu Qian.

"Ha! This Zhong Ying!"

Watching Dong Zhuo's departing figure, Yuan Shao smiled, then stood up and walked outside with the others.

Before long, Yuan Shao arrived at the agreed location with generals including Dong Zhuo, Zhang Xiu, Li Jue, Guo Si, Hua Xiong, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Xiahou Dun, and Xiahou Yuan, as well as one hundred Imperial Guard soldiers.

Not long after everyone waited, Li Ru, along with a group of generals from the Xianbei army, rode swiftly toward them.

"These Xianbei people are quite bold, actually daring to come to the appointment. Aren't they afraid we'll wipe them all out?"

Standing behind Yuan Shao, Xiahou Yuan watched as Li Ru arrived with only a hundred or so cavalrymen and muttered something under his breath.

Yuan Shao smiled and said, "In the past, they might not have dared to come, but things are different now!"

"Haha~, that's true. First, they were scared by His Majesty's beatings, and then we sent them so much food and supplies. This combination of kindness and severity has probably made them regard us as their big brother by now!"

Even if we sell them out, they might still help us count the money!

The outspoken Wen Chou laughed loudly and couldn't help but voice his inner thoughts.

"Wen Chou, don't talk nonsense!!" Yan Liang immediately reprimanded his brother when he heard him talking nonsense.

Yuan Shao glared angrily at Wen Chou: "If you dare to spout nonsense again and can't control your mouth, don't blame me for showing no mercy and banishing you from the Western Regions!"

Although Wen Chou was telling the truth—that the Han Dynasty was indeed using the Xianbei to achieve its plans—this was something that could not be revealed.

Wen Chou is a man who never knows what's important. If the information leaks out from him, the Emperor's plan could very well be ruined.

"Brother Benchu, please calm down. I was only saying this to the brothers; I would never dare to say it to outsiders!"

When Wen Chou saw that even the usually humble and polite Yuan Shao was angry, he was startled and quickly lowered his head to admit his mistake.

Yuan Shao's expression softened, and he said in a deep voice, "That's good. During the negotiations later, you just need to watch and don't say a word!"

"Uh, yes, I won't say a word!"

Seeing that Yuan Shao's expression had improved, Wen Chou quickly nodded in agreement and then shut his mouth, saying nothing more.

Soon, Li Ru and the others reined in their horses and stopped a hundred meters away, then dismounted and walked quickly toward them.

"Haha, how have you all been lately!"

Upon seeing this, Dong Zhuo immediately broke away from the group, opened his arms, and quickly went to meet them.

"Thank you for your concern, Brother Dong. We are doing well!"

"Haha, Brother Dong, you've gotten even more robust in just a few days!"

The Xianbei generals following behind Li Ru also stepped forward with laughter, gave Dong Zhuo a bear hug, and couldn't help but make a few teasing remarks.

"Zhong Ying, no matter where he goes or who he meets, can always get along with them."

Looking at Dong Zhuo chatting and laughing with a group of Xianbei generals, Zhang Xiu couldn't help but sigh.

"That's what makes Zhongying so special. With him around, our plans can be implemented much more smoothly!"

Recalling Dong Zhuo's feat of single-handedly inciting the rebellion of the southern barbarian tribes, Yuan Shao couldn't help but smile.