After Lü Bu returned to Bingzhou, he came to the Great Wall pass with Gao Shun. Zhang Huan had always adopted a laissez-faire attitude towards the two of them and never gave them any instructions.
Now, however, a message suddenly arrived, asking him to return, which naturally puzzled Lü Bu.
Gao Shun said with a solemn expression, "I heard that His Majesty is preparing to summon General Zhang back to Luoyang to preside over the affairs of the Privy Council."
"Return to Luoyang? Then who will take over General Zhang's position?"
Lu Bu was also taken aback for a moment, and then asked.
"I heard that His Majesty has sent General Zhu Jun to guard Liaozhou and has summoned Generals Huangfu Song, Gongsun Zan, Ma Teng, Gongsun Du and Huang Zhong back to Luoyang."
It seems His Majesty intends to send them to Bingzhou.
Gao Shun also told Lü Bu about the recent situation in Luoyang.
Lu Bu's expression also became much more serious: "It seems that His Majesty is preparing for a major move?"
Gao Shun nodded: "It should be. Not long ago, the Yuwen tribe sent an envoy to the Han Dynasty to seek peace. His Majesty also dispatched Mengde and his men to lead a team towards the Yuwen tribe. They should be arriving soon."
"Great! Looks like the grasslands are going to be lively again this year!"
Upon hearing this, Lü Bu couldn't help but grin, his face showing excitement.
Seeing Lü Bu in such a state, Gao Shun shook his head helplessly.
"Oh right, Zhongying sent you a letter not long ago, and I happen to have it with me."
As he spoke, Gao Shun took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Lü Bu.
"Zhongying?"
Lu Bu took the letter with a puzzled look on his face.
The letter contained only a few crooked words: Haha, Fengxian, it must have been a lot of fun on the grasslands, but I'm not envious of you, because I'm going to the Western Regions for fun, haha... Women of the Western Regions, I, Dong Zhongying, am coming...
Dong Zhuo's letter was full of boasting.
"That Dong Zhongying, he can't forget about women no matter where he goes..."
After reading the letter, Lü Bu couldn't help but shake his head with a smile and make a comment.
Lu Bu then put the letter away and looked at Gao Shun: "Since the old general has summoned me back, I'll leave this place to you!"
Gao Shun nodded: "Don't worry!"
After settling his troops, Lü Bu led a dozen or so personal guards away from the pass and headed towards the Jiuyuan camp.
Upon returning to the camp, Lü Bu, without taking a break, went straight to the main tent.
After exchanging greetings, Lü Bu asked, "General, I heard you are returning to Luoyang?"
Zhang Huan nodded with a smile: "I am old now and do not have the energy to command a large army anymore. It is a good time for me to return to Luoyang and serve in the Privy Council to share His Majesty's burdens."
"That's good. Bingzhou is bitterly cold, so you can rest and recuperate properly in Luoyang!"
The Privy Council was in charge of all military affairs in the country. Zhang Huan's trip to Luoyang meant he was taking over the central government, which naturally made Lü Bu very happy.
"Yes, and it's also good to keep Zhen'er company. It's been several years, and Zhen'er must be all grown up by now!"
When talking about his beloved granddaughter, Zhang Huan's smile became even brighter.
Lu Bu smiled and nodded: "Yes, she's not young anymore. His Majesty has arranged for her to study poetry and literature at Dr. Cai's residence."
Zhang Huan's eyes lit up: "Great! With Dr. Cai by her side, Zhen'er might become a talented woman in the future."
Lu Bu smiled and shook his head without saying anything. As for Lu Zhen's temper, he dared not say anything about her as a talented woman, but he was sure she was a fierce one.
After a few casual words, Zhang Huan looked at Lü Bu with a serious expression and said in a deep voice, "Fengxian, I have summoned you back this time because there is something I need to tell you!"
"General, please speak!"
Upon seeing this, Lü Bu's expression turned serious, and he straightened up.
"Just the other day, I received a map and a secret letter from the grasslands, and this matter is related to you..."
As he spoke, Zhang Huan took out a map and a secret letter, and handed them to Lü Bu.
"Is this related to me?"
Lu Bu took the map and secret letter with a puzzled look, and then looked at them carefully.
When Lü Bu saw the route marked on the map and the contents of the secret letter, he was stunned.
This map is the one that Li Ru copied, and it marks the location of Tanhan Mountain in addition to the Xianbei tribe.
The secret letter also detailed the entire strategy devised against Lü Bu and the Southern Xiongnu.
While in Luoyang, Lü Bu had associated with many strategists such as Xi Zhicai, Tian Feng, and Ju Shou, but he never imagined that someone could devise such a vicious plan.
In order to lure and kill him, they did not hesitate to use 60,000 Xianbei herdsmen as bait.
Lü Bu knew that if he did not see this map and secret letter today, he would certainly not escape the fate of being besieged and annihilated. At that time, the Han, Xianbei and Southern Xiongnu would suffer at least 100,000 casualties.
Such a grand scheme was beyond Lu Bu's comprehension; he couldn't fathom who had devised it.
"General, who sent this map and secret letter?"
After reading it, Lü Bu couldn't help but swallow hard. He was also very wary of the person who devised this plan. Even though he was a seasoned warrior and ruthless, a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Zhang Huan let out a soft breath: "This man's name is Li Ru. Six years ago, he went to the grasslands alone..."
Zhang Huan then explained Li Ru's identity to Lü Bu in detail.
At this time, only a few people in the entire Han Dynasty knew of Li Ru's existence: Liu Hong, Xi Zhicai, Cheng Yu, Jia Xu, Zhang Huan, and Huangfu Song.
Now the emperor has dispatched Huangfu Song, Gongsun Zan and others to Bingzhou, and has also sent Cao Cao, Sun Jian, Liu Bei and others to lead Wuhuan cavalry and Hongtao army to Yuwen tribe.
All these signs indicate that the emperor is prepared for a final battle with the grasslands.
Now, with Li Ru sending this plan, the location of Tan Shihuai's lair has been determined.
Zhang Huan judged that the great war would begin in the next year or two.
Therefore, Zhang Huan told Lü Bu about Li Ru's situation.
Aside from trusting Lü Bu, Zhang Huan mainly wanted to remind Lü Bu to protect Li Ru during the decisive battle.
"This Li Ru truly lives up to his reputation as a son of the Han Dynasty, so loyal and devoted. General, please rest assured, even if I were to die, I would surely bring him back to the Han Dynasty..."
After listening to Zhang Huan's account, the fear in Lü Bu's eyes turned into admiration, and he patted his chest to assure Zhang Huan.
Zhang Huan smiled and nodded: "Good, with you saying that, I can rest assured!"
Lü Bu then asked, "General, what is the purpose of Li Ru sending this map and secret letter? Is it to warn me not to fall into the Xianbei's trap?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Huan's expression hardened, and then he slowly shook his head: "This is only one aspect. His main goal is to make you willingly walk into his trap!"
Why is that...?
Lu Bu paused for a moment, looking at Zhang Huan with a puzzled expression, not quite understanding the intention behind it.
Zhang Huan called Lü Bu to his side and lowered his voice: "Because he is dealing with the Southern Xiongnu!"
"Southern Xiongnu?"
Lu Bu's expression shifted, and his look of doubt deepened.
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