Seeing Lü Bu holding his sword to Li Ru's neck, Tan Shihuai became extremely anxious.
He never imagined that a warrior like Lü Bu would hold a scholar hostage.
Lu Bu smiled coldly, "I can spare his life, but you have to agree to one condition!"
Tan Shihuai's expression turned serious: "Tell me, as long as it's not too outrageous, I'll agree!"
"My conditions aren't unreasonable!"
As he spoke, Lü Bu looked at the wolf riders behind him, as well as Yufuluo and the others, "Release my brothers, and you can do whatever you want with the Southern Xiongnu people in the tribe!"
Before Tan Shihuai could speak, Li Ru, under the blade, shouted, "Great Chief, don't agree to him! Once Lü Bu leaves, there will be endless troubles!"
"Hmph, you're asking for it!!"
Seeing this, Lü Bu snorted coldly and applied slight force with his longsword, instantly cutting a small wound on Li Ru's neck, from which a trickle of blood seeped out.
"Hold your hand, I promise you!!"
Upon seeing this, Tan Shihuai hurriedly called for Lü Bu to stop.
For Tan Shihuai, Li Ru was a rare talent, and if he were to die here, it would be more painful than losing 30,000 men.
Of course, more importantly, if Lü Bu were allowed to kill Li Ru today, the remaining Han Chinese strategists under his command would inevitably feel a sense of shared fate and become disloyal to him.
Now that he had achieved his goal of crippling the Southern Xiongnu, it would be a waste to lose Li Ru for the sake of Lü Bu and a few thousand wounded soldiers.
Subsequently, Tan Shihuai ordered that Rang Helian and Mi Jia make way for each other.
Lu Bu also controlled Li Ru and went to join the remaining seven hundred wolf knights and the two thousand men under Yufuluo's command.
"Lu Bu, I have already ordered my men to clear the way. You'd better release Mr. Wen You first!"
"Chief Tan Shihuai, rest assured, we still need this gentleman to escort us for a while. Once we are safe, I will release him!"
Lu Bu glanced at Tan Shihuai indifferently, then led the group south along the passage cleared by the Xianbei people.
Upon hearing this, Tan Shihuai's face immediately darkened, and he demanded, "Why should I believe you?"
"Just because of the name Lü Bu!"
Without turning his head, Lü Bu said a word and then led his men onward.
Tan Shihuai was also furious, but he held back and dared not lash out, and could only watch helplessly as Lü Bu left.
"Father, should I lead some men to follow behind and wipe them out after he releases Wen You?"
Watching Lu Bu and the others leave, He Lian came to Tan Shihuai's side and whispered something.
Tan Shihuai raised his hand: "No need. If Lü Bu finds out, I'm afraid Mr. Wenyou will be in trouble. You should take your men and deal with those Southern Xiongnu people first!"
"Yes, Father!"
He Lian responded loudly, and then led the elite troops of Gaoliu towards the Southern Xiongnu soldiers who had been abandoned by Lü Bu and the others.
Before long, cries for mercy and wails of agony echoed through the tribe.
About half an hour later, the sounds gradually subsided, leaving behind a nauseating stench of blood.
Thus, apart from the more than two thousand who fled with Lü Bu, the fifty thousand young and strong Southern Xiongnu who came to plunder were completely wiped out.
Yufuluo, who was following behind Lü Bu, was also pale-faced and swaying precariously on his horse.
This loss was a devastating blow to the Southern Xiongnu.
Without those able-bodied men, the Southern Xiongnu would completely decline within a few years and gradually disappear from the grasslands.
Hufro didn't know how to face his father and the people of his tribe.
"Whoa!"
Lu Bu, who was at the front of the group, saw that they had reached a safe place, so he pulled on the reins and stopped. Then he turned to look at Yufuluo, who was still in a daze.
"You take your men and go back first. I'll stay here and observe to see if the Xianbei are pursuing us!"
"Yes, elder brother!"
Upon hearing Lü Bu's order, Yufuluo nodded blankly, then led his two thousand soldiers onward.
Only after Yufuluo's figure disappeared did Lü Bu dismount and then quickly help Li Ru down as well.
After Li Ru stood still, Lü Bu solemnly bowed.
"I have offended you in the past and caused you suffering. Please forgive me!"
Li Ru quickly stepped forward to help Lü Bu up, saying, "General Lü, what are you saying? We both serve His Majesty, what is a little hardship compared to that?"
Lu Bu replied earnestly, "Sir, you are too kind. I know all about your affairs. I deeply admire your unwavering loyalty!"
Hearing this, Li Ru felt a warm current flow through his heart, and a satisfied smile he had never shown before appeared on his face.
"General Lü, you flatter me. These are just our different duties. Our soldiers are willing to sacrifice their lives for the Han Dynasty, and I, Li Ru, am equally willing to endure humiliation and serve the enemy for the same reason!"
"Sir, you are a true hero!!"
Li Ru's words startled Lü Bu, and his admiration deepened.
Li Ru smiled and waved his hand, "General Lü, you flatter me. It's safe here now, you should go back quickly!"
Lu Bu hurriedly said, "Sir, you should come back with me. His Majesty has already dispatched General Huangfu Song to garrison Bingzhou and has also transferred four battalions of new troops. Tan Shihuai is on the verge of destruction. There is no need for you to stay any longer!"
Li Ru smiled and shook his head. "General Lü, whether Tan Shihuai is destroyed or not is not important. The reason I need to go back is because I have other things to do!"
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