"What if... we can't tolerate it anymore?"
"If it can no longer be tolerated, then of course there is no need to tolerate it any longer! If the situation is like that of Bingzhou and the barbarians, then it will be a matter of life and death, and only those who are still standing have the right to speak!"
Lu Bu nodded thoughtfully.
"Bu, I've learned something. But I don't know that everyone avoids me because I killed my superiors without cause. General... your strength is extraordinary, you must not be afraid of me. So why are you so enthusiastic towards me?"
Zhao Hao nodded. "Lu Bu, finally we're getting down to business."
"Hehe, Fengxian, have you changed your place of origin elsewhere?"
Lu Bu was taken aback. "This... naturally I dare not forget, I have always been in Wuyuan."
"If that's the case, then you are a citizen of Bingzhou. If a citizen of Bingzhou commits a crime, the Bingzhou government will punish them accordingly. But according to the government's investigation, what wrong have you, Lü Bu, done?"
"Is it not wrong to kill one's superior without authorization?"
"When a superior arbitrarily bullies the wives and daughters of his subordinates, and the subordinates rise up in resistance, what wrong have they done, what crime have they committed?"
Lu Bu stood there, stunned, his mouth slightly open, but he couldn't utter a word for a long time.
For so long, even his own brothers had been skeptical of his reasons for killing Ding Yuan.
Unexpectedly, the truth was revealed today by someone I've never met!
He was feeling conflicted and didn't know how to face Zhao Hao.
"Fengxian, there's no need for that. You must have come here on Dong Zhuo's mission, right?"
Let's talk business first! Once we've settled that, we can use the remaining time to discuss our personal matters.
Lu Bu hesitated for a moment, then nodded. After taking a deep breath to compose himself, he finally spoke.
"General, Grand Tutor Dong's intention is that as long as you don't send troops to Sili and withdraw your forces from Hedong, our two families can cooperate in the future. If you are willing, Grand Tutor Dong's newlywed granddaughter can also marry you as a concubine..."
Zhao Hao chuckled, "Fengxian, it seems this method wasn't suggested by Dong Zhuo's advisors, but rather he took it upon himself to try out the method that failed on Sun Jian on me, Zhao Hao, right?"
Lu Bu's pupils dilated in surprise. Had Zhao Hao's intelligence network infiltrated their ranks?
That makes sense. Zhao Hao was, after all, a son-in-law of the Han dynasty. There were many people in the court who cared about the Han dynasty and hated Dong Zhuo. Presumably, quite a few of them would have tipped off Zhao Hao.
"Hehe, Marquis of Jinyang has keen insight, I admire you greatly. So... how will Marquis of Jinyang reply to the Grand Tutor?"
Zhao Hao paused, then stood up and paced back and forth for a moment.
Before long, he replied to Lü Bu with a smile.
“Fengxian, to avoid putting you in a difficult position, you can go back and agree to his request. I, Zhao Hao, can marry Dong Zhuo’s granddaughter. Our two families will then be related by marriage and will not attack each other.”
But you should truthfully report the matter of withdrawing from Hedong, and I will refuse.
Dong Zhuo isn't stupid, and Li Ru, who's behind him, certainly understands what I mean!
Lu Bu's dim-witted brain instantly shut down.
Is Zhao Hao going to collude with Dong Zhuo?
But after thinking about it carefully, Lü Bu realized that something didn't seem right.
It seems that Zhao Hao chose a compromise so that it wouldn't be difficult for him, Lü Bu?
"General...why go to such lengths with Dong Zhuo for the sake of Bu?"
Zhao Hao smiled, slowly stepped forward, and gently patted Lü Bu's shoulder.
“Fengxian, I know you had no choice but to serve under Dong Zhuo. I also know what kind of ruthless and cunning Dong Zhuo is.”
I, Zhao Hao, am a true man, and I will never bow down to anyone, including...!
Seeing Zhao Hao's index finger pointing to the sky, Lü Bu swallowed hard in shock, not daring to utter a word.
"Therefore, I cannot let Dong Zhuo go unchecked, but I also cannot put you, Fengxian, in danger. I suppose your wife and daughters are under the watchful eyes of Dong Zhuo's confidants."
"If you dare to make any move, they will harm your wife and daughters, right?"
Lu Bu frowned and nodded helplessly.
"Therefore, a compromise is the best response. Dong Zhuo will think that I am like Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun, who are fence-sitters and side with whoever is powerful or popular."
In reality, it was not just Dong Zhongying, but also the Yuan family members who forged an imperial edict to form a coalition army in Guandong.
I, Zhao Hao, don't even consider them a threat!
This was indeed Zhao Hao's true thought. To contend for supremacy and ascend to the throne, one must reveal one's ambition at the right time.
Those who are absolutely loyal to themselves certainly know what their goals are.
But neither Guan Sheng nor Lü Bu, who have concrete identities in the real world and are not loyalists or NPCs, know what Zhao Hao's ambitions are.
Today, upon hearing Zhao Hao express his true feelings, Guan Sheng naturally immediately declared his own stance!
"Only today do I realize my lord's great ambition! I will do anything, even die a thousand deaths, to fulfill my lord's grand plan!"
Zhao Hao waved his hand. Although Guan Sheng wasn't a die-hard loyalist, his loyalty level was already close to that of a die-hard loyalist, which was why he had been keeping him by his side to cultivate him.
What he was more concerned about was Lü Bu's attitude!
"General, bu...bu..."
Seeing that Lü Bu remained unmoved, Zhao Hao went a step further and said...
“Fengxian, in your younger days you were a hero who fought for your fellow villagers on the grasslands. Many of the villagers in Wuyuan who are still alive remember you!”
"Do they... still remember me?"
"Well, now that I know what kind of person you are, and I can help you out, I will never betray you!"
I'm telling you this because this cannibalistic world has killed too many innocent people.
A true man should wield a three-foot-long sword, achieve unparalleled feats, and ascend...to the throne!
Lu Bu's eyes were filled with fear. Did Zhao Hao want to kill him?
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