jdhmnovel Chapter 1299 The Arrival of the Crown Prince and Lu Bu's Misunderstanding
Chapter 1299 The Arrival of the Crown Prince and Lu Bu's Misunderstanding
In February, the snow at Yanmen Pass had not yet melted, and the north wind whipped up sand and gravel that lashed against the city walls, making a howling sound. Lü Bu was sitting in his mansion wiping his halberd when a guard came to report: "General, Lord Gongsun Zan has sent an envoy."
The messenger's message was simple and direct: the King of Liang had issued an edict ordering Gongsun Zan and Xu Rong to once again send troops to Youzhou. He had come specifically to inform Lü Bu to pay attention to the movements in Bingzhou, lest the enemy harass his rear. Lü Bu held the letter brought by the messenger, his fingertips repeatedly tracing the four characters "pay attention to Bingzhou," before finally tilting his head back and gulping down a bowl of strong liquor. He said in a deep voice, "Go back and tell General Gongsun that with me here at Yanmen, there will be no mishaps."
After the messenger left, Lü Bu locked himself in his study, drinking cup after cup in front of his halberd. When Diao Chan entered, she saw that he was drunk, his eyes red, and several wine jars on the table were overturned. She couldn't help but sigh, "Thinking about the battlefield again?"
Lu Bu twitched the corners of his mouth, his laughter tinged with self-mockery: "What good is it to want to? Now I'm just a lazy general guarding the pass. Gongsun Zan and Xu Rong are fighting in Youzhou, while I can only drink cold wine here in Yanmen."
Diao Chan didn't try to persuade him further, but silently gathered up the scattered wine cups. The wind outside the window grew stronger, as if echoing the loneliness in his heart.
Two days later, at dawn, the city gate guard Qian Zhao hurriedly reported: "General, there are one or two thousand cavalrymen outside the city requesting an audience, saying... saying they are envoys from Chang'an."
Lu Bu was playing with a small wooden halberd with Lu Ao in the courtyard when he heard this and suddenly stood up: "From Chang'an? Xu Rong and Gongsun Zan just went out to war a few days ago, how come there are envoys again?"
Qian Zhao bowed and said, "This humble general also inquired, and the other party only said that they came to see the general on the orders of the King of Liang, bringing a letter. Judging from those knights... they seem to be some teenagers."
"Young man?" Lü Bu was increasingly puzzled. Qian Zhao was a righteous army general who surrendered to Ma Chao when he pacified Bingzhou. He was exceptionally brave and strong. Ma Chao had specifically instructed Lü Bu to give him some guidance. Although the two did not have the title of master and disciple, they often gave each other military advice and had a deep friendship.
"Prepare your armor." Lü Bu straightened his robes, his gaze sharpening. "Go and see who they are."
"Father, I'm going too!" Lü Lingqi ran over from the corridor, dressed in short clothes, clutching the small halberd in her hand, her eyes sparkling.
Lu Bu nodded helplessly: "Keep up, and don't mess around."
The city gates slowly opened, letting in a gust of cold wind carrying snowflakes. Lü Bu squinted and saw a neatly arranged cavalry unit on the open ground outside the city. The formation was disciplined, and although the number of cavalrymen was small, they exuded a vibrant energy. The most striking figure was the general in the center of the formation, riding a white horse and wielding a silver spear. His silver armor gleamed in the morning light. He appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, yet his posture was upright, and his brows carried a familiar air of heroism.
"This is..." Lu Bu's heart skipped a beat, but he couldn't remember where he had seen it before.
Lu Lingqi suddenly leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Father, look at that leader, doesn't he look like the young prince of the Lin Army that I saw at the Chang'an Martial Arts Academy? He's the one who always liked to have spear duels with people!"
Upon hearing this, Lü Bu suddenly opened his eyes. Indeed! The contours of his eyebrows and the way he held his spear clearly bore a resemblance to Ma Chao back then! How could he forget that Ma Chao's eldest son, Ma Yue, was training in the Young Lin Army and should be around that age by now.
While he was still in a daze, the young man had already spurred his horse forward, dismounted at the foot of the city wall, held up a letter, and said loudly, "Ma Yue from Chang'an, by order of my father, has come to pay his respects to General Lü!"
His voice was clear and bright, piercing through the cold wind, carrying the sharpness unique to young people, yet never lacking in manners.
Lu Bu strode forward, his gaze landing on Ma Yue. A silver spear, its tassel swaying gently in the wind, and armor, though new, already possessing a subtle sheen, clearly the wearer's skill in frequent training. Such bearing truly bore the mark of a scion of a military family.
"So it's the Crown Prince." Lü Bu clasped his hands in greeting, his tone much gentler. "May I ask what brings you here from so far?"
Ma Yue presented the letter with both hands, his eyes sincere: "My father heard that the war in Youzhou is critical, so he specially ordered me to come and ask General Lü to come out of seclusion and help. This is a letter from my father himself."
Lu Bu took the letter, and the moment his fingertips touched the paper, he felt a surge of excitement. Ma Chao had actually allowed him to lead troops again? He looked up at the young knights lined up, each one standing straight with eyes full of expectation, just like himself when he first started out.
The wind on the city wall seemed to have softened a bit. Lü Bu tucked the letter into his robes and smiled at Ma Yue, saying, "Your Highness, you must be tired from your journey. Let's talk once we're inside the city."
Lu Lingqi ran to Ma Yue's side in a few steps, clasped her hands together, and bowed in greeting like a soldier. Although her movements had a touch of childlike playfulness, they were quite proper: "Greetings, Your Highness. Do you still remember Lu Lingqi? Look at your impressive entourage now!"
Ma Yue gazed at the girl before him. She was only a little over ten years old, yet her striking beauty was already evident in her features. Her silver armor accentuated her heroic spirit, her spear skills were solid, and her posture was as upright as a pine tree. He was stunned, momentarily lost in thought—in his memory, she was still the little girl with twin buns who chased him around with a wooden spear in the martial arts academy, and now she had grown into such a beautiful young woman.
"Your Highness, do you not recognize me?" Lu Lingqi raised an eyebrow and smiled when she saw him in a daze.
The three youths behind him, Gan Xiang, Wu Niu, and Pan Hu, sidled up, teasing him one after another. Gan Xiang patted Ma Yue's arm: "Your Highness, have you forgotten? It was this Miss Ling Qi who knocked you off your horse in the martial arts arena back then!"
"Hahaha!" Lu Lingqi laughed as clear as a silver bell, her eyes curving into crescent moons. "Gan Xiang, you have such a good memory! I remember it clearly, when Brother Ma Yue fell on the sand, his face was completely red!"
Wu Niu stepped forward, scratching the back of his head and chuckling, "Miss Lingqi, I'm Wu Niu! You even stole my candied hawthorn back then!"
"Yes, yes, I remember you!" Lu Lingqi nodded with a smile, her gaze sweeping over the three faces. "You guys haven't changed much, you still look the same as you did back then."
Ma Yue's face flushed with embarrassment, and she glared at the three of them with a hint of annoyance: "What nonsense are you talking about? How could I not remember? It's none of your business!" After saying that, she turned to Lü Lingqi, her tone softening unconsciously, and she turned her face away awkwardly, "So...so it's Sister Lingqi."
"Oh—it's Sister Lingqi~" Pan Hu immediately imitated his tone in a high-pitched voice, even mimicking his slightly awkward expression perfectly, which made everyone burst into laughter.
"Hey—it's Brother Ma Yue~" Wu Niu echoed, deliberately making the "Yue" sound especially loud.
Ma Yue was both angry and amused. He pretended to hit them, and the boys laughed and dodged. The atmosphere at the city gate suddenly became lively, and even the north wind seemed to soften a bit.
Lu Bu stood to the side watching, a pleased smile on his face. He raised his hand and patted Ma Yue's shoulder: "Alright, stop fooling around. It's windy at the city gate. You must be tired from your journey. Your aunt Diao Chan has already prepared food at home. Come with me into the city to rest. Consider it a welcome feast for you."
"Thank you, General Lü!" Ma Yue stopped joking and bowed formally, and the boys behind him also bowed in unison.
Lu Lingqi skipped over to Ma Yue and whispered, "Brother Ma Yue, you can't cheat this time. Let's go to the training ground and have a match after we've rested enough!"
Looking into her bright eyes, Ma Yue laughed loudly, "Alright, let's settle this once and for all!"
The group chatted and laughed as they walked into the city. The laughter of the boys mingled with the sound of horses' hooves, dispelling the chill of February in Yanmen. Lü Bu walked at the front, listening to the children's clamor behind him. His grip on his halberd tightened slightly; he finally had the chance to lead his troops into battle again.
Upon entering the city, Diao Chan saw Ma Yue leading a group of young men in. Her face immediately lit up with a smile, and she quickly stepped forward to greet him: "Young Master, you have come from afar and must be tired from your journey. Please come in and warm yourself up. I have prepared some lamb soup from Yanmen, and it is still hot."
The boys were already starving, their mouths watering at the aroma of the meat. After thanking Diao Chan, they sat around the table and began to feast. Ma Yue and Lü Bu sat in the main seats, while Lü Lingqi huddled around Ma Yue, chattering incessantly, filling the room with lively laughter.
After finishing their meal, Ma Yue had just put down his chopsticks when Lü Lingqi pulled him outside, saying, "Let's go to the training ground! We haven't settled the score from back then!" Gan Xiang, Wu Niu, and the others joined in the commotion, and the group headed noisily towards the training ground.
The room fell silent instantly. Diao Chan, noticing the lingering smile on Lü Bu's lips, asked softly, "Your Majesty must have sent the Crown Prince here on important business, right?"
Lu Bu nodded, unable to hide his smile: "The King wants me to leave the mountain and go to the front line in Youzhou to help Gongsun Zan and Xu Rong defeat the enemy."
A knowing glint flashed in Diao Chan's eyes, and she smiled, "In that case, my husband need not sigh over the halberd any longer."
Lü Bu then remembered the letter in his pocket, took it out and handed it to Diao Chan: "His Majesty also wrote a letter in his own hand."
Diao Chan took the document and examined it closely. At first, she had a gentle smile on her face, but as she looked, her brows gradually furrowed. "This..." She looked up at Lü Bu, her tone filled with worry, "Sending Ao'er to the Chang'an Martial Arts Academy? He's only two years old, how can he withstand such a long journey?"
The smile on Lü Bu's face had vanished. He took the letter and flipped through it, his fingertips trembling slightly from the pressure. He slammed the letter down on the table, his voice filled with suppressed anger: "I knew it! No wonder he was willing to let me go on this expedition. So that's what he was planning! To send Ao'er to Chang'an as a hostage! With that child in his hands, even if I, Lü Bu, have the greatest abilities, I can't escape his grasp!"
He leaned back in his chair, his chest heaving, and let out a long sigh filled with disappointment: "Everyone says Ma Chao is upright and magnanimous, but now it seems... humph, he's just a master strategist!"
Diao Chan held his hand and said softly, "My husband, please calm down. Given your status, it's understandable that the King has reservations. It's just that Ao'er is too young, and I'm really worried about her."
"What can I do even if I'm worried?" Lü Bu slammed his fist on the armrest in frustration. "Didn't you see that Ma Yue brought a thousand or two men? I have to go on this expedition, whether I want to or not; and we can't refuse Ao'er's request to go to Chang'an!"
The couple remained silent, and the atmosphere in the room grew heavy. The shouts of the boys from the training ground drifted in from outside the window, further emphasizing the desolation within. Diao Chan gazed at the still-steaming bowl of lamb soup on the table, her eyes suddenly reddening. Peaceful days hadn't lasted long; she was destined to be drawn into the chaos of this world.
As evening fell, Ma Yue, Lü Lingqi, and their group returned from the training ground, covered in sweat. Seeing the solemn expressions of Lü Bu and his wife, they were somewhat surprised: "General Lü, Aunt, what's wrong?"
Lu Bu glanced at him, but ultimately said nothing, only waving his hand: "It's nothing. I'll muster the troops and set off for battle first thing tomorrow morning."
Although Ma Yue found it strange, he didn't ask any further questions and simply bowed and replied, "Okay."
As night deepened, the wind at Yanmen Pass grew colder. Lü Bu stood by the window, gazing at the lone flag on the training ground, his hand clutching the letter tightly, his knuckles turning white. He knew that from the moment he embarked on his journey, some things could never be returned to.