Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

Zhang Ji watched Zhang Xiu's distraught appearance, a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes, then turned into determination.

As Zhang Xiu's uncle, Zhang Ji knew his level very well. Although young, he was on par with Hua Xiong.

However, compared to the likes of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, the current Zhang Xiu was undoubtedly inferior.

If Zhang Xiu went to battle, his life would be in danger!

"Men, take Xiu'er down."

Zhang Ji shouted, and immediately several guards stepped forward to forcibly stop Zhang Xiu.

Zhang Ji was already prepared to die, protecting Zhang Xiu's life and securing a good future for him, so he didn't need anyone to hold the line.

The reason he found an excuse to call Zhang Xiu out was just to say a few words of reassurance.

Immediately, Zhang Ji ignored Zhang Xiu's cries and, spurring his horse, led his elite troops towards the pass.

This scene made Zhang Xiu feel suffocated. Zhang Xiu, who had always been protected by his uncle Zhang Ji, felt a sense of powerlessness for the first time...

The next moment, Zhang Xiu heard a loud roar from outside the pass.

"Zhang Ji of Xiliang is here! Let those who insult my lord come forth and die!!!"

Then, the drums on the city tower sounded loudly, and the sounds of battle seemed to echo outside the pass.

Zhang Xiu suddenly reacted, looked around, and wanted to snatch a fast horse to rush out and help Zhang Ji, but the sounds of battle didn't last ten rounds before the drums on Hulao Pass stopped abruptly.

Immediately, Zhang Xiu faintly heard Dong Zhuo's furious voice from the city tower, and then he asked if anyone else would fight.

After that, Zhang Fei's mocking voice echoed again outside Hulao Pass.

However, Zhang Xiu, whose mind was almost blank, knelt on the ground in a daze, looking in the direction of Hulao Pass, his eyes vacant and tears streaming down...

Even when Dong Zhuo, with an angry face, came down from the city tower and walked in front of him, Zhang Xiu remained oblivious.

The next moment, Dong Zhuo raised his foot and kicked Zhang Xiu, who was blocking his way, to the ground, and scolded, "What's the use of a great man acting like a daughter?"

Immediately, Dong Zhuo, who had taken two steps forward, stopped again, pointed at Zhang Xiu, and said.

"Zhang Ji has no son, from now on his troops will be under your command. Zhang Ji may be somewhat incompetent, but in the end, he died for me. You go back and bury Zhang Ji properly, and you will be rewarded handsomely."

Suddenly, some of the fierce Xiliang generals behind Dong Zhuo couldn't help but look at Zhang Xiu with a bit more envy.

With Dong Zhuo's words, many Xiliang generals who had originally wanted to divide Zhang Xiu's troops immediately extinguished this idea, and understood that from now on Zhang Xiu would definitely be valued by Dong Zhuo, and wealth and glory would be readily available.

After saying these words, Dong Zhuo, listening to Zhang Fei's still echoing voice outside the pass, could hardly suppress the anger on his face, and stormed away in a rage.

He couldn't win in a fight, couldn't win in a scolding, and could only be angry in vain...

This was undoubtedly Dong Zhuo's current situation.

After returning to his mansion in Hulao Pass, Dong Zhuo even drew his sword and personally killed several servants and maids, only then venting some of the anger in his heart.

After a long time, Dong Zhuo, panting, casually threw the Han sword in his hand on the ground, sat down, and said angrily.

"They are all useless wastes who waste military pay, not even one who can kill that foul-mouthed Zhang Fei."

Li Ru, who had been standing silently beside Dong Zhuo while he vented his anger, came over at this time and said.

"Prime Minister, there are naturally people in Guanzhong who can kill Zhang Fei."

Hearing this, Dong Zhuo was first stunned, then waved his hand and said. "What's the use of that rebellious son, no matter how brave he is?"

Li Ru then took the opportunity to continue advising.

"Prime Minister, during this period, I sent people to investigate the matter of Marquis Wen leading troops to attack the camp that night, and the defeat does not seem to be a pretense."

"Moreover, when Marquis Wen was ambushed by Zhao Yun, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei again, he was able to escape thanks to a brave general under his command who desperately blocked Guan Yu."

"Furthermore, Marquis Wen has always valued the Bingzhou wolf cavalry, treating them like brothers. Even if he really colluded with the Kanto lords, how would he be willing to risk the lives of three thousand Bingzhou wolf cavalry to put on a show?"

Hearing this, Dong Zhuo also fell into deep thought.

Although Dong Zhuo's character was tyrannical and cruel, he was obviously a very scheming person to be able to climb from a commoner to his current position.

In addition, Lu Bu had been confined to the mansion during this period, cursing incessantly every day, without any hint of guilt, which was not something Lu Bu's scheming could do.

"So, could it be that I really misunderstood Fengxian?"

Dong Zhuo frowned and said, then thought of something else and said.

"Then how should the news from the allied spy be accounted for? If Fengxian didn't cooperate with the allies from within, how could he have foreseen that Fengxian would attack Cao Cao's camp?"

After many days of repeated thinking, Li Ru had undoubtedly figured out certain things and reminded him.

"Prime Minister, have you forgotten that among the allied forces, there is a person known as a 'National Scholar'?"

"Of course I know the 'National Scholar' Li Zikun. I even saw him in Julu City back then. At that time, I only thought that Li Zikun had a good appearance, but I didn't expect him to be so powerful..."

After a pause, Dong Zhuo smacked his lips and said.

"If I had known that Li Zikun was so powerful at that time, I would have sent someone to kidnap him secretly, and he wouldn't have become my confidant enemy today."

"In this way, the world's number one in both literature and martial arts would have gathered under my command and obeyed my orders. It's a pity, a pity..."

Li Ru didn't mind Dong Zhuo's praise for Li Ji at all.

Or rather, Li Ru wished that Dong Zhuo had a few more resourceful and intelligent people under his command, so that he could share some of the pressure on the already weak Li Ru.

Unfortunately, Xiliang people are generally good at bravery but not good at wisdom, and Dong Zhuo's method of seizing power in Beijing was too crude, causing most of the scholars in the world to despise him.

As a result, even today, Li Ru is still the only one under Dong Zhuo who can truly be called a strategist.

Immediately, Li Ru continued, "Since the Prime Minister knows Li Zikun's name, then why not suspect that Li Zikun is secretly using a divisive scheme?"

"You must know that Li Zikun has always been known for 'predicting the enemy's moves.' Defeating the Yellow Turbans, pacifying the Shanyue, and breaking the Wuhuan are all examples of this. It is not impossible to predict in advance that Marquis Wen is eager to prove himself and, out of filial piety, will attack Cao Cao."

Hearing this, Dong Zhuo couldn't help but gasp and said. "Hiss~ Is that Li Zikun really that powerful?"

"After all, Li Zikun is like Marquis Wen who has defeated all the martial artists, having overwhelmed many strategists and civil officials..."

After a pause, Li Ru said with some shame. "To be honest, I also secretly studied the sand table set up by Li Zikun for a while, and I am ashamed to admit that I am not as good as him."

Dong Zhuo didn't answer immediately, but the pupils of his eyes, which were squeezed to the size of mung beans, kept flickering.

After a long time, Dong Zhuo seemed to wake up suddenly and said. "So, my son Fengxian was actually acting out of filial piety, but I misunderstood Fengxian!"

"Judging from the current situation, it should be so without a doubt," Li Ru replied.

At this moment, a few smiles appeared on Dong Zhuo's face, and he said. "Since that's the case, does Wen You think we should release Fengxian again?"

"The Prime Minister and Marquis Wen are father and son, so if you treat him with kind words and comfort him, it is expected that Marquis Wen will not be too concerned," Li Ru replied.

Dong Zhuo nodded in agreement and said.

"However, to be cautious, the military power of the Bingzhou wolf cavalry cannot be returned to Fengxian for the time being."

Li Ru frowned and said. "Prime Minister, if this military power is not returned to Marquis Wen, I am afraid that Marquis Wen will harbor resentment."

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter..."

While having a trembling servant help him up, Dong Zhuo straightened his clothes and said.

"I will compensate Fengxian from other aspects first. As long as Fengxian kills that Zhang Fei, proving that he has no ulterior motives, I will return the military power of the Bingzhou wolf cavalry to him."

Seeing that there was no room for discussion in Dong Zhuo's tone, Li Ru had no choice but to stop persuading him.

And Li Ru also knew that Dong Zhuo was undoubtedly still wary of Lu Bu. The reason why he was preparing to accept Lu Bu again was more out of the situation and being scolded by Zhang Fei, otherwise Dong Zhuo would undoubtedly not bow his head so easily.

Immediately, Dong Zhuo ordered people to prepare a large number of gifts, and then personally went to Lu Bu's residence.

Before entering the gate of Lu Bu's residence, Dong Zhuo had already smelled a strong smell of alcohol. Pushing the door open, he saw Lu Bu lying diagonally on the steps, reeking of alcohol.

Compared to Lu Bu's past heroic appearance, Lu Bu was now full of haggard and decadent appearance, like a self-abandoned drunkard.

Immediately, Dong Zhuo summoned the captain in charge of sealing off the residence and asked.

"Why is my son Fengxian in such a state? Didn't I tell him to return to the mansion to recuperate? How much wine has he drunk?"

The captain carefully replied.

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, since Marquis Wen returned to the mansion and woke up, he has been drinking heavily every day, two jars a day."

Dong Zhuo's face darkened, and he scolded the captain. "Ah?! Why did you give Fengxian so much wine? Don't you know that too much alcohol is harmful to the body? What are your intentions?"

"Prime Minister, please forgive me, but Marquis Wen makes a big fuss and wants to rush out as soon as he runs out of wine, and I have no choice, so..."

Before the captain could finish speaking, Dong Zhuo waved his hand and interrupted.

"Why didn't you report this to me? I told you to guard here to prevent others from disturbing my son Fengxian's recovery, but now you have made my son Fengxian haggard like this, it's extremely damned..."

Immediately, Dong Zhuo said loudly.

"Someone, kill this damned and stupid fool!"

The captain's pupils constricted. He was about to open his mouth to argue that he had clearly recorded and reported every word and action of Lu Bu every day.

However, before the captain could speak, a personal guard behind him drew his saber and directly chopped off the captain's head.

Immediately, Dong Zhuo opened his arms and rushed towards Lu Bu, while speaking with concern.

"My son, Fengxian, you must not drink any more..." (End of Chapter)