Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

At the same time, inside Hulao Pass, in the residence Dong Zhuo arranged for Lü Bu.

Chen Gong also lived there, but he disdained serving under Dong Zhuo, so without an official position, he couldn't move freely within Hulao Pass.

Just as Chen Gong was reading and practicing swordsmanship in his residence as usual, Lü Bu returned in a fit of rage, smashing the objects in the room and venting his anger.

Seeing this, Chen Gong stood outside the house, quietly watching Lü Bu vent his anger until he gradually calmed down a bit, then he walked in and asked.

"Fengxian, why are you angry?"

Lü Bu, feeling both angry and wronged, glanced at Chen Gong before replying with a sullen face.

"This Marquis fights to the death for my adoptive father, slaying enemy generals. Even if I have no merit, I have worked hard. How dare he treat me like this? It's outrageous! Outrageous!!!"

Chen Gong, who knew nothing about the situation, was quite puzzled. Previously, Chen Gong had reminded Lü Bu to be wary of Dong Zhuo, but Lü Bu had dismissed it, boasting of the deep father-son relationship between him and Dong Zhuo.

How could the relationship between the two have deteriorated so sharply in just one day?

Immediately, Chen Gong began to inquire in detail.

Lü Bu, who was struggling to find an outlet for his frustration, explained the whole incident under Chen Gong's patient guidance.

After Lü Bu finished speaking, Chen Gong couldn't help but take a breath and exclaimed.

"This is truly what they mean by: 'In the art of war, attacking the mind is paramount, attacking the city is secondary.' Zhao Zilong is the confidant and beloved general of Liu Xuande, a member of the Han imperial family. Then this plan must have been devised by the famous strategist Li Zikun. He truly lives up to his reputation."

"What does Gongtai mean?" Lü Bu asked, looking at Chen Gong's seemingly irrelevant answer.

Chen Gong pondered for a moment before replying. "In my opinion, both Dong Zhuo and Marquis Wen have fallen for the scheme of discord sown by the strategist Li Zikun."

Lü Bu recalled the events and was still quite puzzled. "What scheme of discord?"

Chen Gong's tone still couldn't hide his amazement. "Dong Zhuo and Li Ru, watching the battle from the Hulao Pass city tower, could only vaguely see the illusion of communication between Marquis Wen and Zhao Zilong. They would then assume that Marquis Wen's appreciation for Zhao Zilong was a secret plot."

"And Marquis Wen is not one to easily bow his head and explain. Even if he did explain, Dong Zhuo might not believe him. In this way, the discord between Dong Zhuo and Marquis Wen will further intensify the conflict between the Xiliang Iron Cavalry and the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry."

After a pause, Chen Gong continued, "Next, Li Zikun will definitely have follow-up moves to continue sowing discord and intensifying the conflict. If I were to use a plan, I would only attack the sections of the city wall defended by the Xiliang Iron Cavalry and the Sili elites when the allied forces attack the city, and not attack the sections of the city wall defended by the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry."

"Over time, as the casualties of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry and the Sili elites continue to increase, while the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry suffers no losses, Dong Zhuo, who is already suspicious, how can he tolerate Marquis Wen?"

At this point, Chen Gong couldn't help but clap his hands and praise, saying.

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! This plan is truly wonderful, capturing the essence of attacking the mind. What's even more wonderful is that Li Zikun set this plan when Marquis Wen was fighting with Guan Yu and others, even at the cost of giving up the opportunity to kill Marquis Wen, a great enemy. This shows Li Zikun's quick wit and confidence."

Lü Bu listened to Chen Gong's long analysis, feeling his head buzzing.

At first, he could barely understand, but the more he listened, the more he felt like ants were crawling all over his body.

However, although Lü Bu didn't quite understand the content, Chen Gong spoke so confidently that Lü Bu instinctively felt that Chen Gong might be right.

If he wasn't sure, Chen Gong wouldn't have said so much.

"So, this Marquis was actually tricked?"

Lü Bu said in a low voice with a look of astonishment, recalling Zhao Yun's seemingly genuine humble demeanor, feeling incredibly disbelief.

Chen Gong, thinking that Lü Bu was teachable, had awakened in time, nodded and said.

"Exactly! And this scheme of discord can also be considered a conspiracy. The current conflict between Marquis Wen and Dong Zhuo is the reason."

However, Lü Bu thought that Chen Gong was advising him to bow his head to Dong Zhuo. After thinking for a moment, he stood up indignantly and said.

"Humph! Even if there is a cause of the eastern rats using tricks, this Marquis has already fought hard outside, and was deeply besieged by Zhao Yun, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. If it wasn't for running…"

Lü Bu's tone paused, his face becoming even more ugly, and he said with a stiff neck.

"If I hadn't found an opportunity to break through the encirclement, I'm afraid I would have suffered a small loss. What's wrong with that? Even if I fell for a scheme of discord, it's because my adoptive father is old and confused. The fault lies with my adoptive father!!!"

Looking at Lü Bu's reaction, Chen Gong couldn't help but sigh secretly, feeling that the scheme of discord used by Li Ji was truly completely aimed at Lü Bu's personality weaknesses.

Chen Gong had already analyzed it clearly for Lü Bu, but Lü Bu was still unwilling to take the initiative to bow his head.

However, at this moment, the gold, silver, treasures, medical officers, and medicinal materials that Dong Zhuo sent to Lü Bu were all delivered to Lü Bu's residence.

And a minor official in charge of this matter, according to Li Ru's instructions, said many words to appease Lü Bu.

Lü Bu, who originally had a look of indignation on his face, clearly softened a lot. After the minor official left, Lü Bu grabbed a handful of gold and silver jewelry and stuffed it to Chen Gong, saying triumphantly.

"Gongtai's words were very true just now. Now it seems that my adoptive father has suddenly woken up and realized that someone is deliberately sowing discord between our father-son relationship."

Chen Gong looked at Lü Bu's happy face, frowned and said.

"Marquis Wen, you are confused! If Dong Zhuo hadn't sent these external things, things wouldn't have completely deteriorated. But Dong Zhuo sent these things, his intention is nothing more than to temporarily stabilize Marquis Wen."

"This further shows that Dong Zhuo no longer trusts Marquis Wen, and even completely suspects Marquis Wen, but he has to stabilize Marquis Wen due to the situation."

Hearing this, Lü Bu's face changed slightly, and he said. "Gongtai, don't scare people."

"If Marquis Wen doesn't believe it, he can go to visit Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo will definitely not dare to meet Marquis Wen alone."

"And if Dong Zhuo really knew that he had fallen for a scheme of discord, believing that Marquis Wen is loyal, then Dong Zhuo should personally visit Marquis Wen's mansion to inquire, instead of sending these external things."

Hearing this, Lü Bu's face almost visibly changed, realizing that Chen Gong's words were probably true, and he threw a night pearl that he was originally admiring on the ground.

For a time, various thoughts surged in Lü Bu's mind, which was filled with indignation, but he was still hesitant to make a decision.

After a while, Lü Bu looked up at Chen Gong and asked. "According to Gongtai's opinion, what should this Marquis do now?"

"Then it depends on Marquis Wen's heart. Is it loyalty? Or rebellion?" Chen Gong asked.

Lü Bu hesitated for a while before saying.

"I and my adoptive father have a deep father-son relationship, and my adoptive father has treated me well. How can I harbor resentment and turn against him because of some petty tricks of the eastern rats?"

Of course, Lü Bu said this, but the anger in his eyes clearly showed that he was very dissatisfied with being suspected and guarded against by Dong Zhuo.

Hearing this, Chen Gong did not answer immediately, but stood up and paced back and forth for nearly an incense stick of time. Seeing that Lü Bu was already starting to get impatient, he finally spoke.

"After repeated consideration, if Marquis Wen wants to resolve the previous grievances with Dong Zhuo, then he must do something and take the initiative to show his heart."

Lü Bu's expression changed for a while before nodding, somewhat reluctantly, and said. "Then this Marquis will go and explain it to my adoptive father, and lower my head."

"Absolutely not!"

Chen Gong quickly dissuaded him.

"Now that Dong Zhuo's suspicion and guard against Marquis Wen has arisen, if he is only informed by words, not only will it not alleviate the suspicion, but it will break the harmony maintained on the surface, and Dong Zhuo will definitely not believe Marquis Wen's self-defense."

A trace of irritability flashed between Lü Bu's eyebrows, and he said. "This won't work, that's not appropriate, so what is a good strategy?"

Chen Gong slowly said. "Take the head of an eastern vassal, and you can prove it."

"Good plan!"

Lü Bu, who originally felt that his head couldn't turn around, immediately felt that this plan was very good.

Compared to bowing his head, Lü Bu felt that it was easier to fight, and as long as he killed enough eastern vassals, Dong Zhuo would not suspect that he was colluding with the eastern vassals in secret, which was undoubtedly the best and most direct and simple way to prove himself.

Chen Gong continued to say.

"Marquis Wen fought with the eastern vassals today and was injured. It is expected that the eastern vassals will not think that Marquis Wen will still attack the camp with injuries. Therefore, Marquis Wen can do the opposite, lead the elite to personally attack the camp, and it is best to retrieve the head of an eastern vassal."

"Attack the camp? Which vassal should I attack?" Lü Bu asked.

"If you only attack a small vassal with a low sense of existence, it is not very meaningful…"

Chen Gong pondered for a moment, analyzed them one by one for Lü Bu, and said.

"The leader Yuan Shao must be living in the center of the allied camp, with no chance; besides the two deputy leaders Yuan Shu and Liu Bei, they are also in the key positions of the camp, not easy to attack; besides them, there are Gongsun Zan, Tao Qian, Cao Cao and the like."

"Among them, Cao Cao is the best. First of all, Cao Cao only leads 5,000 newly recruited soldiers, and his combat power is average. More importantly, Cao Cao once assassinated Dong Zhuo, and he is a friend of Yuan Shao for many years. As long as you kill Cao Cao, Marquis Wen will naturally be able to prove his heart."

While Lü Bu listened and nodded repeatedly, he also raised his eyes and took a deep look at Chen Gong.

Lü Bu didn't consider himself a stupid person, and he didn't forget that Chen Gong had a personal feud with Cao Cao.

However, Lü Bu was also a veteran of many battles. Perhaps he didn't study tactics much, but he could also understand that Chen Gong's analysis was correct.

Cao Cao is not only a friend of Yuan Shao, but also an enemy who once assassinated Dong Zhuo.

Cao Cao's head would be sufficient to prove Lu Bu's resolve.

Therefore, Lu Bu did not expose Chen Gong's thoughts, but nodded in agreement, saying.

"Alright, I will secretly send scouts to the pass to investigate Cao Cao's encampment, and then report to my adoptive father to go out and raid the camp, and bring back Cao Cao's head to present to my adoptive father."

(End of chapter)