Chapter Thirty Joy from Heaven

  Dong Zhuo's rise as a powerful warlord was by no means an accident, and his few words had already sown the seeds of division within the allied army.

  Li Ru nodded and turned around, saying: "Wen Hou fought with the Allied Army the other day, I wonder if there are any other figures in the Allied Army?"

  "Indeed!" Lü Bu nodded and said: "Li Zhong, a man from Yanmen in Bingzhou, has always admired the Grand Tutor. If you show him some favor, he might become a hidden pawn for the Grand Tutor."

  This is not Lü Bu's true intention, he is just talking nonsense. Li Ru was just casually asking and giving Lü Bu some face, but Lü Bu is extremely arrogant and thought to himself: since you asked, I have to show off my skills, otherwise wouldn't that be letting you look down on me?

  Li Ru was taken aback and thought to himself: "This Li Zi Hui can't be from the same hometown as you, can he?" But it didn't matter, just pretend to show respect to Lü Bu.

  Li Ru smiled and said: "Since that's the case, let's make Li Zihui the magistrate of Guangwu. What does Lord Wen think?"

  Lü Bu nodded and replied: "Let's follow Wen Chou's words."

  The rest of the discussion was nothing to Lü Bu, seeing Li Ru and others studying the remaining matters of adding seals, Lü Bu felt very bored, so he bid farewell and returned to his mansion.

  The allied forces were stationed at Tiger Trap Pass, where they had been repairing the walls for over ten days. Yuan Shao was just about to send troops to Luoyang when someone came to report that an imperial edict had arrived.

  Although they knew that the Son of Heaven's decree was actually Dong Zhuo's decree, the various lords could only pretend to be unaware and welcome the eunuch who delivered the decree into the commander's headquarters, set up an incense table, and kneel down to receive the sacred decree.

  Yuan Shao and others having made their arrangements, an imperial attendant presented the imperial edict, saying in a shrill voice: "Taishi of Bohai, Yuan Shao; Colonel of the Western Garden, Cao Cao; Governor of Yanzhou, Liu Dai... receive the edict."

  Yuan Shao and others had no choice but to loudly proclaim: "Yuan Shao (Cao Cao) has received the imperial edict"

  The eunuch's expression was very satisfactory, and he continued to read: "In the first year of Pingyuan, in the second month of winter, the Emperor of Great Han decreed: I have heard that there are virtuous officials who reward the worthy. The Governor of Bohai, Yuan Shao Benchu, has proclaimed virtue and clarified kindness, guarded righteousness and ridden on integrity, to bring peace to the people. I greatly praise him. He is hereby appointed as Cavalry General... Cao Cao Mengde, Colonel of the Army... is hereby appointed as Governor of Yangzhou... Li Zhongzi, son of Yanmen, is stern, loyal, brave and strong... is hereby appointed as Magistrate of Guangwu... Respect this!"

  The imperial edict had nothing to do with Li Chong, but the eunuch who delivered it mentioned Li Chong's name in person, so Yuan Shao could only let Li Chong kneel at the end.

  At this moment, Li Chong only felt dizzy in his head, and he had only one thought in his mind: "Haha... I'm finally an official?"

  The imperial edict was read out, and the various vassals had different reactions. Some were overjoyed, while others gritted their teeth in anger. Yuan Shao's face, however, was inscrutable, unsure of whether he should accept this edict or not.

  It's obvious that Dong Zhuo is trying to appease himself, in simpler terms: giving you a high-ranking official position, don't make trouble, and nobody will benefit from it?

  Cao Cao was indeed furious, how could a generation of treacherous heroes not guess Dong Zhuo's mind? In his heart, he secretly scolded Dong thief for being cunning. With one imperial edict, he wanted to buy me Cao Cao and make me and Yuan Shu kill each other. Did he really take me Cao Cao as a fool? Moreover, did Xiahou Dun's eyes go blind?

  Yuan Shu gritted his teeth, feeling extremely displeased in his heart. To be appointed as the General Who Pacifies the West was also to appoint me, Yuan Shu, as the proper heir. After all, who is the legitimate son and who is the illegitimate one? Has Dong Zhuo gone blind?

  ……

  All the vassals were lost in thought, silent and speechless, but Li Chong's eyes blazed with fury, as if he could hardly restrain himself from leaping to his feet and snatching the imperial edict.

  The inner attendant saw that the various marquises were hesitant and undecided, and with a look of displeasure on his face, he said in a sharp voice: "Are you gentlemen wanting to disobey the imperial edict?"

  The eunuch's words suddenly reminded everyone that now was not the time to ponder whether the imperial edict was beneficial or harmful to oneself. At least on the surface, everyone still had to obey the Han court unconditionally. Even if it was clear that this imperial edict was Dong Zhuo's idea, one still had to accept it with respect and reverence. Whoever dared not show respect would be considered a rebel against the Han court.

  Yuan Shao hastily bowed and said: "Yuan Shao has received your imperial edict..."

  With Yuan Shao taking the lead, everyone hastily responded with "Yes, we obey your orders." The eunuch who delivered the edict nodded in satisfaction.

  He took over the sacred decree, without mentioning Yuan Shao's arrangement of a wine banquet to entertain the eunuch who delivered the decree. He only said that Li Chong took over the seal of Guangwu, and felt his feet go soft, as if he was in the clouds, and didn't know how he got back to his tent.

  Gan Ning and Taishi Ci saw Li Hui swaying back to his tent, sniffed a few times, but didn't smell any alcohol, extremely surprised.

  Liao Hua hastily asked: "Brother Li, what's going on?"

  Li Chong suppressed his voice as much as possible, burst into a fit of mad laughter, took out the seal from his bosom and waved it in front of Liao Hua's eyes like he was presenting a treasure.

  "Ah!" Tai Shi Ci, having seen the imperial seal before, snatched it over and took a close look. With a smile on his face, he said: "Zi Huan has finally become an official of the imperial court."

  "Is this the imperial seal? Haha...” Liao Hua's eyes suddenly emitted a green glow.

  "Must be calm, must be calm..." Li Chong closed his eyes and silently recited this to himself a dozen or so times before opening them again.

  Liao Hua took the seal from Tai Shi Ci's hand, looking at it back and forth, and asked in disbelief: "Brother Li, with this thing in Guangwu, you will be the county magistrate, and everyone in the county will listen to you?"

  Tai Shi smiled and said: "It's not entirely like that, today the heavens are in great turmoil, the imperial court's seal can only be called Zi Hui Ming Zheng Shun entering Guangwu."

  Liao Hua burst out laughing and said, "What's there to fear? We have the imperial seal and troops, taking over Guangwu is justified, whoever dares to obstruct us will be killed."

  Tai Shi Ci smiled and said nothing about Liao Hua's words. In this chaotic world, there is no reason to say anything.

  Having obtained the official position, it can be said that Li Chong's plan to contend for the world has already taken its first step, which made Li Chong very excited. He asked Taishi Ci to go to the military supply officer to get some wine and meat, and come back to celebrate. Li Chong had a reason to ask Taishi Ci to fetch wine and meat. With his arrow injuries to Zhang Liao and Lv Bu, Taishi Ci was now a celebrity in the allied army. If not for Taishi Ci's repeated refusals, Yuan Shao would have already granted him an official title. The military supply officer did not dare offend him.

  If it were Liao Hua, he would have been scolded badly by now.

  After three rounds of wine, Li Chong suddenly asked: "Zi Yi, you are now famous in the Allied Army, I don't know what your plans are for the future, whether to follow me to Guangwu or stay with Yuan Shao and Cao Cao?"

  Tai Shi Ci hehe smiled and asked: "If you were Tai Shi Ci, what would you do?"

  Li Chong sighed and replied: "You are different from Yuan Jue and Bo Wen (Guan Hai). Your background is clean, if I were you, I would stay in the Allied Army..."

  "Haha......" Tai Shi Ci burst out laughing, pointing at Li Chong and saying: "You regret your words, they were not sincere... but I, Tai Shi Ci, like to start from scratch, so I must go with you to Guangwu."

  Li Chong looked at Taishi Ci with gratitude and said: "Thank you, Young Master, for your help!"

  Tai Shi Zi said seriously: "Now that the imperial seal has been obtained, I think it's best to leave the Allied Army as soon as possible and go to Guangwu to recruit soldiers and buy horses."

  Li thought for a moment and shook his head, saying: "No, I still have something important to take care of."