Deep within a military camp outside Luoyang, a large tent was illuminated by several crackling torches.
Inside the tent, a fire was burning for warmth, and a burly man sat beside it, skewering a few yams with small branches and roasting them over the flames.
The tent flap was lifted, and two men entered.
The man roasting the yams looked up and smiled, waving them over. "Come, Boping, Wen Yuan, you're just in time. The yams are almost ready."
Zhang Liao chuckled. "It's always good at Registrar Lu's place—warm and with food to boot."
Gao Shun, however, gave a formal salute. "Greetings, Registrar Lu."
Lu Bu pulled two stools from behind him and placed them beside him, gesturing for Zhang Liao and Gao Shun to sit. "No need for formalities. Sit. Ah, I still prefer these stools. Ever since coming to Luoyang, my knees have been aching from all the kneeling. I don't know how people get used to it."
Zhang Liao laughed, taking the roasted yam from Lu Bu and rotating it over the flames, but said nothing.
Gao Shun nodded. "Kneeling is part of the etiquette, Registrar Lu. You should get used to it sooner rather than later."
Lu Bu grunted and shook his head. "I'm just a rough man. What do I care about etiquette? By the way, Wen Yuan, how are the troops doing after your patrol?"
Zhang Liao shook his head, sniffing the yam in his hand. It didn't seem fully cooked, so he put it back over the fire to roast further. "Not great. The weather's getting colder, and some of the men don't have enough clothing. I've already ordered more firewood to keep them warm, but the main issue is the lack of provisions..."
"Wen Yuan and I estimated that we have enough supplies for fifteen days at most, or twenty if we stretch it. After that, we'll be out of food," Gao Shun added, looking at Lu Bu with hope. "Registrar, has Governor Ding made any progress with the provisions?"
Lu Bu silently shook his head.
Zhang Liao lowered his head and sighed.
After a moment of silence, Gao Shun suddenly spoke up. "A couple of days ago, I ran into some fellow villagers heading south outside the camp. When I asked them about the situation back home, they scolded me."
Lu Bu and Zhang Liao were puzzled and pressed Gao Shun for details.
Gao Shun poked the fire with a branch, making the flames rise higher, and said solemnly, "We withdrew, and as a result, the Xianbei invaded earlier this year..."
Lu Bu's eyebrows shot up. "Those barbarians have some nerve! Let's go back and wipe them out—"
Zhang Liao's face lit up with hope. "Does that mean we're going back? When do we leave?"
"Uh—" Lu Bu deflated like a punctured balloon. "No, we haven't received orders yet..."
Gao Shun said, "I probably shouldn't say this, but some of the troops still don't understand why we withdrew from Bingzhou. Some even asked me who's defending the border now that we're gone. I didn't know how to answer."
"Yeah," Zhang Liao chimed in. "Originally, we came to eliminate the eunuchs who were causing chaos in the government. Now that the eunuchs have been dealt with, we're still stuck here without moving..."
Zhang Liao didn't continue, as the reason for their delay was sensitive and involved higher-ups. As a low-ranking officer, it wasn't his place to discuss such matters.
Lu Bu scratched his head. "I asked Governor Ding just the other day, and he told me to be patient. He said even if we were to return, we'd need to gather provisions first."
Zhang Liao glanced at Lu Bu but said nothing, continuing to roast the yam. He sighed inwardly. His Registrar Lu was sometimes a bit slow on the uptake. Governor Ding's excuse was clearly just that—an excuse. Local troops weren't supposed to be stationed in the capital for long, no matter the reason. If Ding Yuan simply asked to return, the court would likely scrape together the provisions needed, no matter how difficult it seemed.
The real issue wasn't a lack of provisions—it was that Governor Ding hadn't yet reaped enough benefits.
Gao Shun was about to speak when Zhang Liao subtly stepped on his foot under the table. Gao Shun caught on and remained silent.
Lu Bu frowned, unaware of Zhang Liao's subtle signal. He felt the atmosphere was a bit off but couldn't pinpoint why.
"The yams should be ready!" Zhang Liao distributed the roasted yams, blowing on them to cool them down. He carefully peeled off the charred skin, releasing the fragrant aroma of the yam.
Lu Bu blew on his yam, tossed it a few times, peeled off the skin, and took a bite. It was so hot that he hissed, his words muffled. "Ah... Wen Yuan... your cooking skills are... amazing... so good..."
At this point in his life, Lu Bu was still a pure warrior. Although he held the title of Registrar, most of the administrative work was handled by clerks in the army. His main duties were training and leading troops.
When Ding Yuan arrived in Bingzhou, he recognized Lu Bu's talent and put him in charge of fighting the Xianbei. Lu Bu was thrilled and dedicated, as Bingzhou was his homeland. He took pride in using his martial prowess to protect his people and found joy in the process.
But this time, when Ding Yuan ordered the withdrawal, Lu Bu was confused but obeyed nonetheless. At this stage, Lu Bu still believed Ding Yuan was a good man. If Ding Yuan was good, he wouldn't harm him. The intricacies of court politics were beyond Lu Bu's understanding, and he had no interest in them. They were too convoluted—he preferred the simplicity of a direct strike.
Maybe he should wait a few more days?
As he ate, Lu Bu thought to himself. Maybe wait eight more days—no, five. Then he'd go ask Governor Ding again... With the lack of provisions, even his horse seemed to be losing weight. This couldn't go on...
**************
Meanwhile, Ding Yuan was also waiting in his tent, awaiting a response from Dong Zhuo.
A few days ago, he had arrived just a hair too late, allowing that brute from Xiliang to snatch the credit for escorting the emperor back to the capital. The thought of it still filled him with frustration.
Ding Yuan came from humble beginnings and hadn't received much formal education, but he had always been diligent and ambitious. Rising to the position of Governor of Bingzhou was entirely his own doing, achieved through sheer hard work.
Over the years, he had gone from a passionate young man to someone burdened with ailments. Who could understand or sympathize with his struggles? He had defended the border for years, earning countless merits by defeating barbarians, yet he had never been able to break into the inner circle of the central court. As he grew older and his health declined, he had to think not just of himself but also of his family and descendants.
He couldn't let his children suffer the same hardships he had endured.
When he received the secret edict from General He Jin, Ding Yuan immediately recognized it as a golden opportunity. Without hesitation, he led the Bingzhou army south to support the emperor. But fate had a cruel sense of humor. Despite arriving in Luoyang first, General He Jin was swayed by his sister's words and hesitated, stationing his troops at Mengjin. In the end, Dong Zhuo seized the initiative.
Although Ding Yuan had been granted the honorary title of Commandant of the Capital, what good was it? It paled in comparison to the benefits Dong Zhuo had reaped. The thought made his blood boil.
By now, the letter to Dong Zhuo should have been delivered. Why hadn't that Xiliang brute replied? Did he dare look down on Ding Yuan? The Bingzhou cavalry under Ding Yuan's command was no pushover!