Chương 180: Zhang Chun arrives, Liu Ce welcomes him.

Zhang Ju shook his head and said, "Zishu, don't forget what we're doing. We're colluding with the Wuhuan and plotting a rebellion. If Liu Ce finds out, ten heads won't be enough to chop off."

Zhang Chun's face paled, but he quickly regained his composure and said, "Impossible! We've been so discreet; the letter was delivered by a special envoy, and the supplies were stockpiled in batches. How could Liu Ce, who's far away in Zhuo County, possibly know?"

The more he spoke, the more convinced he became of his point: "Besides, if Liu Ce really wanted to harm me, he could have simply led his troops directly to Lunu. Why go through all the trouble of inviting me to the border to discuss military matters? And even treating me to dinner? Is he stupid?"

Zhang Ju thought about it and agreed that it made sense.

"Then be careful, and bring more people with you."

Zhang Ju suggested, "Take five hundred county soldiers. Even if they have an ambush, five hundred men should be enough to hold them off for a while. If it really doesn't work, just say you're feeling unwell and come back early."

Zhang Chun nodded and said, "That's the only way."

Despite saying that, Zhang Chun was actually quite uneasy.

He recalled the scene two years ago on the walls of Lu Nu City, where he saw Liu Ce leading eight hundred Black Riders charging into the Yellow Turban army's ranks—he was not human, he was a god of death!

"However," he consoled himself, "Liu Ce's status is different now. He is the Governor of Youzhou, the Marquis of Champion, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and His Majesty's 'Imperial Brother'... With such a noble status, surely he wouldn't personally come down to fight me?"

"Moreover, I am leading five hundred county soldiers. If he dares to touch me, it would be an open attack on an official of the imperial court, tantamount to rebellion! Liu Ce is such a shrewd man that he would not do such a foolish thing."

Thinking about it this way, Zhang Chun felt much more at ease.

So Zhang Chun set off with five hundred county soldiers. Along the way, he was filled with mixed feelings, feeling that Liu Ce would not harm him, yet also vaguely uneasy.

"Perhaps they really are discussing military matters?"

He consoled himself, "After all, things haven't been peaceful between the Wuhuan and Xianbei recently, so it's normal for Liu Ce, as the governor of Youzhou, to be concerned about border defenses."

Lost in thought, the group arrived at Liu Ce's camp.

......

At the border between Zhongshan Commandery and Zhuo Commandery, Liu Ce's main camp.

Lu Bing entered the tent: "My lord, Zhang Chun's troops are almost here, about five li from the camp."

Liu Ce was wiping his Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Halberd.

"How many people did you bring?" he asked without looking up.

"Five hundred county soldiers, and a dozen or so attendants."

Lu Bing reported, "The county soldiers are poorly equipped and their morale is low. However, there are a few skilled men among their followers, who are likely Zhang Chunhua's heavily funded elite guards."

Liu Ce nodded and asked, "How are the arrangements outside the camp going?"

"The Longxiang Battalion, numbering eight hundred, has already deployed its defenses around the camp."

Liu Ce placed the halberd beside him, stood up, and said, "Let's go out and greet our Prefect Zhang."

At the camp gate, Liu Ce stood with his hands behind his back.

Dian Wei and Xu Chu stood on either side of him behind him, like two guardian deities.

In the distance, dust rose.

Zhang Chun's team has arrived.

......

Zhang Chun and his group arrived at the place where Liu Ce had set up camp.

From afar, the camp could be seen neatly arranged, with banners fluttering in the wind. At the camp gate, soldiers stood ramrod straight, their helmets and armor gleaming.

Zhang Chun's heart skipped a beat—this wasn't a temporary patrol camp; it was clearly a military reserve!

But since we're already here, we have to bite the bullet and go in.

As soon as Zhang Chun arrived at the camp gate, he saw Liu Ce dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, standing there with a smile to greet him. Behind him were Dian Wei and Xu Chu, two burly men who looked like gatekeepers, one carrying double halberds and the other carrying a large sword, making Zhang Chun's heart tremble.

"This humble official, Zhang Chun, greets Prefect Liu!" Zhang Chun forced himself to dismount, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply, adopting an extremely humble posture.

Liu Ce stepped forward and feigned concern as he helped him up, saying, "Prefect Zhang, don't be so polite! We're old acquaintances, don't stand on ceremony!"

He put his arm around Zhang Chun's shoulder, speaking with boundless enthusiasm: "I've been thinking about you ever since we parted ways in Lu Nu, Zhongshan County, two years ago! If I hadn't led eight hundred cavalrymen to you back then, you and the people of Lu Nu would probably have suffered at the hands of the Yellow Turban rebels!"

This way of saying things both builds rapport and reminds the other person of the favor they owe.

Zhang Chun immediately followed up with flattery: "Indeed! It is all thanks to Your Excellency's great kindness and virtue that I and the people have survived! I will never forget this kindness in my lifetime!"

The two exchanged insincere pleasantries for a long time, talking about everything from the Yellow Turban Rebellion two years ago to the current development of Zhongshan County, and then to the military affairs of Zhongshan County... Every sentence was just polite talk.

As Liu Ce spoke, he looked at the county soldiers brought by Zhang Chun... and then looked at his own side, where the Longxiang Battalion was full of elite soldiers, well-equipped.

"It's safe now." Liu Ce felt confident.

He put his arm around Zhang Chun and led him into the tent: "Don't stand outside in the wind! I've prepared some good wine and food, let's drink and chat!"

Their actions were so intimate that anyone who didn't know better would think they were long-lost brothers.

Upon entering the central command tent, a table of food and wine was indeed laid out inside.

Roasted whole lamb, roasted beef... various seasonal vegetables, and several jars of fine wine, all with an enticing aroma.

Zhang Chun's eyes lit up—he had been worried Liu Ce might have poisoned the food and drink, but judging from this, it didn't seem like it. And Liu Ce himself had sat down and started eating. He felt a little more relaxed. It seemed this really was a dinner invitation?

"Come, Prefect Zhang, have a seat!"

Liu Ce said, "Don't be shy! This roasted lamb leg was specially made by a chef I brought from Zhuoxian County. Please try it!"

Zhang Chun hesitated for a moment, then sat down. He thought to himself: Since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it. If they really wanted to kill me, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths.

Liu Ce poured him a drink himself: "Come on, let's drink to celebrate our reunion!"

"Cheers!" Zhang Chun picked up his glass and drank it all in one gulp.

After a few drinks, Zhang Chun gradually lowered his guard. He began to boast about his achievements in Zhongshan County, saying how diligent and caring he was for the people, and how loyal he was…

As Liu Ce listened, he nodded, but in his heart he was thinking: This guy's acting is pretty good. If I didn't know you were going to rebel, I would have really been fooled by you.

On the surface, Liu Ce would occasionally chime in with a few words: "Prefect Zhang is right!"

"The court needs loyal ministers like you!"

"The Wuhuan are indeed a hidden danger..."

Zhang Chun became increasingly smug as he spoke, feeling that he had fooled Liu Ce.

It seems Liu Ce knows nothing; he really came to him to discuss military matters.

He relaxed his guard, drank a few more glasses, and his face began to turn slightly red.

Looking at his expression, Liu Ce sneered inwardly: That's about enough.

He picked up his wine glass, about to smash it as a signal—

"Report!" A loud shout suddenly came from outside the tent.

A soldier rushed in: "My lord! There's an emergency outside the camp!"

Liu Ce frowned and asked, "What's going on?"