Chương 352: A Friend Surnamed Gao, Deployment in the Council Hall

Her skirt trailed on the ground, and every step she took exuded majesty.

But this dignified demeanor, coupled with her tender gaze at this moment, added a touch of something indescribable.

She looked exactly like the Empress in the Luoyang Imperial Palace back then.

He recalled the first time he met He Lian; she was wearing a magnificent phoenix robe, exuding an aura of imperial majesty and unparalleled nobility.

At that time, she was the empress, and he was a general who had just made meritorious contributions.

She is still just as beautiful, but she is now his woman.

He Lian slowly walked to the bedside, leaned down slightly, and used her hand to lift Liu Ce's chin, smiling gently as she said:

"Honey, am I pretty?"

Liu Ce was stunned for several seconds before he reacted and said, "Beautiful... absolutely beautiful."

Who would have thought that this former empress and empress dowager would be wearing a phoenix robe and saying such things in front of me?

His mischievous thoughts as a time traveler were bubbling up wildly: If I wrote my story with He Lian into a novel, I would call it "My Happy Life with Empress He in the Late Han Dynasty". If I traveled back in time and posted it online, it should be a hit, right?

He Lian wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "Honey, what are we waiting for?"

Liu Ce felt that he could no longer suppress his anger.

He pounced on it.

Next, things fell into place naturally.

Inside, only the sound of tearing fabric and suppressed gasps could be heard.

And He Lian's suppressed, intermittent "singing".

He Lian sings quite well.

(A little bit... process:... He Lian's skin turned rosy from emotion...) She was panting, her throat involuntarily humming softly. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and she repeated "husband" over and over again, each breath of hers landing on Liu Ce's neck...

... The room was filled with the scent of love as Liu Ce gently pushed He Lian onto the bed...

... Liu Ce's hand...

... reach in...

... half open...

... the collar of the phoenix robe...

Kneading... pinching... fingertips... manipulating...

She straightened up and let out a seductive moan!

Her eyes grew increasingly hazy and greedy as she gripped Liu Ce's shoulders tightly, her nails digging almost into his flesh.

Sweat...

body temperature.....

Intertwined...

collision......

... mixed with He Lian's singing...

They met up with a friend surnamed Gao during that dissolute night... until one of them was completely exhausted.

a long time......

a long time......

a long time......

a long time......

a long time......

a long time......

it is finally over.

Liu Ce sat up with He Lian in his arms, grabbed a piece of clothing and put it on himself, then put another piece on He Lian.

He Lian leaned softly against him, her whole body limp as if she had no bones, her face as red as an apple, panting, unable to utter a single word.

Liu Ce called out towards the door.

A short while later, He Lian's personal maidservant and several other maidservants quietly entered.

They kept their heads down, not daring to look any longer, and quickly changed the bedding...

As for why...

Those who know, know...

The maids changed the bedding and quietly withdrew.

Liu Ce and He Lian lay down again, covered with a dry, new quilt.

He Lian leaned against him, drawing circles on his chest with her finger.

Liu Ce, with his arm around her, suddenly spoke:

"Lian'er, there's something I need to tell you."

"Um?"

Liu Ce recounted the matters discussed in the council hall of the Prince of Yan's residence that day, highlighting the parts he could discuss. He wanted to issue an edict in the name of the Empress Dowager, denying the legitimacy of the emperor installed by Dong Zhuo and the uprising of the nineteen warlords.

After listening, He Lian leaned against him and nodded, saying:

"Don't worry, honey, I'll write it tomorrow."

Liu Ce smiled slightly, lowered his head and gave her a long kiss.

The moon outside the window quietly hid behind the clouds.

This night was very long...

...

A few days later, in the council hall of the Prince of Yan's residence.

Everyone's here today.

On the civil officials' side: Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Xun Yu, Xun You, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, Jia Xu, Cheng Yu, Xu Shu, Tian Feng, Ju Shou, Shen Pei, Chen Gong... a large group of them sat there.

On the military side: Xu Da, Xue Rengui, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Dian Wei, Xu Chu, Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, Luo Cheng, Yuwen Chengdu, Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Huang Zhong, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang He, Yu Jin, Taishi Ci, Gan Ning, Cheng Pu, Gongsun Zan, Qu Yi, Xu Huang, Li Jing, Li Ji, Su Lie, Yue Fei, Qi Jiguang... a dark, imposing line of them.

Before Liu Ce even arrived, the hall was filled with a buzzing sound as everyone whispered and discussed among themselves.

Cheng Yaojin shouted from among the generals, "Hey, who do you think we should fight this time? The nineteen warlords? Dong Zhuo? Or should we fight them all?"

Qin Qiong calmly replied, "I will follow your orders, my lord."

Dian Wei scratched his head and said, "Anyway, I'll follow my brother. Whoever he tells me to fight, I'll fight."

Lu Bu crossed his arms and said arrogantly, "I don't care who he fights, my halberd is itching for a fight."

Just then, footsteps came from the doorway.

Liu Ce came in.

Everyone stood up in unison, bowed, and said, "Greetings, My Lord!"

Liu Ce waved his hand and walked to the head seat, saying, "Please sit down."

Everyone took their seats, and all eyes turned to him.

Liu Ce cleared his throat and got straight to the point: "... The 'all-out attack' plan needs to be finalized today. Our three armies will march south simultaneously."

Upon hearing this, the generals' eyes lit up!

Zhang Fei was the first to jump up and say, "Brother! I, Old Zhang, have been waiting for this day for so long! Let me lead the charge!"

Guan Yu stroked his long beard, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, and said, "I am willing to be the vanguard."

Zhao Yun clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "I am willing to follow my lord into battle!"

Dian Wei said, "Brother, I want to go too!"

Xu Chu chimed in, "Me too!"

......

In an instant, the council hall erupted in chaos, with military officers clamoring for battle, the noise nearly lifting the roof off.

Liu Ce smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Don't get excited, don't get excited, everyone gets a share."

He stood up, walked to the large map hanging on the wall, picked up a thin wooden stick, and began to point out the directions:

"I will lead the First Army south to Suanzao to fight against the nineteen-route coalition against Dong Zhuo."

The wooden stick was placed on the spot where the jujube was.

"First Army: 10, 000 cavalry under Zhao Yun, 10, 000 cavalry under Lü Bu, 10, 000 infantry under Zhang Liao, 10, 000 infantry under Guan Yu, and 10, 000 infantry under Zhang Fei."

Zhao Yun, Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei all stood up and said, "Your subordinates obey!"

Liu Ce nodded, pointing the wooden stick in the direction of Luoyang, and said:

"The Second Army, commanded by Xu Da, will attack Luoyang and Chang'an..."

Xu Da stood up and clasped his hands in greeting.

"The Second Army consists of 10, 000 cavalrymen under Qin Qiong, 10, 000 cavalrymen under Yuchi Gong, 10, 000 infantrymen under Yuwen Chengdu, 10, 000 infantrymen under Cheng Yaojin, and 10, 000 infantrymen under Huang Zhong."

Qin Qiong, Yuchi Gong, Yuwen Chengdu, Cheng Yaojin, and Huang Zhong all stood up and said, "Your subordinates obey!"

Liu Ce's wooden stick continued to move, pointing towards the vicinity of Hulao Pass:

"The Third Army, commanded by Xue Rengui, is going to fight Dong Zhuo..."

Xue Rengui stood up.