Chapter 106: A Grand Banquet for the Officials

Fan Li arrived at the Grand Tutor’s residence to find it already teeming with high-ranking guests. Grand Tutor Dong Zhuo was hosting a banquet, and everyone invited was a major official of the Han imperial court.

"The Duke of Jin from the Great Chu has arrived!"

As the attendant announced his presence, Fan Li immediately felt dozens of gazes turn toward him. There were looks of envy, astonishment, and confusion, but what he felt most clearly was disgust and hostility. Fan Li was puzzled. He had only just arrived in the Great Han; he hadn't offended anyone yet, had he?

"Duke of Jin, you have kept me waiting for quite some time!"

Suddenly, a voice as unpleasant as rolling thunder boomed from the head seat of the banquet. Fan Li recognized the man immediately. Wearing the nine-tiered imperial crown and draped in black ceremonial robes, his massive frame radiating a fierce aura—it was none other than the Grand Tutor of the Great Han, Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo rose, strode over to Fan Li, and firmly grasped his right hand. "Duke of Jin, you and I are brothers!"

*What the hell?*

Fan Li thought he was hearing things. Sworn brothers with Dong Zhuo? Was this some kind of misfortune that only happens if one’s ancestral graves have been dug up?

The Han officials present were stirred into an uneasy commotion upon hearing this. Fan Li understood instantly, and his gaze turned cold. Dong Zhuo was dragging him into the mud, trying to make the Han officials believe that the two powerful ministers of Chu and Han had some sort of secret alliance.

He silently pulled his hand away and said in a calm tone, "This is my first meeting with Grand Tutor Dong, and I regret that I forgot to prepare a gift. I apologize."

As soon as these words were spoken, the agitation among the officials seemed to subside. Indeed, those qualified to attend this banquet were all shrewd veterans. Fan Li’s words actually carried two layers of meaning: first, they had just met and were not close; second, by arriving empty-handed, he was showing no particular favor. The hostile glares directed at Fan Li by the Han officials diminished significantly.

"Oh? Hahahaha, no matter, no matter." Seeing his attempt to force a bond with Fan Li fail, Dong Zhuo did not show anger, but instead let out a few hearty laughs to force the topic aside. "I have a major matter to discuss with the Duke of Jin."

Fan Li knew that if he did not show Dong Zhuo some face, given the man’s suspected Mahayana-realm cultivation and his infamous, brutal temper, he might turn hostile on the spot. He nodded and said, "I am all ears."

"No rush," Dong Zhuo said, appearing very satisfied with Fan Li’s attitude. "The Duke is a person of high status and should sit at the head table with me. Let me handle a trivial matter first, then we shall talk in detail." He then said to Cao Cao, who was standing behind Fan Li, "Mengde, just find a seat anywhere."

"Yes, Grand Tutor."

Cao Cao’s intention in coming was to protect Fan Li, but seeing that Dong Zhuo had no intention of harming him, he felt slightly relieved.

*A trivial matter? Unlikely,* Fan Li mused to himself. He did not believe that Dong Zhuo had gone to such great lengths to invite dozens of high-ranking Han officials just to settle a minor affair.

*Clap! Clap, clap!*

Dong Zhuo clapped his hands and shouted toward the hall, "Bring him in."

A general in silver armor strode in. He had a heroic and extraordinary appearance, yet his eyes were filled with deep, murderous intent. The general held a halberd in his right hand, and Fan Li immediately recognized him: Lü Bu! But what made Fan Li even more curious was that Lü Bu was leading a sika deer with his left hand.

*Wait a moment.* A sika deer?

"Gentlemen," Dong Zhuo said, looking perfectly composed, "I recently acquired a horse that can travel a thousand miles a day. I invite you all to appraise it."

After finishing, Dong Zhuo didn't forget to glance at Fan Li.

*What the hell?!* Fan Li cursed internally. *Pointing at a deer and calling it a horse? This old guy is stealing my material?*

The Han officials were stunned to see Dong Zhuo pointing at a deer and calling it a horse. Fan Li’s own performance of this trick had already spread across the three nations of Chu, Han, and Ming. For Dong Zhuo to recreate this famous scene in public was an utter humiliation to the Han officials!

*I’ve been dragged into it after all,* Fan Li thought helplessly. Sitting next to Dong Zhuo now, he wouldn't be able to wash himself clean even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

"Grand Tutor Dong, this is clearly a sika deer! Why do you insist on calling it a horse?" One official, unable to suppress his rage, blurted out the truth.

No sooner had he spoken than a flash of silver cold light streaked across the room! It was Lü Bu, who, with shocking power, swung his halberd and decapitated the man on the spot!

"Minister Yang!" someone cried out in grief.

Lü Bu held his blood-stained halberd, his gaze full of malice as he glared at the man who had shouted.

"You villain! You beast! I’ll fight you to the death!" The man roared, his body enveloped in a cyan aura—clearly a Confucian scholar who practiced the "Noble Spirit." But before he could strike, the halberd pierced through the protective aura as if it were a soap bubble, running him through the heart.

Having killed two men, Lü Bu seemed completely unaffected, merely smiling as he scanned the room.

"Yang Biao and Huang Wan drew their weapons during the banquet; it is clear they intended to assassinate me," Dong Zhuo finally spoke. "The two traitors have been eliminated; there is no need for you all to panic." He added, "Fengxian, you have performed a great service in protecting me. I hereby grant you the title of Marquis of Wen. Take your thousand-mile horse away now."

"Thank you, Godfather!" Lü Bu knelt on one knee, his face beaming with joy.

This farcical slaughter allowed Fan Li to clearly see Dong Zhuo’s methods. Brutal. Unlike the Fan family, which had spent years managing the Great Chu, forming monopolies in military, political, and commercial spheres to win the hearts of the people through benevolence, Dong Zhuo ruled solely through brute force.

Seeing this, Fan Li actually felt calm. The gap between an upstart and a family with a thousand-year foundation was, after all, fundamental. Fan Li truly looked down on Dong Zhuo for only knowing how to use such crude methods to consolidate power.

*Ding!*

*“Task issued: [The Greatest Traitor in the World], also known as [Deceiving the Sovereign] Enhanced Edition!”*

*“Task Description: The pyramid top of traitors does not allow for a second figure other than the host.”*

*“Requirement: Being a traitor is not enough; one must bully the Emperor of another nation. Please bully the Han Emperor, Liu Xie, so that Dong Zhuo has no monarch left to bully.”*

*“Reward: [The Emperor’s Underwear].”*

*“Reward Details: A dragon robe doesn't necessarily have to be worn on the outside. [The Emperor’s Underwear] is a Heaven-grade protective spiritual treasure. Requirement for use: Destiny of an Emperor.”*

Fan Li was speechless. He had only mildly despised Dong Zhuo in his heart; why did the system insist he compete with him? This system had quite the competitive streak.

*[The Emperor’s Underwear]? What the hell is that? Dragon briefs? Forget it, at least it’s not [The Emperor’s New Clothes].*

As Fan Li’s thoughts wandered, he noticed Dong Zhuo smiling at him.

"Duke of Jin, the trivial matter is settled. Shall we move to the rear hall to talk?"

"…Very well."

Fan Li followed Dong Zhuo into the rear hall. Before they could even sit down, Dong Zhuo began to boast triumphantly. "The Duke’s [Pointing at a Deer and Calling it a Horse] is truly a brilliant tactic. Now, there are very few officials in the Han court who dare to hold a different opinion from mine."

Fan Li couldn't help but roll his eyes. *As if!* Is that how [Pointing at a Deer and Calling it a Horse] is supposed to be used? *What a brute!*

Dong Zhuo continued with a startling revelation: "Duke of Jin, we are both men who intend to change dynasties. In the future, when we ascend to the throne, I hope we will always be brotherly nations. We must not let Zhu Houcong take advantage of any opportunities, right?"

There is no such thing as love or hatred without a reason in this world. Dong Zhuo had repeatedly shown goodwill toward Fan Li, and this was his purpose.

Without waiting for Fan Li to reply, Dong Zhuo waved his hand. "A small gift, as a token of my welcome to the Duke."

A gift? Fan Li was just beginning to feel a sense of anticipation when he caught the scent of flowers, and a graceful figure in red knelt slowly before him.

"This humble one is Diaochan… honored to serve the Duke of Jin."