Chapter 1: You Can't Hold Xuzhou—Go Seize Jingzhou Instead

Year 196 A.D., the first year of Jian’an.

Yuan Shu launched a massive northern campaign, seizing Guangling Commandery, his forces poised to strike deep into the heart of Xuzhou.

Having only recently taken command of Xuzhou, Liu Bei was forced to lead his troops southward, taking up position in Xutai City, where his army faced Yuan Shu’s forces across the Huai River.

At noon, just outside the west gate of Xutai City.

A carriage slowly approached the city walls.

The Xuzhou soldiers guarding the gate immediately became alert.

“Brother-in-law, we’ve arrived at Xutai City,” the white-robed youth called out as he reined in the horses.

The boy was around fourteen or fifteen, his features and tone still carrying a trace of youthful innocence.

From inside the carriage came a yawn.

An older young gentleman in a blue robe lazily climbed down, stretching with a languid air.

“Brother-in-law, Liu Xuande is the governor of an entire province. We two obscure soldiers—would he even agree to see us?”

The white-robed youth held up a parasol over the gentleman’s head while frowning.

The blue-robed youth said nothing but swaggered up to the city gate, cleared his throat, and declared loudly:

“My surname is Xiao, a noted scholar from Jingzhou. I happen to be passing through and have come to offer your governor a clear path to restore the Han dynasty. You must report this at once!”

The gate guards were stunned.

A reputed scholar, proclaiming to show their lord the way to save the Han—such boldness indicated a person of some standing.

No doubt this was a member of the literati; how could lowly soldiers like them offend such a figure? Without hesitation, one soldier dashed into the city to report, while the others whispered among themselves, speculating on the identity of this young gentleman.

“Brother-in-law, isn’t it a bit improper to pretend to be a scholar and trick Lord Liu like this?” the white-robed youth asked, showing his inexperience and lack of tact.

“Ah Liang, when you’re out in the world, your identity is what you make it,” said Xiao Fang calmly. “Though Liu Xuande was born humble, he now governs a territory. He’s not someone that just any commoner can meet.”

“You’re a mere child, and I a humble commoner. As you said, we’re nobodies. Without adopting the guise of a scholar, how could we ever gain an audience with Liu Xuande?”

“And if we can’t see him, how will we persuade him to come to Jingzhou?”

Xiao Fang’s eyes brightened with a glint of cunning.

“I think I understand now. From a military strategy perspective, this is called bluffing.”

“Hmm, I must write that down...” Zhuge Liang, filled with curiosity, quickly took out a bamboo slip and diligently recorded the lesson.

Seeing his eager younger brother-in-law, Xiao Fang couldn’t help but sigh.

Years ago, by a twist of fate, he had traveled through time into this chaotic late Han era and become a low-born young man in Jingzhou.

When Cao Cao had mercilessly ravaged Xuzhou, the head of the Zhuge family, Zhuge Xuan, fled the turmoil with his siblings to seek refuge in Jingzhou under Liu Biao.

Xiao Fang, a medical doctor, by chance saved the gravely ill Zhuge Xuan.

Grateful for this life-saving favor, Zhuge Xuan betrothed his niece, Zhuge Lan—Zhuge Liang’s eldest sister—to Xiao Fang.

Thus, by an unexpected turn, Xiao Fang became the future Wolong’s brother-in-law.

Today, to draw Liu Bei into Jingzhou, Zhuge Liang accompanied him as both brother-in-law and scribe, journeying thousands of miles from Jingzhou to Xuzhou.

“Brother-in-law, what exactly does ‘persuade’ mean? Please enlighten me,” Zhuge Liang asked, looking up with innocent eyes.

“Ahem...” Xiao Fang was brought back from his reverie, pondering how to answer, when the soldier who had gone to report returned.

“Our lord requests that Mr. Xiao be admitted to the city for a discussion!”

“What are you waiting for? Open the gate immediately,” the guards stepped aside respectfully.

Zhuge Liang’s face lit up. “Brother-in-law’s bluff has worked; Lord Liu has indeed been deceived—cough—he truly is a man who respects talent.”

Xiao Fang laughed heartily and leapt into the carriage.

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s enter the city.”

“The fate of the Zhuge family’s revival, whether I shall rise to high office, and if a hundred years hence I may be honored in the ancestral temple—all depends on today!”

The carriage rolled into the city.

Moments later, Xiao Fang was seated in the guest chamber, savoring tea.

The man presiding over the hall with a kind expression was none other than Liu Bei, lord of Xuzhou.

Liu Bei regarded the unexpected visitor with curious eyes.

Having struggled through life and faced setbacks, he was now nearly forty and had unexpectedly become governor of Xuzhou.

Yet, born from humble origins, those in high positions and talented men mostly avoided him; his talent pool was so shallow it might as well breed turtles.

Now, with the two armies clashing for months and suffering several defeats, he had no wise advisor to guide him on how to repel Yuan Shu.

Nor anyone to counsel him on how to hold onto this hard-won land or fulfill his grand ambition to restore the Han dynasty.

Confused and desperate, suddenly a self-proclaimed scholar from Jingzhou arrived, offering to show him the way to save the Han.

Naturally, Liu Bei was invigorated and greeted him with due courtesy.

“But this young Mr. Xiao looks so young; I wonder which esteemed scholar of Jingzhou he is…” Liu Bei suppressed his doubts and bowed apologetically.

“Mr. Xiao, you have come a long way. I regret not having come out to greet you.”

“May I ask your full name?”

Xiao Fang set down his teacup and returned the bow.

“You are too kind, Lord Liu. I am Xiao Fang of Yiyang, styled Jinglüe.”

Xiao Fang? Xiao Jinglüe?

Liu Bei’s mind raced through the list of renowned scholars in Jingzhou but found no trace of this name.

He looked to Jian Yong, who shook his head in bewilderment.

Then to Guan Yu, who also gave a slight negative shake.

If both of them were unaware, it wasn’t a failing of memory; there truly was no such figure among Jingzhou’s literati.

“Could this man be an impostor, a charlatan?” Liu Bei wondered.

“Or perhaps a spy sent by Yuan Shu with ulterior motives?”

Guan Yu was the first to suspect this, his phoenix eyes suddenly widening as he gripped his sword hilt.

But Liu Bei signaled caution, urging him not to act rashly, and quelled his own suspicion.

He bowed again.

“The soldiers reported that Mr. Xiao came specifically to offer a clear path to restore the Han dynasty.”

“Please, Mr. Xiao, share your grand strategy. I am all ears.”

Guan Yu and Jian Yong also leaned forward, eager to hear what wisdom this mysterious scholar might offer.

“Xuzhou has been twice ravaged by Cao Cao’s forces and is now severely weakened.”

“To the north lies Yuan Shao, to the west Cao Cao, to the south Yuan Shu—each a great predator dominating their region, holding overwhelming advantages over Xuzhou.”

“Within Xuzhou, Guangling Commandery is already seized by Yuan Shu. Zang Ba and the Taishan army occupy the Langya and Donghai commanderies, answering your orders but not your commands.”

“The Danyang troops left by Tao Qian are still not under your full control. Generals like Cao Bao and Xu Dan pay you mere lip service.”

“The powerful local families and gentry are mostly fence-sitters, siding with whoever wins. Few truly support you wholeheartedly.”

“In such a situation, with turmoil both inside and out, it is nearly impossible for you to hold Xuzhou—a land fought over four times!”

Xiao Fang toyed with his teacup, calmly laying bare the turbulent undercurrents of Xuzhou.

Liu Bei’s expression shifted. His earlier suspicion gave way to growing respect.

This man, from far-off Jingzhou, understood the complex internal and external situation of Xuzhou and his predicament with astonishing clarity.

There was substance here...

Perhaps he truly was a great talent, harboring brilliant strategies to help him restore the Han.

“Mr. Xiao, your grasp of Xuzhou’s affairs is truly insightful.”

“May I ask, what must I do to hold Xuzhou and use it as a foundation to restore our Han dynasty?”

Liu Bei asked earnestly.

“Have I not already explained, Lord Liu?”

“To insist on holding Xuzhou is a dead end!”

Xiao Fang’s tone was resolute as he raised his hand, pointing southwest.

“If you wish to restore the Han, you must abandon Xuzhou and seize Jingzhou!”

Liu Bei’s face suddenly changed.