Chapter 77: Long Prepared

At this point in time, Liu Bei had not only nearly forgotten the taste of having two wives, but had almost forgotten Guan Yu as well. He considered that Yuan Shao probably had no further chance to pull any tricks, and that once this battle was over, it would be time to move on to the next place.

That day, in Liu Bei’s residence in Ye City, he was sitting together with Mi Zhu, Mi Fang, Zhang Fei and others, each of them wearing a rather grave expression.

“Today Yuan Shao ordered me, three days from now, to join Liu Pi, the surrendered Yellow Turban general, in raiding the southern territories of Xu Chang that belong to Cao Cao. There’s no good to be gained from this. We’ll end up just like that newly surrendered Liu Pi—as soon as Yuan Shao is defeated, we’ll be the first to die!”

Liu Bei muttered his grievances softly to his closest companions. If he could simply live a few peaceful days in Ye City, he would have found life quite tolerable. But now, being suddenly sent with Liu Pi to harass Cao Cao, Liu Bei felt that Yuan Shao did not regard him, the Imperial Uncle, with any esteem at all.

Sitting directly opposite Liu Bei was Zhang Fei. Unlike Guan Yu, Zhang Fei had broad shoulders and a slender waist, brimming with power, but his cheeks were thin, giving him a surprisingly handsome look at first glance. Yet anyone who truly knew him was aware of his ill temper—“irascible” was putting it mildly.

“Yuan Benchu truly does not know how to value men. We’ve already fought the Cao army at Guandu several times and even lost some of our own guards. Not only are we given no credit, now he’s pushing us aside like this!”

As Zhang Fei stirred the conversation, Liu Bei only lowered his head in silence. Mi Fang and Mi Zhu exchanged a glance and then spoke up as well.

“Imperial Uncle, under Yuan Shao we are but foot soldiers. Yuan Shao has always looked down upon the imperial clan, so he cares nothing for your status. Since this expedition takes us south of Xu Chang, perhaps we should simply not return.”

After all, Zhang Fei was a general and could not easily speak such words, but coming from the Mi brothers, who served as Liu Bei’s advisers, it was different. Their role was to offer strategies.

But to Liu Bei, all this was just part of the script. Given his character, he could never speak such fickle words himself; they had to be voiced by someone like Mi Zhu.

Then, in the tone of an elder brother, Liu Bei would reluctantly express that while he desired honor, he cared even more for the well-being of those following him.

“When we first came to Yuan Shao, I met with Zilong here in Ye City. Back then, Zilong, wanting to keep a retreat open for us, did not join us outright but instead secretly recruited several hundred men, claiming publicly to be under the Left General. Yuan Shao should know nothing of this yet. When we break from Yuan Shao, we can use these men as our base.”

Zhang Fei blinked in confusion. Wasn’t this something you only just decided? When did you make these arrangements?

“A few hundred men, even if we can take some of the troops Yuan Shao assigns us, won’t amount to much. We couldn’t even seize a city, let alone talk of development!”

Mi Zhu, though called an adviser, was not especially crafty; his strengths were his sincerity and loyalty—he truly thought for Liu Bei’s sake.

“Alas, in these times, we must seek the protection of another lord. I have already dispatched Sun Qian and Jian Yong to Jingzhou. Liu Biao enjoys a fine reputation there, and many talented men have gathered in the nine commanderies. Only there can we build our strength slowly.”

Zhang Fei was again taken aback. So not only had Zhao Yun been sent away, but Sun Qian and Jian Yong had gone to Jingzhou too? When had all this happened, and why did he know nothing about it?

Of course, Zhang Fei would never expose his brother in public. After Guan Yu was taken by Cao Cao, Liu Bei had relied on him even more—after all, in these chaotic times, without a capable fighter under his command, even the best-laid plans would be in vain.

“And have they come to an agreement?”

Mi Zhu was not surprised at all by Liu Bei’s arrangements.

“Liu Biao agreed to our coming, but whether he will truly employ us remains to be seen. Still, Jingzhou is a land of talent and largely free from warfare. Recuperating there would not be bad.”

The Mi brothers nodded repeatedly. Here in Ye City, as outsiders, they were not in favor, but in Liu Biao’s court, at least their status as members of the imperial clan would be recognized. Surely things could not be worse than they were now.

“Yun Chang and the two ladies are still in Xu Chang. Why don’t I slip into Xu Chang by night and see if I can bring Yun Chang back?”

With the main matters discussed, Zhang Fei finally found his chance to speak. What preoccupied him was not how to endure humiliation or how to build a future, but concern for Guan Yu.

He had been quite angry that Guan Yu had not only surrendered to Cao Cao, but even received the title of General of the Vanguard. Zhang Fei believed that if he himself were captured by Cao Cao, he would die before surrendering. He thought Guan Yu would do the same, yet Guan Yu was thriving under Cao Cao’s command.

But after Mi Zhu returned from the battle where Guan Yu held back against them, he made it clear that Guan Yu still wished to return to Liu Bei. The reason he had not done so on the battlefield was certainly because of Lady Gan and Lady Mi.

Lady Mi was the younger sister of Mi Zhu and Mi Fang. Whether their defense of Guan Yu was for family reasons was unclear, but Zhang Fei believed them. After brooding for a few days, he changed his view of Guan Yu.

“No, it’s far too dangerous. I know Yun Chang’s character well—if he gets the chance, he will act. If you go, you’ll only disrupt his plans. As long as we let him know we’re heading to Jingzhou, he will find us if he can.”

Zhang Fei could not tell whether Liu Bei was simply too confident in Guan Yu or afraid that he too would never return if he went, but since the elder brother had spoken, Zhang Fei would not press the matter.

What none of them knew was that at that very moment, Guan Yu had already set out for the Southlands ahead of them.

Three days later, Liu Bei and Liu Pi led ten thousand of Yuan Shao’s men toward the small towns south of Xu Chang. Their true purpose was not to seize Xu Chang step by step, but rather, after Yuan Shao’s defeat, to simply make life difficult for Cao Cao out of spite.

During those three days, Liu Bei had not been idle. Together with Mi Zhu and others, he devised a strategy for leaving Yuan Shao and defecting to Liu Biao that would not seem forced or suspicious. Thus, as he led his troops to harass Cao’s forces, Liu Bei was quite confident.

After Yuan Shao’s defeat, he had become a juicy morsel at Cao Cao’s doorstep. Yet just as that morsel began to shift, Cao Cao would hardly let it slip off the cutting board so easily.