Chapter 87: Escape by a Shell

The Prince of Zhongshan truly thinks that only by allying with Liu Biao now can he threaten Cao Cao. Liu Biao is formidable; that much is true. But in the earlier struggles, he never took part.

Guo Tu had finally clawed his way into the place of first man beneath Yuan Shao, only to look back and see that Yuan Shao himself was already on the verge of collapse. Naturally, panic stirred in his heart as well.

But by now, both Tian Feng and Ju Shou had already withdrawn to a half-retired state; it was impossible for them to keep offering counsel for Yuan Shao. As for him and Shen Pei, they had no shortage of petty cleverness, but they were not the sort to offer timely assistance in a crisis. So when Liu Bei proposed such a strategy, it still managed to make his eyes light up.

“He did not take part back then because he had hoped Yuan Gong and Cao Cao would wound each other to the point of mutual ruin. But now...”

At this point, Liu Bei did not dare speak too plainly. Otherwise, if Guo Tu happened to denounce him before the gravely ill Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao might well drag him down with him.

“So the Prince means that Liu Biao will not sit idly by and let Cao Cao become supreme alone?”

“Exactly. Liu Biao is indeed a man who prefers safety and ease, but once Cao Cao swallows our lands of the north, and all the Central Plain falls into Cao Cao’s hands, how could Liu Biao preserve himself?”

Liu Bei carefully probed the meaning, daring not to state it too directly at first. The deeper implications would have to be understood by Guo Tu himself.

“But on this matter, Liu Biao has not yet given his response. We must first inform Yuan Gong, then dispatch a man of eloquence to go in person!”

Everyone knew Liu Biao was indecisive. Even if the advantages and disadvantages were laid bare before him, one could not simply ask him to send troops on empty words. Some sincere terms had to be offered first, such as which cities would belong to Liu Biao once the matter was accomplished; only then would he agree.

“Tian Feng is a man of great reputation and virtue beneath Yuan Gong. If he were to go, Liu Biao would surely assent!”

As soon as Liu Bei spoke, he recommended Tian Feng, who was indeed highly esteemed in Ye City.

“Alas, these days Tian Feng has been overwhelmed with grief over Yuan Gong’s grave illness and is no longer fit to travel far. Otherwise, he would be an excellent choice.”

Liu Bei let out a sigh, showing his helplessness, then said, “Since Gongze enjoys Yuan Gong’s deep trust now, why not let Gongze go? Success would surely come at once.”

When Guo Tu heard that Liu Bei actually wanted to send him, he was first startled, then shook his head as well and said, “Yuan Gong is gravely ill, and all the affairs of Ye City, great and small, must rely on Shen Pei and me. If I leave, I fear Ye City will fall into chaos. This is exactly a case of having the will but not the strength!”

After speaking, Guo Tu and Liu Bei both sighed together, once again lamenting the matter’s impossibility.

If Gongze and Yuan Gong can place their trust in me, then I shall go in the Prince’s stead. What of it? After all, Liu Biao and I are both kin of the imperial house; surely he will not drive matters to the bitter end!

After twice proposing nonexistent candidates, Liu Bei finally revealed his true intent and brought forth himself.

“For the Prince to go is not impossible, but this matter is of great importance. Does the Prince truly have a plan?”

Guo Tu indeed showed no suspicion. What troubled him was that Liu Bei’s standing under Yuan Shao was too low; he feared that even if he went, Liu Biao would pay him no heed.

“If I go alone, Liu Biao will surely look down on me. It would be better to ask Yuan Gong to grant me a thousand troops and send me to Runan. We can say I have gone to form an alliance with Liu Biao. When Liu Biao sees such sincerity from Yuan Gong, it will be much easier for me to negotiate with him.”

Liu Bei tremblingly named a force of one thousand men, then looked toward Guo Tu.

He of course understood that most of the affairs in Ye City were now in Guo Tu’s hands. If Guo Tu wanted Yuan Shao to agree, Yuan Shao would certainly agree.

Sure enough, Guo Tu was now so desperate to ward off Cao Cao and preserve his own position that he was beginning to grasp at straws. Hearing that Liu Bei only wanted to bring a thousand troops, and not even elite ones at that, he thought this was the very model of spending little to accomplish much.

“Since the Prince has such confidence, I shall speak to Yuan Gong. I will give the Prince two thousand men to go to Runan, but as for the rest, I can no longer help the Prince. Still, if the Prince truly can persuade Liu Biao to send troops, then once Cao Cao is defeated, Yuan Gong will surely greatly favor and appoint the Prince!”

Liu Bei hurriedly performed repeated bows and kowtows before Shen Pei, promising he would certainly do his utmost, though inwardly he cursed Shen Pei to no end.

Everyone knew Yuan Shao looked as though he did not have long to live, and yet he was still handing out grand promises like this?

“Your support means more to me than I can ever repay!”

Leaving behind these words that made Shen Pei believe him completely, Liu Bei nearly wiped away tears as he departed Shen Pei’s residence.

Of course, these were tears of excitement, tears of freedom. Once he took those troops and his own loyal followers to Runan, for him, Liu Emperor Liu, would it not then be a vast sea where fish leaped at will, a boundless sky where birds flew freely?

A few days later, an order was issued in Ye City: Yuan Shao commanded Liu Bei to take two thousand troops to Runan and negotiate with Liu Biao on his behalf concerning an alliance.

Liu Bei immediately accepted the order and declared that he would certainly complete the task. Then, the very next day, he hurried off with Zhang Fei and the others toward Runan.

After Liu Bei left, Tian Feng, who had long been feigning illness and staying at home, heard of this matter and merely burst into laughter several times toward the sky. That very day, several members of Tian Feng’s household found an excuse to leave Ye City, leaving only him and a few maidservants behind.

Although Tian Feng had already stopped offering counsel for Yuan Shao since the campaign against Guandu began, the elders in Ye City all knew his capabilities. After his family fled Ye City, many others quietly sent their own families out of the city as well.

In an instant, the upper ranks in Ye City were in fear for their lives, but because Yuan Shao still had a breath left in him, everyone could only act in secret.

Having been let loose like a tiger returning to the mountains, Liu Bei led his loyal followers and the two thousand troops Yuan Shao had bestowed upon him out of Ye City. He did indeed head for Runan, and he did indeed go to negotiate with Liu Biao.

The only difference from what he had discussed with Guo Tu was that the negotiation was not about cooperating with Yuan Shao, but about cooperating directly with him.

And beyond that, Liu Bei had another hidden move.

Long before he had arrived in Ye City, Zhao Yun had come to visit his residence and declared his resolve to serve beneath his banner.

Liu Bei was naturally overjoyed by this. For those few days, he nearly ate at the same table with Zhao Yun every day, and was only one step away from sharing a blanket and sleeping together.

But after a few days, Zhao Yun vanished from Liu Bei’s residence. Since he had few acquaintances in Ye City, his departure caused little more than mild surprise among Zhang Fei and the others, and drew no real attention at all.

As for what Zhao Yun went to do, only he and Liu Bei knew. It was precisely from that time onward that Liu Bei had already begun preparing to break away from Yuan Shao.

Zhao Yun had not gone far. He followed behind the battlefield where Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were contending. Whenever scattered soldiers who had been routed did not want to return to their own camps, it was time for him to display his prowess.