Just as though he had foreseen Liu Bei's hesitation, Qin Tian sent out his troops.
Without notifying anyone, he directly led his forces into Jingnan.
The news plainly took everyone by surprise, Liu Bei included.
Though Qin Tian could be unconventional in his ways, he had always given advance notice before taking action.
Yet while Liu Bei was still wavering, Qin Tian had acted first and reported afterward.
Such conduct would have been a grave taboo for a ruler in any era.
But Liu Bei had always trusted those he employed. Upon hearing the news Jian Yong brought, he asked:
"We have yet to declare war on Jing Province. Why has Zixuan sent out troops?"
He believed Qin Tian must have had some reason for deploying his army; otherwise, he would not have acted this way.
At his question, Jian Yong presented the wooden dispatch in his hand and said:
"The Commander deployed his troops because he received a letter from Zhang Xian requesting aid."
"The letter stated that Zhang Xian was critically ill and did not have long to live."
"Furthermore, the campaign against Liu Biao was undertaken on an imperial order, not an act of rebellion."
"Thus, he asked the Commander to lead troops into Jingnan and resist Liu Biao as well!"
Having said this, he took another letter from his sleeve and continued:
"This is a report submitted by our scouts. It says Zhang Xian passed away at the end of the twelfth month."
"From this, it appears the Commander did indeed receive Zhang Xian's request before heading north!"
With that, he presented the intelligence he had received to Liu Bei as well.
Liu Bei read through the two letters in turn, then nodded to himself.
Judging from these two reports, Qin Tian clearly did not know