After Liu Bei's victory, he led his troops to Chang'an. With the deaths of the four great warlords, no one under Heaven remained who could resist Liu Bei's armies.
The outcome of this battle had plainly surpassed everyone's expectations. Everyone had believed that Liu, Cao, and Yuan would remain locked in stalemate for a long time.
Yet no one had imagined that in merely two years, Liu Bei would sweep away most of the remaining warlords and settle the great course of the realm.
But to history, this was hardly surprising, for this was how the realm's situation ought to have unfolded. No matter how thoroughly a dynasty crumbled, most realms would achieve unification within a dozen or so years. The Three Kingdoms had merely been an exception.
After Liu Bei's victory, Xiahou Dun sent Xun Yu as an envoy to submit a memorial requesting surrender and respectfully welcome Liu Bei into the city. When Liu Bei emerged from camp, the common people greeted him at the gates with fragrant flowers, lanterns, and candles.
Upon entering the court, he first paid respects to the Son of Heaven. He then personally went to Cao Cao's residence to burn incense and offer sacrifice before finally coming to the hall to meet the court's high ministers.
Xun Yu and the other senior ministers were all present, save for Guo Jia, who had shut himself away and refused to emerge. Seeing this, Liu Bei had intended to visit him personally, but Qin Tian said:
"Guo Fengxiao and I are bound in friendship beyond reversal. He has always been indolent by nature, and after all these changes, I fear he has no wish to serve in office. Let him be."
Hearing this, Liu Bei simply abandoned the thought of inviting Guo Jia back into service.