Chen Gong's Deduction: Was Wang He Qin Tian?

On the other side, just as Liu Bei was returning to camp to arrange his troops, Chen Deng reported the news to Lu Bu, then went home.

According to the customs of the Han dynasty, upon returning home, one first had to pay respects to one's elders.

Though Chen Deng was already middle-aged, he was extremely scrupulous about propriety. He attended to his parents' comfort in winter and summer and paid his respects morning and evening, as custom dictated, before going to the inner courtyard to see Chen Gui.

Seeing Chen Deng return, Chen Gui asked:

"Did my son manage to persuade Yang Feng and the others?"

"I persuaded two of them to switch sides!"

Chen Deng smiled at Chen Gui and said:

"Just as I expected, Han Xian, Yang Feng, and the others had long been discontented. As soon as I went and appealed to their sense of righteousness, the two were moved!"

"We agreed to use a fire as a signal tonight, then turn against the enemy and attack!"

"Good. Then the danger facing our family can be dispelled!"

Chen Gui nodded, stroking his beard. He rose and paced back and forth in the hall.

"However, there is one more matter. Deng, what do you think of Liu Bei's strategist, Wang He?"

Chen Gui had already begun to pay little attention to Liu Bei.

But after Liu Bei arrived and Chen Gui saw him again, he had felt that something was off.

The Liu Bei of old might have concealed his emotions, but one could still see clearly through his plans.

Now, however, he had grown more and more inscrutable.

Chen Gui knew Liu Bei was an ambitious hero. He would never act this way without some grand design.

But what grand design could Liu Bei have?

There was no need to think too hard. This Wang He must have laid out some grand plan for Liu Bei, which was why Liu Bei was acting this way!

Yet when Chen Gui looked at Wang He, he could never quite fathom what the man was thinking.

That was why he wanted to hear Chen Deng's opinion.

As soon as he asked about it, Chen Deng replied:

"Wang He may seem frivolous and impetuous, but in truth he is meticulous and exceptionally clever. Your son is no match for him!"

Chen Gui was startled.

"Yuanlong, you actually admit you're inferior to him?"

As the saying went, no one knew a son better than his father. Chen Gui knew his son was proud by nature; if he thought little of someone, he would never give them the time of day.

But these words were nothing short of a direct admission of defeat.

That was unlike Chen Deng!

Thinking this, he asked again:

"Yuanlong, why do you say that?"

Chen Deng did not hide his thoughts. He replied gravely:

"It's not that I'm praising him for its own sake. His plans are so profound that they're downright terrifying!"

"At first, I thought his letter might have been aimed at Xiang County, but I simply couldn't see what he was planning."

"But now that I've met him, I've realized that his plans go far beyond that!"

Chen Gui frowned at this.

"If he isn't plotting to take Xiang County, what is he after?"

Chen Deng shook his head and smiled faintly.

"Father, have you still not sensed it?"

"With his intelligence, taking Xiang County would be a piece of cake!"

"Why would he go out of his way to invite Lu Bu to join him?"

Chen Gui listened and nodded to himself. He, too, could tell that Liu Bei's strategist would have little trouble taking a city.

After all, he had offered a plan to defeat the enemy the moment he arrived. That alone showed how extraordinary his strategic ability was.

As Chen Gui was thinking, Chen Deng continued on his own:

"He invited Lu Bu so he could use Lu Bu's strength to move against Yuan Shu!"

"I was puzzled by this before, after hearing Father speak of it."

"Since Liu Bei has a strategist serving him, why not simply seize Xiang County?"

"But then I thought it through. Yuan Shu had only just declared himself emperor, and his forces were strong. Liu Bei had barely ten thousand troops. If he took Xiang County, he would surely provoke Yuan Shu. If Yuan Shu called up his entire army, how could Liu Bei defend it?"

"So, to take Xiang County, one of the regional lords must first go to war with Yuan Shu and keep him too occupied to act. Only then could Liu Bei succeed!"

Chen Gui's eyes narrowed.

"Deng, are you saying he means to use Lu Bu as a shield?"

"Exactly!"

Chen Deng nodded.

"Rather than a shield, I'd say he means to make Lu Bu take the blow!"

"Right now, Liu Bei is weak, while Lu Bu is strong. And Yuan Shu has taken offense at Lu Bu!"

"If we can defeat Yuan Shu's forces now, then Yuan Shu's anger will be directed at Lu Bu. Even if Liu Bei takes Xiang County, Yuan Shu may be displeased, but he won't throw his full strength into an attack!"

Chen Gui frowned.

"But that doesn't make sense! If he wants Lu Bu to take the blow, there was no need to send a letter!"

"After all, even without a letter, Lu Bu would still fall out with Yuan Shu!"

"If he only wants to take Xiang County, the time is ripe now. He can simply do it!"

Chen Deng shook his head and smiled.

"Father, that is exactly why I said his plans are terrifying!"

"He may seem arrogant and unrestrained, but he is meticulous in his thinking."

"He sent that letter because he had foreseen how matters would stand today and wanted Lu Bu to ask for help, thereby entangling him!"

"If this battle is won, Liu Bei will secure a promise from Lu Bu, as well as money, grain, and troops."

"And what will Lu Bu get? Nothing at all!"

"On the surface, the two houses are cooperating, but in Yuan Shu's eyes, Lu Bu is the one behind everything!"

"If he seeks revenge, he'll target Lu Bu first and Liu Bei afterward!"

"In other words, that letter put Liu Bei directly behind Lu Bu."

"If they win this battle, Liu Bei can advance alongside Lu Bu. If he retreats, he can take the provisions and supplies and turn around to launch a surprise attack on Xiang County. Liu Bei gets all the benefits, while Yuan Shu's anger falls entirely on Lu Bu!"

"Without that letter, Liu Bei would draw Yuan Shu's wrath even if he sent troops. But with the letter, Lu Bu is the one who asked for help, so Yuan Shu's anger will fall on him first."

"With Lu Bu out in front now, Liu Bei can make his plans from behind!"

"To leverage circumstances with a single letter and secure such a great advantage for himself—Father, think about how much consideration that took, and how deep his plans must run!"

Chen Gui was stunned as he listened.

He had thought that letter made no sense, but now it seemed that the schemes behind it were beyond the reach of ordinary men.

He would have to be a fool not to see it!

Without an extraordinary grasp of the situation, no one could pull off such a move!

But then he thought of something and frowned.

"Could Lu Bu ever be used by another?"

In Chen Gui's view, Lu Bu was a complete wild card. If you allied with him, he might turn around at any moment and stab you in the back.

If he knew about this calculation, he would surely turn against them on the spot.

"Father, that is another reason I marvel at his plans!"

Chen Deng gave a leisurely smile.

"He planned everything thoroughly. When he arrived the other day, he had Liu Bei bring Chen Gong down."

"It looked as if Liu Bei had uncovered Chen Gong's scheme, but if no one asked, who would know Chen Gong had been the one to obstruct things?"

"That shows that the moment the messenger arrived, Wang He knew someone was interfering behind the scenes. Only then could he draw out the matter with Chen Gong!"

"Then, once he arrived, his seemingly wild words were actually meant to coax Lu Bu into making promises!"

"From this, we can see that he intends not only to move against Yuan Shu, but also to scheme against Lu Bu!"

"I dare say he has another move in reserve!"

"If Lu Bu cooperates, so much the better. If he turns against them, Wang He will surely have him under control!"

If Chen Gui had heard this before, he would never have believed it.

Liu Bei had barely ten thousand troops. How could he plan against Yuan Shu and Lu Bu at the same time?

But now he thought it might well be possible.

Especially after meeting Wang He, he felt the young man was nothing but a smiling tiger, full of treachery!

Who knew how many schemes and stratagems lurked beneath that handsome face?

Thinking this, Chen Gui stroked his beard and sighed.

"I never imagined that a man as benevolent and virtuous as Liu Xuande would have someone like this serving him!"

"With a man like that in Liu Bei's camp, who can say whether it's a blessing or a calamity!"

Chen Deng smiled as soon as he heard this.

"Father, forgive your son for speaking out of turn, but in my eyes, having this man serve Liu Bei is like giving him wings. He can seize the moment and rise!"

"Now the regional lords are locked in a great war. Only a man who can command the overall situation, master strategy, and understand the human heart can help Liu Bei achieve great things!"

Seeing Chen Deng like this, Chen Gui frowned.

"My son truly thinks so highly of Liu Xuande?"

"It's not Liu Bei I think highly of, but this ruler and subject together!"

Chen Deng smiled.

"Liu Bei is good at employing people, but alas, he has no one to employ. Wang He is a rare talent. Just wait and see, Father. Within two years, Liu Bei will be able to contend with the regional lords!"

But when Chen Deng finished, Chen Gui sighed.

"If Liu Bei rises with the tide, the Central Plains will surely descend into chaos once more!"

"Even with our plans, how can we ensure Xuzhou remains peaceful?"

Chen Deng shook his head.

"Father, there's no need to worry. You must know that after chaos comes order!"

"If the situation continues as it is, it would be better for it to descend into chaos sooner!"

"Besides, we've already reached out to Lord Cao. Whether Liu Bei rises or Lord Cao brings the Central Plains under control, the Chen Clan will have a part to play!"

After hearing Chen Deng out, Chen Gui considered it for a moment, then nodded.

"At this point, we have no choice but to do just that!"

As he spoke, a smile appeared on his face.

"My son's ability to see things this way brings me great comfort!"

"With you here, the Chen Clan will be safe!"

Chen Deng only smiled and said nothing in response to Chen Gui's praise.

In truth, he still favored Liu Bei.

But for now, he did not want to persuade his father further.

He felt that with Wang He's help, Liu Bei would reach Xuzhou sooner or later even without the two of them.

All he had to do was watch and let events unfold!

After this conversation, the Chen father and son finally reached an agreement. They decided to hold back and wait for the situation to change.

Meanwhile, in the prison at Xiapi, Chen Gong's voice rang out again and again:

"Someone, let me out! I want to see the general!"

After he was imprisoned that day, he had been placed alone in a cell.

But Chen Gong was not the sort to meekly accept his lot. Even in prison, he refused to give in and shouted and hollered all day long.

The other prisoners hated the racket he made, but knew he was a man of standing and did not dare provoke him.

Only the guards tried to reason with him, telling him to stop shouting.

But their repeated attempts were fruitless. In the end, the guards could do nothing but steer clear and leave the prison, lest they be subjected to his abuse.

Just then, the main gate creaked open.

A shaft of light poured down from above. Seeing this, Chen Gong hurriedly shouted:

"Who's there? Has the general come to set me free?"

The visitor descended the steps and came all the way to the cell door, smiling wryly.

"Gongtai, can't you keep quiet for a few days?"

"Marquis Wen already dislikes you. If you keep this up, how will you ever get out?"

Chen Gong frowned when he saw who it was.

"Wang Zifa, what brings you here?"

Zifa was his courtesy name. His given name was Wang Kai. A scholar from Yanzhou, he had once followed Chen Gong to join Lu Bu's camp and now served as an aide under Lu Bu.

At Chen Gong's question, Wang Kai smiled wryly.

"I heard you had angered the general and been imprisoned, so I came to visit."

Chen Gong immediately put on a stern face.

"What are you visiting me for? If you mean well, hurry and ask the general to let me out!"

"Otherwise, disaster will surely follow!"

Wang Kai and the others had always taken Chen Gong as their leader. Seeing him act this way, Wang Kai was not annoyed; he merely sighed.

"The general has already settled on a plan. What disaster could you prevent?"

"Besides, the general has already said that anyone who pleads for you will not be spared. How could we dare act?"

Chen Gong knew from this that Lu Bu was truly angry.

But he was not flustered. He knew Lu Bu would never kill him, so he simply paced back and forth.

"If you can't get me released, then you'll have to act yourselves!"

"Let me ask you: after I was thrown into prison, how did Liu Bei devise a plan with the general?"

Wang Kai shook his head.

"I wasn't there that day. How could I know the details?"

Although he and Xu Si were both strategists under Lu Bu, neither was as trusted as Chen Gong.

But after he finished speaking, he saw that Chen Gong's expression had changed. So he simply told him what he knew.

After listening, Chen Gong's voice turned grave.

"I knew Liu Bei was up to no good. How could a single force of reinforcements possibly be entitled to an equal share of our spoils?"

"But the general has already agreed. What should we do?"

Wang Kai knew something was wrong, but Lu Bu had already given his word, and there was nothing he could do.

Seeing this, Chen Gong paced back and forth a few more times before stopping.

"The division of the spoils is a small matter. The enemy's scheme is the real concern!"

"Do you know what that Wang He looks like?"

Wang Kai shook his head.

"He rarely shows himself, and I've never seen him. But I've heard he's imposing in appearance, young, and possessed of extraordinary bearing!"

At that description, Chen Gong's body trembled. He hurriedly said,

"Go find out what this man looks like. You must meet him!"

Wang Kai looked at him in bewilderment.

"Gongtai, what are you talking about? What does this man look like have to do with us?"

Seeing that he still didn't understand, Chen Gong gritted his teeth.

"Zifa, have you forgotten someone?"

Looking at Chen Gong like this, Wang Kai grew even more puzzled. Who could have made Chen Gong hate him so much?

But as he thought it over, he suddenly jolted and drew in a sharp breath.

"Gongtai, are you talking about Qin Tian?"

"Who else could it be?"

Chen Gong said through clenched teeth,

"Damn it, Cao Cao loses Qin Tian from his ranks, and Liu Bei gains a brilliant talent named Wang He?"

"You must find out for certain. If that brat Qin Tian is here, tell the general to attack at once!"

"If we don't kill him, he'll become a great threat in the future!"

By now, Wang Kai understood why Chen Gong was so agitated. If Qin Tian really was under Liu Bei's command, then Lu Bu was now no different from trying to feed on a tiger!

He immediately said,

"Don't worry, Gongtai. I'll go find out right away!"

After Wang Kai left, Chen Gong resumed pacing with his hands behind his back, turning the matter over in his mind.

He had been careless. He hadn't expected Liu Bei to have such a capable man under his command.

Now he was trapped, and who knew what sort of mess Lu Bu would end up in!

At that thought, he stopped in his tracks, his face grave.

The situation in Xuzhou was already this chaotic. If Wang He really was Qin Tian, the consequences would be unthinkable!