Qiao Rui's surrender proved yet another delightful surprise for Liu Bei.
He had few generals under his command. Aside from Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, the rest were hardly up to the task.
Qiao Rui might not have been much of a fighter, but he was certainly rich in experience!
As for the number of troops they had commanded, even Liu Bei had probably never led more soldiers than Qiao Rui.
A general like him might not be suited to offensive campaigns, but he was more than capable of holding down a region. As long as he wasn't up against a main force like Cao Cao's, there was little to worry about.
Liu Bei smiled at Qiao Rui and said:
"General, your willingness to surrender is a blessing for our army!"
"How could I refuse?"
"Please rise, General. There's no need for such a grand gesture!"
He hurriedly helped Qiao Rui up, beaming.
Seeing this, Zhang Fei grinned too. In truth, Qiao Rui's readiness to face death just moments ago had earned his profound respect.
Naturally, he was delighted to see a battle-hardened general join them.
Only Qiao Rui, moved by Liu Bei's generosity, felt even more ashamed. He said:
"In the past, I knew only loyalty, not righteousness. Now that your strategist has shown me the truth, I sincerely wish to leave darkness behind and turn toward the light!"
He looked toward Qin Tian, admiration plain on his face.
"May I ask your name, sir?"
Liu Bei smiled at that.
"This is a great talent under my command. His surname is Wang—"
Before he could say another word, Qin Tian clasped his hands and smiled.
"I'm an insignificant man, with the surname Qin, given name Tian, and courtesy name Zixuan!"
"If I offended you just now, I hope you'll forgive me, General!"
When Qin Tian revealed his real name, Liu Bei was startled. Qiao Rui, meanwhile, drew in a sharp breath.
"Are you the famed qilin talent?"
He had said he'd never heard of anyone of such stature serving Liu Bei. He hadn't expected this man to be Cao Cao's former chief strategist!
No wonder he acted so unpredictably, yet every move carried hidden meaning!
But Qin Tian shook his head.
"That's just an empty reputation. It's nothing worth dwelling on!"
Zhang Fei, standing nearby, asked in surprise:
"Didn't the strategist say he wanted to keep his identity hidden? Why reveal it now?"
Qin Tian smiled at him.
"I can hide it for a while, but can I really hide it forever?"
"Our army is on the verge of rising. Sooner or later, people will find out. Unless there's a good reason, why bother hiding it?"
"Besides, the general is a man of honor. Now that he's joined our army, there's no need to keep it from him!"
Seeing the two of them act this way, Qiao Rui was puzzled. Liu Bei quickly explained that Qin Tian had been using an alias.
Hearing the full story, Qiao Rui was even more moved.
He was only a surrendering general who had just joined them, yet Liu Bei and Qin Tian already trusted him so deeply. How could he not be touched?
He clasped his hands toward Liu Bei and Qin Tian.
"My lord, Strategist, rest assured. Though I know of this matter, I won't breathe a word of it to anyone!"
Seeing Qiao Rui's response, Liu Bei was all the more pleased. But his joy soon gave way to concern.
"Though you're willing to join us, I don't know where your family is. If you join our army, could they be put in danger?"
Hearing Liu Bei ask after his family first, Qiao Rui felt a stir in his heart, followed by a wave of sorrow.
"That was what troubled me as well. My family is still in Huainan. That was why I was ready to die before!"
"My life may be spared now, but I can't protect my family back home!"
Men were often like that. In the heat of the moment, they agreed to anything.
Only afterward did they think about the consequences.
But Qin Tian had already considered this. He smiled at Qiao Rui.
"Your family's safety won't be difficult to ensure!"
"May I ask how you get along with Zhang Xun?"
Qiao Rui didn't know why he had brought up Zhang Xun. After thinking for a moment, he replied:
"Strategist, General Zhang and I are very close!"
"We've known each other for years and are good friends."
If he hadn't been close to Zhang Xun, he wouldn't have risked his life to save him.
"If that's the case, then it's simple!"
Qin Tian smiled at Liu Bei.
"My lord, you can let General Qiao visit Zhang Xun and then release him, asking him to protect General Qiao's family. That way, General Qiao will have no more worries!"
Liu Bei brightened at the idea. He hadn't thought of that.
Since Zhang Xun refused to surrender, they might as well trade his freedom for Qiao Rui's loyalty.
Qiao Rui, however, stared at them in astonishment.
"Are you saying Zhang Xun has also been captured by your army?"
He clearly remembered Zhang Xun escaping yesterday. How had Liu Bei managed to capture him again?
Seeing his reaction, Zhang Fei grinned.
"Didn't expect that, did you? Nothing that happened to you lot was beyond our strategist's expectations!"
He recounted what had happened the previous day, naturally leaving out his wager with Qin Tian and only telling Qiao Rui that Zhang Xun had been captured.
Qiao Rui listened in stunned silence.
To think Zhang Xun had been so confident yesterday, only to end up captured by Qin Tian after all!
Qin Tian really was their nemesis.
They had already lost to him at Kuangting, and now, even after switching masters, Zhang Xun had still ended up in his hands!
Remembering how he had mocked Qin Tian moments earlier, Qiao Rui shook his head and sighed.
"I'm in awe of your talent, sir. If not for you, I'd have lost my life!"
"But I'm only a deputy general. General Zhang is the commander. How can I let him go free for my sake?"
Qin Tian gave him a serious look.
"This isn't about the general's rank. It's about his loyalty and honor. If we can protect your family, what harm is there in releasing Zhang Xun?"
Qiao Rui had spent his whole life as the perennial second-in-command. Today, he had heard more praise than ever before, and felt a surge of the urge to die for someone who truly understood him!
Liu Bei and his strategist had treated him so well. If he still didn't give his all, he wouldn't even be able to face himself.
"My lord and Strategist, after all this kindness, how could I not serve you with all my strength?"
Seeing Qiao Rui pledge himself once more, Liu Bei was beside himself with joy. He smiled at Zhang Fei.
"If that's settled, Yide, take the general to see Zhang Xun!"
Zhang Fei raised his chin toward Qiao Rui.
"Come along, General Qiao!"
Qiao Rui had just insulted Zhang Fei, so he felt a little awkward now. He hurriedly said:
"General Zhang, please don't call me that. My courtesy name is Lebin. You can call me by that!"
Zhang Fei didn't mind and laughed.
"Then you can call me Yide!"
The two buried the hatchet and headed out of the camp together.
Seeing them like that, Liu Bei stepped forward and smiled at Qin Tian.
"Thanks to your guidance, my third brother has changed for the better!"
He had noticed that Zhang Fei seemed much kinder to people now. And when it came down to it, that was thanks to Qin Tian.
"That's your doing, General. What does it have to do with me?"
Qin Tian said it modestly, but he was pleased too. If Zhang Fei kept changing like this, he would surely achieve great things one day!
Liu Bei knew Qin Tian was being modest and didn't press him. Instead, he asked:
"There's something else I don't understand!"
"Before, you said we needed Zhang Xun to take Xiang County. Why release him now?"
Qin Tian had known Old Liu would ask. He smiled.
"My lord, the situation has changed, so our plans must change with it!"
"It's not that Xiang County can't be taken without Zhang Xun. He would simply make it easier, which is why we planned to capture him."
"Now that Qiao Rui is also useful to us, if Zhang Xun won't surrender, we might as well trade him for Qiao Rui's loyalty!"
"Besides, given the current situation, releasing Zhang Xun is better than keeping him. He's received a kindness from our army, and he'll surely repay it one day."
"I believe Yuan Shu won't live much longer. Release one general now, and he may bring us tens of thousands of troops in the future!"
Qin Tian wasn't planning to secure Huainan for Old Liu just for its territory.
Yuan Shu's entire power base was part of the plan!
Yuan Shu's forces wouldn't disappear when he died. They would split into four or five factions.
Leaving Zhang Xun by Yuan Shu's side would help them absorb Yuan Shu's former troops later!
Only by continually taking in the forces Yuan Shu left behind could Liu Bei rise as quickly as possible and compete with the lords across the realm.
Listening to Qin Tian, Liu Bei couldn't help but marvel again at his far-reaching plans.
He had calculated nearly every step ahead.
Liu Bei hardly needed to worry about anything. No wonder Old Cao's rise had gone so smoothly!
With a strategist like this, everything just fell into place.
Thinking of that, he quickly asked:
"What should our army do now?"
Qin Tian answered without hesitation.
"The time has come to take Xiang County. Tonight, my lord, go and demand the provisions and funds. Then our army can make its move on Xiang County!"
"As for Lu Bu, if he really refuses to hand over the provisions, I'll deal with him after we take Xiang County!"
At that, he smiled again.
"My lord, rest assured. What our army is meant to take, he'll have to hand over, whether he wants to or not!"
"No matter how he responds, our army won't come out the loser!"
Seeing Qin Tian's smile, Liu Bei shivered inwardly and couldn't help mourning Lu Bu in advance.
He only hoped Lu Bu would know what was good for him. Otherwise, this strategist of his was not someone to trifle with.
With that thought, Old Liu felt more confident and began making preparations to enter the city that evening and demand provisions.
After discussing matters with Liu Bei, Qin Tian made another round through Zhang Xun's tent.
Once he confirmed Zhang Xun was willing to protect Qiao Rui's family, Qin Tian had men escort him south.
Grateful to Liu Bei, Qiao Rui was content to stay and agreed to help Liu Bei command the captured soldiers from Yuan Shu's army.
In this way, Liu Bei gained more than three thousand troops, greatly strengthening his army.
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