Looking back over Liu Bei's life, it could broadly be divided into four stages. The first ran from the day he raised his troops until before he went to Beihai Commandery's aid.
At this stage, Liu Bei was just a small fry. He had some soldiers and horses, but not many, and a little fame, but not much.
The second stage was the one he was in now. By going to Tao Qian's aid and receiving Xuzhou as a gift, his reputation had soared.
At this stage, Old Liu had a chance to contend for supremacy, but his fortunes rose and fell, with one twist after another.
The third stage began when he went into hiding in Xuchang and lasted until before the Three Visits. He lived an extremely stifled life.
The fourth stage began after the Three Visits. He seized the momentum and climbed steadily upward, only to suffer a sudden reversal, ending in defeat and death from illness.
By contrast, Cao Cao's impression of Liu Bei also went through four stages: first looking down on him, then taking him seriously, then coming to hate him, and finally being left with no choice but to accept him.
At this point, Liu Bei occupied the second stage in Old Cao's estimation. Cao Cao took him quite seriously, but that was all.
Judging from what he had said about Lu Bu earlier, it was clear that, in Cao Cao's eyes, Liu Bei was not yet an enemy.
Old Cao had even been thinking of winning Liu Bei over and making him a subordinate.
That was why, when Liu Bei had previously been defeated by Lu Bu, Cao Cao had feared Lu Bu's growing strength and specially provided Liu Bei with provisions and supplies to use as a shield!
So when Old