Pei Commandery, Xiang County, council hall.
Having just seen off the court envoy, Liu Bei could not find it in himself to feel happy.
The imperial edict contained only two matters. One, in recognition of his merit in suppressing bandits, he was granted an additional fief of five hundred households.
The other ordered him to immediately raise troops and join Lu Bu and the others in suppressing bandits.
Had it been the Liu Bei of old, receiving this edict would likely have sent him soaring with joy.
After all, for the Son of Heaven to issue an edict ordering him to suppress bandits proved one thing: the Son of Heaven now knew of Liu Bei.
For a distant member of the imperial clan like him, this was the highest glory.
But Liu Bei no longer needed such glory!
All he wanted was a whole patch of land where he could plant the point of an awl.
Thus, the moment Liu Bei received the edict, he summoned Qin Tian and Xu Shu for a private meeting.
Once the two arrived, he held the edict with a troubled expression and said to them:
"Our army seeks to take Huainan, yet the court has ordered us to march alongside Lu Bu and the others. What are we to do?"
Summer was nearly upon them, and both Xu Shu and Qin Tian had changed into light clothing.
Qin Tian wore white silk robes, along with the feather fan and gauze headdress Cai Yan had selected for him. He looked ever more like a drifting immortal.
At these words, he merely shook his head and smiled.
"Why should my lord worry? This is good news!"
Seeing Qin Tian's demeanor, Liu Bei said bitterly:
"Strategist, do not toy with me. Though Bei may not be wise,