What Happened to "Like a Fish in Water"?

Cao Cao had barely finished speaking when he added, "But Peach Blossom Island is too detached from the world. It doesn't suit my nature. White Camel Villa, on the other hand, seems quite comfortable. Han Sui, Ma Teng, Zhang Lu, and the others in the west are all nobodies, unworthy of a place among the Five Greats. That leaves one vacant place in the south."

"Sun Bofu of the south is brave, but his standing doesn't qualify him for the title of Southern Emperor. Liu Jingsheng is a kinsman of the Han imperial family and is known as one of the Eight Talents. And Yuan Gonglu of Huainan has gone so far as to declare himself emperor. I wonder what the Chancellor thinks?" Liu Bei said.

Cao Cao shook his head. "Sun Ce trades on his father's name, Liu Biao is all reputation and no substance, and Yuan Shu is a withered skeleton in his grave. How could any of them rank among the Five Greats?"

"Then will the southern position among the Five Greats remain vacant?" Liu Bei asked.

Cao Cao straightened and said, "A hero is one who cherishes great ambitions, harbors wise plans, holds the secrets of the universe within him, and has the will to swallow heaven and earth."

"Who could be worthy of that?"

"His Excellency is also a descendant of the imperial house. You could fill the vacant place of Southern Emperor."

Seeing Liu Bei's stunned expression, Cao Cao pointed at him, then at himself. "Actually, setting the Five Greats aside, the only heroes under heaven today are His Excellency and me!"

Liu Bei was shocked. The spoon and chopsticks in his hands fell to the ground.

Just then, a storm was about to break. Thunder boomed across the sky.

Liu Bei bent to pick up the spoon and chopsticks. In that brief motion, he steadied his flustered heart and smiled. "A single clap of thunder has startled me this much."

"Does a great man fear thunder?" Cao Cao laughed.

"The sages said that when thunder cracks and the wind howls, one must change countenance. I am but an ordinary man. How could I not be afraid?"

Hearing this, Cao Cao thought no more of it. The two continued drinking in the pavilion, chatting about the characters in Legend of the Condor Heroes. Liu Bei grew more and more composed.

Before long, the clouds cleared and the rain stopped. Cao Cao heard a commotion outside the gate, and Xu Chu beside him placed one hand on the sword at his waist.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei burst into the rear garden with swords in hand. The guards on either side were unable to stop them. When they came closer and saw Liu Bei and Cao Cao drinking in the pavilion, they rested their hands on their swords and stood to one side.

Xu Chu drew his sword and held it across Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's path.

Cao Cao recognized Guan and Zhang. He stopped Xu Chu and asked, "What business brings you two here?"

Guan Yu replied hurriedly, "We heard that the Chancellor was drinking with our elder brother, so the two of us came to perform a sword dance and liven things up."

Cao Cao burst out laughing. Guan Yu's already ruddy face turned even redder.

"This is no Hongmen Banquet. Why would we need Xiang Zhuang and Xiang Bo to dance with swords?"

Liu Bei and Cao Cao exchanged smiles, effortlessly easing Guan Yu's embarrassment.

"Bring wine for the two Fan Kuais to calm their nerves," Cao Cao ordered.

Guan and Zhang thanked Cao Cao, then stood beside Liu Bei to guard him.

After the "Discussing Heroes over Wine" incident, Liu Bei became even more reclusive, afraid Cao Cao would grow suspicious and harm him.

In the summer of Jian'an's fourth year, Yuan Shao selected one hundred thousand elite soldiers and ten thousand warhorses, preparing to march south and seize Xudu. But his advisers disagreed, so he delayed setting out.

When the news reached Xudu, the civil and military officials all feared Yuan Shao's powerful army. Cao Cao, however, had long known that he would one day fight his old friend, so he began making active preparations for war.

Around the same time, Yuan Shu of Huainan sent an envoy with a letter, hoping to join Yuan Shao. Cao Cao's troops intercepted the letter and sent it to Xudu.

Yuan Shu was extravagant and wasteful by nature. He had also suffered repeated defeats at the hands of Lu Bu, Cao Cao, and others, leaving his treasury empty. With disasters frequent between Jianghuai, he had reached the end of his tether.

Cao Cao was busy preparing for a decisive battle with Yuan Shao, and had no time to concern himself with the fleeing Yuan Shu.

Liu Bei seized the opportunity and volunteered to pursue him. Cao Cao assigned him troops and sent the young officer Zhu Ling along.

Cao Cao had made the decision in haste and had not consulted his advisers.

Afterward, when he asked Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, and the others for their opinions, they all said, "Liu Bei will not return from this expedition."

Cao Cao suddenly understood. He sent riders after Liu Bei at full speed, but Liu Bei was like a dragon returning to the sea. How could they possibly catch him?

Yuan Shu tried to travel north from Xiapi, but his route was exposed by intercepted intelligence. He ran into Liu Bei and Zhu Ling's troops, and had no choice but to lead his men south again to Shouchun. In the end, he died vomiting blood at Jiang Pavilion.

After driving Yuan Shu back, Zhu Ling invited Liu Bei to return with him to Xudu. Liu Bei made an excuse. "My family is still in Xiaopei. General, you can lead the troops back first. I'll go to Xiaopei, collect my family, and then return to Xudu shortly."

Zhu Ling knew Cao Cao treated Liu Bei with great respect, so he didn't suspect his excuse. He returned to Xudu alone with the main force.

When Liu Bei's army passed through Xiapi, he seized the opportunity to lure and kill Che Zhou, the Governor of Xu Province. He then left Guan Yu as the Administrator of Xiapi, while he and Zhang Fei continued north to garrison Xiaopei. Xu Province once again fell under Liu Bei's control.

Lan Tian had waited a long time at Gan Family Village. At last, Liu Bei returned, and he and Gan Qian went to Xiaopei to pay their respects.

Liu Bei had been looking forward to seeing Lan Tian too—or, more precisely, to hearing about Jin Lao. Legend of the Condor Heroes contained too many mysteries. For example, was the Wumu Testament real? How had Genghis Khan's expeditionary army handled its provisions and baggage?

In the world today, Lan Tian was probably the only one who knew where Jin Lao was.

After meeting Lan Tian, Liu Bei first expressed his condolences for Gan Ji's passing.

Gan Qian took the opportunity to say, "Ziyu once promised Father that from now on he would advise Husband and help him bring peace to the realm."

"Is that true?" Liu Bei said happily.

"I'll be counting on you to look after me, brother-in-law," Lan Tian said, cupping his hands.

Liu Bei nodded. "With Ziyu, I'm like a fish in water. Madam, go have a banquet prepared. I want to introduce Ziyu to the generals."

"I'll go right away," Gan Qian said, overjoyed.

After Gan Qian left, Liu Bei dismissed everyone else. Only the two of them remained in the room.

Liu Bei personally brought Lan Tian a stool. "Please sit, Ziyu. May I ask where your revered teacher, Jin Lao, is?"

Revered teacher? Jin Lao? Lan Tian looked completely baffled.

"The author of Legend of the Condor Heroes," Liu Bei prompted.

"You mean that Jin Lao? He wasn't my teacher, and he has already passed away," Lan Tian explained.

"Passed away? What a pity," Liu Bei sighed.

"Birth, old age, sickness, and death—who can escape them? My adoptive father didn't live to see this summer either. Sigh."

Liu Bei then asked, "You've come up with many brilliant plans before, Ziyu. What strategy would you advise me to follow now?"

Lan Tian answered earnestly, "Xu Province has suffered one war after another, and banditry is rampant. Its population has dwindled and won't recover anytime soon. This isn't a place to build a lasting foundation. I advise you, brother-in-law, to abandon it and head for Jing Province."

Lan Tian's words left Liu Bei utterly bewildered. I fought so hard to take this territory, and now you want me to give it up?

"Jing Province?" Liu Bei asked with a frown.

"Yuan Shao and Cao Cao are about to fight in the north, while Yuan Shu's remnants and Sun Ce are still carving out rival domains in the south. Liu Biao has kept Jing Province relatively stable through years of governance, and refugees and scholars from across the realm have flocked there. Why not lead your people to join Liu Biao, rebuild your strength, and then make another bid for the Central Plains?" Lan Tian explained at length.

Liu Bei was very disappointed by what Lan Tian had said, but he kept his expression unchanged. "This is a weighty matter. I'll need time to consider it. Xiaopei isn't a place where we can hold out for long. Tomorrow, go with Madam to Xiapi. Yunchang has only just taken up the post of Administrator and will need help."

Lan Tian wondered if he'd said something wrong. I've barely offered one strategy, and my lord has already packed me off somewhere else?

What happened to "like a fish in water"?