What happened to "like a fish in water"?

Cao Cao had barely finished speaking when he added, "However, Peach Blossom Island is too detached from the world and does not suit my personality. White Camel Villa, on the other hand, is quite free-spirited. The likes of Han Sui, Ma Teng, and Zhang Lu in the west are all mediocre men, unworthy of a place among the Five Greats. Now, only a vacancy in the south remains."

"Although Sun Bofu of the south is brave, his status is insufficient for the title of Southern Emperor. Liu Jingsheng is a scion of the Han imperial clan and one of the Eight Talents, yet that Yuan Gonglu of Huainan has overstepped his bounds by declaring himself emperor. I wonder what the Prime Minister intends?" Liu Bei asked.

Cao Cao shook his head and said, "Sun Ce relies on his father's name, Liu Biao has a hollow reputation without substance, and Yuan Shu is but a dried bone in a graveyard. How could they be listed among the Five Greats?"

"Then is this southern position to remain vacant?" Liu Bei asked.

Cao Cao stood straight and said, "A hero is one who harbors great ambitions, possesses brilliant strategies, holds the mechanism of the universe in his chest, and has the will to swallow the heavens and the earth."

"Who can be considered such a man?"

"You, too, are a scion of the imperial house; you may fill the position of the Southern Emperor."

Seeing Liu Bei's stunned expression, Cao Cao pointed at him, then pointed at himself and said, "In truth, setting aside the Five Greats, the only heroes in the world today are you and I!"

Liu Bei was greatly shocked upon hearing this, and the spoon and chopsticks he held fell to the ground.

At this moment, a sudden rain was about to fall, and thunder roared across the sky.

Liu Bei stooped to pick up his utensils, and in that brief moment of rising and falling, he adjusted his panicked state of mind and smiled, saying, "The power of a single clap of thunder is such as this."

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

"The sages say that when a sudden thunderclap or a fierce wind occurs, one must change countenance. How could I, a mere mortal, not be afraid?"

Cao Cao had no further suspicions after hearing this. The two continued to drink in the pavilion, chatting about the characters in the Legend of the Condor Heroes, and Liu Bei appeared increasingly composed.

Before long, the clouds dispersed and the rain ceased. Cao Cao heard a commotion outside the gate, and Xu Chu, standing by his side, placed a hand on the sword at his waist.

They saw Guan Yu and Zhang Fei storming into the rear garden with swords in hand. The vigilant attendants could not stop them. When the two walked closer and discovered Liu Bei and Cao Cao drinking in the pavilion, they stood to the side with their hands on their swords.

Xu Chu drew his sword at this moment, barring the path before Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

Cao Cao recognized Guan and Zhang. He stopped Xu Chu and asked, "Why have you two come here?"

Guan Yu replied hastily, "Hearing that the Prime Minister was drinking with our elder brother, we came specifically to perform a sword dance to add to the festivities."

Cao Cao laughed heartily upon hearing this, and Lord Guan's already ruddy face turned even redder.

"Today is not a Hongmen Banquet; why the need for Xiang Zhuang and Xiang Bo to perform a sword dance?"

At this, Liu Bei and Cao Cao looked at each other and laughed, easily dissolving Guan Yu's embarrassment.

"Bring wine to treat these two Fan Kuais and calm their nerves," Cao Cao ordered.

Seeing this, Guan and Zhang thanked Cao Cao and then stood by Liu Bei's side to guard him.

After the incident of discussing heroes over wine, Liu Bei kept an even lower profile, fearing that he would be suspected and harmed by Cao Cao.

In the summer of the fourth year of Jian'an, Yuan Shao selected one hundred thousand elite troops and ten thousand warhorses, preparing to march south to take Xudu. Because his strategists held conflicting opinions, the departure was repeatedly delayed.

When the news reached Xudu, the civil and military officials were all afraid of Yuan Shao's military strength, but Cao Cao had long known that this battle with his old friend was inevitable, so he began to actively deploy and prepare for the fight.

At the same time, Yuan Shu of Huainan sent an envoy with a letter intending to defect to Yuan Shao, but the letter was intercepted by the Cao army and sent to Xudu.

This fellow Yuan Shu was habitually extravagant and had suffered successive defeats at the hands of Lu Bu, Cao Cao, and others, leaving his treasury empty. Coupled with the disasters between the Yangtze and Huai rivers, he had reached a point of no return.

Cao Cao needed to prepare for the decisive battle against Yuan Shao, so he could not spare the energy to deal with the fleeing Yuan Shu.

Liu Bei saw the opportunity and volunteered for the mission. Cao Cao then allocated troops and horses to him and sent the young general Zhu Ling to accompany him.

At this time, because Cao Cao made the decision in haste, he did not listen to the advice of his strategists.

Afterward, when Cao Cao asked Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, and the others, they all said, "With this departure, Liu Bei will surely not return."

Cao Cao suddenly realized his mistake. He sent men on fast horses to pursue him, but Liu Bei was like a dragon returning to the sea—how could he possibly be caught?

Yuan Shu intended to pass through the border from Xiapi to the north, but because his intelligence route was intercepted, he encountered the troops of Liu Bei and Zhu Ling. He had no choice but to lead his team back south to Shouchun, where he finally vomited blood and died at Jiang Pavilion.

After forcing Yuan Shu to retreat, Zhu Ling invited Liu Bei to return to Xudu together, but Liu Bei made an excuse, saying, "My family is still in Xiaopei. General, you may lead the troops back first; I will go to Xiaopei to pick up my family and then return to Xudu shortly."

Zhu Ling knew that Cao Cao treated Liu Bei very well, so he did not suspect Liu Bei's excuse and led the main force back to Xudu alone.

When Liu Bei's troops passed Xiapi, he took the opportunity to lure and kill the Xu Province Inspector Che Zhou. He then left Guan Yu as the Administrator of Xiapi, while he and Zhang Fei continued north to garrison Xiaopei. The territory of Xu Province once again fell into Liu Bei's grasp.

Lan Tian had waited for a long time at Gan Family Village and finally waited for Liu Bei's return. He and Gan Qian happily went to Xiaopei to seek an audience.

Liu Bei was also very expectant of Lan Tian—or more accurately, expectant of that Jin Lao—because there were too many doubts in the Legend of the Condor Heroes, such as whether the Wumu Testament was real, or how Genghis Khan handled the logistics and supplies for his expeditionary forces.

In the current world, it was estimated that only Lan Tian knew the whereabouts of Jin Lao.

When Liu Bei met Lan Tian, he first expressed his condolences for the passing of Gan Ji.

Gan Qian took the opportunity to say, "Ziyu once promised Father that he would devise strategies for my husband in the future and help him pacify the world."

"Is that truly so?" Liu Bei asked happily.

"I will have to trouble my brother-in-law for his care in the future," Lan Tian said, bowing.

Liu Bei nodded and said, "Obtaining Ziyu is like a fish finding water. Madam, go and have people prepare a banquet; I want to introduce Ziyu to all the generals."

"I will go at once," Gan Qian said, overjoyed.

After Gan Qian left, Liu Bei dismissed his attendants, leaving only the two of them in the room.

Liu Bei personally brought a stool for Lan Tian and said, "Ziyu, please sit. May I ask where your master, Jin Lao, is?"

Master? Jin Lao? Lan Tian was completely bewildered.

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

"Are you referring to that Jin Lao? He was not my teacher, and he has already passed away," Lan Tian explained.

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

"Birth, aging, sickness, and death—what else is there to say? My foster father didn't even live to see this summer, alas."

Liu Bei then asked, "Ziyu has offered many brilliant strategies in the past; what plan do you have to teach me now?"

Lan Tian spoke with a solemn expression, "Xu Province has suffered constant warfare and endless banditry; the population loss is severe and difficult to recover in the short term. This is no place to establish a foundation. I advise my brother-in-law to abandon this place and flee to Jing Province."

Lan Tian's words left Liu Bei completely bewildered. I worked so hard to capture this territory, and you want me to throw it away?

"Jing Province?" Liu Bei asked, frowning.

"In the north, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao are about to engage in a great war, while in the south, the remnants of Yuan Shu and Sun Ce are still carving up territory. Jing Province, after years of governance by Liu Biao, remains relatively stable. Many refugees and scholars from across the four seas have flocked to him. Why doesn't my brother-in-law lead your people to join Liu Biao, recuperate, and then plot for the Central Plains later?" Lan Tian spoke eloquently.

Liu Bei was deeply disappointed after hearing Lan Tian's words, but he kept his expression unchanged and said, "This is a matter of great importance; I must deliberate on it at length. Xiaopei is not a place to hold for long. Tomorrow, you and your wife shall head to Xiapi; Yunchang is serving as governor for the first time and will need an assistant."

Lan Tian thought to himself, did I say something wrong? Why, after offering just one strategy, has my lord already exiled me?

What happened to the "fish in water" relationship we were supposed to have?