From his initial confidence to the battle's descent into deadlock, Liu Bei's mood changed by the day.
One night in late December, Liu Bei, his face heavy with worry, lay awake for a long while. When he stepped out to relieve himself, he passed Fa Zheng's tent and noticed a faint glow within.
Chen Dao caught sight of Liu Bei's grave expression and guessed that Liu Bei wished to discuss the military situation with Fa Zheng.
Liu Bei reached out to lift the curtain, while Chen Dao dismissed the nearby patrols and stood guard outside the tent himself.
"Xiaozhi, still not resting?" Liu Bei poked his head in and asked with a smile.
"Your Majesty is still awake as well?" Fa Zheng came forward barefoot to greet him.
Fa Zheng invited Liu Bei to sit on the bed, draping a quilt over his legs for warmth. A small table stood upon the bed, spread with a map of Guanzhong.
"Forcing an assault on Chencang truly isn't easy. I don't know whether we can break the city before Cao Pi comes to his senses. If the price we pay is too great, then even taking this place will mean little." Liu Bei's brows were tightly furrowed.
Fa Zheng nodded. "Marching north out of the Qin River Valley for a direct strike was always a perilous move. Since we have already cast all on a single throw, we must take this city. So long as we can gain a foothold, Longyou and Guanzhong will both fall into our hands. Though our losses have not been small, Zhang He has not had an easy time holding out either. We must never lose heart. Our provisions can still last another two or three months."
Liu Bei nodded. "Since I have brought my troops to