After delivering those scathing words, Yuan Shao angrily swept his sleeve and left the hall without looking back.
Tian Feng's face was livid, and he said nothing.
Guo Tu, Feng Ji, and Xu You cast mocking glances at Tian Feng, then followed Yuan Shao out with derisive chuckles.
Only Shen Pei and Ju Shou came over.
"Yuanhao, you shouldn't have been so rash."
Shen Pei sighed.
He knew Tian Feng had spoken out of loyalty, but his words were so blunt and abrasive. How could their lord possibly want to hear them?
Ju Shou also offered reassurance. "There's no harm in letting Liu Bei live for now. He can't possibly take Pei County. We can execute him afterward under his military pledge all the same."
But Tian Feng stubbornly shook his head. "You don't understand. Liu Bei has a reputation for benevolence and righteousness, and he is a Han House clansman. He also commands fierce generals like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. If we don't eliminate him today, he will become our lord's great enemy!"
With that, Tian Feng left without looking back.
Only Ju Shou and Shen Pei remained, standing there and exchanging helpless looks.
In a corner, Guo Jia, whom everyone had overlooked, watched everything unfold with a cold eye and silently shook his head.
Yuan Shao had advisers as numerous as clouds and fierce generals as plentiful as rain, yet he would never accomplish anything great.
Liu Xie had barely slept all night in the Bedchamber.
He feared Yuan Shao would discover that he had tipped off Liu, Guan, and Zhang.
"I really can't act so carelessly next time."
Liu Xie sighed repeatedly, deeply regretting what he had done.
Like a desperately ill man seeking any doctor he could find, he had hoped to warn Liu Bei, earn some goodwill, and leave himself a way out. He had failed to consider what he would have to face afterward.
"I really need a strategist at my side to advise me. With my brains, even knowing the course of history is useless."
After finally making it through to dawn, Liu Xie hurried off to find Zhang He and ask him what had happened to Liu Bei.
But just as he stepped out of the Bedchamber, he ran straight into Guo Jia.
"Where are you going, Your Majesty?"
Seeing Liu Xie in such a hurry, Guo Jia was puzzled.
Liu Xie hid nothing. He explained everything that had happened the previous night, from beginning to end, then asked, "Fengxiao, were you there last night?"
After hearing him out, Guo Jia wore a rather strange expression.
Of course he had been there. At the time, he too had been baffled. He hadn't understood why Liu Bei had returned after leaving, or how he had found the only way out of the impasse and fought for a sliver of hope.
So someone had tipped him off.
And that someone had been Liu Xie!
"What's with that look? Don't tell me Liu Bei died?"
Liu Xie looked deeply uneasy, his heart rising into his throat.
Guo Jia sighed, composed himself, and said, "No. Thanks to your warning, Your Majesty, Liu Bei survived. Otherwise, he might truly not have lived through last night."
Although Yuan Shao had been torn over whether to kill Liu, Guan, and Zhang, all the advisers present had agreed that they should die. After all that hesitation, he would most likely have acted.
But Liu Bei, having learned of the danger, had returned and negotiated with Yuan Shao using Pei County as his bargaining chip, ultimately securing a slim chance.
"He survived even that?"
Liu Xie looked astonished, scarcely able to believe it.
Was Yuan Shao really that broad-minded?
Benchu, you truly are a great man.
Guo Jia's expression grew solemn. "Although Liu Bei survived, what you did last night was truly unwise, Your Majesty."
"Ordering Zhang He to warn him risked angering Yuan Shao. Worse, it could have exposed Zhang He's allegiance to you. If the palace guards were replaced, you would be placed under complete house arrest."
At those words, belated fear appeared on Liu Xie's face.
The moment Zhang He had left the previous night, he had realized his mistake. He had been frightened and anxious ever since.
He stepped forward and clasped Guo Jia's hands, speaking earnestly. "Fengxiao, I failed to think things through. From now on, I must rely on you more to advise me in all matters."
Guo Jia nodded and said solemnly, "Whatever Your Majesty commands, I will do everything in my power!"
Chapter 40: I, Yuan Shao, Am the One Favored by the Mandate of Heaven
After a thorough bout of self-reflection, Liu Xie asked Guo Jia exactly how Liu Bei had survived. Guo Jia did not keep him in suspense and told him the truth.
"Five thousand troops to take Pei County in ten days?"
Liu Xie found it utterly unbelievable.
Pei County might not be large, but taking it within ten days with only five thousand troops seemed impossible however he looked at it.
"That's right."
Guo Jia nodded, then continued, "But taking Pei County isn't actually as difficult as you imagine, Your Majesty."
"Pei County is merely a small walled town. It can hold ten thousand troops at most. If Liu Bei were simply attacking it with five thousand men, it would indeed be extremely difficult to capture. However, Liu Bei spent a long time establishing himself there, so he must have supporters inside. With forces working together from within and without, and Yuan Shao's army backing him up, the defenders' fighting spirit is bound to suffer. Lü Bu might not dare send a large army to relieve them, either. So Liu Bei's position isn't necessarily a dead end."
"In short, winning even a sliver of hope through this opportunity was no easy feat."
After Guo Jia's analysis, Liu Xie immediately understood.
He also felt a measure of admiration for Liu Bei.
As expected of the future ruler of Shu Han. He really is extraordinary.
After reflecting on this for a while, Liu Xie said, "Continue making inquiries in secret. If there's any new information, remember to inform me promptly, or have Zhang He pass it along."
Guo Jia was now his eyes and ears within Yuan Shao's camp.
Through Guo Jia, he could keep track of Yuan Shao's every move, along with developments in the outside world and all manner of news. That was something Zhang He could not do.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
This New Year had certainly been full of twists and turns.
After the upheaval at the New Year's Eve banquet, however, nothing else happened.
Yuan Shao began deploying troops and assigning generals, gathering provisions in preparation for the army's departure.
Liu, Guan, and Zhang received five thousand troops and began drilling them day and night.
Meanwhile, under Yuan Shao's arrangements, Liu Xie traveled to the outskirts to offer sacrifices to Heaven, pay homage to his ancestors from afar, and pray for blessings upon the Great Han.
Everything proceeded in orderly fashion.
Half a month soon passed.
On the sixteenth day of the first month, fire met the Greedy Wolf, and the Chaste Star stood in conjunction.
An auspicious day to appoint generals and march to war.
To back Liu Bei up, Yuan Shao had prepared a full fifty thousand troops, ready to march alongside him to attack Pei County.
But what did fifty thousand men actually look like?
Liu Xie had never really known.
When reading history books or watching television dramas, he would constantly encounter armies of a hundred thousand or several hundred thousand. Yet he had never had a clear sense of their scale. To him, they were merely numbers, and fifty thousand had not seemed like much.
This time, however, he saw it with his own eyes.
Atop Ye City's gate tower.
Looking out at the army stretching for miles beyond the city, like a black tide with no end in sight, Liu Xie felt a profound, heartfelt shock for the first time.
Banners snapped fiercely, iron armor stood imposing, and blades gleamed with a chilling menace.
Faced with such an army, Liu Xie finally understood how insignificant a single person was, and how terrifying Yuan Shao's strength could be.
And this was only part of Yuan Shao's army! The troops under his command numbered far more than fifty thousand!
So this is the foundation of Yuan Benchu's power, built on Four Generations of Three Excellencies?
Liu Xie silently pondered this as he suppressed his shock and turned his gaze toward the others beside him.
He was not alone on the gate tower. Liu, Guan, and Zhang were there, as were Yuan Shao and all the civil officials and military officers under his command.
Today was the day of the military review and the army's departure.
Unlike the stunned Liu Xie, the others seemed far calmer. Even faced with an army of such staggering size, they showed little surprise.
Apparently, he was the only one who had never seen the world.
Having reached that embarrassing conclusion, Liu Xie decided to keep quiet and put on an aloof air for now, lest he reveal his inexperience.
As Yuan Shao surveyed the army blanketing the landscape beyond the city, a trace of pride appeared on his face. Resting a hand on the sword at his waist, he turned toward Liu Bei and spoke with a smile.
"Xuande, this time I intend to lead fifty thousand troops personally to back you up. We will surely help you take Pei County!"
Liu Bei was also clad in armor. Hearing this, he clasped his hands and said gravely, "I am deeply grateful for your wholehearted support, Grand General. I will spare no effort and will not fail my mission!"
He understood that these fifty thousand troops were not merely there to support him. They were also a sharp blade held across his throat.
If he took Pei County, all would be well.
If he failed, Yuan Shao would kill him first, then lead the army to capture Pei County and pocket it for himself!
"Excellent!"
Yuan Shao was thoroughly satisfied. He then said, "In this battle, you will lead the vanguard, with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei as your deputy generals. Together, you will command five thousand troops and attack Pei County!"
"This is the military tally. With it, you may command the Mountain Battalion!"
Yuan Shao tossed an iron military tally to Liu Bei.
Liu Bei caught it with both hands, then firmly clasped his hands in salute and said solemnly, "Thank you, Grand General!"
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