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Yuan Shao was in his residence in Ji Province, listening to the advisors discuss the overall situation. Shen Pei stood below, his expression resolute and his tone laced with caution. "My Lord, recently Cao Cao and Lü Bu have been engaged in battle, neither able to gain the upper hand. Although Lü Bu has suffered defeat, he is not an ordinary man. He is like a wolf or tiger; if he were to gain Yan Province today, he would certainly eye Ji Province tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao furrowed his brow slightly. He picked up the tea cup on the table and asked slowly, "Shen Pei, what do you mean by that?"
Shen Pei clasped his hands in salute, his tone even more determined. "Lü Bu's power cannot be allowed to grow. Cao Cao is my rival, but we can use him to eliminate Lü Bu. If you send troops to assist Cao in attacking Lü Bu, this threat will be removed."
Yuan Shao set down the tea cup, and the worry etched on his brow seemed to ease. He nodded gently and instructed those around him, "Order Yan Liang to lead fifty thousand troops and hasten to assist Cao."
***
Meanwhile, Lü Bu was still organizing his forces by the seaside when a scout rode in with urgent news: "Yuan Shao has dispatched Yan Liang with fifty thousand troops to aid Cao Cao against our army!"
Lü Bu was furious upon hearing this. He suddenly stood up, swinging his Fangtian Halberd and shouted angrily, "Yuan Shao dares to deceive me! Is there truly no place for Lü Bu in this world?"
Chen Gong calmly stepped forward, his tone steady. "General, do not be hasty. Yuan Shao and Cao Cao have joined forces; our army is isolated and cannot afford a direct confrontation. It would be better to seek another strategy and retreat for now."
Lü Bu turned to Chen Gong, his gaze filled with a mix of helplessness and frustration. "What plan do you have? Speak quickly!"
Chen Gong lowered his voice and said, "I have heard that Liu Xuande has recently taken over Xuzhou and is in need of talented individuals as he establishes his power. Xuan De is known for his benevolence and has gathered many heroes around him. If you could join him and temporarily avoid confrontation, you would find another opportunity to rise again."
After listening, Lü Bu pondered for a moment before finally gritting his teeth and nodding firmly. "I will follow your plan. I, Lü Bu, will never remain beneath others for long; when the time is right, I will fight for the world again!"
***
In Xuzhou City, Liu Bei was discussing military affairs with his companions when suddenly a soldier rushed in with news: "Lü Bu is coming to seek refuge!"
Liu Bei was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, but soon broke into a smile and said to everyone, "Although Lü Bu has been defeated, he is still a valiant man of our time. His willingness to come here shows his trust in Xuzhou. I shall go out of the city to welcome him as a gesture of sincerity."
Mi Zhu, upon hearing this, furrowed his brows and urged anxiously, "Mr. Xuan De, this is absolutely not advisable! Lü Bu is a treacherous man; the calamity in Yan Province was instigated by him. Today, he finds himself in dire straits and pretends to seek refuge. If we keep him here, we may face dire consequences."
Liu Bei smiled slightly, his gaze resolute. "Lü Bu attacked Yan Province in the past because Cao Cao had wronged him first; how can we hold him entirely accountable? Now that he is isolated and willing to come to Xuzhou, it is a test of his benevolence. If I refuse him, would I not be no different from Cao Cao and Yuan Shao?"
Zhang Fei slammed the table heavily and shouted, "Brother, you are too kind-hearted! Lü Bu is cunning and unpredictable; he will bring trouble sooner or later! Even if we decide to take him in, we must be prepared!"
Liu Bei looked at Zhang Fei with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Brother Three, do not worry. It is wise to prepare for the unexpected. As long as we treat him sincerely, he may not harbor ulterior motives."
Zhang Fei snorted coldly and shook his head in silence but still picked up his Eighteen-Feet Serpent Spear and led the others to strengthen the city defenses. "I just fear that while inviting the god is easy, sending him away will be difficult!"
Liu Bei rode out thirty miles from the city to welcome Lü Bu. From afar, Lü Bu could be seen clad in armor, riding on Red Hare. Though he appeared somewhat haggard after his defeat, he still exuded an imposing presence. Liu Bei spurred his horse forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and spoke earnestly, "General Lu, I have long admired your reputation. It is indeed a fortune for Xuzhou to meet you today."
Lü Bu dismounted and returned the gesture with a faint smile on his face. "Liu Shijun treats me with such respect; Lü Bu is deeply grateful."
The two rode side by side while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei followed behind with stern expressions and remained silent. Guan Yu stroked his long beard and murmured softly, "This man’s intentions may not be good." Zhang Fei tightened his grip on the Eighteen-Feet Serpent Spear and replied in a low voice, "He will bring trouble sooner or later; we must keep our guard up."
Once they entered the city, everyone proceeded directly to Zhou Ya's hall. After settling down properly according to etiquette, Lü Bu stood up with a serious expression and said, "Since I collaborated with Wang Yun to eliminate Dong Zhuo, although I have rid the world of harm, I have been displaced due to the chaos caused by Xie and Si. Later on, the various lords of Kanto all had their own agendas and could not accommodate me. That rascal Cao Cao has shown nothing but treachery; he even schemed to seize Yan Province from me, causing me to lose troops and territory."
He paused for a moment and scanned the crowd with piercing eyes. "Now that Cao's forces are closing in on me step by step, I truly have nowhere to go. Fortunately, Liu Shijun acted justly by rescuing Governor Tao and protecting Xuzhou back then. Today I come here wishing to discuss great matters with you; may I ask what your thoughts are?"
Liu Bei pondered for a moment before looking sincerely at Lü Bu. "Governor Tao has recently passed away; Xuzhou is currently without a leader. I am temporarily managing state affairs out of necessity. General Lu is a hero of unparalleled might; if you are willing to take charge of Xuzhou, I would gladly yield."
He turned around and took the seal from the table, presenting it with both hands.
A flicker of surprise crossed Lü Bu's eyes as he reached out to take it, but he noticed the unfriendly expressions of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei behind Liu Bei. Guan Yu raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp as a blade; Zhang Fei let out a heavy grunt, seemingly ready to act at any moment.
Lü Bu's heart stirred, and he caught a glimpse of the two men from the corner of his eye. Suddenly, he laughed and said, "Liu Shijun is so humble that it makes Lü Bu feel ashamed. I am merely a warrior; what merit do I have to lead Xuzhou? I ask you not to push me away."
Liu Bei stood up, his tone firm: "I have long heard of General Lu's capabilities. If Xuzhou is led by you, it will surely be safe."
At that moment, Chen Gong, who was beside Lü Bu, rose with a slight smile and cupped his hands toward Liu Bei, saying, "The heart of the lord is understood by General Lu. However, 'a strong guest should not overshadow the host.' Please rest assured in governing Xuzhou and do not hesitate any longer."
Only then did Liu Bei slowly sit down and nod in agreement: "If that is the case, then let it be so for now."
Afterward, Liu Bei ordered a banquet to entertain Lü Bu. During the feast, they conversed joyfully, with many heartfelt exchanges between them. After the banquet, Liu Bei personally commanded his servants to tidy up the courtyard and ensure that Lü Bu and his men were properly settled. Although the surface manners were complete, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei remained solemn and guarded in their hearts.
The next day, Lü Bu hosted a banquet to return Liu Bei's invitation. Xuan De brought Guan Yu and Zhang Fei along to the appointment. The three arrived at Lü Bu's residence and took their seats together for drinks. As the wine flowed freely, Lü Bu smiled broadly and raised his cup: "Brother Xuan De, today we are sworn brothers in arms for great matters."
Liu Bei nodded with a smile but still felt some caution in his heart as he gently sipped from his cup. At this moment, Lü Bu set down his cup and clapped his hands with a laugh: "Brother Xuan De, let us go to the Back Hall for a chat. I have my wife and daughter at home who wish to pay their respects to you."
Liu Bei hesitated slightly while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei exchanged glances filled with vigilance. Xuan De raised his hand in gesture; the three stood up together and followed Lü Bu into the Back Hall.
The hall was brightly lit by candles. Lü Bu's wife Yan and daughter stood properly to one side. Upon hearing their entrance, they bowed gracefully to Liu Bei and said, "We pay our respects to Liu Shijun."
Liu Bei hurried forward to support them, repeatedly saying, "This is too much honor; I cannot accept it." He turned to look at Lü Bu with a tone of modesty: "General's kindness is appreciated by me; I cannot accept such courtesy."
Lü Bu waved his hand and laughed, "Brother, since we have sworn brotherhood, there is no need for such modesty. It is only natural for you to receive the courtesy of my family."
Before he finished speaking, Zhang Fei, who stood nearby, could no longer contain himself. His eyes widened as he slammed his spear against the ground and shouted angrily, "Lü Bu, who do you think you are to call my brother 'Brother'? My brother is a Born Hero, a Golden Branch and Jade Leaves; how dare you presume to associate with him!"
The atmosphere in the hall instantly froze. Lü Bu's expression changed slightly as he tightened his grip on the Fangtian Halberd and fixed his piercing gaze on Zhang Fei. "Yi De, what do you mean by that?"
Zhang Fei shook his Eighteen-Feet Serpent Spear and declared in a booming voice, "Stop talking nonsense! Let’s settle this with a duel—three hundred rounds! I’ll make sure you’re left picking up your teeth!"
Seeing this, Liu Bei quickly stepped forward to grab Zhang Fei, sternly admonishing him, "Brother Three! Do not act recklessly!" Guan Yu also stepped in, softly advising, "Brother Three, be quiet; do not ruin the greater plans of our elder brother."
Though reluctant, Zhang Fei saw Liu Bei's serious expression and let out a huff before turning to leave the Back Hall. Liu Bei turned back to Lü Bu with an apologetic look and sincerely said, "Elder Brother, my younger brother spoke out of turn after drinking; I hope you won't take it to heart."
Lü Bu remained silent for a moment before finally nodding slightly, his tone cold and firm. "Brother Xuan De is too kind."
The atmosphere grew tense as Lü Bu ordered the removal of the banquet and accompanied Liu Bei and his group to see them off. However, just as they reached the entrance, Zhang Fei had already leapt onto his horse, spear in hand. With a cold smile, he blocked the way and shouted, "Lü Bu! If you're brave enough, let’s duel three hundred rounds! Let’s see whether your Fangtian Halberd is stronger or my Eighteen-Feet Serpent Spear!"
Lü Bu narrowed his eyes; his hand trembled slightly around the Decorated Halberd as he prepared to respond. But Liu Bei stepped forward quickly and shouted sternly, "Brother Three! Stand down!"
Guan Yu swiftly rode in front of Zhang Fei to shield him from Lü Bu and said in a deep voice, "Brother Three, do not act rashly! Return!"
Zhang Fei’s anger was still simmering as he shot Lü Bu a fierce glare before reluctantly turning his horse around. Lü Bu coldly watched Zhang Fei's retreating figure, slowly lowering his Decorated Halberd. A hint of chill passed through his gaze, but in the end, he said nothing and turned back towards his residence.
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