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In Xu Du City, the sun shone brightly on the newly constructed palaces and towering city walls. Craftsmen busily repaired the fortifications while soldiers transported building materials, making the entire city resemble a newly awakened giant beast. The Emperor entered the city under the escort of Cao Cao, and the citizens lined the streets to welcome him. However, their gazes were more often fixed on Cao Cao than on the imperial carriage that symbolized royal authority.
Cao Cao rode atop a magnificent steed, clad in armor and exuding an air of calm confidence. He raised his eyes to survey the city that was rejuvenating for his sake and thought to himself, "This place is fortified and fertile, rich in resources; it is indeed the foundation for great undertakings."
As the Emperor entered the palace, his attendants hurried to prepare, while Cao Cao took on a commanding presence as he began to distribute rewards for merit among his officials.
Man Chong led Xu Huang into Cao Cao's tent, his face beaming with satisfaction as he said, "My Lord, General Xu has pledged allegiance; please meet him in the tent."
Seeing Xu Huang enter, Cao Cao's face broke into a genuine smile as he rose to greet him. "Gong Ming, your arrival here truly adds wings to my ambitions." As he spoke, he patted Xu Huang on the shoulder, his tone filled with praise. "Your decision this time will surely lead to great achievements."
Xu Huang bowed respectfully and replied firmly, "Lord Cao treats people with sincerity and values virtuous men. From now on, I will follow only your lead!"
Cao Cao laughed heartily at his words. "Excellent! Excellent! Since you have come, I shall not let you down."
He then turned to Man Chong and nodded meaningfully. "Bo Ning, you have handled this matter splendidly."
A few days later, Cao Cao presided over a grand ceremony and summoned his ministers. Although the Emperor sat high upon his throne, his gaze frequently fell upon Cao Cao, as if every move of this powerful minister deeply affected him.
Cao Cao stood in the center of the hall, clad in general's armor and holding a ceremonial tablet. His tone was composed yet authoritative. "Now that the palace has been built and the city repaired, with ample provisions and soldiers united in loyalty, we can finally ensure peace for the common people. As for rewarding those who have contributed, it is only right to reward merit and punish wrongdoing; each should receive their due position."
He began calling names: Xun Yu, Xun You, Guo Jia, Liu Ye, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan—all were appointed to important positions. Members of the Cao clan and trusted generals received high offices and generous rewards. Each command spoken by him was met with respectful acceptance from the ministers, though they could hardly conceal their awe for this man who resembled a ruler without actually being one.
After the ceremony concluded, the Emperor rose wearily and wished to say something to reclaim his dignity as sovereign. However, Cao Cao stepped forward first, slightly bending at the waist with a smile. "Your Majesty has worked hard today; please rest early. Matters of state have been arranged by me; there is no need for Your Majesty to worry excessively."
The Emperor opened his mouth but ultimately refrained from voicing any objections; he could only nod lightly in response. "Thank you for your hard work, General Cao."
Cao Cao hosted a banquet in the back hall where bright lights illuminated the room and the aroma of wine filled the air. He sat at the head of the table with a serious expression as he surveyed Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Xu Chu, and other strategists and generals before slowly speaking. "Liu Bei is currently stationed in Xuzhou managing provincial affairs; after his defeat, Lü Bu has sought refuge with him and now resides in Xiao Pei. If these two join forces to attack us, they could become a significant threat to Xu Du. Do any of you have good strategies?"
The crowd lowered their heads in contemplation. After a moment, Xu Chu slammed his hand on the table and stood up with a voice like thunder. "Prime Minister, why overthink it! Please grant me 50,000 Elite Troops; I guarantee within three days I will bring you Liu Bei's and Lü Bu's heads!"
Upon hearing this, a smile appeared at the corner of Cao Cao's mouth; however, he remained silent and shifted his gaze toward Xun Yu. Xun Yu smiled slightly and shook his head gently while advising him earnestly: "General's bravery is commendable but this matter cannot be resolved solely with passion. Now that Xu Du is newly established and its people are still settling down, if we hastily ignite war again it may cause unrest among all lords across the land."
Xu Chu's expression revealed a hint of dissatisfaction, but he chose not to speak further. Xun Yu clasped his hands towards Cao Cao and continued, "My Lord, I have a plan that can resolve this concern without the need for any soldiers."
Cao Cao's interest was piqued as he leaned slightly forward and asked, "Oh? What is the plan?"
Xun Yu spoke with a steady and clear tone, slowly explaining, "This plan is called 'Two Tigers Competing for Food.' Although Liu Bei occupies Xuzhou, he has not received an official decree to legitimize his position. If you were to present a petition to the court, requesting that Liu Bei be appointed as the Governor of Xu Province and granted titles and ranks, he would surely be grateful. However, along with the decree, you could include a secret letter instructing Liu Bei to find a way to eliminate Lü Bu."
Cao Cao pondered for a moment before nodding slightly, signaling Xun Yu to continue.
"If Liu Bei succeeds, then this fierce general Lü Bu would be removed. Liu Bei would be left isolated and without support, making him easy to deal with." Xun Yu paused briefly, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes. "If Liu Bei fails, Lü Bu's suspicious nature would lead him to turn against Liu Bei. Regardless of the outcome, when two tigers fight, one will surely be injured, allowing you to reap the benefits."
Guo Jia nodded in agreement from the side and smiled, "Once this plan is set in motion, Lü Bu and Liu Bei will inevitably destroy each other. Our army will not need to expend any effort to weaken Xuzhou's power; it is indeed a brilliant strategy."
Cao Cao laughed heartily and slammed his hand on the table in excitement. "Xun Wenruo, truly a brilliant plan! Immediately prepare the petition to request the decree, appointing Liu Bei as Zheng Dong Jiang Jun and Marquis of Yicheng while concurrently naming him Governor of Xu Province. Include a secret letter to be sent along with the decree!"
Xun Yu stood up and clasped his hands together. "Your wisdom is unmatched, my Lord. I will take care of it right away."
Cao Cao gazed out the window; the lights flickered in his eyes, reflecting an inscrutable depth. He murmured softly to himself, "In this game of chess with two tigers competing, ultimately it will still be I who controls the board."
Inside Xuzhou City, Liu Bei sat at his desk writing a letter to congratulate Han Xian Di on the relocation of the capital to Xu Du. Suddenly, urgent news arrived from outside: "The envoy has arrived at the city gates!" Startled by the news, Liu Bei immediately set down his pen and hurried outside with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to personally welcome the envoy.
Outside the city, the envoy stood majestically on horseback, adorned in brocade robes that exuded authority. From a distance, Liu Bei clasped his hands together and called out loudly, "The envoy has traveled far; I apologize for not welcoming you sooner!" After saying this, he quickly led the envoy into the county office and personally escorted him into the main hall to receive the decree.
The envoy unfurled the imperial edict and read aloud: "By heavenly mandate, the Emperor decrees: Liu Bei possesses loyalty and righteousness and has won deep respect from the people. He is hereby appointed as Zheng Dong Jiang Jun and Marquis of Yicheng while concurrently serving as Governor of Xu Province to stabilize this region and assist the court."
Liu Bei knelt down and bowed his head in reverence as he accepted the decree, repeatedly expressing his gratitude: "I am Liu Bei; I thank His Majesty for this grace and vow not to fail in my duties."
Subsequently, Liu Bei hosted a banquet in honor of the envoy. During the feast, the envoy smiled as he raised his cup in toast to Liu Bei and then quietly said, "Your Excellency's attainment of this honor is indeed due to Cao Jiangjun's recommendation before the Emperor."
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's brow furrowed slightly in confusion but still rose to return the gesture sincerely: "Lord Cao's kindness is deeply appreciated; I am truly grateful."
Seeing Liu Bei's respectful demeanor, the envoy took out a private letter from his sleeve and handed it to him calmly saying, "This is a personal letter from Cao Jiangjun; please take a look."
Liu Bei took the letter and opened it to read carefully. The tone was earnest, yet it struck at the heart of the matter: "Lu Bu is fickle and distrusted by many. Now that you have obtained the position of Governor of Xu Province, you must eliminate this threat to ensure stability. This opportunity cannot be missed; I hope you will consider it carefully."
After finishing the letter, Liu Bei frowned slightly, gently closed it, and said in a low voice, "This matter is serious; I need to think it over." The messenger nodded and said no more. After the banquet ended, Liu Bei arranged for the messenger to stay at Guanyuan Inn while he returned home to discuss the issue.
***
Late at night, Liu Bei summoned Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to discuss matters in the hall. He laid the letter flat on the table and said with a solemn expression, "Cao Cao wants me to eliminate Lu Bu, claiming that this is essential for the stability of Xuzhou. What do you think, my brothers?"
Zhang Fei immediately slammed his hand on the table and shouted angrily, "Who is Lu Bu? He was once treacherous and now comes to seek refuge with us only because he is out of options! If we don’t kill such a person now, when will we?"
Hearing this, Liu Bei shook his head gently, a hint of worry in his voice: "Lu Bu may indeed be untrustworthy, but he is currently trapped in Xiao Pei and has nowhere else to turn. If I betray him now and kill him, would that not mean losing my credibility in the world? How can Xuan De stand before others then?"
Zhang Fei's eyes widened in disbelief, his anger still simmering as he pointed at Liu Bei and said, "You always do this! Knowing full well he is a threat, you still talk about righteousness! In this chaotic world, how far can good people go?"
Guan Yu remained silent for a moment before speaking softly: "What you say has merit, but Lu Bu is like a fierce tiger; keeping him alive will surely lead to future troubles. This matter requires deep consideration and should not be rushed."
Liu Bei sighed, gathered the letter and placed it in his bosom, his tone calm yet resolute: "Since I have promised to take Lu Bu in, I cannot act against my principles. Although Lord Cao means well, I cannot take a life lightly. This matter ends here."
Seeing his brother's firm stance, Zhang Fei snorted coldly: "If you want to be a good person, I want to see how Lu Bu will repay you!" With that, he turned and left in a huff.
Guan Yu looked at Liu Bei with both admiration and concern but ultimately said nothing more and quietly followed suit. Liu Bei sat under the candlelight, feeling a mix of emotions as he murmured to himself: "Righteousness is difficult to uphold; yet for one who is benevolent, one must hold onto their original intentions."
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