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Yuan Shu learned that Lü Bu had successfully taken Xuzhou, and he was overjoyed. He immediately summoned his trusted aides and whispered, "Quickly send a message to Lü Bu, telling him that as long as he is willing to launch a surprise attack on Liu Bei, I will provide him with fifty thousand measures of grain, five hundred warhorses, ten thousand taels of gold and silver, and an additional one thousand bolts of silk to help him secure Xuzhou." His aides took their orders and rode through the night to Xuzhou.
Upon receiving the message at his residence, Lü Bu unfolded the letter and gradually smiled. He slammed his hand on the table, filled with pride, and exclaimed, "Yuan Shu truly has an eye for talent; he knows my importance! With this support, Xuzhou will be even more secure!" He turned to Gao Shun and commanded, "I order you to lead fifty thousand Elite Troops immediately under the cover of night to strike Liu Bei's rear. You must annihilate his remaining forces in one swift blow, leaving him unable to retaliate!"
Gao Shun cupped his hands in salute and replied, "I will obey your command, my lord!" He then organized the troops and set off towards Xuyi.
Meanwhile, in Xuyi, Liu Bei was discussing strategies with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Outside, the rain fell incessantly, and the wind howled. Inside the tent, the flickering candlelight created a tense atmosphere. Suddenly, a scout rushed in and knelt down to report, "My lord, Gao Shun has led fifty thousand troops from Xuzhou and is expected to arrive within a day!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei furrowed his brow deeply. After a moment of contemplation, he said solemnly, "Lü Bu will not rest after taking Xuzhou. Now that we are outnumbered and short on supplies, confronting them head-on would lead to our destruction. The urgent task is to preserve our strength. Taking advantage of this rainy weather before the enemy arrives, we must withdraw our troops immediately and head towards Guangling to seek another opportunity!"
Guan Yu nodded slightly and calmly said, "What you say is very true, brother. It is not wise to cling to battle at this time; we must conserve our strength for a chance to turn the tide."
Zhang Fei felt reluctant but understood the situation's urgency. He clenched his fist tightly and declared, "Let’s go! When we return with renewed strength, we will settle accounts with that scoundrel Lü Bu!"
Liu Bei ordered a retreat. The soldiers braved the wind and rain to pack up camp overnight and headed eastward. By the time Gao Shun's army arrived at Xuyi, Liu Bei's camp was already deserted; only a scene of chaos remained after the rain had washed everything away. Gao Shun observed this with a flicker of displeasure in his eyes but did not show any emotion. He ordered a thorough search and confirmed that Liu Bei had indeed fled before giving the command to return.
On his way back, Gao Shun passed by Yuan Shu's camp and made a special visit to Ji Ling. His tone was calm but carried a hint of skepticism: "General, my lord Lü Bu has been ordered into battle against Liu Bei as agreed. I ask you to deliver the grain and gold promised by Yuan Shu."
Ji Ling smiled and cupped his hands but spoke with an evasive tone: "General Gao need not be anxious; these matters are beyond my control. I must report to my lord first before making specific arrangements. Please be patient; once I have confirmed news, General Lu will not be treated unfairly."
Gao Shun remained silent for a moment; a flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes but ultimately nodded in agreement. He coldly replied, "If that is the case, I will report back to my lord first. I hope General Ji can provide us with an answer soon." With that, he stood up to take his leave and continued back towards Xuzhou.
Lü Bu sat in his residence holding Yuan Shu's letter with a frown on his face and a dark expression. Although the words were polite, they conveyed an air of evasion: "Though Gao Shun has been dispatched into battle, Liu Bei has not yet been eliminated. Once you completely resolve this issue, I will deliver the promised grain and gold as agreed." Upon reading this line, Lü Bu was filled with rage; he slammed the letter down on the table and shouted angrily, "Yuan Shu is nothing but an untrustworthy scoundrel! He is clearly mocking me!"
Gao Shun stood to the side, his expression stern as he said softly, "My Lord, Yuan Shu's actions are indeed untrustworthy, but our army is still in a precarious position. It may not be wise to recklessly engage him as enemies."
Lü Bu snorted coldly, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Am I Lü Bu someone who can be bullied? Since he dares to look down on me like this, shouldn't I send troops to let him know my might?"
At that moment, the strategist Chen Gong entered the hall and heard Lü Bu's furious roar. He cupped his hands in greeting and spoke calmly, "My Lord, please temper your anger. Although Yuan Shu is untrustworthy, Shouchun City has abundant resources and a strong military presence. If we recklessly attack, we may not gain the upper hand. Engaging him now would bring no benefit to your reputation, but rather harm it."
Lü Bu turned to Chen Gong, his expression still unfriendly. "Should I just let him toy with me like this?"
Chen Gong smiled slightly, his tone revealing a deep strategy. "My Lord, why rush into action? Yuan Shu lacks sincerity towards us, but Liu Bei is a different matter. He abandoned the city back then and is now wandering in exile. We might as well take this opportunity to send him a letter inviting him back to Xiao Pei. We can present it as an alliance while secretly using him. Once he has gathered his forces, he can serve as your wingman. In the future, we can have him lead the charge against Yuan Shu first and then against Yuan Shao. At that time, the world will be at your command."
Upon hearing this, Lü Bu's brows relaxed slightly, and his gaze deepened. "Are you suggesting we use Liu Bei to pave the way for us and then deal with them one by one?"
Chen Gong nodded with certainty. "Exactly so. Liu Bei appears benevolent but has nowhere to go. As long as you provide him with proper reassurance, he will certainly be willing to serve you. Let him deal with Yuan Shu and wear down his forces; afterward, we can take over—wouldn't that be a win-win situation?"
Lü Bu pondered for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright, we'll do as you say. Someone come! Draft a letter and send it respectfully to Liu Bei, informing him that I wish to welcome him back to Xiao Pei to collaborate on great matters!"
Liu Bei led his troops eastward with the aim of capturing Guangling for survival. However, Yuan Shu had already learned of this news and sent troops to ambush Liu Bei's camp. Under the cover of night, the Yuan Army launched a surprise attack; flames soared into the sky amidst the deafening sounds of battle, throwing Liu Bei's forces into chaos. Although Guan Yu and Zhang Fei fought valiantly to resist, they were ultimately outnumbered; the camp fell into disarray with many soldiers either killed in battle or fleeing in panic.
Liu Bei's face was heavy with concern as he sat on his horse, exhaustion and frustration evident in his eyes. "Our plan to take Guangling has failed; what should we do now?" Just then, a messenger rode up swiftly, holding a letter and kneeling before him. "Lord Liu Shijun, this is a personal letter from General Lu; I have been sent to deliver it."
Liu Bei opened the letter and read its contents carefully. The wording was respectful; Lü Bu expressed sincere intentions inviting Liu Bei back to Xuzhou and offered to join forces against Yuan Shu. After finishing the letter, Liu Bei's expression brightened as he said cheerfully, "Since Lü Bu is so sincere, we might as well return to Xuzhou and make further plans."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei's eyes widened as he exclaimed angrily, "Elder Brother, Lü Bu is a Slave to Three Masters, utterly lacking in loyalty. How can we trust his sweet words? He seized Xuzhou and caused our family to fall apart; now he comes pretending to be friendly, surely he has ulterior motives!"
Guan Yu also nodded slightly, speaking in a serious tone, "Brother Three's words are not without merit. Lü Bu has always been fickle; we must remain cautious of him."
Liu Bei shook his head, his tone firm. "I understand your concerns, but if Lü Bu truly intended to harm us, why would he go through such trouble? Now that he has taken the initiative to show goodwill and sent us a letter, it presents us with an opportunity to breathe. If we suspect everyone, we cannot use anyone. Let us see if his intentions are sincere this time."
Zhang Fei remained dissatisfied but, seeing Liu Bei's resolute attitude, ultimately chose not to say more.
As Liu Bei and the others arrived outside Xuzhou City and had yet to enter, they saw a group of people approaching them. Leading the way was Lü Bu's confidant, escorting Liu Bei's family. Lady Gan and Lady Mi disembarked from their carriage and rushed to Liu Bei, tears streaming down their faces in excitement. Lady Gan took Liu Bei's hand and choked out, "Husband, we have been so worried for your safety. Thankfully, General Lu is kind and has sent troops to guard our home, ensuring we were never disturbed."
Lady Mi added, "He even ordered people to deliver food and clothing daily without fail, and he sent Concubine to check on our needs, making sure we lived without worry."
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei let out a long sigh of relief. He turned to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei and said, "I have always said that while Lü Bu has his faults, he does not harbor ill intentions towards us. This indeed proves that my judgment was correct."
Zhang Fei snorted coldly, his face filled with anger. "Elder Brother, I simply do not trust him! I will take Second Sister-in-law back to Xiao Pei first; if you want to enter the city to see him, go by yourself!"
Liu Bei shook his head helplessly as he watched Zhang Fei escort his family away. He then turned to Guan Yu and said, "Second Brother, come with me into the city to thank Lü Bu. We must turn hostility into friendship to stabilize the situation for now." Guan Yu silently nodded and followed Liu Bei toward Xuzhou City.
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