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On that day, Cao Cao, following Guo Jia's plan, sent a reply to Liu Bei, expressing his willingness to "do a favor" by temporarily withdrawing his troops to lift the siege on Xuzhou. The army then packed up and headed straight back to Yan Province. Liu Bei's envoy hurried back to Xuzhou under the cover of night. The city was already in a state of panic, but upon hearing the news of the Cao Army's retreat, joy erupted within the walls. The people knelt in gratitude, praying to the heavens for the temporary reprieve from disaster.
The envoy entered the residence and presented Cao Cao's letter to Tao Qian. Tao Qian quickly unfolded it, and after reading it, he let out a long sigh of relief and looked up at everyone with excitement: "The Cao troops have retreated! Xuzhou is safe!" He immediately dispatched messengers to summon Kong Rong, Tian Kai, Guan Yu, Changshan, and other reinforcements into the city to discuss future plans.
A few days later, a grand celebration banquet was held in Xuzhou City. The residence was adorned with festive decorations, and guests filled the tables as heroes gathered together in a joyous atmosphere. Kong Rong and Tian Kai sat on either side, while Guan Yu and Changshan sat at the lower end with imposing presence. Liu Bei humbly joined everyone at the table, showcasing his approachable demeanor.
After three rounds of drinks, Tao Qian stood up and raised his cup to toast everyone. He then turned to Liu Bei and solemnly clasped his hands in salute: "Liu Shijun, today’s peace in Xuzhou relies entirely on your noble assistance! As an old man with two unworthy sons, I am truly unable to continue shouldering such heavy responsibilities for Xuzhou. You are a relative of the Han Dynasty, possessing high morals and exceptional wisdom; only you can pacify and govern the millions of people in Xuzhou. I wish to hand over Xuzhou to you so that I may retire peacefully and enjoy my old age."
Upon hearing this, the room fell silent in astonishment as everyone turned their gaze towards Liu Bei. Liu Bei quickly rose to return the gesture, his expression sincere and his tone resolute: "Tao Gong is too kind! When Kong Wenju came seeking my help, I came out of duty to rescue Xuzhou from peril; that was simply my responsibility. If I were to take control of Xuzhou without merit, wouldn’t people accuse me of taking advantage of a crisis? I would never dare accept such a heavy burden!"
Mi Zhu then stood up and said: "Liu Shijun, you need not be so humble. The world is in turmoil; the Han Dynasty is declining while various heroes rise. This is precisely the time to establish merit and support our nation. With a population of millions and prosperous cities, this is a rare opportunity bestowed by heaven. If you refuse it now, you will only miss out on this great chance!"
Liu Bei still shook his head firmly: "Though what Mi Gong says is wise, I know my own limitations; I do not deserve such an important role. Let us not discuss this matter any further."
At that moment, Chen Deng, a renowned scholar from Xuzhou, stood up with bright eyes fixed on Liu Bei and earnestly said: "Liu Shijun, Tao Gong has been ill for a long time and cannot oversee affairs anymore. With no leader in Xuzhou, the people are anxious and unsettled. If you truly care for the world, why hesitate? Only you can protect Xuzhou and ensure that its people live in peace."
Liu Bei remained unwilling to agree and insisted: "If we are truly selecting capable individuals, Yuan Gonglu comes from a prestigious family with high morals and great reputation; why not hand over Xuzhou to him?"
At these words, Kong Rong could not help but scoff lightly, setting down his cup with seriousness: "Liu Shijun, you are being too naive! Yuan Shu appears grand on the surface but is nothing more than a rotting corpse beneath; he has no real substance! How can he compare with you? If you do not seize this opportunity given by heaven today, you will surely regret it later!"
The guests at the table echoed in agreement, urging Liu Bei to accept the responsibility for Xuzhou. Liu Bei looked around at everyone’s eager faces—Tao Qian's eyes filled with hope—and felt a mix of emotions welling up inside him. Slowly sitting down again with a grave expression while tightly gripping his cup, he remained silent for a long time.
Tao Qian stood up once more, tears welling in his eyes as he leaned on his cane slightly trembling; tears rolled down his wrinkled cheeks: "Liu Shijun, if you insist on declining and abandon Xuzhou, I will find it hard to rest in peace after my death! How can millions of citizens fall back into chaos? I am no longer able to bear this burden; only you can protect these people!"
Liu Bei's expression turned troubled as he lowered his head in contemplation, remaining silent. Guan Yu, noticing the situation, furrowed his brow slightly and said in a low voice, "Elder Brother, Tao Gong has shown sincere intentions; why do you refuse? Given the current circumstances, you should temporarily take charge of the affairs of the province to reassure the people."
Zhang Fei could no longer contain himself; he straightened up and exclaimed boldly, "Elder Brother! This is not something we seized by force! Tao Gong is offering a goodwill gesture; why must you keep pushing it away? A true man should not be so hesitant!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei raised his head and looked seriously at both of them, saying in a low but firm voice, "Enough! Are you trying to put me in an unjust position? Though I, Liu Bei, come from humble beginnings, I hold loyalty and righteousness as my foundation. How can I take advantage of someone's misfortune to seize control of a province? Such actions would leave me with no face in the world!"
Seeing Liu Bei's resolute stance, Tao Qian sighed, wiped away his tears, and forced his tone to remain steady as he said, "Since Liu Shijun is so stubborn, Old Man will not press further. However, the situation in Xuzhou is urgent. If you are unwilling to accept the seal of authority, I cannot force you. Not far from here is Xiao Pei City; its terrain is advantageous for military defense. You could temporarily station your troops there to help ensure the safety of Xuzhou. What do you think?"
Everyone present urged in unison, "Liu Shijun, temporarily guarding Xiao Pei is a pragmatic solution; why do you still hesitate?"
After pondering for a moment, Liu Bei finally sighed deeply and cupped his hands in respect towards Tao Qian. "In that case, I will temporarily station at Xiao Pei to organize the troops and stabilize the people, ensuring the peace of Xuzhou. But please rest assured, Tao Gong; once the situation stabilizes, I will take my leave."
Tao Qian smiled with relief and clasped his hands over his chest. "In that case, Old Man can rest easy."
After the banquet concluded, Tao Qian personally escorted Liu Bei and his group to the gate. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had already instructed their soldiers to pack their belongings in preparation for their stationing at Xiao Pei. Zhao Yun also stepped forward to bid farewell respectfully. "I have come here to provide aid and am glad not to have failed my mission. With the lord now safe, I shall return immediately to serve und second brother neral Gongsun."
Liu Bei took Zhao Yun's hand, tears welling up in his eyes as he sincerely said, "Zilong, your assistance for Xuzhou will be remembered. If fate allows it in the future, we shall join forces again to restore peace in this chaotic world."
Zhao Yun smiled slightly and knelt on one knee, solemnly replying, "Liu Shijun need not thank me; what Zilong has done is merely my duty. May we meet again amidst mountains and rivers!"
Liu Bei held Zhao Yun's hand tightly for a long time before silently nodding as he watched Zhao Yun mount his horse and ride away swiftly. Kong Rong and Tian Kai also bid their farewells before leading their troops back.
A few days later, Liu Bei arrived at Xiao Pei with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and their troops. Although this small city was not as prosperous as Xuzhou, its terrain was solid and defensible. Liu Bei climbed up the city wall and gazed down at the lives of the common people below; a serious expression crossed his face as he murmured to himself, "It is destined this way; I shall do my utmost for the safety of Xuzhou!"
He immediately ordered the repair of the city walls, the organization of military supplies, and personally inspected the streets to reassure the people. The citizens, witnessing Liu Bei's benevolent treatment, cheered joyfully and regarded him as a savior and wise ruler. Within and around Xiao Pei City, various industries began to flourish, and order was restored. Meanwhile, Liu Bei quietly accumulated the strength needed to one day turn the world upside down in this unremarkable little town.
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