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Outside Xuzhou Prefecture, Liu Bei awaited the arrival of his mission. An angel, holding an Edict, read aloud with clarity: "By the will of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Yuan Shu has defied orders and declared himself emperor in Shouchun, which undermines the authority of the state. Liu Bei is hereby commanded to raise troops and launch an expedition to rectify this transgression."
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei knelt on one knee, accepting the Edict with both hands, and responded loudly, "I, Liu Bei, obey!" He then personally escorted the angel out of the city, accompanying him all the way to the city gate. Only after the envoy had departed did he turn back to his residence.
In the main hall, Mi Zhu noticed Liu Bei's grave expression and cautiously said, "My Lord, this is clearly another scheme by Cao Cao. Yuan Shu has no enmity with us; why would he command us to attack? There must be a hidden agenda here."
Liu Bei sighed slightly, his tone filled with resignation. "Cao Cao is indeed cunning and full of schemes, but we cannot disregard the imperial decree. Though I am caught in this chaotic world, I cannot betray the principles of Loyalty and Righteousness."
Upon hearing this, no one dared to speak further. Liu Bei slammed his hand on the table and declared firmly, "Mi Zizhong, quickly assemble our troops and horses; we shall depart tomorrow."
Sun Qian stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute. "My Lord, as we march towards Xuzhou with our forces, we must leave someone behind to defend the city. There are many civilians within; we cannot be unprepared."
Liu Bei nodded. "You are right. This matter cannot be taken lightly. Among my two worthy brothers, who can stay behind to guard the city?"
Guan Yu stood up steadily and said, "Elder brother, let me guard the city. You can set out with peace of mind; I will ensure its safety."
Liu Bei shook his head, his gaze filled with warmth and reluctance. "Second brother, you are my right-hand man. In times of trouble, I still need to consult you; how can we be apart?"
Guan Yu heard this and ceased to argue, merely nodding slightly.
At that moment, Zhang Fei slammed his hand on the table and boomed like thunder, "If second brother cannot guard it, then let me! I guarantee that Xuzhou City will be as solid as a fortress!"
Liu Bei turned to Zhang Fei with a look of helplessness and admonition. His tone was gentle yet firm: "Brother Three, you cannot guard the city."
Zhang Fei was taken aback by these words; a look of defiance crossed his face as he furrowed his brow and asked, "Why not? Elder brother, I Zhang Fei have always been brave and unmatched; how could I not defend Xuzhou?"
Liu Bei sighed deeply, his tone growing more serious. "Brother Three, your temper is fierce; you become angry easily when drunk and often lash out at soldiers, causing them to harbor resentment. Moreover, you tend to act recklessly without heeding advice. Defending a city requires not only bravery but also patience and strategy. Do you understand how fatal these shortcomings can be?"
Zhang Fei was momentarily speechless; his face flushed red as he clenched his fists. However, seeing Liu Bei's determined gaze made it difficult for him to retort. Ultimately, he had no choice but to sit back down in silence.
Guan Yu noticed the tense atmosphere and spoke up to ease the situation, "Eldest Brother has his own reasons for his deep considerations. Brother Three, you should listen more."
Liu Bei nodded, a hint of satisfaction in his tone, "What Second Brother says is true. As brothers united in heart, we can overcome difficulties together."
Zhang Fei, hearing that Liu Bei did not want him to guard the city, was filled with indignation. Unable to contain himself, he stood up and shouted, "Eldest Brother, do you underestimate me, Zhang Fei? From now on, I swear I will no longer drink alcohol or fight soldiers; I will heed everyone's advice! Is that acceptable?"
Everyone was taken aback by his words. Mi Zhu gently shook his head and calmly said, "Although Brother Three swears this oath, I fear it may not reflect his true intentions. It might be difficult for him to truly follow through."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei's anger surged. He slammed the table and glared at Mi Zhu, saying loudly, "Mi Zizhong! How dare you look down on me! I have followed Eldest Brother for many years without losing my trust; the words I speak today are as good as iron laws! How can you belittle me like this?"
Seeing this, Liu Bei quickly stood up to mediate. His tone was gentle yet firm, "Brother Three, while your words are heartfelt, I still have some reservations. Guarding the city is a serious matter that cannot afford any negligence. How about this: I will arrange for Chen Yuanlong to assist you. He is steady and cautious and can help share your burdens."
Hearing this, Zhang Fei's anger subsided slightly. Although he remained reluctant, he nodded in agreement, "Since Eldest Brother says so, I will comply. However, if Yuan Long meddles too much, don't blame me for being rude!"
Liu Bei smiled lightly and turned to Chen Deng beside him, saying, "Yuan Long, the safety of the people in Xuzhou City is entrusted to you and Brother Three. Zhang Fei has a straightforward temperament; you will need to assist him more and remind him often to drink less alcohol to avoid any accidents."
Chen Deng cupped his fists respectfully and replied, "My Lord can rest assured; Chen Deng will do his utmost to assist Yide General and ensure Xuzhou is secure."
Liu Bei nodded with a hint of relief in his voice, "With you here, I can march out with peace of mind."
He then clearly outlined the matters regarding guarding the city and urged Zhang Fei to work closely with Chen Deng and not to take their responsibilities lightly.
The next morning, Liu Bei organized the troops; thirty thousand elite troops lined up outside the city. Clad in armor and mounted on his warhorse, he rode alongside Guan Yu. Zhang Fei stood at the city gate watching them leave. Though he felt reluctant, he waved his hand vigorously and shouted, "Eldest Brother! second brother! Take care! Return victorious soon!"
Liu Bei glanced back with a complex expression before raising his hand in return and then spurred his horse onward. The procession moved forward in great numbers, dust rising as they headed towards Nanyang, disappearing over the distant horizon.
In Yuan Shu's tent at Shouchun, the candlelight flickered brightly amidst a gathering of military generals and strategists. Yuan Shu's face was dark as he crumpled a secret letter in his hand. He slammed it onto the table and shouted angrily, "Liu Bei—a mere commoner dares to occupy such a large territory as Xuzhou and stand equal with us lords! That would be fine enough; he even has the audacity to submit a report in secret with intentions to swallow our states! Truly despicable!"
The crowd fell silent; no one dared to speak at that moment. Yuan Shu's gaze swept over the assembled generals before finally landing on one armored warrior: "Ji Ling!"
Ji Ling rose at the sound, cupping his fists in salute. "What orders do you have, my Lord?"
Yuan Shu slammed his hand on the table, his voice filled with anger. "I am about to march against Liu Bei, and yet he dares to provoke me! You are to immediately gather an army of one hundred thousand and march towards Xuzhou. We must eliminate this lowly peasant who weaves mats and makes shoes!"
Ji Ling responded loudly, "I will obey your command, my Lord!" He then withdrew to prepare the troops.
***
Not long after, news reached Liu Bei, who was in the military camp at Xuyi discussing military matters with Guan Yu. A scout hurried in, kneeling to report, "Yuan Shu has ordered General Ji Ling to lead an army of one hundred thousand towards Xuzhou, and they are only a few dozen miles away."
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's expression remained unchanged, though he furrowed his brow slightly. He looked at the map and said in a deep voice, "Ji Ling commands a formidable force, and Yuan Shu is determined to succeed. Our numbers are insufficient for a direct confrontation; our priority now is to use the terrain to defend without engaging in battle."
Guan Yu nodded and said softly, "Brother, you are right. This place is surrounded by mountains and rivers, making it an excellent defensive position. We can use this to our advantage and wear down the enemy."
Liu Bei turned to the herald behind him and said decisively, "Immediately issue orders for the entire army to fortify at Xuyi. Set up camp near the mountains and rivers to guard against enemy ambushes. If the enemy launches a strong attack, do not act rashly!"
The herald took his leave, and Liu Bei stood up, stepping outside the tent to gaze into the distance with a furrowed brow. He thought to himself, "Yuan Shu's intentions are surely not benign; Xuzhou is in grave danger. I must respond cautiously to protect this land."
Guan Yu approached him with a determined look and said softly, "Brother, there is no need for concern. With me and Brother Three here, we will surely help you defend Xuzhou."
Hearing this, Liu Bei smiled faintly but did not respond verbally; instead, he contemplated each step of the upcoming strategy in his mind. The cold wind blew outside the tent, lifting the military flags and adding a sense of tension for the impending war.
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