Chapter 10: How could Xiao Bowen possibly know about such an insignificant character?

"May I ask, Mr. Xiao, to whom you are referring?" Zhao Yun asked, his curiosity piqued and unable to wait any longer.

Xiao He sipped his tea and, with unhurried composure, provided a name: "Wei Yan."

The curiosity in Zhao Yun's eyes shifted to confusion; clearly, he had never heard the name before. He turned to look at Guan Yinping. She shook her head, casting a suspicious glance at Xiao He. "I have never heard my father or the others mention anyone named Wei Yan in the city of Xiangyang. Mr. Xiao, are you sure you aren't mistaken?"

The corners of Xiao He's mouth curled upward. *Are you joking? I might forget your name, Guan Yinping, but I could never forget Wei Yan.*

He was known as the "Little Guan Yu." His arrogant temperament and his talent for command were cut from the same cloth as her father, Guan Yu. In the later years of the Shu-Han dynasty, when the ranks of capable generals had withered, it was Wei Yan who held the line. However, at this moment, Wei Yan should merely be an obscure, low-ranking figure in the Xiangyang garrison; it was no surprise that he remained unknown.

"Rest assured, Miss Guan, my memory is quite excellent. I am not mistaken," Xiao He smiled, then continued: "As far as I know, this man possesses the talent of a great general. It is a pity that he is not being utilized; right now, in the Xiangyang army, he should be nothing more than a minor official."

"However, this man has likely long held Liu Yuzhou in high regard. If the Governor is willing to recruit him, he would surely accept the mandate with joy and act as an inside man for a surprise attack on Xiangyang."

Xiao He could not reveal too much, so he could only summarize the essence of Wei Yan’s life. Zhao Yun and Guan Yinping exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of doubt and belief.

"I only spoke of it in passing. After all, I have been living in seclusion in the mountains with my master, so I am not very familiar with the figures of Xiangyang," Xiao He said with a self-deprecating smile. He yawned, excused himself to take a nap, and retired to the inner chamber.

"The Governor has been a guest in Jingzhou for eight years, and with all the connections of Strategist Zhuge, even we have never heard of this Wei Yan!" Zhao Yun began as soon as Xiao He left. "Since this Mr. Xiao is a hermit who claims to be unfamiliar with the people of Xiangyang, how could he know of such an obscure person? And how could he know that this man is loyal to the Governor and capable of the vital task of acting as an inside man for our raid on Xiangyang?"

"I once asked if his teacher was an immortal from beyond the world, and if he had learned divine arts of prophecy, but he only claimed to be an ordinary man," Guan Yinping replied. "Even Strategist Kongming, with all his insight, could not see through the identity of this Mr. Xiao. He only said that he dared not make rash conclusions about supernatural matters, yet he also praised him as a rare talent of the age, with strategies unfathomably deep. Furthermore, his previous predictions have all come true without exception. As for this Wei Yan..." She did not finish, but her tone suggested she was inclined to believe him.

Zhao Yun pondered for a moment, then stood up abruptly. "If that is the case, I shall report this to the Governor immediately. As for whether Wei Yan is trustworthy, that is for the Governor to decide." Zhao Yun strode off toward the main hall.

Inside the hall, Liu Bei was still discussing potential candidates for an inside agent with Zhuge Liang, Sun Qian, and other advisors.

They had debated back and forth but reached no conclusion. "Song Zhong has already returned to Xiangyang. Liu Cong and his ministers must know that the Governor is aware of their surrender to Cao Cao, and they will likely be on guard," Sun Qian warned, his tone filled with anxiety. "Governor, we cannot drag this out; I fear that delays will only invite disaster."

Liu Bei nodded in agreement and turned his gaze to Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang sighed softly. "I know well that delays bring danger, but as for the candidate..."

"Wei Yan can serve as our inside man!" A sharp, clear voice cut through the air, and Zhao Yun entered.

Liu Bei and the others looked on in confusion. *Wasn't Ziyun supposed to be protecting Mr. Xiao? Why has he returned so soon, and what is this about Wei Yan?*

"Ziyun, you..."

"Governor!" Zhao Yun stepped forward and bowed. "Just now, I spoke with Mr. Xiao about the surprise attack on Xiangyang. He mentioned a man named Wei Yan, saying he possesses the talent of a great general and holds the Governor in the highest esteem. He is the best candidate to act as our inside agent!"

Liu Bei was startled and stood up, walking toward Zhao Yun in a few quick strides. "Ziyun, who did Mr. Bówēn recommend?" Liu Bei was clearly unfamiliar with the name Wei Yan and hadn't caught it the first time.

"His name is Wei Yan!" Zhao Yun repeated the conversation from the inner courtyard, word for word.

Liu Bei’s expression was a mix of surprise and bewilderment. He was delighted that Xiao He had provided help in his time of need, solving the most crucial step of his plan. Yet, he was confused: who was this Wei Yan?

"Strategist Kongming, do you know who this Wei Yan is?" Liu Bei turned to Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment. "I have heard the name in passing, but I am not familiar with his background or official rank."

Liu Bei’s eyes widened in surprise. Even the widely-connected "Crouching Dragon" was unfamiliar with the man, yet a recluse living in the mountains had deemed him trustworthy and capable of such a mission. After the accurate predictions of Liu Biao's death and Liu Cong's surrender, Xiao He had once again stunned Liu Bei.

"Regardless, since it is a man recommended by Xiao Bówēn, we cannot take it lightly," Zhuge Liang said. "Governor, you should immediately send someone across the river to contact Yi Ji, and use all our intelligence networks to gather information on Wei Yan's background overnight. We will decide tomorrow whether he is trustworthy."

Zhuge Liang shared the same doubts and decided to verify the information immediately. Liu Bei nodded firmly and ordered Sun Qian to cross the river to meet Yi Ji in secret. That night, neither he nor Zhuge Liang slept.

They waited all night, and by noon the next day, Sun Qian finally returned, weary from travel. Without even stopping for tea, he laid the results of Yi Ji’s investigation on Liu Bei’s desk.

"After a night of investigation, we have learned that this Wei Yan is a native of Yiyang, twenty-five years of age, and possesses exceptional martial skill and military talent," Jian Yong summarized the core findings. "However, because he comes from a humble background and is somewhat arrogant, he once offended Cai He and has been passed over for promotion. To this day, he is merely a military officer with a command of only five hundred men."

Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang exchanged glances, their eyes filled with pleasant surprise. He possessed military talent—this aligned with what Xiao He had said. Humble origins, offended the Cai family, denied advancement, and arrogant... With all these factors combined, how could he not harbor resentment against the Cai clan? The role of an inside agent seemed tailor-made for him.

"This is the man, Wei Wenchang!" Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan decisively. "Governor, he is the best candidate for our inside agent!"

Liu Bei let out a sigh of relief and laughed heartily. "To think there is such a warrior in Xiangyang! Truly, Heaven is aiding me!"

Zhao Yun, standing to the side, also relaxed, though he sighed with wonder. "To think that the man recommended by Mr. Xiao is truly someone the Governor can use. For a hermit living in the wild to know so much about a minor officer in the Xiangyang garrison is truly incredible."

This remark reminded Liu Bei. "Strategist Kongming, how do you think Mr. Bówēn was able to deduce that this Wei Wenchang was capable of such a task? Could it be, as Yide suspected, that he studied under an immortal and possesses the arts of prophecy and calculation?"

Zhuge Liang gently waved his fan, lost in thought. After a long silence, he said, "Perhaps Mr. Bówēn is indeed a disciple of immortals, possessed of divine wisdom. Or perhaps, though he lives in the mountains, he is not indifferent to the world, and in truth, he sees the people and affairs of Jingzhou with perfect clarity. There is no need for us to get to the bottom of it. I can conclude that this Xiao Bówēn truly has the heart to assist the Governor, and that is enough."

Liu Bei’s realization dawned, and his confusion turned into resolve. "Strategist Kongming is right. I shall write a letter, and Gongyou will go at once to recruit Wei Wenchang. We shall coordinate from within and without to take Xiangyang! Once this battle is won, I will personally pay a formal visit with grand gifts to invite Mr. Bówēn to serve me, that he may assist me in the great cause of restoring the Han Dynasty!"