Chapter 5: Seeking Your Guidance, Sir—How Shall We Break the Deadlock?

“Xiao He, Xiao Bowen...”
Liu Bei murmured the name, a glimmer of delight flashing in his eyes.
Jingzhou was indeed a land of outstanding talent, a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers abounded.
During his eight years residing in Jing and Xiang, he had surely gathered many gifted individuals under his banner.
Yet, while many had come seeking refuge, few could truly be called wise and capable.
As for those of the caliber to assist a ruler, none but Zhuge Liang stood out like a lone seedling amidst the barren.
Now, by a twist of fate, his niece had brought back a young man from the mountains, one with the potential for profound foresight!
This was akin to fortune falling from the heavens—how could he not rejoice?
“The strategist speaks wisely. This Xiao Bowen is indeed extraordinary. It seems he must possess rare talents.”
“If such a man is willing to remain and assist me, it would surely add strength to my endeavor to restore the Han dynasty.”
Liu Bei gently stroked his fine beard, a faint smile playing beneath his brows.
“Brother, I recall that Xiao He even predicted that Liu Cong would surrender Jingzhou to Cao Cao without a fight!”
“Does Yi Ji’s secret letter mention this?”
Guan Yu spoke up with a reminder.
Liu Bei withdrew his thoughts and became alert again, hastily continuing to peruse the documents with the others.
Their brows furrowed, expressions growing increasingly complex.
In Yi Ji’s secret letter, it was said that although Liu Cong had yet to announce it publicly, all signs pointed to a high probability he planned to surrender without resistance.
“Xiao Bowen is truly remarkable, his prediction came true again!”
Zhang Fei’s eyes widened, astonished yet cursing,
“That good-for-nothing Liu Cong, along with those two traitors Kuai Yue and Cai Mao—are they really going to hand Liu Biao’s legacy to that Cao bandit?”
His words echoed the sentiments of all present.
“The military and political power in Jingzhou is firmly in the hands of Kuai and Cai. Though Liu Cong is nominally the governor, he has no say in surrendering to Cao; it must be under duress from those two.”
“Yet I never expected those two to be so shameless, selling out Liu Jing’s inheritance while his body was still warm, utterly forgetting the trust Liu Jing placed in them over the years.”
After his outburst, Zhuge Liang sighed deeply,
“I have known Cai and Kuai for a long time, but even I could not see through them as clearly as this mountain recluse, Xiao Bowen. I am ashamed.”
Liu Bei sighed softly, his gaze a mixture of joy and concern.
The fact that Xiao He had foreseen Liu Cong’s impending surrender confirmed his exceptional nature—this was indeed cause for happiness.
Yet with Cao Cao’s massive army advancing south, and Liu Cong poised to surrender Jingzhou without a fight, how was he to face this?
“If Liu Cong and those two, Kuai and Cai, truly intend to surrender Jingzhou to Cao, our situation will be dire.”
“Strategist, what is your counsel? How should we respond?”
Liu Bei’s tone grew solemn as he looked toward the sleeping dragon strategist.
Zhuge Liang opened his mouth to speak but then swallowed his words,
“The upheaval is sudden, and this concerns the very survival of Jingzhou, as well as the lives of Your Majesty and our soldiers. I must contemplate carefully.”
With no immediate solution from Zhuge Liang, a shadow fell over Liu Bei and his companions.
“Brother, Xiao Bowen is still in the residence. Why not hear his thoughts? It would be a good opportunity to test this man’s talents.”
At that moment, Guan Yu suggested.
Liu Bei’s eyes brightened; he rose swiftly.

“Yunchang speaks well. Let us go meet Xiao Bowen.”
So Liu Bei cheerfully made his way to the rear quarters, followed by Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhuge Liang.

In the quarters at the rear.
Xiao He, just rising past mid-morning, was washing up with the help of a maidservant.
“You’re only getting up now, with the sun high overhead? You really know how to sleep in.”
A clear, tinkling voice sounded outside.
Guan Yinping, dressed in armor, entered with several female soldiers behind her.
“Governor Liu takes good care of me. I do nothing all day but eat and sleep. There’s nothing to do waking up early.”
Xiao He smiled, self-deprecating, then shifted his tone:
“Eating and sleeping well now is to build strength—to prepare for what lies ahead.”
When Cao Cao’s forces arrive, Liu Bei will have to retreat south across the river, pursued relentlessly by Cao’s tiger cavalry day and night.
There will be no time even for a short nap.
Yet Guan Yinping could not grasp the deeper meaning behind Xiao He’s words.
“You are my uncle’s honored guest; sleep as late as you wish. I was merely teasing.”
Guan Yinping waved to the female soldiers.
They opened boxes of food, revealing a feast of fine wines and delicacies.
“I noticed you like stewed lamb, so I asked the kitchen to prepare extra today. Eat your fill.”
“Eat it while it’s hot. Once it cools, stewed lamb can become cloying.”
Xiao He thanked Guan Yinping with a grateful glance.
To have his preferences remembered was rare indeed.
It must be said, this Miss Guan appeared aloof but was truly thoughtful.
“Thank you for remembering my favorite dishes. I’ll brush my teeth and then eat.”
He pulled a toothbrush from his backpack.
Unfortunately, his toothpaste was gone, so he used a local remedy: applying powdered shells with salt water, then chewing mint leaves to freshen his breath.
“What... what is that?”
Guan Yinping’s almond-shaped eyes widened as she stared at the toothbrush, her lovely face filled with curiosity.
“This is a toothbrush.”
Xiao He replied casually, then tilted his head to rinse his mouth.
Guan Yinping suddenly understood. When she rescued him, she had seen this item in his bag—it was for cleaning teeth.
“This is truly ingenious. I wonder what it’s made from?”
“Even their dental care differs from ours. Could it be that his master is a hermit sage, and he himself no ordinary man?”
Guan Yinping took the toothbrush, marveling silently.
Seeing her curiosity, Xiao He explained that they usually soaked willow branches in water, then frayed the fibers inside to brush their teeth.
“If you like, Miss Guan, I can give you one.”
He rummaged in his bag and produced a new toothbrush.
When camping outdoors, he had brought seven or eight spares. The quality was good enough to last a lifetime if used sparingly.
Miss Guan had saved his life; giving one as thanks was only fitting.
Besides, she was the daughter of Liu Bei’s second-in-command.
If he planned to stay in Liu Bei’s service, cultivating good relations with the second-in-command’s daughter was essential.
“Such a marvelous thing, you really want to give it to me?”
Guan Yinping looked at Xiao He, both surprised and delighted.
Xiao He smiled faintly,
“Miss Guan saved my life. A small token is nothing.”
She accepted it without pretense, holding it carefully as if a treasure.
Having brushed his teeth and exchanged gifts, with his stomach growling, Xiao He rolled up his sleeves to eat.
Guan Yinping, in high spirits, removed her sword and knelt beside him, personally serving rice and dishes.
The female soldiers, unused to seeing their lady so considerate, exchanged curious glances and whispered among themselves.

“Mr. Xiao truly foresees events with uncanny accuracy!”
Liu Bei’s voice came from outside the door.
He arrived eagerly with his father Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhuge Liang.
Guan Yinping quickly dropped her chopsticks and stood, a faint blush on her cheeks, hastily clearing her throat.
Xiao He was just about to sip wine but swallowed quickly upon seeing Liu Bei, rising to greet him.
“Just returned from Xiangyang, the report says Liu Jing Sheng died of fright upon hearing of Cao Cao’s advance.”
“Kuai and Cai not only deposed the elder in favor of the younger Liu Cong as governor but also appear to have coerced him into surrendering Jingzhou to Cao!”
Liu Bei stepped forward, helped Xiao He to sit, and clasped his hands in admiration:
“Mr. Bowen, you truly foresee events like a sage. All these upheavals in Xiangyang were within your foresight!”
At these words, Guan Yinping’s expression changed dramatically; she gazed at Xiao He in astonishment.
Xiao He exhaled softly, feeling a weight lifted.
It seemed that the spy Yi Ji had confirmed his earlier prediction.
Judging by Liu Bei’s attitude, his position here was now secure.
“You flatter me, Governor Liu. I am no prophet—far from it.”
Xiao He smiled modestly, then asked,
“Have you eaten, Governor Liu? If not, join me. I cannot eat all this food alone.”
He scooped a bowl of rice and handed it to Liu Bei.
Liu Bei held the bowl, momentarily stunned.
Only after a gentle cough from Zhuge Liang did he snap back and remember the purpose of this visit.
Setting down the bowl and chopsticks, Liu Bei clasped his hands solemnly:
“Now, with Cao Cao’s massive army bearing down from outside, and Liu Cong prepared to surrender from within, I stand at the frontline in Fancheng, beset on both sides.”
“I seek your counsel, sir. How can we break free from this dire predicament?”