Chapter 7: Between Greater and Lesser Duties—Liu Yuzhou, You Better Weigh Your Choices Carefully

“Sir, why do you say that?”

Liu Bei, who had just begun to relax slightly, immediately tensed up again.

Zhuge Liang, fanning himself without a flicker of motion, showed a trace of surprise in his eyes; evidently, this time, he and Xiao He had not seen eye to eye.

“Cao Cao has always been ruthless. In the past, he massacred Xu Province all the way to the Si River to block the way. At the Battle of Guandu, he killed seventy thousand of Yuan Shao’s surrendered troops.”

“Now, the people of Xiangyang and Fancheng know that Jingzhou has changed hands and that Cao Cao’s army is about to arrive at the Han River. How could they not be terrified, fearing that Cao Cao will slaughter the people of Jing and Xiang?”

“Liu Yuzhou’s benevolence and righteousness are known throughout the land. When the people of Xiangyang and Fancheng hear that you, Yuzhou, will lead them south across the river, they will naturally take their families and follow you to seek refuge.”

“Once Cao Cao occupies Xiangyang, he will never allow you to seize Jiangling. Most likely, he will dispatch his cavalry to relentlessly pursue you.”

“Leading tens of thousands of the old, the young, and women, your march will inevitably be slow. It is inevitable that Cao Cao’s cavalry will catch up.”

“From your understanding of Cao Cao’s character, do you think he will show mercy then, considering the lives of those tens of thousands of civilians?”

There was no need for elaborate strategy; Xiao He simply laid before Liu Bei the bloody reality of Changban Slope.

Liu Bei’s face grew graver and graver. When he heard this, he drew in a sharp breath, shivering violently.

How could Cao Cao, the man who had slaughtered Xu Province, ever show mercy?

Once Cao Cao’s cavalry caught up, it would be an indiscriminate massacre.

Civilians, soldiers, women and children, the elderly, and the young…

Better to kill three thousand by mistake than to let one escape!

That was surely Cao Cao’s command.

Liu Bei knew his old adversary all too well.

“Sir, your warning is well taken. If I recklessly retreat south, wouldn’t countless civilians in Xiangyang and Fancheng perish beneath Cao Cao’s cavalry?”

“We indeed must not retreat south. We cannot…”

Liu Bei suddenly awakened, immediately rising and bowing solemnly to Xiao He.

“Thanks to your prior warning, otherwise I would have become the villain of Jingzhou. Please accept my deepest respect!”

Xiao He breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed the old saying was true: the best way to influence a person is to grasp their soft spot.

Liu Bei’s soft spot was his righteousness.

“Liu Yuzhou, such great courtesy is beyond me.”

Xiao He quickly stood and helped steady Liu Bei, smiling warmly.

“I know you are righteous, Yuzhou, but you need not be so harsh on yourself. Even if what I said comes true, the blame lies with Cao Cao, not with you.”

Turning the conversation, Xiao He seized the opportunity to persuade further.

“Though the fault is not yours, I believe you would never stand idly by while the people of Xiangyang perish beneath Cao Cao’s cavalry, would you?”

“Putting aside Liu Cong’s betrayal and surrender to Cao Cao, your taking of Xiangyang is justified and far from disloyal.”

“Even if one insists this act is disloyal, it is only a minor breach of loyalty. Compared to saving hundreds of thousands of lives in Xiangyang, the weight of small loyalty pales in comparison. I trust you, Yuzhou, can judge this clearly in your heart.”

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Minor loyalty, great righteousness…

Gradually, Liu Bei’s eyes brightened with understanding.

Beside him, Zhuge Liang observed Liu Bei’s change in mood and naturally realized that Xiao He had persuaded him.

“To think that the people’s fear of Cao Cao would lead them to follow their lord southward, and that this could be used to sway Your Majesty—this man’s insight surpasses even mine. He seems to understand Your Majesty better than I do…”

Zhuge Liang secretly glanced at Xiao He.

Then, with a respectful bow, he went along with the momentum.

“My lord, what Lord Xiao has said is indeed wise. How could Your Majesty lose the greater cause for the sake of minor loyalty?”

“Let us weigh the countless lives of the people of Xiangyang and Fancheng. Lead us in a surprise attack on Xiangyang, block Cao Cao north of the Han River, and save a million souls of Jingzhou from the trampling and slaughter of Cao’s cavalry!”

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei exchanged a glance, then bowed together, earnestly imploring.

Liu Bei suddenly stood, clasped his hands behind his back, and stood by the door, gazing northward with a conflicted look in his eyes.

After deep contemplation, his hesitation eventually transformed into resolute determination.

“If Liu Cong truly surrenders Jingzhou to Cao Cao, then I will have no choice but to abandon familial affection!”

“I will lead you all to cross the Han River and launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang, to resist Cao Cao north of the Han River!”

Zhuge Liang exhaled in relief.

Guan Yu was buoyed by the decision.

Zhang Fei laughed wildly with delight, slapping Xiao He on the shoulder.

“Mr. Xiao, you’re incredible! We were all dry-mouthed trying to convince my elder brother, but you turned him around with just a few words.”

“Tonight, I’ll bring a jar of Dukang wine over, and I’ll drink you under the table to properly thank you.”

Zhang Fei’s strength was great—his slap made Xiao He grimace as if his shoulder might be shattered.

“Third Uncle, take it easy. His body’s weak; it can’t take such a hard slap.”

Guan Yinping, watching Xiao He’s pained expression, couldn’t help but warn.

Zhang Fei hesitated, then realized and quickly reined in his hand.

“Mr. Xiao, I got too excited and hope I didn’t hurt you. You’re my elder brother’s treasure now; if I’d broken you, that would be unforgivable…”

Muttering apologies, Zhang Fei inspected Xiao He’s shoulder.

“Fortunately, no serious harm…”

Xiao He smiled awkwardly and shifted his shoulder away.

Zhang Fei finally relaxed.

Looking up, he caught Guan Yinping watching Xiao He anxiously.

“Yinping, I only gave Mr. Xiao a little slap. Why are you so worried and caring?”

“Why don’t I ever see you care about Third Uncle like this?”

Zhang Fei grinned and teased.

Liu Bei stroked his beard and smiled, nodding.

“Yinping has always been headstrong. I didn’t expect her to know how to care for others now. Yun Chang, it seems she has grown up.”

Guan Yu gave only a faint smile.

A faint blush crept across Guan Yinping’s cheeks as she pouted in annoyance.

“Uncle, what nonsense are you talking? Didn’t you tell me to look after him?”

“If Third Uncle hurt him, how would I explain that to you, Uncle?”

Liu Bei knew well his niece’s temper; once annoyed, even he would find it hard to soothe her.

“Alright, alright, it was uncle’s nonsense. Yinping, continue to keep Mr. Xiao company with breakfast. Your father and I will go discuss how to launch the surprise attack on Xiangyang.”

Liu Bei quickly suppressed his smile and found an excuse to leave with the others.

In an instant, the room grew quiet, save for a few female soldiers stifling their smiles.

“What are you all laughing at? Don’t you see the food is cold? Hurry and take it to the kitchen to warm up!”

Guan Yinping scowled at them.

The women hurriedly grabbed the food boxes and rushed off.

Only the two remained in the room.

The atmosphere grew somewhat delicate.

“Ahem, actually, I’m full already. There’s no need to trouble yourselves.”

Xiao He was the first to break the slightly awkward silence.

“That won’t do!”

Guan Yinping’s almond-shaped eyes flashed with determination.

“I specially told the cooks to prepare all this. You must eat it all.”

“Ah…?”

Xiao He rubbed his slightly bulging stomach, looking somewhat embarrassed.

“Have a few glasses of wine first, and when they warm it up and bring it back, you can eat.”

Ignoring his discomfort, Guan Yinping poured a full glass of wine and handed it to him.

Xiao He felt helpless but did not want to offend her kindness, so he took the glass and bitterly smiled as he raised it to his lips.

Leaning closer with a mysterious expression, Guan Yinping asked,

“Mr. Xiao, I want to ask you something, and you must answer honestly.”

“Is your master some kind of immortal from another world? Have you learned some divine art of palm reading and prophecy?”

No sooner had the wine touched Xiao He’s throat than he suddenly choked.