Enter Xiaopei: The Lu Bu Surveillance Mission
Upon entering Xiaopei Castle, chaos erupted when our house horse suddenly went berserk, throwing everyone into a frantic, bustling mess.
But as the saying goes, every setback has its silver lining. Thanks to that fiasco, the tension eased right up.
"Hahaha!! Talk about something you don't see every day!" Liu Bei clapped his hands and burst into laughter.
"The mounts of two great generals locking horns like that—could this be a heaven-sent omen of good fortune?" Liu Bei continued with a grin.
"Ah…." Yeo Po, who had been staring at Red Hare in bewilderment, finally regained her composure.
"Hmph!! It means we've tamed the wilds and will defend Xuzhou with iron resolve!" Yeo Po laughed, picking up the thread.
Even someone as oblivious as her could roll with that one.
"However…. If we leave Lord Fengxian stationed in Xuzhou like this, it might spark further conflicts. Many of our generals harbor ill feelings toward him…." Liu Bei sighed, casting a mildly reproachful glance at Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and me. Ah, right. That's it. Did we come off as the villains here? Eh, whatever. He wanted to send Yeo Po to Xiaopei himself anyway. If we're doing WWE, might as well play along.
Still, this Liu Bei is sharper than the original. I'd figured he'd pull some dramatic stunt, insisting Yeo Po stay in Xuzhou while he bunked in Xiaopei. But surprisingly, he kept it straightforward. Made things a lot easier.
The original Liu Bei from the game would've coolly allowed an armed force to garrison his own base—that was a terrible blunder. I'd stopped it back then.
But after getting burned by Yeo Po, he wised up. Later, when taking in Ma Chao from the west, he'd learned from the Yeo Po fiasco. He made Ma Chao a general but kept real power from her—smart move. That's why Ma Chao's exploits taper off in the late game. And above all, Ma Chao's from the west. After Yeo Po, he decided to steer clear of westerners. Wise call.
Anyway.
"Ah…." Yeo Po glanced around and finally clocked Chen Gong's expression.
"Hmph!! I have no issue heading to Xiaopei!" Yeo Po finally seemed to grasp her place.
"No, we can't house a distinguished guest in some frontier outpost." Liu Bei smiled apologetically.
"No! No!! For a wandering rogue like me, even Xiaopei is more than I deserve!!" Yeo Po waved it off emphatically. Chen Gong nodded furiously like a woodpecker.
"Ah…. My apologies. If you could stay in Xiaopei just for a bit, I'd be grateful." Liu Bei feigned regret, then smoothly accepted with a smile.
"In the meantime, I'll soothe my siblings." That was his way of saying he couldn't bring her into Xuzhou right now, but he'd welcome her anytime opportunity arose.
"Ahaha. It'd be great if we all got along." As the saying goes, levels 1 to 10 shoot up fast for total noobs. Yeo Po was picking up social cues quick.
They settled on resting in Xuzhou for the day, then Yeo Po heading to Xiaopei tomorrow.
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After sending Yeo Po off to her quarters.
"Kim Gong. What should we do?" Liu Bei turned to me with the question right away.
"About what?" I played coy first.
"You know. Yeo Po." Liu Bei's face shifted instantly. A shadow of worry clouded his eyes. That affable smile from moments ago? Total facade.
They say you can't trust big-ears…. Looks like it's true!! He was clearly fretting over Yeo Po deep down. Turns out he had all sorts of thoughts brewing inside.
Actually, maybe he won't let me go because he suspects my escape plans…. My mind raced there for a second.
Nah, no way. I dismissed it outright. Too paranoid.
"I suggested kicking her out, but Lord Xuande ignored me." I voiced the best plan first.
"Mm. We can't mistreat a guest who's come all this way." Liu Bei sighed.
"If we're taking her in, there's only one answer. Station her in Xiaopei and make sure she doesn't build up her forces any further." Isolate her there. Call her only for battles, otherwise keep her quiet in Xiaopei. Key point: don't let her private troops grow beyond what she has now.
"And…. Assign reliable watchers to keep her under constant surveillance. That way, no funny ideas." Even if Chen Gong, Yeo Po's brains, was sharp, tying her to a castle under watch left no room for mischief.
"As expected." Liu Bei closed his eyes in thought, then fixed me with a look.
"I'd like to entrust this heavy duty to you, Kim Gong." He grasped my hand.
"Me?" I'd half-expected it, but not that he'd come out and say it so directly.
"Yide's too hot-headed; he might blow small issues into big ones. Yun Chang's too rigid. Send either and they might clash—disaster." Spot-on analysis.
"Zhao Yun's loyal and capable, but he just follows orders. Lacks flexibility." Yeah, Zhao Yun's a total FM type.
"Mi Fang, Gan Nyeong, Sun Qian lack the martial prowess…. In that sense, you're the perfect fit, Kim Gong." Elimination method, huh.
"You're clever and good with people. You can win Lord Fengxian over." Liu Bei patted my shoulder.
"Planning to raise her up and use her, eh." Man, that's some mad ambition.
"…Kim Gong. All people are beasts. They love hurting others, and without law and order, they devolve into animals fast." A cynical tone uncharacteristic of Liu Bei.
Affinity's high enough for the real talk, huh. He's opening up a bit.
"Sorting good from bad and picking only the pure isn't wise. People are shaped by how you use them. That's why…. I'm trying to embrace even this Yeo Po. With true sincerity, anyone can change." That seemed to be his creed.
"Yeo Po will be Xuzhou's sword and shield." Liu Bei stated it flatly.
"…." This guy's hopeless. But that purity? Hard to hate.
"Got it. Give me some soldiers and trusty generals, and I'll make it work." Got a house in Xuzhou already…. Time to snag one in Xiaopei too.
Not a bad deal. Sparring with a beast like Yeo Po wouldn't match real combat, but the EXP would rack up nicely.
Plus, bonding with talents like Jang Liao and Go Sun. And Yeo Po… if possible.
Just block her intimacy with Yuan Shu. Even if Yeo Po betrays at every chance, it has triggers.
First: Yuan Shu secretly contacting her.
Second: Zhang Fei holding Xuzhou alone.
Since Liu Bei's drunk the poisoned chalice, block those two triggers. Do what I can.
Wait, block those two and she won't betray? Someone naive might think that. But no. Even then, she betrays if opportunity knocks. It just lowers the odds. Yeo Po's a gold-digging snake, plain and simple.
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Anyway.
Personnel was decided overnight.
"Wait!!! My lord!! So I stay in Xuzhou?!" At the morning meeting, Guan Yu exploded in outrage.
"Ah…. Yun Chang, you're married to Kim, so this must irk you." Liu Bei looked apologetic.
"But it's official duty. Bear with it, Yun Chang." Yeah. We're newlyweds. No wife wants her hubby shipping out suddenly.
"Kgh…." Guan Yu shot me a heated glare, then seemed to decide something.
Clank.
Guan Yu grabbed the Green Dragon Crescent Blade leaning against the wall and assumed stance.
"Just behead Yeo Po and the westerners, and Kim won't have to go far." Her face turned fierce as she growled.
She already disliked Yeo Po; now the bitch was stealing her husband? Off with her head.
"Y-Yun Chang!! What are you—!!" Liu Bei grabbed her in panic.
"Let go!! I'll go settle this with Yeo Po!!" "Ah, fine!! Yun Chang!! I'll send you with Kim!! Okay?!" After some tussling, Guan Yu agreed to come along.
Me, Guan Yu, wife Yong Hwa, Kim Squad, and a thousand troops headed to Xiaopei. Mission: defend against Yuan Shu's army and surveil Yeo Po.
To hear from Choi Yeom, back to Xuzhou? Learning to read means hours on horseback. A drag, but… stock up on lessons and homework while I can.
Luckily, Xiaopei wasn't far from Xuzhou Castle. What can ya do? Work's work.
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Upon arriving in Xiaopei, Yeo Po and Chen Gong greeted us.
"Kim Gong!! And Lady Yun Chang!! Good to see you." Yeo Po's tone was suddenly max social skills. Not her usual vibe—with weary-eyed Chen Gong behind her. Guess she's ghostwriting Yeo Po's brain.
"Hmph. Likewise. Let's defend Xiaopei together." I smiled and cupped my fists in salute.
"Hmph. Good to see you." Guan Yu returned the bao quan, looking mighty unenthused.
"Let's head inside!! Time to build up Xiaopei together!!" Yeo Po grinned, leading our group.
"Heh. As expected of Kim Gong." Then she tilted her head provocatively at me.
"…Lord Xuande entrusted me with heavy responsibility." Her gaze was intense; I deflected vaguely.
"Hehe. I don't mind a straight shooter." Yeo Po muttered something annoying, then winked.
Couldn't parse it fully…. But it pissed me off weirdly.
First things first…. Snag Yuan Shu's spies. My job: quietly eliminate Yuan Shu's agents trying to woo Yeo Po.
Planned a chill day with the wives in the new post, but looks like dawn patrols instead.
"Let's eat and drink!!!" Yeo Po bellowed, slinging an arm around my shoulder.
Squish.
The soft flesh—unthinkable on a warrior—dazed me for a sec, but gamer instincts kicked in. I proposed to Yeo Po:
"We've had our fill of booze and meat. How about a spar?" She's here; milk her for all she's worth.
"A spar… you say." Yeo Po's face lit with battle lust. She wanted it too.
"Lord Fengxian…. You know?" Chen Gong fretted over another Yeo Po mishap.
"Sounds good." Guan Yu jumped in eagerly beside me. Yeah, she loves a good fight.
Friendly spar for ice-breaking in Xiaopei. Kill time till evening, then off Yuan Shu spies' heads. Solid day. That was the plan buzzing in my head.