Lü Bu Subjugation Battle (5)
"Big brother!!"
"Haha, my brothers!"
Liu Bei welcomed back Guan Yu and Zhang Fei from their clash with Lü Bu, embracing them tightly.
"You must have had it rough, brother. It can't have been easy sticking by Cao Cao's side."
"Haha, I'm the one who's sorry. You two faced off against that beast and his spear. No injuries, I hope?"
"Hmph, getting hurt by that bastard Lü Bu would be a disgrace. Should I rub some medicine on it like a dog bite? Kraha!"
The three brothers had all survived their respective battlefields. If Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had lived through facing Lü Bu, then Liu Bei had endured alongside Cao Cao.
"Cao Cao will have headed for Xuzhou City. Let's follow behind."
"Xuzhou City... isn't that not easy to defend?"
"True. But a city is still a city. Cao Cao's probably already prepared everything in advance."
As Liu Bei pondered their next move, a messenger galloped up and stood before the three brothers.
"Message from the Chief Strategist! General Liu is to enter Xuzhou City posthaste and soothe the hearts of its people, per General Cao's orders!"
"Xuzhou City...? Already?"
"Yes! The father-son duo of Jin Gui and Jin Deng opened the gates from within. They kept the city gates firmly shut while Lü Bu was away on campaign and refused to let him in. Fearing our army's pursuit, Lü Bu fled westward."
"Well, damn."
Liu Bei clicked his tongue at the unexpectedly swift flight and conquest.
"So this is strategy."
"What's that?"
"...Truth be told, I ran into two young people I suspect were Cao Cao's strategists earlier. A man and a woman, both looking just barely of age."
Liu Bei recalled the pair he'd met atop the walls.
"They seemed exceptionally sharp. They had this air of leisure, like they could read the entire board from up on those walls. Watching Cao Cao's army fight up close made me realize it again—they're already building their foundation, gathering and training talent."
"Talent, huh. Hmph, once we get our own base, plenty of people will flock to us."
"Right. The problem is... that 'base'."
Liu Bei stared eastward with a bitter expression.
"Will Cao Cao really hand Xuzhou over to us?"
"Ah, of course she has to! Lü Bu stole it, but the rightful Governor of Xuzhou is our eldest brother!"
"Exactly. After using us twice, even Cao Cao must have a shred of conscience left."
"I hope so."
Liu Bei shook his head slowly. Before long, the three brothers arrived at Xuzhou City's gates on horseback, where Cao Cao stood waiting before the lowered drawbridge.
"Lord Liu. Welcome. I've been waiting."
"Why didn't you enter first?"
"Haha, what's wrong with entering alongside the true master of Xuzhou after subjugating the traitors?"
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei smiled in relief, but Liu Bei couldn't relax his expression.
"Please go ahead, General. Surviving Xiaopei is reward enough for us."
"Haha, come on now. Don't make me repeat myself."
Perhaps due to the ongoing battle, Cao Cao's voice was particularly sharp. With no choice, Liu Bei rode beside her.
"See? The people of Xuzhou are already rejoicing at the sight of you."
"......When I was in Xuzhou, I merely tried my best to please them."
"Exactly. A local official the people desire—what else could that be but fate? General Liu, allow me to make you a serious proposal."
Cao Cao lowered her voice and continued.
"Be content with Xuzhou."
"......."
"I'm going out of my way here. I don't fancy ruling land while hearing 'that bitch Cao' either. Of course, if I feel like it, I will."
"Lady Cao."
Liu Bei smiled faintly in response.
"They say you fatten the pig before slaughtering it, no?"
"...You think I'd do that to you?"
"Even if I say I have no such intentions, you'll keep eyeing Xuzhou. You did all the fighting—it's shameless for me to plop my ass back down here just because the people want it."
"How long do you plan to drift like duckweed?"
"Haha, who knows."
Liu Bei looked up at the sky.
"Someday, won't such a place appear?"
Waaaaahhhhh—!!
No sooner had they passed the gates than crowds surged toward Liu Bei. Some startled at the sight of Cao Cao, but welcoming him took precedence. A man who appeared wealthy stepped forward, bowing deeply before them.
"Protector of the State General, and true Governor of Xuzhou! Greetings! I am Mi Zhu of the Mi Clan in Xuzhou. Thank you truly for saving Xuzhou's people."
"Haha, still calling me Protector of the State General."
Cao Cao twisted her lips at Mi Zhu's words.
"Indeed. We're still fighting traitors even now. So I ask—who among you here is truly loyal to Lü Bu, that rebel?!"
No one spoke. No one raised a hand. If there had been, they'd have fled the city or barricaded themselves inside long ago.
"If any such traitors exist, I, Cao Mengde, shall punish them severely with this sword bestowed by the Emperor!"
Cao Cao smirked at the terrified Xuzhou folk.
"People of Han! By the Emperor's edict, I, Cao Cao, have come to Xuzhou!!"
Cao Cao conquers Xuzhou City.
"Liang'er. Does Liu Bei strike you as someone who'd be content with Xuzhou?"
"No."
Zhuge Liang shook her head firmly.
"He'll use Xuzhou as a foundation to expand further. Right now, lacking a base, he serves under someone, but the moment he senses he's superior to the rest, he'll climb right on top."
"I'm looking forward to seeing how he acts from here."
"Didn't you dislike him—no, hate him?"
"Well."
I didn't hate this Liu Bei fellow.
"Seeing Liu Bei reminds me too much of someone else."
"Who would that be...?"
"There's another Liu who's indecisive and lacks resolve, despite sharing the surname."
Liu Biao. Same clan as Liu Bei, but no matter how much others pushed his back, he couldn't make a decisive choice. Kindly put, cautious; harshly, spineless. The difference? Liu Biao had secured a stable base in Jingzhou, while Liu Bei wandered from place to place. If Liu Bei gained a foundation like Liu Biao's and settled down, in a decade he'd be a massive warlord rivaling him. Of course, Cao Cao wouldn't just sit idly by.
"Cao Cao plans to use Liu Bei as a propaganda tool to rule this place. It won't end until Xuzhou is fully occupied."
"That's why I suggested it to you, Master. Why not just hand the governorship to Liu Bei and use him instead."
"Yes. You did."
We'd indirectly shown Liu Bei his paths. One: fade away in Xiaopei with nothing gained. The other: become Cao Cao's puppet Governor of Xuzhou under her influence. I was a bit curious which he'd choose. Liu Biao would have picked the latter, probably.
"...They're entering the city now. Be careful, Liang'er."
"Yes, Master."
We followed Cao Cao's soldiers into Xuzhou City. Ravaged by Lü Bu's forces, it lacked vitality everywhere. If Cao Cao destroyed the lands she took, Lü Bu had plundered all of Xuzhou and funneled every resource into one spot. Xiabi. Xuzhou's largest and easternmost metropolis. If Xuzhou City was the administrative heart, Xiabi felt like the final bastion. And as Lü Bu's last stronghold, nothing remained here but bare essentials for eating, sleeping, and clothing.
"They stripped it clean."
Lü Bu must have moved all provisions and wealth before his gatekeepers betrayed him. War had devastated Xuzhou.
"Truly, nothing left."
And ironically, in this impoverished Xuzhou, only Cao Cao could provide anything.
"Liang'er. There's one way Cao Cao can truly rule Xuzhou. Know what it is?"
"What?"
"Let only those willing to live under Cao Cao's rule survive this tragedy."
"Let it go—!!"
Suddenly, commotion erupted in the distance.
"I'll die before eating rice from that Cao bitch! Kill me instead!"
"Right! My son was murdered by Cao Cao's army! Think a few years makes me forget?! I'll never forget!"
Enraged crowds began to gather. A problem even Cao Cao couldn't solve. They had to be driven out—
"Calm down, everyone!"
"Ah...! General Liu!!"
The people knelt before the hastily arriving Liu Bei. He knelt with them, his voice trembling as if he'd weep.
"I know. I know you hate Cao Cao. But we must eat to live, right?"
"But...!"
"Your late husband wouldn't want his beloved wife to starve herself to death. Please, take it. The living must live, no?"
"Sob, sniff, waaaaah...!!"
The crowd began weeping one by one, breaking into sobs. Zhuge Liang and I slipped away quietly.
"Liang'er. Did you lose family in Xuzhou?"
"No. I didn't lose any family."
"...We can't empathize with their grief, then."
Family murdered by someone. That pain wouldn't fade in a lifetime.
"But I think I get it roughly. If someone killed you, Master, I'd be truly furious."
"Me?"
"Yes. What about you, Master? If I were killed by someone."
"...I'd never forgive it."
I pulled Zhuge Liang close by the shoulder.
"I'd avenge you, no matter what it takes. Whatever it takes."
I couldn't lose family.
"We move before we lose family."
"Right. So am I your daughter or your wife?"
"...What?"
"Joking."
Zhuge Liang smiled slyly, her expression unchanged.
"Half."