Chapter 71: Different Thoughts

Before long, the three men hurried into Tao Qian's room.

The one leading was Liu Xuande, Liu Bei, who was temporarily acting as the Governor of Yu Province, with a face like jade, lips like rouge, ears reaching his shoulders, and hands passing his knees.

It was said to be temporary because although the Han court had approved the official position, it was just an empty title, because Yu Province was currently occupied by Yuan Shu and Sun Jian, and Liu Bei couldn't go even if he wanted to.

Now, Liu Bei was attached to Tao Qian, and his relationship with Yuan Shu was extremely delicate. Liu Bei was the Governor of Yu Province, but Yu Province was actually controlled by Yuan Shu, while Tao Qian held the position of Governor of Xu Province, but Yuan Shu called himself the Earl of Xu Province.

Moreover, Yuan Shu, Tao Qian, and Gongsun Zan were all in the anti-Yuan Shao alliance, but they were all harboring their own agendas.

Behind Liu Bei were two men closely following him, one tall and sturdy, with a face like a heavy jujube, and the other with a curly beard, leopard eyes, and a strong and fierce appearance, who were none other than Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

Liu Bei saw Tao Qian propping himself up on the sickbed, trying to sit up to greet him, and quickly rushed forward to support Tao Qian, saying, "Lord Gongzu, please rest peacefully, and do not exert yourself easily."

Tao Qian lay back on the couch, took Liu Bei's hand and said, "Xuande, I'm afraid my illness will not be easily cured."

"But what I can't rest assured about is that Xu Province has been invaded by that Cao thief again. If this continues, Xu Province will be slaughtered to extinction."

"I deeply regret that if I hadn't provoked him last year, Xu Province wouldn't have become like this."

Liu Bei sighed and said, "Although Lord Gongzu took the first action, it was only because he saw Que Xuan causing trouble and acted first to gain the upper hand, which was not excessive."

Tao Qian sighed and said, "It was my own overestimation of my abilities. Now Cao Cao's power is great, and he also has Yuan Benchu behind him, and no one can restrain him. What can be done now?"

Liu Bei pondered and said, "We can only fight with our backs to the river. Now that Cao Cao has made a comeback and slaughtered Fei County, it is clear that he is not prepared to reason with you."

Tao Qian sighed and said, "Although this is the case, I still want to try."

"Cao Cao said that I detained his father, Cao Song's family, which is simply nonsense."

"I have learned that Cao Song's family should be living in Taishan County, north of Fei County."

"Some days ago, I received news and ordered Commandant Zhang Kai to lead an army to Taishan County to find Cao Song and send him back to Cao Cao, perhaps avoiding the disaster of Cao Cao attacking Xu Province."

Liu Bei heard this, turned his head and exchanged glances with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

Tao Qian saw that the three men's expressions were strange and said, "What's wrong?"

Liu Bei sighed and said, "Lord Gongzu's actions, I'm afraid, will lead to unforeseen events."

"Zhang Kai is a surrendered general of the Yellow Turbans. If he has ulterior motives, what can be done?"

Tao Qian was shocked when he heard this: "What do you mean by this?"

Liu Bei took out a brocade pouch from his bosom, took out a note inside, and handed it to Tao Qian.

Tao Qian unfolded the note and saw a line written on it.

"Zhang Kai is secretly colluding with Yuan Shu, intending to kill Cao Song and flee to Huainan."

When Tao Qian saw this, he broke out in a cold sweat, suddenly sat up from the couch, and exclaimed, "Who wrote this?"

Liu Bei hesitated for a moment and said, "It was Zhao Zilong, who used to be a Chief Cavalry Officer under my command. He met a strange person, and this note was written by that strange person."

Tao Qian shook his head after hearing this: "The saying of strange people is illusory and Vague, could it be a lie?"

Liu Bei said, "I believe in Zilong's character, he would never deceive me."

"If what the note says is true, Cao Song will be killed, and Cao Cao's army will inevitably intensify its slaughter of the city, and the people of Xu Province will be doomed."

"So, I came here this time to tell Lord Gongzu that I want to lead a few hundred men to chase back Zhang Kai and send Cao Song back myself to see if there is any room for maneuver."

"If Lord Gongzu agrees, please give me a warrant so that I can command Zhang Kai."

Tao Qian listened, pondered for a while, and said decisively, "Then I will have to rely on Duke Xuande."

He ordered someone to write a warrant, stamped it, and personally handed it to Liu Bei, saying, "Whether things succeed or not, Xuande must return as soon as possible. Only Xuande can resist Cao Cao in this Xu Province."

Liu Bei bowed and said, "Lord Gongzu, rest assured, Bei will certainly not let you down."

Tao Qian watched the three men leave the door, and a strategist beside him said, "Cao Cao's power is great, what if Liu Bei takes the opportunity to escape? Wouldn't Xu Province be in danger?"

Tao Qian listened and said coldly, "Xuande would never do such a thing, so don't say any more."

He drove everyone else away and suddenly sat up from the sickbed, his eyes rolling incessantly.

Which dog-day strategist sent the letter to Liu Bei?

He really won't live long, but what about after death?

If Cao Song dies, Cao Cao will fight Liu Bei to the death, and Liu Bei will be able to avenge himself, right?

That Cao thief beat me so badly, I don't want you to have a good time even if I go to the underworld!

Liu Bei is indeed righteous, I hope he can come back this time, otherwise, I am not willing to let this Xu Province fall into the hands of the Cao thief!

After Liu Bei and the other two left the door, they went to count the men and horses. Zhang Fei couldn't help but say, "That Zhao Yun has already betrayed Gongsun Zan and defected to Yuan Shao, and is already our enemy!"

"What if Big Brother is deceived by him?"

Liu Bei listened and said, "Zilong must have his difficulties, I believe he will not harm me."

Zhang Fei was still indignant, muttering, "I don't know what benefits Zhao Yun has, that Big Brother can value him so much, and in the end, he still became a traitor..."

Guan Yu listened and said, "Third brother, listen to Big Brother."

"Do you want to make Big Brother angry?"

Only then did Zhang Fei stop talking.

At the same time, in Yuan Shao's mansion, Yuan Shao, Yuan Xi, Yuan Shang, and several strategists were sitting and talking.

Pang Ji had a happy expression: "Congratulations, Lord, Cao Cao has sent troops to attack Xu Province, and he will definitely not be able to take it down in a few months."

"Whether Cao Cao obtains Xu Province or not, it will be of great benefit to us. At least we have no worries."

"Now, Zhang Yan, the Black Mountain Army of Bing Province, has been beaten so badly that he dare not cross the border. Now is a great opportunity to attack Tian Kai and Tao Qian of Qing Province!"

As soon as Pang Ji said this, strategists such as Shen Pei echoed him.

Yuan Xi saw it in his eyes and shook his head secretly.

This was clearly Yuan Shang's idea. He wanted Yuan Tan to attack Qing Province as soon as possible, so that Yuan Xi could only stay away from Ji Province and could not compete with Yuan Shang.

He knew that he had to speak at this time, and said, "Cao Cao already occupies Yan Province, and if he takes Xu Province again, where will our Yuan family go in the future?"

"If Cao Cao occupies Yan Province and Xu Province, he can covet Yu Province and Sili. By then, our roads to the south and west will be blocked by him. How can we expand?"

"I think we can't let Cao Cao attack Xu Province so quickly. If we want to fight, we have to wait until we have pacified Qing Province."

"By then, Qing Province will be adjacent to Xu Province, and we can also get a share of the pie, at least occupy a route to the south of Xu Province."

As soon as Yuan Xi said this, Tian Feng, who had been dozing off in the corner, suddenly opened his squinted eyes.

Just as he was about to speak, Guo Tu and Xin Ping stood up and agreed with Yuan Xi.

Yuan Shang was furious when he saw this. Guo Tu and Xin Ping were Yuan Tan's people, and their expression of support for Yuan Xi at this moment was self-evident.

If Yuan Tan takes Qing Province, he can collude with Yuan Xi to plot Xu Province. By then, if he occupies Ji Province, can he still go to Sili, which is of no use?

He said, "Second brother's words are not without reason, but Tao Qian of Xu Province has always been at odds with Father. Keeping him is also a hidden danger. If we destroy him earlier, we can also get a stable place."

"Besides, Cao Cao was originally under Father's command, what kind of waves can he make?"

As soon as he said this, Shen Pei and Pang Ji also tried their best to promote it, and the two sides argued for a while.

Seeing that the opinions of the two sides were conflicting and evenly matched, Yuan Shao turned to Tian Feng and said, "Mr. Yuanhao, what is your opinion?"

Tian Feng said, "I would like to hear first, what is the method of Duke Xianyi to stop Cao Cao?"

"Now that Cao Cao has already invaded Xu Province, does the Lord want to order him to withdraw his troops?"

Yuan Xi listened and said, "I once said that if there is a change in Xu Province and Yan Province, I would like to borrow a great general and five hundred soldiers from Father."

"Now that things have come true, I am willing to lead troops to Taishan County."

Tian Feng listened and asked suspiciously, "Why is it Taishan County?"