Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

After entering the manor, Tao Qian locked himself in his room, sitting still, his mind a tangled mess, unsure of what to do or what he could do.

He felt both sorrowful and ridiculous.

"If only I hadn't… if only I hadn't…"

Tao Qian muttered, barely understanding what he was regretting.

Lost in confusion, Tao Qian, still sitting, leaned against the desk and fell asleep.

"Dong, dong, dong!"

The sudden, hurried footsteps outside the door startled Tao Qian awake.

"Lord! Lord! ! !"

The old steward's voice echoed from outside, filled with anxiety.

This jolted Tao Qian awake.

'Could it be Cao Cao attacking?'

Tao Qian felt a chill run through him. He mustered his strength, opened his bloodshot eyes, and stumbled to his feet, opening the door and asking urgently.

"What is it?"

The old steward hurriedly reported, "General Cao Bao has sent word that Imperial Uncle Liu has arrived at the south gate of Xia Pi with seven thousand cavalry, requesting an audience with you."

"What?!"

Tao Qian was greatly shocked.

Just yesterday, scouts had returned with intelligence confirming that Liu Bei's army had reached the vicinity of Xiaqiu County. How could they have arrived at Xia Pi so quickly?

Immediately, Tao Qian rushed out of the manor towards the south gate. Upon reaching the city tower, Cao Bao hastily greeted him and reported in an urgent tone.

"Lord, this general has sent men to scout carefully. Liu Bei only leads seven thousand cavalry, and there are no ambushes outside the city."

"However, Liu Bei arrived outside the city at the end of Yin Shi last night but did not approach until just now, when he led his troops closer to the city gate to request an audience with you."

Tao Qian paused upon hearing this and looked up to judge the time.

Tao Qian estimated that it was now early Chen Shi, meaning Liu Bei had been outside the city for over an hour?

As Tao Qian walked to the edge of the city wall and looked down, he saw that most of the cavalry remained half a mile away, with Liu Bei leading only about a hundred riders to wait below the city.

"It really is Xuande…"

Tao Qian murmured, as if seeing something unbelievable, his mind buzzing.

What was Liu Bei's status?

A hegemon of Jing and Yang!

In contrast, Tao Qian was merely a fallen warlord on the verge of collapse, and he had repeatedly suspected and guarded against Liu Bei's intentions.

Therefore, the shock Tao Qian felt upon waking up and seeing Liu Bei waiting outside the city was unimaginable.

Cao Bao, seeing Tao Qian standing there as if petrified, thought for a moment and whispered a suggestion.

"Lord, Liu Bei's sudden appearance here may be a conspiracy. Should we drive him back with a volley of arrows?"

Suddenly snapping back to his senses, Tao Qian slapped Cao Bao across the face.

"Pa!"

Before Cao Bao, stunned by the slap, could react, Tao Qian rebuked him angrily.

"Impudent! How dare you address Xuande by his given name!"

Cao Bao didn't understand…

He had always called Liu Bei by his given name before, and Tao Qian had always tacitly allowed it, never reprimanding him. Why was he being slapped this time?

Tao Qian ignored Cao Bao's thoughts and hurried towards the city tower, shouting as he went.

"Open the city gate! Open the city gate wide for me!"

As the south gate of Xia Pi slowly opened, Tao Qian, still in casual clothes, walked out towards Liu Bei under the guard of a team of personal guards.

Upon seeing this, Liu Bei dismounted from afar and quickly walked towards Tao Qian.

Just as the two were a few steps apart and Tao Qian was about to salute Liu Bei, Liu Bei strode forward, supporting Tao Qian with both arms, looking him over, and saying with sincere emotion.

"In just a few short years, how has Gongzu aged so much?"

These words brought tears to Tao Qian's eyes, which he couldn't stop from flowing, as he said.

"Xuande, why have you come at this time?"

Liu Bei continued to support Tao Qian, answering.

"I heard that the Cao bandit is raising his butcher's knife, slaughtering the people, forcing Gongzu to leave the city and retreat to Xia Pi. After the army arrived at Xiaqiu, I was truly worried about Gongzu, so I entrusted the army to Zikun temporarily and led a team of cavalry to come and see Gongzu first."

At that moment, Tao Qian looked at Liu Bei's travel-worn appearance, with traces of dew still lingering on his clothes and fatigue etched on his face.

Tao Qian, a veteran of many campaigns, could easily see the signs of Liu Bei's hasty journey day and night, and he said, choking with emotion.

"According to the defending soldiers, Xuande arrived at Xia Pi at Yin Shi. Why didn't you wake me up earlier and make Xuande wait outside the city for so long?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing…"

Liu Bei smiled gently, saying.

"Xu Province is full of changes, and Gongzu must have difficulty sleeping. Perhaps Gongzu had only just fallen asleep at Yin Shi. I came uninvited, so how could I bear to wake Gongzu?"

"So, I waited outside the city for a while before asking someone to invite Gongzu, hoping I didn't disturb Gongzu's sweet dreams."

Overwhelmed with emotion, gratitude, and regret, Tao Qian burst into tears on the spot.

"Xuande! Xuande! I regret it! I regret it! !"

"Gongzu…"

Just as Liu Bei was gently comforting Tao Qian, the other well-informed civil officials and generals in Xia Pi City also rushed to the south gate, witnessing the scene firsthand.

Apart from fools like Cao Bao who lacked political wisdom, any normal member of the gentry could understand the meaning behind it.

Liu Bei abandoning the main army to personally come to Xia Pi first revealed too much.

More importantly, how could such a benevolent and virtuous gentleman's sincerity not move people?

Not to mention that Chen Deng was already so excited that he couldn't wait to prostrate himself before Liu Bei, even Chen Gui, who had witnessed so many changes in the Han Dynasty, trembled his white beard and murmured.

"Truly a benevolent and virtuous ruler."

After a bout of weeping, Tao Qian, as if an orphaned old man had found a support, tightly grasped Liu Bei's hand, inviting Liu Bei into the city.

"Gongzu, please wait a moment and allow me to arrange for the soldiers to camp outside the city…"

Before Liu Bei could finish speaking, Tao Qian said sternly.

"Xuande sees me as a close friend, so how can I allow Xuande's soldiers to camp outside the city? Please come into the city to settle down."

"This may not be appropriate. If I lead troops into the city, others may think that I have designs on Xu Province."

Liu Bei showed a hesitant expression, declining.

Tao Qian held Liu Bei's hand tightly, saying.

"I am not afraid, so why should Xuande worry about those idle rumors? Furthermore, even if I were to truly entrust Xu Province to Xuande, I would be willing, so what is there to talk about seizing?"

Without giving Liu Bei a chance to continue declining, Tao Qian personally ordered the arrangement of camps in the city for Liu Bei's seven thousand cavalry.

Immediately afterward, Tao Qian shared a carriage with Liu Bei, heading to the Governor's Mansion to welcome Liu Bei and offer him a bath and refreshments. (End of Chapter)