Chapter 409

According to Chen Deng’s usual personality, he would actually disdain explaining so much to a stubborn brute like Zhang Fei.

But this time, in order to let Liu Bei and Lu Bu hold on for a few more months and complete the task assigned by Su Xuan, he could only endure it.

It was not that he looked down on generals or martial artists.

He simply looked down on a brute like Zhang Fei who had no brains and was always shouting.

Being foolish is not a problem, but you cannot be stupid and stubborn and refuse to listen to advice.

That would only make Chen Deng lose the desire to communicate.

“This...”

Zhang Fei’s expression stalled, and he frowned: “Then things are really troublesome! But when did Cao Cao become so powerful? It was clearly very average back then!”

“Third Brother!”

Liu Bei could not listen anymore and glared at Zhang Fei, scolding: “You think Cao Cao is very average; that is just your own thought!”

“I have always felt that Cao Cao is a very powerful and dangerous person;”

“Even, he gives me a feeling that is far more dangerous and powerful than Lord Yuan Shao!”

“Only Su Xuan, whom I cannot see through, can be compared to him!”

He never dared to underestimate Cao Cao.

Only a simpleton like his third brother would think Cao Cao is a simple person who is easy to deal with.

In fact, Lu Bu is the kind of person Liu Bei considers relatively easy to deal with.

Because Lu Bu is very simple, and his way of doing things is easy to guess.

Unlike Cao Cao; old, cunning, and treacherous is exactly what describes him.

“Alright!”

Zhang Fei did not argue with his big brother; he believed that his big brother must have his own reasons for saying so.

“Sigh! I hope the scouts can bring back useful information soon!”

Liu Bei sighed, feeling a headache.

If everything is true, then even if he unites with Lu Bu, he does not have enough confidence to repel Cao Cao and retake Xuzhou.

He was not even sure if he could hold this Xiapi City.

“If I fail, where should I go from here?”

Liu Bei lamented in his heart.

Ten

“When will I be able to revitalize the Han and make the Han great again?”

Liu Bei thought with some confusion in his heart.

One day later,

Liu Bei’s side received the intelligence gathered by the scouts.

“My lord, we have investigated clearly; Pengcheng and other places have indeed fallen into Cao Cao’s hands!”

“In addition, Cao Cao’s main army has already set off and is expected to arrive at Xiapi City in another day!”

The scout centurion detailed the situation in Pengcheng and what they had seen and heard along the way.

Not only Pengcheng, but other parts of Donghai Commandery had also fallen.

Even, it is said that Taishan Commandery and Langye State are no exception.

However, time was limited and the situation was urgent; they did not have time to investigate the situation in Taishan Commandery and other places, so they hurried back to report.

“Has it really fallen?”

Liu Bei’s face sank, and his heart sank to the bottom; at this moment, all the luck in his heart disappeared.

“Sigh! I would rather this all be Lu Bu’s trick than the current situation!”

“Forget it! Let’s not talk about this! Sir Gongyou! I have to trouble you to go out of the city and invite Mr. Chen Gongtai to discuss the matter of uniting to face the enemy!”

“Yes!”

Sun Zou Qian bowed and left to carry out the order.

After Sun Zou Qian left, Zhang Fei could not help but speak: “Big brother! Are we really going to let the thief Lu Bu in and join forces with him?”

He only lamented that the world changes really fast!

A few days ago, they were fighting to the death, and now they are starting to unite to face the enemy, becoming brothers in the same trench.

Simply unbelievable.

“Otherwise?”

Liu Bei glared at Zhang Fei and warned: “Only by uniting with Lu Bu do we have a chance to defeat Cao Cao. It is very important for Lu Bu to help with all his might next; Third Brother, you must absolutely not act foolishly during this period and cause conflict with Lu Bu!”

“Even if you have anger in your heart, you must hold it in for me, understand?”

If Zhang Fei were to anger Lu Bu and drive him away, and they had to face Cao Cao’s hundreds of thousands of troops alone, then Liu Bei would really be at a loss.

“Exactly.”

At this moment, Guan Yu, standing to the side, saw Zhang Fei’s reluctance and immediately warned: “Third Brother! This matter concerns whether Big Brother’s foundation can be preserved!”

“Just restrain your little temper! Otherwise, if you ruin Big Brother’s affairs, watch out, I will beat you!”

Zhang Fei saw Guan Yu holding his fist and immediately felt his face ache, waving his hands repeatedly: “Second Brother, put your fist away first! I promised, isn’t that enough?”

“Really! Am I the kind of person who cannot distinguish the importance of things?”

Liu Bei and Guan Yu heard this and looked at him speechlessly, saying in unison: “You are!”

Zhang Fei: “......”

In your hearts, is that the image I have?

Soon, Chen Gong was invited by Sun Zou Qian.

The subsequent process went smoothly; Chen Gong and Liu Bei successfully reached an alliance agreement, and then Liu Bei opened the city gates and let Lu Bu’s army enter the city.

After the two met, they both looked at each other with complicated expressions.

“I didn’t expect you to really agree, Brother Liu Xuande! Magnanimous!”

Lu Bu gave Liu Bei a thumbs up.

If it were him, he might not necessarily have been willing to agree.

It can only be said that Liu Bei is truly capable of enduring.

“Hehe! Where! The Marquis of Wen overpraises me!”

Liu Bei smiled modestly: “In matters of great right and wrong, I, Liu Bei, can still distinguish them!”

“It is you, General Lu, who is admirable for being willing to stay and help me, even though you could have escaped!”

“Next, whether this Xiapi City can be held will likely depend heavily on you, General Lu!”

As long as he can borrow Lu Bu’s strength to hold this Xiapi City and force Cao Cao to withdraw his troops, that is victory.

As for whether he can retake the entire Xuzhou afterwards, and to whom Xuzhou will belong then?

Now is simply not the time to consider these questions.

“Where!”

Lu Bu waved his hand: “I am just unwilling to leave in such a dejected manner, and I want to properly retaliate against Cao Cao and teach him a lesson!”

“As for whether we can win in the end, I cannot guarantee it! You must be clear about this, Brother Liu Xuande!”

“I will say the ugly words first; if we really reach the end of our rope and there is no hope of winning, I will definitely not stay and defend Xiapi City to the death with my family and subordinates!”

“I hope you are clear about this!”

Putting in effort is fine, but risking one’s life is impossible!

“You....”

Zhang Fei was unhappy and pulled a long face, preparing to speak.

He was immediately pulled back by Guan Yu, who glared at him.

Zhang Fei immediately behaved.

“Hehe!”

Liu Bei smiled bitterly and shook his head: “This is natural! The General is here to help this time, so naturally, you are free to come and go!”

“However, it seems the General is not very optimistic that we can win!”

This is clearly not good news.

Liu Bei himself has not truly fought Cao Cao.

His only understanding is the cooperation during the campaign against Lord Yuan Shu.

But Lu Bu is different; he has truly fought Cao Cao many times.

Since even Lu Bu does not have much confidence in winning, the situation might be even worse than he had expected.

“More or less!”

Lu Bu spread his hands: “Although Cao Cao is definitely not as good as me in terms of individual martial prowess of generals or the most elite troops!”

“But this person not only has many troops, but the key is that he is also full of tricks; I do not have much confidence in being able to outsmart him!”

“Of course, if it is just a head-on collision, I do not fear him at all!”

He even wished Cao Cao would collide head-on with him.

Not to mention defeating Cao Cao, he would at least bite a big piece of meat off him.

He is only afraid of Cao Cao’s conspiracies and tricks.

That is not what he is good at.

“Hmm!”

Liu Bei nodded in understanding and consoled: “Conspiracies and tricks are nothing to fear! We are not pushovers either; with Mr. Chen Gongtai and Mr. Chen Yuanlong here, I do not believe we can lose to Cao Cao in strategy?”

Saying this, Liu Bei looked at Chen Gong and Chen Deng, his eyes full of expectation.

Chen Deng smiled modestly: “My lord overpraises me! I can only do my best! Cao Cao has countless capable people under his command!”

This is not an excuse; it is indeed the case.

The secret guard’s news is very well-informed!

Of course, even if he now utilizes the secret guard’s intelligence network and has the ability to counter-calculate Cao Cao, he would not do so.

This does not fit the lord’s plan.

“I can only do my best!”

Chen Gong also bowed helplessly.

He had already suffered a crushing defeat at Cao Cao’s hands earlier, so he was clear about his own capabilities.

Not to mention the strategists under Cao Cao, Cao Cao himself is a top-tier strategist!

Very difficult to deal with.

“That is enough!”

Although Liu Bei’s heart sank, he still pretended to be calm and encouraged them, then began to order people to settle Lu Bu’s army and start preparing for war with all his might.

1 day later,

Cao Cao led a mighty army of nearly 200,000 to a few miles outside Xiapi City, while sending people to set up camp, and while taking some generals and a small number of personal guards to stand on a high ground outside the city to overlook Xiapi City.

“This Xiapi City seems difficult to deal with! Just this city defense is over ten zhang high; ordinary scaling ladders cannot reach it!”

“In addition, I see not only Liu Bei’s flags on the city walls, but also Lu Bu’s flags. It seems that, as I expected, they have indeed united to prepare to resist me!”