Chapter 593

He really hadn't expected that these gentry officials in Xuzhou would truly be willing to support him.

This was simply a massive, heaven-sent surprise!

"Could it be that they have been moved and won over by my reputation for benevolence and righteousness? Have they been conquered by my personal charisma?"

Liu Bei even couldn't help but think in a state of wild ecstasy.

Thinking of this, he even had the urge to shed tears of joy.

Had his carefully crafted persona of benevolence and righteousness finally begun to yield results?

"Don't hesitate! Lord Xuande! Ahem... just agree to it! Consider it the dying plea of this old man! I beg you!"

Tao Qian requested of Liu Bei while coughing.

"Sigh!"

Hearing this, Liu Bei let out a sigh, then, with a solemn expression, bowed to Tao Qian: "If that is the case, then Liu Bei shall respectfully obey your command!"

"Rest assured, I will absolutely guard Xuzhou well, and I will never let Lu Bu occupy it!"

"At the same time, I will treat the people of Xuzhou with kindness and protect Lord Tao's family, ensuring they live out their lives in peace and safety!"

Since Tao Qian had spoken to this extent, with such full sincerity and having basically offered all the necessary conditions, Liu Bei dared not continue to refuse.

Otherwise, he feared he might be too clever for his own good, causing Tao Qian to truly believe he was uninterested in Xuzhou and turn to someone else to take over, which would leave him completely stranded.

Knowing when to stop was the most important thing.

"Hahaha... *cough, cough, cough*!!"

Hearing this, Tao Qian laughed out loud in great joy, but the exertion strained his body, causing him to cough uncontrollably again. It took a while for him to calm down, and then he said to Liu Bei: "In that case, nothing could be better!"

"Someone! Go and summon Tao Shang, Tao Ying, Mr. Yuanlong, and Cao Bao here! I have matters to entrust to them."

"Understood!"

Soon, Chen Deng, Cao Bao, Tao Shang, and the others arrived.

Tao Qian said directly to them: "You have all come! I have already reached an agreement with Lord Xuande! He is willing to accept the title of King of Qi and become the new master of Xuzhou!"

"From now on, you shall serve him as the master of Xuzhou and assist Lord Xuande well in controlling the province. Do you have any objections?"

"We have no objections!"

Hearing this, Chen Deng and the others shook their heads one after another, then bowed to Liu Bei: "We pay our respects to Lord Xuande!"

"Haha! You flatter me! You flatter me! Everyone, please rise quickly!"

Seeing this, Liu Bei was ecstatic inside, but on the surface, he feigned a look of humility and agitation as he helped Chen Deng and the others up.

"I will need your continued guidance in the future!"

"I have only just arrived in Xuzhou and am a stranger to everything here. To stabilize Xuzhou, I will still need your support and assistance!"

It was done! He was truly going to become the King of Qi and the master of Xuzhou.

Even a figure like Chen Deng was willing to submit to him and work for him; Liu Bei was nearly bursting with joy.

When had he ever received such treatment?

In the past, which of those gentry members hadn't been arrogant and looked down upon him?

Finally, was he about to make his mark?

The subtle changes in Liu Bei's expression did not escape Chen Deng's notice.

Chen Deng sneered coldly in his heart: "Heh! This Liu Bei is truly hypocritical to the extreme!"

"Clearly he wants it so badly, clearly he is so happy, yet he still has to put on a show of being terrified and moved. It is simply nauseating."

"Unfortunately, you won't know for a long time that I have long since been a man of His Majesty, King Qian!"

"Supporting you now is merely to use your strength to temporarily hold Xuzhou, and to let you clash with other warlords to weaken all of your strengths!"

"You don't really think I intend to truly submit to you, do you?"

"Compared to my lord Su Xuan, what are you, Liu Bei? Heh!"

Of course, these thoughts only surfaced in Chen Deng's mind; he would never say them out loud.

Otherwise, he feared Liu Bei and his two sworn brothers would come out and hack him to pieces.

In Chen Deng's eyes, Liu Bei had always been nothing more than a tool.

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