Chapter 358

Guo Jia presented Cao Cao's manifesto to Liu Bei.

The gist was:

The Yuan family has received imperial favor for generations, yet Yuan Shu not only fails to think of repaying the country but instead plots to usurp the throne; he truly deserves to die!

You, Liu Bei, as an Imperial Uncle of the Great Han, should be duty-bound to lead an expedition against Yuan Shu.

Liu Bei secretly thought,

"This old Cao is actually using moral kidnapping on me? This is truly too much!"

Fa Zheng cupped his hands.

"My lord, Cao Cao is using a strategy to kill two birds with one stone: tricking you, my lord, to Huainan, where he can both attack Yuan Shu and secretly plot against you, my lord!"

Sun Qian advised,

"My lord, think twice. Huainan is thousands of miles away from our army, and Cao Cao has over a hundred thousand troops. Going there is dangerous."

Liu Bei nodded.

"Gongyou is very right; going there is dangerous. However, I must go this time."

Zhang Fei scratched his ears and cheeks.

"Big Brother, I want to go and behead that scoundrel Yuan Shu! But you are tied to the people of the three provinces and cannot take risks."

His eyes rolled.

"Big Brother, why not send me!"

Liu Bei laughed loudly.

"Yide is actually using his brain; rare, rare."

Zhang Fei touched his head.

"Big Brother, it seems like you're praising me, but it also seems like you're not; I'm confused!"

Everyone laughed loudly.

Liu Bei laughed.

"Third Brother, I really am praising you. Fengxiao, what do you think I should do?"

Guo Jia cupped his hands.

"My lord, Cao Cao is using an overt strategy. As an Imperial Uncle of the Great Han, you, my lord, must inevitably lead an expedition against such an act of usurpation by Yuan Shu. You, my lord, have no choice but to go."

"If you, my lord, go to Huainan, you must either pass through Yuan Shao's territory or Cao Cao's territory. When the expedition against Yuan Shu ends, the return journey will inevitably be extremely dangerous."

Xun You also said,