Chapter 433

Liu Bei pulled everyone along to drink and chat.

"Kongming, we return to Guan-Zhong tomorrow. What do you think we should pay attention to?"

Although Zhuge Liang felt a bit dizzy from the drink, he knew his lord wanted him to show off in front of everyone.

He took a map of Nanyang Commandery out of his pack.

"My lord, everyone, please look."

"We set out from Xiangyang, cross the Han River, pass through Deng County, go through Xinye toward the northwest, and follow the Dan River into Wu Pass."

Zhang Fei snorted.

"So what? Who doesn't know this march route!"

Zhang Fei had a huge opinion of Zhuge Liang; he really didn't know what abilities a village rustic could have, yet he actually made his eldest brother pay so much!

"Haven't seen Eldest Brother do anything; he just came out to drink? This isn't wine he's drinking—it's bitter water!"

"Which of Eldest Brother's wives and concubines isn't a peerless beauty? He actually married an 'Ugly One,' sigh! I have to help my brother snatch a beauty back to ease things up!"

Zhang Fei secretly made up his mind.

Zhuge Liang coughed once.

"General Zhang is absolutely right. Everyone knows this route: Liu Biao knows it, Zhang Xiu knows it, and Cao Cao knows it even better."

Taishi Ci and the others were startled.

"Mr. Zhuge, do you mean that Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu will send troops to ambush us?"

Zhuge Liang nodded.

"Cao Cao has always viewed my lord as a thorn in his side. This is a great opportunity to strike at my lord; how could he let it pass!"

"Zhang Xiu has an even greater grudge against my lord. He is entrenched in Wancheng; nominally he is under Liu Biao's control, but in reality, he is an independent warlord. He now commands nearly forty thousand troops, and his strength is not bad."

Guo Jia also nodded.

"My lord's return journey is indeed perilous."

Liu Bei, however, laughed.

"With the all-out support of you all, the mere joint schemes of Zhang Xiu and Cao Cao are not worth worrying about."

Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Liang.

"Kongming, I fear you already have a countermeasure. How about we let you and Pang Shiyuan decide how we return this time?"

"Yide, Xingba, and Ziyi will all listen to your command this time. You can also mobilize Zhang Liao, Xu Sheng, and Yan Xing at Wu Pass."

Everyone was shocked; Liu Bei was letting Zhuge Liang command the operation.

Zhuge Liang did not expect Liu Bei to trust him so much.

He calmed his mood and pointed at the map.

"Cao Cao has now ordered Xia Hou Dun, Li Dian, and Cao Chun to lead fifty thousand troops to garrison Yexian, at the border of Nanyang and Yu Province; they must be preparing to raid my lord at any moment."

"Our army only has five thousand men; we certainly cannot face their coalition head-on."

Zhuge Liang analyzed carefully and stated his general plan.

Liu Bei praised him.

"Good, Kongming truly has great wisdom. This time, I will watch you crush the enemy!"

Zhuge Liang cupped his hands.

"Thank you, my lord, for your trust!"

Everyone was shocked. The lord actually let a village rustic be the commander; does this Kongming really have the talent to reshape the world?

Early the next morning,

Liu Bei's side had already packed their gear, intending to leave Xiangyang.

Liu Biao and numerous Jingzhou gentry saw them off outside the city.

Liu Biao held Liu Bei's hand.

"Xuande, after this departure, I don't know if we brothers will have a chance to meet again. My heart is filled with sorrow."

Just now, the people of Xiangyang had lined both sides of the street, making Liu Biao deeply feel that Liu Bei's reputation was truly too high.

Liu Bei understood Liu Biao's meaning: 'You've done very well in Jingzhou; don't come back next time.'

"Brother Jingsheng, I will miss you too."

The two waved goodbye. Liu Biao glanced at the Cai clan's carriage, and his heart twitched again!

Seeing Liu Qi crying like a fountain, he felt awkward!

Now that there were no more threats in Jingzhou, Liu Biao seemed to have straightened his back again!

Liu Qi didn't expect that by flattering Liu Bei, he had accidentally offended his old man!

Fancheng, north of the river,

Gan Ning brought eight hundred Brocade Sail troops to rendezvous.

Wen Pin brought his personal guards out of the city to see Liu Bei off.

He said in a low voice,

"Lord Xuande, there are unusual movements from Zhang Xiu in Wancheng and Xia Hou Dun in Yexian; I fear they intend to harm you."

Liu Bei nodded.

"Many thanks for the reminder, Zhongye. I have noted this favor."

Wen Pin repeatedly said he dared not accept the thanks; this was far too little compared to what Lord Xuande had done for Jingzhou.

Liu Bei bid farewell to Wen Pin and continued to lead his troops north toward Xinye.

Wancheng,

Zhang Xiu stood up indignantly.

"Everyone, Liu Bei is passing through Nanyang with only five thousand troops. It is a great opportunity for us to kill him!"

Ba He Ba Li cupped his hands.

"My lord, I am willing to be the vanguard and kill Liu Bei!"

Everything Liu Bei had done had made Ba He Ba Li so jealous he was dying. He planned to take this opportunity to kill Liu Bei and make the Xia Kingdom fail completely!

"If we kill Liu Bei, the system reward should be very high."

Hu Cheer also said in a muffled voice,

"I am also willing to be the vanguard!"

Zhang Xiu laughed loudly.

"Good! With two such fierce generals, we will surely kill that Liu Bei this time and avenge my uncle. Cao Cao said that as long as we kill Liu Bei, he will appoint me as Commandant of Sili!"

Zhang Xiu was already fantasizing about occupying Guan-Zhong, imitating Liu Bei, and eyeing the warlords of the world.

"Snatch that Cai Yan, Diao Chan, Beauty Feng, and Zhen Mi—right, and that damn Zou Shi! They will all be mine!"

Zhang Xiu was already fantasizing away.

"Good. Ba He Ba Li, you lead ten thousand troops ahead to Xinye to intercept Liu Bei!"

"I will personally lead over twenty thousand troops and arrive shortly after!"

"Understood!"

Zhang Xiu didn't want to wait for Xia Hou Dun's troops anymore; he wanted to claim the great merit of killing Liu Bei alone and shake the world!

A-San broadcast room:

"Ba He Ba Li, whether we can defy the heavens and change our fate depends on this!"

"Once the eared thief is killed, let's see if the Xia Kingdom still dares to be arrogant!"

"What are you thinking? With a coward like Ba He Ba Li, he wants to kill our Liu Daer? Keep dreaming!" — Xia Kingdom netizen.

"Normally it might not happen, but this time Liu Bei is being arrogant, actually letting a village rustic be the commander. It would be strange if he didn't lose!" — US netizen.