No matter how Liu Bei explained it, those around him remained convinced that he was indeed a broad-minded and exceptional leader, lacking the unpredictable temperament of other rulers. This reassured them that, while they didn't need to constantly analyze Liu Bei's thoughts, at least their safety was guaranteed—they didn't have to worry about holding grudges.
Liu Bei smiled faintly but didn't dwell on the praise from Jia Xu and others. He merely reflected that the little knowledge Chen Xi had shared with him was indeed useful. There was no need to feign inscrutability when a united and strong team around him would naturally increase his power. Why pretend to be enigmatic, only to have misunderstandings grow and escalate to a point where nothing could be resolved without one side being destroyed?
Liu Bei slowly exhaled, admitting to himself that Chen Xi had made a good point.
Jia Xu, observing Liu Bei's actions, silently contemplated. Among those present, Jia Xu was the most affected. As someone prone to paranoia and always concerned about being unjustly removed, Liu Bei's open and honest discussion significantly eased his mind. While it didn't completely eliminate his fears of an untimely death, it allowed Jia Xu to focus less on self-preservation.
In Yanzhou, at Chenliu, Cao Cao's situation had not improved much after Lü Bu's retreat. Although Yuan Shu, preoccupied with his ailing son, had temporarily ceased vying with Cao Cao for control of Nanyang, Cao Cao knew full well that neither Lü Bu nor Yuan Shu would let him off the hook.
Once Lü Bu had sufficient provisions, Chen Gong would undoubtedly advise him to destroy Cao Cao. Given the current circumstances, there was no room for compromise between Chen Gong and Cao Cao—one of them had to fall.
As for Yuan Shu, Cao Cao had long lost faith in Liu Biao. Despite Liu Biao having Huang Hansheng, a renowned general, and Kuai Yue, a capable strategist, his forces failed miserably when attacking the undermanned city of Xiangyang. The result was a significant loss of supplies, which Yuan Shu quickly recouped from Liu Biao.
If Cao Cao had been better informed about Xiangyang's situation, he would have realized that Liu Biao's defeat wasn't unjustified—it was simply a matter of being outmatched. Although Liao Li wasn't particularly skilled in military strategy, his quick thinking allowed him to outmaneuver Kuai Yue completely. After a decisive victory, even commanders like Zhang Xun, Li Feng, and Jiang Qin, who initially didn't respect Liao Li, began to hold him in high regard.
Just as Zhou Yu had predicted, Liao Li's triumph easily earned him the respect of the Xiangyang garrison, while Jiang Qin's martial prowess solidified his reputation. The plan Zhou Yu had devised to gradually control the chessboard of the region was beginning to take shape.
In Chenliu, Fan Qin sat in the government office, observing Cao Cao, who was issuing orders with a heavy heart. He knew that Cao Cao was deeply troubled. The once-promising situation had crumbled due to a single misstep, and if Cao Cao's forces couldn't recover quickly, all that Cao Cao had painstakingly built might collapse, forcing the Cao family to live out their days in obscurity.
After Cao Cao left, Xun Yu took charge of handling state affairs with the remaining advisors. No matter how dire the situation, they couldn't allow internal divisions to tear them apart before the enemy even arrived. While many in the army harbored doubts after Cao Cao's defeat, the core group of advisors remained steadfast in their resolve.
"Xiubo, you seemed quite composed earlier. Do you have any good ideas?" Xun Yu asked as he approached Fan Qin, who appeared to be dozing off.
"Nothing much. I was just daydreaming about when my nephew will be born," Fan Qin replied nonchalantly. As one of Xun Yu's trusted subordinates, Fan Qin's role was more symbolic, and he took full advantage of this, often shirking work when he could. Although others might not appreciate his attitude, no one dared challenge him directly.
Xi Zhicai and Cheng Yu glared at Fan Qin with frustration. Among the high-ranking advisors, they were the most displeased with Fan Qin's behavior, but they couldn't do much since Xun Yu didn't hold it against him.
"Everyone, please sit. I have something important to discuss with you all," Xun Yu said with a sigh, shaking his head at Fan Qin's casual demeanor. He knew all too well that no one could force Fan Qin to change.
As Xi Zhicai, Xun You, Cheng Yu, Chen Qun, Sima Lang, and Fan Qin took their seats, they waited in anticipation. It had been a long time since Xun Yu had gathered them all so formally, which suggested that he might have found a solution to their predicament.
"You're all aware of the current situation. While we don't lack capable generals, our forces are severely depleted. If Lü Bu returns, it will be difficult to hold him off, and we can't train new troops quickly enough," Xun Yu began, his tone calm.
Xun Yu felt helpless. Cao Cao's situation was reminiscent of Zhao State after the Battle of Changping—capable generals and advisors were present, but they lacked the necessary troops. The only reason Chenliu had held out was that the enemy had run out of supplies.
However, Cao Cao's situation was slightly better than Zhao State's in that his territories still had people. With a year to train them, they could form a decent army, but time was a luxury they didn't have. Surrounded by enemies eager for his downfall, Cao Cao's previous campaigns had made too many foes.
"While the food situation is dire, it's not entirely hopeless. The Wei family has already purchased grain from Shu and is transporting it via the Yangtze River. As long as we hold onto Wancheng, food won't be an issue," Xun Yu continued, sharing some good news. This news lifted the spirits of Xi Zhicai and the others. As long as there was food, everything else could be managed. The locust plague had devastated Yanzhou's crops, making this news particularly vital.
As Xun Yu spoke, he couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration. The Wei family's willingness to forgive Cao Cao was largely due to Cao Cao's personal visit and the fact that Wei Zi was a fervent supporter of Cao Cao. This had allowed them to move past the previous massacre, albeit begrudgingly.
However, the Wei family had made it clear that if such a senseless slaughter occurred again, they would relocate, regardless of the reasons. It was evident that these great families still cared deeply about their reputation.
Thanks to this reconciliation, the two branches of the Wei family had joined forces to transport grain from their Shu-based stores to Wancheng and then on to Chenliu, alleviating Cao Cao's food crisis.