Chapter 18: The Wise Understand the Wise (Please Continue Reading!)

Chen Deng and Li Yi struck up an immediate rapport, much to the surprise of everyone present.

Yet, for now, the matter of Xuzhou’s control was paramount.

Liu Bei spoke up:
“Since that is so, may I ask to withdraw briefly. After conferring with my men, I will return and inform you all of our decision.”

Mi Zhu was eager for Liu Bei to take control of Xuzhou at once and was about to speak, but Chen Deng raised his hand to stop him. Then he smiled warmly at Liu Bei:

“Sir, please do as you wish, but I hope you will not delay for too long. We shall wait just outside.”

The implication was clear: you must reach a decision today—we are all waiting.

Kong Rong stood and sighed deeply:
“...Alas, Yuan Long speaks rightly. Heaven’s gifts, if not accepted, may bring one’s own ruin. Xuzhou is a grand province under heaven; since you, sir, harbor lofty ambitions, you must carefully weigh your choice.”

With that, he rose and left the room alongside Mi Zhu and Chen Deng.

“Yuan Long, just now I saw that the sir had some hesitation—why grant extra time alone?”

As soon as they stepped outside, Mi Zhu urgently approached Chen Deng.

“Did you not see how resolutely Chen Qun opposed Sir Liu’s acceptance of Xuzhou?”

“If we give them too much time and Chen Qun persuades the sir, wouldn’t all our efforts be in vain, betraying Lord Tao’s trust?”

Chen Deng leisurely stretched, replying with ease:
“Mi Biejia, my household’s fresh fish is all gone. I would trouble you to send some from the East Sea again—I am accustomed to the fish of your waters.”

Mi Zhu laughed in exasperation:
“Yuan Long, you’re having a fit at such a critical moment. Isn’t the urgent matter now to have the sir accept Xuzhou?”

Chen Deng replied calmly:
“Zizhong, rest assured. General Liu is a hero with the talents of a king and hegemon; he will not forgo this great opportunity to take Xuzhou.”

“But what of his subordinates?” Mi Zhu pressed.
“Even if Liu Bei is willing, if his men oppose, might he waver? You saw how adamant Chen Qun was.”

A faint smile curved Chen Deng’s lips.
“Chen Qun is a prominent family in Yuzhou; naturally, he does not wish General Liu to establish himself in Xuzhou. But not everyone shares Chen Qun’s view—take Mr. Li, for example.”

Mi Zhu raised an eyebrow. “You mean Mr. Li will persuade Liu Bei to accept Xuzhou?”

Chen Deng nodded.

“But Mr. Li only said to discuss first. If he truly intended that, he would have said so outright.”

“Wouldn’t we then have joined together to urge the sir to accept immediately? Why this troublesome delay?”

Chen Deng’s smile deepened as he gazed back inside.

“Because he must not only persuade the sir to accept Xuzhou, but also convince his subordinates to accept this outcome.”

At first, Mi Zhu didn’t grasp it. He thought, Liu Bei is the lord; if he accepts Xuzhou, why does it matter if his men do not?

But soon, a thought struck him: “You mean Chen Qun?”

“Exactly.”

Chen Deng nodded with a smile.

As a leading family in Yuzhou, Chen Qun certainly would not follow Liu Bei to start anew in Xuzhou. Once Liu Bei took Xuzhou, Chen Qun’s options would be to part amicably or resist.

Li Yi clearly did not want to abandon Chen Qun—or rather, the family behind him.

“Now, we watch and wait. I believe a favorable outcome will emerge.”

Chen Deng folded his arms leisurely and began admiring the clouds.

Mi Zhu felt reassured and stood beside Chen Deng.

“Yuan Long, you have only just met Mr. Li, so why do you trust him so much? You seem to know him well?”

Chen Deng chuckled quietly:
“I hardly know him well. I only know he is a wise man—and wise men often understand other wise men best.”

A soft chuckle escaped Mi Zhu, who could only wait for the discussions inside to bear fruit.

Meanwhile, inside the room, heated debate raged.

Zhang Fei, hot-tempered as ever, shouted:
“Xuzhou wasn’t taken by force from us. Since it’s given, why refuse it?”

Chen Qun interrupted repeatedly:
“Impossible! Xuzhou has suffered war and its fields lie fallow. The sir has no roots there—how can production be restored so soon?”

“Cao Cao’s two failed campaigns to take Xuzhou are proof. If he learns the sir has gained such a large province without effort, will he simply let it go?”

“Moreover, Guangling has fallen to Yuan Shu, who governs Yangzhou and claims the title ‘Count of Xuzhou.’ He has long coveted this land.”

“When the sir’s position in Xuzhou is still unsettled, how can he resist these multiple powerful forces?”

“Furthermore, Lü Bu now battles Cao Cao at Puyang. Though Cao Cao was recently defeated, Yuan Shao will surely provide reinforcements and supplies.”

“Lü Bu is no match for Cao Cao, but if he attacks Xuzhou by surprise, what then?”

That last remark was eerily prescient.

Historically, Chen Qun indeed warned that if Liu Bei took Xuzhou, Lü Bu might launch a sudden attack.

Few expected his words to become prophecy.

At the time, the battle between Lü Bu and Cao Cao was fiercely contested, with no clear victor.

Yet Chen Qun firmly predicted Lü Bu’s defeat and his possible raid on Xuzhou.

Such insight revealed his sharp acumen.

His argument encapsulated Liu Bei’s concerns—each point struck at the heart of the matter.

Xuzhou was beset with too many problems.

Internally, only Pengcheng and Xiapi were effectively controlled.

Pengcheng had nearly been wiped out by Cao Cao.

Xiapi remained under the influence of Chen Deng’s family, meaning ruling it depended on Chen’s favor.

Internal affairs were already complicated; external threats loomed even larger.

As Chen Qun said, Cao Cao’s two failed expeditions to Xuzhou had found no success, yet Liu Bei would gain it effortlessly.

Why?

“I slaughtered hundreds of thousands, and yet you expect me to yield to a mere charmer?” Cao Cao would never relent.

In the south, Yuan Shu had long claimed the title Count of Xuzhou even during Tao Qian’s time.

Though he ruled in Yangzhou, his claim to Xuzhou was a clear sign of his ambitions.

Neither Cao Cao nor Yuan Shu’s strength could be matched by the current Liu Bei.

Not to mention the wildcard Lü Bu.

All told,
Old Liu’s position was indeed perilous.

“Alas...” Liu Bei clasped his hands behind his back and sighed deeply.

He felt uncertain, though his heart leaned toward accepting Xuzhou.

After all, risk and opportunity came hand in hand.

But the problems Chen Qun raised were undeniable facts.

How to address them, Liu Bei had yet to decide.

“Brother,” Guan Yu spoke, “I believe the thorny thickets are no place for a phoenix to nest. Xiaopei is not a land to establish dominance; a man of stature must seek broader horizons.”

“When enemies come, we shall meet force with force. Should Cao Cao or Yuan Shu invade, I and Yide will lead the troops against them.”

“Brother, you need only remain at headquarters.”

Guan Yu’s heroic spirit matched Zhang Fei’s. As military men, they both hoped Liu Bei would take Xuzhou.

Only with more land would they have the space to display their talents.

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