Chapter 3: One Must Not Live a Life in Vain (Please Continue Reading!)

Perhaps Li Yi’s argument was so bizarre that even Guan Yu was too indifferent to refute it.

Though Liu Bei harbored doubts, he was willing to give Li Yi a chance and patiently listened to his explanation.

Li Yi calmly analyzed the situation for them:

“Cao Cao was once a subordinate of Zhang Miao, but now he has risen to become the master, with Zhang Miao reduced to a subordinate. Zhang Miao does not voice his displeasure, but his heart is far from content.”

“Moreover, Cao Cao was under Yuan Shao’s command. Yuan Shao and Zhang Miao are at odds, and Yuan Shao has repeatedly commanded Cao Cao to eliminate Zhang Miao. Although Cao Cao did not comply, Zhang Miao is deeply wary.”

Liu Bei nodded, surprised by Li Yi’s keen insight into human nature.

Yet, these two points alone seemed insufficient to convince Zhang Miao to decisively betray Cao Cao.

Li Yi continued:

“Zhang Miao is wavering in his heart. If Chen Gong were to appear and persuade him now, Zhang Miao would certainly agree.”

“Chen Gong is a renowned scholar of Yanzhou. Previously, Cao Cao executed the famous scholar Bian Rang of Yanzhou, causing all scholars there to live in fear.”

“Later, when Cao Cao campaigned against Xuzhou, his army left no chickens or dogs behind. His brutal deeds greatly angered Chen Gong.”

“At this time, Lü Bu’s reputation is widespread. As a capable and valiant general, the two would surely welcome Lü Bu into Yanzhou to resist Cao Cao.”

“In that case, Cao Cao, to relieve the crisis in Yanzhou, would have no choice but to abandon Xuzhou!”

Liu Bei was inwardly startled—not by Li Yi’s analysis, but by how deeply he understood the world’s situation and complex relationships.

According to Li Yi, he had cultivated under a master in the mountains since childhood.

Yet he was thoroughly knowledgeable about the affairs of the realm. Could this be what they called strategizing within the tent and winning battles miles away?

Could such a talent truly have crossed paths with him, Liu Bei?

Though he had wandered and struggled most of his life, despite having formidable allies like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, he had always lacked someone capable of fully utilizing his talents.

If this young man were indeed a figure of Zhang Liang’s caliber, then Liu Bei resolved to hold him fast, no matter what.

Seeing Liu Bei’s hesitant belief, Li Yi calmly said, “Whether my words are mere empty talk, time will tell in a few days.”

Liu Bei felt the reasoning was sound, stood up, and thanked Li Yi: “Sir, your wise counsel is gratefully received!”

This moment touched Li Yi deeply.

After all, given Liu Bei’s status, there was no need for such respect toward a commoner like himself.

One might say it was merely Liu Bei’s way of winning hearts, but at least, for now, he neither harmed nor exploited him.

Instead, he offered respect and emotional value.

As the beneficiary, Li Yi had no right to accuse him of false kindness.

Rubbing his stomach, Li Yi smiled and asked, “Lord Liu, may I ask if the camp provides meals?”

In the past few days, aside from some snacks, he had not had a proper meal.

Now, in Liu Bei’s presence, he asked openly and confidently.

Liu Bei was momentarily taken aback, then laughed heartily and immediately ordered food and wine to be brought.

He greatly admired Li Yi’s open and optimistic nature, which reminded him of himself.

Closing the door, he led Guan Yu outside.

Outside the room,

Guan Yu’s face was solemn as he said deeply, “Brother, Li Yi is peculiar in speech and action and enjoys being mysterious.”

“I fear he harbors ulterior motives.”

With Cao Cao’s massive army closing in, and a strangely dressed youth suddenly proclaiming that Cao Cao would retreat without a fight, it was hard not to suspect him as an enemy spy sent to lull Liu Bei into complacency and cause chaos.

Liu Bei smiled calmly: “Brother, you are a warrior who faces thousands of enemies and yet fear a mere youth?”

Guan Yu’s face flushed red, replying, “What nonsense is this? I do not fear death, so why fear a young lad?”

“I only worry because your kindness may lead to being deceived.”

Having fled to the martial world in his youth, Guan Yu disliked verbose scholars but sympathized deeply with the common folk.

Judging by Li Yi’s manner of speaking, he was clearly a scholar who liked to talk grandly, which left Guan Yu with a poor first impression.

Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then slowly said, “I believe this youth is no villain.”

“Though his behavior is odd, he is well-mannered, dignified, and speaks with grace—a noble gentleman, not one with treacherous intent.”

Guan Yu was silent for a moment, then asked, “If Cao Cao fails to retreat and attacks Xuzhou fiercely, brother, what will you do?”

Liu Bei waved his hand: “I serve others loyally. If Cao Cao attacks urgently, I will fight to the death.”

“As for that young lad, even if his predictions prove wrong, his intentions are good.”

“At that time, I will reward him with some gold and silver and send him home.”

Guan Yu was speechless but sighed, “It is hard to be a good man!”

Liu Bei laughed softly, taking Guan Yu’s hand as they left.

Inside the room,

Li Yi, who was feasting heartily, had overheard their entire conversation clearly.

Liu Bei, Liu Xuande…

His gaze grew resolute.

Since fate had brought him here, he would make the best of it. Nothing now was more important than survival.

In the late Eastern Han, bandits roamed freely, corpses littered the land, and human life was cheap as grass.

Li Yi had been oblivious to this when reading history or watching TV, but having truly experienced it, he knew how cruel the world was.

Without a protective umbrella, he would be just another pile of bones.

But now, the future Emperor Zhao Lie of Han, the leader of Sichuan and Shu, stood before him.

Clinging to his side was like grasping a long-term meal ticket.

Among the heroes of the realm, who could rival Cao and Liu?

Compared to Cao Cao, serving under Liu Bei meant at least not worrying that one day Cao Cao might suddenly say:

“I need your head to calm the people.”

“Your wife and children I will care for. Fear not!”

At least for now.

It was an undeniable fact that Liu Bei had saved Li Yi’s life.

A drop of kindness should be repaid with a torrent of gratitude.

Though Liu Bei was still wandering and struggling, soon he would gain a territory of his own—Xuzhou.

Xuzhou was a land of four battles, with noble families entrenched and factions constantly at war—a hellish level dungeon.

But fortune favors the bold. Xuzhou was rich in salt and iron, had a favorable climate, and held a strategic location.

To the north lay the chance to confront Yuan Shao and Cao Cao; to the south, the opportunity to seize Jing and Yang; to the west, the possibility to dominate the Central Plains.

With proper strategy, it could become a domain to rule.

Though historically Liu Bei lost Xuzhou, he had done well enough.

He had won over old ministers like Cao Bao and Chen Deng internally.

Externally, he allied with the powerful Yuan Shao and eased relations with Cao Cao in the west, while striking hard against the ambitious Yuan Shu to the south.

However, his handling of new and old loyalties was immature; in such a hellish domain, the margin for error was minimal, and one mistake meant permanent ruin.

Since heaven arranged for Liu Bei to save him, perhaps fate had a plan.

Li Yi could help Liu Bei avoid the mistakes of history and preserve Xuzhou.

As for Cao Cao—that was a completely impossible option.

Firstly,

Li Yi was a nobody in the Three Kingdoms—powerless and without connections.

Without guidance, how could he physically reach Yanzhou on foot?

Even if he arrived, why would Cao Cao employ him?

If he wished to be a general, without the surname “Xiahou” or “Cao,” it was impossible to become a true commander.

If he wished to be a strategist, lacking the backing of the Xun family made it hard to ascend to high ranks.

Indeed,

If not for a strange twist of fate leading him to Liu Bei, Li Yi would have found it difficult to meet him.

Yet fate was strange. They not only met but talked half the night by candlelight.

Liu Bei praised Li Yi as a refined gentleman, untainted by dust.

Li Yi also believed Liu Bei to be as history described: magnanimous, broad-minded, heroic, unyielding, destined to found an empire.

Li Yi was no saint, nor did he think himself remarkable.

But...

Thinking of his identity as a time traveler and the countless bones he had seen these past days, a thought lingered in his heart:

Before I came, the Si River had ceased to flow; after I came, it still remained dry.

Have I come for nothing?