Chapter 42: A New Wager

He knew very well whose territory this was—it belonged to Cao Cao.

If he dared make any reckless move here, the consequences would be dire.

If things went poorly, he might never leave this place alive.

Thus, he chose to endure for the time being, though the more he endured, the more stifled and aggrieved he felt.

His uncle’s wife had been seized by another, yet he had to swallow his anger.

He felt utterly humiliated and furious.

After that, he had no mood left for food, drink, or merriment.

He bid farewell to the others and departed.

That night, when he returned home, he sensed something amiss the moment he stepped through the door.

“Who’s there?”

He called out coldly, and just then, the candle in the room was suddenly lit.

The chamber brightened considerably.

Before he could react, the door behind him slammed shut with a crisp sound.

He turned to find two men standing there, their faces expressionless as they regarded him.

At the table sat a young man—none other than Liu Xie.

“Who are you?” Zhang Xiu asked, his face cold upon seeing strangers in his home.

“Master Zhang, there’s no need to be nervous. We mean you no harm.”

“I’m simply here to have a brief conversation.”

Liu Xie spoke calmly and softly.

“Hmph, I don’t know you people, nor do I wish to speak with you.”

“Who exactly are you?” Zhang Xiu’s anger was plain.

His uncle’s wife had been taken by Cao Cao, and now, strangers had invaded his home and confronted him so directly.

His resentment burned all the hotter.

“Heh, very well. Since you’re so eager to know who I am, I’ll tell you.”

“My name—you may have heard it before—I am Liu Shiban.”

“Who? What did you say your name was?” On hearing the name, Zhang Xiu’s face showed surprise.

Indeed, he knew of Liu Shiban.

He knew even more of what had transpired in Wancheng.

But he could not fathom why this person had come here—let alone found his house.

“You heard correctly. I am Liu Shiban.”

“Of course, that’s not what matters most. What matters is what we’ll discuss next.”

Liu Xie didn’t waste further words on this point.

“Oh? So what is it you wish to discuss?” Zhang Xiu, for now, compromised.

He wanted to hear what Liu Xie had to say.

Liu Xie unhurriedly gestured to the chair beside him.

“There’s no rush, Master Zhang. Let’s sit and talk.”

“Truly, if you ask me, you shouldn’t have surrendered to Cao Cao.”

“Of course, you had your own reasons for yielding.”

“But tell me, is Cao Cao really a master worthy of your trust?”

“As the saying goes, ‘A fine bird chooses a good tree to nest in.’ Perhaps you also know what Cao Cao is up to now.”

At these words, Zhang Xiu’s expression darkened.

Of course he knew what Cao Cao was doing.

“Master Zhang, I advise you to be more cautious.”

“Cao Cao disregards you now—what about in the future?”

“Heh, this concerns a man’s dignity—yet does Cao Cao consider that?”

“What does that say? It means that in Cao Cao’s eyes, you are nothing.”

“If he can treat you so now, what about on the battlefield?”

“Think it over.”

Liu Xie’s words left Zhang Xiu in silence.

He didn’t need anyone to say it—he knew full well.

If Cao Cao could do this now, he simply saw Zhang Xiu as insignificant.

That was precisely why Zhang Xiu’s anger burned so fiercely.

“What is it you truly want?” Zhang Xiu asked in a cold voice.

He knew that Liu Xie must have a purpose for this lengthy talk.

Liu Xie smiled mildly. “My meaning is simple: I hope you can see things clearly.”

“Cao Cao is not a wise ruler.”

“Oh? If Cao Cao is not, then who is?” Zhang Xiu pressed.

Liu Xie leaned confidently back in his chair, a slight smile on his lips.

“I am.”

“Who?” That single word from Liu Xie made Zhang Xiu’s brows knit together.

“You heard me plainly—I am the wise ruler.”

Liu Xie was utterly composed, without the least humility.

At this, Zhang Xiu burst out laughing.

“A wise ruler—do you claim that title for yourself?”

“You’re just a green youth, and you dare call yourself a wise ruler?”

“Who do you think you are, some heaven-sent prodigy?”

Clearly, Zhang Xiu did not believe him.

Liu Xie simply returned his gaze with a faint smile.

“Once, I made a wager with General Hu.”

“I said that after the New Year, Yuan Shu would declare himself emperor, Cao Cao would send troops against you, and you would be forced to surrender.”

“All of these things came to pass.”

“How about this—we make a wager of our own?”

Zhang Xiu remained dismissive, not believing that Liu Xie had truly predicted Yuan Shu’s self-coronation and Cao Cao’s campaign.

“Very well, how shall we wager?” Zhang Xiu asked, unconvinced.

“It’s simple: let’s bet on whether Cao Cao will turn against you.”

“What?” Zhang Xiu was puzzled.

“What, didn’t you hear me?”

“I said, let’s bet whether Cao Cao will make a move against you.”

“If Cao Cao tries to kill you, then I win; if he doesn’t, you win.”

“Let’s set the term at half a month—will it happen or not?”

“If, within that time, Cao Cao really does try to kill you, you’ll do as I say and become my subordinate.”

“If I lose, you may do with me as you please. What do you say?”

Liu Xie laid out the terms.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Xiu sprang to his feet.

“Good, I’ll take your wager.”

“Hmph, I hope you have the nerve to appear before me again in half a month.”

Zhang Xiu agreed to the wager without hesitation.

In his eyes, such a thing was impossible.

“Very well. Then we’ll meet again in half a month.”

With that, Liu Xie took his men and departed.

As he watched them go, Zhang Xiu snorted in disdain.

Clearly, he didn’t take the wager seriously.

He didn’t believe for a moment that Cao Cao would turn against him.

He simply regarded Liu Xie’s words as nonsense.

After leaving Zhang Xiu’s residence, Liu Xie returned at once to the inn.

There, he summoned his followers once more to assign tasks.

“Gentlemen, I need you to go and add fuel to the fire on Cao Cao’s side as well.”

“I’ll tell you exactly what to do.”

In history, after Zhang Xiu rebelled, he managed to break out of Xuchang safely.

Cao Cao did not stop him.

But here, Liu Xie would not allow Zhang Xiu to escape so easily.

He meant to make Zhang Xiu’s rebellion much harder, and to see Cao Cao suffer greater losses.

A few days later.

At Zhang Xiu’s residence, a carriage drew up to the door.

A beautiful woman alighted—it was Zhang Xiu’s aunt, once the wife of Zhang Ji.

Now, she had been claimed by Cao Cao.

Her name was Lady Zou.