Chapter 83: Return to Cattle-Sleeping Mountain
The three men hurriedly dropped to their knees in gratitude. Liu Xie swiftly helped them to their feet.
“Gentlemen, there is no need for such formality.”
“It was I who inadvertently brought trouble upon you all.”
“This is only right.”
“Rest assured.”
“Though what lies ahead may be perilous,”
“I will do all I can to keep you safe.”
Liu Xie knew full well that what they were about to face might truly be dangerous.
After all, it was the army of Cao Cao, numbering in the tens of thousands.
A single misstep could lead them into utter ruin.
Yet he was not troubled by this.
Since he had dared to come, he had already made every preparation.
Thus that night they stayed at the inn.
At dawn the next day, they set out once more.
This time, they did not wear the clothes they had worn before.
Instead, they all changed into the garments of ordinary commoners.
There were more than thirty of them in all.
Liu Xie and his twenty Wolf Shadow Guards were among them.
Traveling with them were Elder Qiao and the two Qiaos.
In addition, Liu Xun and his followers, seven or eight men in all, came along as well.
A party of more than thirty people headed toward Xu Province.
They traveled with utmost caution.
They would not go near places where crowds gathered.
For them, so long as they did not draw Cao Cao’s attention, everything else was manageable.
After seven or eight straight days on the road, they finally reached their destination.
Ox Plowing Mountain.
“Your Majesty!”
“Zhou Cang was unable to greet you at the gates. I beg Your Majesty’s pardon!”
As soon as Liu Xie arrived, many men led by Zhou Cang and Pei Yuanshao hurried forward to welcome him.
Fu Wan was among them as well.
“Yuanfu, you are too modest.”
“I have come here in secret.”
“Let us dispense with such ceremony.”
“Let us go up the mountain.”
At a time like this, Liu Xie placed no emphasis on imperial etiquette.
He knew the situation here was chaotic.
It would be better to understand the state of Xu Province first.
“Imperial Uncle.”
“Have you grown accustomed to things here during your time in this place?”
Liu Xie turned with a smile to Fu Wan beside him.
Because of Cao Cao, Fu Wan had been forced to come here and join Zhou Cang and Pei Yuanshao in occupying the mountain as bandit lords.
Once a relative of the imperial family, he now lived in such a place.
He must surely have found many things difficult to adapt to.
“Graced by Your Majesty’s concern, this subject is well enough here.”
“At the very least, life here is far freer.”
“Yuanfu and General Pei are both most forthright men.”
Fu Wan said respectfully.
Liu Xie nodded in satisfaction.
It seemed Fu Wan had no particular grievances.
Indeed, being alive was already fortunate.
And to enjoy such freedom here was naturally a good thing.
“Then, Yuanfu, General Pei,”
“how have matters been on Ox Plowing Mountain of late?”
Liu Xie asked with curiosity.
He wanted to know how things stood here now.
Several months earlier, Fu Shou had received a letter from Fu Wan saying that the forces on Ox Plowing Mountain had already grown to more than fifteen thousand.
Several more months had passed since then.
He wondered how far the mountain had developed by now.
At mention of this, Zhou Cang grew excited.
“Reporting to Your Majesty!”
“Ox Plowing Mountain now has more than twenty thousand troops.”
“The provisions are also abundant.”
“It is fair to say that our mountain is now strong in soldiers and horses alike.”
“We await Your Majesty’s command at any time!”
Zhou Cang was brimming with confidence.
It was plain to see that he had truly accomplished much in this period.
Ox Plowing Mountain had genuinely prospered.
More than twenty thousand troops.
That was quite remarkable.
2
This was something Liu Xie had not expected.
In terms of military strength, it could be said that Liu Xie now possessed a force greater than that of any warlord in the land.
The restoration of the Han was, at last, slowly beginning to find the right path.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Yet we have always developed in great low profile.”
“Because not far from us lies Xu Province.”
“Lu Bu once stationed his forces there.”
“I feared that if we made too much of ourselves,”
“we might provoke Lu Bu’s displeasure, or stir his sense of threat.”
“If that happened and Lu Bu sent troops against us, we would be unable to withstand him.”
Zhou Cang spoke again with deference.
Liu Xie nodded repeatedly.
It had to be said: Zhou Cang’s conduct was indeed quite sound.
Ox Plowing Mountain was close to Xu Province.
If they became too high-profile and amassed an army of over ten thousand, they would greatly threaten Lu Bu.
If that happened, Lu Bu would surely dispatch troops to attack them.
And with Ox Plowing Mountain’s strength, there was no way they could resist Lu Bu’s assault.
Thus Zhou Cang’s choice to develop steadily was the best course.
It also showed that Zhou Cang was truly capable.
“Good, very good.”
“It seems I can leave Ox Plowing Mountain in your hands with full confidence.”
“Oh, by the way, what about Xu Province?”
“How are things in Xu Province?”
Liu Xie asked again.
Yes, the purpose of their journey here was Lu Bu in Xu Province.
“Reporting to Your Majesty,”
“not long ago Cao Cao launched a series of major offensives against Jing Province.”
“Lu Bu suffered a crushing defeat.”
“By now, Lu Bu and Chen Gong have led their men into Xiapi.”
“However, Cao Cao has all along merely surrounded them without assault.”
“This subject is dull-witted and cannot discern Cao Cao’s intent.”
Zhou Cang reported respectfully.
This, Zhou Cang did not know.
But Liu Xie did.
He raised his head to glance at the dimming sky.
It seemed rain would soon fall.
The famous inundation of Xiapi from the records of history would appear at this very time.
“It seems Lu Bu’s era is drawing to a close.”
“Since that is so, let me give him a chance to continue it.”
Liu Xie sighed softly as he gazed at the heavens.
“Your Majesty, what did you say?”
Hearing Liu Xie murmur to himself, Zhou Cang asked in confusion.
“Nothing.”
“Yuanfu, this is Liu Xun, former Administrator of Lujiang Commandery, Liu Zitai.”
“For the time being, Zitai will remain here with us on Ox Plowing Mountain.”
“Also, Zitai will take part in what comes next.”
“So, if needed,”
“the troops of Ox Plowing Mountain may be placed under Zitai’s command.”
“But there is no need to hurry.”
“I believe a continuous downpour lasting more than ten days is about to arrive.”
“During these ten days, let us simply rest.”
Liu Xie arranged everything in detail.
“I obey Your Majesty’s command!”
Zhou Cang accepted at once.
As for Liu Xun, his heart was filled with excitement and gratitude toward Liu Xie.
He had never imagined that after arriving here, Liu Xie would actually grant him command over troops as well.
This showed how deeply Liu Xie trusted him.
That trust moved him profoundly.
As Liu Xie had expected, once everything on Ox Plowing Mountain was settled, the rain began to fall.
“Your Majesty, do you intend to bring Lu Bu over to your side?”
In the stronghold, Liu Xun edged closer and asked carefully.
He had also seen what Liu Xie meant by coming here.
Liu Xie smiled and turned to look at him.
“What, does Zitai think Lu Bu is somewhat unreliable?”
In truth, in this age, most people’s assessment of Lu Bu was much the same.
And not very favorable.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Lu Bu betrayed his lord and served the traitor as a father. He is certainly not a man to be relied upon.”
This was exactly Liu Xun’s meaning.
Yet Liu Xie only smiled and shook his head.
“You are right.”
“Lu Bu is indeed deeply unreliable.”
“Still, rest assured, I have a way to make him behave.”
“Whether a man is reliable or not depends chiefly on whom he follows.”
“Heh. If handled properly,”
“with Lu Bu’s talents,”
“the strength of our Jing Province will rise another tier.”
“And beside him is Chen Gong,”
“as well as the renowned generals under his command.”
“All of them are rare talents.”
Indeed.
Liu Xie had come here for one purpose: to save Lu Bu.
To bring Lu Bu under his banner.
Setting aside everyone else, Lu Bu alone possessed strength that was evident to all throughout the Three Kingdoms.
A hero among men, and Red Hare among horses.
Those words were more than empty praise.
So long as Liu Xie could secure Lu Bu, his power in the future would be greatly increased.
Beyond that were the men now serving beneath Lu Bu.
Most famous of all, of course, was Chen Gong.
Then there was Zhang Liao, whose renown in the history of the Three Kingdoms was immense.
And Gao Shun, whose worth was no less than any man’s.
If Liu Xie could gain these people, then marching across the realm and restoring the Han would no longer be a hollow phrase.
But he understood as well.
To win over Lu Bu would not be easy.
As Liu Xun had said, Lu Bu was not a man who would sit still obediently.
To make Lu Bu remain loyally at his side and serve him would require considerable effort.
“Very well. Rest and recover in peace for the next half month.”
“We will speak of the rest after that.”
Liu Xie said no more.
As for what would happen next, it was all within his expectations.
This rain would continue for half a month.
During those fifteen days, nothing at all would happen.
But after half a month, Lu Bu would be in danger.
Time passed day by day.
Just as Liu Xie had predicted, the heavy rain fell for nearly half a month.
When the rain finally began to lessen, it was time for Liu Xie to move.
“Zitai, Yuanfu, General Pei, Imperial Uncle.”
“You all continue to hold the stronghold.”
“Act only in accordance with my orders.”
Liu Xie summoned the leaders and gave his instructions.
“Then, Your Majesty, where will you go?”
Zhou Cang asked curiously.
“I,”
“I will be leaving for a while.”
“But do not worry, I will be safe.”
“Carry out all matters according to my orders.”
“And also, Yuanfu, General Pei,”
“it is time for you to divide your forces.”
Liu Xie looked at Zhou Cang and Pei Yuanshao with a grave expression.
“Divide our forces?”
“Your Majesty, for what reason?”
Zhou Cang and Pei Yuanshao both stared in confusion.
Indeed, they were perfectly fine here on Ox Plowing Mountain.
Why should they split up?
Yet Liu Xie only shook his head solemnly.
“You must understand, the Xu Province of the future will belong to Cao Cao.”
“If Lu Bu does not move against you, do you think Cao Cao will leave you alone?”
“What sort of man is Cao Cao?”
“I believe you have both heard enough about him.”
“He is by nature deeply suspicious.”
“Do you think he would permit an army of more than twenty thousand men to remain so close to him?”