Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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Cai Mao who heard what Kuai Yue said just snorted, and turned his head to the side. Kuai Yue greeted Lord Liu Bei with a smile and welcomed him to Xiangyang informing him that Liu Biao was waiting for him inside, Liu Bei smiled humbly at Kuai Yue and thanked Kuai Yue and Cai Mao for welcoming him, after some small exchange between them, Kuai Yue and Cai Mao escorted Liu Bei and his group toward Xiangyang Governor’s Castle.

At Xiangyang’s Governor Castle, Liu Biao is waiting for the arrival of Liu Bei and his eldest son Liu Qi, he has a bad impression of Liu Bei and Liu Qi thanks to Vai Mao and Lady Cai who speak ill of them.

At his side was Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue’s older brother, and leader of the Kuai Clan the most influenced Noble Clan alongside the Cai Clan, and whoever gained their support could become the leader of Jing Province, and their rule would be stable across Jung Province.

The Kuai Clan is an old Noble house in Jing Province, as for the Cai Clan their rise was due to Cai Mao’s sister, Lady Cai becoming Liu Biao’s concubine and then his wife due to Liu Biao’s first wife dying.

At this time a commotion was heard outside of the hall, and then enters Kuai Yue and Cai Mao followed by Liu Qi and Liu Bei alongside Liu Bei’s retainers, Kuai Yue and Cai Mao bowed toward Liu Biao, telling him that Liu Qi and Liu Bei have arrived.

Liu Biao thanked them and told them that they could go back to their place, and then he turned toward Liu Qi first welcomed him home and told him that after this he should go back because his stepmother and younger brother missed him.

Liu Qi cupped his hand toward Liu Biao and said that he would do so, and then Liu Biao turned to Liu Bei after acknowledging Liu Qi’s words and welcomed him to his court.

Liu Bei expressed his gratitude to Liu Biao for the warm welcome and the honor of meeting him. He extended his thanks for the gracious gesture of assigning Kuai Yue and Cai Mao as his escorts.

Liu Biao, waved his hand indicating to Liu Biao that it was a small thing to do and with genuine interest, expressed his long-standing desire to meet Liu Bei upon learning of another Imperial Scion.

Motioning to a servant, he ordered the preparation of a seat suitable for Liu Bei’s esteemed status. As Liu Bei took his place, Liu Biao inquired about the purpose of his visit.

In response, Liu Bei humbly revealed his intention to seek refuge in Jing Province, citing a desire to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the region under Liu Biao’s wise governance, also that he would leave Jing Province after finding a safe place for himself and his army.

Liu Biao, Kuai Yue, Kuai Liang, and Cai Mao exchanged knowing glances; Liu Bei’s request to seek refuge wasn’t entirely unexpected. Having received an anonymous notice of Liu Bei’s imminent arrival, they had anticipated the need for a strategic response.

Liu Biao held an emergency meeting alongside Kuai Yue, Kuai Liang, and Cai Mao, and they discussed the situation.

At first, Liu Biao wanted to accept Liu Bei into Jing Province without any condition needed, Cai Mao immediately protested this decision and didn’t agree since he felt that Liu Bei would just become a burden, and also would only make Cao Cap turn his eyes toward them.

Kuai Liang not wanting Liu Biao and Cai Mao to have a conflict, put forward a condition that Liu Bei would be stationed in Xinye alongside Liu Qi to guard Xinye.

This is aimed at strengthening Liu Biao’s defenses in the north since they didn’t invest in a large army there and to create a formidable barrier against potential threats coming from Cao Cao.

After hearing the proposal put forward by Kuai Liang, everyone agreed with this especially Cai Mao since he felt at least Liu Bei would not eat their supplies for nothing, Liu Biao also liked this proposal since he didn’t want to have a conflict with Cao Cao, but if he had a conflict at least he would have Liu Bei as first line of defense.

Back in the hall, as Liu Biao conveyed the terms needed to Liu Bei in order for Liu Biao to accept his refuge in Jing Province, Liu Bei turned toward Ju Shou and Wang Xiu where he saw that they nodded their head, indicating for Liu Bei to agree.

Since his advisors told him to agree, he grits his teeth and with a humble face alongside a kind smile agrees to Liu Biao’s terms even though actually he doesn’t want to, Zhang Fei wants to declare his objection to this decision but Guan Yu managed to stop him.

Liu Biao immediately gave a hearty smile and laugh, saying that since Liu Bei had agreed then he could stay at Jing Province in Xinye, and asked if he needed some supplies for his army to which Liu Bei replied humbly that whatever supplies he could give to keep his army well fed is enough for him.

Liu Biao was touched by the humble and virtuous words said by Liu Bei, who immediately praised him and said that he was an example for himself and the other living Imperial Scions.

After saying those words, Liu Biao told Kuai Yue to order the kitchen to prepare for a banquet to welcome Liu Bei which will be held tonight, and then turned toward preparing army supplies to be given to Liu Bei’s army in Xinye.

Liu Bei immediately thanked Liu Biao for his generosity and said that he would protect Xinye and Liu Qi with his life, and with this, the formal meeting between the two Imperial Scions ended.

Liu Biao told Liu Bei that he needed to return to his residence alongside Liu Qi to spend time with his family and that he would meet Liu Bei tonight to which Liu Bei replied that he understood, and that family comes first.

After Liu Biao said his goodbyes to Liu Bei and his retainers, he left the hall alongside Liu Qi and his bodyguards. Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, and Cai Mao also take their leave after saying goodbye to Liu Bei.

At this time a servant then approached Liu Bei and his retainers, escorting him and his retainers toward the rooms they would sleep in for their stay at Xianyang.

Liu Bei thanked the servant and gave some money to him, and the servant was immediately grateful for such kindness and told Liu Bei if he had anything miscellaneous he needed to do, he could call for him.

The servant then leaves Liu Bei’s room, which soon receives guests who are all of Liu Bei’s retainers. They entered the room and then Guan Yu alongside Zhang Fei stood at the door, guarding it, and kept their ears toward the hallways in case there’s someone approached Liu Bei’s room.

Liu Bei: ”Ju Shou and Wang Xiu, do you think it’s a great decision for me to accept Liu Biao’s term? I may be not as bright as the two of you, but I can see that this is a trap laid for us to guard Jing Province from Cao Cao’s attack.”

Ju Shou: ”Yes it was the right decision My Lord, I know that you asked us this because you care for our soldiers, but if we want to stay in Jing Province we need to accept his condition and Xinye is a big town which suit to become our new capital.”

Liu Bei: ”What? What do you mean Ju Shou? Wait don’t tell me that you tried to scheme a way for us to usurp Brother Liu Biao?! I don’t agree! How could we become so ungrateful toward Simeon who receives us!”

Wang Xiu: ”My Lord please calm down, it’s not that we are ungrateful but if My Lord wants to revive the Han Dynasty, sometimes we need to take an opportunity that was laid upon us, whether it was an honorable path or not.”

Liu Bei: ”What opportunity do the two of you see? I saw that Brother Liu Biao is healthy and his eldest son Liu Qi is truly qualified to be his successor, I could see the young Brother Liu Biao in Liu Qi.”

Ju Shou: ”It’s because My Lord hasn’t heard about some rumors that we found when we were at Xinye, I and Wang Xiu silently asked around the reason why Liu Qu was stationed at Xinye, and it turns out it’s because of Cai Mao and the Cai Clan.”

Wang Xiu: ”As Ju Shou said My Lord, Lord Liu Biao’s current wife is Lady Cai who was originally his concubine by becoming his legal wife as his first wife died of sickness, and it turns out Lady Cai favored Liu Cong over Liu Qi due to that Cai Mao and the Cai Clan pushed Liu Cong to replace Liu Qi.”

Liu Bei: ”What?! How could they do that?! No, I must tell Brother Liu Biao, that my nephew Liu Qi is so kind and humble that I don’t want him to be manipulated by such a vicious stepmother and her Clan!”

Ju Shou: ”Wiat My Lord! Can’t you see, this is the opportunity that I and Wang Xiu meant, we can become another powerhouse in Jing Province like Cai Mao and the Cai Clan so we can influence Lord Liu Biao’s decision to choose his successor, countering Cai Mao and the Cai Clan.”

Liu Bei hearing this became confused and asked Ju Shou what he meant by becoming a powerhouse, the Cai Clan had long rooted themselves in Jing Province using Liu Biao as his backer, so how could they rival them.

Wang Xiu at this time explained to Liu Bei that they can use Xinye as their stepping stone, improving the people’s life and conditions there alongside supporting Liu Qi to increase his weight in Liu Biao:a heart and use their army as a subjugation force against bandits to raise Liu Bei’s reputation among the people.

While doing so, he and Ju Shou will do a silent visit to other medium and small Noble Clans that were dissatisfied with Cai Mao and the Cai Clan, and from there they will band together and when the times come to divide Jing Province’s successor.

They can use this as a trick to their sleeve to convince Liu Biao, and from there, they can usurp Liu Qi slowly by convincing him that Liu Bei is much better leader than him, and for him to hand over Jing Province governorship to Liu Bei when he success the position from Liu Biao.

After hearing that Liu Bei showed a thoughtful look while in truth inside his heart he was already ecstatic with the prospect of having Jing Province as his domain, hearing Ju Shou and Wang Xiu’s plans make his heart boil and his ambition to be fired up. Ju Shou and Wang Xiu don’t know this, as what they see after the thoughtful look was a heavy sigh, and he accepts their plan while showing a sad expression.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 28 (195 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 2,462,000

Renown: 725

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,071,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 936 (+20)

VIT: 598 (+20)

AGI: 583 (+10)

INT: 587

CHR: 93

WIS: 509

WILL: 397

ATR Points: 0