Mythical Three Kingdoms

Fengg Ji came and went in a flash. Of course, he heard and memorized what Liu Bei had said. Despite the casual tone, the undisguised killing intent embedded in Liu Bei’s words was unmistakable.

Confronted with this blatant disregard for decorum yet brutally honest behavior, Fengg Ji wasn’t sure how to respond. The only thing he could think to do was to relay Liu Bei’s exact words to Yuan Shao and let him decide.

”Liu Bei actually said that?” Yuan Shao was momentarily stunned, his face showing clear shock as he asked. He had imagined many possible responses but never expected Liu Bei to openly admit his murderous intentions.

”My Lord, I believe Liu Bei’s words lacked any ulterior motives—pure, unadulterated killing intent,” Sheni Pei said with a frown. ”For a Feudal Lord, it’s true that concealing emotions is expected. But at Liu Bei’s level, such pretense is unnecessary. He acts as he pleases; maybe that’s just his way.”

”Still, the fact that he could speak so openly suggests that all necessary preparations must already be in place. This meeting at the river’s heart may harbor significant risks,” Tian Feng added, furrowing his brow.

”And what of it? Wen Chou, can you protect me?” Yuan Shao turned his head slightly and asked Wen Chou.

”As long as I draw breath, no one will harm my Lord!” Wen Chou responded powerfully and confidently.

”Yann Liang, and you?” Yuan Shao asked with a smile.

”In this life, I follow my Lord; in the next, I shall repay you even from the grave!” Yann Liang, though from the Yann Family’s branch lineage and often seen as brutish, spoke words far more eloquent than Wen Chou.

”There you have it. Do you think I, Yuan Shao, fear Liu Bei? If he dares act improperly when he arrives, Zhengli, seize him for me and throw them all into the Yellow River. Let them swim back!” Yuan Shao said with an arrogant expression, giving a sharp glance toward Juo Yi. As the Vanguard and representing Hebei’s elite troops, navigating a boat was child’s play for them.

”In that case, why don’t we take more precautions and simply capture Liu Bei outright?” Dong Zhao stepped forward, speaking without hesitation. He had no concept of morality. To him, war was about achieving victory, not a matter of superficial honor.

”How dare you liken me to a petty man weaving mats and selling shoes!” Yuan Shao shot Dong Zhao a disapproving glare. Coming from an aristocratic family, and particularly as a concubine’s son who had once lived no better than a servant, Yuan Shao’s obsession with maintaining appearances was a deeply ingrained habit.

Though those memories had become blurred for Yuan Shao, and his status no longer required him to be as meticulous about his image, he still would not lower his dignity in front of peers equal in rank.

Dong Zhao lowered his head and slowly stepped back, a barely perceptible sneer flickering across his otherwise unreadable expression. Liu Bei dared to declare so openly his intent to eliminate Yuan Shao at every opportunity, yet Yuan Shao still needed time to deliberate.

After some discussion, Yuan Shao and his subordinates agreed to prepare their largest Tower Ship overnight in the center of the river. He also commanded his men to quickly finish arranging the interior, while leaving a few troops under Ju Shou’s command at the military camp as a precaution against ambushes from the opposite side. The rest were to accompany him, a chance to expand their horizons.

The next day, at the Chen Hour (roughly 7–9 a.m.), Liu Bei and a group of about a dozen headed toward the agreed meeting place in the middle of the Yellow River aboard a small boat, where the grand Tower Ship had already been fully prepared overnight.

”Tsk, tsk, tsk. Yuan Shao even has something this impressive,” Chen Xi remarked enviously, a trace of apprehension in his voice. The ship’s construction was extremely sophisticated and evidently new. More importantly, the wood had been thoroughly nurtured.

Using nurtured wood to construct a ship, as opposed to nurturing the wood after the ship was built, was an entirely different level of difficulty. The properties of the wood significantly changed after nurturing, making it far harder to assemble. But the advantage was undeniable: the resulting ship was supremely strong. Once built and nurtured again, the structure’s integrity improved further. At that point, even if Zhao Yun were to wildly swing a weapon onboard, it would likely only cause minor surface damage...

”Ahem, let’s not call it Yuan Shao’s ship during the meeting. Let’s save him some face,” Liu Bei coughed lightly and said. Others might not recognize the origins of the ship, but Liu Bei did. Wasn’t this the ship gifted to him by the Lul Family? He had transferred it to the Zhang Clan when Madame Zhang returned to Jizhou not long ago.

”Yuan Shao is rather forward-thinking, even taking an interest in shipbuilding. Their techniques now seem nearly on par with ours,” Jia Xu remarked, glancing to the side.

”Indeed,” Lub Su said with a slightly apprehensive expression. ”Is this a show of strength?”

”It certainly seems to hint at that,” Zhao Yun, who was somewhat familiar with shipbuilding, added with high praise for the vessel.

”Lord Xuande, this way, please!” Fengg Ji, who had prepared onboard the ship the previous night, lowered the gangplank and gestured respectfully at Liu Bei. ”My Lord has been awaiting your arrival for some time.” He glanced behind Liu Bei and saw only this one boat’s worth of people.

Wuu Anguo leapt onto the Tower Ship with his hefty Great Hammers, standing motionless like a mountain.

”Board the ship,” Liu Bei waved a hand, and his group followed him up the gangplank. Once aboard, they began curiously inspecting and discussing the ship.

”Yuantu, this Tower Ship is impressive. How many have you built?” Chen Xi, adopting his usual carefree demeanor, looked around while casually asking questions.

”This is a Hebei Zhen Family Tower Ship. My Lord is merely borrowing it for a few days,” Fengg Ji replied indifferently. ”However, should a fight break out on this ship today, I fear it won’t remain in good shape for long.”

”Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Chen Xi continued marveling at the craftsmanship. Just then, Madame Zhang appeared from around a corner before Liu Bei. Dressed in intricate green silk embroidered with golden butterflies and matched with a three-phoenix pearl hairpin, she exuded elegance. This appearance was a stark departure from the simplicity she had displayed at Mount Tai, befitting her status as the head of the foremost of the Five Great Merchants.

”Greetings, Lady Zhang,” Liu Bei greeted her casually with a slight bow. Madame Zhang returned the gesture with a graceful bow of her own. ”Lord Yuan has granted permission. Might Lord Xuande allow this woman to witness the negotiation?” she cordially asked, completely ignoring Chen Xi behind Liu Bei.

”Please, Lady Zhang,” Liu Bei hesitated briefly before replying.

Madame Zhang smiled and walked off with Liu Bei, while Chen Xi casually asked Fengg Ji another question, causing Fengg Ji to pause momentarily.

”Why did you bring so few people? Yuan Shao brought five hundred men. They’re on a nearby ship, and there are over three hundred on this one,” Madame Zhang said with a hint of anxiety. She hadn’t planned to meet with Liu Bei; doing so risked exposing her intentions.

”Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to me. Just bear witness and do nothing else. Afterward, return to the Bohai Sea,” Liu Bei instructed her quickly as Chen Xi and the others approached.

Turning left, they found themselves in a wide, open area. Yuan Shao sat prominently at the head of the room, awaiting Liu Bei’s arrival. His civil officials and military generals were already seated. As Liu Bei strode boldly into the room, all eyes turned to him. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian.com to vote with recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile readers, please visit m.qidian.com.)