Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 115: A journey of thousands of miles is not as good as a guide from an expert
Nanyang County was first established in the pre-Qin period. By the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, thirteen Inspectorates were established throughout the country. Nanyang County, along with Nanjun, Jiangxia, Guiyang, Wuling, Lingling, Changsha, etc., belonged to Jingzhou.

Nanyang's administrative center was in Wancheng. Liu Bei was worried that after Cao Cao captured Wancheng, his attempt to enter or leave Nanyang would attract Cao Cao's attention. So he took advantage of Cao Cao's return to Xudu for rest and went to Nanyang to visit Zhuge Liang.

Liu Bei accepted Sun Qian's suggestion and submitted a memorial to the court to accept the position of Left General. He also sent Sun Qian to Xudu to pay tribute on his behalf in accordance with royal etiquette. On the one hand, he showed weakness to Cao Cao, and on the other hand, he made Cao Cao think that he was staying in Xiaopei and preparing to attack Xiapi.

At this time, Guan Yu was still stationed in Pengcheng, while Xiaoguan was guarded by Generals Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun with cavalry. Only Zhang Fei and Wei Xiaobao were with Liu Bei in Xiaopei City.

Zhang Fei was originally dissatisfied with Liu Bei's behavior of being Cao Cao's younger brother. When he heard that Liu Bei had postponed the attack on Xia Pi and was going to Nanyang to look for people, he rushed into Liu Bei's military tent in a rage.

Liu Bei was discussing the route to Nanyang with Wei Xiaobao when he saw Zhang Fei come in and asked, "Third brother, Bo Zhi and I will be leaving soon. How are your plans for defending Xiaopei?"

Zhang Fei replied, "If someone attacks me, I will defend myself. If no one attacks me, I will rest."

Liu Bei immediately recognized Zhang Fei's angry words and demanded, "How can you treat a military campaign so lightly? You drank too much the other day and lost Xia Pi. Why haven't you learned your lesson yet?"

Zhang Fei said, "Brother Lü Bu has been trapped in Xia Pi. Now is the time for me to redeem myself. Why don't you send troops to attack him, but instead go to Nanyang to look for some idiot?"

Liu Bei knew Zhang Fei's temper and suppressed his anger. He said, "If Bozhi hadn't rescued Wenyuan and Zilong hadn't rushed back from Youzhou, we wouldn't even be able to defend Xiaoguan. Even if we recaptured Xuzhou with just a few brothers, wouldn't we still lose it sooner or later? Yuan Shao has been a three-time official for four generations, and his reputation is extremely high. Heroes from all over the world flock to him. Cao Cao is also recruiting talents on behalf of the emperor. We want to survive in the gap between these two. Instead of actively seeking out talented people, we are just sitting at home waiting for them to come."

Zhang Fei knew he was wrong and muttered, "It's a long journey to Nanyang, and we have to pass through Yuan Shu's territory. I'm worried about my brother's safety."

Wei Xiaobao leaned close to Liu Bei's ear and said, "Third brother doesn't want to stay and defend the city."

Liu Bei left Zhang Fei aside and looked at Wei Xiaobao's finger.

Wei Xiaobao pointed at the map and said, "We are now surrounded by Lü Bu to the east, Yuan Shu to the south, and Cao Cao's forces to the west and north. It looks very dangerous, but it is actually very safe.

Zhang Liao had brought nearly all of Lü Bu's cavalry with him when he arrived, and Chen Deng had fled to Guangling with his troops. Now, Xia Pi City had no more than a thousand soldiers, and Lü Bu could only rely on the city's strong defenses, having long since stopped fighting. Yuan Shu was a cunning old man, and with Qiao Rui worried about his daughter's safety, there was no need to worry about the south.

The eldest brother sent Sun Qian to Xudu to reassure Cao Cao so that he could attack Zhang Xiu in Wancheng with peace of mind to seek revenge.

It seems that there will be no war in Xiaopei during this period. It would be better to take my third brother with me to Nanyang. This way, the journey will be safer."

Liu Bei asked, "Did you give your third brother the idea to cause this trouble?"

Wei Xiaobao chuckled and said, "I'm worried that Zhuge Liang might be like Jia Xu and unwilling to assist my eldest brother, so I'm planning to take my third brother with me. If we have to, I'll have him kidnap Zhuge Liang."

Liu Bei rebuked him, "This is sheer nonsense! We're coming here with a sincere request, but isn't this kidnapping? Even if we kidnap him, can he truly serve us?"

Wei Xiaobao was speechless for a moment, thinking, "I'm doing this for your own good, why are you blaming me?"

Liu Bei pondered for a moment and said to Zhang Fei, "If I insist on keeping you in Xiaopei, I'm afraid you'll get bored and drink all day, causing trouble. I'll send Zilong back to Xiaopei, and you can come with us to Nanyang."

Zhang Fei was about to rejoice when Liu Bei continued, "But let's be clear. This trip to Nanyang is a matter of great importance. You can't act recklessly. You must obey me in everything."

Zhang Fei clasped his fists in agreement.

The next day, Zhao Yun rushed back from Xiaoguan and saw off Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, and Wei Xiaobao at the foot of Xiaopei City. According to the agreed route, the three of them would bypass Shouchun and go through Runan, and then head east to Nanyang.

When passing by Runan, Wei Xiaobao thought of Dian Wei again and couldn't help feeling sad.

After arriving in Nanyang, Liu Bei asked around but found no news. Seeing that he had stayed there for quite some time and was worried about the war in Xuzhou, he began to think about going back.

One day, the three men came to a village. Liu Bei saw someone picking mulberry leaves in a mulberry field by the roadside, so he hurried forward to ask.

"Old man, where is this place?"

The man, wearing a bamboo hat and bent over, replied, "Nanyang."

Wei Xiaobao cursed in his heart, "Damn it! It would be better to say this is Jingzhou!"

Just as Liu Bei was about to ask again, the man said, "What a shame! Emperor Guangwu started his career here, but I never thought some people would not recognize this place. The world only knows Xuchang, and I'm afraid even Luoyang and Chang'an have been forgotten, let alone Nanyang!"

Liu Bei thought to himself, "This man's insights are unlike those of ordinary people. Could he be the Zhuge Liang that Bo Zhi mentioned?"

Liu Bei quickly dismounted and asked, "Did I ask for your permission, sir, to get on and off?"

Seeing Liu Bei's sudden politeness, the man straightened up, took off his bamboo hat, and said, "I'm just a country bumpkin. My name is not worth mentioning."

Liu Bei was somewhat disappointed after seeing the man's appearance clearly. The man in front of him had gray hair at the temples and was definitely not the young man Wei Xiaobao had mentioned.

Liu Bei said, "Old man, we have come from Xuzhou to visit a certain Mr. Zhuge. I wonder if you know him?"

The old man said, "Oh, I've heard of this guy. He's young and likes to brag. He does nothing all day long but hang out with those scholars, drinking and chatting."

Zhang Fei leaned over to Wei Xiaobao's ear and whispered, "It seems this Zhuge Liang isn't very capable. How could you recommend such a person to me?"

The old man seemed to have heard what Zhang Fei said, and said, "This young man from the Zhuge family just moved in not long ago. He lives in the thatched cottage in front. If you want to see him, go and ask him yourself."

Liu Bei was overjoyed and hurriedly urged his horse forward. Suddenly, he felt that the old man was speaking mysteriously. He stopped his horse and turned around to look, but found that there was no figure in the mulberry field.

Wei Xiaobao followed Liu Bei and when he saw him turn around, he turned around too. Suddenly, he remembered something and said, "Could this person be Sima Hui?"

Liu Bei asked, "Who is this?"

Wei Xiaobao shook his head, feeling deeply regretful. "The storyteller said this old man was proficient in strange magic and was even more powerful than Liu Bowen in the Heroes' Biography. If it really was him, he might also know Zhang Jue's magic. Then I wouldn't have to look for the jade seal anymore."

Liu Bei sighed and said, "I'm afraid he must be a great person. It's a pity that I am so shortsighted that I was disrespectful to him."

(End of this chapter)