Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 116: Reading Ten Thousand Books, How Can You Stay in a Thatched Hut for a Long Time?
Liu Bei and his two companions followed the direction indicated by the old man and walked for about an incense stick's time. Sure enough, they saw a thatched cottage hidden in the forest.

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "Zhuge Liang, like Lu Zhi, built his house in the woods. Could it be that he also doesn't want to be an official?"

After the three men dismounted, Liu Bei ordered Zhang Fei to knock on the door.

Not long after, the wooden door opened, and a little boy poked his head out and asked, "Who is disturbing my master's nap?"

Liu Bei stepped forward and asked, "Is this Mr. Zhuge's residence?"

The child smiled and said, "Can this thatched cottage be called a mansion? My master's surname is indeed Zhuge. I wonder who is outside the door?"

Liu Bei said, "Excuse me, I, the Left General of Han and the Emperor's uncle, Liu Bei, have come to see Mr. Zhuge."

The little boy said, "My husband is still taking a nap. You guys wait at the door first."

Zhang Fei glared and shouted, "We've come all the way from Xuzhou. Even if we have to wait for that birdman to wake up, at least we should be allowed in to sit down and have a cup of tea while we wait, right?"

The boy glanced at Zhang Fei unhappily and said, "I don't have any good tea to offer you. If you want to wait, then wait. If not, then return the way you came."

Wei Xiaobao hurriedly shouted, "Ouch, ouch, big brother, something bad has happened. I drank too much water on the way here, and now I need to pee."

As he spoke, Wei Xiaobao stood by the wall and untied his belt.

The little boy hurriedly stopped Wei Xiaobao and said, "How can you be so rude as to relieve yourself right under my wall?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "I thought your family didn't even have tea, and probably didn't need to use the toilet on a regular basis, so I had no choice but to relieve myself here."

The little boy had no choice but to open the door and said, "Come in, but be quiet and don't disturb my husband."

Wei Xiaobao turned around with his trousers held up and winked at Zhang Fei, making Zhang Fei laugh out loud.

Liu Bei hurriedly stopped him: "Don't be so presumptuous."

Wei Xiaobao entered the gate and asked, "Where is the toilet?"

The little boy looked disgusted and pointed to a small house in the corner of the yard.

Zhang Fei followed Wei Xiaobao inside, shouting, "I need to go to the bathroom too."

Zhuge Liang in the room had already been awakened by the noise outside and coughed.

The little boy hurried in to report.

After Wei Xiaobao and Zhang Fei came out of the toilet, Liu Bei had already entered the house.

Zhang Fei squatted in the shade of the courtyard and complained, "I don't know what this guy is capable of, but he's quite arrogant."

Wei Xiaobao echoed, "Scholars all have this bad habit."

Not long after, Liu Bei came out of the house with a depressed face and sighed when he saw Wei Xiaobao.

Wei Xiaobao hurriedly asked, "Brother, have you seen Zhuge Liang?"

Liu Bei nodded.

Wei Xiaobao asked again: "Have you spoken to him?"

Liu Bei nodded again.

Zhang Fei asked, "Does he know we're here to invite him to be our military advisor?"

Liu Bei nodded again.

Wei Xiaobao was already getting anxious. Why was Liu Bei as wilted as an eggplant hit by frost? He didn't say a word after being asked three questions.

Wei Xiaobao groaned and asked, "Could it be that he doesn't want to go to Xuzhou with us?"

Liu Bei finally spoke: "Mr. Zhuge said that he was not well-educated and could not handle such a big task, so he asked me to find someone else who could do it." Zhang Fei was so angry that he rushed into the house without waiting for Liu Bei to finish speaking, and the little boy couldn't stop him.

Liu Bei and Wei Xiaobao hurriedly followed him into the house.

The decoration and furniture in the room are extremely simple. Apart from a bed and a desk, there are bamboo slips everywhere.

Zhuge Liang was lying on the bed with his back to the door, gently waving a feather fan in his hand. When he heard someone breaking in, he pretended nothing had happened.

The child hurriedly explained: "Sir, they insisted on breaking in and I couldn't stop them."

Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan and said, "You may leave."

Zhang Fei turned to Liu Bei and asked, "Brother, when you came in just now, this birdman looked like this?"

Liu Bei nodded with a look of grievance.

Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, "I've heard people say that Feng Xiao died and the Crouching Dragon emerged. It turns out Zhuge Liang was a coward. He was afraid that he couldn't win the battle with Guo Jia, so he hid in this thatched cottage."

Zhuge Liang chuckled and said, "Such a crude provocation should be saved for use against Lu Bu."

Zhang Fei said, "How rude of you! My brother and I came all the way from Xuzhou just for you, and you treat us like this!"

Zhuge Liang said, "The world is in chaos, and heroes are rising up. Those who follow the will of heaven enjoy ease, while those who defy it find it futile. Destiny is what we cannot change. I have read extensively, but I cannot find a way to defy fate. Even if I could help you capture Xia Pi and recapture Xuzhou, it would only provide temporary peace and ultimately serve Yuan Shikai and Cao Cao well."

Zhang Fei was about to lose his temper again, but Liu Bei hurriedly stopped him and asked, "Sir, are you really unwilling to come out of seclusion to help?"

Zhuge Liang replied calmly, "It is difficult to obey your orders."

Seeing Liu Bei's embarrassed expression, Wei Xiaobao leaned over to his ear and said, "Brother, if you want to cry, go ahead."

Liu Bei was already feeling aggrieved, and Wei Xiaobao's words touched him deeply. He immediately knelt on the ground and sobbed, "The people of Xuzhou are suffering, and the people of the world are suffering. I, Liu Bei, am incompetent. I cannot save the people of Xuzhou, let alone the people of the world."

Zhang Fei couldn't bear to see Liu Bei crying, so he stepped forward to support him and said, "Brother, no matter if Yuan Shu attacks or Yuan Shao attacks, I'm not afraid even if Cao Cao goes back on his word. At worst, I'll live and die with the people of Xuzhou!"

Zhuge Liang turned over, his eyes slightly filled with tears, and looked quietly at Liu Bei who was kneeling on the ground.

Wei Xiaobao knew that Liu Bei was an excellent weeper, and fearing that the presence of him and Zhang Fei would affect Liu Bei's performance, he hurriedly pulled Zhang Fei aside and said, "Third brother, Zhuge Liang seems to have something to say to the eldest brother. Let's go out first."

When Zhang Fei saw Zhuge Liang stand up, he knew that there was still room for a turnaround, so he followed Wei Xiaobao out of the thatched cottage and waited in the yard. After waiting for a long while, he saw Liu Bei coming out holding Zhuge Liang's hand. Although there were still traces of tears on their faces, they were both smiling happily.

Wei Xiaobao approached Liu Bei and whispered, "Is it done?"

Liu Bei nodded vigorously.

Zhuge Liang said, "My lord, if you follow my plan, you can capture Xia Pi in three days. I have my family and servants here. Once I have settled in, I will go to Xia Pi to meet you."

Liu Bei was reluctant to let go of Zhuge Liang's hand.

Zhuge Liang then said, "The battle of Xuzhou is urgent. My lord, we cannot delay any longer."

Zhuge Liang sent Liu Bei and the other two out, but Liu Bei was still reluctant to leave.

Zhuge Liang urged him again, and Liu Bei finally mounted his horse, clasped his fists, and said, "Military Advisor, please come as soon as possible."

Zhang Fei was completely bewildered. After following Liu Bei out of the thatched cottage, he asked, "Brother, why didn't Zhuge Liang come back with us? Did he trick us into coming back with his sweet talk, and then move on and run away?"

Liu Bei said, "How could you possibly have such thoughts, Third Brother! Since the Military Advisor has already promised to come out and help me, how could he break his promise to me? Firstly, the battle in Xuzhou is critical, and secondly, the journey from Nanyang to Xuzhou is long, so the Military Advisor needs to make preparations. The Military Advisor has already told me how to attack Xia Pi. Let's hurry back and, after we capture Xia Pi, we'll welcome the Military Advisor back!"

Zhang Fei turned to look at Wei Xiaobao and asked, "Bozhi, do you believe in that Zhuge Liang?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "Just trust him, big brother. We'll know once we recapture Xuzhou."

(End of this chapter)