Your Majesty, please spare Diao Chan; your yang energy is too strong.

Liu Bei looked at Mi Zhu with a slight narrowing of his eyes.

"General, you are overthinking it."

"Giving Xuzhou to anyone is the same as giving it to someone else."

"Rather than letting Lü Bu benefit from it, it's better to give it to the general."

"At least compared to the fickle Lü Bu, the general's reputation for benevolence and righteousness is known throughout the land."

"As for my lord, he is currently being chased by Lü Bu and is fleeing in panic. Does he still have the ability to plot against you, General?"

"It's nothing more than trying to survive in the face of death."

"If Xuzhou remains in Lü Bu's hands, given Lü Bu's hatred for my lord, he will certainly not let it go."

"And the general has no grudges against my lord, nor is he a fickle person."

"Now that we have received the favor of my lord, I believe that we will not make things difficult for him in the future."

"Under such circumstances, how could my lord not choose the general?"

Mi Zhu said calmly.

"Is that right?"

Liu Bei frowned slightly.

Although the other party's explanation was reasonable and well-founded.

But for some reason, he always felt that Zhou Heng was not as simple as he seemed.

To have gone from a nobody to this level in just one month.

Will he be a simple person?

They gave him such a huge windfall for no reason.

And there are absolutely no requirements.

How can you expect him to eat in peace?

"What are you still hesitating about, brother?"

“I think Zizhong makes a very good point.”

Compared to Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were clearly less cunning.

I felt that the other party's reasons were also very reasonable.

After all, Zhou Heng himself is now in a precarious situation.

How could they possibly scheme against others?

The reason they are now seeking help from Liu Bei is simply to get Liu Bei to attack Xuzhou.

This forced Lü Bu to return to defend.

This is simply a way to relieve one's stress.

"If the general is still worried, I am willing to stay here as a hostage."

Mi Zhu, of course, knew what Liu Bei was thinking, and immediately spoke again.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was immediately relieved.

It should be noted that Mi Zhu was a very important figure under anyone.

After all, he had the Mi family backing him.

It's like a great god of wealth.

I doubt anyone would put this great God of Wealth as a hostage in someone else's possession.

Moreover, Zhou Heng had just subdued Mi Zhu.

So you're just putting people in someone else's place as hostages?

How are you supposed to expect people to think?

What are you going to say to those who surrendered to you later?

Upon realizing this, Liu Bei immediately laughed and said, "Zizhong, you've gone too far. That's not what I meant."

"It's just that Zhou Heng, although he once served under me, as you know, my third brother made a mistake while drunk, which hurt Zhou Heng's feelings. I'm afraid he'll hold a grudge."

"It's inevitable that I have some doubts."

"Now that I've heard what Zizhong said, I'm relieved."

Mi Zhu pursed his lips: "General, you flatter me."

He is not the naive person he used to be.

Everything Zhou Heng said before now corresponds to the present.

That would mean that his former lord was not the kind of benevolent and righteous ruler he had initially perceived him to be.

Come to think of it, someone who can stand out in chaotic times.

How could it possibly be as he appears on the surface?

He just wants to stay; what excuse is he making?

Liu Bei chuckled twice, offering no rebuttal.

He immediately ordered his men to prepare a banquet to welcome Mi Zhu back.

After three rounds of drinking.

Liu Bei suddenly frowned.

"By the way, Zizhong, although I am willing to send troops, there are no more of our people left in Xuzhou City."

"Although Lü Bu led a large number of troops out to fight, Chen Gong was still defending the city."

"Chen Gong is a man of great wisdom and resourcefulness, and is also skilled in troop deployment."

"If we launch a direct attack, it will be difficult to take Xuzhou in a short period of time."

"If Lü Bu returns then, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"Does Zizhong have any brilliant plan?"

When the conversation turned to serious matters, Liu Bei's expression became serious.

"General, rest assured, although Lü Bu has occupied Xuzhou, it will not last long."

"I am not very capable, but I still have some trusted confidants in the city."

"Once I write a letter, I will repay him with my life. With the help of both inside and outside forces, taking Xuzhou should not be too much of a problem."

Zhou Heng had already anticipated this, and naturally, he was wary of Liu Bei's every move.

This is why he sent Mi Zhu.

As for how Mi Zhu escaped afterwards?

That's even simpler.

It's important to know that before Liu Bei and Lü Bu arrived, Xuzhou was the domain of powerful clans.

The Mi family was the richest family in Xuzhou.

It possesses energy beyond your imagination.

Once you enter the city, someone will naturally come to meet you.

Moreover, Zhou Heng had already made arrangements for his backup plan.

The incident with Lü Bu happened because it was so sudden that they didn't have much time to react.

That's why I ended up in that situation.

Now, with the enemy's intentions thwarted, unless Liu Bei can stabilize Xuzhou within a few hours...

Otherwise, if Mi Zhu simply found a place to hide, it would be almost impossible for Liu Bei to find him in less than a few days.

Since Mi Zhu's men were to escort Liu Bei into the city, it was natural that Mi Zhu himself had to go.

Liu Bei couldn't possibly watch over him 24 hours a day.

"That would be wonderful."

Liu Bei was overjoyed.

The last trace of doubt in my heart was completely dispelled.

He had even begun to imagine Lu Bu's expression when he learned that he had taken Xuzhou.

"Lu Bu, oh Lu Bu."

"This time, I will not only take back what was once mine, but I will also make you know the price of betraying me."

Liu Bei thought fiercely to himself.

"I wonder what time you agreed upon with your family's generals?" Liu Bei asked again.

"At midnight tonight, light a fire as a signal."

Xiaopei is very close to Xiapi.

Normally, the journey would only take half a day.

If we march quickly, it will take at most two hours to get there.

Otherwise, Lü Bu would not have been able to suddenly take over Xuzhou without Zhang Fei reacting at all.

It caught him off guard.

"Very well, if things succeed today, you will be my great benefactor, sir. I, Liu Bei, would like to offer you a toast."

"please."

.............

"My lord, stop pursuing. We've already reached Liu Bei and Yuan Shu's defensive zone."

"If we rush in, it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings."

Just as Liu Bei and Mi Zhu were discussing how to launch a surprise attack on Lü Bu's Xuzhou.

Meanwhile, Lü Bu also successfully pursued Zhou Heng, chasing him to the area between Xiaopei and Guangling.

Gao Shun quickly reminded him.

"Hmph, revenge is just around the corner, how can we let the tiger return to the mountain?"

However, Lü Bu is now bloodthirsty and obviously won't listen to Gao Shun.

"But... if we rush in and cause unnecessary misunderstandings, that would be troublesome."

Gao Shun frowned slightly.