Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 104 You drive the tiger to devour the wolf, I kill with a borrowed knife

Wei Xiaobao rushed to the county residence early in the morning. After seeing Chen Deng, he deliberately put on a sad face and sighed like a queen in the cold palace.

Chen Deng was a bit wary at first, thinking he'd run into a con man. But when he saw Wei Xiaobao's expression, he couldn't help but ask, "Master Wei, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so sad?"

Wei Xiaobao wanted to make him anxious, so he kept silent and then said "Oh".

Chen Deng was annoyed by Wei Xiaobao's repeated "Ah" sounds. He suppressed his anger and asked, "Master Wei, is there something you can't say?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "It's all my fault for making such a fuss yesterday that I delayed your meeting with the Prime Minister. As a result, the Prime Minister led his troops out to attack Zhang Xiu early this morning."

Chen Deng exclaimed, "Ouch!" and then said, "I've delayed the important task my father entrusted to me. What should I do? But why haven't I heard about the soldier's birth?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "Warfare is a secret. How can we publicize it? Who knows if there are any spies from Shangpi in Xudu?"

Chen Deng said, "There's only Xia Pi. I've never heard of Shang Pi."

Wei Xiaobao nodded and said, "That's Xia Pi!"

Chen Deng quickly knelt down and said, "Sir Wei, I have not dared to conceal anything about this trip from the Prime Minister or you, so how could I be a spy?"

Wei Xiaobao couldn't help laughing when he saw Chen Deng being played around by him.

When Chen Deng heard Wei Xiaobao's laughter, he immediately understood what was going on. He stood up, glared at Wei Xiaobao, and said, "Are you trying to trick me?"

Wei Xiaobao resented Chen Gui and Chen Deng for abandoning Liu Bei and joining Lu Bu, but now he had to rely on them to get rid of Lu Bu, so he could only find ways to play tricks on him first.

Seeing that Chen Deng was already furious, Wei Xiaobao calmly took out Cao Cao's handwritten letter from his bosom and handed it to Chen Deng, then said, "But I have already met with the Prime Minister this morning, and I have also told him about your plan with your father and son. This is what the Prime Minister asked me to pass on to you."

Chen Deng was still confused. He took the letter from Cao Cao handed to him by Wei Xiaobao and read it through in just a few strokes. It was not until he saw the big seal of the Prime Minister on it that he suddenly realized what was going on. He hurriedly knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Wei Xiaobao.

Wei Xiaobao folded his arms across his chest and waited until Chen Deng kowtowed until he was exhausted. Then he slowly said, "Now you finally believe me, right?"

Chen Deng quickly raised his head and said, "This humble official deserves death, this humble official deserves death. Suspecting you is a small matter, but delaying the Prime Minister's conquest of Xuzhou is a big deal."

Wei Xiaobao didn't help him either, and continued, "Hurry up and pack your luggage. We'll go back to Xuzhou right away."

Chen Deng asked, "Master Wei, are you going to Xuzhou with me?"

Wei Xiaobao nodded in agreement, thinking, "If I don't go to Xuzhou, how can I justify my lie to Cao Cao? If I don't go to Xuzhou, how can I help Big Brother take Xuzhou back?"

Wei Xiaobao thought that he didn't know when he would be able to return from Xuzhou, so he decided to take Diao Chan, Shuang'er and Mu Jianping with him, and bring them back to find Liu Xie after he got the jade seal.

After all, Chen Deng was a member of a Xuzhou noble family, so hiring a few more carriages was no problem for him. Although he didn't understand why Wei Xiaobao brought his family with him, he thought that this person was acting strangely and did not ask any more questions.

When they were almost reaching Xiaopei, Wei Xiaobao asked Chen Deng to stop the carriage.

Chen Deng asked, "Sir Wei, Liu Bei and Lü Bu are at odds. If we rest here, I'm afraid something bad might happen."

Wei Xiaobao understood that Chen Deng was simply worried that Liu Bei would be angry at him for his betrayal, so he smiled and said, "Don't worry, Liu Bei won't attack you. The Prime Minister also instructed me to go find Liu Bei and persuade him to join forces against Lü Bu." Chen Deng said, "That's great! However, Liu Bei and the Prime Minister had a standoff over Xuzhou, so I'm afraid Liu Bei won't agree."

Wei Xiaobao smiled and said, "How could you guess the Prime Minister's plan?"

But when he said this, Wei Xiaobao was thinking in his heart: "How can you guess my plan?"

Chen Deng nodded in agreement and gave Wei Xiaobao a carriage and horses.

Before leaving, Wei Xiaobao leaned close to Chen Deng's ear and said, "I'll carry the confession of the plot against Lü Bu with me. If you dare to betray me in the middle of the battle, don't blame me for giving it to Lü Bu."

Chen Deng frowned, clasped his fists, and said, "I am willing to go through fire and water for you, Prime Minister. Even if it means death, I will never change my mind."

Wei Xiaobao cursed in his heart, "Damn it! How dare a traitor say he has no second thoughts?"

In Xiaopei City, Liu Bei was delighted to see Wei Xiaobao return after only a few days. He was puzzled at the same time. It was not until Wei Xiaobao told him how he kidnapped Chen Deng, deceived Cao Cao without telling Chen Deng, and used Chen Deng to trick Lu Bu that Liu Bei was surprised and delighted.

Zhang Fei hugged Wei Xiaobao and laughed: "Bozhi, if you can get Xuzhou back, I will kowtow to you three times!"

Wei Xiaobao was terrified: "You and Brother Guan are sworn brothers. If I ask you to kowtow to me, I won't dare to kowtow to anyone else in the future."

Guan Yu also gave a thumbs up and praised: "Brother, you have been worrying about not having a counselor around you. Now that Bo Zhi is back, we don't have to worry about not being able to retake Xuzhou."

Wei Xiaobao's face flushed with embarrassment. Liu Bei lost Xuzhou because of him, and the schemes to plot against Lu Bu were all copied from Chen Deng. Listening to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei praising him, he felt embarrassed no matter how thick-skinned he was.

Seeing that Wei Xiaobao had brought his family, Liu Bei arranged a family dinner that evening. Not only were the three brothers Liu, Guan, and Zhang Fei present, but Liu Bei's wives, Madam Gan and Madam Mi, were also present.

Wei Xiaobao couldn't see Zhao Yun, so he asked Zhang Fei who was beside him and found out that Zhao Yun's brother had died of illness and Zhao Yun had rushed back to Youzhou.

Wei Xiaobao had not had a proper meal with his three wives since he said goodbye to Lu Zhi in Shanggu County. Now he was accompanied by the three brothers Liu, Guan and Zhang whom he admired. He felt very uncomfortable and burst into tears.

Everyone was puzzled and asked with concern.

Wei Xiaobao simply declined, saying that he missed his adoptive father Lu Zhi and his sworn brother Zhao Yun who were far away in the north.

Shuang'er was the only one who understood Wei Xiaobao's thoughts best. She whispered in his ear, "Xiaobao, once we help Liu Bei recapture Xuzhou, we'll have troops to fight Yuan Shu. With the imperial seal in hand, we can return. Just be patient, and your hard times won't last long."

After being comforted by Shuang'er, Wei Xiaobao smiled again and started eating and drinking with everyone. However, Zhang Fei had been feeling guilty about losing Xuzhou due to drunkenness last time, so he could not be open with Wei Xiaobao at the banquet this time.

After Chen Deng returned to Xiapi, he met with Lü Bu. Lü Bu was furious when he heard that Cao Cao had only appointed Chen Deng as the prefect of Guangling, while he himself had been denied the position of governor of Xuzhou.

Chen Deng had already thought of his excuse, and after some sweet talk he naturally fooled Lu Bu.

Xiaopei and Xiapi are only a hundred miles apart, yet the same night reveals two different scenes: on one side, brothers share a joyful feast of wine, while on the other, seduction and rivalry simmer with hidden murderous intent.

It’s just that the happy atmosphere here is hard to come by, while the dangers over there are always there.

(End of this chapter)