Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 145 What is coming will come sooner or later

The chaos in Jingzhou had not yet ended, but Liu Bei in Xuchang had already received news that Cao Cao had pacified Jizhou.

Soon, Youzhou and Bingzhou also surrendered to Cao Cao.

The Wuhuan, who were driven back to the grassland, became a spent force.

Cao Cao finally unified his territory and had the opportunity to develop stably.

On the other hand, Liu Bei had consumed years of savings in his campaign against Sun Quan, and was facing a shortage of military rations and manpower.

In order to prevent Cao Cao from crossing the river and heading south, Zhuge Liang began to stockpile military supplies in Xuzhou and Yuzhou, leaving Guan Yu's army to prepare food and fodder on their own.

The first place Guan Yu thought of was Jiangling.

After discussion, Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue and Yi Ji allocated 100,000 dan of military rations from the city and sent them to Guan Yu's camp outside the city.

After receiving the military rations, Guan Yu led his troops back to Jiangxia for rest.

The troops of Liu Cong, Guan Yu and Sun Quan faced each other across the river, temporarily forming a three-way balance of power.

The war in Jingzhou was temporarily suspended, and Wei Xiaobao returned to Xuchang first.

When Liu Xie heard that Wei Xiaobao had returned, he quickly sent someone to summon him into the palace.

Wei Xiaobao took his five wives to the palace.

Empress Fu received Wei Xiaobao's family, and Liu Xie talked with Wei Xiaobao alone.

When Wei Xiaobao saw Liu Xie, he suddenly realized that he was no longer the little boy he used to be, but had grown into a handsome young man.

"Guaiguai Longdidong, we haven't seen each other for several years. I almost didn't recognize you."

Liu Xie also looked at Wei Xiaobao in surprise and said, "Why haven't you changed your appearance at all in all these years?"

Wei Xiaobao hurriedly picked up the bronze mirror on the table and looked at himself. Apart from feeling a little stronger, there was indeed no change.

"Is it because I don't belong to this era that I won't grow up or get old?"

Liu Xie didn't understand the reason either. After hearing Wei Xiaobao's words, he sneered, "Do you still know that you don't belong to this era?"

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar Liu Xie, Wei Xiaobao began to reflect on himself. Since helping Liu Bei, he seemed to have put the matter of the jade seal behind him.

Wei Xiaobao said, "After the Jade Seal fell into Cao Cao's hands, it became very difficult for us to obtain it. Cao Cao was not as secretive as Sun Jian, nor as ignorant as Yuan Shu. In his hands, the Jade Seal became a tool for him to issue orders, and it also put Liu Bei in a passive position.

The only way to obtain the Imperial Seal now is to completely defeat Cao Cao."

Liu Xie said, "Since we left Guangzong and fled to Luoyang, I have successively served under the tutelage of He Jin, Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, and Liu Bei. Among these people, only Liu Bei was loyal to the Han Dynasty and devoted to ending the chaotic world without coveting power or status.

After finding the imperial seal, I plan to give the throne to Liu Bei. After all, he is also a relative of the Han Dynasty and the emperor's uncle. We can give an explanation to the people of the world.

Wei Xiaobao thought this was feasible. After all, Liu Bei did become an emperor in history, and he was the emperor of the Han Dynasty. In Wei Xiaobao's eyes, there was no difference between Shu Han and the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Liu Xie continued, "We really can't put off the matter of the Imperial Seal any longer. The Empress has been trying every trick in the book to get into bed with me lately. If we delay any longer, I'll either be exposed or lose my virginity. No matter which outcome, even if you get the Imperial Seal, no one can help you get it back." Wei Xiaobao left the palace with a heavy heart. After years of fighting alongside Zhuge Liang and his men, he had grown accustomed to this kind of life, and the thought of leaving suddenly made him reluctant.

After returning home, Wei Xiaobao began to observe the appearance of each of his wives.

Diao Chan's face no longer has the youthfulness it once had. After living a pampered life in Xuchang for several years, she now looks rich and prosperous, which makes Wei Xiaobao even more attracted to her.

Mu Jianping has also grown into a graceful young lady, and her originally shy and cute face has become more mature.

Da Qiao's appearance has not changed much, but her attitude towards Wei Xiaobao has become more caring and loving.

Xiao Qiao has changed the most. The bud that was about to bloom has now blossomed, and she is becoming more and more like her sister.

Only Shuang'er has not changed, she is still the teenage girl.

Wei Xiaobao understood that he and Shuang'er had come directly to the Han Dynasty from the Qing Dynasty. Although many years had passed, their appearance seemed to be the same as when they first arrived.

The five people were puzzled by Wei Xiaobao's stare. Diao Chan asked, "Xiaobao, you've been staring at us since you came back from the palace. What happened?"

After Wei Xiaobao explained the reason, everyone looked at him and Shuang'er carefully and exclaimed in surprise.

Diao Chan said enviously, "Shuang'er is already Xiaobao's favorite, and now she has the secret to immortality. I'm really jealous."

Wei Xiaobao jokingly said, "What's there to be jealous of when you're immortal? When you're all old, you'll just leave Shuang'er and me behind. Aren't I supposed to call you grandma from now on?"

Diao Chan covered her mouth and chuckled: "I don't want a grandson like you, you are too naughty."

The joke did not make Wei Xiaobao feel relieved.

After pondering for a long time, Wei Xiaobao sighed, "Alas, my brother's strength now is only equal to Cao Cao's. If we send troops to the north, I'm afraid we won't be able to defeat Cao Cao in three to five years."

Da Qiao, who had been silent the entire time, spoke up, "Xiao Bao, the people of Xuzhou and Yuzhou are living peacefully these days. Why do we have to go to war? Even if you can't go back, with us by your side, you can still live just as well, right?"

Wei Xiaobao shook his head and said, "Even if the jade seal hadn't happened, my brother would have continued to fight Cao Cao. In troubled times, even if you want to live a peaceful life, others won't give you that opportunity. Cao Cao's ambitions are so great that if we don't fight him, he will come to fight us sooner or later.

When he returned to Luoyang from Chenliu to escort the emperor, he simply wanted to assist the emperor and build his own legacy. As his power grew, so did Cao Cao's ambitions, and he began to use the emperor as a coercion to control the other princes. If his elder brother hadn't followed his military advisor's advice and launched a surprise attack on Xuchang, Cao Cao would have declared himself king after unifying the north.

Now that he has pacified Youzhou, Bingzhou, and Jizhou, how could he not want to recapture Xuchang and the emperor?"

The women also sighed.

Wei Xiaobao smiled at them and said, "Don't worry. Although we can't defeat Cao Cao now, we won't lose either. The abilities of the two families are almost the same now. It won't be easy for either to swallow the other in one go."

Shuang'er said, "Xiaobao, if a few years pass, I'm afraid Wu Sangui will win too."

Wei Xiaobao scratched his head and said, "This is really troublesome. If it weren't for Wu Sangui's rebellion, I wouldn't want to go back."

The course of war will not change because of someone's wishes, and neither will history.

No matter how Wei Xiaobao sighed and scratched his head, the war between Liu Bei and Cao Cao was neither avoidable nor would it end early.

(End of this chapter)