Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 76 You Come to Shorten My Life
Wei Xiaobao was still worried about revealing the secret when someone from the barracks came to report, "Military Advisor, the Lord requests that you and the Master come to the tent."

Guo Jia said, "Your prediction about Lü Bu was spot on."

The sergeant led the way, while Wei Xiaobao asked Guo Jia from behind, "Did you know that Lü Bu was going to attack us from the rear?"

Guo Jia said, "I noticed a strange glow coming from the Pojun Star the day before yesterday, but I only confirmed it after you mentioned it to me."

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "So you knew it a long time ago, but you didn't dare tell Cao Cao because you were worried that revealing the secret would shorten your life span."

Cao Cao was holding his head in his hand in the military tent to sober up. The battle report was on the table in front of him. Seeing Wei Xiaobao and Guo Jia come in, he forced himself to stand up and said to Wei Xiaobao, "I didn't listen to your advice, sir. It's too late to regret it."

Guo Jia picked up the battle report from the table and read, "Cao Ren urgently reports that Zhang Miao has defected to Lü Bu and, along with Chen Gong, has offered Lü Bu a strategic advantage. They have broken through Shandong and are advancing towards Puyang. Currently, only Juancheng, Dong'e, and Fanxian remain, thanks to the strategies of Xun Yu and his men. The rest have been captured by Lü Bu! General Cao Ren has been defeated in numerous battles, and is issuing this urgent report."

Cao Cao interrupted Guo Jia and asked, "Sir, Chen Gong's plea for Xuzhou the other day was rejected by me. Unexpectedly, he persuaded Zhang Miao to join Lü Bu and even suggested attacking my rear. Sir, I warned you, but I didn't believe you."

Xiahou Dun said, "My lord, it seems we have no choice but to go back and help."

Guo Jia said, "My lord, General Xiahou is right. Xia Pi City will be captured sooner or later. If Lu Bu seizes Yanzhou, the army will never return, and I'm afraid the morale of the army will be unstable."

Cao Cao looked at Wei Xiaobao and asked, "Sir, do you have a plan to achieve the best of both worlds?"

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "Damn it! You're going to attack Xia Pi too! You don't want to give up Yanzhou, and you're going to take everything over? Guo Jia has already said it, and you still won't listen to him. Can I be smarter than Guo Jia?"

Wei Xiaobao shook his head and said, "Fortunately, we didn't march forward today."

Wei Xiaobao was thinking that if he walked one more mile forward, he would have to walk another mile back, but Cao Cao heard this as a mockery of him.

Cao Cao took off the white cloth on his head, tore off the white curtain behind him that read "Revenge," and said, "Retreat!"

As Cao's army broke camp and set off, Wei Xiaobao took the opportunity to find Guo Jia and said, "I have some friends who are going to Chenliu in a few days, and I want you to help look after them for me."

Wei Xiaobao had already made up his mind. Instead of asking Zhang Jiao and others to follow him to Shouchun, it would be better to wait for them in Chenliu and then go to Shouchun alone to find the jade seal. This would not only save time on the road but would also be safer.

Guo Jia asked, "Sir, won't you return to Yanzhou with us?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "I have other things to do, and besides, your lord and Lu Bu's husband will not be able to finish their fight anytime soon."

Guo Jia nodded and said, "Since you are my friend, I will take good care of you."

Wei Xiaobao taught Guo Jia the secret code of the Tiandihui, and while Cao Cao was arranging the march, he rode Jueying towards Xia Pi.

Wei Xiaobao was originally planning to go straight to Shouchun, but he remembered that Zhang Fei suspected that he was in cahoots with Cao Cao, and was worried that Guan Erye had missed him, so he decided to go to Xia Pi first.

When Xuzhou Governor Tao Qian received the news that Cao Cao had withdrawn his troops, he heard someone outside report: "A young general has come from Cao's camp and wants to see General Liu."

Tao Qian looked confused, but Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei beside him understood what was going on.

Wei Xiaobao came before Tao Qian and bowed to several people one after another.

Liu Bei thought to himself, "It's him! I guess Cao Cao was persuaded by him to withdraw his troops."

When Zhang Fei saw Wei Xiaobao, he had already put aside his grudges and was secretly proud of himself: "He is also my brother. Now that Cao Cao has retreated, my elder brother has gained face in Tao Qian's eyes."

Tao Qian looked at Wei Xiaobao carefully for a few times and said, "Why is it you?"

Liu, Guan and Zhang looked at each other in surprise.

Zhang Fei asked, "How do you recognize my brothers?"

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "It seems my trip wasn't in vain. I even drank with Master Zhang San. He no longer suspects me." Tao Qian pointed at Wei Xiaobao and said, "I've seen him. He's the son of Shangshu Lord Lu. His name is Lu Gui."

Zhang Fei laughed and said, "It's my brother, but Lu Gui's name is strange. His name is Wei Xiaobao."

Wei Xiaobao secretly thought: "My peep show is about to be worn!"

Wei Xiaobao said, "Yes, my real name is Wei Xiaobao. Last time, because I was an undercover agent in the Yellow Turban Army, my adoptive father let me use the name Lu Gui."

Liu Bei said, "My Lord, Wei Xiaobao is my teacher's adopted son. He was entrusted by my teacher to assist me in rescuing Xuzhou. Cao Cao's retreat was in line with the plan of my teacher and his son."

Wei Xiaobao chuckled secretly and said, "Your teacher, my godfather, isn't that great. Before I could even implement his plan, Cao Cao was stabbed in the ass by Lu Bu. But since you said so, I won't refuse."

Tao Qian asked, "I wonder how the Minister of State could have used Lü Bu to implement this strategy of besieging Wei to save Zhao?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "My adoptive father knew that Zhang Miao and Cao Cao had a long-standing conflict. He calculated that Zhang Miao would take advantage of Cao Cao's attack on Xuzhou to defect to Lü Bu, so he asked me to deliver a letter to Cao Cao. It will probably take some effort for Cao Cao to return and fight Lü Bu. Xuzhou is safe for the time being, so you don't have to worry."

Tao Qian exclaimed in admiration, "Although the Minister has resigned, he still cares about the safety of the people and is extremely insightful. I truly admire him."

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "Is this also a divine secret? Then I can't take credit for it, or I'll shorten my lifespan again."

Wei Xiaobao said, "This is all thanks to my elder brother. If he hadn't passed through Shanggu Commandery when he went to ask Gongsun Zan to borrow troops, my father and I wouldn't have known that Cao Cao had come to Xuzhou."

Tao Qian said, "Xuan De accepted Kong Beihai's request to come and rescue Xuzhou. This is a righteous act. Gongsun Zan refused to lend troops and came alone. This is a token of trust. Please accept Tao Qian's greeting."

Liu Bei returned the greeting.

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "You are to blame for revealing the secrets and shortening your life span. When I leave, I'll let you go to Nanyang to find Zhuge Liang. That will be considered as repaying your favor."

Tao Qian said, "Master Wei, please accept my greetings."

Wei Xiaobao quickly waved his hands and said, "I have done nothing, and I'm not here to take credit. I should have returned to Shanggu Commandery after finishing my work, but I had a drink planned with Brother Zhang San, so I came here."

Zhang Fei stepped forward, hugged Wei Xiaobao's shoulders and said with a smile, "Brother, I apologize to you."

Liu Bei admired Wei Xiaobao's behavior of not being greedy for credit and keeping his promise, and nodded silently.

If Liu Bei knew that Wei Xiaobao gave him the credit in order to shorten his life, he probably would not agree again.

Wei Xiaobao said, "Third Brother, you are being too formal. For me, Wei Xiaobao, to have another round of drinks with Second Brother Guan and Third Brother Zhang is already worth my life."

Wei Xiaobao thought that he would have to go back to the Qing Dynasty after arriving in Shouchun. The heroic stories of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei that he had listened to in the teahouse came to his mind. He felt reluctant to leave and tears welled up in his eyes.

Wei Xiaobao cried many times after coming to the Han Dynasty, but this time his tears were sincere.

Zhang Fei scolded him, "You useless kid, it's not like you won't see him again. If you don't mind, I, Old Zhang, will drink with you every day from now on."

Zhang Fei turned to look at Liu Bei and said, "Brother, you and the Lord of the Mansion can chat here. My second brother and I will go drink with you."

Tao Qian hurriedly said, "General Zhang, please be patient. I will make arrangements right away. Now that the crisis in Xuzhou has been resolved, it's time for everyone to have some drinks and have some fun."

Liu Bei knew Zhang Fei disliked this kind of official courtesy, so he quickly said, "My Lord, my third brother is a generous person by nature. Let them have their fun."

Without waiting for Tao Qian to say anything, Zhang Fei pulled up Wei Xiaobao and Guan Yu one by one, and walked out of the door laughing.

(End of this chapter)