Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 86: Just Bragging
After Wei Xiaobao returned, he put his pocket on the table and said, "Look what goodies I brought back for you."

Shuang'er opened her pocket and was overjoyed: "Hey, Xiaobao, where did you find so much dry food?"

Wei Xiaobao smiled and said, "I told you I wouldn't let you go hungry, so I won't let you go hungry."

Liu Xie took the steamed bun from Shuang'er, took a bite, and said, "Did you bring this back from Xun Yu's banquet?"

Wei Xiaobao nodded.

Diao Chan said, "It seems like everyone is having a hard time."

Mu Jianping said, "At least I can eat some solid food now. I'm so hungry that I feel dizzy after drinking porridge every day."

Wei Xiaobao took out another plate from the bottom of his pocket and said as he opened the lid, "It's more than just dry food. Look what's here."

The three girls' eyes lit up and they clapped their hands in applause: "Oh, there's fish meat too."

Wei Xiaobao put down his plate, squeezed out from between his three wives, sat on the side and watched them enjoy the food. He felt a pang of sadness in his heart: "My wife, Wei Xiaobao, is so happy just to have a bite of fish!"

Diao Chan held a pancake in one hand and a piece of sashimi in the other. She turned around and asked, "Xiaobao, have you eaten the fish? It's really fresh and delicious."

Wei Xiaobao said, "I ate a whole one myself at Xun Yu's house."

After Diao Chan turned around, Wei Xiaobao secretly swallowed his saliva.

Liu Xie walked over to sit next to Wei Xiaobao and whispered, "Look at you, you're so greedy and yet you're still lying."

Wei Xiaobao said, "Eating bread can't stop you from eating? Oh, by the way, I heard something today at Xun Yu's house. The Yellow Turban Army has two small generals named Liu Pi and He Yi. Do you know them?"

Liu Xie nodded and said, "I've only heard of him, but I've never met him."

Wei Xiaobao said, "You haven't even seen your generals? No wonder your Yellow Turban Army can't defeat the Central Army."

Liu Xie said, "The thirty-six leaders each have their own sphere of influence and are developing their own followers. How could I possibly have met them all?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "Let's not talk about that for now. Liu Pi and He Yi are in Runan now. They have soldiers and plenty of food. I want to go to Runan and persuade them to surrender to Liu Bei."

Liu Xie asked, "Why let them surrender to Liu Bei?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "Are you stupid? Liu Bei is now the governor of Xuzhou. He is closer to Yuan Shu than Cao Cao. When the time comes, we can escape from Chenliu. I will leave you in Xiapi, and then I will go to Shouchun to steal the jade seal. Wouldn't that be more convenient?"

Liu Xie nodded.

Wei Xiaobao continued, "Besides, Liu Bei and his two brothers trust me very much. If we fail to steal the imperial seal, we can still persuade Liu Bei to fight Yuan Shu. But then we will have to use your identity as the emperor."

Liu Xie said, "It's okay. Anyway, the more fake I am, as long as it can get us back, you can use it however you want. I will listen to you."

Wei Xiaobao asked, "Why are you so obedient now?"

Liu Xie said, "Because you are able to keep me well fed."

Wei Xiaobao cursed, "Your grandfather, whoever gives you milk is your mother?"

Liu Xie chuckled and was pulled over by Shuang'er to share the fish.

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself that if Cao Cao did not have the food in Runan, he would have to wait until next year to harvest the grain before he could attack Xuzhou. This would be enough time for him to go to Shouchun and find the jade seal, provided that Cao Cao gave up the idea of ​​attacking Xuzhou now.

The next morning, Wei Xiaobao was woken up by Shuang'er. When he heard Shuang'er say that Guo Jia and Xun Yu were waiting outside the door, he cursed, "These two ghosts are asking for my life. I need to take a break before I hang myself, right?"

Wei Xiaobao cursed inwardly as he left the house. It wasn't long before the three of them arrived at the prefect's residence.

When Cao Cao saw Wei Xiaobao, he quickly said, "Sir, Liu Bei is incredibly lucky. We came back to fight Lü Bu, but Tao Qian died of old age, and he actually gave the vast province of Xuzhou to Liu Bei for nothing."

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "Xun Yu and Guo Jia certainly didn't even dare to tell Cao Cao that they invited me to dinner yesterday."

Wei Xiaobao said, "Tao Qian can give it to whoever he wants. What does it have to do with you?"

Cao Cao was already full of anger, and was almost choked by Wei Xiaobao's words. He quickly held his head, took two steps back and sat down.

Wei Xiaobao asked, "Do you want to attack Xuzhou?"

Cao Cao said, "Last time we lost so much food and manpower, and in the end Liu Bei took advantage. I really don't want to accept this."

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "Damn it! If you hadn't looted so much money in Xuzhou and given it to the soldiers, who would have been willing to fight for you against Lu Bu?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "The people of Xuzhou hate you so much, but the people of Yanzhou like you. You gave Yanzhou to Lu Bu and then went to seize Xuzhou from Liu Bei. Isn't that like leaving your good wife behind to sleep with someone else's evil wife?"

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "Everyone says you like to steal other people's wives. Now that I've explained this, you'll definitely understand."

Hearing Wei Xiaobao's crude yet sensible words, Xun Yu quickly responded, "My lord, you are absolutely right. Even though Lord Tao has passed away, how can Xuzhou be easily conquered? After the previous defeat, the people of Xuzhou will surely rally in fear, fortifying their walls and clearing the fields, refusing to venture out. If our army continues to attack without success and plunders without gaining anything, we will be exhausted after ten days of inaction. There are three ways to give up and gain: exchanging the greater for the smaller, which is certainly feasible; exchanging safety for danger, which is also feasible; and exchanging long-term benefits for aggressiveness, which is still feasible. Now, none of these three options are beneficial, so my lord should carefully weigh the pros and cons."

Wei Xiaobao cursed inwardly, "Again, they're saying things I don't understand. But I compared the account books with them yesterday, and the meaning should be pretty much the same."

Wei Xiaobao said, "That's exactly what I mean. Do you understand now?"

Cao Cao nodded and said, "But sir, Chenliu City is running low on food and grass. How can we eliminate this threat from Lü Bu?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "The remnants of the Yellow Turban Army are entrenched in Runan. They must have a lot of food. I used to be an undercover agent in the Yellow Turban Army. I will go and persuade them for you so that you can solve your food problem without having to sacrifice a single soldier. How about that?"

Cao Cao was delighted and said, "That's great!"

Xun Yu also nodded in agreement.

Guo Jia was even more impressed: "Teacher is indeed a master, one step ahead of Wen Ruo and me."

Wei Xiaobao said, "I am only responsible for being a lobbyist. As for whether they are willing to surrender, I cannot guarantee it."

Cao Cao said, "Sir, your assistance has already been a great favor to me. How could I ask for anything more? However, it is dangerous to go to the bandit city. Could you please let Dian Wei accompany us?"

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "I'm going to help Big Brother and the others persuade them to surrender, not to persuade them to surrender on your behalf. You want me to take Dian Wei with me, so what am I going to say when I get there?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "Dian Wei is unfamiliar to me, so it's inconvenient to take him along. I can go alone."

Cao Cao said, "Then I will station troops outside the city. If anything happens to you, sir, we can provide timely assistance."

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "If I don't let you go, you'll definitely doubt me, given your personality. It's fine if I let you wait outside with the troops. Once I succeed in persuading them to surrender, I can trick you into coming back first, giving them time to take the troops and provisions to Xia Pi."

Wei Xiaobao said, "Okay, then you must hide well and don't let Liu Pi find you."

Cao Cao said, "Ambush strategies are fundamental to the art of war. Cao Cao will certainly not make a mistake."

Wei Xiaobao cursed inwardly, "You old brat, all you know how to do is brag. You'd better be smart and don't get me killed!"

(End of this chapter)