Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 96 Meeting an acquaintance

Cao Cao sent appointment edicts to various places in the name of the emperor, but except for Liu Yao, the governor of Yangzhou, Xu Gong, the prefect of Danyang, and Wang Lang, the prefect of Kuaiji, no one else responded at all.

Although Liu Bei took the post of Governor of Yuzhou, he only thanked the emperor and did not mention Cao Cao at all.

Seeing Cao Cao furious, Xun Yu advised, "Liu Bei's appointment as Yuzhou Governor was originally recommended by Tao Qian, and this is merely a reaffirmation by the court. Furthermore, most of Yuzhou is occupied by Yuan Shu, so the title is merely a nominal one. Liu Bei's gratitude for the grace of heaven demonstrates his willingness to submit to the court."

In addition to the affairs of the various princes, Cao Cao was also troubled by the officials of the court.

Cao Cao, in a desperate move, replaced every official around the emperor that he could. He had no choice but to win over officials like Dong Cheng and Fu Wan, whose families had powerful influence. He not only promoted them but also agreed to their requests for marriage into the royal family.

When Wei Xiaobao heard that Cao Cao was going to find a wife for Liu Xie, he ran to see Liu Xie at night.

When Liu Xie saw Wei Xiaobao, he asked, "Why did you come to see me just now?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "Most of the people who have met me before are dead now. Cao Cao still doesn't know much about your relationship with me. If he finds out, it will be even more difficult for me to go to Shouchun to inquire about the jade seal."

Liu Xie said, "Hurry up and find the imperial seal. I really can't stay here any longer."

Wei Xiaobao said, "You are so comfortable being the emperor now. Cao Cao takes care of all the big and small matters. You don't have to worry about anything."

Liu Xie said, "But, but he asked me to get married!"

Wei Xiaobao laughed heartily and said, "Isn't this a good thing? I was hoping someone would help me find a wife! I came here today because I'm worried that you'll have a wife to spend the night with you in the future, and it will be even harder for me to see you again."

Liu Xie said, "I am a cultivator. If I break my precepts, my magical powers will be greatly diminished. Don't blame me if you can't return in the future."

Wei Xiaobao looked at Liu Xie and said, "You don't have any magic power anyway."

Liu Xie said, "I'm worried that once I break the rules, even if I find the seal it will be useless."

Wei Xiaobao said, "Then why don't you do the same as me and just marry a wife without consummating the marriage?"

Liu Xie said, "It will be exposed sooner or later, and then I will lose my head!"

Wei Xiaobao pondered for a moment and said, "Cao Cao has been busy dealing with those old ministers lately. I need to find a chance to escape as soon as possible. Since you're getting married soon, I think this is a good opportunity."

Liu Xie said, "If you run away, what will happen to Shuang'er and me?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "How can I escape? But I have a way to make Cao Cao let me go to Shouchun."

Wei Xiaobao heard the footsteps of patrolling guards outside and quickly ran to the window. He gently opened it and said to Liu Xie, "I've already taken a big risk coming here. I'm afraid I won't be able to visit you often in the future. I'll find a way to contact you when I get back."

Before Liu Xie could ask him more, Wei Xiaobao had already climbed out the window and ran away.

Two days later, Liu Xie learned from the palace people that Cao Cao had sent Wei Xiaobao to Shouchun. It turned out that Cao Cao invited Yuan Shu to come to Xu Du in the name of the emperor's wedding.

Wei Xiaobao took Shuang'er, who was dressed as a man, out of the city, leaving Mu Jianping to accompany Diao Chan, and asked Guo Jia to help take care of her.

The two of them headed southeast and first arrived in Runan.

The general stationed in Runan at this time was Li Tong, who had recently defected to Cao Cao and was named General Zhenwei.

Li Tong had already received Cao Cao's letter, so he hosted a banquet for Wei Xiaobao and introduced Kong Rong to him at the banquet.

Wei Xiaobao remembered that when he met Liu Bei at Lu Zhi's place, he heard Liu Bei say that Kong Rong was the prime minister of Beihai State. It was at Kong Rong's request that Liu Bei went to Xuzhou to help Tao Qian defend against Cao Cao's offensive.

After some inquiries, Wei Xiaobao learned that Yuan Shao's son Yuan Tan led his troops to attack Beihai, and Kong Rong fled to Shandong after being defeated. Later, he heard that Cao Cao had moved the capital to Xuchang, so he prepared to go to the capital to serve the emperor. After bidding farewell to Li Tong and Kong Rong, Wei Xiaobao and Shuang'er set off again.

Wei Xiaobao sighed, "Kong Rong must be quite a formidable figure to have been able to convince Liu Bei to help Tao Qian defend the city. Now that even he's gone to join Cao Cao, it seems Liu Xie's banner is truly useful."

Shuang'er asked, "Xiaobao, didn't Kong Rong want to serve the emperor? How did he end up joining Cao Cao?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "Don't even mention that Liu Xie is Zhang Jiao in disguise. Even if he were the real Liu Xie, he'd be a mere figurehead. These people went to Xuchang, and they're all working for Cao Cao."

Shuang'er nodded and said, "I understand. Just like the Tiandihui, they said they were fighting against the Qing Dynasty and restoring the Ming Dynasty, but in fact, they were all for the Zheng family in Taiwan."

Wei Xiaobao thought for a moment and said, "You're not entirely right. My master is determined to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty."

Shuang'er asked, "If we drive the Tartars back outside the Great Wall, and Prince Zheng of Taiwan wants to become emperor himself, will Chief Leader Chen support it?"

Wei Xiaobao shook his head and said, "I haven't really thought about this question. But how can Zheng Keshuang's bunch of rotten sweet potatoes and rotten bird eggs defeat Xiao Xuanzi? Even if Feng Xifan were to join them, they would only be able to shout slogans at best. I'm afraid they wouldn't even be able to defeat Shi Lang's navy. They would have to hide in Taiwan like turtles, not daring to show their heads."

Shuang'er asked again, "Xiaobao, will Wu Sangui eventually seize the throne like Cao Cao?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "Cao Cao didn't seize Liu Xie's throne; it was his son who did it. But Wu Sangui's son has become a eunuch now. Even if Wu Sangui wants to be Cao Cao, he can't let a eunuch become emperor!"

Having said that, Wei Xiaobao began to worry about Xiao Xuanzi again, and could not help but speed up the frequency of waving his whip.

Wei Xiaobao's Jueying had good running speed, and soon he left Shuang'er far behind.

Shuang'er hurriedly chased after him, shouting, "Xiaobao, wait for me. Have you forgotten that Zhang Kai and his gang robbed you?"

When Wei Xiaobao heard Shuang'er's reminder, he was recalling the past. As a result, the familiar scene happened again, but this time the person covered by the net was Wei Xiaobao himself.

When Shuang'er saw Wei Xiaobao being caught in a net, she jumped into the air from her horse's back and pressed the acupoints of both men when she landed.

Seeing this, the others rushed to fight and quickly surrounded Shuang'er.

Although Shuang'er was good at martial arts, she was no match for the opponent with two fists. She could only take care of the front and not the back. She could not block the attack from above but from below, and soon she was at a disadvantage.

Seeing Shuang'er in danger, Wei Xiaobao stretched out his hands from the hole in the rope net, felt for the dagger in his arms, pulled it out, and chopped the rope net with a few random strokes.

Before Wei Xiaobao could get out of the net, he heard someone shouting behind him, "Don't let the person caught in the net escape!"

Wei Xiaobao cursed in his heart, "These ropes and nets are what I use to fish Zhang Rang and his gang out of the river. How can they trap me?"

Wei Xiaobao heard the position of the person behind him clearly, and used his extraordinary skills to slip out of the rope net, then dodged the stabbing spear. After a few dodging moves, he had already placed the dagger on the neck of the person who had just spoken.

The man felt dizzy and then felt a chill on his neck. He turned to look at Wei Xiaobao.

Wei Xiaobao also looked at that man.

They both said at the same time: "Why is it you?"

Wei Xiaobao cursed again: "You really are a dog that can't change its bad habits!"

The man quickly shouted, "Stop it! We're one of them!"

Shuang'er looked at Wei Xiaobao and saw the man's appearance clearly. She asked in confusion, "Aren't you Zhang Kai from Xia Pi City?"

(End of this chapter)