Reborn Liu Bei: I'll lead this Three Kingdoms to victory!

On the sixth day of the third month of the seventh year of Jian'an, in Xuchang.

The news of Xun Yu's death spread like wildfire throughout the city within half an hour.

No one dared to speak loudly. But in the way everyone looked at each other, there was something indescribable—shock, regret, fear, and a hint of...expectation.

In the main hall of the Prime Minister's residence, Cao Cao sat motionless in the main seat.

He had been sitting like this for two hours.

The last letter Xun Yu had sent was laid out in front of him.

"Twenty years of service as ruler and subject, today we are even. After my death, I hope the Prime Minister will take good care of himself."

He stared at those few lines of text, reading them countless times.

Every time I watch it, it feels like a knife is being stabbed into my heart.

"Prime Minister," Cheng Yu's voice came cautiously from outside the door, "The cleanup at Xun Yu's residence... is complete. His belongings have all been moved to the Prime Minister's residence. Would you like to take a look?"

Cao Cao remained silent.

Cheng Yu waited for a while, and seeing no response, was about to leave when Cao Cao suddenly spoke: "Did he... write a letter?" Cheng Yu was taken aback. "A letter?" "Did he write anything before he died?" Cheng Yu remained silent for a moment.

"Yes." His voice was soft. "According to the old servant in Xun Yu's household, he wrote four letters. One to the Emperor, one to the Prime Minister, one to his younger brother Xun Chen, and one..." He paused, "to that person in the north."

Cao Cao's gaze suddenly sharpened.

"For Liu Bei?"

"Yes."

Cao Cao clenched his fist.

"Where's the letter?"

"We couldn't find him." Cheng Yu lowered his head. "According to the old servant, Xun Yu entrusted him with all the letters before he died, asking him to find a way to send them out of the city. When our men searched the mansion, the old servant was already gone."

Cao Cao's face turned ashen.

"Find them." He said, emphasizing each word. "Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we must find those letters!"

"promise!"

Cheng Yu stepped down.

Cao Cao sat alone in the hall, gazing at the map.

His gaze fell on Xudu, on Yingchuan, and on Xiapi.

Then he remembered Xun Yu's last words:

"It's not me who's changing, it's you."

You are changing.

You are changing.

You are changing.

These three words echoed repeatedly in his mind.

At noon, on the official road outside Xuchang City, an old man in tattered clothes was walking forward with difficulty, leaning on a cane.

His back was hunched, and his legs were weak; every step he took was extremely difficult. But his eyes remained fixed on the north, never stopping for a moment.

Afu, an old servant in Xun Yu's household, had served the Xun family for thirty years. He carried four letters in his bosom—his lord's final instructions. He had to deliver them. "Old man! Halt!" came the sound of hooves and shouts behind him. Afu was startled, but did not stop.

He knew they were the Prime Minister's men. They were searching the city, investigating, looking for anyone or anything that might be connected to Xun Yu. He had no choice but to leave. Even if his legs broke, he had to deliver the message. "Old man! I'm talking to you! Stop!" The sound of hooves grew closer.

Afu took a deep breath and quickened his pace.

There's a fork in the road ahead. The left one leads to Yingchuan, and the right one leads to Xuzhou.

He gritted his teeth and turned right. To Xuzhou. To Xiapi. To see that person. Shenshi (3-5 PM), Yingchuan.

Xun Chen stood by the window of his study, holding the urgent report that had just arrived.

His hands were trembling violently.

Xun Yu died.

These three words were like three knives, stabbing him in the heart one by one.

My older brother is dead.

His older brother, who taught him to read and write since childhood and guided him when he was confused, is dead.

Because of the letter he wrote.

"Master!" The old servant rushed in, his face ashen. "A lot of soldiers have come! They've surrounded the estate!"

Xun Chen did not move.

He simply gazed out the window at the old locust tree, at the branches that had already sprouted tender leaves.

Spring has arrived. But his elder brother will never see it again. "Master, you must go quickly! This old servant will cover you!"

Xun Chen slowly turned around.

He looked at the old servant who had been with him for over a decade, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Leave?" he said softly. "Leave where?"

The old servant was stunned.

"master..."

"My elder brother is dead," Xun Chen's voice was soft and calm, "because of my letter. What face do I have left to live?" He took a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve. He had prepared it long ago. He had kept it all this time, just for this day. "Master! No!"

The old servant lunged forward to snatch it, but Xun Chen had already uncorked it and drunk it all in one gulp.

The medicine works very quickly.

He felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, which then slowly spread to his limbs.

He leaned against the windowsill and slowly sat down.

"Master...Master..." The old servant knelt beside him, tears streaming down his face.

Xun Chen looked at him and a smile appeared on his lips.

In that smile, there was relief, liberation, and a hint of... indescribable complexity.

"Tell that person up north..." His voice grew weaker and weaker, "The Xun family... has no cowards..."

He slowly closed his eyes.

Outside the window, the leaves of the old locust tree swayed gently in the wind.

At the hour of You (5-7 PM), in Xiapi.

In the secret room where no one was on duty at night, two urgent reports were delivered almost simultaneously.

Sima Yi took it and unfolded it.

First copy:

Xun Yu died on the sixth day of the third month of the seventh year of Jian'an (200 AD), at the hour of Chen (7-9 AM).

Second copy:

Xun Chen committed suicide by poison. It was the sixth day of the third month of the seventh year of Jian'an (200 AD), at the hour of Shen (3-5 PM).

His hand froze in mid-air.

Within a day.

The two brothers died on the same day.

He handed two secret reports to Pang Tong. Pang Tong glanced at them and remained silent. After a long while, he took a swig of wine. The wine tasted as bitter as gall. "Zhongda," he finally spoke. "Yes." "Remember today." Sima Yi looked up. "Remember what?" Pang Tong looked at him, his gaze deep.

"Remember there is a kind of person in this world who is sharper than swords." His voice was soft. "That is the human heart."

Sima Yi remained silent.

He remembered the middle-aged man he had met in Yingchuan, his calm gaze, and the tranquility with which he said, "I await an answer." He had waited. He had waited for his elder brother's death. And he had waited for his own. "Sir," he finally spoke, "where is that letter?" Pang Tong shook his head. "Still on its way." At dusk, at the Governor's Mansion in Xiapi.

I stood before the map, staring at the two points I had just circled. Xuchang. Yingchuan. Two points, two cities, two lives. Xun Yu was dead. Xun Chen was dead too.

Within a single day. "My lord," Xu Shu's voice came from behind, "Afu has arrived."

I turned around.

An old man in tattered clothes stood at the door, supported by two guards.

His legs were trembling, his face was ashen, but his eyes were still surprisingly bright.

"Liu...Lord Liu..." He struggled to kneel down.

I quickly stepped forward and helped him up.

"Old man, there's no need for such formalities."

Afu looked at me, tears welling up in his cloudy old eyes.

"My lord...my lord...he wrote a letter to the magistrate..."

He took out a paper package from his pocket, held it with both hands, and handed it to me.

The oiled paper wrapping still held his warmth. I took it and opened it. Inside was a piece of paper with only a few lines of text: "To Lord Liu:

I have long heard that the rise of a wise ruler is always accompanied by virtuous and capable advisors. Now, looking at your staff, sir, the likes of Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, Xun Yu, and Pang Tong are all outstanding figures of our time. Although I cannot reach their level, I aspire to it.

After Bin's death, I hope Your Excellency will treat the Xun family's sons and brothers well. Yu's younger brother, Chen, is of a fiery and unyielding nature and I fear he will not live long. If he surrenders to the north, I hope Your Excellency will accept him.

"I wept as I wrote this, unable to utter a coherent sentence. —Yu's last words." I stared at these lines, speechless for a long time. Afu knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face. "My lord... my master... he died so tragically..." I bent down and helped him up. "Old man, don't worry." My voice was a little hoarse, "I will definitely fulfill Master Xun's last wish."

Afu nodded, tears streaming down her face. I turned and handed the letter to Pang Tong. Pang Tong read it and remained silent for a long time. "My lord," he finally spoke, "Xun Yu... he's entrusting the Xun family to you." I nodded. "I know." "And what about Xun Chen..." "It's too late," I said softly, "He took poison." Pang Tong was stunned. "When?" "Shen Shi (3-5 PM)." Pang Tong fell silent. Xun Chen didn't know when Xun Yu died.

By the time he found out, he had already made his choice. The two brothers died on the same day. One died in Xuchang, the other in Yingchuan. One died because of Cao Cao's suspicion, the other because of his own guilt.

"Shiyuan".

"exist."

"Tell me, is what we're doing right?" Pang Tong asked, looking at me.

He knew what I was asking.

That letter, the letter he devised, the letter that drove Xun Yu to the brink of despair.

"My lord," he said softly, "right and wrong are not for us to judge."

He walked to the map and pointed to the locations of Xudu and Yingchuan.

"Xun Yu died because Cao Cao couldn't tolerate him. Xun Chen died because he couldn't overcome his own conscience. We are simply... presenting them with a choice."

He turned around and looked at me.

"They chose this path, so they have to bear the consequences."

I remained silent.

Outside the window, the night was already deep.

In the distance came the sound of the night watchman's clapper, striking the silent night again and again. It was the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) in Xuchang.

Cao Cao stood in the backyard of Xun Yu's residence, gazing at the plum tree. In the moonlight, the plum tree cast dappled shadows. He stood there for a long time. No one dared to disturb him. Finally, he spoke, his voice hoarse: "Wenruo...do you hate me?" No one answered. Only the wind rustled the plum leaves softly. He closed his eyes.

He recalled Xudu many years ago, the scene of his first meeting with Xun Yu, and the days when they sat facing each other under the lamp and talked all night long.

Those days will never return. "Prime Minister."

Cheng Yu's voice came from behind. Cao Cao didn't turn around. "What is it?" "There's news from Liu Bei's side..."

Cao Cao opened his eyes.

"explain."

"Xun Yu's letter to Liu Bei has been delivered. The messenger was an old servant from Xun Yu's household."

Cao Cao turned around. "What's the contents of the letter?" "I don't know. But it's said... Liu Bei remained silent for a long time after reading it."

Cao Cao remained silent.

He suddenly longed to see that letter. To see what Wenruo had said to that person last. But that chance was gone. "Pass on the order," he finally spoke.

"exist."

"Give Xun Yu a grand funeral, with the rites due to one of the Three Dukes."

Cheng Yu was taken aback.

"Prime Minister, this..."

"Do as I say." Cao Cao interrupted him, "I wronged him while he was alive, and after his death... I must repay him in some way."

Cheng Yu lowered his head.

"promise."

At midnight, in the governor's mansion of Xiapi, the letter lay on the table.

"Although I cannot go there, my heart yearns for it."

I yearn for it.

What do you yearn for?

Longing for the freedom I offer? Longing for the clarity I provide? Longing for... a place where talent trumps lineage? He didn't know. But he longed for it. Yet he didn't come. He chose death. To prove his innocence with death. To teach Cao Cao a lesson with death. To give the world an explanation with death. "My lord." Pang Tong's voice came from behind. I didn't turn around. "Hmm?" "Aren't you asleep yet?" I was silent for a moment. "Shiyuan." "Present."

"Tell me, was Xun Yu's life worthwhile?"

Pang Tong walked to my side and looked at the map.

"Is it worth it?" he asked softly. "My lord, how many people in this world would give their lives to win the hearts of the people?"

I turned to look at him.

"You mean..."

"With Xun Yu dead, scholars throughout the land will see what kind of person Cao Cao truly is." Pang Tong's gaze was profound. "What will those who are still observing choose then?"

I was stunned. Yes. Xun Yu's death shook the world.

Those scholars still observing, those powerful families still hesitating, those prefectures and counties still wavering—

What will they choose?

"My lord," Pang Tong's voice rang out again, "Xun Yu did not die in vain." I looked at him. He pointed to the location of Xuchang on the map.

"His death is our best banner." It was dawn. I had read the letter on the table countless times.

"Though I cannot reach it, my heart yearns for it." Yearning for it. Then let this yearning become the yearning of many more. Paper and ink are spread out on the table. I pick up the pen and write a few words:

"All members of the Xun family who come to serve us are treated as national heroes."