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

On the 18th day of the third month of the seventh year of Jian'an, in Xiapi.

Just as dawn was breaking, a group of people arrived outside the city gate.

Five people, three horses, and two dilapidated oxcarts. The carts were piled with some miscellaneous goods, making it look like an ordinary caravan.

But the soldiers guarding the city did not allow them to pass.

They stopped the procession, their eyes fixed on the most dilapidated oxcart.

There was a person lying in the car, wrapped in thick burlap, with only their face showing. The face was sallow and looked like they were seriously ill.

"Who's in the vehicle?" the soldier asked.

The old man driving the cart smiled obsequiously: "Sir, this is my master. He caught a cold on the way and has a high fever. He wants to go into town to see a doctor..."

The soldiers stared at that face for a long time.

"Lift it up and take a look."

The old man's expression changed.

"Sir, this...this won't do! The master is seriously ill and can't stand the wind..."

"Lift it." The soldier's hand was already on the hilt of his sword.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Just then, a voice came from the city wall:

"Let them in."

The soldiers looked up and saw a young man standing on the city wall. He was eighteen or nineteen years old, with a handsome face and deep eyes.

Sima Jun Sima.

The soldiers quickly made way.

The oxcart slowly drove into the city gate.

As they passed the city gate, the "patient" in the carriage suddenly opened his eyes and met Sima Yi's gaze for a moment.

Sima Yi nodded slightly.

The man's lips twitched slightly before he closed his eyes again.

At 9:00 AM, the secret room is not closed at night.

The man had changed into clean clothes and was sitting opposite Sima Yi.

He was in his early thirties, with a thin face and deep-set eyes, clearly someone who had stayed up late for a long time. But his eyes were very bright, strikingly so.

"Mr. Zhao," Sima Yi said, "you must have had a long journey."

Zhao Yan.

Xun Yu's disciple, a court advisor, and the one who remained secluded after the Xu Du massacre.

He finally arrived.

"Sima Jun, Sima," Zhao Yan's voice was somewhat hoarse, "When can I see Lord Liu?"

Sima Yi looked at him.

"Mr. Zhao, there's no rush. You've just come from Xudu and must be exhausted from your journey. Take a rest first, meet with Young Master Xun, and then you can go see the Prefect."

Zhao Yan was taken aback. "Young Master Xun? Xun Yun?"

"Yes."

Zhao Yan was silent for a moment. "Okay."

Noon, in the backyard of the academy.

Xun Yun stood under the corridor, watching the person slowly approach.

Zhao Yan. His father's disciple. He had met him a few times when he was a child, when Zhao Yan was still young. Every time Zhao Yan came to the mansion, he would bring him some little trinkets.

Later, Zhao Yan entered the imperial court as an official, and they saw each other less often. Then, his father died.

Zhao Yan walked up to him and stopped.

The two looked at each other and remained silent for a long time.

"Young Master Xun," Zhao Yan finally spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse, "Regarding your father... please accept my condolences."

Xun Yun looked at him. "Uncle Zhao, how did you get out?"

Zhao Yan was silent for a moment. "There are people helping out in Xuchang," he said. "I can't say exactly who. But..." He paused, "Although your father is gone, the people he left behind are still here."

Xun Yun's eyes reddened slightly. The people his father left behind. Those people were still alive. "Uncle Zhao, my father..."

"Your father died a worthy death," Zhao Yan interrupted him, his voice soft but firm. "With his death, he showed the world what kind of person Cao Cao was."

He walked up to Xun Yun and patted him on the shoulder.

"Young Master Xun, someone will avenge your father."

It was late afternoon, in the main hall of the Governor's Mansion. I sat in the main seat and watched Zhao Yan walk in.

He walked steadily, at a moderate pace, with his eyes fixed straight ahead.

He was in his early thirties, with a thin face, but his eyes were strikingly bright.

Xun Yu's disciple. A court advisor in Xuchang. He has arrived.

"Mr. Zhao." I stood up and went to greet him.

Zhao Yan stopped and bowed deeply to the ground. "This sinner, Zhao Yan, pays his respects to Your Excellency."

I helped him up. "Sir, you are innocent. It is Cao Cao who is guilty."

Zhao Yan looked up at me.

His gaze held a hint of scrutiny, a hint of inquiry, and a hint of... indescribable complexity.

"My lord," he finally spoke, "I have come to tell you something."

"Please speak."

Zhao Yan took out a scroll of silk from his bosom and presented it with both hands.

I took it and unfolded it.

The silk scroll contained only a few lines of text, but each line gave me a jolt.

"There are still thirty-seven loyal and righteous men in Xudu, all of whom are willing to act as internal agents. If Your Excellency raises troops to march south, no fewer than ten of them will open the city gates that night."

"After being forced to accept the Nine Bestowments, the emperor was filled with anxiety day and night. A secret edict has already been issued, seeking righteous men from all over the land to serve the emperor."

"After Cao Cao received the Nine Bestowments, his suspicions grew daily, and even some of his former subordinates, such as Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren, were dissatisfied." "This was the time."

I put down the silk scroll and looked at Zhao Yan. "Mr. Zhao, are the contents of this silk scroll all true?"

Zhao Yan nodded. "Every word is true." He paused, "If Your Excellency does not believe me, you can send someone to investigate. Those thirty-seven people in Xuchang, each one has a name, a family, and members. They were willing to risk their lives for a future."

I remained silent. Thirty-seven people. Thirty-seven hearts. Thirty-seven lives. They were willing to gamble. Gambled that I would win. Gambled that I wouldn't let them down.

"Mr. Zhao," I finally spoke, "go back and tell them—"

Zhao Yan looked at me.

"Tell them to wait a little longer."

Zhao Yan was stunned. "Wait? Wait until what?"

I stood up, walked to the map, and pointed to the location of Xuchang. "What Cao Cao wants most right now is to provoke me into marching south. He just lost Hefei and Shouchun and desperately needs a victory to save face. If I march south now, it will play right into his hands."

I turned to look at Zhao Yan. "But I'm not in a hurry. I have plenty of time, supplies, and manpower. I'll wait—"

"What are you waiting for?"

"Let him make a mess of things himself."

At the hour of You (5-7 PM), do not close the sealed room at night.

Sima Yi and Pang Tong sat facing each other, with the list brought by Zhao Yan spread out in front of them.

Thirty-seven names, thirty-seven identities, thirty-seven sparks hidden within Xudu City.

"Zhongda, what do you think?" Pang Tong asked.

Sima Yi was silent for a moment. "It's credible," he said, "but we must use it."

"How do I use it?" Sima Yi pointed to several names on the list.

"These men hold the most crucial positions. One is the deputy to the city gate captain, another is the granary clerk, and the third is the military commander of the Imperial Guard. They can be of great use in critical moments."

Pang Tong nodded. "And what about the others?"

"The rest of you, remain still for now." Sima Yi's gaze was profound. "A single move will expose us. Let them continue to lie low, continue to wait. Until... the most crucial moment."

Pang Tong took a swig of wine and laughed. "Good lad, you're getting better and better."

At 7 PM, at the medical school.

Fu Shou stood in front of the operating table, her hands trembling slightly.

A rabbit lay motionless on the operating table, sedated by anesthetic. A deep wound ran down its hind leg, one it had inflicted itself—Hua Tuo had said that for the first suturing, a patient couldn't be used; only an animal could be used.

"Keep your hand steady." Hua Tuo stood behind her, his voice calm. "The needle should go straight down, through the skin and flesh, not too deep, not too shallow. One needle at a time, slowly."

Fu Shou took a deep breath and picked up the thin, curved needle.

The needles are threaded with catgut, a special product of Hua Tuo, which can be absorbed by the body and does not require removal.

She aimed the needle at the edge of the wound and gently pierced the rabbit's leg, causing it to twitch slightly. Fu Shou's hand also trembled.

"Stay calm," Hua Tuo's voice remained calm.

Fu Shou gritted her teeth and continued. One needle, two needles, three needles... Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, but she didn't wipe them away.

Her hands became increasingly steady. Finally, the last stitch was completed.

Fu Shou took a step back and looked at the rabbit. The wound had a row of neat stitches, as if measured with a ruler, with even spacing and consistent depth.

"Sir..." Her voice trembled slightly, "I...I've finished sewing."

Hua Tuo stepped forward and examined it carefully. Then he straightened up, a smile appearing on his face. It was a smile that Fu Shou had never seen before.

"From today onwards," Hua Tuo said, "you can start stitching people up."

Fu Shou stood there, stunned. Then, tears streamed down her face.

She cried silently, just standing there, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Hua Tuo did not comfort her.

He simply patted her head, turned around, and walked out.

He stopped abruptly at the door. "Fu Shou."

"Um?"

"Your father will be proud of you."

Fu Shou cried even harder.

But she smiled.

At 11 PM, outside the city of Xiapi.

Zhao Yan stood on the earthen slope, gazing southward.

That was Xudu, the place he came from. There were his family, his friends, and the cause he was willing to risk his life to accomplish.

"Mr. Zhao." Xun Yun's voice came from behind.

Zhao Yan turned around.

Xun Yun stood behind him, holding a bundle in his hand.

"Here's some food and travel expenses." He handed over the bundle. "Take care on your journey."

Zhao Yan took it without saying a word. The two stood side by side, gazing at the night sky to the south.

"Young Master Xun," Zhao Yan finally spoke, "aren't you going to ask me why I'm going back?"

Xun Yun shook his head. "I won't ask."

Why?

Xun Yun was silent for a moment. "Because that was your choice," he said. "Just like my father chose death, just like I chose to come. Everyone has their own path."

Zhao Yan looked at him.

Under the moonlight, this twenty-year-old had a calmness on his face that was beyond his years.

"You look a lot like your father," Zhao Yan said.

Xun Yun smiled.

That smile held bitterness, relief, and a hint of inexplicable pride. "I know."

Zhao Yan turned around and walked down the earthen slope.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back. "Young Master Xun."

"Um?"

"If your father were alive, he would be proud of you."

Xun Yun remained silent.

He just stared at that receding figure for a long time without moving.

Midnight, in the back hall of the Governor's Mansion. I sat alone, the list spread out before me. Thirty-seven names. Thirty-seven lives. They were willing to gamble on me. I couldn't let them lose.

"My lord," Pang Tong's voice came from the doorway.

I didn't look up. "Shiyuan, tell me, when do we move?"

Pang Tong walked in and sat down opposite me. "When does Your Excellency wish to make a move?"

I was silent for a moment. "I want to wait," I said. "Wait until Cao Cao falls into chaos. Wait until he is deserted by his followers. Wait until those thirty-seven men in Xuchang can open the city gates at the most opportune moment."

Pang Tong nodded. "Then we'll wait."

He paused. "But my lord, while we wait, we must also make preparations."

I looked at him. "What preparations?"

Pang Tong took out a scroll of silk from his sleeve and spread it on the table.

That was a map. Not an ordinary map.

It is a detailed map of Xudu City—city walls, city gates, streets, palaces, military camps, granaries, every place is clearly marked.

"This was brought by Zhao Yan," Pang Tong said. "It was painted by Xun Yu before his death."

I was stunned. Xun Yu. He had been prepared all along; he had known this day would come. "Shi Yuan."

"exist."

"Do you think Xun Yu, in heaven, could see this scene today?"

Pang Tong was silent for a moment. Then he spoke, his voice very soft: "I can see him. Because he's always been here."

He pointed to the map.

"In this picture. In the hearts of those thirty-seven people. In the blood of everyone willing to die for the Han Dynasty."

I remained silent. Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the map, specifically the location of Xuchang.

At that tiny dot, countless people are waiting right now.

Waiting for an opportunity. Waiting for a signal. Waiting for someone.

"My lord," Pang Tong stood up, "it's late. Go to sleep."

I shook my head. "Wait a little longer."