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

March 20th, the seventh year of Jian'an, Xuchang.

Zhao Yan has been back in Xudu for three days.

For three days, he didn't go out, didn't see any guests, and didn't even leave his room. He just lay there on the tatami, staring at the ceiling, motionless.

The neighbors thought he was ill. Only he knew that he was waiting. Waiting for someone. Someone who would put a pebble on his windowsill.

into the night.

Just as the third watch gong had struck, a soft sound suddenly came from the windowsill.

Zhao Yan sat up abruptly. He walked to the window and opened it.

Under the moonlight, a small, round, bluish-green pebble lay on the windowsill, indistinguishable from any other pebble.

But Zhao Yan knew that those were not ordinary pebbles.

He reached out, picked up the pebble, and gently pinched it in his palm.

The stone cracked.

Inside was a tiny strip of paper, rolled up very thinly, only as thick as a little finger.

Zhao Yan unfolded the note and read it by the moonlight.

The note contained only four words:

"Everything is as usual."

Zhao Yan closed his eyes, let out a long breath, and everything seemed normal.

This means that all thirty-seven people are still alive. None of them have been exposed. They are still waiting.

He stuffed the note into his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it.

Then he lay back down and closed his eyes. He couldn't sleep. But at least he felt a little more at ease.

Meanwhile, in the eastern part of Xudu City, there was an inconspicuous private residence.

A middle-aged man was sitting under a dim oil lamp, with an account book spread out in front of him.

His name was Wang Pu, and he was the deputy of the city gate captain. He had been in Xudu for fifteen years.

On the surface, he was an honest and dutiful clerk who went to get off work on time every day, never caused trouble, and never took sides.

No one knew that he was one of the thirty-seven.

No one knew that he held the key to one of the four city gates of Xudu.

There was a soft knocking at the door. Three long knocks followed by two short ones.

Wang Pu got up and opened the door.

A dark figure darted in. "Captain Wang," the newcomer said in a low voice, "there's news from the north."

Wang Pu's hand paused slightly. "What news?"

"Let us wait." The man handed him a note. "But while we wait, be prepared."

Wang Pu took the note and glanced at it. There were only a few words on the note, but with each reading, his heart beat faster.

"How long will it take?"

"I don't know." The person shook their head. "It might take a few months, it might take a year. But that day will definitely come."

Wang Pu remained silent. For a year.

Throughout the year, they could be exposed at any time, their homes could be raided at any time, and they could die at any time.

He thought of his wife and his two underage children.

Did they know what he was doing? No. All they knew was that their father left home on time every day and returned on time, and never caused trouble.

"Captain Wang?" The voice of the newcomer interrupted his thoughts.

Wang Pu raised his head. "Tell the north," his voice was calm, "I understand."

At 9:00 PM, in Xiapi.

In the secret chamber where no one could see them at night, Sima Yi and Pang Tong sat facing each other at the table.

A thick stack of secret reports lay on the table, all of which had just been delivered from Xudu.

"We have news from Wang Pu," Sima Yi said, pointing to one of the documents. "He said, 'I understand.'"

Pang Tong took a swig of wine. "Those four words again," he chuckled. "Why do all the Xun family members love to say those four words?"

Sima Yi did not smile. He looked at the secret report, his brows furrowing slightly. "Sir, Wang Pu has a wife and children. What if we are exposed..."

"He won't be exposed," Pang Tong interrupted him, "at least not now."

Why?

Pang Tong put down his wine gourd, his gaze deep. "Because he is Wang Pu," he said. "He has stayed in Xuchang for fifteen years, never causing trouble, never taking sides, and everyone thinks he is an honest man. The kind of honest man is the least likely to attract attention."

He paused. "And he has a weakness."

Sima Yi looked at him. "A weakness?"

"Wife and children," Pang Tong said softly, "Those with weaknesses cherish their lives the most. Those who cherish their lives the most are the most cautious in their actions."

Sima Yi remained silent. He thought of himself. Did he have a weakness? His father was still in Xuchang. His mother and brothers were also in Xuchang. They were all his weaknesses.

"Zhongda," Pang Tong suddenly spoke.

Sima Yi looked up. "Are you thinking about your father?"

Sima Yi remained silent.

Pang Tong looked at him, a complex emotion in his eyes. "Don't worry," he said, "your father's position in Xuchang is even more secure than Wang Pu's. Cao Cao won't touch him."

Sima Yi was silent for a moment. "I know," he said, "but what worries me is..."

He didn't continue.

Pang Tong finished his sentence for him: "Is it your father who can move?"

Sima Yi nodded.

Pang Tong took a swig of wine. "Then we'll see what he chooses," he said. "Whatever he chooses, we can't stop him."

At midnight, at the Xiapi Academy, Xun Yun sat by the window, gazing at the night sky. He had been sitting there for an hour.

Three days ago, Zhao Yan passed away. Before he left, Zhao Yan said to him, "If your father were alive, he would be proud of you."

pride.

What did he do that's something to be proud of?

No.

He just came here, studied for a few days, and met a few people. That's all.

"Young Master Xun."

A voice came from behind. Xun Yun turned around.

Fu Shou stood behind him, holding a bowl of hot soup.

"Mr. Hua said you didn't eat dinner again tonight." She handed over some soup. "Have some."

Xun Yun took the soup and drank a sip. It was warm, warming him to the core. "Miss Fu, why aren't you asleep yet?"

Fu Shou sat down beside him. "I can't sleep," she said. "Today I sewed something for a rabbit, but I didn't do a very good job."

Xun Yun looked at her. "Not good?"

"Hmm." Fu Shou nodded. "One of the needles went too deep and almost hit the bone. Mr. Hua said to be careful next time."

She paused. "I'm a little scared. I'm afraid that next time I'm stitching someone up, I'll puncture too deeply."

Xun Yun remained silent. He looked at the eight-year-old girl. Her face appeared exceptionally young in the moonlight, but her eyes held a seriousness beyond her years.

"Miss Fu," he finally spoke.

"Um?"

"What are you afraid of?"

Fu Shou thought for a moment. "I'm afraid... afraid I'll sew the person up badly," she said. "I'm afraid I'll let Mr. Hua down. I'm afraid..." She paused, "I'm afraid my parents in heaven will think I'm useless."

Xun Yun's heart was jolted by something, fearing that his parents were watching from heaven. He felt the same way. Every day, he wondered if his father, watching him from above, would be disappointed.

"Miss Fu," his voice was slightly hoarse, "your parents won't be disappointed."

Fu Shou turned to look at him. "How did you know?"

Xun Yun was silent for a moment. "Because my father won't be disappointed either," he said. "Even though I haven't done anything, just studied here, he won't be disappointed."

Fu Shou looked at him.

Under the moonlight, there was something indescribable about the face of this twenty-year-old.

It's not about being strong, nor is it about being weak; it's... something that's slowly growing.

"Young Master Xun," Fu Shou suddenly smiled, "you seem a bit more cheerful than when you first arrived."

Xun Yun was taken aback. "Really?"

"Okay." Fu Shou stood up. "Go to sleep early. You have to study tomorrow."

She turned and disappeared into the night.

Xun Yun stared at her retreating figure, remaining motionless for a long time.

A little more cheerful? Maybe. But more importantly, a glimmer of light has appeared in my heart.

It was dawn in Xuchang.

Cao Cao stood in the backyard of the Prime Minister's residence, unable to sleep all night.

He held a secret report in his hand, which had just been delivered last night.

The secret report contained only one line:

"There have been unusual movements in Xiapi recently, suggesting the presence of spies." Xiapi. Liu Bei's stronghold. Spy activity. What are they planning?

"Prime Minister." Cheng Yu's voice came from behind.

Cao Cao did not turn around. "What is it?"

"There's news again from Yingchuan."

Cao Cao turned around. "Speak."

"Someone entered and left the Xun family's old residence last night. Our men gave chase but couldn't catch them. But..." Cheng Yu paused, "that person dropped a letter."

Cao Cao's eyes narrowed. "Where's the letter?"

Cheng Yu presented it with both hands.

Cao Cao took the letter and unfolded it. The letter was short, containing only a few words: "Everything as usual."

Business as usual.

These four words, like a knife, pierced Cao Cao's heart. What did "everything is as usual" mean? Who was saying "everything is as usual"? What were they plotting?

"Investigate," Cao Cao's voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth. "Investigate. Yingchuan, Xuchang, Xiapi—investigate every place. Report to me any suspicious person, any suspicious matter."

Cheng Yu lowered his head. "Yes."

Cao Cao turned and looked north. There lay his enemies. There lay the person he was wary of day and night.

Liu Bei, what exactly do you want?

Xiapi Governor's Office.

I stood before the map, having spent the entire night without sleep. On the table lay the secret report that Sima Yi had just delivered.

"The agents in Xuchang are all in normal condition." "Someone in the Yingchuan direction has been exposed, but has already escaped." "Wang Pu replied: 'I understand.'"

I stared at these secret reports, remaining silent for a long time.

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

I didn't turn around. "Shiyuan, do you think what we're doing is too risky?"

Pang Tong walked up to me.

"Adventure?" he said. "Of course it's risky. But what war isn't risky?"

He pointed to the location of Xuchang on the map.

"My lord, do you know what Cao Cao fears most right now?"

I turned to look at him. "What?"

"What he fears most is not knowing what we're up to." Pang Tong's gaze was profound. "We've buried thirty-seven people in Xuchang, keeping him suspicious day and night, making him restless and unable to eat or sleep. That's enough."

I remained silent. Enough? No, it wasn't.

What I want is more than just making him suspicious.

What I need is for thirty-seven people to open the city gates simultaneously when that day comes. "Shiyuan."

"exist."

"Tell Zhongda to speed things up. I need to send another thirty people to Xudu within three months."

Pang Tong was taken aback. "Thirty?"

"Yes." I nodded. "The more the better. The more scattered the better. I want to turn Cao Cao's Xuchang into a sieve."

Pang Tong was silent for a moment. Then he smiled. There was something indescribable in that smile. "My lord, are you trying to hollow out Xuchang?"

I didn't speak. I just stared at that tiny dot on the map. Xuchang. One day, I will go there myself.