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

April 16th, Jian'an 7th year, Xudu.

The atmosphere in the main hall of the Prime Minister's residence was so oppressive it felt like it was about to burst into flames.

Cao Cao sat in the main seat, with three people kneeling in front of him.

One was a clerk in the Imperial Academy, surnamed Chen, over fifty years old, who had served Cao Cao for twenty years. His forehead was pressed to the ground, and his body was trembling like a leaf.

The other two were squad leaders from the school administration, responsible for guard duty that night. They knelt behind Chief Chen, their faces pale, not daring to utter a single word.

"Three people," Cao Cao's voice was flat, as flat as if he were commenting on the weather. "Three people died in the Imperial Secretariat. One prisoner escaped. Who the murderer is, we don't know. How he got in, we don't know. Where he ran, we don't know."

He paused.

"Tell me, is this Imperial Academy still my Imperial Academy?"

Chief Chen kowtowed deeply.

"Prime Minister, spare my life! I will definitely find out! I will definitely bring the culprit to justice!"

Cao Cao looked at him.

"Found out? How did you find out? The person has been dead for three days, what have you found?"

Manager Chen was speechless.

Cao Cao stood up, walked up to him, and looked down at him.

"You've been with me for twenty years."

Chief Chen lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise his head. "In the past twenty years, how many cases have you handled? How many people have you arrested? How many people have you killed?"

Manager Chen's voice was trembling.

"I...I don't remember."

"I remember," Cao Cao said. "One hundred and thirty-seven major cases, four hundred and fifty-two heads. You never failed."

He bent down and whispered in Chief Chen's ear, "This time, you've disappointed me greatly."

Chief Chen's body trembled even more violently. "Prime Minister, please give me another chance..."

Cao Cao straightened up. "An opportunity?" He smiled, a smile devoid of any warmth. "I'll give you three days. If you can't find the murderer within three days, bring me your head."

Chief Clerk Chen kowtowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Prime Minister! Thank you, Prime Minister!"

Cao Cao turned and walked back to his seat. "Get out."

The three men scrambled out of the hall, leaving Cao Cao alone.

He sat there, looking at the map. Xuchang.

His capital, Xudu.

When did it start to become like a sieve?

Xiapi.

Wang Pu woke up.

He didn't know how long he had slept, only that when he woke up, the sunlight was shining in through the window and hurt his eyes.

He lay on a bed, covered with clean blankets. A man of eighteen or nineteen sat on a stool beside the bed, with a handsome face and deep eyes.

Sima Yi.

"Captain Wang," Sima Yi said, "is he awake?"

Wang Pu looked at him, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't know what to say.

Sima Yi stood up and brought over a bowl of porridge.

"Eat something first. You haven't eaten for three days."

Wang Pu took the bowl and looked down at the porridge.

White rice porridge, topped with a few green vegetable leaves, steaming hot.

His eyes suddenly reddened. He thought of his daughter.

I remember that whenever my daughter was sick, her mother would cook porridge for her in the same way.

He picked up the bowl and began to drink it in large gulps. As he drank, tears fell into the bowl. He didn't wipe them away; he finished the bowl of porridge with his tears in his eyes.

Sima Yi sat beside him, silent. Only after Wang Pu finished his drink did he speak:

"Captain Wang, I have a few questions for you."

Wang Pu put down his bowl and looked at him. "Ask away."

"Did you see the face of the person who saved you?"

Wang Pu shook his head.

"No. He was wearing the black uniform of the School Administration and his face was covered."

"What did he say to you?"

Wang Pu thought for a moment. "He said, 'Run north. Someone will pick you up after you leave the city.'"

Sima Yi nodded. "Did they say anything else?"

"No," Wang Pu paused, "but he gave me a cloth bag."

Sima Yi's eyes lit up slightly. "Where's the cloth bag?"

Wang Pu reached into his pocket and pulled out a cloth bag. Embroidered on the bag was a single character:

"Xun".

Sima Yi took the cloth bag and opened it. Inside was a letter.

The letter was yellowed, looking quite old. He unfolded it and immediately recognized the handwriting. It was Xun Yu's. "The one who holds this letter is an old friend of mine. All my students and acquaintances should treat him with the respect due to a teacher. Xun Yu, my last words."

Sima Yi stared at the letter in silence for a long time. Xun Yu.

He's been dead for three months. But the things he left behind are still there.

"Captain Wang." He folded the letter and put it back in the cloth bag. "Keep this cloth bag safe."

Wang Pu was taken aback. "For me?"

"Yes," Sima Yi said, "This is what Xun Yu left for you. Take it; it will be useful later."

Wang Pu took the cloth bag and looked down at the character "Xun".

Xun. The person who saved him was from the Xun family. The person who gave him the cloth bag was also from the Xun family. He didn't know how many people were left in the Xun family.

Outside the city of Xiapi, there is a secluded manor.

Liu Bei stood in the courtyard, watching the person slowly walk in.

He was in his fifties, dressed in ordinary cloth clothes, his hair was already gray, and his face was etched with deep wrinkles. His steps were slow and steady, each step firm and solid.

Xun Qu. Xun Yu's cousin. A man who had been hiding for twenty years. He walked up to Liu Bei and stopped. The two looked at each other. After a long while, Xun Qu spoke:

"Lord Liu."

Liu Bei nodded. "Mr. Xun."

Xun Qu took out a cloth bag from his bosom, held it with both hands, and handed it to Liu Bei. "This is what Xun Yu left for you, my lord."

Liu Bei took it and opened it. Inside was a stack of papers. Not a single letter, but a whole stack.

Each sheet was covered with dense writing: names, places, identities, and codes.

One hundred and thirty-seven.

One hundred and thirty-seven people were hiding in Xuchang, Yecheng, Luoyang, and Yingchuan.

One hundred and thirty-seven seeds were planted right under Cao Cao's nose.

Liu Bei stared at the stack of papers, remaining silent for a long time. "This is…"

"Xun Yu has gathered people over twenty years," Xun Qu said. "Some are his disciples, some are people he saved, and some are people who voluntarily followed him. They are all waiting."

Liu Bei looked up at him. "What are you waiting for?"

Xun Qu's gaze was calm. "Waiting for someone who can revive the Han Dynasty."

Liu Bei didn't speak. He folded the stack of papers and put them into his robes.

"Mr. Xun."

"exist."

"Come back to Xiapi with me."

Xun Qu shook his head. "I can't leave yet."

Liu Bei looked at him. "Why?"

Xun Qu turned around and looked in the south.

"There are still people waiting in Xuchang. I need to go back."

Liu Bei remained silent. Xuchang. Two people had just died there. Cao Cao was frantically searching for them. Going back there meant certain death.

"Mr. Xun," Liu Bei said, "it's too dangerous for you to go back now."

Xun Qu turned around and looked at him. "My lord," he said, "Xun Yu was also in great danger every day when he was in Xuchang. But he lived for twenty years."

He paused. "I'm a little worse than him, but not by much."

Liu Bei looked at him. This middle-aged man, around fifty years old, had deep wrinkles etched on his face, but his eyes were as calm as a deep pool of water.

He suddenly understood. This person wasn't hiding to survive. He was hiding to do something.

"Mr. Xun," Liu Bei bowed deeply, "Take care."

Xun Qu returned the greeting. Then he turned and strode out of the courtyard, disappearing at the end of the official road.

Xiapi Academy.

Xun Yun sat by the window, holding the letter in his hand.

A letter from my father.

"The one who holds this letter is my cousin, Xun Qu. Seeing him is like seeing myself." He read it countless times. With each reading, another question arose in his mind. Who is Xun Qu? Where is he now? When will he arrive?

"Young Master Xun." Fu Shou's voice came from behind.

Xun Yun did not turn around. "Miss Fu, tell me, what would it feel like for someone who has been hiding for twenty years to suddenly come out?" Fu Shou walked to his side.

"I don't know," she said, "but it must be very tiring."

Xun Yun turned to look at her. "Tired?"

"Yes," Fu Shou said, "Be careful when you're hiding, and get things done when you're not hiding. You can't stop."

She paused.

"Just like Mr. Hua said, being a doctor is tiring too. You save one, and there's always another. You can never save them all."

Xun Yun remained silent. He thought of his father. Was his father tired too?

He worked for twenty years, and finally died in that city. Was he tired?

"Young Master Xun," Fu Shou suddenly spoke.

Xun Yun looked up.

"That person will come," Fu Shou said. "Just wait."

Xun Yun looked at her.

Under the moonlight, the eight-year-old girl's face had something very clean about it.

It was as clean as if it had just snowed.

"Miss Fu," he said.

"Um?"

"Thank you."

Fu Shou smiled. "You've already thanked me."

Xun Yun was taken aback. "Thank you?"

"Last time," Fu Shou said, "you said thank you."

Xun Yun thought about it, and it seemed there was such a thing. He suddenly smiled. It was a smile he hadn't seen in a long time. "Then I'll thank you again."

Fu Shou looked at him and smiled.

The two men laughed in the moonlight, like two fools. In the eastern part of Xuchang City, at a general store, Sun Fu stood behind the counter, holding a pair of scissors. He had already gone through several pairs.

When it's worn out, replace it with a new one, and then keep wearing it out. The curtain was lifted, and someone came in.

He was in his fifties, dressed in ordinary cloth clothes, with gray hair and deep wrinkles etched on his face.

Sun Fu looked up and glanced at him. He didn't recognize him. He lowered his head and continued sharpening his knife.

The man walked to the counter, picked up a bag of salt, and put it down. Then he picked up a bag of sugar and put it down as well.

"Shopkeeper, how much is this candy?"

Sun Fu gave the price. The man paid, picked up the candy bag, and left. The entire process was conducted without a single unnecessary word.

But just as the man took the candy packet, a note slipped into Sun Fu's palm.

Sun Fu didn't look. He waited until it got dark, until the door was closed, until the night was deep and quiet.

He then unfolded the note under the oil lamp. The note contained only a few words:

"My name is Xun Qu. My men will come looking for you later."

Sun Fu stared at those words, silent for a long time. Xun Qu. A member of the Xun family. Another one has arrived. He stuffed the note into his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it. Then he blew out the light, lay down, and stared at the dark roof.

Can't sleep.

But he told himself: I have to open the shop tomorrow. I have to sell candy. I have to smile at the customers.

Same as before.

Xiapi Governor's Office.

I stood in front of the map, looking at the list.

One hundred and thirty-seven names. One hundred and thirty-seven people hidden right under Cao Cao's nose.

Pang Tong stood beside me, also watching. "My lord," he said.

"Um?"

"Xun Yu's gift is far too generous."

I nodded. "It's too big."

It's so big I don't know how to use it. Pang Tong took a swig of wine. "What did Xun Qu say?"

"He went back," I said. "Back to Xuchang."

Pang Tong paused slightly. "Go back?"

"Yes." I looked at the location of Xuchang on the map. "He said there are still people waiting over there."

Pang Tong remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "This man is truly fearless."

I didn't say anything. Whether I'm afraid of death or not, I don't know.

But I know that Xun Yu is not the only person like Xun Yu in the Xun family.

Xun Qu is. So are the people on that list.

"Shiyuan".

"exist."

"Contact these people one by one. Don't rush them, don't pressure them, and don't put them at risk."

Pang Tong nodded. "I understand."

I looked at the list. One hundred and thirty-seven names. One hundred and thirty-seven lives.

Xun Yu has been saving this for twenty years, and I can't let anything happen to them.

The sky was beginning to lighten with the first light of dawn.

Zhao Yan stood by the window, having not slept all night. Xun Qu had been gone for three days. He didn't know where Xun Qu had gone or when he would return. But he knew that person would come back.

A soft sound came from the windowsill. Zhao Yan walked over and opened the window. In the moonlight, a small, round, bluish-green pebble lay on the windowsill.

He reached out, picked up the pebble, and gently squeezed it in his palm. The pebble cracked open. Inside was a tiny slip of paper. He unfolded it and read it by the moonlight. There were only a few words on the paper:

"I'm back."