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

Wuwei, Xiliang.

Ma Teng stood on the city wall, watching the approaching army outside the city.

That was Xiahou Yuan's vanguard, three thousand cavalrymen, carrying banners bearing the character "Cao," raising a trail of dust in the morning light.

Three days ago, news of Xiahou Yuan's army setting off from Xuchang reached Wuwei. Ma Teng knew that this day had finally come.

"General," Ma Wan walked to his side, "the messenger has arrived."

Ma Teng didn't turn around. "Let him come up."

A moment later, a man dressed in the armor of a Cao army colonel ascended the city wall. He was in his early thirties, with an arrogant face, and looked like the kind of young general who had fought a few battles with Cao Cao and thought no one in the world could stop him.

"General Ma." The man clasped his hands in a fist salute, but his tone was not very respectful. "This humble general has come on the orders of General Xiahou to ask you a question."

Ma Teng turned around and looked at him. "Ask."

The man raised his chin. "General Xiahou wishes to ask, why did General Ma train 30,000 troops in Wuwei to defend against the Qiang people? When did the Qiang people ever require 30,000 troops for defense?"

Ma Teng remained silent. The man waited a while, and seeing that he didn't answer, he said again:

"General Xiahou also asked me to pass on a message—General Ma's son, Ma Chao, is doing very well in Xuchang. The Prime Minister treats him like his own son, allowing him to study and practice martial arts; he will surely be of great importance in the future."

Ma Teng's eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening me?"

The man laughed. "This humble general wouldn't dare. This humble general is merely relaying General Xiahou's words."

Ma Teng stared at him for a long time. Then he smiled.

That smile sent a chill down the young general's spine.

"Someone come here."

Two Xiliang soldiers stepped forward.

"Take this envoy down—" Ma Teng paused, "."

The man was greatly alarmed. "Ma Teng! How dare you! I am an envoy of General Xiahou! In times of war, envoys are not to be killed!"

Ma Teng waved his hand. "I won't kill you," he said. "Go back and tell Xiahou Yuan—Ma Chao is my son. I know better than you whether he's doing well or not. How many letters did he write during those years in Xuchang? How many words were in each letter? Do you think I, Ma Teng, am illiterate and can't tell who wrote the letters?"

The man's face turned pale. Ma Teng walked up to him and looked down at him.

"Go back and tell Xiahou Yuan: If he wants to fight, I'm ready. If he wants to talk, tell him to send someone else."

With a wave of his hand, two soldiers dragged the messenger away.

Ma Wan walked over. "General, this time we've completely broken off relations."

Ma Teng nodded. "It should have been torn up long ago," he said. "Send the order down to prepare the entire army for battle. Tomorrow at noon, we will hold a flag-raising ceremony before setting off."

Ma Wan was taken aback. "So fast?"

Ma Teng looked eastward. "We have to hurry," he said. "Xiahou Yuan is already on his way. If we wait any longer, he'll be ambushed at the door."

-The Prime Minister's Residence in Xudu.

Cao Cao was having a meal when Zheng, the steward, rushed in.

"Prime Minister, urgent report from Xiliang!"

Cao Cao put down his chopsticks and took the secret report. After just one glance, his face darkened.

"Ma Teng has detained the envoy, assembled a large army, and will set off tomorrow after a flag-raising ceremony."

He slammed the secret report on the table. "Ma Teng... what a Ma Teng."

Zheng, the official in charge, lowered his head and dared not speak. Cao Cao stood up and walked to the map.

His finger pointed to Wuwei, then slowly moved to Chang'an, and then to Xudu.

"Where is Xiahou Yuan?"

Zheng, the steward, quickly replied, "We just passed Tongguan yesterday, and we should reach Wuwei in ten more days."

"Ten days?" Cao Cao sneered. "By the time Xiahou Yuan arrives, Ma Teng will have already reached Chang'an."

He turned around and looked at Manager Zheng.

"Send an order to Xiahou Yuan to speed up the march. Also send an order to the garrison in Chang'an to hold the city at all costs and not to engage in battle. Hold off Ma Teng and wait for Xiahou Yuan to arrive."

"promise."

Manager Zheng turned to leave.

"besides."

Zheng, the person in charge, stopped.

Cao Cao looked at him. "Check the defenses of Xuchang again. Triple the manpower at all city gates. Arrest and question any suspicious persons first."

Chief Clerk Zheng was taken aback. "The Prime Minister suspects Xu Du..."

"I have no doubt," Cao Cao interrupted him, "I just don't want to be stabbed in the back again."

Manager Zheng bowed his head. "Yes, sir."

He withdrew. Cao Cao stood alone before the map.

He gazed at the location of Wuwei, at the road leading to Chang'an. He suddenly thought of Xun Yu, and his dying words: "It's not me who's changing, it's you."

Has it changed? Maybe it has. But if it hadn't, would he have survived until today? He doesn't know. He only knows that he can't back down now. If he does, it's all over.

The secret chambers in Xiapi were not locked at night.

Sima Yi and Pang Tong sat facing each other, with a secret report that had just been delivered spread out on the table. "Ma Teng has detained the envoy and will hold a flag-raising ceremony before setting off for the campaign tomorrow."

Pang Tong took a swig of wine. "Fine," he said, "Now we've completely torn off all pretense of civility."

Sima Yi nodded. "Where is Xiahou Yuan?"

"We've just passed Tongguan," Pang Tong said. "At this speed, we should reach Wuwei around the tenth of May."

Sima Yi did some mental calculations. "On the tenth of the fifth month... Ma Teng has already set out with his troops. Xiahou Yuan rushed over and ran right into them."

Pang Tong looked at him. "Who do you think will win?"

Sima Yi pondered for a moment. "Xiahou Yuan is formidable, but Ma Teng has been in Liangzhou for thirty years and is intimately familiar with the terrain and the troops. In a head-on confrontation, it's hard to say who will win."

He paused. "But no matter who wins, Cao Cao loses."

Pang Tong smiled. "How so?"

"If Xiahou Yuan loses, Xiliang will be completely lost." Sima Yi pointed to the map. "Even if Xiahou Yuan wins, he will suffer heavy losses and won't be able to return for a while. Xuchang—"

His finger moved to Xu Du. "Still empty."

Pang Tong took a swig of wine. "Then let's wait and see."

Sima Yi nodded. "Wait."

South of Xudu City.

Zhao Yan stood by the window, watching the commotion outside. The streets were bustling again. The officials from the School Affairs Office reappeared, in groups of three, knocking on doors one by one. It was the same as before, yet different.

Before, they were checking; now they're preventing it. He could tell. The checks weren't as thorough as before, but there were more people checking. They were on every street, at every alleyway.

He was waiting. Waiting for news from Xun Qu. Footsteps came from outside the door. Three short, two long, three short.

Zhao Yan opened the door. Xun Qu slipped in. His face showed signs of fatigue, but his eyes were bright. "Xiliang has made a move," he said.

Zhao Yan's heart skipped a beat. "How badly?"

"Ma Teng has detained the envoy and will hold a flag-raising ceremony before setting off tomorrow," Xun Qu said. "Cao Cao can't afford to worry about Xuchang now."

Zhao Yan looked at him. "Then we..."

Xun Qu took a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to him. Zhao Yan took it and unfolded it. The slip of paper contained only four characters:

"The city gates may be opened."

His hands trembled slightly. Four words. He had waited so long, and finally, it had arrived. "When?" he asked.

Xun Qu was silent for a moment. "Wait until Xiahou Yuan and Ma Teng start fighting. That's when Cao Cao will be in the most disarray and least able to attend to everything."

Zhao Yan nodded. "When will we notify them about those ten people?"

Xun Qu thought for a moment. "The day after tomorrow," he said. "Let them hide for another day tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, we'll move together."

Zhao Yan stuffed the note into his pocket. "I understand."

Xun Qu walked to the door and suddenly stopped. "Zhao Yan."

Zhao Yan looked up. Xun Qu looked at him, a complex emotion in his eyes.

"This time, many people may die."

Zhao Yan remained silent. He knew. People were bound to die doing this kind of thing. "I know," he said.

Xun Qu nodded, pushed open the door, and went out, disappearing into the alley.

On the official road outside Xiapi City, a troop of cavalry was galloping. Leading them was a young man in his early twenties, with a handsome face and deep-set eyes.

Sima Yi. He didn't wait. He came in person. Shouchun City was already in sight, its gates appearing exceptionally imposing in the twilight.

A voice called from the city wall, "Who goes there!" "Sima Yi." He reined in his horse. "I am here on the orders of the envoy to see General Zhao."

A moment later, the city gates opened. Zhao Yun personally came out to greet them. "Zhongda?" he asked, somewhat surprised. "What brings you here?"

Sima Yi dismounted and walked up to him. "General Zhao," he said, "the time has come."

Zhao Yun's eyes lit up. "When?"

Sima Yi looked at him. "Let's go into the city and talk."

The garrison commander's residence in Shouchun City.

Zhao Yun and Sima Yi sat facing each other, with a map spread out on the table.

"Xun Qu has sent word from Xuchang," Sima Yi said, pointing to the city gates. "The city gates can be opened."

Zhao Yun nodded. "When do we move?"

Sima Yi was silent for a moment. "Wait until Xiahou Yuan and Ma Teng start fighting," he said. "At that time, Cao Cao will be in a state of chaos and won't be able to attend to everything."

Zhao Yun thought for a moment. "From Shouchun to Xuchang, a light cavalry advance can take three days. I have three thousand White Horse Cavalry, that should be enough."

Sima Yi shook his head. "Three thousand is not enough."

Zhao Yun looked at him. "How much do you think is enough?"

"Five thousand," Sima Yi said. "Two thousand to defend the city, and three thousand to attack. Cao Cao still has twenty thousand troops in Xuchang, although half of them are newly recruited, we still cannot be careless."

Zhao Yun thought for a moment. "If it's five thousand, Shouchun will be empty."

Sima Yi nodded. "If it's empty, it's empty. We can take Xuchang, but we don't need Shouchun."

Zhao Yun looked at him and remained silent for a moment. "Zhongda, your words sound like those of our lord."

Sima Yi paused for a moment. Then he smiled. It was a faint smile, but Zhao Yun saw it.

"General Zhao," Sima Yi stood up, "I'm going back. Make preparations here and await news."

Zhao Yun nodded. "Don't worry."

Sima Yi turned and strode out. He stopped abruptly at the door. "General Zhao."

Zhao Yun looked up.

Sima Yi did not turn around. "Take care."

Zhao Yun watched his retreating figure. This nineteen-year-old was not talkative, but every time he spoke, it carried weight.

"The same to you."

The Prime Minister's Residence in Xudu.

Cao Cao sat in his study, unable to sleep all night. Three military reports lay spread out on his desk.

One letter came from Xiliang, saying that Ma Teng would hold a flag-raising ceremony and set off for the expedition tomorrow. Another letter came from Chang'an, saying that Xiahou Yuan would speed up the march and arrive in Wuwei on the ninth day of the fifth month.

A letter came from Xudu, saying that everything in the city was normal and there was nothing unusual.

He looked at the third dish and frowned. Everything was normal. Too normal.

It was so normal it made him uneasy. "Someone come here."

A bodyguard entered. "Summon Master Zheng."

A moment later, Chief Clerk Zheng rushed over. "Prime Minister."

Cao Cao looked at him. "Is there really no movement from inside the city?"

Chief Clerk Zheng was taken aback. "Reporting to the Prime Minister, my men have been searching all day and have indeed not found anyone suspicious."

Cao Cao stared at him. "Are you sure?"

Manager Zheng hesitated for a moment. "Let's... go ahead."

Cao Cao remained silent. He simply stared at the military report that stated "everything is as usual" for a long time.

After a long silence, he finally spoke: "You may leave."

Master Zheng breathed a sigh of relief and left. Cao Cao sat alone in his study, watching the flickering candlelight.

The feeling of unease in my heart grew stronger and stronger.