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

Zhao Yan woke up before dawn.

He didn't know how long he had slept the night before; he only knew that when he opened his eyes, it was still dark outside. He lay there, staring at the ceiling, listening to his own heartbeat.

Thump. Thump. Thump. One after another, strangely steady.

He thought he would panic, be scared, and have trouble sleeping. But when the day actually came, he didn't feel anything at all.

It's like waiting for so long, finally getting to the point where it's just like that.

He got up, dressed, and tucked the dagger into his waistband. The poison was still in his arms, as was the letter—Xun Yu's letter.

He pushed open the door and stepped into the darkest part of the night before dawn.

A general store in the east of the city.

Sun Fu opened the door half an hour earlier than usual today.

He arranged everything in the shop neatly: needles and thread, lamp oil, salt, sugar, all arranged in an orderly fashion. The scissors were placed in the most convenient position on the counter, their blades gleaming in the morning light.

The curtain was lifted. A person walked in.

It wasn't Xun Qu, but a young man in his early twenties, dressed in ordinary cloth clothes, with a bundle slung over his shoulder.

"Shopkeeper, do you have lamp oil?" the young man asked.

Sun Fu nodded, turned around and took a small jar of lamp oil from the shelf.

The young man paid, picked up the oil can, and left. The entire process was conducted without a single unnecessary word.

But just as he took the oil can, a note slipped into Sun Fu's hand. Sun Fu didn't read it.

He tucked the note into his sleeve and continued standing behind the counter.

After the young man had walked away, he slowly unfolded the note. There were only four words on it:

"Today is the Western Time."

Sun Fu's heart skipped a beat as he looked at the four characters: "Today is the Western Time." The day he had been waiting for had finally arrived. He stuffed the note into his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it.

Then they continued to stand there, waiting for the next customer.

An abandoned house in the west of the city.

Zhao Yan crouched in the shadows of the courtyard wall, waiting. This house had been abandoned for several years; no one lived there, and no one came. The grass in the corner was knee-high, and the paper windows were torn, whistling loudly in the wind.

He was waiting for someone. Waiting for the first of those ten people.

Footsteps approached. A middle-aged man scaled the wall, landing almost silently. He wore a coarse cloth jacket and had a tanned face, clearly a manual laborer. Wang Wu, a former subordinate of the city gate captain, served at the west gate.

"Mr. Zhao," Wang Wu walked up to him, "I've arrived."

Zhao Yan nodded. "How's the situation over there?"

Wang Wu lowered his voice: "It's my turn to be on duty today. I have three men on the west gate side. But there are more people from the School Affairs Office today, so they're keeping a close eye on things."

Zhao Yan was silent for a moment. "Can you open the door tonight at west time?"

Wang Wu thought for a moment. "Yes," he said, "but at most the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If it goes on any longer, we'll definitely be discovered."

Zhao Yan looked at him. "Is one incense stick enough?"

Wang Wu shook his head. "I don't know. But this is my limit."

Zhao Yan nodded. "Then one incense stick will do."

He took out a jade pendant from his pocket and handed it to Wang Wu.

"This is a token. Tonight at the hour of the west, when someone comes with the same jade pendant, open the door."

Wang Wu took the jade pendant and tucked it into his robes. "I'll remember it."

Zhao Yan looked at him and said, "Wang Wu."

Wang Wu looked up. "After tonight, you may never be able to go home again."

Wang Wu paused for a moment. Then he smiled. There was something indescribable in that smile.

"Mr. Zhao, my life was saved by Lord Xun. If it weren't for him three years ago, I would have died long ago." He paused, "I've lived three more years, that's enough."

He climbed over the wall and disappeared into the alley. Zhao Yan squatted there, watching his retreating figure. He'd lived three more years; that was enough.

He was the same.

The Prime Minister's Residence in Xudu.

Cao Cao sat in his study, with an urgent report that had just been sent from Xiliang spread out in front of him.

"Xiahou Yuan's troops and Ma Teng's army clashed outside Wuwei City on the ninth day, and the outcome was still undecided."

The ninth day. Today is the second day, seven more days. Anything can happen in seven days. He put down the urgent report and rubbed his temples.

Footsteps sounded outside the door. "Prime Minister," came the voice of Chief Clerk Zheng.

"Come in."

Chief Clerk Zheng pushed open the door and entered, his expression somewhat grave. "Prime Minister, something seems amiss in the city today."

Cao Cao looked up. "Speak."

Manager Zheng hesitated for a moment. "Our people have discovered unfamiliar faces moving around in several places. It's different from before—before they were hiding, now they're moving."

Cao Cao's eyes narrowed. "Move?"

"Yes." Manager Zheng nodded. "It's like a rendezvous, like passing a message. But our people follow them, and then lose them after a while."

Cao Cao remained silent. He stood up and walked to the window. The sunlight outside was bright, and the locust tree in the courtyard was a vibrant green.

"Master Zheng."

"exist."

"What do you think they're trying to do?"

After thinking for a moment, Zheng, the steward, said, "This subordinate...this subordinate dares not speak."

Cao Cao turned around and looked at him. "Speak."

Manager Zheng gritted his teeth. "I think they might want to... open the door."

Cao Cao's hand tightened slightly. He opened the door.

These two words were like a thorn, piercing his heart.

"Give the order," he said. "From this moment forward, no one may open any of the city gates without my command."

Chief Zheng was taken aback. "Anyone? Including the garrison commander?"

"Anyone," Cao Cao said, emphasizing each word, "anyone who disobeys will be executed."

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

He left. Cao Cao stood alone by the window.

He suddenly remembered that many years ago, when he was still in Yanzhou, he had used this trick as well.

He ordered the gate opened to let the enemy in. At that time, he was on the offensive.

Now, he is on the defensive.

The secret chambers in Xiapi were not locked at night.

Sima Yi stood motionless before the map.

Pang Tong sat to the side, holding a gourd of wine, but didn't drink a drop. Two secret reports were spread out on the table.

A document from Xiliang reads: "Xiahou Yuan and Ma Teng will engage in battle on the ninth day of the first lunar month."

A document from Xuchang reads: "The city gates have been reinforced with troops, and Cao Cao has ordered that no gates be opened without a warrant."

Pang Tong looked at the two secret reports and took a swig of wine. "Cao Cao has caught wind of this."

Sima Yi nodded. "He smelled it, but he doesn't know where the scent is coming from."

Pang Tong put down his wine gourd. "What did Zhao Yan say?"

Sima Yi pointed to another slip of paper. "Today is the Western Time."

Pang Tong glanced out the window. The sun was still high, and there was still some time before it set in the west. "Will we make it in time?"

Sima Yi was silent for a moment. "There's enough time," he said, "as long as those ten people don't make any mistakes."

Pang Tong didn't ask any more questions. He looked at the location of Xuchang on the map. That tiny dot, now, was seeing countless people moving. Hidden for so long, waiting for so long.

It's finally going to move.

South of Xudu City.

Zhao Yan stood by the window, watching the sun slowly sink below the horizon.

It was almost time to go west. Footsteps sounded outside the door. Three short, two long, three short. Zhao Yan opened the door.

Xun Qu slipped inside.

His complexion was worse than a few days ago; his eye sockets were sunken, and his cheekbones were prominent, but his eyes were still bright. "Have you notified everyone?" he asked.

Zhao Yan nodded. "Everyone has been notified. Ten people, each with their own assigned position."

Xun Qu hummed in agreement. He took out a small cloth bag from his pocket and handed it to Zhao Yan. Zhao Yan took it and opened it.

Inside was a jade pendant. It was exactly the same as the one he gave to Wang Wu.

"This is……"

"My piece," Xun Qu said, "is there if something goes wrong on your end, I'll fill in."

Zhao Yan stared at the jade pendant in silence for a long time.

"Mr. Xun," he said.

Xun Qu looked at him.

"You've done this for twenty years, what if this time..."

"What if he dies?" Xun Qu interjected, laughing. "Then he dies."

That smile was so calm and serene. Zhao Yan didn't know what to say. Xun Qu patted him on the shoulder. "I'm leaving. Take care of yourself over here."

He turned around, pushed open the door, and went out. Zhao Yan stood inside, looking at the door.

Outside the door, the sun was setting.

A general store in the west of Xudu City.

Sun Fu stood behind the counter, holding the pair of scissors in his hand. Footsteps sounded outside the door. A person walked in.

He was a middle-aged man, dressed in ordinary cloth clothes, with a dusty look on his face.

"Shopkeeper, do you have lamp oil?" the man asked.

Sun Fu nodded, turned around and took a small jar of lamp oil from the shelf.

The man paid, picked up the oil can, and left. But just as he took the can, a note slipped into Sun Fu's hand.

Sun Fu didn't look at it. He stuffed the note into his sleeve and waited until the person was far away before slowly opening it.

The note contained only three words: "Hai Shi (9-11 PM), West Gate."

Sun Fu's heart pounded as he looked at the three words: Hai Shi (9-11 PM). Ximen. He stuffed the note into his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it. Then he picked up the scissors and tucked them into his waistband.

It's time to go.

The Prime Minister's Residence in Xudu.

Cao Cao sat in his study, staring blankly at the map. Outside, darkness had fallen; inside, the candlelight flickered.

Zheng, the steward, arrived again. "Prime Minister, there's movement at the West Gate."

Cao Cao suddenly looked up. "What's that noise?"

Zheng, the head of the department, hesitated for a moment. "The person on duty today is named Wang Wu. He was transferred here three months ago. Our people checked and found that he was almost beheaded three years ago, and Xun Yu saved him."

Cao Cao's eyes narrowed. "Xun Yu's men?"

"Yes," Manager Zheng nodded, "but it's only a possibility, not necessarily..."

"Replace him," Cao Cao interrupted him. "Now, immediately."

Chief Clerk Zheng was taken aback. "Prime Minister, he's only suspicious; there's no evidence..."

"It will be too late once we have evidence." Cao Cao stood up. "Replace him. Tonight, replace the guard at the west gate with someone you trust."

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

He turned to leave. "Wait."

Master Zheng stopped. Cao Cao looked at him. "Tonight, I will go to the West Gate myself."

Chief Clerk Zheng was stunned. "The Prime Minister is going in person?"

Cao Cao did not answer. He simply stared at the flickering candlelight. The unease grew stronger and stronger.

-Xudu West Gate.

Wang Wu stood atop the city wall, gazing at the pitch-black night outside. His hand rested on his waist, where the jade pendant was hidden. Around dusk, someone had told him that the night's defenses had been changed. He was off duty and could go home to rest.

He said okay. Then he stayed standing there, not leaving. Because he knew someone would definitely come tonight.

Footsteps came from behind. Wang Wu turned around. Several people walked up the city wall; the one in the lead was dressed in a black robe with a sword at his waist.

Cao Cao. Wang Wu's heart skipped a beat. He knelt down.

"Greetings, Prime Minister."

Cao Cao stood before him, looking down at him. "You're Wang Wu?"

"Yes."

"Three years ago, Xun Yu saved you?"

Wang Wu's hands were trembling, but his voice remained relatively steady. "Yes."

Cao Cao stared at him for a long time. "You weren't supposed to be on duty tonight, why aren't you leaving?"

Wang Wu remained silent. He didn't know how to answer.

Cao Cao waited. After a long wait, Wang Wu finally spoke:

"Prime Minister, I...I would like to take another look."

"What are you looking at?"

Wang Wu raised his head and looked outside the city. "Let's see if anyone comes tonight."

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes. Just then, a small light suddenly appeared outside the city. It was far away, but very bright.

Then, more lights appeared. A cavalry force was charging out of the night. White horse. Silver spear.

A large flag bearing the character "Liu".

Cao Cao's expression changed.

"Close the city gates!" he shouted sternly. "Close the city gates now!"

But it was too late. Below the city wall, several figures were rushing towards the city gate.

One of them was wearing a coarse cloth short-sleeved shirt and was holding a pair of scissors.

Sun Fu.

He ran to the city gate and shouted to the soldiers guarding it, "Open the gate! Open the gate now!"

The soldiers were stunned for a moment, and before they could react, they were pinned down by the people who rushed up from behind.

Sun Fu rushed to the city gate and pushed the huge gate with all his might.

The gate was heavy. But he had help. All ten men had arrived. The city gate was slowly opening.

Cao Cao stood on the city wall, looking down at everything below, his face ashen.

"Loose the arrows!" he roared. "Loose the arrows!"

Arrows rained down. Some people fell.

But even more people rushed in. The white-horse cavalry had already reached the city gate.

The leader, dressed in white robes, held a silver spear in his hand—

Zhao Yun.

He reined in his horse, glanced up at Cao Cao on the city wall, then spurred his horse and charged into Xuchang. Cao Cao stood there, motionless.

He looked at the white horses, at the large banner with the character "Liu," and at the city he had guarded for twenty years.

Suddenly he laughed. That laugh was as bitter as gall.

"Liu Bei..." he murmured, "you've won."