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

On the eighth day of the fifth month of the seventh year of Jian'an, in Xuchang.

The city gates were wide open.

News of Liu Bei's arrival had spread throughout the city half an hour earlier. People stood on the streets, crowded into alleyways, and craned their necks to look towards the city gate. They wanted to see what the man who had defeated Cao Cao looked like, the legendary Liu Bei who had woven straw sandals and sold mats.

A group of people slowly walked in through the city gate. The one at the head was dressed in ordinary cloth and rode an unremarkable horse. His face showed the weariness of a long journey, but his eyes were bright as he looked around the city and at the people standing on the street.

Some people knelt down. Then, more people knelt down. No one shouted slogans, no one organized it. It was just so natural, one by one, kneeling down, like the wind blowing through a wheat field, layer upon layer, bending down.

Liu Bei reined in his horse. He looked at the kneeling people, at the upturned faces—old and young, men and women. Some were crying, others were just staring blankly at him. He dismounted, walked to the nearest old woman, bent down, and helped her up.

"Old man, get up."

The old woman looked at him, tears welling in her cloudy old eyes: "Lord Liu...it really is you..."

Liu Bei nodded: "It's me."

The old woman grabbed his hand tightly: "Has Cao Cao left? That traitor Cao, has he really left?"

Liu Bei paused for a moment, then said, "Not yet. But he'll be here soon."

The old woman released her grip, took a step back, and knelt down again. Liu Bei did not help her up. He stood up straight, looking at the kneeling people, looking at the city that had just experienced the ravages of war.

"Get up, all of you." His voice wasn't loud, but many people heard it. "From this day forward, the people of Xuchang are my people, Liu Bei's people. What Cao Cao owes you, I will take back for you."

No one spoke. But one by one, those who were kneeling slowly stood up.

The main hall of the imperial palace.

Liu Xie sat on his throne, his hands trembling. He had been waiting for five days. For those five days, he had stood by the window every day, gazing towards the palace gates. Zhao Yun had come to report several times that Liu Bei was on his way, that everything was going smoothly, and that His Majesty could rest assured. But he could not rest assured. Twenty years. For twenty years, he had sat in this position, watching one "loyal minister" after another turn into a "treacherous minister." Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, Guo Si, Cao Cao… each one came claiming to be for the Han Dynasty, and each one left wanting nothing more than to make him a puppet. He did not know what Liu Bei would be like.

Footsteps sounded outside the door. A eunuch rushed in, his voice high-pitched and trembling: "Your Majesty! Lord Liu has arrived!"

Liu Xie stood up abruptly. He wanted to say "Please come in quickly," but something seemed to be stuck in his throat, and he couldn't make a sound. He just stood there, looking at the palace gate.

The door opened. Sunlight streamed in, making him squint. A person walked in, backlit, his face obscured. Once his eyes adjusted, he could make out the person. Ordinary clothes, ordinary appearance, ordinary build. Standing there, he looked no different from any other commoner on the street. Yet, just as he stood there, all eyes in the hall were on him.

He stopped in the center of the hall, straightened his clothes, and then knelt down: "Your subject Liu Bei greets Your Majesty."

Liu Xie looked at him, at the kneeling man. Twenty years. Twenty years, and finally, someone truly knelt before him. He stepped down from the throne and walked step by step to Liu Bei.

"Lord Liu," he said, his voice hoarse.

Liu Bei raised his head. Their eyes met. Liu Xie's eyes reddened.

"You...you've finally arrived."

Liu Bei didn't speak, he just knelt there and let him watch.

Liu Xie reached out, intending to help him up. He pulled his hand back halfway, saying, "You...you get up."

Liu Bei stood up. The two stood facing each other, neither knowing what to say.

A commotion arose outside the hall. Liu Xie was taken aback: "What's going on outside?"

A eunuch rushed in, his face strange: "Your Majesty, the people... are all kneeling outside the palace gates, saying they want to see Magistrate Liu."

Liu Xie remained silent. He looked at Liu Bei. Liu Bei looked back at him.

"Your Majesty," Liu Bei said, "I will be right back."

Outside the palace gates.

Liu Bei stood on the steps, looking at the kneeling people. There were even more than when he entered the city, a dark mass stretching from the palace gate to the end of the street. Some were crying, some were shouting, and some were just kneeling, saying nothing.

An old man knelt at the front, his hair completely white, his back bent so low it almost touched the ground. Liu Bei walked down to him.

"Old man, get up."

The old man raised his head, his cloudy eyes filled with tears: "Lord Liu... this humble subject has waited for you for twenty years..."

Liu Bei remained silent. Twenty years. Another twenty years. Xun Qu had been hiding for twenty years, and this old man had waited for twenty years. He bent down and helped the old man up.

"Grandpa, I'm here," he said. "I won't keep you waiting anymore."

The old man grasped his hand, weeping like a child. Liu Bei stood there, letting him hold his hand. Behind him, the kneeling people raised their heads one by one.

---

At Shenshi (3-5 PM), in the Prime Minister's residence within the inner city.

Cao Cao sat in his study, holding a newly arrived military report. Xiahou Yuan and Ma Teng had fought a battle outside Wuwei City, both suffering heavy losses. Xiahou Yuan retreated thirty li, and Ma Teng did not pursue; both sides withdrew their troops. The outcome remained undecided.

But that wasn't what made him pale. What made him pale was another piece of news—Liu Bei had entered the city. He had come in person. Not with a large army, but with a few hundred personal guards, he swaggered into Xuchang.

Cao Cao's hands trembled slightly. He put down the military report, stood up, and walked to the window. Outside, the streets of the inner city were deserted. The soldiers who had once followed him were now hiding in their barracks, none daring to come out.

"Prime Minister." Xiahou Dun's voice came from outside the door.

Cao Cao didn't turn around: "Come in."

Xiahou Dun pushed open the door and entered, his face ashen: "Prime Minister, news has come from the outer city that Liu Bei has entered the palace and met with the Emperor."

Cao Cao hummed in agreement: "I know."

Xiahou Dun looked at him, hesitant to speak. Cao Cao turned around: "What do you want to say?"

Xiahou Dun gritted his teeth: "Prime Minister, this humble general requests permission to lead the troops out and fight Liu Bei to the death!"

Cao Cao stared at him for a long time. Then he smiled. It was a bitter smile, tinged with a hint of relief.

"Xiahou Dun, you've followed me for twenty-three years, and you're still so reckless." He walked back to the desk, sat down, and said, "Charge out? Charge out to your death? The outer city has already been occupied by Zhao Yun, and there are only eight thousand men left in the inner city. How far can you get if you charge out? Even if you reach Liu Bei, what then? Kill him?"

Xiahou Dun was speechless. Cao Cao stared at the lamp on the table, its flame flickering like his own mood.

"You can go now," he said. "Leave me alone for a while."

Xiahou Dun stood still, not moving: "Prime Minister..."

"Get out of here."

Xiahou Dun gritted his teeth and left. Cao Cao was left alone in the study. He stared at the lamp, at the flickering flame. Suddenly, he clutched his chest, his face turning deathly pale. A sharp pain surged from his chest, as if something had exploded inside. He doubled over, trying to scream, but no sound came out. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He collapsed onto the desk, knocking over the lamp.

---

At 5 PM, in a residential house in the west of the city.

Zhao Yan sat in the room with two jade pendants in front of him. One was his, and the other belonged to Xun Qu.

Footsteps sounded outside the door. Zhou Yuan pushed the door open and entered, his face beaming with excitement: "Mr. Zhao! Magistrate Liu has entered the city! He has already met with the Emperor!"

Zhao Yan raised his head. He had been waiting for this news for five days. He had been waiting since the day Xun Qu died.

"I understand," he said.

Zhou Yuan was taken aback: "Mr. Zhao, aren't you going to see him?"

Zhao Yan shook his head: "No rush. Let's settle things here first." He put away the two jade pendants and tucked them into his pocket. Of the 137 people Xun Qu entrusted to him, not a single one could be missing. He could see Liu Bei whenever he wanted. But those people couldn't be harmed.

"Zhou Yuan, have Wang Wu come over here."

Zhou Yuan nodded, turned around and left.

---

At the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), in a side hall of the imperial palace.

Liu Xie sat by the window, gazing at the night sky. Liu Bei had already left. They had talked for a long time. They talked about Cao Cao, the court, the world, and the future. For the first time, Liu Xie felt that sitting on the throne wasn't so difficult after all.

"Your Majesty," Zhao Yun's voice came from outside the door.

Liu Xie turned around: "General Zhao, come in."

Zhao Yun walked in and knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty, news has come from Xiahou Yuan that he fought a battle with Ma Teng in Wuwei, and neither side won."

Liu Xie was taken aback: "We didn't win? What do we do then?"

Zhao Yun raised his head: "Your Majesty, rest assured, no matter who wins, it will be too late to save Xuchang."

Liu Xie thought for a moment: "What about Cao Cao?"

Zhao Yun paused for a moment: "There's still no movement in the inner city. But according to our inside sources, Cao Cao vomited blood in his study today."

Liu Xie's hand paused slightly. Spitting blood? The person who had tormented him for twenty years, the person who kept him up at night, was spitting blood? He didn't know whether to be happy or sad.

---

At 9:00 PM, at the Prime Minister's residence in the inner city.

The study door was tightly shut. No one dared to go in. Xiahou Dun stood outside, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Zheng Zhushi had come, Cheng Yu had come, and Cao Ren had come too. None of them could get in.

"General Xiahou," Chief Clerk Zheng approached, "Should we break down the door?"

Xiahou Dun glared at him: "Break down the door? That's the Prime Minister!"

Zheng, the steward, shrank back. Xiahou Dun gritted his teeth, walked to the door, and knocked: "Prime Minister? Prime Minister!"

There was no response. He waited a while and knocked again. Still no response. His heart sank.

"Guards!" he roared, "Break down the door!"

Several guards rushed forward and rammed the door. The door opened. The study was pitch black. Someone lit a lamp. The light illuminated the room. Cao Cao lay motionless on the desk. There was blood on the desk, blood on the floor, and his clothes were covered in blood.

Xiahou Dun rushed over and helped him up, crying, "Prime Minister! Prime Minister!"

Cao Cao slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Xiahou Dun, a faint smile appearing on his lips: "Why are you crying? You're not dead yet."

Tears streamed down Xiahou Dun's face: "Prime Minister..."

Cao Cao raised his hand, intending to pat him, but lowered it halfway up: "Send the order down to the soldiers... to disperse."

Xiahou Dun was stunned: "Prime Minister?"

Cao Cao closed his eyes: "We can't hold out. There's no need... to send more people to their deaths."

Xiahou Dun knelt before him, sobbing uncontrollably. Cao Cao remained silent. He simply lay there, letting those people bustle around him. A jumble of sounds filled his ears, some distant, some near, seemingly related to him, yet also seemingly unrelated.

He recalled many years ago, when he was still a passionate young man. Back then, he was called Cao Cao, courtesy name Mengde, and served as the Northern Commandant of Luoyang. He believed that with enough effort, he could change everything. Later, he discovered that what cannot be changed should not be changed. Still later, he realized that those who do not wish to change will be changed.

Has he changed? Yes, he has. He's changed a lot. He's become someone he doesn't even recognize. But so what? In the end, he still lost.

---

At dawn.

The sky was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn. The outline of Xuchang City gradually became clear in the morning light. The inner city gates remained closed. But from the city towers, some people began to look down.

That was Xiahou Dun. He stood there, gazing towards the outer city walls, at the streets that once belonged to him but no longer did.

The sun rises. A new day begins.