Three Kingdoms: Daily settlement helps Liu Bei revive the Shu Han dynasty.

In Liu Bei's camp.

Lu Yongzheng and Liu Bei were discussing follow-up matters when suddenly the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the tent.

"Report!" A scout rushed in to report:

"General Guan and General Zhao have sent back a message!"

"Our army has achieved a great victory! Over three hundred heads have been taken, and almost all of Cao Cao's army's supplies have been burned!"

"well!"

Liu Bei suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with surprise, and said "good" twice.

Lu Yong also smiled, thinking to himself:

"Cao Cao is probably going to have to fight Lü Bu on an empty stomach now."

"Lu Bu shouldn't be defeated by Cao Cao so quickly this time, giving us more time to prepare..."

Guan Yu and Zhao Yun led their troops back to Tancheng and joined Liu Bei.

Such a great victory naturally deserves a proper celebration.

With Cao Bao dead and Tancheng without a ruler, Tao Qian asked Liu Bei to garrison Tancheng in his place.

Unable to refuse, Liu Bei had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

The garrison of Tancheng was completely replaced by Liu Bei's troops, and almost everyone assumed that Liu Bei was about to take control of Xuzhou.

However, this time no one spoke ill of it openly.

Because for Xuzhou,

Although Cao Bao suffered a crushing defeat and was killed, losing nearly 10,000 soldiers, this was still a considerable victory compared to his previous record of repeated defeats.

For Liu Bei, this was undoubtedly an epic victory.

He not only took advantage of Cao Cao,

Furthermore, by eliminating Cao Bao, a major threat, it became possible to smoothly incorporate the remaining forces of Cao Bao and Xu Dan.

Tao Qian originally only had three capable fighters under his command.

But Zang Ba refused to obey orders or proclamations.

Cao Bao and Xu Dan are now dead.

With no other support, Tao Qian had almost no choice but to hand over Xuzhou to Liu Bei.

The senior generals of Liu Bei's army gained a new level of understanding of Lu Yong.

After all, they acted according to his plan, and with each step they took, the results far exceeded their expectations.

This is the advantage of having a top-notch strategist.

But Xuzhou was about to be captured, and Liu Bei was still somewhat unwilling to give it up.

At the banquet,

Feeling somewhat troubled, Liu Bei went out for some fresh air, his mind filled with a multitude of thoughts.

As he turned around, he saw Lu Yong sitting alone in a corner, drinking.

Watching Lu Yong sip his wine, looking completely at ease,

Liu Bei suddenly had a thought:

"Since the start of the uprising, I have only had my two brothers, Yun Chang and Yi De, by my side to rely on for survival."

We live as dependents, wandering from place to place...

Until he met Huai'an,

We then achieved a truly respectable victory and reaped results far exceeding our expectations.

If we don't listen to him about the Xuzhou matter, he might become estranged from us.

Even if we gain Xuzhou, losing a top-tier strategist would likely result in a net loss!

Liu Bei valued Lu Yong far more than he valued Chen Qun at this time in history.

But he was still really reluctant to leave Xuzhou.

After thinking for a long time,

Liu Bei simply returned to the banquet and brought a jar of wine and two wine bowls, then went to the corner where Lu Yong was drinking.

Upon seeing this, Lu Yong stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "My lord, what brings you here?"

Liu Bei pulled him down to sit, saying, "There's no need for such formalities between us. Huai'an, why don't you go inside and have a drink?"

"I don't like noisy environments; I'm fine with being alone," Lu Yong said with a smile.

Liu Bei smiled and had already poured wine for Lu Yong.

The two raised their wine bowls and began to drink together.

After three bowls, Liu Bei finally revealed his true feelings:

"Huai'an, I've been having some doubts... Can't we really stay in Xuzhou?"

Lu Yong had already sensed Liu Bei's dilemma and was just waiting for him to ask him questions.

However, instead of answering directly, he asked, "My lord, do you know a saying?"

"What did you say?"

"If you save the land but lose the people, you lose both the land and the people; if you save the people but lose the land, you save both the land and the people."

Liu Bei pondered these words carefully for a moment before nodding and replying, "That makes a lot of sense, but I've never heard it before."

That was said by the political commissar; of course you haven't heard it...

Lu Yong smiled inwardly, then explained:

"Xuzhou really cannot be kept... Besides Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Yuan Shu, whom I mentioned before, there is also Lü Bu, who is about to be defeated by Cao Cao and is fleeing to Xuzhou."

Liu Bei was startled: "Even Lü Bu is no match for Cao Cao?"

Lu Yong shook his head: "How could Lü Bu be a match for Cao Cao?"

Liu Bei fell into deep thought, then smiled bitterly: "Brother Bogui is currently engaged in a fierce battle with Yuan Shao, and the two sides are evenly matched."

Liu Jingsheng and Cao Cao were allies.

Yuan Gonglu was defeated by Cao Cao and fled in panic.

If even Lü Bu, who had seized Yan Province, is defeated, who in the world can stop Cao Cao?

Lu Yong couldn't help but add, "To be honest, my lord, in my opinion, neither Yuan Shao nor Liu Biao are a match for Cao Cao."

Liu Bei was stunned, and after a long while, he asked, "Then is Cao Cao truly invincible?"

Lu Yong's lips curled slightly, and he uttered a single word: "Yes!"

"Who?"

"Only you, my lord!"

Lu Yong's words nearly made Liu Bei smash his wine bowl.

He placed the wine bowl on the table and couldn't help but smile bitterly, "Yuan Shao, Liu Biao, and Lü Bu were no match for Cao Cao, so what merit or ability do I, Liu Bei, have to be his opponent?"

"You are indeed no match for Cao Cao now."

Because you are far inferior to him in terms of both foundation and military strength.

So we need time.

We need to accumulate funds and supplies, recruit talented individuals, and expand our military strength.

Only when they have enough capital will they have the strength to compete with Cao Cao for the world.

However, if we remain in Xuzhou, Cao Cao will see us as a major threat and will never give us the opportunity to grow stronger.

Yuan Shu, a short-sighted man who has always coveted Xuzhou, will surely seize this opportunity to launch an attack.

If we get bogged down in a protracted war, we will have no chance to grow stronger.

Liu Bei thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What if we align ourselves with Yuan Shao? Would the situation be different?"

Lu Yong was taken aback by this, then realized what was happening and tentatively asked, "Did Chen Deng and Chen Yuanlong speak with you?"

Liu Bei stared at Lu Yong in astonishment and asked, "How could you predict this so accurately, Huai'an? Are you some kind of deity?"

Lu Yong did not answer how he had "calculated" it; he simply explained it to Liu Bei:

"Chen Yuanlong is indeed an outstanding person."

He could see that Gongsun Zan, Yuan Shu, and Tao Qian were like grasshoppers in autumn, unable to hop for long, and he also disliked Yuan Shu.

In order to protect Xuzhou, he would inevitably seek a more powerful backer.

Cao Cao has already tarnished his reputation after massacring Xu Province, so it's unlikely that Chen Deng would go and join him now.

So now the only option left is Yuan Shao.

Moreover, both Chen Deng and Yuan Shao came from powerful and influential families. Yuan Shao, having gained Chen Deng's allegiance, would naturally treat him with great favor.

Liu Bei was somewhat bewildered and asked, "Wait... Yuanlong said he would be loyal to me, so why has he switched allegiance to Yuan Shao?"

Lu Yong looked at Liu Bei and shook his head, saying:

"My lord, you are still too naive... Chen Yuanlong is using you as a pawn!"

"..."