Chapter 3: Blustering Deceit
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He noticed that the other party’s thoughts were unguarded, his expression shifting repeatedly with each word spoken, clearly having fully fallen into his rhythm. Instantly elated, he pressed harder: “Moreover, Yuan Shu has made too many enemies—Cao Cao to the north, Liu Biao to the west, and Liu Yao to the east—all governors controlling their own provinces. Cao Cao has repeatedly defeated Yuan Shu, beating him so thoroughly that he fled with only a remnant army into Jiujiang Commandery. Liu Biao even sent Huang Zu to decisively slay Sun Jian, severing one of Yuan Shu’s arms.”
“Does the general find it strange that Xuzhou neighbors Jiujiang, and that Yuan Shu and Governor Tao are allies? Yet this time my father, entrusted by Governor Tao, took over Xuzhou, while Yuan Shu seems utterly indifferent?”
Cao Bao, struck by Liu Feng’s question, couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of agreement.
Indeed, Yuan Shu had always been ambitious and greedy, coveting Xuzhou for a long time. So why was he so restrained and cautious now?
By this point, Cao Bao was completely caught up in Liu Feng’s cadence.
At first, he secretly mocked Liu Feng’s youthful arrogance—Cao Cao, Kong Rong, Tian Kai, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu—each was a hero of the realm, renowned far and wide.
And here was this mere boy, daring to name them outright, utterly impolite.
But as he listened on, Cao Bao was deeply impressed by Liu Feng’s broad vision, magnanimity, and his profound understanding of the world.
Cao Bao was no ordinary man himself—he was Tao Qian’s right-hand man, commanding Xuzhou’s military affairs.
Almost all intelligence Tao Qian received was shared with him.
It was precisely this experience that allowed him to affirm everything Liu Feng said was accurate; in fact, many of the details Liu Feng revealed were things Cao Bao himself had been ignorant of.
This realization was chilling to ponder—could it be that Liu Bei, this “big-eared thief,” was secretly hiding several cunning strategies?
But at this moment, Cao Bao set aside such suspicions. What intrigued him more was why Yuan Shu was acting so abnormally.
He was the first to respond to Liu Feng, clearing his throat politely and gently inquiring, “Oh, in the opinion of your esteemed nephew, why is General Yuan Shu behaving so unusually?”
Liu Feng’s expression was calm, but inwardly he was pleased by Cao Bao’s reaction: “That is because Yuan Shu simply cannot spare the attention for Xuzhou.
“Since suffering a heavy blow from Cao Mengde, Yuan Shu fled to Jiujiang, his power greatly diminished, yet he remains arrogant and domineering.
“A few months ago, the court appointed Liu Yao, of the Donglai royal family, as Governor of Yangzhou. Yuan Shu, driven by greed, schemed to hold Liu Yao hostage, intending to use this appointment from the court as a pretext to expand his plundering and conquer all of Yangzhou.
“Therefore, he specially dispatched his generals Wu Jing and Sun Ben to escort Liu Yao to Qu’e to assume office.”
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“But Liu Yao was no mere commoner; holding a court-sanctioned position, he played a cunning trick. Right under Wu Jing and Sun Ben’s noses, he successfully rallied the support of local powerful clans in Jiangdong.”
“Wu Jing and Sun Ben were notorious for their arrogance and extortion, having long caused resentment among the local gentry and elites in Yangzhou. With Liu Yao wielding the court’s legitimacy, his call for resistance instantly changed the tide in Jiangdong. Wherever his summons reached, every county and district in the region obeyed. These localities, having suffered Yuan Shu’s oppression, now turned their backs on him.”
“Seeing the situation deteriorate, Wu Jing and Sun Ben attempted to suppress Liu Yao by force.”
“But Liu Yao, with generals Fan Neng and Zhang Ying, won battle after battle, forcing Wu Jing and Sun Ben to lose their foothold in Jiangdong and retreat north of the river.”
“After this battle, Liu Yao’s prestige soared, securing the full support of the counties in Jiangdong. At present, he is locked in fierce combat with Yuan Shu along the Jianghuai region, showing no signs of losing ground.”
“Meanwhile, Liu Biao in Jingzhou to the west sees this opportunity and is eager to strike at Yuan Shu’s flank. Yuan Shu is beset by fires on all sides, suffering greatly, with no time left to focus on Xuzhou.”
Seeing Cao Bao’s look of sudden comprehension, Liu Feng smiled inwardly. He naturally would not reveal that by next year, Yuan Shu would stabilize his position.
And the first thing this “drought devil” would do once freed up would be to launch an all-out assault on Xuzhou, leading 40,000 elite troops under Ji Ling from Guangling directly to Xiapi, forcing Liu Bei and Guan Yu to muster their forces in a desperate struggle along the Xuyi-Huaiyin front, locked in stalemate.
As is well known, this gave Lü Bu yet another chance to sneak in and seize the opportunity.
And the spark that gave Lü Bu this chance was none other than the head of the man sitting before him—Lieutenant Colonel Cao Bao.
“Even if, at this moment, the general surrendered to Yuan Shu, he would likely only be used to stall Cao Cao’s advance southward. Pardon my bluntness, but if the general could truly withstand Cao Cao, why would he ever submit to Yuan Shu?”
Cao Bao felt a heavy weight pressing on his chest, yet he was convinced by Liu Feng’s penetrating and accurate analysis.
At the same time, even greater anxiety and dread engulfed him, causing an involuntary sigh to escape his lips: “Ah, in these circumstances, where can Bao possibly turn?”
The moment the words left his mouth, Cao Bao immediately regretted them.
The man before him was Liu Bei’s son, and Liu Bei was his direct superior.
To ask one’s superior, in front of his own son, about one’s future prospects—that was a clear act of betrayal.
As Cao Bao anxiously watched Liu Feng’s reaction, Liu Feng suddenly rose and quickly stepped in front of him.
Though Liu Feng was no more than ten years old and barely over five feet tall, Cao Bao lost his composure and instinctively leaned back to avoid him.
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Seeing Cao Bao’s loss of composure, Liu Feng ignored it, his eyes blazing with intensity as he fixed his gaze on Cao Bao and declared passionately, “General, your path lies with my father!”
Cao Bao lowered his face uneasily. “With Lord Liu?”
“The general hesitates only because he fears my father’s friendship with Chen Yuanlong and his lack of ties with Governor Tao’s former followers, and worries my father may not tolerate the general. But Governor Tao’s men are Governor Tao’s men, and you are the general. My father and you share a bond forged in life and death at the Battle of Tandong.”
Upon hearing this, Cao Bao couldn’t help but recall the Battle of Tandong.
In that engagement, the allied forces of Tao and Liu were in fact defeated by Cao Cao.
Yet among Liu Bei’s ranks, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun distinguished themselves, breaking formations and covering the rear with great valor.
It was their outstanding performance that allowed the allied forces to retreat smoothly, defeated but unbroken, preserving their strength.
A thought rose in Cao Bao’s mind: perhaps only Liu Xuande, blessed with such mighty generals, could hold back Cao Mengde.
But then Cao Bao shook his head. “Young master, there are matters you do not fully understand. Bao does not disrespect Lord Xuande; it is that Lord Xuande is reluctant to trust and draw close to men like us.”
“You need not worry so much,” Liu Feng said carelessly. “But since you have these concerns, I, though but a mere boy, have a way to forge mutual trust between my father and you.”
Cao Bao, half-believing, half-doubtful, asked, “Oh? If you have such a method, I am eager to hear it.”
Liu Feng knew the crucial moment had arrived; all the prior groundwork led to this instant.
Whether his father could secure a foothold in Xuzhou now hinged on this step.
Taking a deep breath, Liu Feng looked at Cao Bao and spoke six words: “Feng wishes to marry your daughter.”
Cao Bao stared in stunned disbelief, unable to believe what he had just heard.