Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

In less than half a day, the news that Emperor Liu had arrived spread throughout Xia Pi.

From high-ranking officials to peddlers, everyone knew the news, which boosted the spirits of everyone in Xia Pi City.

Cao Cao massacred the city, and Tao Qian was defeated again and again...

This made the soldiers and civilians in Xuzhou extremely terrified, fearing that Cao's army would fall on them at any time.

Therefore, even though the massacre had only happened not long ago, many Xuzhou residents had already begun fleeing south for refuge.

Liu Bei's arrival was like a shot in the arm for the entire Xia Pi City.

At the banquet hosted by Tao Qian to welcome Liu Bei, countless officials and generals took the initiative to show goodwill to Liu Bei.

When Tao Qian saw this, instead of being annoyed, he repeatedly introduced and recommended people to Liu Bei.

The relationship between Liu Bei and Tao Qian cannot be said to be one of letting bygones be bygones. It can only be said that Tao Qian judged Liu Bei by his own standards.

When Tao Qian was in such a state of despair, Liu Bei's personal visit to Xia Pi was like timely assistance to him. It made Tao Qian, who had lost all his fighting spirit after repeated defeats, finally wake up and come to his senses.

"If Xuande treats him sincerely, I will entrust Xuzhou to him. What's the harm?"

Tao Qian looked at Liu Bei, who was surrounded by a large number of Xuzhou officials and generals, and there was a hint of determination in his cloudy eyes.

Tao Qian could only feel at ease after he entrusted his two sons, Tao Ying and Tao Shang, to Liu Bei.

When this impromptu banquet was coming to an end, Tao Qian, in front of all the civil and military officials, took out the governor's seal and tiger talisman that he had prepared in advance, walked up to Liu Bei and said.

"Xuan De, please accept this."

Liu Bei was so shocked by this sudden change that he sobered up and spoke quickly.

"What is Gongzu doing? We entered Xuzhou to help our friends and protect the people of Xuzhou. We have absolutely no intention of occupying the land."

Tao Qian said seriously in public.

"I know Xuande is righteous, but I am too old to guard Xuzhou on behalf of the emperor. The people of Xuzhou have suffered a massacre. How can I still have the face to govern Xuzhou?"

"Only a benevolent ruler like Xuande can govern Xuzhou. This is what people want. Please don't refuse."

At this moment, Tao Qian had completely let go of his obsession.

Be it money or power, Tao Qian no longer clings to them.

More importantly, Tao Qian believed that if he handed Xuzhou over to Liu Bei, Liu Bei would definitely not treat Tao Qian and his two sons unfairly. At the very least, he could ensure a stable life for those two fools, Tao Ying and Tao Shang.

Faced with the seal and tiger talisman placed in front of him, it was impossible for Liu Bei, who had the whole country in his heart, not to be moved at all.

However, regardless of whether this was a test by Tao Qian or not, Liu Bei's political wisdom made him realize that he absolutely could not take over Xuzhou from Tao Qian at this moment.

"No, no!"

Liu Bei refused again and replied.

"If Gongzu is worried about foreign enemies and wants to resign the post of governor, don't worry!"

"I am leading an army of 100,000 into Xuzhou to help Gongzu defeat Cao Cao and restore peace to Xuzhou."

Seeing Liu Bei's firm attitude, Tao Qian no longer insisted and had to retreat and say, "Xuan De may decline the seal of the governor for now, but please accept the tiger talisman."

After saying that, Tao Qian personally took the tiger talisman from the tray, handed it to Liu Bei, and said.

"Xuzhou has been defeated repeatedly because of my stupidity, but it is not the fault of the Xuzhou soldiers who are afraid of fighting."

"I have always known that Xuande has the ability to judge people, and he has never been defeated in the use of troops. I would like to ask Xuande to personally lead the Xuzhou soldiers to fight against Cao's army and give them a chance to avenge their humiliation with their own hands."

When Liu Bei saw Tao Qian holding up the tiger talisman in front of him with both hands, his expression was moved. He reached out to take the tiger talisman and said.

"In this case, I will temporarily take over the Xuzhou Tiger Seal and lead the Xuzhou soldiers to avenge the previous humiliation against Cao." "And I am willing to take the military order myself. If the battle is defeated, I am willing to commit suicide to thank the elders of Xuzhou."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was impressed by Liu Bei, and their morale was boosted.

Liu Bei also raised the tiger talisman to signal to everyone, his eyes firm and confident.

Cao's army was unstoppable in Xuzhou, and had never been defeated. This had become a nightmare for all the civil and military officials in Xuzhou.

But does Liu Bei have all of them?
I have Zi Kun, so what do I have to fear?
Under Li Ji's intentional and unintentional intermittent attacks, Liu Bei no longer dared to call himself "an expert in military affairs", but Liu Bei's confidence in Li Ji was as strong as Mount Tai.

Therefore, in order to boost morale, Liu Bei made promises in public without hesitation.

Tao Qian saw that Liu Bei had won the support of the people as soon as he arrived, and the morale was much higher than before. He felt complicated, and he realized that he was no longer capable of governing Xuzhou.

"All the soldiers of Xuzhou who see Xuande are like those who see the governor of the state. Anyone who is disrespectful can be executed by Xuande."

Tao Qian added fuel to the fire again and took the initiative to cheer for Liu Bei.

……

Liu Bei, who was temporarily staying in Xia Pi City, sent a letter to Li Ji, explaining the whole incident in detail, which shocked all the civil and military officials in the army.

In everyone's imagination, it was a bold enough idea for Liu Bei to go to Xia Pi City in person to resolve the past grievances with Tao Qian and let the two sides join hands to resist the pincer attack from Yuan and Cao.

What many people never expected was that their goals seemed to be set too low.

It was as if Tao Qian had fallen into the charm of the "beauty trap" and was actually willing to give Xuzhou to Liu Bei for free.

At that time, there were 7,000 cavalrymen under Liu Bei in Xia Pi City. Once Liu Bei took over the seal of the governor, even if Tao Qian changed his mind later, Liu Bei would have enough ability to control Xia Pi City.

Even after Liu Bei refused Xuzhou, Tao Qian still chose to hand over the tiger talisman to Liu Bei.

Zhou Yu said this with a somewhat strange look on his face.

"My lord, does this count as taking Xuzhou on a single horse?"

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately gained approval from everyone in the tent.

Cao Cao had tried so hard to get Xuzhou but failed, but Liu Bei only had to show up as a prime minister in Xia Pi, and Tao Qian couldn't wait to give it to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei's charm is truly beyond everyone's imagination.

Listening to everyone's praise for Liu Bei, Li Ji couldn't help but smile.

Only the expressions of Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang seemed somewhat out of place compared to those of the others.

Sima Yi simply thought it was a fantasy, and subconsciously, from the dark perspective of conspiracy theory, he wondered if this was Tao Qian's plan...

However, Sima Yi's rationality denied this speculation.

The reason is simple, that is, if Tao Qian really had such scheming and ability, why did he get chased by Cao Cao in Xuzhou and fled in panic?

As for Zhuge Liang, he shook his head and said.

"Teacher, Uncle Liu's move is indeed a bit too risky."

"As the saying goes, 'A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall.'"

"When Tao Gongzu invited Liu Huangshu to enter the city, Liu Huangshu also planned to leave the cavalry outside the city. If Tao Gongzu intends to set an ambush in the city, wouldn't Liu Huangshu be in danger?"

However, Zhuge Liang was also clear that it was neither reasonable nor moral for Tao Qian to attack Liu Bei, otherwise Xuzhou would really face a pincer attack from Yuan, Cao and Liu, and Tao Qian would be doomed to die.

However, Zhuge Liang still opposed Liu Bei's entry into the city. (End of this chapter)