Chapter Ten: Ceding Xuzhou

May 12th. Liu Bei scored a decisive victory over Cao Ren and pursued him all the way to Lanling County.

Cao Ren lost a considerable number of troops and horses, but since his vanguard and half of his central army remained intact, he managed to retreat to Lanling, where he prepared to face Liu Bei in battle once more.

Outside the city, the two sides engaged in a skirmish involving four to five thousand men. Liu Bei had a real chance to annihilate Cao Ren completely.

However, Xu Dan held his forces back, refusing to commit. He stood idly by, letting the opportunity slip away—a regretful turn of events.

As dusk fell, Cao Ren seized the moment to launch a counterattack and routed Liu Bei, forcing him to withdraw more than ten miles, gathering his scattered soldiers and fleeing southeast toward Xiangben County.

By May 13th, Liu Bei had returned to Yan County. Tao Qian, upon hearing that Shen Chen had come back to his hometown, summoned him at once to ask for his counsel.

Within the prefect’s residence, Tao Qian was in conference with his advisors. Besides Kong Rong, his trusted followers Cao Hong, Cao Bao, Chen Deng, Mi Zhu, and Xu Dan—the latter having failed to support Liu Bei the previous day and instead withdrawing his troops to Yan County—were present.

Shen Chen, whose predictions had proved accurate, was also called in.

Xu Dan, eager to preempt any blame, was already excusing himself, claiming Liu Bei had acted rashly and advanced carelessly into the night without knowledge of the enemy's situation, forcing Xu to withdraw for safety.

In the midst of his explanation, Liu Bei returned.

He instructed Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun to calm the soldiers, and then made straight for the prefect’s residence alone.

Still outside the door, he overheard Xu Dan pushing blame and stormed in, glaring furiously at him, “General Xu, I sent word for your aid—where were you?”

“Hmph! I saw you acting recklessly and charging without caution, and with night falling, how could I pursue the enemy? I withdrew for sound reason—what fault is there in that?” Xu Dan was surprised to see Liu Bei alive but quickly found an excuse to shirk responsibility.

Shen Chen, observing Liu Bei, saw a man whose features were both resolute and dignified, who, though disheveled, carried himself with poise—a figure who, at a glance, possessed a certain commanding presence.

“Reckless and rash?” Liu Bei’s anger flared. He bellowed, “It was you who urged me not to be timid, to aid Prefect Tao in Xuzhou. Once I took to the field and routed the enemy, you refused to move. What is your justification?”

Xu Dan feigned surprise, “When did I ever say such a thing? I merely followed the Prefect’s instructions to support you from behind. It was you who advanced rashly into an ambush. How is that my fault?”

“You scoundrel!” Liu Bei, incensed to the core, drew his sword, never before having encountered such shamelessness.

As the situation threatened to escalate, Kong Rong quickly intervened, “Xuande, Xuande, do not act in haste!”

Tao Qian, sensing his own failure—for he had assigned Xu Dan to assist Liu Bei, and regardless of Liu Bei’s actions, Xu Dan’s refusal to help was a disgrace—coughed twice and reprimanded, “Xu Dan, leave us!”

“Prefect!” Xu Dan tried to defend himself further, unaware his petty cunning had backfired utterly.

Tao Qian’s voice thundered, “Leave!”

“Yes, sir,” Xu Dan could only comply, defeated.

Liu Bei, still seething, was persuaded by Kong Rong to take a seat, his breath coming in angry bursts, clearly indignant.

Tao Qian, seeing his mounting fury, apologized, “Xuande, it is my own failure in discipline.”

Liu Bei rose and addressed him, “Prefect Tao, I came here out of loyalty and righteousness. In pursuing the enemy, I saw them lying in ambush on the main road and hesitated, but Xu Dan’s words provoked me, so I pressed the attack. By fortune, the enemy was defeated, and I pursued them to Lanling. Yet Xu Dan hid at the rear, refusing to support me, turning victory into disappointment. If you do not trust me, I shall return to my own lands in Pingyuan.”

With that, he turned as if to leave.

Retreat as advance?

Shen Chen, watching, could not help remembering this idiom. Yet, moments later, he dismissed the thought. If Liu Bei were truly so clever as to advance by feigned retreat, he would not have been goaded by Xu Dan’s crude taunts into pursuing a powerful foe and nearly landing himself in peril.

From what he had seen so far, Liu Bei was nothing but a brash, guileless youth—disappointing indeed. The future Emperor Zhaolie of Shu, at least for now, had not been tempered by misfortune. He was still young, hot-blooded, and far from possessing the composure he would gain in middle age.

Thinking it over, perhaps this was only natural.

Who were Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Cao Cao? The elite scions of the Eastern Han—children of the most powerful official families. For many, their starting point was where most people’s ambitions ended.

But Liu Bei? He came from humble stock, bearing a nominal imperial connection, yet not even formally entered in the royal registry—merely of Liu blood, with no genuine political status.

The education and environment afforded to the likes of Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were worlds apart from Liu Bei’s. Raised amidst the highest echelons of gentry, schooled in the politics and intrigues of great houses, their depth and subtlety were innate. Even the least of them, Yuan Shu, once dominated Huainan and nearly the whole of Henan.

Liu Bei was not yet their equal.

Perhaps, only after becoming Governor of Xuzhou and enduring tribulations among the likes of Yuan Shu, Lü Bu, and later, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, would he mature swiftly.

His current restlessness, immaturity, and lack of guile were his truest self. It was this very character that led him to rush to the aid of Beihai and Xuzhou at a word.

Yet, seeing Liu Bei as he was now, Shen Chen’s resolve to move his family south to Jingzhou only grew firmer. Xuzhou was already in ruins, and with Liu Bei’s present flaws, he was not someone worth assisting.

In all the Three Kingdoms, only two men were worth serving—Liu Bei and Cao Cao.

But Shen Chen had no desire to throw his lot in with Cao Cao. The man was notoriously unpredictable, given to harshness and corporal punishment of his attendants, and following him meant living in constant anxiety, with the threat of execution ever looming for the slightest misstep.

Moreover, the atrocities of slaughter and cannibalism associated with Cao Cao repelled Shen Chen utterly. Thus, upon arriving in this era, he had never entertained the idea of joining him.

As for carving out a kingdom of his own, he had once considered it, but his humble origins made that path near impossible.

Among all the warlords of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei’s pedigree was the lowest. Even Gongsun Zan had a magistrate for a father-in-law and was a pupil of the Grand Commandant, and he himself was both brave and rapidly promoted for his valor.

Without powerful patrons, there was no chance of securing territory; lacking connections, resources, or status, no talent would come to one’s banner, the people would not trust you, and the soldiers would not lay down their lives.

Thus, Shen Chen had agonized over his options for a long time before finally making his choice.

Alas, the timing was not right.

“Xuande, please don’t take this to heart…”

Seeing that Liu Bei was truly about to leave, Tao Qian, forgetting his own frailty, rose hastily to stop him, “This was the fault of a subordinate acting on his own. I had no such intention, truly!”

“Yes, Xuande, Prefect Tao has always been upright and sincere. How could he possibly distrust you?” Kong Rong also held him back, urging him to stay.

“Master Liu, do not be angry. The pressing matter now is to deal with the affairs of the province,”

“Governor Liu, do not let this cause injustice to Prefect Tao.”

Mi Zhu and Chen Deng also did their utmost to persuade Liu Bei to remain, and he finally, though still sullen, sat down.

Tao Qian, trembling, approached and bowed deeply in apology to Liu Bei, “Xuande, all this is because I am old and unable to discipline my followers. Please forgive me.”

Liu Bei, startled, rushed to help him up, “Prefect Tao, you need not say such things. My anger is for Xu Dan’s lost opportunity, not any fault of yours.”

“Alas,” Tao Qian sighed, then beckoned to Mi Zhu, “Zizhong, fetch me the seal of Xuzhou.”

“Er…” Liu Bei, puzzled, glanced about, exchanging confused looks with Kong Rong and Chen Deng.

A moment later, Mi Zhu returned with the Governor’s seal.

Tao Qian took it, grasped Liu Bei’s hand, and said with bitter sincerity, “Xuande, the realm is in chaos, the royal authority is weak, and you, as a member of the imperial clan, should support the dynasty. I am old and feeble, and wish to yield Xuzhou to you.”

“Prefect Tao!” Liu Bei was deeply alarmed, knelt on one knee, straightened, and with hands clasped solemnly replied, “Your words put me to shame. Though I am a descendant of the Han, my merits are meager. I only serve as Magistrate of Pingyuan and fear even that is more than I deserve. I came to help for righteousness’ sake. To suggest otherwise—do you suspect I covet Xuzhou? If I harbored such ambition, may Heaven forsake me!”

“Oh, I mean nothing of the kind!” Tao Qian protested. “My wish is sincere. I shall write a memorial to the court myself. Please do not refuse!”

“Prefect Tao,” Liu Bei shook his head. “We do not yet know Cao Cao’s next move. I have only just suffered defeat; it is likely he will come again to Xuzhou. The most urgent matter now is to drive him off.”

“Prefect, Master Liu speaks wisely. Repelling Cao Cao must be our first priority,” Chen Deng also advised.

Tao Qian hesitated, then sighed and nodded, “Very well, let us first discuss our plans for dealing with Cao Cao.”

At this time, Tao Qian truly did wish to yield Xuzhou to Liu Bei.

The reasons were simple.

First, he knew his own body—since Cao Cao’s massacre of Xuzhou, he had been coughing blood, aware his days were numbered. His two sons were incapable, and he needed someone capable of defending Xuzhou.

Second, learning of Xu Dan’s conduct had left him all the more dejected, for it showed his grip on Xuzhou was already tenuous—his trusted Danyang troops were no longer obeying orders.

At this point, Tao Qian’s authority did not even extend beyond Donghai Commandery. Zuo Rong had seized Guangling, while Pengcheng and Xiapi had been ravaged by Cao Cao’s slaughter. Langya was held by Zang Ba and Xiao Jian, each ruling their own fief.

From the start, Shen Chen had advised him: to save Xuzhou, he must first reclaim Langya, thus linking with Kong Rong in Beihai for mutual support.

Yet, Tao Qian felt his strength ebbing rapidly—he seemed to have aged a decade in a single month. Even his confidants were now defiant. How could such a feeble body hope to rule?

Thus, Tao Qian had no choice but to make arrangements for after his death.

After much thought, he saw that only Liu Bei could hope to hold Xuzhou. Therefore, he resolved to hand the province over, but Liu Bei, out of principle, steadfastly refused, leaving him helpless.