Her anger vanished at once, replaced by delight and amazement.
She turned to Xiao He and asked what kind of immortal treasure this was, that it could see so far as if it truly gave a person sight that reached across great distance.
Xiao He did not explain.
He only took back the telescope, covered his mouth, and started yawning again.
“Since Xiangyang has already been taken, nobody needs to stay tense anymore.
Take this chance to rest a little.
Liu Bei should send orders soon and tell us to cross the river.” Then he said that he was going inside to sleep for a while, and they should wake him when it was time to cross.
He was too tired to hold on any longer.
Yawning, he went into the tower, dropped onto the desk, and fell asleep face down.
Before long, the sound of snoring rose from inside the tower.
Guan Yu, whose displeasure had by now completely turned into deep curiosity, asked Guan Guan Yinping what exactly had happened.
Slightly excited, she gestured as she explained that the strange object seemed to carry sight across a great distance, and through it she had clearly seen their banners raised over Xiangyang, which was why Xiao He had declared that Liu Bei had already taken the city.
Guan Yu and Zhao Yun exchanged doubtful looks, only half convinced.
Just then, a messenger came hurrying up from the south bank, panting as he climbed the tower and shouting news of victory.
He reported that their army had won a great triumph and had successfully seized Xiangyang, and that the lord ordered Guan Yu to hold Fancheng while Xiao He and the other strategists were to be sent across the river at once to discuss plans to resist the Cao Cao Army.
The tower instantly erupted with cheers.
Even Guan Yu, who rarely smiled, now showed a trace of joy on his red face.
Guan Guan Yinping also smiled and said that she had been right, because Liu Bei really had taken Xiangyang.
Guan Yu let the smile fade and turned his gaze toward the sleeping young figure inside the tower.
He thought to himself that nobody knew how many astonishing methods this young man still had hidden on him, and that Zhuge Liang had spoken truly: Xiao He was indeed unfathomable.
Then he stroked his beard and silently praised Guan Guan Yinping for bringing back such a priceless treasure for her elder uncle.
Meanwhile, Guan Guan Yinping was about to step forward and wake Xiao He, but Guan Yu stopped her.
Smiling, he said that Xiao He was different from them, so he should be allowed to sleep a while longer, and that she and Zhao Yun could escort him across the river after he woke.
After giving those instructions, Guan Yu turned and went down from the wall.
Guan Guan Yinping walked into the tower and suddenly thought of something.
She removed her cloak and gently laid it over Xiao He.
Then she murmured under her breath that it was a good thing he had not meant to insult her, or else, even if he was Liu Bei’s priceless treasure, she would still have beaten him.
As she muttered to herself, she could not help recalling the moment when he had “offended” her a short while earlier.
She pressed her lips together in secret.
Another faint blush quietly rose on her pretty face.
Inside the provincial government in Xiangyang, Liu Bei received the officers and officials of Xiangyang who had come to submit to him, greeting them one by one with a smile.
Among them were Ma Liang, Chen Zhen, Yang Yi, Xiang Lang, and Huo Jun.
Some were natives of Xiangyang, while others had only served there as officials.
For years, the Cai and Cai clan had controlled the political power of the Jing Province Province Army, keeping every important post in their own hands.
Because of that, many famous men and local heroes in Xiangyang had been sidelined and never given a real chance.
Among them were many who had never wanted to surrender to the Cao Cao Army.
Now that Cai Mao and Kuai Yue had taken Liu Cong and fled south, these people naturally remained behind and transferred their allegiance to Liu Bei.
So many talented men had come to him at once, and Liu Bei welcomed every one of them with full courtesy.
He treated them warmly and accepted them all without hesitation.
“My lord, Xiao He has arrived.” Zhao Yun stepped into the hall and delivered the report first.
Liu Bei brightened at once, rose from his seat, and hurried down the steps with Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, and the others to greet him outside.
He moved quickly, clearly showing how much he valued this meeting.
“Congratulations to Liu Bei on recovering Xiangyang!” As soon as Xiao He saw Liu Bei from a distance, he walked forward with a smile and offered his congratulations with cupped hands.
Liu Bei quickly stepped up to support him, his face full of gratitude.
His voice was earnest, without the slightest trace of pretense.
“If Xiao He had not shown me the way, I would still have been blind to the truth.
The one fleeing south now would have been me, Liu Bei.” “The greatest merit in taking Xiangyang belongs to no one but you, sir.
I am the one who should bow and thank you.” As he spoke, Liu Bei straightened his robes and bowed with cupped hands toward Xiao He.
The gesture was solemn and sincere, not something done for show.
Everyone present could see how serious he was.
“Liu Bei, you absolutely must not do that!” Xiao He quickly caught him and gave a bitter smile.
He said that he had only moved his lips a little, that the strategy for the surprise attack on Xiangyang had been drawn up by Zhuge Liang, that the army had been commanded by Liu Bei, and that the battle had been won by the generals and soldiers who had risked their lives.
If Liu Bei placed all the credit on him, he said, he would be too ashamed to accept it.
With a few modest words, he shifted all the credit back onto Liu Bei and everyone else in the hall.
He spoke gracefully, and everyone enjoyed hearing it.
Their respect for Xiao He rose even higher.
Liu Bei laughed heartily, took Xiao He by the hand, and led him into the hall.
He happily ordered the servants to bring wine at once, saying that he would drink with Xiao He until they were both thoroughly drunk.
The others followed them inside, all laughing together.
A little later, the victory banquet was laid out.
After several cups of wine, Liu Bei stood again, adjusted his robes, and walked over to Xiao He with a grave expression.
Xiao He sensed what was coming and quickly rose to his feet as well.
“Though I was born low and my ability is ordinary, I have always carried the will to save the state and rebuild Han.
My civil talent is lacking, my military skill is lacking, and though I longed to serve the realm, I never had the ability to bring peace to the people and stability to the state.
I struggled for half my life and achieved nothing, and I once believed I would waste away like that until old age.” “Only after I visited the thatched cottage three times and invited Military Adviser Zhuge out to help me did hope return to my heart.
Only then did I finally see a faint chance to restore the Han.