Now Heaven has not abandoned our Han after all, and by good fortune it allowed me, Liu Bei, to meet a remarkable man like you, Xiao He.
Because you showed me the way, I was able to take Xiangyang and gain the strength to face the Cao Cao Army thieves in battle.” “I beg you, Xiao He, to come out and help me.
Assist me in destroying the Cao Cao Army thieves, setting right the realm, and rebuilding Han.
I beg you!” A heavy weight finally dropped from Xiao He’s heart.
This meal ticket that was Liu Bei had at last been placed directly into his hands.
Even so, the way it had been offered left him a little overwhelmed.
Who was Liu Bei?
He was the Han General of the Left, the Governor of Jing Province Province of Yu Province, the famous Imperial Uncle Liu known throughout the land.
He was the man Cao Cao had once named when he said that among the heroes under Heaven, only that lord and himself truly counted.
Even if he had fallen on hard times, he was still a warlord with power over one region.
Yet now, before all his subordinates, he had lowered himself and offered such grand respect just to recruit a wandering man from the mountains like him.
A ruler who could honor worthy men to this extent was rare not only in the present age, but in all ages.
At Liu Bei’s side, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and the others were briefly surprised, but soon calmed down.
They understood Liu Bei too well.
He had fought and lost, then fought again after losing, struggling bitterly for half a lifetime and ending with nothing.
Why had that happened?
Was it not because no one at his side had ever been like Xun Yu, a true talent fit to aid a king who could point out the road ahead for Cao Cao and make things clear for him?
That was why Liu Bei had visited the thatched cottage three times to bring Zhuge Liang into his service.
Now he had been fortunate enough to meet Xiao He as well.
In a single night he had gained Xiangyang, won a place to stand again, and recovered the means to contend with Cao Cao.
Faced with such a man, one who seemed sent by Heaven itself to save him in his hour of danger, how could Liu Bei not invite him with the highest courtesy?
“Liu Bei, why are you doing this?” Xiao He quickly helped Liu Bei up and pretended to be startled.
He said he was only an ordinary man from the countryside, someone who had merely stumbled into helping Liu Bei a little, and did not dare claim to be any hidden master.
As for helping Liu Bei with the great task of restore the Han, he said he feared he could not bear such responsibility.
So Xiao He politely refused.
A truly high-level strategist had to show some restraint and could not let his lord feel that he was too easy to win over.
After all, anything gained too easily was often not treasured.
Besides, Zhuge Liang himself was right there as an example.
If Zhuge Liang could make Liu Bei visit the thatched cottage three times, then making Liu Bei go through a form of three refusals and three invitations should not be too much.
That was what Xiao He told himself as he kept up the act.
Seeing him refuse, Liu Bei did not know what to do for a moment.
But the corner of Zhuge Liang’s mouth lifted slightly, because he knew this routine very well.
After a light cough, he stood and spoke with a serious expression.
“Xiao He, you do not need to belittle yourself.
My lord, I, and the others have all seen your wisdom and strategy with our own eyes.
If you were truly ordinary, how could you have predicted that Liu Biao would die in fear and that Liu Cong would surrender to the Cao Cao Army?” “If you were truly ordinary, how could you have offered my lord the plan that broke the deadlock in the Raid on Xiangyang?
If you were truly ordinary, how could you know the heroes of Xiangyang so well and recommend a fierce man like Wei Yan to serve as an inside ally?
In my view, your talent is ten times mine.” “I earnestly ask that you refuse no more.
Think of the people under Heaven, think of the rise and fall of Han, and stand beside me in battle as we assist my lord and restore the Han and the realm.
I beg you!” After piling praise on him from every direction, Zhuge Liang also bowed deeply.
Zhang Fei grew anxious as well and immediately stepped forward.
He looked ready to force the matter with sheer emotion if words failed.
“Xiao He, stop being modest and stop refusing already.
We are not blind.
We all know you are talent fit to aid a king, and we all know you have been hiding your true ability.” “Just agree to help my elder brother.
If you do not agree, then I can only kneel down and beg you!” As he spoke, Zhang Fei sprang forward and looked ready to drop to his knees in a sliding kneel.
This time it was Xiao He who panicked.
His polite refusal had only been an imitation of Zhuge Liang, a bit of ceremony before agreeing, and after Zhuge Liang’s praise, he had already been prepared to go along with the moment.
Who could have guessed that this blunt fool Zhang Fei would rush out and actually try to kneel to him?
If the third most important man in the group really knelt before him, then this little performance would have gone far too far.
The whole scene would become impossible to manage.
“General Zhang Fei, you absolutely must not!” Before Zhang Fei could drop, Xiao He rushed forward and caught him just in time.
After quietly letting out a breath of relief, he straightened his robes and bowed to Liu Bei.
His expression turned serious, and this time there was no more delay.
“I am only an idle man from the mountains, yet Liu Bei and all of you think so highly of me.
I am truly overwhelmed.
Since Liu Bei honors worthy men with such sincerity, I am not so ignorant of gratitude that I would keep refusing.” “Though my ability is limited, I am willing to do all I can to help the Governor of Jing Province Province of Yu Province restore the Han.
My lord, please accept my bow!” Xiao He finally boarded the ship.
Everyone felt relieved and let out long breaths.
Liu Bei was overjoyed and hurried forward to support him.
“I first gained Zhuge Liang, and now I have gained Xiao He as well.
How could I fear that I cannot restore the Han and revive Han?” Everyone laughed, and with that, Xiao He joining them was settled.
Afterward, they moved on to the victory banquet.
Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, and the other civil and military officials all raised their cups to Xiao He one after another.
Even Guan Yu, who was rarely in such a good mood, offered him a drink today.
The banquet was lively and full of excitement.
After several rounds of wine, Zhuge Liang gave a light cough and signaled to Liu Bei with his eyes.
Liu Bei understood, set down his cup, and said with a smile, “Xiao He, regarding your official post, this is what I have in mind.” “I plan to divide the original strategist position into Left Strategist and Right Strategist.