People of this age were not fools, much less a ruler like Liu Bei or a strategist like Zhuge Liang.
They would never fall to the ground in worship just because he said a few startling things.
If he wanted Liu Bei to believe him, he would have to let the facts prove it.
So he did not press the matter.
“Believe it or not, the news will arrive within a few days.
We may as well wait patiently.” Xiao He acted as though it made no difference whether Liu Bei believed him or not.
After regaining his composure, Liu Bei turned to look at Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang understood at once and cupped his hands.
“My lord, rest easy.
I will inform Yi Jibo at once and have him gather news from the provincial government as quickly as possible.” As soon as Zhuge Liang finished giving the order, Xiao He felt his stomach growl again.
He had not eaten for several days before losing consciousness, and after lying here for most of the day, it had been nearly three days since his last meal.
“Well, Governor Liu, I haven’t eaten all day, so…” Xiao He gave Liu Bei an awkward smile.
Liu Bei stared at him for a moment, not understanding.
“Uncle, he’s hungry.
Can’t you hear his stomach growling?” Guan Yinping looked hot-tempered, but she was actually very observant, and she understood him first.
Liu Bei finally realized what he meant and burst into laughter.
He immediately ordered the kitchen to bring their best wine and finest dishes to entertain Xiao He.
Before long, the food and wine were laid out before him.
“Then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Xiao He truly did not stand on ceremony.
He grabbed his chopsticks and devoured the food, paying no attention to his appearance.
Zhuge Liang gave Liu Bei a meaningful glance, and the lord and his men quietly withdrew.
The door closed behind them.
“Strategist Kongming, how much of this Xiao He’s prediction do you think can be trusted?” The moment he stepped outside, Liu Bei lowered his voice and asked impatiently.
Zhuge Liang slowly waved his feather fan and answered in an even tone.
“Ever since the Yuan clan was destroyed by Cao Cao, Liu Biao had been troubled day and night.
He lived in fear that Cao Cao would one day lead his army south, so it is not impossible that worry made him ill.” “If he heard that Cao Cao was marching south and died of shock, that would not be impossible either.” At those words, Guan Yu let out a cold snort, his face full of mockery.
His voice carried open contempt.
“When Cao Cao attacked Hebei back then, my elder brother repeatedly urged Liu Biao not to sit back and watch.
He should have marched north and attacked Xu Capital.” “But Liu Biao refused to listen and insisted on defending himself, doing nothing but watch as the Yuan clan was destroyed.
Now Cao Cao has wiped out the Yuan clan and turned around to deal with him, so he is only reaping what he sowed.” Liu Bei raised a hand to stop Guan Yu from interrupting Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang paused for a moment, then continued.
“Liu Biao always favored his second son, Liu Cong.
Liu Cong also married a woman from the Cai clan, so he had Cai Mao’s support.” “the Kuai clan and the Cai clan are joined by marriage and have always acted together.
So it is only natural that Kuai Yue and Cai Mao would support Liu Cong as the new lord of Jing Province.” Then Zhuge Liang shifted slightly and spoke more slowly.
“But Xiao He is certain that Cai Mao and Kuai Yue will force Liu Cong to surrender to Cao Cao, and that is what I find difficult to believe.” “Even if Liu Biao truly has died, it would only have happened within the last few days.
His body would not even be cold yet, and they would already hand over the foundation he built over more than ten years to Cao.
That would be too disloyal, too shameless.” The meaning of Zhuge Liang’s words was clear.
He did not believe Liu Cong and those two men could be so utterly without bottom line.
Liu Bei nodded faintly, showing that he agreed.
At that moment, Zhang Fei stepped forward with a dark expression.
“If the strategist sees it that way, then this Xiao whatever-his-name-is has a suspicious background and is using wild talk to frighten people and make himself seem mysterious.
I think he means no good.
Could he be a spy sent by Liu Biao to test my elder brother?” The moment those words were spoken, Liu Bei’s expression tightened and he became alert.
Guan Yinping’s eyes widened, and she immediately pressed a hand to her sword hilt.
“Uncle, then I’ll go in right now and seize him for interrogation.” “Yinping, do not be reckless!” Liu Bei stopped his niece and gave a bitter smile.
“If Brother Liu Biao did not trust me, why would he have ordered me to guard Fancheng?
Even if he truly wanted to place a watcher by my side, he could have done so quietly.
Why go to such lengths and send me such a strange man through you?” Guan Yinping halted and rolled her bright eyes a few times.
He wore strange clothes, had a mysterious background, and carried all sorts of “immortal items.” Sending someone so conspicuous as a spy really did not seem like something Liu Biao would do.
“Then what exactly is this Xiao He?” Zhang Fei looked so anxious that he seemed ready to claw at himself.
“Did Mister Xiao not already say it himself?
He is the disciple of a recluse and has lived hidden in the mountains since childhood.” Liu Bei smiled calmly and gave a slight wave of his hand.
“Enough.
There is no need for all of you to be so suspicious.
I believe that although this Mister Xiao has a mysterious past and behaves somewhat oddly, he is not someone with evil intent.” “Even if his predictions turn out to be a false alarm, we lose nothing.
If he wishes to stay, I will treat him with courtesy.
If he wishes to leave, I will give him travel money and send him out of Fancheng with proper respect.” Once Liu Bei had spoken, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei looked at each other and could say little more.
Guan Yinping naturally did not dare act rashly, though she let go of her sword hilt with a small pout and muttered under her breath.
“My lord treats worthy men with humility and sincerity.
You truly bear the manner of the High Founder,” Zhuge Liang said, cupping his hands in praise.
Then he changed the subject.
“But whether what Xiao He predicted is true or false, Cao Cao is already moving south, and great upheaval is about to strike Jing Province.
My lord, we must prepare in advance and make our plans early.” Liu Bei’s expression sharpened at once.
He then led Zhuge Liang toward the main hall to discuss how to resist Cao Cao.
As he was leaving, Liu Bei suddenly thought of something and turned back.
“Yinping, you were the one who saved this Xiao He, so I will leave him in your care.
Remember to treat him with courtesy and do not be rude.” Guan Yinping froze for a moment, and by the time she wanted to refuse, Liu Bei had already turned and left.
She grumbled under her breath, complaining that her uncle had saddled her with trouble and that she should have known better than to save him.