Even so, her bright eyes still slipped through the crack in the door to look inside.
At that moment, Xiao He had eaten and drunk his fill and was leisurely sipping soup tea, enjoying the comfort that came after a full meal.
His handsome face entered Guan Yinping’s sight, and she quietly thought that although he was strange, he did have a pleasant face.
“That felt good.” Xiao He rubbed his stuffed stomach and let out several satisfied belches, savoring the long-lost comfort of food and drink.
Now that his stomach was full, it was time to think about his future.
He was alone, without support, and completely unfamiliar with this place, so he definitely needed someone powerful to rely on.
At first, since he had arrived closest to Xuchang, going to Cao Cao would have made the most sense.
Unfortunately, he ran into a group of ignorant Cao soldiers who treated him like a madman and drove him away, leaving him miserable and nearly starving to death in the deep mountains.
So joining Cao was out of the question.
As for Sun Quan, he quickly dismissed that idea because a man had to keep some pride.
That left only Liu Bei.
No one was perfect, and both Liu Bei and Cao Cao had their strengths and weaknesses, but the key point was that Liu Bei treated his subordinates well.
Xu Shu was forced to defect to Cao to save his mother, and Liu Bei still parted with him on good terms.
When Mi Fang surrendered to Wu and caused Jing Province to fall, indirectly leading to Guan Yu’s death, Liu Bei still did not vent his anger on Mi Zhu and continued to employ the Mi family.
When Huang Quan was forced to surrender to Wei, Liu Bei still treated his family generously and looked after them well.
A boss this decent was hard to find even with a lantern.
If he followed Liu Bei, then even if great wealth and high rank were uncertain, at least living safely and retiring in peace should not be a problem.
He also would not need to spend every day on edge, wondering which sentence he had said wrong or what had made his lord suspicious.
Serving a ruler was like living beside a tiger, and that kind of life was not easy.
On top of that, he had been lucky enough to be saved by Guan Yinping, had met Liu Bei by chance, and had even been treated courteously by him.
This had to be fate.
If he did not seize the chance to secure Liu Bei as a long-term meal ticket, then would heaven not strike him with lightning?
Yes, he was absolutely going to cling to Liu Bei.
A trace of resolve appeared in Xiao He’s eyes.
Still, if he followed Liu Bei, then he had better be ready to suffer soon.
Cao Cao’s great army was about to head south, Liu Cong would surrender to Cao, and Liu Bei would be forced to cross the river and retreat south.
On the road to Jiangling, Cao’s forces would catch up to them and nearly wipe them out.
Only after surviving one deadly crisis after another would they manage to retreat to Jiangxia.
During that time, many civil and military officials would probably die beneath Cao cavalry.
If he followed Liu Bei, then he had to be mentally prepared to endure that disaster and walk once through the gates of death.
“I want Liu Bei as my meal ticket, but I only want the good dishes.
I do not want to swallow bitterness.” Xiao He sipped his soup tea and muttered to himself.
Three days later, Liu Bei was in the main hall with Zhuge Liang and the others, gathered around a map and discussing plans to resist the enemy.
Then the sound of hurried footsteps rang out as an adviser entered with a grave expression.
“My lord, Yi Ji has sent news.
Liu Biao passed away from illness several days ago!” Jian Yong rushed in shouting as he raised the silk letter in his hand.
Liu Bei’s body shook hard.
Zhuge Liang’s face changed slightly, and both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei showed shock in their eyes as well.
The few of them quickly exchanged glances.
Had that Xiao He really guessed it right?
Liu Bei stepped forward and snatched the secret letter from Jian Yong’s hand.
Zhuge Liang and the others hurried over as well.
After hearing that Cao Cao was leading his army south, Liu Biao had died from fear.
Cai Mao and Kuai Yue claimed they were carrying out Liu Biao’s dying order, and they had already installed his second son Liu Cong as the new lord of Jing Province, inheriting the position of Governor.
The words were written clearly in black and white in Yi Ji’s secret report.
“Brother Liu Biao, when I met you a few months ago, I never thought that would be our last meeting.” Liu Bei let out a long sigh, and both sadness and regret appeared on his face.
“Brother, that Xiao…
no, that Mister Xiao is incredible.
He really got it right!” Zhang Fei stared wide-eyed, his face full of amazement.
His attention was clearly not on Liu Biao’s death, but on Xiao He’s ability to know the future.
Guan Yu stroked his beautiful beard and voiced his doubt.
“This is news of enormous importance.
Cai Mao and Kuai Yue will certainly seal it so tightly that nothing leaks.
If not for Yi Ji serving as our eyes and ears inside the provincial government, elder brother might not even know yet that Xiangyang has changed so drastically.” “This Xiao He is only a mountain recluse, so how could he have learned such a secret before us?” Guan Yu asked.
Zhang Fei sucked in a cold breath and cried out, “Could it be that he really did study under some hidden immortal and learn the arts of calculating fate and foreseeing the future?” The two brothers, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, turned at the same time toward Zhuge Liang, wanting an explanation from this Crouching Dragon.
Zhuge Liang still refused to make a firm judgment, though respect could be seen in his eyes.
“I have always kept my distance from talk of spirits and gods, so I cannot speak carelessly on that.” Then his tone shifted.
“But the fact that Xiao He correctly deduced that Liu Biao would die of fear and that Cai Mao and Kuai Yue would install Liu Cong as the new lord of Jing Province cannot be disputed.” “No matter how he knew it, that alone proves he is no ordinary man.
My lord, I believe this man can be used by you.” “Xiao He, Xiao He…” Liu Bei repeated the name, and a hint of delight flickered through his eyes.
Jing Province truly was a land of talent, with hidden worth to be found everywhere.
In the eight years he had lived in Jingxiang, many able men had come to serve him, yet only a few could truly be called exceptional.
As for someone fit to support a king, there had been only one, and that was Zhuge Liang.
Now his niece had somehow brought back a young man from the mountains, and that man seemed to possess astonishing foresight.
It was like finding a treasure dropped from heaven, so how could he not be pleased?
“The military advisor is right.
This Xiao He is clearly no ordinary man, and now it seems certain that he possesses rare talent.” “If such a man is willing to remain and assist me, then my great cause of restoring the Han will gain another strong hand.”