Liu Bei spent the night in Chanling.
To be precise, Liu Bei brought troops and spent the night inside Lady Sun's residence in Chanling.
Inside the manor, Liu Bei's personal guards and Lady Sun's female soldier escorts stood facing each other with drawn tension, killing intent thick in the air, while the servants kept their eyes lowered and did not dare to breathe too loudly, yet inwardly they could not help but be curious. For a man like Liu Jingzhou, who was usually gentle and courteous, to deploy such a formation, this Lady Sun truly was not someone easy to deal with.
Following Liu Bei's instructions, several servants carried in a table and two chairs, then warmed a jar of wine.
With a wave of his hand, Liu Bei dismissed them. The servants withdrew as if granted amnesty, even remembering to shut the courtyard gate behind them.
Liu Bei sat down openly beneath the sparse stars and drifting night wind, poured a cup of wine, raised it, and said:
"Madam, shall we have a single-blade meeting tonight?"
"Stand down!"
A sharp command rang out as Lady Sun dismissed her female guards. She stepped forward and sat across from him just as openly.
With a snort, she seized Liu Bei's cup, tilted her head, and drained it in one go, earning a loud clap of admiration.
"Madam, excellent drinking spirit!"
Only now did Liu Bei take the time to carefully observe this new wife of his.
Her brows were like drawn blades, slanting down toward a pair of eyes faintly tinged with green. She was utterly different from Mi Zhen. The hand that held the wine cup bore calluses from weapons.
Truly, she carried the bearing of her father and brothers.
Liu Bei praised her inwardly, then added silently, except for Sun Quan.
A woman like this, if she were to command troops, then beneath Hefei's walls she would likely have chosen to counter-charge Zhang Liao rather than retreat.
Liu Bei shook his head slightly, refilled her cup, and continued.
"Does Madam think I feared you would cross the river to seek Zhou Gongjin and complain?"
Lady Sun drank another cup and asked.
Liu Bei shook his head.
"If Madam truly intended to cross the river, how would you have learned that I had my second brother seal the river?"
They fell into silence and drank together.
Liu Bei spoke again.
"Madam is reasonable, but the Jiangdong riders are of mixed quality. Tomorrow, I will have my second and third brothers select the capable ones and incorporate them into the infantry."
"If there are those unwilling to join the infantry and also unwilling to return to Jiangdong, then they can only be detained and later handed over to Sun Hou."
Lady Sun tightened her grip on the cup, took a small sip, and said quietly:
"You and I are one body. Husband may handle it as you see fit."
"There is another matter."
Liu Bei looked toward the female guards.
"The paper workshop at Hu Du River happens to lack a group of able women…"
One of the female captains stepped forward, chin raised.
"We are here to protect the young lady's safety—"
"As for Madam's safety, Chen Dao has followed me through life and death. The guards under him surpass even Cao's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry!"
Liu Bei cut her off sharply.
"With Chen Dao guarding her, there will be no danger!"
Chen Dao stepped forward in silence, planting his sword beside Liu Bei, fully armored, his killing aura restrained but heavy.
The female captain faltered under both Liu Bei's interruption and Chen Dao's presence, unable to respond.
Crash.
A clay wine cup shattered on the ground.
Lady Sun rose.
"It is late. Husband, why not retire?"
"The wine is not finished yet," Liu Bei said awkwardly, glancing at the shattered cup.
"Oh?"
A faint smile curled at her lips.
She said nothing, yet it seemed she had said everything.
Liu Bei tightened his grip on his dagger, stood up, and said:
"Then we shall retire together."
The two entered the chamber one after the other, separated by a few paces, and closed the door behind them.
Chen Dao remained outside, unmoving, stepping on the broken shards with a crunch as he stood guard before the door.
The female soldiers looked indignant but did not dare speak.
The next day.
By the Hu Du River, Guan Yu and Lei Xu walked along the riverbank like ordinary farmers, neither wearing armor.
"Zibu has endured much hardship on this journey."
The makeshift huts stretched endlessly, reminding Guan Yu of Zhang Liao.
Surrounded by enemy forces yet still charging forward without hesitation, no wonder later generations would enshrine him.
But what of himself, who would fall at Maicheng… how would history judge him?
"I am not the one who suffered. It has always been the Jianghuai people."
Lei Xu, having laid down his burdens, looked worn yet healthier than before.
Pointing at the huts, he said:
"When we first moved, there were over a hundred thousand. Cao's forces sent Yu Jin, Zang Ba, Zhang He, Niu Gai to harass and slaughter us."
"Even Tianzhu Mountain claimed countless lives. Those who reached here… almost none still have whole families."
"It was not easy."
Guan Yu fell silent.
Lei Xu laughed.
"General Guan, are you thinking of recruiting soldiers?"
Without waiting, he continued:
"Among the fifty thousand people, nearly all able-bodied men bear deep grudges against Cao's army. Even if you do not ask, they will seek enlistment."
"And Liu Jingzhou has shown great benevolence, but they cannot rely on him forever. Joining the army is also a way to survive."
Guan Yu said quietly:
"They have suffered greatly. They should have land and rest."
Lei Xu laughed loudly.
"General Guan jests. With the realm unsettled, where is peace for a home?"
Guan Yu nodded.
"I intend to build a navy. I have heard the Jianghuai people are skilled with boats, so I came to seek capable men."
He pointed north.
"Beyond here lies Xiangfan… without a navy, it cannot be taken."
He paused slightly, distracted.
Did he just see his elder brother walking past holding his waist?
Lei Xu's eyes lit up.
"In that case, I am willing to entrust all my troops to General Guan!"
Guan Yu hesitated.
Lei Xu laughed and continued walking.
"They admire you, General. But they are unruly. You must discipline them yourself."
"That is no problem."
Guan Yu nodded.
"And what of you, General Lei?"
"I wished to retire," Lei Xu admitted.
"But with these fifty thousand people, I must remain for now."
"Then come with me."
Inside Gong'an County.
A vast hall opened before them.
At its center stood an extremely detailed sand table.
Lei Xu leaned in, stunned.
This… was the Jianghuai terrain.
Every river, every contour, almost perfectly reproduced.
Soon, the others arrived.
Zhang Fei, Ma Su, Fu Rong, Fu Shiren, Xiahou Lan, Gao Xiang, Chen Shi, and finally Huang Zhong.
After greetings, Guan Yu announced:
"Today we conduct a simulation."
"If our lord holds Jing Province, how shall we take Xiangfan?"
Everyone studied the sand table.
Three tens of thousands of mixed infantry and naval forces.
Facing Xiangfan.
Ma Su spoke first.
"Why does Jiangdong not attack Hefei to divert Cao's forces?"
Zhang Fei waved dismissively.
"They are useless. Eight hundred broke a hundred thousand. They dare not fight anymore."
Ma Su stared at him.
"General Zhang, military simulations require seriousness. Do not joke."