Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 122 Borrowing Others' Rice to Cook Your Own Pot
Zhao Yun left two scouts behind and took the troops, Wei Xiaobao and Xiao Qiao to Xia Pi.

Before returning to Xiapi, scouts reported: "Yuan Shu's general Ji Ling led the Xianzhen Camp out of Shouchun's east gate, destroyed Sun Ce's siege equipment, and captured Sun Ce's subordinate Han Dang alive. Sun Ce exchanged 300 carts of supplies for Han Dang and led his army back to Lujiang."

Wei Xiaobao said, "Brother, Lu Kang, the former governor of Lujiang, died of illness when Sun Ce was attacking Lujiang. After Lujiang fell into the hands of Yuan Shu, Sun Ce fled from Shouchun to Jiangdong precisely because Yuan Shu broke his promise and reneged on his promise to hand over Lujiang to Sun Ce."

Zhao Yun said, "I didn't expect Sun Ce to gather his forces so quickly to counterattack Lujiang, and even dare to launch a night raid on Shouchun. I'm afraid we'll have to confront him head-on sooner or later. He should not be underestimated."

After the group returned to Xia Pi, it went without saying that the Qiao family's father and daughter reunited.

Although Wei Xiaobao was thinking about what Qiao Rui had promised, he was more worried that Sun Ce would attack Shouchun again and the jade seal would fall into Sun Ce's hands again.

Zhao Yun and Wei Xiaobao told Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang in detail about Sun Ce's attack on Shouchun.

Zhuge Liang said, "After Sun Ce arrived in Jiangdong, he quickly quelled the Shanyue rebellion in the six counties of Jiangdong, beheading the Shanyue leader Yan Baihu and others. Not only did he unify the six counties of Jiangdong, he also incorporated the Shanyue army. Sun Ce is a man of decisiveness and ruthlessness, and it is precisely because of this that he was able to quickly unify the six counties of Jiangdong. However, it is also because of this that I am afraid he will soon be in danger."

Liu Bei asked, "Why do you say that, military advisor?"

Zhuge Liang said, "The Shanyue rebellion is largely linked to the various clans of Jiangdong. The four great families of Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang are particularly closely connected to them. Now that the Shanyue rebellion has been quelled, Sun Ce will inevitably take action against the four great families of Jiangdong. Unfortunately, this is presumptuous. These four families have been operating in Jiangdong for many years and have numerous loyal followers. If they become Sun Ce's enemies, they will probably stop at nothing to eliminate him."

My brother, Zhuge Jin, has lived in Jiangdong for a long time and once told me that the two brothers, Sun Ce and Sun Quan, have a disagreement over their attitude towards the four great families. I'm afraid this will cause internal strife within the Jiangdong Sun family."

Zhao Yun said, "I am also worried about the future battle with Sun Ce. If it is as the military advisor said, I am afraid that even Sun Ce will have great difficulty in capturing Shouchun."

Zhuge Liang said, "My lord, I have a plan that can help you capture Shouchun. Then we can wait and see what happens in Jiangdong. If Jiangdong is indeed in turmoil, we can seize the opportunity to take Jiangdong directly."

Liu Bei said, "I would like to hear what the military advisor has to say."

Zhuge Liang said, "After Cao Cao captures Wancheng, he will undoubtedly march north to prevent Yuan Shao from crossing the river. Yuan Shu is Cao Cao's greatest threat, and he will surely want to eliminate him as soon as possible. If you can use Cao Cao's hand, Shouchun can be captured."

Liu Bei asked, "Military Advisor, would you like me to borrow some troops?"

Zhuge Liang said, "Borrowing troops is not easy, but borrowing food is. Cao Cao has not yet discovered Bo Zhi's identity. If Bo Zhi persuades Cao Cao to send us to attack Shouchun, we will surely be able to obtain food from Cao Cao. General Qiao Rui has already surrendered, and only Ji Ling and Zhang Xun remain in Shouchun. Zhang Xun is timid and has no strategy, only good at flattery. If someone can kill Ji Ling in battle, Yuan Shu's army will be nothing to worry about."

After Sun Ce's attack on Shouchun, its defenses are probably no longer as strong as before. If we send Wenyuan to attack the city, we will surely be able to capture Shouchun."

Zhang Fei laughed heartily: "Leave it to me to kill Ji Ling in battle!"

Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei exchanged glances, then said, "Can the three generals surely kill Ji Ling?"

"Military Advisor, do you underestimate me?"

"Whether or not we kill the general this time is crucial to the success or failure of the Shouchun battle. Generals, don't joke around."

"If you look down on me, I'll issue a military order. If you can't kill Ji Ling, I'll let you chop off all my things!"

Zhuge Liang laughed heartily and said, "If that's the case, sign a military order with the three generals before we dispatch our troops. Bozhi, you will return to Xudu immediately. First, inform Cao Cao of all the progress in Xuzhou so that he can rest assured and not become suspicious of us. Second, find an opportunity to persuade Cao Cao to attack Shouchun. Once he's moved, he'll naturally seek our help, and you won't have to deliberately lure him in."

Wei Xiaobao nodded, but he felt a little unhappy. Zhuge Liang smiled slightly and whispered in Wei Xiaobao's ear: "Cao Cao has already captured Wancheng. You can go to Xudu and return in a few days. I will personally arrange your wedding then."

Wei Xiaobao smiled awkwardly and said, "I didn't say I wouldn't go."

Zhuge Liang smiled and said nothing.

When Wei Xiaobao returned home and asked Diao Chan and Shuang'er, he learned that Liu Bei had already arranged a house for Qiao Rui, and Mu Jianping had sent some daily expenses over, but had not returned yet.

Shuang'er asked, "Xiaobao, I heard from Brother Zhao Yun's soldiers that General Qiao is planning to marry both Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao to you. Is that true?"

Wei Xiaobao pouted as he took the grapes Diao Chan handed him and swallowed them in one gulp. While chewing, he said, "That's right, but there's one more thing we need to do before we can get married."

Diao Chan fed Wei Xiaobao another grape and asked, "Didn't you just come back? Why are you going out to do something again?"

"I want to stay home with you, but I'm the only one who can do this."

Shuang'er said sadly, "You went to Wancheng one moment, then to Nanyang the next. You just came back from Shouchun and you have to go out again. You have no time to accompany us, but you didn't waste a single moment looking for a wife."

Diao Chan laughed and said, "Xiaobao, Shuang'er is jealous, why don't you go and comfort her?"

Shuang'er said shyly, "I'm not jealous, it's you who is jealous. I just feel that if this continues, when will we be able to go back? I see Xiaobao running around every day, and I'm worried that he'll forget about going home."

Wei Xiaobao said, "This time we're going to Xudu to borrow food from Cao Cao, and then we're going to come back and fight Yuan Shu. After we capture this old man, we'll chop him into a stick, and then force him to hand over the imperial seal."

Shuang'er chuckled, "If I can be cut into a human stick, I'm dead. How can I hand over the stick? Even if I don't die, I have no hands. Am I supposed to hold the jade seal in my mouth and give it to you?"

Mu Jianping's voice came from outside the door: "Brother Wei, when did you come back?"

Wei Xiaobao stood up and grabbed Mu Jianping who had just entered. He then turned around and hugged Shuang'er and Diao Chan, laughing loudly, "No matter what method Yuan Shu uses to hand over the jade seal, as long as we have it, we can go home safely."

Diao Chan reminded: "Do you want to take your two unmarried wives back with you?"

Wei Xiaobao slapped his head and said, "Yes, including the first wife, the pretty wife, Zeng Rou and the princess, I now have nine wives. Now even the madam of Lichunyuan will envy me."

Diao Chan asked in surprise, "What is Lichunyuan?"

After Shuang'er whispered this to Diao Chan, Diao Chan chuckled, hit Wei Xiaobao and cursed, "How can anyone compare his wife with the girls from that place?"

Wei Xiaobao turned around and grabbed his three wives, shouting, "I'm here to buy your sex today, or I'll have to go out tomorrow!"

Wei Xiaobao made a fool of himself all night, and only said goodbye to the three women after noon the next day and set off for Xudu.

(End of this chapter)