I, Zhou Cang, am the number one tank in the Three Kingdoms.

"Could I briefly discuss this matter with Yuanzhi before informing you, sir?" Liu Bei still hadn't made a decision yet.

Pang Tong was not surprised. He stood up and said with a smile, "It's alright, please do as you wish. I will go to the courtyard to play the zither." After saying that, he smiled and walked out of the thatched hut.

Outside, the sound of a zither slowly rose, its melody sometimes gentle and graceful, like the beauty of a winding stream, and sometimes soaring and powerful, like the force of a thousand troops.

"Is what you're worried about, my lord? If we take this action, I'm afraid we'll be letting down Yun Chang?" Xu Shu asked, looking at Liu Bei's furrowed brows.

Liu Bei closed his eyes and nodded slightly.

"My lord, I have a plan that may persuade Liu Jing Sheng."

Xu Shu truly understood Liu Bei; when Pang Tong made this suggestion, he was already considering other options.

A moment later, the music stopped abruptly, and Pang Tong walked into the room with a smile.

"What have you two decided?"

Xu Shu bowed and said, "Shiyuan, you may not know this, but when our lord was defeated in Xuzhou, my second brother Guan Yu actually submitted to Cao Cao's camp to protect our lord's family."

"After learning of the lord's whereabouts, he fought his way back from Guandu to Xuchang, and escorted the lord's family back to Runan."

"If it were not for our lord's sake that we would abandon our families, we would be afraid that doing so would chill Guan Yu's heart and betray the Peach Garden Oath."

Pang Tong was somewhat surprised after hearing this: "Oh? There is such a wonderful story in the world... General, please forgive me, I really did not know that."

After finishing his statement, Pang Tong bowed to Liu Bei to apologize. Upon rising, he asked, "Since that's the case, it's fine if this matter is not permitted. But what good plan do you have for Liu Biao?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei told Pang Tong about the plan that Xu Shu had just come up with.

Pang Tong nodded, stroking his still sparse beard as he pondered, "That could work..."

Liu Bei was overjoyed and asked, "Since the third matter is also feasible, does that mean you have agreed to come out of seclusion and help me, sir?"

Pang Tong pulled back his embroidered robe and knelt before Liu Bei, saying, "General, you value me so highly, how could I not devote myself wholeheartedly to your great cause! My lord, please accept my bow!"

Liu Bei breathed a sigh of relief, helped Pang Tong up, and then looked at Xu Shu meaningfully, his excitement beyond words.

Pang Tong quickly packed his things, explained the matters to the boy after his departure, and then followed Liu Bei back to Xiangyang.

After entering the city, Pang Tong bid farewell to Liu Bei: "My lord, I still have a manor in the city, and I must say goodbye to my family."

"Regarding Liu Jingsheng's matter, my lord may proceed according to Yuanzhi's plan. At noon three days from now, all of us will be waiting for you at the Xiangyang Wharf."

"Alright, Shiyuan, please make yourself at home." Liu Bei also bowed to Pang Tong in farewell.

Back at Liu Biao's residence, Liu Bei told Zhou Cang and Zhang Quan about how he had persuaded Pang Tong to join him, and the group was filled with emotion once again.

The next day, Liu Bei, Xu Shu, and several attendants arrived at Kuai Yue's residence with gifts.

"I was unaware of your presence, Your Excellency. I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you properly. Please forgive me!" Kuai Yue rushed out in a panic and welcomed everyone into the mansion.

After exchanging pleasantries, Kuai Yue looked at the gold and silk gifts Liu Bei had sent and asked Liu Bei with a puzzled expression, "What is the meaning of this, my lord?"

"The alliance between Liu Bei and Lord Jingsheng today is entirely due to your assistance, sir, so I have come to express my gratitude!" Liu Bei solemnly bowed to Kuai Yue.

"Uh, Your Excellency's northern expedition against the rebellious ministers is a righteous act, and Jingzhou should naturally assist you. It is not my achievement!" Kuai Yue quickly waved his hand.

"I just heard a few days ago that you, my lord, wish to rebuild Hefei. I think you should think it over carefully." Before Liu Bei and the others could speak, Kuai Yue took the initiative to bring up the topic.

"We have come for this very reason," Xu Shu interjected from the side.

"Oh?" Kuai Yue was somewhat surprised and quickly dismissed the servants.

"May I ask you, sir, who is the enemy of Jingzhou?" Xu Shu asked.

"Cao Cao of Xuchang, Sun Quan of Jiangdong," Kuai Yue replied without hesitation.

"Now our lord has raised a righteous army to launch a northern expedition against Cao Cao, occupying Yancheng and connecting with Bowang, thus establishing a northern barrier for Jingzhou."

"What does Yuanzhi mean?" Kuai Yue seemed to have guessed the conditions Xu Shu had proposed this time.

Xu Shu nodded.

Kuai Yue stood up and paced back and forth, saying, "Sun Quan of Jiangdong, my Jingzhou has a blood feud with him for killing my father. But Jiangdong is not like the Central Plains. It has the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, and its troops are well-trained and its provisions are plentiful."

"Although Huang Zu guarded Jiangxia to resist them, the wolves in Jiangdong have ambitions, and our lord is often worried about their expansion."

Before Kuai Yue could continue, Liu Bei said directly, "If we can rebuild Hefei with the assistance of Lord Jing Sheng, I am willing to defend against Sun Quan in the east and ensure ten years of peace and tranquility for Jingzhou!"

"If Cao Cao and Sun Quan attack at the same time, how will you, General, defend yourself?"

Kuai Yue did not question Liu Bei's motives; he only had some doubts about Liu Bei's strength and whether he could withstand fighting on two fronts in the north and east.

"Liu Bei is not a single person. Yuan Shao of Hebei, Ma Teng of Xiliang, and even Chen Deng of Guangling are all old friends of Liu Bei. If there is trouble in Jingzhou, heroes from all directions can share the burden for Lord Jingsheng."

Kuai Yue was skeptical.

If you, Liu Bei, have such abilities, why do you need to come to my Jingzhou to seek help?

That's a bit too much talk...

Seeing that Kuai Yue was still hesitating, Xu Shu continued, "This time, the matter of Li Shu in Lujiang was handled with the assistance of Chen Deng from Guangling."

Kuai Yue suddenly realized why Li Shu had chosen to submit to Liu Bei, with whom he had no prior relationship; it turned out that Chen Deng had secretly helped him.

Just as they were struggling with this decision, another servant of Liu Bei rushed over and handed them an urgent letter that he said was sent by Sun Qian from Xiliang.

All three showed surprise. When Xu Shu took the letter, he saw that Ma Teng had agreed to Liu Bei's request to send troops. He would soon lead his troops eastward to capture Chang'an and help Liu Bei attack Cao Cao.

Xu Shu was overjoyed and handed the letter directly to Kuai Yue for reading: "Lord Yidu, this letter is enough to prove that what my lord said is true."

After reading the letter, Kuai Yue slowly dispelled his doubts and bowed to the two men, saying, "This matter is of great importance. I am willing to go to the lord's residence in person to discuss it. Please return to your residences for now and await good news."

As soon as Liu Bei and his companion left, Kuai Yue immediately began preparations and headed to Liu Biao's residence.

Meanwhile, in Huaili, Sili, in the Xiliang army camp, Sun Qian felt very strange.

He had already received a reply from Ma Teng and was preparing to return to Runan, but Ma Dai, one of Ma Teng's subordinates, kept telling him that Ma Teng was unable to come to see him.

But then I thought, since Ma Teng's reply had already been sent to Jingzhou several days ago, the mission was complete, so there was no big problem.

So Sun Qian said goodbye to Ma Dai and left Huaili, heading straight to Wancheng to return to Runan.

After seeing Sun Qian off, Ma Dai returned to a side tent, where a man had been waiting for a long time. This man had a face as white as powder, lips as red as cinnabar, a slender waist and broad shoulders, wore a silver crown and a white robe. He was none other than Ma Chao of Xiliang.

"How is Mr. Sun Qian?" Ma Chao asked as soon as he saw Ma Dai.

"I have seen him leave with my own eyes, but... if my uncle blames me for this, how will my brother explain it?" Ma Dai still had some concerns.

"I have my own way of dealing with this," Ma Chao replied dismissively.

As the two were talking, Ma Teng led a group of officers into the tent.

"Mengqi, why did Liu Shijun's envoy leave without saying goodbye?" Ma Teng looked at Ma Chao with a puzzled expression.

After Sun Qian's visit that day, he explained the advantages and disadvantages to Ma Teng, but Ma Teng remained hesitant about whether to send troops. So Ma Chao suggested that his father not see Sun Qian for the time being and reply after he had thought it through.

Unexpectedly, just now, someone came to report that Sun Qian had left. Ma Teng found this very strange and came over to inquire in person.

Ma Chao immediately knelt before Ma Teng and said, "Father, you have been misled by Zhong Yao and are hesitant to make a decision. I have already taken it upon myself to agree to the envoy's request to send troops to attack Cao Cao in the near future. I beg you to punish me, Father!"

Ma Teng was instantly enraged, his beard trembling wildly. Pointing at Ma Chao, he roared, "You greenhorn! How dare you make such a crucial decision! Do you intend to destroy my foundation?!"

"Guards! Seize this unfilial son—"

"Drag him out and behead him!"