Chapter 288 – Xu Shu’s Stratagem (2) (1/2)
Xu Shu’s Stratagem (2)
At Liu Pi’s tent.
They were at Baohe district in Yangzhou, located between Hefei and Shouchun. Shouchun was hundreds of miles away. Based on their current journey, it would take two days to reach. Originally, Zhang Xiu’s cavalry should be able to reach within a day but both Zhang Xiu and Liu Bei’s Army needs to replenish their provisions.
Liu Pi’s Army was the vanguard. The trrops in the center army had been replaced by the five thousand White Eared soldiers. Zhang Fei’s Qingzhou elite were at the rear. The most important part of the army would naturally be the one in the middle. The one at the center closest to the Lord and are the Lord’s most trusted subordinates. That was why Liu Pi was very happy when he left Yuzhou. This is because Liu Bei had let him control the middle army. Liu Pi was overjoyed from the feeling of trust. Everything then changed after Guangzhou. Liu Pi had caused Liu Bei to lose face. He was unable to capture a small city even after four days and even had thousands of casualties. Liu Bei no longer cared about whether it was to put on a show, he would no longer let Liu Pi control the center army. He also started to question Liu Pi’s ability, which was why he transferred the White Eared soldiers to the center army.
Liu Pi could be seen drinking heavily in his tent. Although he was not allowed to drink during march, Liu Pi no longer cared. Would anyone in his tent expose him? On top of that, Liu Pi was very depressed and needed to drink to relief his depression.
“Move aside. I want to see the general!” Outside the tent, someone shouted to two of Liu Pi’s bodyguards.
“General Liao. The Lord has already fallen asleep. So, General Liao Hua should go back.” The two bodyguards stopped him impolitely.
Liao Hua stopped and looked at the two bodyguards. “I have important things to tell the leader. Move aside.”
“Apologies, General Liao. But the Lord has given his orders. Without his orders, n.o.body can enter.” The two bodyguards continued to stop Liao Hua.
“If I am delayed in pa.s.sing on this important information, can the two of you take responsibility?” Liao Hua looked irritated. He actually did have important things to say.
“This…” The two bodyguards hesitated.
“Let me tell you. If you do not let me in to see the leader, when he finds out tomorrow, both your heads are going to be cut off!” Liao Hua intimidated the two bodyguards. Although Liao Hua’s information as important, it was not that terrifying.
“Ah.” One of the bodyguards was obviously hesitant. He became lost in thought and then told the other bodyguard. “You keep on stopping General Liao Hua. I will go in and ask the Lord to see if the Lord would allow him in.” He then said, “General Liao. Please wait for a moment.”
The bodyguard then entered Liu Pi’s tent and said, “Report. General Liao Hua is outside requesting an audience. He said that there is something important.”
“Something important? What do you mean something important? Can’t you see that the sky is dark? If there is anything, we will discuss it tomorrow. Ask him to leave. Say that this general had fallen asleep. Tell him to come back tomorrow!” Liu Pi then put the wine he was drinking onto the table. He was feeling annoyed. Who was the one that wanted to come and disturb him? Important matters? What could happen at night? Enemy attack? What a joke. The Xiliang armored cavalry is there. The center army also has the White Eared soldiers and at the rear was the Qingzhou Army. Anyone who dared to attack were also people sick of living. Liu Pi was also not a good for nothing. He had already sent sentries outside. There were sentries during the day and during the night. If there was something important, they would have reported already. With this in mind, he admonished the bodyguard.
“Yes!” The bodyguard was admonished without reason, making him feel depressed. He walked out, keeping Liao Hua in his mind. His mood changed when he saw Liao Hua and his speech became stiff. “General Liao. The Lord does not want to see you. He said to talk about it tomorrow. Come. Someone send off General Liao.” The bodyguard was not a commander of five thousand like Liao Hua. However, he still had four hundred subordinates and his job was not any lower in rank compared to Liao Hua.
“I will not go. I want to see the leader!” Liao Hua broke away from the two bodyguards and walked to the entrance of the tent.
“General Liao Hua. Please do not make it inconvenient for me. The Lord really did ask you to go back.” As the bodyguard had been scolded for no reason, he no longer showed a good expression to Liao Hua.
“General Zuo You. I really need to talk to the Lord. Please help me.”
“General Liao Hua. How many times do you want me to say it? This one cannot help you. Please go back!” Zuo You replied as he tried to make Liao Hua leave.
“I want to see who dares to even touch me!” Liao Hua was anxious. He had found an important piece of information in the evening. He wanted to tell the leader but the leader did not want to meet him. He was very anxious and took out his sword.
“Hm!” The bodyguard furrowed his eyebrows. “Liao Hua. I think you are trying to court death! You actually dared to take out your sword in front of the Lord’s tent!” Zuo You smiled with anger. “Arrest the rebel Liao Hua and then notify the Lord tomorrow!”
“Yes!” The other bodyguards took out their swords and faced Liao Hua.
“Protect the general!” Liao Hua had also brought a few people. They also took out their swords and looked at the bodyguards. “I want to see who dares to move!”
The two groups started shouting at each other for the other group to drop their weapons.
“Enough!” Liu Pi’s furious voice came out. All he wanted was to drink a bottle of wine and yet it was so difficult. He had endured a lot of anger in the past few days. He was removed from his position in the center army. He was also laughed at by Zhang Fei. Zhang Fei who beat up the Yellow Turbans definitely did not give any good impression to Liu Pi who was born a Yellow Turban. Now, when he was trying to drink a bottle and divert his attention away, his subordinates caused disturbances. At that moment, it was still in a good condition. If something had went wrong, they would start killing each other.
Liu Pi threw the wine onto the floor. He flipped the table and walked out with anger. He glared at Liao Hua. “If you do not give me a good explanation or your information is not important, do not blame me for disregarding old feelings!” Liao Hua’s opponents were all Liu Pi’s bodyguards and he dared to take out his sword. If one were to look at it meticulously, Liao Hua would be a rebel. Liu Pi would also lose face. If Liao Hua does not give a good explanation, he would really be executed.
However, Liao Hua was not afraid. He cupped his fist towards Liu Pi and said, “Leader. This general has an important report. Otherwise, this general would not be so bold. If leader is dissatisfied, leader would not need to act. This general would take his own life in front of leader.”
“Then speak.” Liu Pi was curious. What kind of information did Liao Hua want to give him?
“Leader. This…” Liao Hua looked around. This meant that it was inconvenient to speak there and he needed a quieter place for it.
“Hm. Come into the tent with me!” Liu Pi waved his hand impatiently. We even need to use the tent?
“Yes!” Liao Hua nodded and commanded his soldiers to sheathe their weapons. He then followed Liu Pi into the tent.
“Speak!” Liu Pi did not bother asking Liao Hua to sit.
Liao Hua also did not care and cupped his fist towards Liu Pi. “We have caught an enemy scout during the day.”
“Just such a small matter?” Liu Pi frowned. With such a small matter, just kill that guy. Why do you still need to report it?