Chapter 367 (1/2)

Jia Xu’s words made Liu Mang feel horrified. He had a bad feeling as he felt Jia Xu’s gaze. Liu Mang started to have malicious intentions. He started to believe that Jia Xu is a pervert. If that is the case, Liu Mang had to get rid of him even if it would provoke Jia Xu into taking revenge.

Fortunately, what Jia Xu said next allowed Liu Mang to relax. “I have already taken note of Lu Bu from a long time ago. He failed in an earlier a.s.sessment. Although people change in time, it is difficult to change that much. His change must be because of a person by his side. These people are not Chen Gong, Gao Shun or Zhang Liao as he would have already changed much earlier if it was true.” Zhang Liao and Gao Shun were Lu Bu’s subordinate and although Chen Gong came much later, he had also worked with Lu Bu for about ten years. These people could not change Lu Bu. If Lu Bu could have changed, Chen Gong would not have considered betraying Lu Bu to work for Yuan Shu.

“What about his family? Lady Yan, is a virtuous wife so that is impossible. Lady Cao of Xuzhou is Cao Bao’s daughter. She is also someone who does not have her own opinion so this is impossible as well. The only possibility here is Lady Ren.” Liu Mang did not expect that Jia Xu would consider even Lu Bu’s families in his a.s.sessment.

Jia Xu had met Lady Ren before. Even he could not help but feel fear as this woman was used by w.a.n.g Yun to plot against Dong Zhuo. It is not that she did not use Lu Bu to plot against w.a.n.g Yun. She had the reputation of Diao Chan. Although she was known as w.a.n.g Yun’s adopted daughter, she was really just his maidservant. If Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu did not exist, she would end up as w.a.n.g Yun’s concubine. That would have been her best ending. At worst, she would simply grow old and lose her beauty before dying in grief. Now, Diao Chan had found her Mister Perfect. This was already remarkable. However, she could not have changed Lu Bu much as Lady Ren did not know much.

What she knew was deception and family matters. She would not think much further than that. There were very few women who were as competent as Wu Zetian.

In other words, the only person that could have made Lu Bu change this much was Liu Mang. Jia Xu did not know of the process but he knew of the outcome. He had been shocked when Liu Mang first appeared and helped Lu Bu break out of Xiapi. After all, the strategy to besiege Xiapi and flood it had been made by Guo Jia. It could even be said that Lu Bu already had no hope of surviving. However, Lu Bu managed to escape when Cao Cao became negligent after obtaining victory. Cao Cao had also almost been killed.

Jia Xu initially thought that all this was planned by Chen Gong and did not think too much of the incident. After that, Liu Mang appeared once again to break through a siege. Not only did they manage to escape but two of Cao Cao’s generals, Cao Chun and Li Dian had died. From then on, Jia Xu started to pay more attention.

Liu Mang showed outstanding talent after Mount Bagong. Cao Cao who wanted to sow dissension between Liu Mang and Lu Bu granted Liu Mang the t.i.tle of King of Shu. After that was the battle at Wancheng where Liu Mang repelled the Little Conqueror’s siege. He even caused Sun Ce’s Army to be completely routed. This caused Liu Mang to become extremely famous. After that was the recruitment order and the battle of Yangzhou. All this showed Jia Xu that Liu Mang had the appearance of a Lord. It also confirmed Jia Xu’s suspicion that Liu Mang was the person that changed Lu Bu.

Jia Xu came here to rely on Liu Mang but unfortunately, he realized that he may have gone to the wrong person. He felt that he have overestimated Liu Mang and that it was unlikely for him to enter Liu Mang’s Army.

“For Mister Wenhe to come to Shouchun to seek asylum from me and my father-in-law makes me feel touched. However, you still have not told us who are the other two Lords that you could choose serve.” Liu Mang wanted to know who were the other two Lords that caught Jia Xu’s fancy.

“One of them is Sun Ce who inherited his father’s legacy. When he left Yuan Shu, he exchanged the Imperial Seal for three thousand soldiers which he used to unify Jiangdong. He was only twenty six at that time. He is ambitious and have powerful generals. Don’t you think this person can also be a Lord worthy to serve?” Jia Xu saw that Liu Mang wanted to listen and did not mind. He wanted Liu Mang to know that he is not the only one that Jia Xu could serve.

“Of course!” Liu Mang nodded without hesitation. Although Sun Ce and the Lu Bu’s Army were now enemies, Liu Mang would not be stingy in giving praises to his enemies. After all, he captured the whole of Jiangdong with three thousand men. If Lu Bu had not been around, Yangzhou would also already be his. On top of that, he also has Zhou Yu with him. He is definitely a good choice. “So what about the second one?”

“The second one is Cao Cao. Xu Shao even evaluated this person to be a hero in times of war.” Jia Xu’s reply was within Liu Mang’s expectations. This is because it became a fact many years in the future. Although Cao Cao did not manage to unite the land, he had left behind a huge inheritance for Cao Wei. Had Sun Ce not die young, he would have also become one of the huge compet.i.tors.

Jia Xu was truly talented to be able to tell who was worthy of serving with just his eyes alone.

“Did Mister Wenhe decide this just based on Xu Zijiang’s comments?” Liu Mang still questioned Jia Xu. Although Xu Shao was a reputable person, there were a lot of arrogant people who did not think well of Xu Shao’s a.s.sessment. Liu Mang did not believe that Jia Xu would decide on Cao Cao only based on Xu Shao’s words.

“Of course not. Cao Cao controls four provinces, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou and Zhili.”