Chapter 49: Did Liu Bei Steal the Homeland? Was the Celebration Toast Drunk Too Early?

Liu Bei suddenly came to a realization and understood why they were kneeling here.

In the prefectures under Cao Cao's rule, labor corvées were exceptionally heavy, and the flight of commoners was a frequent occurrence. Furthermore, whenever Cao Cao conquered a territory, he had the wicked habit of forcibly relocating the populace. Previously, after Cao Cao's army arrived near the Han River, he issued an order to forcibly relocate all the commoners from the northern bank cities near the Han River, such as Deng County, to the vicinity of Xinye and Rang County. Consequently, out of nearly ten thousand commoners in Deng County, aside from a thousand able-bodied young men who were left behind as laborers to transport grain and fodder, all the rest were forcibly relocated northward and organized into military agricultural colonists.

Cao Cao's exploitation of these agricultural colonists was extremely harsh, making their lives little better than those of slaves. If these laborers were left behind, the fate awaiting them would either be Cao Cao's wrath and punishment, or being forcibly relocated northward and likewise registered as agricultural colonists. Therefore, gripped by fear, these people had knelt here, pleading with Liu Bei to take them along.

"I understand. Indeed, you have been through a great deal," Liu Bei sighed softly, then said in a clear, resonant voice:

"Good townsfolk, since it was my battle today that implicated you and brought down Cao Cao's wrath upon your heads, I, Liu Bei, naturally will not abandon you to your fate."

"Those among you who wish to cross the river with me, follow the army southward immediately."

"As for those who are unwilling, I will not force you. I shall bestow upon you some traveling expenses so that you may seek your own livelihoods."

At these words, the crowd of commoners was overjoyed, repeatedly kowtowing in gratitude.

The ragged youth wore an expression of deep gratitude and bowed deeply once more:

"This humble commoner, on behalf of my... my fellow townsfolk of Deng County, expresses his utmost gratitude to Liu... Liu, Governor of Yuzhou, for saving our lives."

Liu Bei looked the youth over once again, a trace of appreciation rising in his eyes.

Though so young and of humble origin, he had dared to step forward and converse with him without servility or arrogance. This kind of courage, this calmness and composure entirely unbefitting his age and status, truly commanded one's admiration.

Silently praising him in his heart, Liu Bei asked:

"Little brother, what is your name?"

The youth was momentarily stunned. Clearly, he had not expected that the renowned Governor of Yuzhou would deign to ask the name of a mere commoner, and for a moment he was pleasantly astonished.

"Little brother, my lord is asking your name!"

Seeing him daze, Zhao Yun spoke up to remind him.

Recovering his senses, the youth hurriedly raised his hands in a salute and replied:

"This... this humble commoner's surname is Deng, given name Ai."

Deng Ai!

Liu Bei's gaze drifted toward Deng County not far away. The Deng clan could be considered a prominent family in Jingzhou, and since this Deng County was the ancestral cradle of the Deng clan, this lad was likely a scion of that family. However, unlike the Kuai and Cai families—top-tier powerful clans primarily concentrated around Xiangyang and Yicheng—the Deng clan had numerous branches, and the status and circumstances among these various branches differed vastly as night and day.

This Deng Ai was dressed in rags and had been reduced to being conscripted as a laborer by Cao Cao at such a tender age; he must belong to one of the less fortunate branches.

"Deng Ai, would you be willing to join the army, follow me, Liu Bei, in resisting Cao Cao, and restore the Han Dynasty?"

Liu Bei had always judged people without regard for their origins. Having taken a liking to Deng Ai's extraordinary courage, he wished to recruit him into his army.

Upon hearing this, Deng Ai was overjoyed and without hesitation made a deep bow:

"Ai is willing to... to join the army, follow Governor Liu, and drive that Cao... Cao rebel out of our Jingzhou!"

Liu Bei nodded with satisfaction, then instructed Zhao Yun:

"Zilong, let this child be incorporated into your camp for now and place him under your command."

Zhao Yun readily accepted.

Liu Bei vaulted onto his saddle, cast a glance back at the grain depot that had been reduced to a sea of fire, and let out a hearty laugh.

"Let's move out! Cross the river and return to Xiangyang!"

Thirty thousand Liu Bei soldiers, bearing the magnificent triumph of burning Cao Cao's camp, marched away in high spirits.

...

Outside Fancheng, in the main Cao camp.

"Zhongde, come, come, accompany me for a few small cups of wine."

Just as Cheng Yu stepped into the main tent, Cao Ren pulled him down to a seat and personally poured him a cup of wine with a beaming smile.

"General Zixiao, drinking in the military camp is hardly proper, is it?"

Cheng Yu gently pushed the wine cup away, declining tactfully.

However, Cao Ren forcefully shoved the cup into his hands and laughed:

"I cannot sleep. Zhongde, you must break the rules and keep me company for a few drinks."

Put in these terms, Cheng Yu found it difficult to refuse further. With a smile, he picked up the wine cup.

Taking a small sip, Cheng Yu asked:

"Since General Zixiao says he cannot sleep, you surely aren't worried about the military situation over at Zhaoyang, are you?"

"He who knows me is Zhongde."

Cao Ren smiled, placed his wine cup down on the low table, leaned closer to Cheng Yu, and asked:

"The Prime Minister has laid an ambush near Zhaoyang for nearly two days now, yet no news has been sent back thus far."

"Zhongde, when on earth will that Liu Bei drag things out until, before he finally walks right into the trap?"

The corners of Cheng Yu's mouth turned up slightly; clearly, he was certain that this was what Cao Ren was worrying about.

Doing some mental calculations, Cheng Yu replied unhurriedly:

"The Jiangxia troops cannot stay cooped up in their ship cabins forever. At most, Liu Bei will not drag this past three days. According to my calculations, Liu Bei must already be leading his army on the path of a surprise raid."

"By tomorrow morning, Liu Bei should deliver himself to our doorstep. By tomorrow evening at the latest, we should receive the battle report."

Cao Ren let out a breath of relief, a cold smirk flashing across his face.

"With the Prime Minister lying in ambush with ninety thousand troops, this time that big-eared thief will certainly be unable to grow wings and escape. By this time tomorrow, the big-eared thief will most likely be headless!"

"This thief has been the Prime Minister's enemy for over a decade. Every time he rises like the ashes of a dying fire, no matter how many times he is hunted, he simply refuses to die—truly hateful."

"This time, your strategy, Zhongde, has finally eliminated a thorn in the Prime Minister's side for him. The foremost merit in this Southern Campaign belongs to none other than you, Zhongde."

"Come, come, I toast you, Zhongde!"

The corners of Cheng Yu's mouth curved upward slightly. Although he raised his wine cup, he said with a faint smile:

"The battle report has not yet arrived, and the outcome is not yet decided. Isn't General Zixiao drinking this cup a bit too early?"

"Not early at all, not early at all! Not early in the least!"

Cao Ren waved his hand and smiled with utter confidence:

"With this strategy of yours, Zhongde, you silently utilized Xu Shu to lure that big-eared thief out. The cunning and exquisite brilliance of this plan is such that even if Guo Fengxiao were resurrected, he would have to concede defeat."

"With such a marvelous scheme, how could Liu Bei not fall into the trap?"

"Come, come, this cup of wine must be drained!"

With that, Cao Ren threw back his head and emptied the cup in one gulp.

"Fengxiao possessed ghost-like calculations and divine strategies, and his mastery of unorthodox military tactics was unmatched in his era. Such praise from General Zixiao is something Yu dares not accept out of sheer shame."

Cheng Yu still possessed self-awareness; he dared not compare himself to the deceased Guo Jia.

After this modest disclaimer, the corners of Cheng Yu's mouth curved upward with a renewed sense of confidence as he said:

"Though my strategy cannot rival Fengxiao's wondrous plans, it should still be more than sufficient to deceive Xu Shu and lure Liu Bei to his death."

Having said this, Cheng Yu cast aside his "caution," and with a confident smile, raised his cup once more to drink.

"Uncle Zixiao, something major has happened!"

Before the wine could pass Cheng Yu's lips, Cao Xiu rushed frantically into the tent, shouting at the top of his lungs.

With the wine cup suspended near his mouth, Cheng Yu looked alertly toward Cao Xiu.

Cao Ren, not yet aware of any abnormality, reprimached him with displeasure:

"Wenlie, you burst into the main military tent without reporting, and in such a fluster—what kind of decorum is this?"

Without time for apologies, Cao Xiu blurted out anxiously:

"Uncle Zixiao, Xun Jin has just sent a courier galloping posthaste to report that Liu Bei has personally led an army of thirty thousand troops to launch a sudden assault on Deng County, fiercely attacking our grain depot!"

"Xun Jin has few troops and fought in a hasty scramble; I fear he cannot hold out much longer. Please, Uncle Zixiao, dispatch troops immediately to reinforce him!"

Cao Ren's expression transformed in sheer horror.

Cheng Yu's hand gave a violent jerk, splashing the wine from his cup all over his clothes.