Chapter 67 – Luckless Boss Liu (Liu Bei)
Translated by Bloodfalcon
Let us move our POV from Lu Bu and co, to the other warlords.
Xu Du, the Han Dynasty new capital.
"Crash! Bump!"
From Cao Cao's study room there are screaming sound and insulting words as well as something like porcelain are breaking.
“Did Milord have been like this all the time?!” Outside Cao's study there is a middle-aged scholar inquiring the bodyguard.
“Reporting to Minister Cheng! Milord has been indeed like this all these times!” The bodyguard replied toward middle-aged scholar.
This middle-aged scholar who just inquiring the bodyguard is Cheng Yu. He can be considered as one of Cao Cao's top advisors, his courtesy name is Zhongde. He is from Yan Province's Dong'e County of Dong Commandery. Originally his given name is Cheng Li, after dreaming that he is holding the sun in Mount Tai, he changed his name to Cheng Yu. Once he led people to resist Yellow Turban in Dong Commandery. In Chuping Third year (192 AD), he was appointed by Cao Cao as Prefect of Shouzhang in Shandong, Yan Province, Since then he has been loyal to Cao Cao and offer his stratagem and advice wherever Cao Cao goes.
TL: This is Cheng Yu who is Cao Cao's top advisors https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheng_Yu , not Cheng Yu who is Liu Mang's subordinate.
For more information about reign year http://kongming.net/novel/reign-years/
Before, when Cao Cao obtained both Xu Province and Yu Province, the one who offer stratagem is Cheng Yu. So, after Cao Cao invites the Han Emperor to Xu Du, for his contribution, Cheng Yu was given one of the nine minister position, and were given title Administrator of Jiyin and Yan Province's commander-in-chief.
“Lord Zhongde, usually dispelling Milord's worry is my job, but now....yeah!” Said a sickly scholar from behind.
TL: After talking about it amongst translators, we decided that Gong is best translated as Lord.
“I already said that big-eared bastard is not a good man to deal with. Many times I have proposed to Milord to kill him, but some people put some sweet words on him, so Milord not slash him. Just when one got good time, which is after expelling Lu Bu, who knows after that he actually acquired Xu Province again!” Cheng Yu's words all have tone of lamentation but if one listening closely, it is actually condeming the sickly scholar behind him.
“Oh!” Beside that sickly scholar there is another scholar smiling awkwardly. That Cheng Yu who just put slanderous remark is his uncle, although he also urged Cao Cao to take out Liu Bei, but he as the younger generation, there is some taboo regarding badmouthing your elders (Liu Bei).
“Gongda! According to you, what is our next step?!” Cheng Yu inquired. That awkwardly smiling scholar is Xun You, his courtesy name is Gongda. Xun You is one of Xun family and their family is all of the top advisors, and such fate also come to Xun You as he is rank together with his uncle as Cao Cao's top advisors. And also why Cao Cao can have such a strong foundation, it is thanks to Xun You.
“Liu Xuande has killed General Che Zhou, and seized Xu Province back. Now our army confronting with Yuan Benchu in Guandu. War can erupt at any time. As this war concerns our life or death, there is no room for error. Xu Province is an important place, and why we attack Lu Bu at the first place? Because Xu Province is the gateway to our Yan Province, one other than us who grasp it can point their blade against us immediately! No matter who occupy Xu Province, Liu Bei or Lu Bu, we must either drive them away or kill them. We must occupy Xu Province at this critical juncture!” Xun You really worthy as the top adviser, he really can analyze the situation quickly.
“This Big-eared Liu must be backed by an expert!” The sickly scholar, Guo Jia also opened his mouth. From four of Cao Cao top advisers, all three are here. On Guo Jia's hands he waved his war fan, replacing his sickly appearance with a dignified and brilliant scholar look, letting Cheng Yu felt irritated.
“Having an expert backing him, how that bastard do not want to retake Xu Province?!” Cheng Yu said it with coughed voice.
Cheng Yu really not feeling well these days, so Guo Jia did not angry “When I say expert, I did not meant that expert want to help Liu Xuande, but actually want to harm him!”
“Want to harm Liu Xuande?!” Xun You and Cheng Yu both are thinking what is Liu Bei's intent to hid his blade at that time in Xu Du, is it to betray Cao Cao? Exactly that is the point, first he earn Cao Cao's trust by supporting him to battle Yuan Shao in Guandu. And then he kill General Che Zhou to retake Xu Province and he bid his time, betting which side is more favorable either Cao Cao or Yuan Shao. If Yuan Shao won, then at that time Cao Army will retreat to the south and at that time, and at that time Liu Bei who wield great power and great arrogance will deliver let Cao Army pass and maybe even following him to retreat, in order to recuperate. So, at the same time, Liu Bei army will increase in its power while Cao Cao army will get weaker.
If Cao Cao who are the one won this Guandu war, Yuan Shao still has many assets left. And because of that, Yuan Shao did not have to worry of losing one decisive battle. If he lost, he can recover in a short time but he can no longer expand to south, while Old Cao who have win the battle, it is a wounded victory. At that time his strength can only use to defend himself. So, if Cao Cao win, he can just go into Yuan Shao's domain and gain 4 provinces at once: Ji Province, Qing Province, You Province and Bing Province. If Yuan Shao win, he can just retreat to Yuan Shu's domain, gaining Yu Province and Yang Province as a result.
So, one can say, no matter the result, it is Liu Xuande who obtained the spoil of war! This kind of calculation certainly was done by an expert.
But Guo Jia said that this expert is harming Liu Bei.
Cheng Yu and Xun You after listening to Guo Jia then say why, Guo Jia does not speak. He just point to his mouth, meaning that he is thirsty, asking for water. If on their side only have military commanders or just Xun You here, they maybe just handed over a jug of water to him, but now there is Cheng Yu, who continuously contradicting Guo Jia. This makes Guo Jia unhappy and then putting up this snobby attitude.
“Aiyah, these two are clashing with each other!” Said Xun You while smiled bitterly
And sure enough, Cheng Yu opened his mouth with disdain “Hey, Guo Fengxiao. If you don't say that reason ASAP, and continue to be haughty like that. I am going to tell Milord that you are an asshole, who do not have any abilities and shortsighted. You hear me? No ability and shortsighted!” Cheng Yu's anger really have maxed out. Cheng Yu is a very serious and stern person while Guo Jia is a bit of a slacker. So whenever stubborn Cheng Yu meet up with slacker Guo Jia, there will be conflicts. If an average person hears Cheng Yu's insult, he would have hurled up his fist toward Cheng Yu. But Guo Jia is not your average person. He simply hide his face beneath his war fan and spitted toward Cheng Yu while other hand tweak Cheng Yu's ear. So even Cheng Yu already fed up with Guo Jia's discourse, this act also cannot let go right? He will retaliate ASAP.
“You, you, you!” Cheng Yu has been made mad by Guo Jia until he unable to speak. Guo Jia also foaming with rage.
“Good, good! Fengxiao, please said the explanation to Lord Zhongde also in front of our Lord!” Xun You want to persuade Guo Jia, but Guo Jia is unmoved until Xun You speaks in his ear “I'll give you a jar of century old of Du Kang's wine!”
TL: Du Kang, first inventor of wine according to Chinese legend https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Du_Kang
Guo Jia's eyes flashing, but his face is indifferent look, he just extended his finger to say numbers.
“Damn you, you are too ruthless? Five jar?!” After that Xun You directly pinch Guo Jia's three fingers and make counteroffer.
"Two jar!"
Guo Jia then stretched out two more fingers! Which means he is asking for four jars.
“Three jars is already too much, four jars is impossible for me. Three jars, my final offer!” In Xun You's home, a jar of hundred years Du Kang wine is very hard to get. He spend a lot of money to buy it, but he himself do not drink it.
“Okay, okay, three jars!” Guo Jia then put down his war fan, on his face has been smiling a lot.
At this time, Xun You also do not know where to get explanation on Guo Jia's initial discourse, so if he had no wine, impossible to get Guo Jia to talk.
“Damn you, brilliant young man!” Xun You biting his teeth in anger, seeing Guo Jia's smile.
Guo Jia starts explaining again, “The expert behind Liu Xuande on the surface, might look that he has given Liu Xuande road for hegemony, but the fact it is to place Liu Xuande on a path with no return!” Guo Jia spoke with confidence. “Although Xu Province is place of four battle, its land is very fertile! People are very populous, also can be regarded as a base to compete for hegemony! However, that is before Tao Qian come to Xu Province!”
“Tao Qian?!” Xun You think of something. “That Tao Gongzu right?!” Before Liu Bei and Lu Bu set their foot in Xu Province, there is Old Tao. His grain and provisions amounted to hundred thousands-shi, At Peng County alone, the number of grain and provisions are 100,000-shi.
The soldiers and horses also have several thousands. He have Danyang soldiers elite. One can say, at that time his force is quite formidable.
However, Old Tao Qian's two sons are really useless. So in desperation, Tao Qian want to give Xu Province to whoever want to obtain it.
“Before Tao Qian's arrival, Xu Province's commoners are fat and rich! However after Tao Qian, Xu Province ownership goes to Liu Bei and finally to Lu Bu. These two people want to dominate Xu Province. With those two warlords fighting each other and plus our 3 expeditions to capture Xu Province. Xu Province's have been abandoned. Commoners are destitute and homeless. Grain and provisions are also exhausted by these wars! So, Xu Province people prefer stable life now. Now that Liu Bei is the one who obtained Xu Province, Xu Province will fall into chaos again by endless battle. Therefore Liu Bei has lost commoners support. Grain and provisions are also left a little. Do you think Liu Bei who have lost people's heart, can occupy Xu Province again?! Moreover, those soldiers that Liu Bei carries off are our Qing Province Elite soldiers! Do you think they will fight with full heart for Liu Bei who always shouting peace?!”
“Therefore this war will surely, decide whether who live and who died!” Said Cao Cao who suddenly come out from his study.
“Milord!” Those three scholars paying respects altogether.
“Jia with great courage, proposed for Milord to attack Xu Province immediately, fighting to decide Liu Bei's fate!” Said Guo Jia who suddenly knelt down.