Chapter 18: Liu Bei Actually Killed My Son? Yuan Shu’s Mind Shatters!

At dusk, the sounds of battle finally fell silent.

Both inside and outside Xutai City, the banners bearing the character "Liu" were raised once more.

When Liu Bei arrived at the ferry dock, his generals were already urging the soldiers to reload the recently unloaded provisions back onto the ships.

“Lord, we have counted carefully. There are at least fifty thousand hu of grain and supplies here at the dock,” Mi Zhu reported with delight, as if he had stumbled upon unexpected treasure.

Liu Bei’s spirits lifted immediately.

Fifty thousand hu of grain was no small amount—it could feed ten thousand soldiers for an entire year.

With this windfall, combined with the Mi family’s donated grain, he felt far more confident in recruiting the Yellow Turban rebels in Runan.

“But why would Yuan Shu send provisions to Lü Bu?” Liu Bei asked, his joy tinged with puzzlement as his gaze turned towards Xiao Fang.

“It’s merely a trap,” Xiao Fang said lightly. “Yuan Shu wants to use the grain as bait to lure Lü Bu into wiping you out.”

“Without you, Lü Bu would be isolated and easier for Yuan Shu to deal with.”

Liu Bei suddenly understood.

Guan Yu, stroking Mei Ran’s hair, sneered mockingly:

“In that case, this strategy of the strategist not only cost Yuan Shu his grain but also his soldiers.”

Everyone laughed heartily.

“Brother, brother!” Zhang Fei galloped up, holding a bloodied head in his hand.

“Tell me, am I lucky or not?”

“Yuan Shu’s eldest son, Yuan Yao, happened to be in Xutai, and I cut him down!”

“Here’s the head!”

Zhang Fei, ecstatic, held Yuan Yao’s severed head high.

Yuan Shu’s son?

The crowd erupted in excitement and surprise.

Liu Bei looked up at the head, his expression a mix of joy and worry.

Joyful because he had slain Yuan Shu’s son, a powerful act of vengeance.

Worried because this would irrevocably enrage Yuan Shu, sealing their fates as mortal enemies.

Yuan Shu’s nominal strength—indeed, surpassing even Yuan Shao—made him the strongest power in the land.

“Yuan Shu may appear strong, but he is hollow inside—a mere skeleton in a tomb. What is there to fear?” Xiao Fang said dismissively.

“Besides, Lord, you intend to head to Jingzhou anyway. Even if Yuan Shu hates you to the bone, what can he do?”

“As for Yuan Yao, kill him and be done with it.”

Seeing through Liu Bei’s internal struggles, Xiao Fang offered reassurance.

A surge of heroic fervor welled up in Liu Bei’s heart.

“The strategist is right.”

“Yuan Shu has driven me into a corner, seeking my death. So what if I’ve slain his son?”

“Killed him, so be it. What have I to fear from that bandit Yuan?”

In his words and demeanor, a bold and commanding spirit was kindled.

Xiao Fang nodded slightly.

This was the true Liu Bei—a heroic man who dared to abandon office rather than submit.

A commoner by birth, yet bold enough to contend with the scions of Yuan and Cao, those privileged prodigies born with golden keys in their mouths, for control of the realm.

Would he fear offending Yuan Shu?

Would he shrink back from killing Yuan Shu’s son just because he had been bullied?

“Order the provisions camp to load all the grain onto the ships immediately. We continue westward, crossing the Guo River into Runan!”

All fifty thousand hu of grain were loaded onto the ships.

The fleet sailed upriver, leaving only Yuan Yao’s severed head hanging above the dock.

…

In Shouchun City, the provincial government hall.

A portly, aristocratic-looking middle-aged man stood before a massive map.

“Sun Bofu has captured Kuaiji. All of Jiangdong now belongs to you, my lord. The entire Yangzhou province is under your control.”

“Now, Guangling Commandery is yours as well. Lü Bu is allied with you, so Xuzhou can also be considered your territory.”

“If you add the parts of Yuzhou including Pei State, the lands you hold far surpass those of Yuan Benchu and Cao Cao.”

“Truly, you are the strongest power in the realm today.”

Behind him, Chief Clerk Yang Hong stroked his finely trimmed mustache, smiling as he laid out the grand plan for Yuan Shu.

Yuan Shu’s lips curled into a smile as he turned and, dragging his large belly, sat back down in his seat.

Then he reached out, gently caressing the jade imperial seal resting in a golden box on the desk.

This was the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, presented by Sun Ce.

“The one who replaces the Han must pave the way. My name is Gonglu—the ‘lu’ means road, the path.”

“Could it be that Heaven’s mandate truly lies with me?”

Yuan Shu toyed with the seal, murmuring thoughtfully.

Yang Hong, reading his expression, smiled knowingly:

“The fifty thousand hu of grain have arrived at Xutai and can be sent anytime to Xiapi for Lü Bu.”

“As long as Lü Bu falls into the trap and wipes out Liu Bei, the tiger will be toothless and nothing to fear.”

“Then when you want to bring Xuzhou under your control, Lü Bu will be isolated and powerless to resist!”

“Once Xuzhou is controlled, half of the southeast will belong to you. With your strength, you may yet replace the Han…”

Yang Hong trailed off, casting a meaningful glance at Yuan Shu.

Yuan Shu understood, a look of disdain and contempt crossing his face.

“Liu Bei, that big-eared thief, a mere weaver and sandal seller, dares to covet Xuzhou and stand equal to me!”

“I will show him the consequences of overreaching—death and obliteration!”

Yang Hong nodded vigorously in agreement:

“Your words are sound, my lord. What is Liu Bei’s origin? How could he compare to you—”

Before he could finish the word “enemy,” a guard burst into the hall, panic-stricken, clutching a piece of silk paper.

“Urgent report, my lord!”

“Liu Bei suddenly appeared on the Huai River and unexpectedly broke through Xuyi.”

“My fifty thousand hu of grain have all been seized by Liu Bei!”

“General Chen Jiu was killed, and the eldest son failed to retreat in time—he was also slain by Liu Bei!”

Like thunder crashing overhead, the news struck.

Yuan Shu’s bulky frame trembled violently. His hands shook so much the imperial seal slipped and fell onto the desk.

“What did you say? Say that again!”

Yuan Shu leapt up, roaring in fury, his face contorted with rage.

“Urgent report, my lord!”

“Liu Bei launched a surprise attack. My fifty thousand hu of grain were stolen, and General Chen Jiu was killed!”

“My eldest son… he was killed by Liu Bei’s men!”

The guard knelt, voice trembling, unable to meet Yuan Shu’s eyes.

Yuan Shu stormed down the steps, snatched the report, and tremulously held it before his eyes.

Black ink on white paper, clear as day.

Liu Bei, who should have been confined to Haixi, had miraculously appeared at the Huai River and struck Xutai unexpectedly.

Not only had he seized fifty thousand hu of grain, but he had also slain Yuan Shu’s eldest son, Yuan Yao!

Yuan Shu’s hands shook violently. His face, covered in thick flesh, twisted into a terrifying mask of shock and fury, eyes blazing with rage.

“Big-eared thief—”

“How dare you kill my beloved son!”

“I will kill you! I will tear you limb from limb! I will grind your bones to dust—”

The hall echoed with his anguished howls.

Stung by the pain of losing a son, Yuan Shu tore the report to shreds, staggered back half a step, and collapsed onto the steps.

“How could Liu Bei, trapped in Haixi, suddenly appear in the waters of Xutai?”

“This makes no sense. It simply cannot be…”

Nearby, Yang Hong muttered in disbelief, his face full of shock and horror, as if he had seen a ghost.