Chapter 72: Strength Above All Else

That night passed uneventfully for most people in the palace, but for Qiao Shuang, two things struck her as odd.

First, while strolling through the palace gardens, she heard shouts coming from Liu Xie's bedchamber that were somehow different from usual. It was a vague, indescribable feeling, but with her carefree nature, she gave it little thought.

The second oddity concerned her elder sister. After dinner, her sister failed to return as expected. Yet the next morning, Qiao Shuang found her lying on her own bed, though something about her seemed amiss. When Qiao Shuang invited her to walk in the garden, Qiao Feng declined, claiming a touch of the chill and saying she needed more rest.

Qiao Shuang suspected nothing, and went out again in high spirits.

Lying in bed, Qiao Feng understood all too well the meaning behind Liu Xie’s words to her the night before as he returned to his quarters. That understanding, however, came too late.

Her intention had been to offer herself first, hoping that at least it would prevent Liu Xie from distancing himself from both sisters. Liu Xie, in turn, had grasped her meaning precisely, granting her elder sister considerable honor in the process.

But now, as Qiao Feng reflected, it seemed she had lost out after all...

That morning, Liu Xie was in excellent spirits. After all, the famous Lady Qiao had spent the entire night beside him. The details might be left unspoken, but anyone could read the lingering satisfaction from his expression.

The feeling was entirely different from his time with Fu Wan; after all, there is a world of difference between passively receiving something and actively seeking it out.

As Liu Xie wandered through the gardens, brimming with self-satisfaction, a maid hurried over and knelt before him. “Your Majesty, the Grand Commandant has arrived at the palace, and Zhou Yu is with him. They request an audience.”

Liu Xie frowned at this news, but quickly realized what it meant. The battle between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao must have reached a conclusion. Since the rumors of his relocation had been circulating for some time, it was indeed about the moment when news of the outcome would return.

“Escort them to the side hall. I will go at once.”

Liu Xie had never been shy about displaying his authority in Wu Commandery, but he knew well the importance of maintaining the proper demeanor for the occasion, especially since it was he who had first proposed moving the capital. If anything went amiss, it was only natural that Sun Ce should come to him with Zhou Yu in tow.

Yet Liu Xie had his own private designs; he wanted to be deeply involved in such affairs and play a decisive role, for only then could he gradually cast off the label of puppet.

He had devised many strategies for breaking free from that role, but all could be summed up in a single approach: patience.

He hurried to the side hall, arriving before Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, and seated himself at his desk, a book of military strategy open before him for the proper effect.

When Sun Ce and Zhou Yu entered, they greeted Liu Xie with a simple bow before taking their seats. Sun Ce wasted no time getting to the point.

“Your Majesty, we were a step too late. Just as our message reached Guandu, Yuan Shao’s advisor Xu You defected to Cao Cao. Cao Cao immediately burned all of Yuan Shao’s supplies at Wuchao. In a fit of rage, Yuan Shao lost all sense, forcing Zhang He and Gao Lan to capture Guandu within two days, but both defected to Cao Cao’s side instead! Now, Cao Cao has safely returned to Xuchang!”

Sun Ce was none too pleased with this outcome. Liu Xie had repeatedly stressed the importance of Cao Cao as a foe, and the delay in relocating the capital was meant to undermine Cao Cao at a critical moment. Yet no one had expected Yuan Shao to collapse so swiftly; the entire campaign was over in just two days. Sun Ce could scarcely conceal his disappointment with Yuan Shao’s failure.

“Bofu, you intended to strike at Cao Cao while he was weakened and Xuchang lay vulnerable, to seize the chance to bring the sons of Jiangdong into the heartland, didn’t you?” Liu Xie observed.

Though Liu Xie was also dissatisfied with the news—for Cao Cao’s survival made him a formidable adversary—he betrayed no emotion. After all, Jiangdong was Sun Ce’s foundation; to show too much concern would be inappropriate.

Sun Ce, his intentions laid bare once again, simply nodded in silence.

“Your Majesty has just returned from Xuchang,” he said. “In your view, what will Cao Cao do now that he’s back? Will he, seeing that Jiangdong’s power is not yet fully grown, strike at us directly?”

Sun Ce was frank with Liu Xie. Though he had just unified Jiangdong, he knew their strength was still lacking. The region’s rivals had been weak and divided, easily overcome, but that was no great achievement. In terms of fighting men, he was still no match for Cao Cao. Now, with Yuan Shao utterly defeated, Cao Cao might well turn his wrath upon Jiangdong.

“If he were to attack Jiangdong now, it would be tantamount to admitting the truth of my proclamation, an act of petulant rage. Such conduct might be excusable in youth, but Cao Cao is nearly fifty. He would never do such a thing.”

Zhou Yu, who had been silent until then, nodded at Liu Xie’s reasoning before joining the discussion.

“Cao Cao may refrain from rash action, but does that mean Jiangdong must simply develop in silence as before? Your Majesty, how should we respond to this struggle between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao?”

Hearing Zhou Yu’s question, Liu Xie realized these two had already come to some understanding before their arrival, and were now only seeking his endorsement—or perhaps Sun Ce thought his prior advice worth consulting again, or maybe it was a test.

In the next instant, Liu Xie, feigning a weary gaze at Zhou Yu, had already reached his decision.

“After this battle, Cao Cao will certainly devour Yuan Shao’s lands and quietly expand his own power. As for my proposal to move the capital, I believe he will ignore it, for I am but a figurehead. Though I dislike admitting it, in these troubled times, soldiers and strength are what truly matter.”

Zhou Yu and Sun Ce exchanged glances, plainly surprised by Liu Xie’s candor.

“So Your Majesty believes we should simply watch as Cao Cao grows ever stronger?”