Alright, from Liu Bei's perspective, the only situations that would make Lu Su and Chen Xi so anxious would involve either Lü Bu or Yuan Shao. Lü Bu, despite retreating from Cao Cao due to food shortages, was still a potential threat to Liu Bei. Compared to Yuan Shao, Liu Bei was more wary of Lü Bu. Yuan Shao had land, resources, power, and intelligence, so he wouldn't engage in a direct conflict with Liu Bei at this time. Lü Bu, on the other hand, was like a lone wolf—unpredictable and dangerous, especially when desperate for supplies.
In Liu Bei's view, if a conflict were to erupt in Taishan, it was most likely because Lü Bu, with little to no supplies, decided to make a desperate move. Lü Bu's prowess was undeniable, something Liu Bei knew all too well. Whenever Lü Bu appeared, it often took several top-tier fighters to even contain him, and even then, they couldn't guarantee a victory. If Lü Bu wanted to retreat, his legendary steed, the Red Hare, ensured that no one could catch him.
Moreover, if Lü Bu decided to attack now, he would likely bring the momentum of his recent victory against Cao Cao. To win against him, it would require not only skill but also weakening Lü Bu's morale first. Even against the mighty Western Liang cavalry, it would be difficult to win without having at least twice the number of troops as Lü Bu's Bingzhou cavalry.
"No, no, Taishan is fine. Lü Fengxian didn't attack. Although he did send people to request food, there has been no conflict with us," Hua Xiong quickly explained.
If Lü Bu had come, it wouldn't just be a minor problem. Given his recent victory against Cao Cao, no one on Liu Bei's side would want to face him while his morale was at its peak. Even someone as confident as Guan Yu wouldn't make such a reckless move. At that point, it wouldn't be bravery—it would be suicide. Even if they wanted to defeat Lü Bu, they needed the right circumstances.
If Lü Bu decided to raid and retreat quickly, no one could stop him. Thus, Lu Su's strategy of stalling for time, dragging out negotiations over the food request, was a wise one—waiting for Lü Bu's morale to wane before making any decisive moves.
"Oh, that's good, that's good. My biggest concern was Lü Fengxian launching a direct assault on Taishan. That guy is really hard to deal with," Liu Bei said as he waved to the surrounding villagers and gestured for his advisors and generals to follow him. After taking a few steps, he turned back to Jia Xu and said, "Bring Zixu along."
"Zijian, what exactly brought you here this time?" Liu Bei asked again after leaving the village.
Hua Xiong recounted everything that had happened since Liu Bei's departure. Liu Bei paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Zichuan handled it well. In such situations, that's exactly what should be done. I left my sword with him precisely for emergencies when I couldn't be reached. Zichuan did what was necessary."
Seeing that Liu Bei only paused briefly without showing any other emotions, Hua Xiong felt relieved. He then explained the issue with Lu Su's letter not reaching Liu Bei, which naturally led to the matter of Fa Zheng leaving his post without permission.
Jia Xu raised an eyebrow and then explained Fa Zheng's policies in Qi State, essentially defending him. After all, the actions taken by Chen Xi, Lu Su, Jia Xu, and Fa Zheng, when viewed individually, might have been dismissed by Liu Bei. But the coincidence of all these events happening at once made it necessary to clarify.
"I see. It's only natural for Xiaozhi to adapt to the local conditions. One shouldn't rigidly adhere to rules. Establishing iron mines in Qi State and forging farming tools—Xiaozhi is indeed remarkable," Liu Bei said to Jia Xu with a smile, showing that he wasn't bothered by Fa Zheng's departure from his post. To Liu Bei, Fa Zheng's actions were part of his duties. The only issue was that unforeseen circumstances had caused him to inspect the local conditions at an inconvenient time.
"My lord is most magnanimous," Liu Ye said, bowing. At this point, Liu Ye was the only one who hadn't made any mistakes, so he stepped forward with his horse.
"Magnanimous? You think I don't know what you're all worried about? Don't worry, it's all been explained. None of these issues amount to dereliction of duty or unauthorized use of military power," Liu Bei said as he glanced back at Jia Xu, addressing the concerns directly. The matters that had transpired simply weren't significant enough to bother him.
"Rest assured, Jia Wenhe's decision to mobilize troops was entirely justified. It was my personal guard, after all, and it was done to protect me. The number of soldiers didn't exceed 500, and the command was issued by Tiger Guard commander Anguo. There was no overstepping of authority," Liu Bei said, turning to Jia Xu. "So, Wenhe, you can relax. I have no intention of dealing with you. You are one of my key advisors, and without you, our mission to restore the Han would be much more difficult."
"As for Zichuan, that's even simpler. I gave him the authority to mobilize troops. He may not have used it often, but that authority has always been there," Liu Bei said casually. He had never stripped Chen Xi of his military power; it was Chen Xi who had chosen to limit himself.
"Fa Xiaozhi acted correctly. As a regional governor, how can one fulfill their duties without understanding the local conditions, resources, and specialties? I transferred him to Beihai, and the first thing he did was to gather this information—exactly what should be done. Xiaozhi has proven that he is more than capable of governing a region. We no longer need to worry about him," Liu Bei remarked with admiration.
"Indeed, Fa Xiaozhi has proven himself capable of governing a region," Liu Ye echoed, also impressed. Not long ago, Fa Zheng had been volatile in Taishan, but now he had matured considerably. Truly, the responsibilities one bears can lead to growth.
Liu Bei looked at the people around him, noting their expressions of admiration, and said, "I, Liu Xuande, trust that you won't betray me. As long as you don't intentionally do anything you shouldn't, I won't hold a grudge over minor missteps. I, Liu Bei, am a man of humble origins, and to restore the Han, I need the strength of each and every one of you. So, if I make a mistake, I welcome you to correct me openly!"
He then took a deep breath and continued, "If any of you make a mistake, I won't hesitate to point it out. I can't pretend to be as inscrutable as other rulers. I am who I am—Liu Xuande—and I don't want to pretend otherwise. You don't need to worry that you'll offend me unknowingly. If I say an issue is resolved, then I won't bring it up again to hold it against you."
"My lord is truly an extraordinary man," Jia Xu said with a slight smile. To him, such frankness wasn't typical of a ruler, but he couldn't deny that it made his ministers feel secure. They could focus on working hard each day without worrying about their future. After Liu Bei's open and honest discussion, Jia Xu felt completely at ease.
"Extraordinary? I just think it's unnecessary to wear a mask. My goal isn't to be an enigmatic emperor. I just want to see this world get better, so I don't need to pretend," Liu Bei said casually.