Chương 358: Liu Bei and his two brothers arrive at Liu Ce's camp

He sighed and said:

"Sigh... Let's send someone to bring Liu Bei and his two brothers over."

Lu Bing was taken aback and said, "My lord?"

Liu Ce waved his hand and said, "Who told me to send those three in the first place? Now that they've been forced into this situation by Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, I bear some responsibility. Besides, the fact that they managed to fight their way out of the allied camp proves they weren't meant to die. Rather than letting them wander outside, we should recruit them. Since they weren't meant to die, let's save them."

Lu Bing nodded and said, "Yes!"

He turned and left.

Liu Ce leaned back in his chair and addressed Guo Jia and the others in a serious tone:

"Am I being too kind?"

Guo Jia laughed and said, "My lord, you've made things so bad for Liu Bei and his two brothers. First, you sent them to their deaths in the allied forces, where they almost got beheaded by Yuan Shu. Now you've sent people to rescue them. Your benevolence is quite remarkable."

Xi Zhicai added, "It's really quite special. Most people wouldn't do something like this."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ce smiled and said, "Really? I think so too."

Everyone laughed.

...

The three Liu brothers were making their way towards the village with difficulty.

Fang Yue and Wang Shuang's injuries worsened, and they could barely walk.

Liu Bei helped them up while cautiously looking around.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from behind.

The three instantly became alert and turned around to see several fast horses galloping towards them.

Liu Bei gripped the hilt of his sword, Fang Yue struggled to lift his broadsword, and Wang Shuang gritted his teeth and gripped his spear tightly.

The three horses quickly approached and the reins were pulled.

Several men dressed in ordinary, tight-fitting clothes, but clearly not ordinary people, immediately jumped down.

The leader clasped his hands in a fist salute to Liu Bei and said:

"Lieutenant Liu, His Highness the Prince of Yan requests your presence at the main camp."

Liu Bei was stunned.

Fang Yue and Wang Shuang were also stunned.

Fang Yue was the first to react, standing in front of Liu Bei and panting as she said:

"Brother, we can't go! It might be a trap..."

Wang Shuang nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes! Brother, don't go! Let's find a place to recover ourselves!"

Liu Bei frowned and fell into deep thought.

His heart was pounding: What did the Prince of Yan mean by this? Was he saving me or harming me? Was he showing me kindness or trying to silence me?

You don't have to go...

Seeing their hesitation, the leader of the Imperial Guards smiled and said:

"Lieutenant Liu, you don't want your two brothers' injuries to go untreated, do you? They're badly hurt; if this drags on any longer, I'm afraid..."

He paused, looking at Fang Yue and Wang Shuang's pale faces:

"The medicine from His Highness Prince Yan is the best. With two legendary doctors, Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing, at his disposal, what injury can't be healed? If you delay any longer, your and your brother's injuries may become even more serious."

Liu Bei glanced at Fang Yue, then at Wang Shuang.

Both of them were deathly pale, bleeding profusely, and their lips were trembling.

These words were spoken lightly, but each one pierced Liu Bei's heart like a knife.

He looked at Fang Yue, then at Wang Shuang.

Fang Yue gritted her teeth and said, "Big brother, don't worry about us! You go!"

Wang Shuang also said, "Big brother! We'll figure it out ourselves!"

Liu Bei took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Then, he opened his eyes, his gaze resolute:

"Okay, let's go."

Fang Yue cried out anxiously, "Big brother!"

Wang Shuang also cried out anxiously, "Big Brother!"

Liu Bei waved his hand and said firmly:

"Stop talking. If the Prince of Yan wanted to harm us, he would have simply sent troops to arrest us. Why send these few people to invite us? Besides..."

He looked at his two brothers, his eyes slightly red, and said:

"Your injuries cannot be delayed any longer. Even if the Prince of Yan wants to kill me, I will accept it. Saving you is the priority."

"My two worthy brothers risked their lives for me, how could I, Liu Bei, abandon you? If the King of Yan wants to kill me, I will die with you; if the King of Yan wants to save me, I will live with you. To live and die together, this is not a joke."

Fang Yue and Wang Shuang exchanged a glance and finally said nothing more.

The leader of the Imperial Guards nodded and waved his hand. Several Imperial Guards stepped forward and carefully helped Fang Yue and Wang Shuang onto their horses.

The group turned their horses around and headed towards Liu Ce's camp.

...

Liu Ce's military camp.

From afar, one could see endless camps, banners obscuring the sun, and a heavily guarded presence.

Liu Bei and his two brothers were led by the Embroidered Uniform Guards and entered the camp through the gate.

Along the way, they saw countless patrolling soldiers, well-equipped and in high spirits.

Although Fang Yue and Wang Shuang were seriously injured, they couldn't help but look around, becoming more and more alarmed as they looked.

This army... is far superior to the rabble of the Allied forces.

Upon arriving at the central command tent, Liu Bei saw a man standing there from afar.

Liu Ce, dressed in plain clothes and without armor, stood at the camp gate.

Li Jing, Guo Jia, and others stood behind him, looking into the distance.

Not long after, a group of figures appeared in the distance.

The sound of horses' hooves grew closer, and soon they were right in front of us.

The leader of the Imperial Guard dismounted, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "My lord, the man has been brought."

Liu Ce nodded, his gaze falling on Liu Bei and his two brothers.

Liu Bei was covered in blood and looked exhausted, but his back was ramrod straight.

Fang Yue and Wang Shuang were being supported by others, their faces pale and their bodies covered in injuries, but their eyes still held a sense of vigilance.

Liu Ce stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"Xuande, it's all my fault for not telling you to leave in time, causing you three brothers to be so seriously injured. Quickly, take your two brothers to heal first. Later, we'll avenge you together!"

Liu Bei was stunned.

He originally thought that Liu Ce would either blame him for his poor performance, or inquire about the internal situation of the Allied Forces, or... even treat them as expendable pawns.

Unexpectedly, Liu Ce's first words were an apology.

Liu Bei's eyes welled up with tears, and he almost shed one.

He knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said:

"Your Highness is too kind! It is Liu Bei's incompetence that has prevented me from fulfilling Your Highness's request, and instead caused Your Highness worry! Liu Bei... Liu Bei has failed Your Highness!"

Fang Yue and Wang Shuang also struggled to kneel down, but Liu Ce helped them up.

"Stop kneeling! Stop kneeling! They're already injured like this, what's the point of kneeling!" Liu Ce waved his hand and said, "Guards! Quickly take them to the medical tent! Let Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing treat them personally! Use the best medicine!"

Several soldiers stepped forward and carefully helped Fang Yue and Wang Shuang walk into the camp.

Liu Bei wanted to go too, but Liu Ce stopped him.

"Xuande, your injuries are quite serious. Let the physician examine you first. We can talk after they've settled you in."

Liu Bei nodded and followed the soldiers to the medical tent.

Liu Ce watched their retreating figures and said to Guo Jia beside him:

"Fengxiao, do you think Liu Bei will remember this favor in the future?"

Guo Jia smiled and said, "My lord, you saved the lives of his two brothers and personally came out to greet them. He will remember this kindness for the rest of his life."

Liu Ce nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips:

"That's good."

He turned and walked towards the main tent, saying as he went:

"Let's go back and continue making dumplings. The filling isn't chopped yet."

...