Chapter 10: Uncle, Why Have You Betrayed Me?

“Do you dare to spar with me?” Gan Ning fixed his gaze on Zhao Yun.

Though Zhao Yun hesitated for a moment, he soon smiled and replied, “With great eagerness. I have long heard of Gan Xingba’s renown and admired him from afar.”

Gan Ning smiled faintly without warmth and nodded, immediately signaling his men to fetch weapons.

Zhao Yun drew the treasured sword he always carried.

The two stood facing each other.

Gan Ning called out loudly, “Please!”

“Please!” Zhao Yun responded.

With that, Gan Ning swung his blade downward.

Zhao Yun crossed his sword to block. With a clang, metal rang out. Both men’s eyes revealed surprise.

As warriors confident in their unrivaled skill, neither expected the other’s strength to match their own. They immediately unleashed their full power.

Back and forth they fought, exchanging dozens of blows without a clear victor.

Gan Ning’s heart stirred. He was very confident in his own prowess. How could an obscure Zhao Yun match him blow for blow? Was it not said that under Liu Bei’s banner, only Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were worth noting?

After about fifteen minutes, Gan Ning sheathed his blade, a joyous expression on his face. No matter what, such a hero serving Liu Bei must mean Liu Bei himself was extraordinary.

“Enough, we are evenly matched. I am hungry now; let us fight again another day to decide the winner!” Gan Ning said.

Zhao Yun was unbothered and smiled, “Even hungry, Xingba can hold his own against me. Your martial prowess surely surpasses mine; it is truly admirable.”

Gan Ning heard that and thought, “This young man knows how to flatter.” He was already feeling that no matter how he fought, Zhao Yun handled it with ease. He admitted defeat happily. “Zilong, you are too modest!”

...

“What? Xingba and Zilong fought a duel? And I missed it!” Upon returning to Xinye, Zhao Shaojie immediately heard about the contest between Zhao Yun and Gan Ning and glared angrily. “Shiyuan, this is all your fault!”

Pang Tong was indifferent. He had already seen that Zhao Shaojie was indeed reckless and disrespectful of etiquette but held no malice. Smiling, he asked, “So, what does Shaojie want me to do?”

Zhao Shaojie suddenly recalled a famous scene from a future movie about the ‘Wolong and Fengchu.’ He laughed and said, “This: you and Kongming stand together; you wave your fan and look at me with one eye. Kongming pats himself and says ‘Wolong,’ then pats you and says ‘Fengchu.’”

Pang Tong was stunned.

Zhuge Liang couldn’t help but laugh, “What does that have to do with me?”

“Come on, come on!” Zhao Shaojie begged them.

...

Unable to refuse, Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong stood side by side. Zhuge Liang patted himself, “Wolong,” then patted Pang Tong, “Fengchu.”

Zhao Shaojie laughed so hard he bent over and pointed at them, shouting, “That’s it!”

The others looked puzzled, thinking Shaojie was out of his mind.

As the merriment continued, Liu Bei and the others entered. Seeing Shaojie’s expression, they asked, “Shaojie, why such joy?”

Shaojie noticed everyone looking at him oddly and shook his head. “You wouldn’t understand; this is my exclusive happiness!”

Liu Bei shook his head, unwilling to delve deeper. “Enough, let’s get to the matter at hand.”

Everyone took their seats.

Zhao Shaojie sat in his chair and noticed a burly man scrutinizing the seat, touching it repeatedly. He immediately guessed it was Gan Ning.

“Where is Xingba?” Liu Bei asked.

Gan Ning stood at once. “This humble one is here.”

Liu Bei said, “Xingba is a hero of Yizhou. Now that he leads his troops to join my army, if I do not reward him, it will deter other heroes from joining. Xingba, I order you to serve as Colonel of Pingjiang.”

Gan Ning accepted immediately, beaming. He was truly delighted. Under Huang Zu, despite saving his life, Huang Zu still looked down on him.

Here with Liu Bei, without doing anything, he became a colonel.

That morning, when Liu Bei inspected the camp, he even spoke with him personally. He couldn’t help but suggest the plan to conquer Yizhou.

Though Liu Bei did not explicitly say so, he hinted that after securing Jingzhou, Yizhou would be next.

Gan Ning longed for revenge against Liu Biao and to return home in glory. He wanted to repay Liu Zhang and show those who once despised him that Gan Xingba had returned and fought his way back.

“Now that Liu Jingzhou has agreed to let me send troops south to Jiaozhou, who do you think should lead the army?” Liu Bei’s mind moved quickly beyond Gan Ning and he asked about the next strategy.

Everyone exchanged glances.

Among Liu Bei’s generals capable of leading an army were only Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, but with Cao Cao about to move south, neither could be spared.

Suddenly, someone stood and respectfully said, “My lord, I volunteer.”

Zhao Shaojie was startled when he saw the man—it was none other than Mi Fang, the infamous turncoat in history.

Mi Fang declared his willingness, and the others nodded as if no one but Mi Fang was qualified.

Zhao Shaojie wanted to object but feared offending others. Moreover, Mi Fang had not yet quarreled with Guan Yu and had no reason to betray. He could only endure.

“Very well. Mi Fang, you will lead, with Yuan Zhi as deputy colonel. Together, you shall go to Jiaozhou. Once you pacify Jiaozhou, organize the troops and await the right moment!” Liu Bei commanded.

Mi Fang and Xu Shu immediately agreed.

Though Zhao Shaojie felt uneasy, he obeyed.

After discussion, Mi Fang led five thousand troops stationed in Jiaozhou.

With the meeting over, everyone began their tasks.

Besides Mi Fang leading the expedition, Liu Bei planned to move his base to Fancheng and bring along some nearby residents as circumstances allowed.

Upon returning, Liu Bei announced to Xinye that he was retreating to Fancheng, inviting the townsfolk to leave with him if they wished.

Naturally, most of Xinye’s population chose to follow.

As everyone departed and busied themselves, Zhao Shaojie stayed behind, watching Liu Bei’s activity. He said, “My lord, Mi Fang will betray you.”

Liu Bei was shocked and looked up, shaking his head. “Impossible. Absolutely impossible!”

“Do you think I have reason to lie?” Zhao Shaojie smiled.

Liu Bei was terrified. He had already been distressed when he heard Xu Shu abandoned him because Cao Cao held his mother captive. Now hearing Mi Fang would also betray him, he felt on the brink of madness.

Xu Shu’s case was somewhat understandable.

But Mi Fang?

He had left home and family to follow Liu Bei, resisted Cao Cao’s tempting posts as governor and prime minister, and had been diligent from Xuzhou to Jingzhou. Though not outstanding in ability, Liu Bei trusted his loyalty.

“Why would he betray me?” Liu Bei demanded, his expression darkening. Suddenly, he said, “Enough, I understand. But focusing on Jiaozhou is only for after Chibi. If Chibi is lost, whether Jiaozhou remains in our hands will be irrelevant.”

He implied that victory at Chibi was crucial; without it, Jiaozhou alone could not resist Cao Cao.

Zhao Shaojie was about to speak again when a voice came from outside the door: “Uncle, why have you betrayed me?”