Chapter 45: Sun Jian, Oh Sun Jian

Liu Bei fell silent, while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei remained speechless. Upon learning the news about the Imperial Seal, they had rushed to inform Liu Bei at the very first moment, hoping precisely that the Seal would fall into Liu Bei's hands.

Yet now, Chen Xi claimed the Seal was merely a bait. If a series of previous strategic plans hadn't already won Guan and Zhang's deep trust in Chen Xi, they would have landed a punch right on his face by now.

Liu Bei took a deep breath, his eyes slightly red as he looked at Chen Xi and said, "I placed too much importance on the Imperial Seal. Just as you said, the Seal is nothing more than an external object. Li Ru is truly terrifying!"

Liu Bei's heart was bleeding. He finally grasped the terrifying depths of Li Ru's mind. Even though Chen Xi had just told him this was merely bait, he still felt an urge to fight for it—let alone the others who remained ignorant of the trap, genuinely believing that Sun Jian had accidentally salvaged it and inadvertently leaked the news.

"Let's go and see for ourselves," Chen Xi sighed. "Lord Xuande only needs to remember that no matter how others vie for it or push for it, you must not touch it. I suppose even if Sun Jian has to shed all his remaining shame, he will stubbornly deny it to the death."

Li Ru's stroke of genius was simply irresistible to the Guandong warlords. Right now, forgetting about pursuing Dong Zhuo, it was already a blessing granted by the heavens if they didn't start a full-scale brawl right here on the spot.

"Very well!" Liu Bei said solemnly. "I ask that Zichuan continue to remind me in the future when facing matters of this sort. Li Ru's foresight is indeed remarkable. I suppose this military campaign, just as Zichuan stated, is nothing more than Li Ru's strategic retreat—a strategy to return to Western Qin and stir up turmoil across the realm."

Chen Xi did not dwell further on the Imperial Seal. Since Liu Bei had stated he would not touch it, there was no need for repeated warnings. If he could not even control this tiny shred of ambition, he would no longer be Liu Xuande.

"A strategic retreat is not quite the right term," Chen Xi shook his head and said. "If Dong Zhuo were still the same as before, then needless to say, these were all baits, and his withdrawal would merely be a move to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. But things are different now. Dong Zhuo has degenerated. Though these schemes are still being executed, their core has changed. A Dong Zhuo stripped of his grand ambitions is not far from his doom."

"Ah, that is good then," Liu Bei was momentarily startled. Although a trace of joy surfaced on his face and he opened his mouth as if to say something, he ultimately held back, dissolving his words into a sigh. After all, Li Ru was still a rebel.

As usual, Liu Bei led Guan, Zhang, and Chen Xi into the main command tent. However, unlike the previous atmosphere where everyone maintained a facade of cordiality, the heavy and suffocating tension inside the tent today was almost unbearable. Seeing Liu Bei enter, apart from Kong Rong, Tao Qian, and Cao Cao who greeted him with their eyes, everyone else wore expressions of deep guardedness.

"Alliance Leader Yuan, now that Luoyang has been captured and Dong Zhuo has fled, our predetermined strategic objectives have been achieved. I shall return to Taishan to assume my post in the coming days. As for other matters, I beg you all to show some restraint and avoid making a laughingstock of yourselves before the Xiliang warriors." Sensing the intense wariness among the assembly, Liu Bei felt a helpless stirring in his heart. Realizing how a single piece of news could so easily divide the coalition, he deliberately dropped a hint.

Hearing Liu Bei's words, the gathered lords could not fully fathom what he truly meant to imply, but they clearly understood his intention to withdraw from the coalition. Since he was pulling out of the alliance, he would naturally pose no threat to their contention for the Imperial Seal. Thus, to everyone present, Liu Bei was no longer a stumbling block, but rather a relieving presence! Instantly, their attitude toward Liu Bei turned remarkably warm.

*[Alas, I can only help you all up to this point. It seems someone has already grasped the underlying meaning. Zichuan said Ju Gongyu possesses great wisdom, and indeed it is true; he has already caught the hidden intent. Yet, is his flickering expression hard to fathom?]* Liu Bei thought with amused interest. It wasn't that he was unwilling to lay everything bare, but doing so would be meaningless—the struggle for the Seal was inevitable, and speaking further would only drag him into the vortex.

To the sudden courting and entreaties from the various lords, Liu Bei merely smiled without making any commitments. Right now, much like Kong Rong, he was simply acting as a witness. If someone were to truly secure the Imperial Seal from Sun Jian under the joint witness of a scion of the Han imperial clan and a descendant of the Sage, and obtain official sanction for its safekeeping, that would open the door to endless possibilities for the future.

They waited and waited, until flowers bloomed and withered, before Sun Jian finally appeared, accompanied by Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang. He looked deathly pale, as though one foot was already buried in the grave.

"Cough, cough, cough. Forgive me, Alliance Leader. My old ailment has flared up once more, and I am no longer able to continue leading the overall command. I have let down the Alliance Leader's kind intentions, and for this, I express my deepest apologies. Cough, cough, cough, cough." Sun Jian spoke while coughing incessantly, looking genuinely stricken with illness. "Left with no alternative, I intend to leave Luoyang today and return to Jiangdong, lest I end up burying my bones in a foreign land."

Sun Jian's words evoked a profound sense of desolation. A robust warrior had transformed overnight into a white-haired elder, his heroic vigor instantly drained, leaving behind only the sorrow of a hero past his prime, pleading solely for a chance to die back in his homeland. How poignant and helpless it sounded.

Had it not been for the affair of the Imperial Seal, Yuan Shao would have given him safe passage without a second thought, perhaps even seeing him off for ten miles. But now, with this troublesome complication of the Seal, never mind the fact that Sun Jian was still alive—even if he were already dead, they would dig him up to find the Seal.

Seated in the primary seat, Yuan Shao sneered repeatedly to himself, thinking: *[Look at how sensible Liu Bei is. How dare you try to play tricks on me? You are courting death.]*

With a cold smile, Yuan Shao looked at Sun Jian and said, "Your claim of illness is false; acquiring the Imperial Seal is the truth, isn't it!"

Sun Jian was greatly startled upon hearing this. How could Yuan Shao possibly know? He had kept the news tightly sealed. Turning his eyes quickly, he feigned ignorance and asked, "Why do I not understand what the Alliance Leader is talking about? When did I ever obtain the Imperial Seal?"

Yuan Shao sneered, "Why don't you ask everyone around you if there is anyone who doesn't know?"

Sun Jian was momentarily stunned. After obtaining the Seal earlier, he had ceased plundering, returned directly to his own camp, and marshaled his troops in preparation to leave Luoyang and return to his home in Yangzhou to bide his time. He had paid no attention to the rumors spreading through the camps. Thus, under his impression, the matter had been kept strictly secret and unknown to outsiders.

When Sun Jian turned his head to look at the assembled lords, a surge of panic gripped his heart. Nearly everyone was gazing at him as if he were a fool. Sun Jian instantly realized that the secret of the Imperial Seal had been exposed!

"Sun Wentai, what else do you have to say!" Yuan Shao demanded relentlessly. "Hand over the Imperial Seal! That is not something you are permitted to touch!"

Driven to desperation, Sun Jian hardened his heart, stuck out his neck, and retorted, "I never obtained the Imperial Seal in the first place! What am I supposed to hand over to you!"

Yuan Shao flew into a rage. The stubbornness of Sun Jian's denial drove him to distraction. "Hmph! Let me introduce you to someone!" With a clap of his hands, a soldier walked in from outside the tent. "He is the one who witnessed you fish the Imperial Seal out with his own eyes!"

Sun Jian was furious. The man was originally one of his own personal guards, yet he was now standing beside Yuan Shao. Drawing his sword, Sun Jian lunged forward to execute the traitor.

"You dare kill a soldier in my presence? This is a clear insult to me! Where are Yan Liang and Wen Chou!" Seeing that gentle persuasion had failed and noticing Sun Jian drawing his blade, Yuan Shao shouted angrily.

In a flash, Yan Liang and Wen Chou materialized on either side of Yuan Shao, their swords pointing straight at Sun Jian. At the same time, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang drew their respective weapons and stepped forward to shield their lord. In an instant, the atmosphere inside the entire command tent became razor-sharp and tense, hovering on the verge of bloodshed at the slightest disagreement.

The various lords hurried forward to intervene and mediate. Seeing this, Sun Jian raised one hand toward the heavens and swore, "If I have indeed stolen the Imperial Seal, may I meet my end beneath a hail of random arrows!" Having said that, ignoring the reactions of the crowd, he turned and strode out, promptly leading his fully prepared troops in a rapid departure before anyone could recover their senses.