Chapter 47: Falsehood and Reality, Xiangxian’s Scheme "If we talk about confusing the public, in short, it means using Chen Gong's words to confuse the other princes!" Facing Liu Bei's question, Qin Zhen walked out again and said leisurely: "You must know, my lord, that although I have used a pseudonym this time, I may be able to deceive others, but I cannot deceive my old acquaintances!" "For example, Chen Gong was able to guess my identity even though we had never met." "It seems that my pseudonym will be known to the world sooner or later." "So now we can use this incident to spread the name of Wang He!" He walked to the edge of the tent, then turned around and walked back slowly: "Just as you thought today, Chen Gong knows me, and so do Wang Kai, Xu Si and others. They will recognize my identity as soon as they see me." "In that case, we might as well do the opposite and use someone else's appearance to replace Wang He's name!"

"You can go to the camp and find someone who looks like me and dress him up." "You can go ask for food again tomorrow. If Wang Kai asks again, bring him back to the camp to see him!" "So, when Wang Kai sees this man's face, he will know that Wang He is not Qin Zhen. If he tells Chen Gong about this, he can use Chen Gong's words to confuse the world!" "In the future, as long as I don't expose myself, people in the world will only know me as the military advisor Wang He, but not Qin Zhen himself!" After hearing this, Liu Bei was immediately impressed: "Military Advisor, this is a good plan. This way of disciplining others will prevent them from knowing the details of our army!" But halfway through his speech, he sighed again: "But even so, I have to ask the military advisor to remain anonymous, and I feel really guilty about that!" He felt really bad, he wished he was stronger. If they had the same power as other princes, why would they need to be so secretive and worried? After all, it’s due to lack of strength. His current strength is not worthy of Qin Zhen’s reputation! When Qin Zhen heard this, he didn't care much and said: "The name Wang He is only used temporarily to facilitate things. Don't worry about it." "When we conquer Huainan in the future, I can change back to my real name. It won't be too late!" He doesn't care about fame or not, after all, he has already gained enough fame. All you need is to realize your own ambitions. Compared to what he wants to do, fame is not important. Listening to Qin Zhen's words, Liu Bei was once again filled with emotion. Qin Zhen's coming out of seclusion can be said to have put in a lot of effort. But Qin Zhen didn't care about these things, but he couldn't help but not care. He immediately stepped forward and grabbed Qin Zhen's hand and said: "How can I repay you for treating me so well?" "But let the military advisor know that no matter what the military advisor does in the future, I will never let him down." Qin Zhen couldn't help but tremble when Liu Bei grabbed his hand so suddenly. I thought to myself, Lao Liu, you are not serious, I don’t like this!

But Liu Bei held it tightly, and he couldn't pull it out, so he could only laugh and say: "You don't need to do this, my lord. I already know what you are talking about!" Upon hearing this, Old Liu nodded secretly and made up his mind that he must work hard and not let the military advisor down. Thinking of this, he let go of his hand and said: "All is as the military advisor says, and we'll make arrangements now!" After saying this, he strode out of the tent. At the same time, in Xia Pi Prison. Wang Kai hadn't found out anything for two days and was at a loss as to what to do, so he went to the prison and told Chen Gong about it. After listening to Wang Kai's story, Chen Gong frowned and said: "So, when you went to ask today, you didn't see Wang He?" Wang Kai heard this and nodded and sighed: "That's right. I wanted to follow Liu Bei into the camp today to investigate, but he refused to give in!" "Now that he doesn't show up, how can we find out?" Seeing this, Chen Gong became more certain and said: "The more this is the case, the more it proves that this person has a different identity!" "If it wasn't Qin Zhen, why would he be so secretive?" "We must investigate again, and quickly!" "Now that Liu Bei has obtained troops and horses, he can take advantage of the situation and leave if he gets money and food!" "If you haven't seen it by tomorrow, you will take the initiative to go to Liu Bei's camp to inquire!" Wang Kai listened and thought it made sense. If it weren't for that kid Qin Zhen, he wouldn't have lived in seclusion so he nodded in agreement. Seeing that he agreed, Chen Gong said in a deep voice: "Finding out his identity is one of them. Have you persuaded Lord Wen to let me out?" Upon hearing this, Wang Kai comforted him: "I have asked Zishan to go and persuade Wen Hou, and it turns out that Wen Hou has already relented. Gongtai will be released soon!" Zishan is the courtesy name of Xu Si. After hearing this, Chen Gong nodded and said: "Hurry up! If Qin Zhen is really under Liu Bei's command, his plan must be more than this!" Wang Kai knew that in the current situation, he could only rely on Chen Gong, so he nodded in agreement and walked out of the prison. After a night like this, the next morning, Wang Kai knew that Liu Bei would come to ask for food, so he simply waited on the road. In the morning, I finally saw Liu Bei coming, and hurriedly stepped forward and asked:

"Why are you here, envoy?" When Liu Bei saw Wang Kai coming, he smiled and said: "Because of the agreement I made with Lord Wen yesterday, I came here today to discuss matters." Hearing this, Wang Kai stroked his beard and smiled: "If you are here to discuss matters, why don't you bring the military advisor with you?" Liu Bei was well prepared and was not panicked: "Sir, have you forgotten what I said yesterday? The military advisor had a cold and has not recovered yet. How did he come?" Wang Kai saw him bringing up this excuse again and said with a smile: "If the military advisor is seriously ill, I should go to visit him, but I wonder if you are able to do so?" "I didn't expect that Sir thinks so highly of my military advisor!" Seeing this, Liu Bei said: "Well, if you want to go, wait for me to come out and we can go together, how about that?" Seeing Liu Bei agree so readily, Wang Kai was a little confused. Didn’t we agree to keep it secret? Why are you so straightforward? Could it be that they had misunderstood? Was Wang He not Qin Zhen? But when he thought that Liu Bei might be trying to trick him, he laughed and said: "Sure as you wish!" Seeing that he had taken the bait, Liu Bei said no more and walked straight into the county government. As soon as he entered the county government, he saw Lu Bu sitting in the main seat, with Han Xian and Yang Feng sitting on both sides. Seeing this, Liu Bei bowed and took a seat. As soon as he sat down, he asked: "I wonder when Marquis Wen intends to join our army in conquering Xiang County?" "Now that our army has won, we should seize the opportunity to pursue the enemy and not waste time like this!" Seeing this, Lu Bu shook his head and smiled. "I know Xuande is eager to win, but after I went back and thought about it yesterday, I thought that now that we have defeated Yuan Shu's army, the right thing for us to do is to go south to Huainan and plunder." "Although I have agreed to help Xuande take Xiang County, I should always put national affairs first." "As for the money and food, they have been counted and should be handed over to Xuande. However, I am worried that our army will need food and supplies to march south, and we will have to march all the way." "Why don't you stay in our army first, and then divide them up after we defeat Yuan Shu tomorrow?" "If Xuande is willing to go south, we can go south today." "If Xuande does not want to go south, you can go and seize Xiang County. I am willing to help Xuande with food and supplies for a month. If that fails, you can come back and march with us. Bu will welcome you!" His words sounded very eloquent, and Han Xian and the other man nodded repeatedly. Taking the opportunity to go south to plunder is just what they want! Compared with this, it doesn’t matter whether the spoils are divided or not now! When Liu Bei heard this, he frowned and said nothing. He knew that Lu Bu would default on his debt, but he didn't expect Lu Bu to default so badly. It was naturally impossible for him to go south to plunder. By saying this, Lu Bu was forcing him to make a decision: either take a month's worth of food and leave, or go against his conscience and do evil together.

As for what to do with the money and grain after capturing Xiang County, it obviously had nothing to do with him. Even though he was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but secretly think that Lu Bu was shameless. After thinking for a while, Liu Bei shook his head and said: "I don't want to rob the people, I want to take the county!" This reply was exactly what Lu Bu had expected. He smiled and twirled his beard: "In that case, Xuande will return on his own, and I will send ten thousand stones of grain and grass over now!" He knew that Liu Bei had only more than 10,000 soldiers and each man was given two pounds a day, which was only about 5,000 stones a month. So he simply doubled the amount to shut Liu Bei up. Liu Bei was dissatisfied, but he did not argue and walked straight out of the house. Seeing this, Wang Kai stepped forward again and said: "I wonder what the envoy thinks?" Seeing his expression, Liu Bei pretended not to want to be involved with him, shook his head slightly, and walked away. Seeing this, Wang Kai hurriedly followed and asked the reason. Liu Bei just sighed: "Marquis Wen wants to go south to plunder, but I don't want to follow him!" "Give me ten thousand shi of grain and grass, and let me take Xiangxian County by myself. I will leave soon!" When Wang Kai heard that Liu Bei was leaving, he became more confused. Didn’t Chen Gong say that Liu Bei had other plans? Why are you leaving? This is not Qin Zhen's style! According to Qin Zhen's temper and plan, would he dare to refuse to pay for something he owes? I can peel off a layer of skin for you! He was just wondering, Liu Bei saw his expression and said: "Sir, didn't you say you wanted to see my military advisor? You should go now, as my army will be leaving tomorrow!" When Wang Kai heard this, he thought to himself, it must be Qin Zhen. He would know it when he saw him. He nodded immediately and followed Liu Bei back to the military camp. He advanced all the way to the central army, letting Liu Bei lead the way. When they arrived in front of a tent, before he entered, he heard a cough. Upon hearing this, Liu Bei hurried into the tent and said: "Military Advisor, why did you get up from the bed? Didn't you say you wanted to take good care of yourself?" "If this continues, when will things get better?" Wang Kai followed him into the tent and saw Liu Bei supporting a tall young man who was a head taller than Liu Bei and had a quite handsome appearance. But his face was a little pale, as if he was really sick. As soon as he entered the account, the young man shook his head and said: "Ahem, our army is out of food right now, and we can't survive without the food and grass from Marquis Wen. I wonder if you can ask for the food and grass?" Upon hearing this, Liu Bei shook his head and sighed:

"Marquis Wen gave us 10,000 shi of food and fodder, which solved our urgent problem!" "Alas, how can a great general like Wenhou do this?" The young man sighed slightly, then looked up at Wang Kai and said: "I wonder who this gentleman is?" Wang Kai looked at his appearance carefully for a while, and sighed in his heart, thinking that Chen Gong had guessed wrong after all! How can Liu Bei's military advisor be compared to Qin Zhen! Although she looks good, she doesn't have Qin Zhen's style at all! At that moment, without waiting for Liu Bei to introduce himself, he bowed and said: "I am Wang Kai from Yanzhou, currently serving under Marquis Wen!" "I heard that you are from Yanzhou, so I came to see you. I didn't expect you to be so seriously ill!" "If I had known this, I wouldn't have come to bother you!" Seeing this, the young man smiled and said: "I have heard of your name for a long time and have been eager to meet you. Now that I have seen you, I can see that you are indeed extraordinary." "I am not feeling well, so I cannot meet you. I hope you can forgive me!" "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter!" Wang Kai saw that he was not the person he wanted to see, and he lost interest in talking to him. He smiled and said: "If I had known this, I wouldn't have come to bother you!" "Well, if you are not in a position to see guests, I will leave now!" After saying this, he bowed to Liu Bei and then left. His steps became lighter. It didn't matter who this Wang He was, as long as he was not Qin Zhen. But he didn't know that soon after he left the camp, the young man wiped off the makeup on his face and smiled at Liu Bei: "My lord, I wonder how I performed just now?" This person was Xiahou Bo, a young general under Liu Bei. Having heard Qin Zhen's plan yesterday, Liu Bei searched for him in the army for a long time. He happened to meet Xiahou Bo patrolling the camp. He saw that the boy was tall and handsome, not much different from Qin Zhen. So he simply gave the important task of playing Qin Zhen to this person. I didn’t expect that Xiahou Bo could really perform some of Qin Zhen’s charm! Liu Bei smiled with satisfaction and said: "Well done, you deserve a reward!" As he spoke, he looked around again and asked: "But I don't know where the military advisor is?" Although one hidden danger has been eliminated now, he still has something on his mind and just wants to find Qin Zhen to discuss it. Xiahou Bo smiled when he heard that he could count the merits. Then he asked hurriedly: "The military advisor is in the main tent, discussing matters with the three generals, General Qiao and others!" "Tell me that if the lord wants to see you, go to the main tent!" Listening to Qin Zhen, Zhang Fei and Qiao Rui discussing matters, Liu Bei couldn't help but feel curious. Qin Zhen once said that Qiao Rui was useful. Could it be that they were discussing the capture of Xiang County? Having decided this, he hurried towards the main account.

(End of this chapter)