Chapter 812: Yuan Shao's Conviction

At this moment, Lady Zhang quietly disappeared from the crowd and reappeared in a seat that, while not the most prominent, was still respectable. If the Zhen family had a male heir, he would likely be seated even higher at this meeting.

"Liu Xuande!" Yuan Shao slowly stood up, striding forward with a commanding presence, followed by his ministers and generals lining up behind him.

"Lord Yuan, it's been a long time," Liu Bei responded with calm indifference, in stark contrast to Yuan Shao's grandiose display. His tone was as casual as greeting an old acquaintance, devoid of any elaborate expressions or pleasantries.

"Please!" Yuan Shao gestured with an inviting hand, leading the way inside. He had already noticed that Liu Bei was unarmed, not wearing a sword.

"After you," Liu Bei replied serenely, stepping forward without a care. Yuan Shao’s theatrics meant nothing to him. His goal here was clear: if he could eliminate Yuan Shao, all the better; if not, he would at least observe his opponent.

Both sides, with more than twenty people in total, quickly took their seats. Chen Xi naturally seated himself in a prominent position on Liu Bei's side, in contrast to Yuan Shao’s side, where Shen Pei occupied the advantageous seat. Chen Xi had no intention of missing out on this prime spot.

After they settled in, the conversation began with idle chatter—reminiscing about the past, discussing the present, and recalling those they once shared drinks with, many of whom had long since fallen in battle, becoming nothing more than distant memories. They also took the opportunity to boast a bit about their current achievements.

"Chen, what are you counting?" Zhao Yun quietly asked Chen Xi while sipping his wine.

"I'm counting their numbers, making sure there are no surprises," Chen Xi replied nonchalantly. "Shall I stir things up a bit and see how they react?"

Zhao Yun’s lips twitched. If Chen Xi started stirring trouble, the banquet would likely be over within minutes. It would definitely escalate into chaos.

"It's fine. It’s just the usual group, nothing to worry about. Watch, I’ll give them a look of disdain and see how they react. Zhao Yun, throw in some taunting too," Chen Xi said, barely hiding his intentions as he started provoking their opponents with disdainful glances. Banquets were boring, after all—he was itching for the fighting to begin.

As Zhao Yun heard Chen Xi's words, he noticed that across the room, Shen Pei, Xu You, Tian Feng, and Xin Pi were already frowning. Shen Pei, in particular, was clearly unhappy with Chen Xi's attitude.

Neither Liu Bei nor Yuan Shao brought up grand ideals, the state of the empire, or the mandate of the Han Dynasty. Such topics were meaningless at this point and would only kill the mood of the banquet.

Liu Bei had long since aligned his mindset: his goal was for the people of the land to have food and security. While his cause was just, in the end, it wasn’t about whether the goal was right, but whether one had the power to achieve it.

"Benchu, shall we have a duel?" Liu Bei suddenly proposed after downing a pot of wine. The atmosphere, once jovial, shifted dramatically. He slammed his bronze wine cup into the table, issuing a direct challenge to Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao was caught off guard. Just moments ago, they had been enjoying the conversation—how had it suddenly escalated to this?

Though Liu Bei’s voice wasn’t loud, everyone in the hall had sharp ears. The once lively room fell into a dead silence upon hearing his challenge.

"Benchu, let’s have a duel. I’ll let you use one arm—this is no joke. The suffering of the people is immense. It’s extremely difficult for either of us to unify the North. But if one of us falls here today, it will make things much easier for the other," Liu Bei said with a sorrowful tone that echoed through the hall.

It was clear that the pleasant reminiscing had stirred up some unpleasant memories for Liu Bei, which had triggered his change in demeanor.

"For the people of the world, if one of us falls here today, it would be a blessing. The faster unification is achieved, the sooner the people will be relieved of their suffering," Liu Bei's audacious words reverberated in the room. But as shocking as his statements were, no one could deny the truth in them.

Yuan Shao silently raised his cup and drank. When Liu Bei finished speaking, Yuan Shao set his cup down, looking resolutely at Liu Bei.

"Reckless bravery!" Yuan Shao growled in a deep voice.

"For the sake of the people, if reckless bravery can solve the problem, why not try it?" Liu Bei replied calmly. Yuan Shao's rebuke didn’t provoke him in the slightest—he didn’t mind at all.

"Entrusting the fate of the world to reckless bravery is a mistake! Only by using military force to break the decaying order and by relying on capable ministers to establish new rules can the world be rebuilt," Yuan Shao declared passionately.

"Only through the suffering and destruction caused by war can true heroes emerge to shatter the old order. From such trials, new, better rules can be forged. The expansion of territories and the hope of the world cannot rest on the shoulders of a single person!" Yuan Shao continued, his gaze toward Liu Bei filled with disdain.

"You make a valid point," Liu Bei conceded with a nod. "But sometimes, the suffering doesn’t need to be so severe."

As he spoke, Liu Bei glanced toward Chen Xi. Yuan Shao's words echoed some of what Chen Xi had once told him, though Chen Xi had often presented contradictory views as well—after all, contradictions were part of life.

"I can’t beat you," Yuan Shao admitted. "Not only because my beliefs don’t align with this notion of one person carrying the weight of the world, but also because in terms of martial prowess, I’m no match for you. But I suggest you take this idea to Lü Bu or Sun Bofu. If that doesn’t work, try Cao Mengde."

"I thought it would be easier to provoke you, but I didn’t expect you to acknowledge your own shortcomings so calmly," Liu Bei mused with a hint of surprise. He pulled his cup out from the table, refilled it, and raised it in a toast to Yuan Shao.

"I will unify this land. I would say this even if the Emperor were standing before me!" Yuan Shao declared, without a shred of concealment. "Anyone who stands in my way is my enemy. Liu Xuande, you are exceptional, but you are obstructing my path. Just as I obstruct yours!"

Liu Bei fell silent. Yuan Shao’s words, under other circumstances, would have been considered treasonous. But at this moment, Liu Bei could only remain quiet. Cursing Yuan Shao would accomplish nothing but demonstrate weakness. Yuan Shao had the power to back his conviction, and his goal was clear: he sought to unify the land.

"Let’s settle this with our swords, not with pointless words," Yuan Shao said, unsheathing his Si Zhao sword and placing it on the table, exuding an air of supreme confidence. "Let us fight with the swords of true rulers. As for the 'Heavenly Sword,' Zhuang Zhou could never understand such things. The Five Sacred Peaks and the balance of yin and yang are mere jokes. Only the will of the people can be called the 'Heavenly Sword!'"

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