“Intention”: War for the Han Frontier sample -- TPMThorne.com

“While I, I suppose, am a mediocrity, a toady and a do-nothing, placed into the same category as that spineless fool Liu Zhang,” Liu Biao sighed. “I am also, I presume, ‘the victim of self-inflicted misery by slaying the hero Sun Jian in so cowardly a fashion’.”
Wang Can smiled sheepishly and said, “I cannot deny that they are held opinions. They are wrong, of course, but you know the nature of the naïve tavern scholar. If I had not been blessed with the chance to work for you here, Lord Liu, I would probably be as aloof and romantic as they are.”
“…But I am inclined to help Xuande precisely because he has performed so well under duress,” Liu Biao admitted. “He was given Xu: that I truly believe, else that brainless thug Lü Bu could not have stolen it so easily.”
“It was Chen Gong that connived the province from Liu Bei’s hands,” the adviser Kuai Yue suggested. “It is simply the case that Chen Gong outplayed Mi Zhu.”
“…So it seems that the arguments against inviting Liu Bei here grow by the day,” Liu Biao noted. “But I have already offered him refuge! Can I now offend him by turning him away at the border when he arrives?”
“‘If’ he arrives: he’s being harried by Cao Ren, and I suspect that Cao Cao will soon decide to smash him before he gets here,” Wang Can explained. “Like many of us, he fears a Liu Bei with Jing Province’s defences and options within his grasp. Furthermore, he flounders and procrastinates, perhaps since he was appointed ‘Governor of Yu Province’ by Tao Qian, and he probably still entertains the idea that the place is rightfully his and worth fighting for. Perhaps he will never reach us here.”
“…Yes,” Liu Biao murmured.
“You are weary, lord and brother-in-law, and that is muddling your thoughts,” Cai Mao suggested. “Sun Quan’s continued pressuring of Huang Zu weighs on your mind. We’ll deal with Liu Bei if he gets here: after all, he’ll be tired, broken and lacking in men and food, and in that state he’ll be very manageable.”

“…Yes,” Liu Biao replied. “Yes, Mister Cai, I’ll… rest.”
Liu Biao coughed uncomfortably as he got to his feet and left the hall by way of a side entrance; he was met almost immediately by his radiant principal wife, Lady Cai.
“I know that expression; I cannot listen to more slandering of Liu Bei!” Liu Biao pleaded. “Your brother and the rest of my court have pecked at me enough!”
“He’ll steal everything you’ve built here,” Lady Cai insisted.
“No he won’t! He probably won’t even get here alive!” Liu Biao retorted as he pushed his way past Lady Cai and retreated to his living quarters.
“…He’ll get here,” Lady Cai muttered.

A day later, Cao Cao summoned Xun Wenruo, Cheng Yu, Guo Jia and Yuan Huan to his meeting room in the Xuchang chancellery.
“Liu Bei…?” Guo Jia asked mischievously.
“Yes,” Cao Cao grumbled. “He is maintaining contact with Yuan Shao… which I cannot risk! And he’s so close to Jing now… I cannot let him get to Jing either!”
“Then send a bigger force to Runan,” Cheng Yu said impatiently. “Cao Ren’s tiny force is merely nibbling at Bei’s ankles: devour the wretch in one gulp if you are serious about stopping him.”
“But what about Yuan’s force at Cangting?” Xun Wenruo fretted.
“I will keep an eye on Yuan Shao,” Cheng Yu promised. “Now you must return the favour, my lord.”
“What would you have me do…?” Cao Cao asked.
“Take that annoying friend of yours with you to Runan,” Cheng Yu replied. “If it is as all possible, leave him there.”

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