After Liu Qi read it, he found that it was indeed a letter from Xu's mother, saying that she was imprisoned by Cao Cao and asked Xu Shu to rescue her.
"This must be Cao Cao finding out that you are plotting against me, finding out your identity, and using her as a threat."
Xu Shu shed tears and said, "I regret not listening to the general's advice and bringing my mother to Jingzhou earlier, which led to the trouble today. Now my mother is imprisoned, her mind is in turmoil, and I can't do my best. I have to reluctantly say goodbye."
"Since ancient times, it has been difficult to be both loyal and filial!" Liu Qi sighed, and it was time to show off his acting skills again.
He returned the letter to Xu Shu and said, "I have always known that you are a very filial son. If I keep you, it would be unrighteous to cut off the relationship between you and your mother. But you once said that your mother is the most virtuous. Even though you are imprisoned by Cao, you may not be willing to write a letter asking for help. I am afraid that this letter is a fake. If you leave, it will only annoy your mother."
"This..." Xu Shu was shocked, picked up the letter and read it carefully, and cursed: "It is indeed Cao's evil plan!"
Zhang Fei was furious when he heard this and said, "What a bastard Cao Aman! He raised an army to slaughter Xuzhou to avenge his father, but now he is threatening people's parents. He deserves to have his father killed by these thieves."
Xu Shu clutched the letter in silence for a long while, then smiled sadly and said, "After all, my mother is imprisoned, and I can't sit still, so I have to go. General, don't worry, even if Cao Cao forces me, I will never make a plan for the rest of my life."
"It's not that I don't want you to leave!" Liu Qi frowned and said, "But your mother is a noble person. Given her personality, she will be ashamed to see you. What if... wouldn't that backfire?"
Xu Shu was in a state of confusion at the moment. He only thought about saving people but didn't think about the consequences. Liu Qi's words woke him up and he immediately sat there paralyzed, wondering, "What should I do?"
Everybody was silent. Xu Shu's ability was unquestionable. He knew it was a trick, but he couldn't persuade others not to be filial. If you put yourself in his shoes, everyone would be in a dilemma.
Liu Qi walked back and forth a few times with his hands behind his back, and suddenly grabbed Cao Cao's letter on the table and shouted, "Got it!"
Xu Shu raised his head and asked, "General, what good plan do you have?"
Liu Qi held the two letters together and said slowly, "For now, we have no choice but to exchange people for each other. We can exchange Cao Ren for your mother and ensure her safety."
"General... how can we do this?" Xu Shu was shocked and said hurriedly: "If we let Cao Ren go, Cao Cao will definitely lead his army south. The money, food and horses are for preparation. If..."
"Sir, there is no need to say more!" Liu Qi interrupted Xu Shu and said with a smile: "Keeping you here is ten times better than Cao Ren! As long as the military advisor makes a plan, even if Cao Cao leads a million soldiers, what is there to fear?"
"General, what a great thing to say!" Zhang Fei laughed and said, "Let Cao Ren go. It's just right for Cao Cao to come again. I can capture him then."
Gan Ning chuckled and said, "It would be best if we could capture all the Cao family members and slowly trade them for money and land. Damn it, I'll make this old thief bankrupt."
Liu Qi comforted Xu Shu and said, "With the courage of the generals and the wisdom of the teacher, how can we not avenge this vengeance?"
"I regret not listening to the general's advice!" Xu Shu was deeply moved and fell to his knees.
Liu Qi originally wanted to exchange Cao Ren for the emperor and Luoyang, but in the end, because of his self-righteousness, he only got his old mother back. It is difficult to repay such a kindness in this lifetime.
Liu Qi helped Xu Shu up and said with a smile, "Don't worry, sir. As long as she returns safely, we will work together to capture Cao Cao and avenge him one day."
Xu Shu burst into tears: "I am a man of limited talent and wisdom, but I am deeply grateful to the general for his trust and kindness. I would never be able to repay him even if I were to die."
Liu Qi comforted Xu Shu for a while, and ordered Mi Zhu to write back to Cao Cao to exchange the hostages as quickly as possible. It was time for this drama to come to an end.
But then everyone knew that a fierce battle was about to take place, and whether they could withstand Cao Cao's thundering attack would determine their future success or failure.
After the messenger was sent out, Xu Shu was still uneasy, so Liu Qi simply asked Wei Yan to escort Cao Ren and rush to Bowang with Xu Shu, and replaced them at the front line so that mother and son could reunite as soon as possible.
During this period, scouts reported that Cao Cao had gathered heavy troops in Xuchang, Runan and other places. Liu Qi had transferred Guan Yu to Bowang, and stationed troops in various important places, ready to respond to the battle at any time.
One day, he was writing and drawing on a map in his study when his personal soldiers came to report that Xu Shu had returned safely with his mother. He then went to the inn to pay a personal visit to him.
Seeing that Xu's mother was very elegant, she was about to thank Liu Qi. Liu Qi quickly supported her and said with a smile: "I should thank you. It is because of your good parenting that I have such a talented person to help the Han Dynasty."
Mother Xu smiled generously and said, "I heard about the general's amazing achievements when I was in Xuchang. He followed the emperor's uncle's ambition to revive the Han Dynasty and eliminate the bandits. Seeing him today, I can see that his reputation is well-deserved. My son is still young and almost abandoned the light and joined the dark, making a big mistake. Now that he has found his master, he will do his best to assist the general and repay his grace of redemption."
Xu Shu also nodded in agreement. If he was just moved by Liu Qi's sincerity before, now he was completely devoted to him and was willing to die for him.
Liu Qi hosted a banquet at the inn to entertain Xu's mother, and discussed with Xu Shu to bring her to Xiangyang to live with Liu Bei's two wives so that they could be taken care of.
The next day, Xu Shu sent his mother out of the city and immediately came to see Liu Qi, saying with a wry smile: "My mother said that the war is coming and asked me to put the overall situation first and not to go to Xiangyang with her."
Liu Qi said with emotion: "She is truly a righteous person, much better than those self-righteous hermits and masters."
Xu Shu's expression changed slightly, and he laughed, "General, are you blaming Kong Ming for not wanting to meet you?"
Liu Qi shook his head and sighed, "I'm not referring to one person in particular, but I'm lamenting that people's hearts have changed. If we were all like them, and let the traitors run rampant, how could they live a carefree life? As the saying goes, every man has his share of responsibility for the fate of his country!"
"Every man has his share of responsibility for the fate of his country!" Xu Shu muttered to himself.
After mumbling for a while, he clasped his fists and said sincerely: "Now that Cao Ren has returned, Cao Cao will surely raise an army to seek revenge. I am short-sighted and may hinder the general's great cause. Kong Ming has a great talent, so please go and ask him in person."
After saying this, he looked at Liu Qi worriedly, fearing that Liu Qi would be resentful because of his failure last time.
Unexpectedly, Liu Qi nodded and said, "That's what I meant!"
Xu Shu was overjoyed: "I will go with the general."
Liu Qi rolled up the map on the table and said with a smile, "I was a little abrupt when I went there last time. This time I am well prepared and I will impress Wolong with my sincerity."
Cao's army was approaching and time was running out, so the two of them prepared themselves and, led by Zhao Yun, escorted them to Longzhong again.
Liu Qi was a little nervous along the way. History had changed. The angry Cao Cao had marched south ahead of schedule and no longer had time to play the trick of visiting Zhuge Liang three times.
Relying on Xu Shu alone to deal with counselors like Cao Cao and Xun You was indeed lacking in confidence.
Once the war breaks out, it will last for years. This time he is ready to show his trump card directly, but he doesn't know whether he will succeed.
When he went to Wolonggang again, he saw a curved plow at the door. Xu Shu was delighted and said, "This must have been made by Kong Ming according to the general's drawing."
Liu Qi was also secretly happy. He thought that Zhuge Liang's action might be a hint that he would at least not be disgusted with him and would not turn a blind eye to it.
Xu Shu was so excited that he went forward and knocked on the door. A refined young man opened the door and said in surprise, "Sir, please come in quickly."
Xu Shu didn't bother to be polite and asked directly, "Is Kong Ming in the manor today?"
Unexpectedly, the young man shook his head and said, "Sir, you came at an unfortunate time. My second brother's wedding is coming up soon. He went to the Huang family to propose marriage yesterday and has not returned yet."