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WARNING: THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
Cao Cao, having once again gone west to deal with Zhang Xiu, is engaged in a duel of strategy against Jia Xu. Unfortunately for Cao Cao, Jia Xu is every bit as good a strategist as he himself is.
Several chapters ago, Liu Biao was introduced into the novel, as an opponent to Sun Jian, who had been returning home, Imperial Hereditary Seal in his possession, after leaving the failed Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition. Now, Liu Biao is back, this time working with Zhang Xiu to help bring Cao Cao up short.
I find it interesting that here in the earlier stages of the novel, Liu Biao is willing to bring his considerable military force to bear against Cao Cao, and yet, later on, he proves ever more indecisive. Historically, Liu Biao had a very secure geographical position, that being Jingzhou. He had a large army, and the benefits of economic prosperity and years and years of relative peace in the region under his rule. Furthermore, he had very capable underlings under him. Cai Mao might have been an asshole, but he was a very talented naval commander. Gan Ning (later to be a subject of Wu) started out his formal military career as an officer under Liu Biao, as did later Shu heroes Wei Yan and Huang Zhong. Liu Biao also had very able people advising him. Kuai Liang was an advisor on par with Xun Yu, I think.
So why is it that Liu Biao did not make a bid of his own for dominance? Like many of the great leaders of the day, including the mighty Yuan Shao in the north, Liu Biao was indecisive. He had the power to see a course of action through, but not the will to begin it. You might notice that thus far in the novel, while Liu Biao might indeed bring his military might to bear at the behest of, say, Yuan Shao, he never actually leaves his own lands in the process. Rather, Liu Biao adopts a defensive, rather than offensive, position. And that, my friends, is, in my opinion, the major reason for the downfall of the province of Jing. Cao Cao was always on the offensive, driving the frontiers of his territory ever further out. One by one, he devoured his rivals on the central plains (as the following chapters will illustrate), then settled Yuan Shao once and for all. Then he moved south, which brought him to Jingzhou, without a doubt, the central region of contention between all three of the Three Kingdoms throughout the novel...
For now, however, Liu Biao still stands strong, with Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu to aid him. And Cao Cao is forced to play a dangerous game of strategy and counterstrategy to keep Biao, Xiu, and Xu occupied long enough for him to deal with the other problem he's got on his mind...
And that brings us...guess where....that's right. Back to the Xu Province, where Lu Bu still rules. However, you might notice throughout the novel if you pay attention to the factors that are present preceeding the fall of the greatest monarchs that one factor in particular always seems to be present. Flattery.
In the beginning of the novel, it's the Ten Eunuchs of the Inner Bureau who lead the Emperor astray. Later, Wang Yun's flattery lures Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu into a trap which will lead eventually to Dong Zhuo's death and Lu Bu's exile. Now, the Chen Deng and Chen Gui are leading Lu Bu down the garden path, and so he stops listening to the other Chen, Chen Gong, who actually DOES have his best interests at heart. Later on, Eunuchs will be responsible, partially or fully, for the downfall of both the Shu-Han Empire and the Wu Empire.
Lu Bu probably SHOULD listen to Chen Gong's advice, what with Cao Cao ready to devour Xuzhou at any moment. But flattery sounds better to him, I suppose, and you know what they say...."Pride goes before the fall".
One thing to note when listening to this chapter: Pay attention to Xiahou Dun. Most people, if struck in the eye by an arrow, would cry and scream, and that's about it. But Xiahou Dun was far from ordinary, and he shows it here. Enjoy.