“Why did my mother commit suicide? Was it to make me leave Cao’s camp?” Paul Morgan was so concerned that he became confused; whenever something involved his mother, his mind would become muddled. Seeing this, Ethan Brooks could only sigh inwardly and continued to explain, “You entered Cao’s camp for the sake of your mother. Now, your mother feels she has ruined your future and become a burden to you! If she is gone, you will have no more attachments, and then you can go wherever you wish. Even if you resign from Cao Cao and join the lord, it would be possible!” The more Ethan Brooks spoke, the more he felt his words were clumsy, realizing he just couldn’t make his meaning clear. Growing anxious, he hurriedly said, “You entered Cao’s camp because you were tricked, but at least you could stay by your mother’s side and serve her wholeheartedly. Now that your mother is gone, how can you not consider your own future? Her suicide was to show her resolve, so you wouldn’t be held back by her and could wholeheartedly assist the lord!” After finishing, he let out a long breath and thought to himself, “Being a persuader is really not a job for people! I’ll never do this again!” At the same time, he stole a glance at Paul Morgan, hoping his words could move him.

At this moment, Paul Morgan sat on his horse, feeling as if a storm was raging in his heart, all in turmoil. He had never thought that his mother’s suicide had such a deeper meaning, but now, after hearing Ethan Brooks’s words, he finally understood. He was not a foolish man, but whenever something involved his mother, it was as if he was caught in a web, unable to see clearly or think straight. Now, with Ethan Brooks’s guidance, he suddenly saw everything clearly. Although Ethan Brooks’s words were not very clear, with his intelligence, it was not hard to figure out. The more he thought about it, the more ashamed he felt, until finally, with a face full of shame, he said, “If not for your words, General, I fear I would have regretted it for life! But if I do not return to Cao’s camp, I fear the world will mock me!”

When Ethan Brooks heard this from Paul Morgan, he knew he had succeeded. Hearing that Paul Morgan feared the world’s ridicule, he added, “You were tricked into Cao’s camp, and now you take the opportunity to escape—blame only Cao Cao for not being careful enough, no one else!” After thinking for a moment, he continued, “Besides, if you help the lord achieve great things, who would care about such a trivial matter?”

Upon hearing this, Paul Morgan seemed to make up his mind and said, “In that case, I will shamelessly follow you back, General!”

Hearing this, Ethan Brooks finally felt at ease, knowing his task was now successfully completed! At this moment, he remembered Benjamin Reed’s instructions and quickly said, “There’s no need to hurry, sir. Mr. Benjamin instructed me that if you are willing to return, you should make a trip to Jiangxia first!”

“Jiangxia?” Paul Morgan was taken aback, sitting on his horse and thinking carefully. After a while, he laughed and said, “What a clever Benjamin, he’s even calculated me into his plans! Very well, I’ll go to Jiangxia, and consider it a gift to the lord!”

“In that case, I take my leave!” said Ethan Brooks, bidding farewell to Paul Morgan on horseback before turning and heading toward Fancheng. Paul Morgan, meanwhile, sat dazed on his horse, watching the gradually disappearing figure and murmured, “The lord is gathering more and more talented people around him. It seems the day of achieving great ambitions is drawing near!” With that, he glanced in the direction of Cao’s camp, let out a cold laugh, and then spurred his horse toward Jiangxia.

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Chapter 9: Changban (1)

Ethan Brooks looked at the dense crowds stretching before and behind, and sighed inwardly, “Who knows how many civilians will die in the battle of Changban!” Thinking this, he shook his head slightly. David Clark, standing nearby, noticed and asked, “Zihan, why are you sighing?” Ethan Brooks heard this and replied with a bitter smile, “We only travel a dozen or so li each day. If this continues, sooner or later Cao Cao will catch up!” David Clark fell silent at these words.

That day, after persuading Paul Morgan, Ethan Brooks hurried back to Fancheng to report to Benjamin Reed. Benjamin Reed immediately advised James Carter to abandon Fancheng and retreat south. James Carter gladly agreed and immediately sent people to arrange the southward retreat. As things unfolded just as Ethan Brooks had expected, most of the people of Xinye and Fancheng insisted on following James Carter south, and unwilling to abandon the people, James Carter set out with hundreds of thousands of civilians. The slow pace of the journey made Ethan Brooks increasingly anxious.

This large group finally reached Xiangyang, only to be refused entry. With no other choice, James Carter led the people toward Jiangling. At this moment, they were on the road to Jiangling. Robert Evans and Benjamin had already left the main group the previous day, heading south, and, following Ethan Brooks’s suggestion, had also taken Edward Grant to Jiangxia. Ethan Brooks secretly guessed they were heading to Xiakou. After all, with so many civilians, James Carter’s group could not move quickly and would surely be caught by Cao Cao. With Benjamin Reed’s wisdom, he would certainly predict that James Carter would change course midway, and Ethan Brooks remembered that in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Benjamin fetched troops and warships from Xiakou to support them—this must have been decided at this very moment.