The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 290 A deity came from Hebei, claiming to be an old friend of Li Yi?

Huainan, Shouchun.

After Chen Deng annexed the Huainan region, he became arrogant and complacent.

He was also grateful for Li Yi's kindness. If it weren't for Li Yi's whispered words to the King of Qi, how could he have taken this place?

Remembering that Li Yi's third son had only recently been born, he sent people to collect exotic flowers and fruits from various places.

They then went to Wen County to collect tangerines, and bought forty dan (a unit of weight).

First, send twenty loads to Xiapi to present to Liu Bei, the King of Qi.

The rest were sent to Bohai in Hebei.

Due to information asymmetry in ancient times, Chen Deng was also unsure whether Li Yi was in Xiapi or Hebei.

However, according to Chen Deng's idea, the fruit should be divided into two portions.

One portion was sent to Xiapi, and the other to Bohai.

No matter where Li Yi is, he and his family can eat.

The transport team, under Chen Deng's orders, traveled day and night to reach the Bohai Sea.

When they reached Hebei, the porters, exhausted from the journey, rested and slept at the foot of the mountain.

Suddenly, I met a gentleman who was blind in one eye and lame in one leg.

Wearing a white rattan crown and a blue robe, she greeted the porter.

The porters returned the greeting, and the Taoist priest said again:
"You are all working very hard carrying these loads. How about I carry one of your loads for you?"

Everyone was overjoyed and agreed to their terms.

So the Taoist priest carried each load for five li.

But the loads that the Taoist priest had carried all became lighter.

Everyone was surprised and uncertain, and each went to chase after the Taoist priest.

The Taoist priest said to the official who was receiving the oranges:
"I am an old friend of Minister Li from the same hometown. My surname is Zuo, my given name is Ci, and my courtesy name is Yuanfang."

His Taoist name is Mr. Wujiao.

"If you reach Bohai, you can tell Zuo Ci what he wants."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Everyone was quite surprised and transported the tangerines to the Bohai Prime Minister's residence.

At that time, Li Yi was not present, and only Lady Mi was in charge of the household.

Lady Deer received the oranges and rewarded each of the porters who were carrying loads.

Just then, Yuan Ying was at home brewing tea and taking care of her child, so she ordered her servants to bring the brewed tea to the laborers to quench their thirst.

The servants thanked them.

Lady Deer continued:
"You have all come from afar in Huainan, please come and sit in my house."

The laborers hurriedly put down their teacups and bowed deeply, saying:
"Your Majesty, we are of lowly birth."

"I would never dare to step into the Prime Minister's residence."

Lady Deer said solemnly:

"The rule in my household is that all who come are guests."

"You are delivering oranges to my household, how can you not even be allowed to enter my gate?"

"Please do not have any doubts, please come inside and sit down."

The laborers looked at each other, bewildered.

Everyone was moved to tears.

There's no other reason than that the ancient class system was extremely rigid, like a mountain.

The group came from a typical aristocratic family like Chen Deng's, and were instilled with the concept of hierarchy from a young age.

Who would have thought that I would be treated with such courtesy upon arriving at the residence of the second most powerful prime minister in the State of Qi?
"Everyone says that Prime Minister Li is kind and benevolent, and even the people in his household are like this."

"I know that what the world says is true!"

Everyone secretly admired Li Yi's virtue.

As the saying goes, "One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black."

With a strong personality like Li Yi's, those around him are naturally influenced by him.

Mi Zhen, a typical lady from a prominent family, actually had a rather conservative and traditional mindset.

However, Li Yi often advised the people in his household to be kind to others.

Don't look down on someone just because they have a low social status.

How do you know that this "lowly" person won't soar to great heights in the future?
It was precisely because of Li Yi's influence that he was raised with strict family discipline.

This made the people in the Prime Minister's residence famous far and wide for their friendliness.

From top to bottom, no one would bully others by relying on the Prime Minister's family background.

Li Yi would severely punish anyone who did so.

Upon arriving at the mansion, Yuan Ying ordered someone to bring pastries and snacks for the laborers.

The laborers thanked them again, and then told them about the strange things they had encountered in Hebei.

Mi Zhen frowned and looked at those around him, saying:
"My husband lived in seclusion in the mountains in his early years and only had contact with his immortal master."

"I've never heard of any old acquaintances from that time..."

Shi Taohong, who was standing nearby, hurriedly said:

"Could that Taoist priest be the Prime Minister's master?"

"Doesn't the Prime Minister often mention that his master was a highly accomplished and enlightened person?"

"If this Mr. Zuo Ci truly possesses such extraordinary skills, then it confirms what the Prime Minister said."

Just then, Yuan Ying suddenly cried out "Ah!"

Everyone rushed forward to check.

"...What's wrong, Yingmei?"

"...This, this tangerine has no pulp inside."

Yuan Ying was holding a tangerine in her hands.

Everyone looked at it, but all they saw was an empty shell; there was no fruit inside.

"Perhaps because of the long journey, some of the fruit was damaged."

Mi Zhen spoke gently and comforted Yuan Ying.

"...Let's go and see the other tangerines."

Tao Hong stepped forward and took out the tangerines from the basket one by one to check them.

"...Madam, the tangerines here have all been peeled, and there is no pulp inside the shell."

This!
The laborers were dumbfounded; they were the ones responsible for the transport.

Now that we've received the reward money and had our tea and snacks, we're happy to have received them.

The tangerines that were delivered were empty. How were they supposed to explain this to Chen Deng?
How can they possibly have the face to continue staying in the Prime Minister's residence?
"...Madam! We truly do not know! We truly do not know!"

The laborers were so frightened that they broke out in a cold sweat and immediately prostrated themselves on the ground, kowtowing and begging for forgiveness.

Mi Zhen frowned and first called for everyone to stand up:
“You all rise first, for I know this is not something you will do.”

Just then, Zhen Mi walked out of the orchid room.

Yuan Ying said:
"...Oh! We must have been talking too loudly and disturbed Sister Mi's reading."

Zhen Mi shook her head. "It's nothing."

"I just heard you arguing. What happened?"

Lady Mi knew that Zhen Mi was well-read and sensible.

He then told Zhen Mi about the strange things that had happened.

Zhen Mimi stroked the tangerine peel with her slender fingers, frowning as she said:

"I have heard that there is an extraordinary man named Zuo Ci in Jiangdong who can cut paper into the moon and draw rivers on the ground."

"Could this method have been the work of Zuo Yuanfang?"

Just as they were discussing this, a maid rushed in and hurriedly reported:
“A one-eyed Taoist priest came from the east of the city, known as the Left Immortal.”

"He practiced medicine to save lives, and the people burned incense to him like clouds!"

"When he passed by downstairs, everyone in the household wanted to go and pay their respects!"

So the group climbed the tower and looked into the distance, and sure enough, they saw a Taoist priest.

He wore a crane-feather cloak and carried a cane.

Standing in the middle of the road, the people all burned incense and prostrated themselves in worship.

Mi Zhen frowned and said unhappily:

"When my husband was alive, Hebei was peaceful."

"With my husband gone, all sorts of demons and monsters have appeared!"

Yuan Ying, being simple-minded, blurted out without thinking:
"...Sister Mi is right, my husband is the true master of Hebei."

"These people should be kneeling to my husband, not to that Taoist priest with the bull-nose nose."

Zhen Mi said:

"This Taoist priest has caused such a commotion that he may have alarmed General Zhang."

"We'll go and see too, lest the Prime Minister be away and cause trouble."

Mi Zhen nodded and echoed:

“…Mi-mei’s words are very good. Go and see, but don’t cause any trouble.”

The women left the mansion together and, sure enough, saw a troop of soldiers approaching.

The first general was Zhang Liao, the governor of Bohai.

As a "Beijing official" from Hebei, he naturally had an obligation to maintain the security of the Bohai Sea.

Seeing that there were people causing trouble on the street, he decisively led his troops over to maintain order.

Upon seeing Mi Zhen and the others, he dismounted and bowed.

"...Greetings, Lady Deer!"

"...Greetings, Madam Yuan!"

Zhang Liao bowed respectfully.

Mi Zhen praised him, saying:
"General Zhang has worked hard on his duties, and Hebei is the old territory of the Yuan family."

“Since the deaths of the two Yuans, troublemakers have been a frequent occurrence.”

“However, when my husband was alive, Hebei was still peaceful.”

“Since my husband went to Jiangnan, more than a year has passed, and Hebei has been plagued by a series of incidents.”

"If it weren't for General Zhang and Mr. Xun's help, I really wouldn't know how to explain this to my husband."

Zhang Liao bowed again:

"Before the Prime Minister left, he gave me many instructions."

"Maintaining stability in Hebei is merely my duty."

Just then, they suddenly heard a loud noise from ahead.

Or someone might shout:
"Master Zuo is here! Master Zuo is here!"

After he finished speaking, people from Hebei flocked to him.

Zhang Liao frowned and quickly ordered his soldiers to protect the women behind him, lest they be disturbed by scoundrels.

A young soldier strode up and reported to Zhang Liao:

"...Reporting to the general, this humble general has investigated and found out."

"This Taoist priest is named Zuo Ci, and he is a famous Taoist priest in Lujiang."

"He could use talismanic water to cure people's illnesses, and people who took it often recovered."

"Therefore, they are highly respected."

"Today, he has come to Bohai, and the people all come to worship him, asking him to bestow upon them talismanic water that can cure all diseases."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liao angrily replied:

"What kind of sorcerer? What kind of talisman water?"

"How dare you come to Hebei to bewitch the people and win their hearts!"

Li Yi worked diligently to govern Hebei for several years.

These people, instead of appreciating Li Yi's civil administration, actually believed in the sorcery of that evil Taoist priest.

How could Zhang Liao not be furious?
Of all the people, Mi Zhen was the most furious.

She knew that the people of Hebei were able to live the life they had today largely thanks to her husband's civil and military achievements.

But these people were bewitched by this evil Taoist priest.

If this continues unchecked, the people's hearts will surely be lost.

How will my husband govern Hebei in the future?

"...General Zhang, you must immediately order your men to capture this evil Taoist!"

Mi Zhen didn't believe in any sorcery; she only believed in her husband.

Peach Blossom said with some worry:

"...But Madam, there are so many people around this Taoist priest."

"If we rashly arrest him, I'm afraid we'll only make things worse."

"Moreover, this Taoist's identity is unknown, and we don't even know if he is the Prime Minister's master."

"Even if he isn't, the fact that he can use talisman water to heal people doesn't necessarily mean he's a bad person."

"What if he really is a god? I'm scared, I'm scared..."

Tao Hong, on the other hand, represents a traditional feudal woman who holds a deep reverence for ghosts and gods.

Yuan Ying pouted and snorted softly:

"What ghosts and gods! Heavenly beings!"

"In Ying'er's heart, her husband is her only heaven!"

Zhang Liao pondered for a moment and said:
"...Lady Mi is right. Since Prime Minister Li left, all sorts of monsters and demons have come to Hebei."

"This arrogant bastard thinks that there is no one in Hebei, yet he dares to incite people here!"

"This is a sorcerer who can bewitch people with sorcery; he must be eliminated."

Therefore, the order was given:
"Guards, capture him immediately!!"

At a command, the soldiers were about to move forward and capture the Taoist priest.

"Wait a minute!"

Zhen Mi spoke up to dissuade him, saying, "General Zhang, please calm down. Madam, please calm down."

"What advice do you have for me, young lady?" Zhang Liao asked.

“This Taoist priest’s origins are unknown, but he is quite popular in Hebei. If we really arrest him…”

"It will surely make the people of Hebei resent the Prime Minister and pity Zuo Ci."

Zhen Mi calmly analyzed the situation for everyone.

After careful consideration, everyone agreed that this was indeed the case.

He then asked Zhen Mi, "Since that's the case, what should we do?"
Zhen Mi said:

"This Taoist priest is actively winning over the hearts and minds of the people in Hebei, clearly with his sights set on the Prime Minister."

"The only person capable of taking charge in Hebei is the Prime Minister."

"Now that the matter in Jiangnan has been settled, why not invite the Prime Minister back to handle it personally?"

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.

That's right, everyone can handle other matters in Hebei.

However, this is clearly aimed at Li Yi himself, and Li Yi himself is capable of resolving it.

Especially now that the matter in Jiangnan has been settled, the Prime Minister should be returning.

"Yes, yes, yes! We should let the Prime Minister come back and deal with this Taoist priest!"

Yuan Ying said excitedly.

Just then, another group of people came along.

Upon closer inspection, they recognized Xun You and Xu Shu.

Mi Zhen stepped forward and bowed: "I did not mean to disturb Mr. Gongda and Mr. Yuanzhi."

The two returned the greeting together:
"The Prime Minister has entrusted us with all the affairs of Hebei. Now that someone is causing trouble on the road, it is only natural that we should come and see."

Among the common people, many noticed Zhang Liao, Xu Shu, and others.

The top civil and military officials of Bohai were almost all gathered together today.

This demonstrates just how influential Zuo Ci was.

As a result, everyone held Zuo Ci in even greater awe.

Zhang Liao was displeased and drew his sword, ready to step forward.

Xu Shu grabbed his wrist:

"...Wen Yuan, don't act rashly. Let's wait for the Prime Minister to return before discussing anything further."

Zhang Liao waved his hand and sneered:

"Sir, do not worry. I will go up and see what skills this Taoist has."

"If he can truly cure illnesses with talismanic water, I will spare his life."

"If not, I will not wait for the Prime Minister to return."

“I charged him with disturbing public order and inciting unrest.”

"He will be executed on a chosen day!"

So Zhang Liao led about ten warriors and strode forward.

They pushed aside the crowd and blocked the way.

The crowd that had been burning incense and praying suddenly fell silent.

They all looked at each other, silently watching Zhang Liao and Zuo Ci.

Zuo Ci closed his eyes to rest and did not speak.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Liao drew his sword and shouted:

"You audacious sorcerer, how dare you gather crowds and mislead the people here!"

Zuo Ci slowly opened his eyes, a smile playing on his lips:
"...I merely distributed medicine to help people; the people came of their own accord. How could I have incited them?"

Zhang Liao sneered:
"You charlatan, what difficulty do you have to earn such praise?"

Zuo Ci waved his whisk and said:
"...I am a Taoist priest from Langya Palace. I once went into the mountains to collect herbs during the reign of Emperor Shun."

“The divine book was obtained from the spring water of Yangqu, and it was named the Taiping Qingling Dao.”

"It contains more than a hundred volumes, all of which contain methods and techniques for treating human diseases."

"Having obtained this, I only wish to spread the teachings of Heaven and save all people."

"How can one incite people's hearts without ever taking even the smallest thing from them?"

Zhang Liao was furious and shouted:

"If you do not take even a penny of what the people have, where would you get your clothes and food?"

"Where did all those servants burning incense come from?"

"They are clearly the likes of Zhang Jiao from the Yellow Turban Rebellion, trying to incite unrest and disrupt Prime Minister Li's rule!"

"If we do not punish them now, they will surely become a future problem!"

So he ordered his men to step forward and kill him.

Seeing this, Xu Shu and the others were about to go up and dissuade them.

Zuo Ci spoke first:
"If the general does not believe it, he may verify it."

Zhang Liao then said:

"Since you claim that you can use talismanic water to cure diseases."

"Then I'll try you out on a patient."

Zhang Liao looked around, searching for people who were sick.

Those with minor ailments all volunteered to try Zuo Ci's talisman water.

Zhang Liao feared that anyone who worked for Zuo Ci should not follow him.

He ordered the soldiers to find someone they knew.

After being found, the man claimed to have a minor ailment, with a severe headache.

Zuo Ci then drew a talisman, burned it to ashes, and mixed it with well water.

He handed it to the man and drank it.

After a while, the man said:
"...My head doesn't seem to hurt as much anymore."

Zhang Liao was filled with doubt and quickly asked his soldiers if the man could be trusted.
Is it really unrelated to Zuo Ci?
Everyone said that the man was a local from Hebei who had lived here for many years.

Zuo Ci had only recently arrived in Hebei, so it was unlikely that he would collude with that person.

"What kind of fish does the general like to eat?"

Zuo Ci spoke again, asking Zhang Liao.

Zhang Liao then said:

"My fish eats the perch from Songjiang in the State of Wu."

"This place is a thousand miles away. Can you fetch it for me?"

Zuo Ci laughed and said:

"What's so difficult about this?"

He then ordered his servants to bring a huge bronze basin filled with water.

They broke off willow branches to make poles and used spit silk to make threads.

He cast the fishing rod into the air while chanting incantations.

A moment later, he suddenly shouted and threw his fishing rod into the air.

They actually caught a three-foot bass.

Those around him were all astonished and knelt down, shouting that he was a living god.

"...This Taoist priest really does have some skills."

Zhang Liao thought to himself, "Right now, we can only wait for the Prime Minister to return before making any further plans."

Therefore, they temporarily ignored Zuo Ci.

He personally wrote a letter to Xiapi in Xuzhou, requesting Li Yi to return to Hebei to take charge of affairs as soon as possible.

The book states briefly:

Liao bows deeply and pays homage to the Prime Minister:

"Recently, there was a blind Taoist named Zuo Ci in Hebei who called himself 'Master Wujiao' and widely distributed talismanic water in the Bohai Sea."

"His methods were unpredictable, and Liao Qin witnessed their strangeness."

"When patients drink the talisman water, their chronic illnesses will be cured instantly."

"But take a copper basin, fill it with water, break off a willow branch to make a pole, and in no time you will catch a three-foot Songjiang perch."

"At first I suspected it was an illusion, but upon closer examination,"

"The talisman water has no medicinal taste yet is effective, and fish can be found in the copper basin with no inner layer."

"The people of Hebei now call him 'Taiping Zhenren' (True Man of Great Peace), and more than a thousand people burn incense day and night."

“If this continues, it may damage the Prime Minister’s prestige in Hebei.”

"Moreover, this person possesses extraordinary skills, and if he were to be used by the enemy, the harm he would cause would be considerable."

"I humbly request that the Prime Minister return to Hebei immediately and personally investigate this barbarian."

"I have secretly dispatched elite soldiers to infiltrate their ranks, but the sorcerer is cunning and I fear he is not someone that ordinary people can subdue."

"I am filled with trepidation as I write this, and I respectfully present this perch scale as proof."

“Respectfully submitted by Zhang Liao in the late summer of the twelfth year of Jian’an.”

……

Li Yi received Zhang Liao's letter, and after reading it, he was furious:
"Where did this scoundrel come from, daring to incite unrest in Hebei?"

Liu Bei happened to be there at the time and hurriedly asked the reason.

Li Yi told the truth, and Liu Bei then said:
"...If this Taoist priest truly knows some Taoist arts, how can the Prime Minister subdue him?"

Li Yi sneered:

"Catching fish out of thin air and curing diseases with talismanic water are all trivial skills."

"What's the point of talking about it?"

"This person took advantage of my absence to sow discord among the people of Hebei."

“When I return, I will bring him to justice.”

Although in the Book of the Later Han Dynasty, Zuo Ci was praised as a god, and even described as having "divine powers in his youth".

But Li Yi always believed that he had traveled to an ancient world, not a fantasy world of cultivation, so where would he get any sorcery?
We will also not forget Cao Zhi's historical evaluation of Zuo Ci.
"There are many alchemists in the world, and our king has summoned them all. Gan Shi of Ganling, Zuo Ci of Lujiang, and Xi Jian of Yangcheng."

"He was able to practice breathing exercises and guided breathing techniques, and he was also knowledgeable in sexual techniques. He was frugal and skilled in fasting, and was said to have lived for several hundred years."

"The reason we gathered them in the State of Wei was because we were afraid that this man and his ilk would use deceit and trickery to deceive the masses and commit evil deeds to mislead the people. Therefore, we gathered them together and banned them."

"Why would I wish to see immortals on Yingzhou Island?"

“My own king, the crown prince, and my brothers all thought it was a joke and didn’t believe it.”

Cao Zhi meant that...
Cao Cao gathered these sorcerers together because he feared they might cause trouble and mislead people.

Why would we really want to see gods?

Cao Cao and my brother Cao Pi, among others, all took it as a joke and did not believe it.

A key point here is that...

Although Cao Cao did not believe in Zuo Ci's "sorcery," he could not expose his lies and could only place him under house arrest.

But Li Yi is different.

When he returns, he will not only expose Zuo Ci's "sorcery".

We also need to redefine the "divine status" of the people of Hebei.

To be honest, Li Yi still harbored some resentment towards the people of Hebei.

After all, I have worked hard to govern Hebei and ensure that you have enough to eat and wear.

Instead of appreciating my good deeds, you trust a charlatan who pretends to be a sage.

Well,

Since you believe in these supernatural arts, I'll show you what real supernatural arts are like!
And it's something that even a heretical Taoist like Zuo Ci could never accomplish.

"...The Prime Minister can act according to his ability!"

Liu Bei held Li Yi's hand and gave him repeated instructions.

He was, after all, a true ancient man; even if he didn't believe in ghosts and gods, he still held a sense of awe.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. I have been away from Hebei for a long time, and a lot of trouble has arisen there."

"We can solve this problem once we get back."

Liu Bei frowned and sighed:

"...Indeed, I cannot be without my prime minister."

"Just as Hebei cannot be without a prime minister."

Unlike Cao Cao, who spent eight years digesting the Hebei region in history, Li Yi directly helped Liu Bei swallow up the entire Hebei region and forcibly digested it.

Liu Bei knew that Li Yi's success was entirely due to his military achievements and prestige, as well as his status as a "relative by marriage to the Yuan family".

Multiple buffs combined to forcibly stabilize Hebei.

During his year-long absence, Hebei has generated a host of issues that Li Yi needs to resolve upon his return.

Thinking of this,
Liu Bei couldn't help but recall that a few days ago, many civil and military officials had come to persuade him to conquer the Western Sichuan region.

The reason is that Zhang Song has come to surrender on his own initiative, and if we don't take him now, it will be too late to regret it.

However, Liu Bei, as a ruler, had his own considerations.

War and annexation are never like playing a video game where you can just point and shoot.

For Liu Bei, he had to first conquer the Central Plains and completely pacify Jingzhou before he could take Xichuan.

For the same reason, Xichuan is too far away, and it is a separatist territory bestowed by heaven.

Liu Bei couldn't just send people to fight.

He did consider Li Yi, whose abilities and loyalty were not in question.

He is careful and cautious in his actions, making him more suitable than Guan Yu or Zhang Fei.

However, Li Yi had just returned from Jingzhou, having been away from home for a year.

How could Liu Bei send him to the even more distant Western Sichuan?

Not to mention the birth of Li Yi's third son, which meant that father and son could not see each other for a year.

Given Liu Bei's caring nature towards his subordinates, how could he possibly abandon this basic human decency?

Of course, for Liu Bei, the reason for not choosing Li Yi was...

The most important consideration was that Li Yi had already reached the pinnacle of his power.

As the prime minister, he not only controlled Hebei, the most important province in the land, but also had control over the Yan and Dai regions.

In terms of both status and real power, Li Yi was already second only to the emperor.

Why did Liu Bei choose Zhuge Liang when he went south of the Yangtze River?
It's because taking over Jingzhou was such a huge achievement that only a newcomer like Zhuge Liang, who had no other accomplishments, could accept it.

Let alone Li Yi.

Even figures like Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Chen Deng held high positions and wielded great power in the State of Qi.
Can they really accept taking such a huge credit from Jiangnan?
To put it bluntly, you are already a general of the four directions, while I am just a feudal lord.

How else can I reward you?

Wei Qing rose to prominence through military achievements, eventually becoming Grand Marshal and General-in-Chief, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Changping.

He was the Commander-in-Chief of the three armies of the Han Dynasty, second only to Emperor Wu of Han in power and status.

At this point, Wei Qing had actually reached the limit of his power.

He would have reached the pinnacle of his career once he was appointed Grand General.

As a result, Emperor Wu of Han had to add the title "Grand Marshal" before "Grand General".

They created the position of Grand Marshal and Grand General.

It's because military achievements are hard to digest.

At this time, the younger generation of Huo Qubing stepped onto the historical stage.

Huo Qubing's emergence helped Emperor Wu of Han effectively utilize his "military achievements."

The same applies to Nishikawa.

One can imagine that Li Yi himself was very good at handling things and was very popular.

All the generals in the army respected him.

If he were to actually lead troops to conquer Xichuan, his prestige would instantly reach its peak.

Suddenly someone advised Li Yi to establish himself in Xichuan. How would Li Yi respond?

It wasn't that Liu Bei doubted Li Yi's loyalty.

Liu Bei also believed that given Li Yi's cautious nature, he would never agree to establish himself as an independent ruler in Xichuan.

However, if such a thing were to happen, it would create a rift between the generals.

If that's the case, why embarrass your subordinates?

The essence of power is human recognition.

A political group is formed by people who are bound together in pursuit of their own interests.

Liu Bei was the leader of this community of interests, and he needed to properly handle the division of interests among everyone.

This explains why Liu Bei wasn't fixated on attacking Western Sichuan first.

It's not just a strategic consideration.

Furthermore, as the ruler of a country, he needs to properly manage the distribution of interests among his ministers.

The Central Plains are the core of China.

Whether he went himself or sent someone else, Liu Bei could see and touch it.

This kind of real land is what Liu Bei wants.

……

(End of this chapter)