Jinting Han people

Shi Le's behavior greatly pleased Zhang Bin.

Since being rejected by Liu Xian, he had been searching for a new lord, hoping to seize the opportunity to realize his grand ambitions. For someone like Zhang Bin, his ambitions were not merely about achieving great things and gaining some wealth. To him, wealth was nothing more than fleeting clouds; the most important thing was to achieve hegemony in his own way.

In Zhang Bin's view, the relationship between a strategist and his lord is like that of a swordsmith and his sword. What is the point of a sword, no matter how sharp, if it wasn't forged by the swordsmith himself? Similarly, while Liu Xian was undoubtedly a peerless sword, sharp and invincible, and Zhang Bin had high hopes for him, he found it difficult to imprint his own mark on him. Even if Liu Xian was highly likely to achieve great things, Zhang Bin was unwilling to ally with him.

Over the years, Zhang Bin has been searching for an unpolished gem, a divine weapon to forge and defeat everyone head-on.

But how difficult it is to find such a lord! First, he must have extremely high comprehension; second, he must not have received proper guidance; third, he must have certain abilities and ambitions, be able to fight on the battlefield and be proactive; and finally, he must appreciate Zhang Bin, make good use of Zhang Bin, and be able to fully accept Zhang Bin's opinions.

There's a folk saying: "A fine horse is common, but a discerning eye is rare." This is, of course, a joke. Fine horses are indeed rare, but people say this because discerning eyes are even rarer. Zhang Bin's actions are like a horse trying to find a discerning eye—how can he possibly succeed? It's like Zhang Liang seeking help from Emperor Gaozu—a complete reversal of the natural order.

Therefore, Zhang Bin wasted four or five years in a row, and needless to say, he still couldn't find a suitable lord. Just as he was reflecting on whether he had set his standards too high, Shi Le came into his view.

It must be said that Zhang Bin initially had a poor impression of Shi Le, who was never even on his shortlist. While he wanted to select a promising talent, it seemed a bit too demanding of someone like Shi Le who couldn't even read. Could someone aspiring to be emperor possibly be illiterate?

However, as time went on, Shi Le's various actions still attracted Zhang Bin's attention: Although this Jiehu was illiterate, he was willing to avenge his sworn brother, which showed that he was loyal; he was able to frequently make friends with the heroes of Hebei, which showed that he was good at socializing; Shi Le was also able to lead his troops into battle and make a name for himself, which showed that he was good at military affairs; moreover, he suffered repeated defeats, but he was not discouraged by his defeats, which showed that Shi Le was resilient.

Most importantly, given all these circumstances, Shi Le was still illiterate. Doesn't this mean that all his previous achievements were due to his talent and self-taught ability, making him a piece of unpolished jade?
Having figured this out, Zhang Bin finally joined the Gentlemen's Camp. Learning from his previous experience, he entered the camp without uttering a word, silently observing Shi Le. The more he observed, the happier Zhang Bin became, until just now, when he finally confirmed that Shi Le was indeed the rare iron and steel he had been searching for! With careful training, this barbarian could surely become a legendary emperor comparable to Liu Bang!
At this moment, Shi Le was unaware of what Zhang Bin was thinking. Feeling that his posture when asking for advice had not been dignified enough, he released Zhang Bin's hand, adopted a dignified sitting posture, and asked Zhang Bin for guidance:
"Sir, I have heard the story of King Zhuang of Chu comparing himself to a strange bird that remained silent for three years before its sudden cry astonished everyone. You, too, have joined my Gentlemen's Camp and remained silent for three months. Surely, a man of your stature must have some extraordinary strategies to teach me!"

Zhang Bin waved his hand and said, "I dare not speak of extraordinary strategies. I am but a humble scholar, and I only have some of my own limited opinions!"

"Sir, there's no need for such formalities!" Shi Le said with a generous bow, "If you can help me out of this predicament, from this day forward, you will be my Right Chief Secretary!"

Shi Le's promise was no small matter. His Gentlemen's Camp had nearly a hundred men, but only four positions were truly important: the Left and Right Chief Secretaries and the Left and Right Commanders, with the Right Chief Secretary being the leader of the entire camp. At this time, Diao Ying was the chief strategist, implying that Zhang Bin would replace Diao Ying and become Shi Le's chief strategist.

Zhang Bin remained unmoved upon hearing this, and casually asked, "I wonder what predicament the general speaks of?"

"I don't know where to settle down," Shi Le sighed, shaking his head. "After losing several battles in a row, I really can't stay in Ji Province any longer. Since you say that Jiangdong is not a good place to go, where should I go? Qingxu? Guanzhong? Yan Province? Or Sili Province?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Bin shook his head and said, "General, why are you talking nonsense? Are these places even safe to go?"

Shi Le suddenly changed his expression, chuckled, and said, "I am a barbarian, so it is normal for me to speak some nonsensical language. Please enlighten me, sir."

Zhang Bin was amused and tapped the table, asking, "Does the general have a map of China?"

Shi Le honestly asked, "Is a map of Ji Province usable?"

"No problem, then I'll draw it for the general."

Seeing a pot of wine on the table, Zhang Bin picked it up, dipped his finger in the wine, and began to draw the layout of the prefectures and counties of the land. Having worked as a clerk in Ye City in his younger days, he had seen all sorts of archives within the Northern Expeditionary Army's archives and knew the maps and household registration information of the various prefectures by heart. Now, drawing a map of China was effortless for him; he finished it in a short time, then used wine cups to represent figures, placing them one by one on the locations of the various prefectures.

With everything prepared, Zhang Bin slowly said, "I will try to analyze the general situation of the world for you, General."

He began by giving a general overview: "In the present world, the Jin dynasty is in decline, the emperor is incompetent, and chaos is breaking out on all sides. There are countless people who want to seize the throne. Even if Wang Yan were to take control of the government, the central plains would not be able to save the dynasty. However, the Jin dynasty is deeply rooted and difficult to destroy quickly. Perhaps we can consolidate our military strength and secure a foothold in the southeast. But as a general of barbarian origin, even if you try to cultivate your tastes, you will find it difficult to win the hearts of scholars. Therefore, going south is definitely not the best strategy."

Upon hearing this, Shi Le felt that Zhang Bin's words made a lot of sense, and he nodded repeatedly. He first poured Zhang Bin a cup of wine and handed it to him, then asked, "What about the Central Plains?"

Then Zhang Bin pointed to the Central Plains and said, "The Central Plains are a land of great transportation. Cao Cao was able to achieve his hegemony because of the prestige of the Han emperor and the people's longing for the Han, which enabled him to command the heroes to punish the disloyal. Now, the Jin dynasty is lacking in virtue, and the people are resentful. The regional governors are of two minds, so there is no one who can use this strategy. Therefore, although the three provinces of Yan, Yu, and Si are rich in population and have many people, it is difficult to establish a foothold. It is a place to plan slowly, not a good choice for establishing a capital."

Shi Le had heard many analyses of Cao Cao's rise to power, all praising the wealth of the Central Plains. But Zhang Bin was the first to point out the importance of the Han emperor. He laughed and said, "Sir, you are absolutely right. Cao Cao bullied orphans and widows, yet he insists on claiming he conquered the world. He is truly a fraud and a charlatan. I have long despised him!"

Zhang Bin smiled slightly, took the wine from Shi Le, took a sip, then pointed to Qingxu and continued, "Qingxu is the former territory of the State of Qi, with the natural defenses of Mount Tai and the benefits of fish and salt. During the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the two Qi states became hegemons because of this. But now, it has been cultivated by the Celestial Masters for over a hundred years, deeply rooted, with Liu Baigen and Wang Mi establishing themselves here, making it impossible for others to intervene. Moreover, although Qingxu is dangerous, it is not something to boast about; although it is rich, it is not something to be arrogant about. It can only be used for a short time, not for long-term purposes. General, it is fine to abandon it."

Shi Le then asked, "What about Guanzhong?"

Zhang Bin immediately pointed westward and solemnly said, "Guanzhong is indeed the foundation of a hegemon, a land chosen by heaven. It is a country surrounded by natural barriers, the most dangerous place in China, with the Qin River Valley stretching for eight hundred miles, producing countless warriors. If Guanzhong can be stabilized, and Xichuan can be merged with it, and Longyou can be taken over, then no one in the world can rival it." "But precisely because of this, Guanzhong must not be taken now. Zhang Gui is isolated in Hexi, Yuan Hai Gong holds sway in Hebei, Liu Xian soars in Bashu, and Wang Yan controls the region from afar. Everyone wants to annex Guanzhong, and no one wants a hegemon who unifies Guanzhong. Especially Yuan Hai Gong and Liu Xian; the two of them will inevitably have a fierce battle in Guanzhong." Because Liu Yuan was nominally Shi Le's ruler, Zhang Bin referred to Liu Yuan as Yuan Hai Gong.

This was also what Shi Le was concerned about, and he hurriedly asked, "In your opinion, who will win?"

Zhang Bin pondered this for a long time before slowly saying, "Yuanhai Guild wins!"

"Why? Why couldn't Liu Xian defeat the Xiongnu?"

"No, Yuan Hai Gong has now subdued the Shuofang Xianbei and the Tiefu Xiongnu, leaving the Guanzhong region wide open. He can simply roam without attacking, sending cavalry to harass Guanzhong and plunder for a living. At that time, farmers will be unable to cultivate the land, and soldiers will be unable to rest. If they do not fight Liu Xian, what can Liu Xian do even if he is capable of fighting? Will he use Bashu to support the entire Guanzhong region? Or will he cross Guanzhong to attack Bingzhou? Neither is possible."

"Therefore, as long as Yuan Hai Gong adopts this strategy, Guanzhong will be his sooner or later. If Liu Xian does not understand this point and relies on his military strength to go north to Guanzhong, he will only waste his time. For Liu Xian, his best strategy is definitely to move east, not north."

Listening to Zhang Bin's analysis of the world situation was a pleasure for Shi Le, who praised him repeatedly. But when Zhang Bin stopped to drink water, he suddenly realized: So, he had nowhere to go? He couldn't go to Jiangdong, he couldn't go to the Central Plains, he couldn't go to Qingxu, he couldn't go to Guanzhong, so where could he go?
When he voiced his question, Zhang Bin chuckled and said, "General, you're too close to the situation to see it clearly! What I mean is simply to let you establish a foothold in Hebei, isn't it?"

"Hebei is the place where Emperor Guangwu rose to power. It has millions of households and is the wealthiest place in the world. Among them, Ye City has the natural defenses of Huguan Pass and the fortifications of Santai. It borders Bingzhou to the west and is surrounded by mountains and rivers, making it a strategic stronghold. General, you are also quite famous in this place. If you can hold it and defend it, you can control the Yellow River to the south, defend Yan and Dai to the north, and also control the Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes. If you turn south to contend for the world, who in the world can stop you?"

These words greatly disappointed Shi Le. He frowned and his tone turned cold: "Sir, you are joking. How could I not understand this principle? If I could gain a foothold in Hebei, I would not be asking you for advice."

But Zhang Bin remained calm and asked, "Why is the general unable to gain a foothold in Hebei?"

Shi Le was not embarrassed and frankly said, "Of course we can't beat the Xianbei. Their horses are the best in the land, and they also have unparalleled iron armor. When they charge on the battlefield, they are invincible steel beasts. Looking at the world, it is said that only Meng Guan had such a fierce army before."

This is the truth. Shi Le had considered building a cavalry force capable of confronting the Xianbei cavalry; in fact, all the powers in the land desired such an army. However, firstly, they lacked sufficient fine horses and the resources to maintain them; secondly, they lacked a stable foothold to recruit artisans and forge suitable horse armor; and thirdly, they didn't have enough well-trained knights. The Xianbei cavalry's current reputation was built through decades of warfare.

Zhang Bin naturally understood the reasoning behind it. He looked at Shi Le and asked, "Has the general ever considered why the Xianbei people would help Wang Jun?"

“Of course…” Shi Le began to speak, but then stopped abruptly. He had never thought about this question before. Yes! Why would the Xianbei people help Wang Jun? He used to think it was a matter of course, but now, his mind seemed to have hit a bottleneck. However, his instincts told him that as long as he figured it out, he could open up a whole new world.

Seeing Shi Le's gaze fixed on him, Zhang Bin stroked his beard and smiled, then pointed to the Youzhou region on the map on the table and said, "General, China has always established the Ning Shuo Military Command, whose main task is to manage the Hu people in the northern frontier, both to win them over and to keep them in check. After Wang Jun became the Ning Shuo General, he had the opportunity to come into contact with the Xianbei and Wuhuan people."

"It should be known that there are four major Xianbei tribes in the northern frontier today: the Tuoba Xianbei in Yunzhong, the Duanbu Xianbei in Liaoxi, the Murong Xianbei in Liaodong, and the Yuwen Xianbei in the northern frontier."

"Among them, the Tuoba Xianbei were the strongest, their leader was called the Great Chanyu, who was close to the ruler of the grasslands and had a million followers. Next were the Yuwen Xianbei, who were allied with the Tuoba tribe and were close to the hegemon of the northeast. The Duan Xianbei and Murong Xianbei were relatively weak, but they were more Sinicized."

"General, of these four tribes, the Yuwen and Murong tribes are too far apart. Currently, the only ones that can be used by Wang Jun are the Tuoba Xianbei and the Duan Xianbei. Do you know why they would be used by Wang Jun?"

Seeing Shi Le shake his head, Zhang Bin explained, "Although the Tuoba tribe is large, its internal affairs are intricately complex precisely because of its size. When I was in the Northern Expeditionary Army, I heard that some people were dissatisfied with the previous Great Chanyu's Sinicization efforts, which led to the forgery of an imperial edict to kill the Crown Prince Tuoba Moshe Khan. Now, with the Great Chanyu's death and his new master Tuoba Yilu ascending the throne, he is trying to integrate the three tribes and needs external assistance to intervene. Otherwise, there will be concerns about power struggles and unforeseen disasters within the country."

"The Duan tribe was originally the weakest of the four Xianbei tribes, but because of this, it has greatly increased its power in recent years due to the alliance and support of Wang Jun. Previously, Wang Jun married a daughter to the Chanyu Duan Wumu Chen, and this year Wang Yan granted Duan Wumu Chen the title of Duke of Liaoxi. Duan Wumu Chen was naturally happy to use this opportunity to get rid of the influence of the Tuoba Xianbei, expand his power, and centralize his authority and Sinicize.

Hearing this, Shi Le had a vague idea. In his mind, the Xianbei people were like demons that appeared out of nowhere. But now, with Zhang Bin's analysis, he realized that they also had many internal conflicts. He lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then said, "I understand. What you mean is that the Xianbei people and Wang Jun are not a united front. Can we work on them from within?"

"This young man is teachable!" Zhang Bin thought to himself, but he didn't show it on his face. Instead, he continued to analyze, "Now Wang Jun has two powerful Xianbei allies. He seems invincible, but in reality, they are only superficially united."

"The Tuoba Xianbei and the Duan tribe Xianbei were originally in a relationship of ruler and subject. Wang Jun's support for the Duan tribe Xianbei is actually a way of suppressing the Tuoba Xianbei. Don't the Tuoba Xianbei have any thoughts about this? Moreover, the Tuoba Xianbei recently lost Shuofang, so there must be a lot of resentment within them!"

"I have a plan for you, General. If it succeeds, the two Xianbei tribes and Wang Jun will inevitably turn against each other! You can then profit from this and gain a foothold!"

Hearing this, Shi Le was now completely convinced that Zhang Bin was the one who could lead him out of his predicament. He quickly asked Zhang Bin, "Please tell me, sir!"

Zhang Bin chuckled softly again. He reached for the brush on the inkstone, tapped it against the brush washer, and then said, "I will write two surrender letters for you, General, one for the Duan tribe and one for the Tuoba tribe. I will say that you have realized your mistake and want to use their connections to offer gifts and surrender to Wang Jun. What do you think?"

After Zhang Bin finished speaking, Shi Le suddenly felt everything become clear, and a surge of overwhelming joy welled up within him, causing him to dance and cheer wildly. It took him a long time to calm down before he grasped Zhang Bin's hand again and solemnly said, "Sir, you are my Zhang Liang! I wish to become your disciple!" (End of Chapter)