The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 111 Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang Join Forces, Yuan Xi's Base is Completely Undermined (2 Updates)
Yuan Xi spoke eloquently, but in reality, he still lived up to the saying "one should be cautious about one's life when undertaking great tasks." He wanted to follow Liu Bei to pacify the six counties to win Yuan Shao's favor, but he was unwilling to personally go to the front lines.

Therefore, he made a statement that "it would embolden Yan Rou," and only allowed Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan to accompany Liu Bei to Ji County.

The implication is: How dare I, the dignified governor of Youzhou, personally go to punish a mere prefect of Guangyang? Is that giving him too much face?
Yuan Xi was unwilling to go, but Liu Bei was actually happier.

Although Liu Bei spearheaded the campaign against the six commanderies, Yuan Xi was, after all, the governor of Youzhou. If the two of them were to go to Ji County together, it would be hard to say whose orders Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan would take.

Now that Yuan Xi has voluntarily stayed in Zhuo County, Liu Bei no longer needs to worry that Yuan Xi will forget his principles for short-term gains and cause trouble in Zhuo County, harming the families of civil and military officials and soldiers. At the same time, Liu Bei can show kindness and trust to win over Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan during the campaign against the six commanderies.

Kill two birds with one stone!
Happy to everyone!

While Liu Bei was deceiving Yuan Xi, Zhuge Liang also had a pleasant conversation with Han Heng.

Han Heng was refined and magnanimous. He lost his parents at a young age and supported his older siblings, a similar experience to Zhuge Liang in his childhood.

As the saying goes, "Don't advise others to do good if you haven't experienced their suffering."

Another saying goes: Because I have been caught in the rain, I always want to hold an umbrella for others.

Therefore, Han Heng felt an inexplicable sense of closeness when talking with Zhuge Liang.

As they chatted, Zhuge Liang addressed Han Heng as "Brother Zipei" and "Brother Kongming," showing their close and friendly relationship.

Even after Zhuge Liang left with Liu Bei, Han Heng was still filled with admiration, gazing at Zhuge Liang's departing figure and sighing, "Brother Kongming, you are truly a rare talent!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xi asked in surprise, "The Prefect's evaluation of Zhuge Liang is so high? How does this man compare to Xu You, Guo Tu, Shen Pei, Feng Ji, Ju Shou, Tian Feng, and others under the General's command?"

Han Heng's tone hardened: "I dare not presume to say who is superior or inferior. However, although my virtuous brother Kongming is young, he has already led troops twice. In the first battle, he defeated two thousand with two hundred; in the second battle, he defeated five thousand with one thousand five hundred, capturing the bandit leader in both battles and having all his men surrender."

Yuan Xi was startled: "Is the Prefect talking nonsense? Zhuge Liang is not even twenty years old, how could he have such military skills? It must be Zhuge Liang boasting and deceiving the Prefect! Two hundred defeated two thousand in the first battle, and one thousand five hundred defeated five thousand in the second battle, even exaggerating military achievements is not done like this!"

Han Heng gently shook his head: "The first battle against Brother Kongming was fought by Cao Cao's General Wang Zhong and Chief Clerk Liu Dai; the second battle against Brother Kongming was fought by Hua Yan, Chief Clerk of Pingyuan under Yuan Qingzhou. The truth can be easily verified; there is no false reporting."

Yuan Xi keenly caught the key point: "You just said that Hua Yan was captured alive by Zhuge Liang?"

Han Heng nodded: "I heard that Hua Yan mobilized Yuan Qingzhou's troops without authorization."

Yuan Xi and Han Heng were not on the same page, and Yuan Xi's tone was more pleased: "So it seems that General Zuo did not support Yuan Tan!"

Originally, the idea shouldn't have come to be, but it was born because of Liu Bei's deception, and it sprouted again because Hua Yan was captured alive by Zhuge Liang.

Just like the line from a certain Jin Douzi, "History books are vast and full of information, but they only say four words - striving to become emperor." Yuan Xi was also Yuan Shao's son and the governor of Youzhou. If he had a chance to compete, would he really be willing to follow Yuan Shang's lead?
Is there a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children?

Is there a proper order between elders and juniors?

If even the youngest son can fight for it, why can't the illegitimate son?

Yuan Shao was also once a son of a concubine!
Thinking of this, Yuan Xi said solemnly, "Prefect, issue an order to all officials and military officers to fully cooperate with the Left General in the campaign against the six commanderies, and there must be no mistakes!"

Han Heng was taken aback upon hearing this, then overjoyed, secretly exclaiming: "My lord has finally shown the courage of a prefectural governor!"

"I will obey Your Excellency's command!" Han Heng said, barely suppressing his excitement.

As the Prefect of Youzhou, Han Heng had to be obsequious to the officials of the six counties of Youzhou, which made his position quite frustrating. Now that the opportunity had come, Han Heng was naturally unwilling to miss it!

South City Military Camp.

Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan sat in the tent drinking wine. After witnessing the bravery of Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong, the two had long lost their initial arrogance.

They are fond of brave and fierce warriors, and although they love to rely on their martial prowess, they are also the most self-aware.

After getting a beating, they'll naturally submit.

This is precisely why Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan both developed a "give up" mentality.

He no longer bothered to train the soldiers diligently every day; he ate and drank as he pleased. If life was not going well, then he would simply indulge in eating and drinking.

While they were drinking and making merry, a junior officer rushed in: "General Zuo requests an audience with the two generals outside the camp gate."

"What brings General Zuo to my camp?" Zhang Nan shook his slightly dizzy head, his eyes appearing dazed.

Jiao Chu scratched his head and guessed, "They couldn't possibly be bringing us wine, could they?"

The junior officer added, "I think I saw soldiers leading sheep and carrying wine behind General Zuo, so it's possible that they really did come to deliver wine."

Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan sat up in surprise, their drunkenness mostly gone.

"Why didn't you say so sooner!" Jiao Chu glared at the junior officer and hurriedly left the tent with Zhang Nan.

The junior officer was extremely frustrated and muttered to himself, "You didn't even ask."

At the camp gate.

Liu Bei stood on his horse.

Behind them, soldiers stood quietly, leading sheep and carrying wine.

Liu Bei knew very well that to make a horse run, you have to let it eat grass.

If you directly give Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan the military token, you can command them, but you may not be able to get them to do their best.

When facing a superior enemy, the worst thing is to have unclear divisions of labor and inconsistent orders. What Liu Bei wanted was for Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan to be dedicated and hardworking, not to be outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant.

As a cloud of dust rose, Generals Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan rushed over. Upon seeing Liu Bei's soldiers leading sheep and carrying wine, the two generals were filled with trepidation and apologized, saying, "We are late, please forgive us, General!"

"I came uninvited, so how could I offend you two generals?" Liu Bei dismounted and helped the two up, then said, "I have been busy with many matters and have not had the opportunity to drink with you two generals, which I deeply regret. Today I have specially prepared wine and mutton, and I hope you two generals will not find it offensive."

The two men were already nervous, and their muscles were tense when they knelt down to pay their respects. However, when Liu Bei came forward to help them up, Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan felt as if Liu Bei's arms had the strength of a thousand pounds, and they were involuntarily helped up. They were shocked: General Zuo has great strength!

"This humble general dares not!" The two men replied with even greater reverence.

Liu Bei laughed loudly, grabbed Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan by the arms on either side, and walked straight towards the main tent. He then shouted to the soldiers, "Today, everyone will have a share of wine and mutton!"

Normally, the soldiers were lucky to even have enough to eat, let alone drink and eat mutton. But when they heard that "everyone gets a share of drink and mutton," they became excited and shouted, "General Zuo is benevolent and righteous!"
Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan were already a little dizzy from drinking, and now that Liu Bei was "holding their arms and walking with them," they became even more dizzy, and even forgot to break free from Liu Bei's hands.

It wasn't until they entered the main tent that Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan snapped out of their reverie of "walking arm in arm" with Liu Bei.

The two subconsciously recalled Yuan Xi's arrogance and the sense of superiority that he exuded when they first joined his ranks.

In comparison, Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan felt that Yuan Xi's "treating scholars with respect" was like children playing house, and they secretly regretted: Why didn't I join General Zuo first?
　Requesting monthly votes (5 chapters today, will be released immediately).

　　
　
(End of this chapter)