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

Chapter 121: The Expedition to the Three Counties of Liaoxi - The Difference Between Zhuge Liang and Guo Jia (2nd Update)
In Jicheng.

Yan Rou, Qi Zhou, and others were taken into custody.

Qi Zhou knelt down to beg for forgiveness, but Yan Rou stood with her head held high.

"Why don't defeated generals kneel?"

Zhang Fei frowned and shouted, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword.

If it weren't for the fact that killing surrendered generals would be detrimental to the stability of the surrendered soldiers in Jicheng, Zhang Fei would have sent Yan Rou to his death long ago.

"I am just a surrendered general, not a prisoner."

Yan Rou bowed to Liu Bei and then ignored Zhang Fei, looking completely fearless, which made everyone present frown.

This thief is indeed cunning.

Zhuge Liang saw through Yan Rou's thoughts at a glance; she was simply taking the opportunity to raise her own status, relying on the fact that Liu Bei dared not kill those who surrendered.

Compared to Qi Zhouyi, who knelt down to beg for forgiveness, Yan Rou certainly showed more backbone.

However, Zhuge Liang was unwilling to give Yan Rou a higher level of courtesy simply because he showed more backbone than Qi Zhou. If a surrendered general who had surrendered due to desperation could be given special treatment for feigning integrity, it would be disrespectful to the frontline soldiers who were fighting bravely and unfair to the officers and soldiers who had joined Liu Bei early on.

Zhuge Liang secretly summoned Jiao Chu and whispered a signal.

Then Jiao Chu burst into mocking laughter: "Yan Rou, stop trying to make yourself look good. You think you're not a prisoner just because you ordered the gates to be opened and surrendered? Bah! It was General Zuo's benevolence that prevented the people of Ji City from suffering the ravages of war because of your stubborn defense, which is why he sent Liu Fang to persuade you to open the gates and surrender the city. General Zuo spared you face, so you should kneel down and thank him, instead of pretending to be a man of integrity?"

As soon as he finished speaking, strange expressions appeared on the faces of all the civil and military officials present.

Yan Rou's face turned red with anger as she glared at Jiao Chu: "How dare you insult me?"

Jiao Chu's face was filled with disdain, and he sneered repeatedly: "Yan Rou, don't take yourself too seriously! I am an official under the Yuan family, which has produced three dukes for four generations, and a general under Governor Yuan of Youzhou. You, on the other hand, are nothing but a lowly slave of the Wuhuan people. You are a cowardly rat who only dares to bow and scrape before the Wuhuan people. What right do you have to make me humiliate you?"

With the phrase "a subordinate of the Yuan family, which has produced three dukes for four generations, and a general under the Yuan governor of Youzhou," he made his stance clear to Yan Rou: My mockery of you is not at the behest of the Left General, but rather because I, as a subordinate of the Yuan family, cannot stand you, and even the Left General cannot stop me from cursing you.

Yan Rou understood this perfectly, so even though she was filled with anger, she couldn't vent it when her face showed her mockery.

In a fit of anger, Yan Rou could only ask resentfully, "What do you intend to do?"

Jiao Chu was at a loss for what to do when Yan Rou asked him a question. He then bowed to Liu Bei and said, “I know that General Zuo is benevolent and righteous, but I, Jiao Chu, cannot stand such a scoundrel who colludes with the Wuhuan to harm the people of the Han Dynasty. I am ashamed to be ranked with Yan Rou!”

Then, Jiao Chu gave Zhang Nan a wink.

Zhang Nan understood and stepped forward, saying, "If General Zuo only cares about a coward who surrendered out of desperation, then the two of us will return to Zhuo County."

【Thief! 】

Yan Rou was so angry that her face almost turned liver-colored. No matter how you look at it, Yan Rou, who surrendered only because she was desperate, was far less beneficial to Liu Bei than the two Yuan generals. Liu Bei was even less likely to "chill" the morale of his generals for the sake of Yan Rou.

Seeing Liu Bei's furrowed brows on the main seat, Yan Rou suppressed her reluctance and knelt down to beg for forgiveness: "It was I who was rude just now, please forgive me, General Zuo!"

[He's adaptable and resilient; he's quite a character.]

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, a hint of coldness creeping into his eyes.

However, Yan Rou's ability to be flexible and adaptable put Liu Bei in a difficult position. Liu Bei looked up at Zhuge Liang, not speaking directly, but with a questioning intent: If he cannot kill her, nor can he employ her, what should he do?

Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and advised, "Prefect Yan is a man of high moral character. General, you should not be negligent and discourage such a virtuous man. Generals Jiao and Zhang are upright men and have no intention of humiliating Prefect Yan. I think it would be better to send Prefect Yan to the three commanderies of Liaoxi to persuade Tadun to surrender, so as to demonstrate Prefect Yan's sincerity in protecting the borders and people of the Han Dynasty."

While talking.

Zhuge Liang then gestured to Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan.

Jiao Chu understood and exclaimed, "If Yan Rou can persuade Tadun to surrender, I will carry thorns on my back and beg for forgiveness!"

Zhang Nan also shouted, "If Yan Rou can persuade Tadun to surrender, I will apologize to Yan Rou in public."

Zhuge Liang, Jiao Chu, and Zhang Nan worked together in unison, and Liu Bei immediately understood Zhuge Liang's intention. He then looked at Yan Rou with feigned difficulty and asked, "Prefect Yan, could you help me persuade Tadun to surrender?"

When Zhuge Liang suggested that Yan Rou persuade Tadun to surrender, Yan Rou was secretly weighing the pros and cons.

When Liu Bei asked again, Yan Rou pretended to be enraged and volunteered, "I am willing to persuade Tadun to surrender on behalf of General Zuo! If I fail, I will bring my head to you!"

Liu Bei feigned great joy: "If Prefect Yan can help me persuade Tadun to surrender, the six commanderies will be at peace! Men, prepare wine and food for Prefect Yan, I want to personally see him off!"

To avoid Liu Bei changing his mind at the last minute, Yan Rou was extremely cautious. Only after Liu Bei personally escorted her out of Ji City did she dare to ride her horse and shout wildly: "Liu Bei is truly foolish! Does he really think I would persuade Tadun to surrender? I will repay this humiliation a hundredfold!"
As Liu Bei watched Yan Rou gallop away on horseback, a smile appeared on his lips: "Yan Rou's journey to the three commanderies of Liaoxi will surely attract the Wuhuan troops."

Zhuge Liang also smiled and said, "The three commanderies of Liaoxi are geographically remote. Sending troops on a long expedition would be disadvantageous for the general. If Yan Rou can bring in the Wuhuan troops, the three commanderies can be pacified."

Unlike Guo Jia, who advised Cao Cao to launch a northern expedition against the Wuhuan, Zhuge Liang was more cautious in his planning.

Although Cao Cao annihilated the main force of the Wuhuan in the three commanderies in the Battle of White Wolf Mountain, the process was too dangerous, and Guo Jia almost achieved the feat of "strategically killing Cao Cao".

Zhuge Liang's strategy of conquering the six commanderies was designed to help Liu Bei establish himself in Youzhou, not to send Liu Bei to his death there. Zhuge Liang would not have used a strategy like Guo Jia's, which advised Cao Cao to take a long and arduous route to attack the Wuhuan.

How can a long and arduous journey compare to luring the enemy deep into your territory?

Liu Bei stroked his short beard, agreeing with Zhuge Liang's analysis, and said, "Winter is approaching, and this battle should be fought quickly rather than slowly. Chief Clerk Pang can stay in Ji City with Yide to pacify the four commanderies. Strategist, you will accompany me and lead the generals to Wuzhong City first."

Liu Bei had also considered this arrangement.

With the four commanderies initially pacified, the people were filled with doubt and uncertainty, and there were many surrendered soldiers and routed troops. If Liu Bei did not leave a few core civil and military officials to appease the four commanderies, disaster might occur.

One of Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong must be kept, and one of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei must also be kept.

In comparison, it would be more appropriate to preserve Pang Tong, who possessed the demeanor of a renowned scholar and was adept at judging character, and Zhang Fei, who respected scholars.

To enable Pang Tong and Zhang Fei to more smoothly pacify the four commanderies, Liu Bei left Jian Yong, Sun Qian, and Xin Zhe to assist them.

At the same time, Xianyu Fu, the governor of Yuyang City, was temporarily appointed as the governor of Yuyang; Tian Yu, the chief clerk of Dai Commandery, was temporarily appointed as the governor of Dai Commandery; Liu Fang, a surrendered official, was temporarily appointed as the governor of Shanggu Commandery; and Qi Zhou, a surrendered official, was temporarily appointed as the governor of Guangyang Commandery. Xianyu Fu and Tian Yu were also granted the authority to supervise the army.

After the deployment is complete.

Liu Bei then took with him generals and officers such as Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Chen Dao, Jiao Chu, and Zhang Nan, and selected two thousand infantry and cavalry, and set off from Ji City to Wuzhong City.

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(End of this chapter)