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

Chapter 144 The Tacit Understanding Between Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang: Their Joint Scheme Against Yuan Shao (4th Update)
When Liu Bei mentioned "sending three generals to reside outside, while he himself resided in Ye City".

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan. He then made his judgment: "I know that Yuan Shao is worried that you will turn the tables and take control, so he will not dare to use this plan."

Liu Bei smiled and nodded: "Yuan Shao wants to seize my troops, but I will do the opposite and make him suspicious and fearful."

They were both fox spirits who had been around for a thousand years. They understood each other perfectly, and the two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

as predicted.

Before nightfall, Yuan Shao sent a messenger to deliver a military order to Liu Bei.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

With the six prefectures recently pacified and the people's hearts newly won over, the troops of Youzhou should not be moved lightly.

Xuande can recruit and train 10,000 new soldiers in Ye City. I will allocate all the necessary food, weapons, and horses.

Once the new recruits are trained, Xuande can lead this army to fight against Cao Cao.

Generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou were also temporarily placed under Xuande's command.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Inside the account.

Guan Yu took the military order and examined it closely, then frowned immediately: "If it's just about recruiting and training new soldiers, why bother with Yan Liang and Wen Chou? Yuan Shao doesn't trust my elder brother."

Zhuge Liang, standing to the side, covered his face with his fan and feigned alarm: "Oh dear, this is not good!"

"Is this inappropriate?" Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Liang with some surprise. Yun Chang didn't understand, and neither did the strategist.

Zhuge Liang spoke quickly, but there was no trace of panic in his eyes: "I'm afraid that even if I recruit and train new soldiers for Yuan Shao in the future, I won't give military power to you, General."

"You don't know?" Liu Bei's lips curled into a playful smile.

Zhuge Liang replied decisively: "Absolutely not!"

Catching the familiar, scheming smile on Zhuge Liang's lips, Liu Bei also smiled: "If it weren't Yuan Shao refusing to give me military power, but rather I refusing to return Yuan Shao's troops?"

Zhuge Liang exclaimed in surprise, but his tone was teasing: "General, please don't speak jokingly. With Yan Liang and Wen Chou here, how could the troops not return?"

Seeing the barely concealed smile on Zhuge Liang's lips, Liu Bei pointed with his index finger, his smile widening.

Guan Yu was completely bewildered and even more worried: "Since Yuan Shao doesn't trust you, why should you suffer here? Why not return to Zhuo County to pacify the refugees, cultivate the land, and train troops? That way, you can build an elite army!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang could no longer contain themselves and burst into laughter.

Guan Yu was taken aback. He looked at Liu Bei, then at Zhuge Liang, his face full of doubt: "Brother, strategist, what... is so funny?"

Liu Bei suppressed his smile and sat back down, gesturing for Zhuge Liang to answer Guan Yu's question.

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, smiling amiably: "General Guan, Youzhou is vast and sparsely populated. Even if we return to our hometowns to recruit refugees, cultivate land, and train troops, it will take at least three years, or even longer, to forge a truly capable army. However, the situation in the world is unpredictable. Who knows if Cao Cao won't defeat Yuan Shao again in three years? If Cao Cao wins against Yuan Shao again, we will be caught in a dilemma, having lost all the advantages of timing, location, and popular support!"

"Looking at the present situation—although Yuan Shao was defeated at Guandu, the natural barrier of the Yellow River still remains; the officials and people of Ji Province are of good morale and united in their hatred of the enemy because of Cao Cao's killing of prisoners; Yuan Shao has also taken the initiative to send grain, weapons and horses, and asked the Left General to recruit and train a new army for him... This can be described as the convergence of favorable timing, geographical advantage and popular support! This is an excellent opportunity for our lord to use Yuan Shao's strength to show his power in Hebei and strengthen himself!"

"General Guan, do you think it's faster to painstakingly recruit and pacify displaced people, reclaim wasteland and cultivate land to build an elite army? Or is it easier to borrow Yuan Shao's money, supplies and connections to train his troops, and then seize those troops for yourself?"

Guan Yu immediately realized what was happening.

Recruiting soldiers and cultivating land independently would be incredibly time-consuming and laborious. However, by leveraging Yuan Shao's power to train troops and then cleverly acquiring this ready-made army, it could be done in as little as half a year! In that instant, Guan Yu recalled Zhuge Liang's "transfer order" that had turned the impossible into the possible.

Without such wisdom, and instead proceeding step by step to govern the region, gather the refugees, and reorganize the army, let alone sweeping through the six counties of Youzhou in two months, even leading those tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians out of Pingyuan Kingdom would be a problem!
Recall that when Liu Bei first left Xuchang, he had over a hundred brave soldiers under his command.

In just over a year, Zhuge Liang assisted Liu Bei in building a force of over ten thousand men, most of whom were not directly recruited but rather incorporated into the army!

At this moment, Guan Yu had fully understood the intentions of Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei.

This is a repeat of the old trick, a clever strategy of "borrowing a chicken to lay eggs," letting Yuan Shao, this fat "chicken," lay Liu Bei's "golden eggs"!
"So that's how it is!" Guan Yu's face showed shame. "I was so foolish to actually believe that the strategist was worried just now..."

Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang looked at each other and smiled again.

Subsequently.

Liu Bei then handed Yuan Shao's military order to Guan Yu, instructing him: "The matter of recruiting soldiers is entrusted to Yun Chang. Since Yuan Shao is willing to provide provisions, weapons, and horses, the recruited soldiers should be of high quality and not of poor quality."

This time, Guan Yu understood.

With Yuan Shao as their major benefactor, new recruits naturally only want to pick the best ones!

"With me here, Brother, you can rest assured!" Guan Yu excitedly accepted the order.

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan: "Regarding the general's recruitment of soldiers, both I and the general can rest assured. I have also heard that the general has a grudge against Yan Liang and Wen Chou, and we need to find a way to appease them."

Back in Yanjin, the conflict between Yan Liang, Wen Chou, and Liu Bei escalated to the point of armed confrontation. If the two could not be appeased, it would inevitably affect Liu Bei's control over the newly recruited soldiers.

"The strategist is absolutely right." Liu Bei nodded slightly. "These two men once tried to assassinate me, and now they are under my command. They must be afraid that I will take the opportunity to retaliate."

Guan Yu scoffed disdainfully, "Since these two traitors dared to assassinate my elder brother, I'll find an opportunity to kill them. They're nothing but two cowards!"

Guan Yu had no tolerance for anyone who dared to assassinate Liu Bei.

If it had been Guan Yu instead of Huang Zhong at Yanjin, he probably would have killed Yan Liang and Wen Chou on the spot.

Zhuge Liang stopped him, saying, "General Guan, you should hold back for now. Even if you want to kill him, you should wait until you have the troops. Killing him now will not benefit us."

Liu Bei also advised, "Yun Chang, do not act rashly. These two have come under the secret orders of Yuan Shao. They will not dare to turn against me before their troops are fully trained. I intend to hold a banquet in the camp to entertain them and observe their attitude."

Under the persuasion of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu finally suppressed his impulse to kill Yan Liang and Wen Chou.

After leaving the tent, Zhuge Liang whispered something to Guan Yu, which made Guan Yu's face light up with excitement.

"Strategist," Guan Yu said, suppressing his excitement, "should we inform our elder brother first?"

Zhuge Liang chuckled and shook his head: "If we informed the general, he would certainly not agree. Moreover, if the general wants to show favor and establish authority, someone needs to be the bad guy so that the general can reprimand them a few times before Yan Liang and Wen Chou can be convinced."

Guan Yu suddenly understood, cupped his hands in thanks, and said, "I understand the strategist's meaning."

Zhuge Liang then cautioned, "Don't really use excessive force; be mindful of the degree of severity."

Guan Yu smiled broadly: "Don't worry, strategist. It's just venting my anger; I'll be careful not to overdo it."

　The fourth update is here! Please vote with your monthly tickets!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)