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

Chapter 147 Without Fa Zheng, there was Tian Feng; Zhuge Liang's connections in Hebei (2nd update)
After his defeat at Guandu, Cao Cao intended to temporarily suspend his conflict with Yuan Shao and instead march south to attack Liu Biao to vent his anger.

The alliance between Liu Biao and Yuan Shao was a thorn in Cao Cao's side; Cao Cao was not satisfied until he eliminated Liu Biao and captured Lady Cai.

However, Xun Yu strongly argued the pros and cons, advising Cao Cao to take advantage of Yuan Shao's recent defeat and weakened state to pacify Hebei in one fell swoop. Otherwise, if Yuan Shao took advantage of the situation during the southern campaign, the consequences would be dire.

After weighing the opinions of all parties, Cao Cao sent a letter to Yuan Shao, the letter full of sarcasm and intended to provoke him.

If Yuan Shao is angered, Cao Cao can choose the battlefield for the decisive battle.

as predicted.

After Yuan Shao awoke from his coma, he immediately summoned his civil and military officials.

Upon returning to Ye City, the first time he summoned his civil and military officials was not to summarize the lessons learned from the defeat at Guandu, but to discuss a decisive battle with Cao Cao at Dongwuyang.

All the civil and military officials were taken aback.

Tian Feng, who had intended to remain silent and live a mediocre life, stood up again upon hearing that Yuan Shao was about to go to war with Cao Cao: "The current situation is such that we cannot win by force; the fundamental solution is to allow the people to recuperate. If you, General, do not heed my advice, Hebei will be in danger, and future generations will laugh at your foolishness!"

Tian Feng was still the same Tian Feng, refusing to be tactful at all when offering advice.

Yuan Shao was already so enraged by Cao Cao's letter that he vomited blood. Now, with Tian Feng's direct advice, his anger flared even more, and the veins on his neck bulged.

"Tian Yuanhao! Out of respect for General Zuo, I will not hold your past actions against you. How dare you utter such arrogant words again today?" Yuan Shao slammed his hand on the table, his tone extremely unfriendly.

Tian Feng, however, showed no sign of backing down, his tone becoming even more incisive: "In the Battle of Guandu, our 100,000-strong army was routed in a single day. Our soldiers are starving, their armor incomplete, and the people are impoverished, the treasury empty, and bandits are rampant in the countryside. How can we possibly fight again? Today, General, you are summoning civil and military officials, showing no concern for the people's suffering, but instead proposing a decisive battle. What is the reasoning behind this? As Guanzi says, 'When the granaries are full, people know etiquette.' Now the people are starving and freezing. If we levy taxes and conscript more laborers, it will surely incite a rebellion. Cao Cao's letter urging you to fight a decisive battle is an attempt to undermine your popularity. How can you not make a decisive decision? We should now rest and recuperate, spending three years preparing: resettling displaced people to increase the population, building granaries to store military provisions, and training new soldiers to hone their skills. Once Hebei is prosperous, we can conquer it in one fell swoop. If we act rashly now, I fear you will suffer another defeat like Guandu!"

This barrage of advice was so sharp that even the onlookers, Guo Tu, Feng Ji, and Shen Pei, couldn't help but be astonished: How could Tian Feng be so disregardful of the General's dignity? Did he not want to live?
Guo Tu, Shen Pei, and others had a long-standing feud with Tian Feng and had often been criticized by him in the past. At this moment, they all stood by and watched coldly without saying a word.

However, due to his previous failed attempt to harm Yuan Shao and seeing Yuan Shao's growing anger, Ji seized the opportunity to fan the flames and falsely accused him, saying, "Cao Cao's declaration of war has arrived, yet Tian Feng still wants the General to rest and recuperate? Could it be that you intend to surrender the city when Cao Cao's army is at the gates?"

Tian Feng was furious: "Feng Ji, how dare you spread rumors?"

Feng Ji sneered: "If you had no intention of surrendering, why did you obstruct the decisive battle? Your sophistry can only fool children! How could the Great General, so wise and mighty, not recognize this? As the saying goes, sophistry stops with the wise! How dare you accuse me of spreading rumors?"

Tian Feng glared at Feng Ji, clenching his fists, so angry he almost punched him on the spot.

Before Tian Feng could make a move, Yuan Shao's anger could no longer be contained. He shouted angrily to his men, "Guards! Throw this madman Tian Feng out with clubs!"

however.

Even after being beaten and driven out of the hall in a sorry state, Tian Feng still shouted, "The general who does not heed loyal advice will surely suffer a great calamity!"

This shout was like adding fuel to the fire, making Yuan Shao tremble with rage: Why didn't Tian Feng die in the Battle of Guandu!

Outside the General's Mansion.

Just as Tian Feng was being driven away by the beatings, he suddenly heard a gentle voice asking, "Mr. Tian, ​​why did you quarrel with the General again today?"

Tian Feng looked up and saw Liu Bei leaping down from his horse and strolling over.

"As a subject, it is one's duty to correct one's ruler; there is nothing strange about it," Tian Feng said, straightening his disheveled appearance as if it were just a trivial matter.

Liu Bei was momentarily at a loss for words.

I just saved your life yesterday, and today I've been kicked out again. Do you still think this is "not surprising"?
"Is the General at home?" Liu Bei asked, turning to inquire. Tian Feng's eyes flickered slightly, and he bowed deeply to Liu Bei: "Cao Cao has sent a letter provoking the General to a decisive battle at Dongwuyang next April. The General, emboldened by this provocation, has summoned his civil and military officials today to discuss the war. Why doesn't the Left General enter the residence to persuade him?"

Liu Bei couldn't help but twitch his lips.

You yourself have just been beaten with sticks, and now you expect me to offer advice and counsel?

"It's rare for Mr. Tian to have some free time at this moment. I have long admired your reputation. Would you be willing to find a quiet place for a few drinks?" Liu Bei quickly changed the subject and invited him with a cupped hand.

Tian Feng laughed heartily and invited with his hands behind his back, "Excellent! Excellent! This is a perfect way to thank General Zuo for saving my life yesterday. However, General Zuo may go inside and meet the General first, and I will wait for you outside the mansion."

The meaning was self-evident: if Liu Bei hadn't come to the mansion to persuade him, the wine wouldn't have been served.

Just as they were in a dilemma, Zhuge Liang, who was accompanying them, spoke gently: "General, you may go inside first. I will wait outside with Mr. Tian."

Liu Bei understood immediately and said with a smile, "In that case, I will go see the General first. I will trouble the strategist and Mr. Tian to wait a moment."

Zhuge Liang already knew everything about Tian Feng's past.

This person was exceptionally intelligent. When he was young, he observed a period of mourning for his parents and was extremely filial to them. His filial piety was highly praised in the village.

Later, due to his extensive learning and talent, he was recruited by the Grand Commandant's office as a talented scholar and selected as a censor. However, after witnessing the eunuchs abusing their power in the court and the suffering of loyal officials, he resigned from his post and returned home in anger.

Initially, Han Fu, the governor of Ji Province, disliked Tian Feng for being too upright and did not give him an important position.

After Yuan Shao seized control of Ji Province, in order to win over the people, he invited him with generous gifts and appointed him as his advisor.

Tian Feng believed he had met a wise ruler and from then on devoted himself to Yuan Shao.

In the Battle of Jieqiao, to protect Yuan Shao, Tian Feng bravely shielded himself from arrows, just as Fa Zheng had done for Liu Bei in the past.

The difference lies in the fact that Liu Bei readily accepted Fa Zheng's advice, while Yuan Shao refused to listen to Tian Feng's frank words.

Among the wise men of Hebei, Zhuge Liang held Tian Feng in the highest esteem.

In Tian Feng, Zhuge Liang could see the shadow of Fa Zheng: resourceful and daring to speak frankly.

Therefore, upon hearing that Tian Feng was to be executed, Zhuge Liang strongly advised Liu Bei, "In this urgent situation, we should act expediently and save Tian Feng first." This led to the scene where Liu Bei shot the executioners with an arrow and earnestly persuaded Yuan Shao to save Tian Feng's life.

However, seeing Tian Feng being beaten out with sticks again today, even Zhuge Liang was somewhat amused and exasperated. Tian Feng was a typical case of forgetting the pain once the wound healed. He would not speak frankly when he encountered something he thought was wrong, and his thoughts would not be clear.

While Zhuge Liang was sizing up Tian Feng, Tian Feng was also scrutinizing the young man before him.

Although Tian Feng made many enemies, he also made many friends.

Cui Jun, also known as Cui Zhouping, was one of the former Tiger General, Prefect of Xihe, and one of Zhuge Liang's close friends. Cui Jun's father, Cui Lie, was the Grand Commandant who recruited Tian Feng as a talented scholar. (Based on the timeline, Cui Lie is highly likely to be the one in question; if this is wrong, it is just unofficial history.)

Although Cui Lie was criticized by his contemporaries for buying his official position and was considered greedy, Tian Feng and Cui Jun were close friends. Tian Feng learned about Zhuge Liang's background and talent from Cui Jun.

　Here's the second update. Have a great weekend, and please vote with your monthly tickets!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)