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

Chapter 153 Zhuge Liang Re-establishes His Foundation, Aiming at the Commanders and People of Black Mountain (3rd Update)
Subsequently.

Yuan Shao then ordered Shen Pei to prepare the grain, farming tools, seeds and other supplies needed for Liu Bei to set up camp in Changshan, and sent Qian Zhao to convey the order to Liu Bei.

Although Shen Pei was unwilling, he ultimately remained silent.

Recently, Yuan Shao has been very dissatisfied with Feng Ji's close relationship with Shen Pei.

In addition, the Shen family has become the most powerful aristocratic family in Ye City, and Yuan Shao frequently demands that Shen Pei provide various kinds of grain and supplies.

Since it was Feng Ji who suggested that Liu Bei go to Changshan, then Shen Pei should naturally be responsible for the provisions and supplies needed for Liu Bei's trip.

As for how to raise funds for Shen Pei, that was not something Yuan Shao needed to worry about.

Throughout history, when a power declines, its leader will shift its focus from territorial expansion to instigating internal strife. In later generations, this has been expressed in a clear and elegant phrase: "reducing costs and increasing efficiency."

After his defeat at the Battle of Guandu, Yuan Shao's prestige plummeted. Although he still nominally controlled Hebei, he was in reality powerless to do so. His sons and civil and military officials were all trying to compete with Yuan Shao for the right to speak.

Feng Ji actively formed a faction with Shen Pei because he believed that Yuan Shao was a dying tiger and was looking for another way out for himself. Otherwise, even if Feng Ji had ten times the courage, he would not have dared to form a faction with the powerful clans of Hebei in front of Yuan Shao.

The others all had their own thoughts, more or less.

Near Zhu Zhechi, near the ink is black.

Yuan Shao once seized Ji Province from Han Fu using drastic measures, and now he finds himself in a similar predicament to Han Fu.

Yuan Shao's decision to assign Yan Liang and Wen Chou to Liu Bei as his deputy generals and to rely on them was also a means of checking and balancing Shen Pei and others.

Whether this move will succeed is another matter.

Meanwhile, Qian Zhao was ordered to find Liu Bei.

Upon learning of Qian Zhao's arrival, Liu Bei was overjoyed.

Since their youth, Qian Zhao and he had become close friends, sharing similar interests. However, due to the turbulent times, they rarely saw each other.

The last time we met was ten years ago when Qian Zhao escorted his mentor Le Yin's coffin back to his hometown.

Later, frequent wars broke out in Youzhou and Jizhou, and Liu Bei went to Xuzhou. Qian Zhao was recruited by Yuan Shao as an official, and the two never had the chance to meet again.

Upon reuniting with his old friend, Liu Bei could not contain his excitement. As soon as he heard that Qian Zhao had arrived at the camp gate, he immediately spurred his horse and galloped towards him.

Upon seeing the familiar figure at the camp gate, Liu Bei burst into laughter: "Zijing, how have you been!"

Qian Zhao, equally excited, replied with a smile, "Xuande, it's been ten years! You're even more radiant than before!"

Liu Bei dismounted and reminisced about their past friendship: "I have visited Ye City twice before, but failed to see Zijing, which I deeply regret. Last night I dreamt of magpies chirping around branches, which I interpreted as good news. Zijing's return today has fulfilled that dream!"

Qian Zhao sighed, "I had long heard that Xuande had gone to Hebei. When I returned to Ye City from Bingzhou last time, you had already gone to Zhuojun, so we were unable to meet. Now that we are reunited, I must drink with you in large bowls and reminisce about our time apart!" Liu Bei laughed heartily, "What a coincidence! I have just obtained some fine wine and was worried about having no one to drink with. Tonight, I will drink with you, Zijing, until we are completely drunk!"

After saying this, Liu Bei took Qian Zhao's right arm and led her into the tent, then ordered his men to prepare a banquet.

The wine is half full.

Qian Zhao then brought up the main matter: "I have come to see Xuande this time for another important matter. Zhang Yan, the Black Mountain bandit, and Gongsun Xu, the son of Gongsun Zan, have raised an army of 100,000 and are harassing various counties, seeking revenge for Gongsun Zan! The General has ordered Xuande to lead 10,000 of his new soldiers to Changshan State to cultivate land and prevent the chaos caused by Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu."

"Huh?" Liu Bei was surprised to hear this: "Brother Bo Gui's son is also in Black Mountain?"

Gongsun Zan's killing of Liu Yu put Liu Bei in an awkward position: helping Liu Yu's former subordinates to attack Gongsun Zan would violate his friendship with Gongsun Zan; helping Gongsun Zan to fight Liu Yu's former subordinates would also make Liu Bei feel that he was going against benevolence and righteousness.

If Tao Qian, who was allied with Gongsun Zan, had not offered Liu Bei four thousand Danyang soldiers as a reward to defend Xiaopei, allowing Liu Bei to escape, he would have been caught in a dilemma in Hebei.

Liu Bei was unsure whether Gongsun Zan's past actions were right or wrong; however, he truly did not wish to engage in warfare with Gongsun Zan's son.

Seeing Liu Bei's troubled expression, Qian Zhao advised, "Xuande, I know you have a past friendship with Gongsun Zan, but if Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu send troops now, it will plunge Changshan Kingdom and even the entire Ji Province into war. The people of Ji Province have suffered greatly from the ravages of war, with seven out of ten houses empty and the land riddled with holes. They really cannot withstand the chaos of war. I hope that Xuande can think of the people."

Liu Bei did not reply immediately, but instead sent someone to invite Zhuge Liang. He then turned to Qian Zhao and said, "Zijing, please wait a moment. The garrisoning of Changshan is no small matter. Please allow me to discuss it with the strategist first."

Seeing this, Qian Zhao stopped asking questions.

After a while.

Zhuge Liang entered with a fan in hand. Seeing Qian Zhao and Liu Bei seated together, he already had some idea of ​​what was going on. He stepped forward and asked, "General, did you summon me for something important?"

Liu Bei nodded, first introducing Zhuge Liang to his sworn brother Qian Zhao, and then truthfully telling him Qian Zhao's purpose in coming.

"Such a good thing?" Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei sighed, "Strategist, you are unaware that Gongsun Xu is the son of my old friend Gongsun Bogui. If I were to harm him, I would be ashamed before my old friend."

Zhuge Liang laughed and said, "General, what difficulty is there in not wanting to harm your old friend's son? You can capture him and then release him! If he is stubborn, capture and release him seven times. After the seven releases, how could Gongsun Xu still be your enemy? The good thing I'm referring to is the more than 100,000 people under the command of the Black Mountain generals! If we can get the Black Mountain generals to serve us, why worry about destroying Cao Cao in the south and restoring the Han Dynasty?"

Liu Bei pondered, “I have considered what the strategist said. However, the more than 100,000 people of Black Mountain have been living there since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, which is now nearly twenty years ago. The leaders of Black Mountain have often harassed the counties and have been repeatedly punished by the General, so there is a lot of resentment between them. Now that I am working for the General, how can the leaders of Black Mountain easily submit?”

Zhuge Liang shook his head and analyzed, "It is precisely because the more than 100,000 people of Heishan have been hiding in the mountains for nearly twenty years that you, General, have the opportunity to show benevolence and righteousness. The world has been suffering from war for a long time, and so have the people of Heishan. If you treat them with sincerity, how could the leaders of Heishan remain so hostile? Moreover, it is more advantageous to garrison Changshan to guard against Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu than to launch a southward attack on Cao Cao from Yecheng. I am just worried about not having a way to shirk the responsibility of launching a southward attack, so the person who offered this advice should also receive a reward from you, General."

Qian Zhao interjected, "The General originally intended to send Feng Ji to Changshan, but Feng Ji declined and instead recommended Xuande. Guo Tu and others argued with him, and Shen Pei volunteered to go south to harass Cao Cao in order to protect Feng Ji. Tian Feng strongly recommended Xuande. In the end, the General decided that Xuande would go to Changshan, while Shen Pei and Feng Ji would be responsible for going south."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang's face showed understanding, and he couldn't help but sneer: "At a time when we should be working together, you are instead letting your soldiers fight amongst themselves. The General is old and no longer what he once was. If the General truly dares to contend with Cao Cao for Dongwuyang, I predict that he will be defeated by Cao Cao again. The General should make plans as soon as possible and take advantage of this opportunity to first subdue the leaders of the Black Mountain tribes to establish popular support!"

　3rd update, please vote!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)