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

Chapter 154 Zhuge Liang Cuts Off the Supply Line, Cao Cao's Precious Grandson is Gone (4th Update)
Zhuge Liang's intention was clear: to use Yuan Shao's money, supplies, weapons, horses, and his reputation to recruit and train new soldiers, but he would never easily throw this force into the battle against Cao Cao.

Now is the perfect time!

Yuan Shao proactively sent Liu Bei to Changshan to cultivate land, thus directly avoiding a direct conflict with Cao Cao.

When planning to establish military farms in Changshan, Zhuge Liang couldn't help but think of his past experience of establishing military farms at Wuzhangyuan.

At that time, the land reclamation efforts were just beginning to bear fruit, but his life was already coming to an end; now he is not yet twenty and has plenty of time.

They established military farms, repaired armor, stored grain, and trained troops.
The most urgent task at present is to continuously strengthen our own power by leveraging Yuan Shao's resources.

As for the campaign to raid Cao Cao in the south, that could be left to Yuan Shao's old troops; Yuan Shao's desire to fight Cao Cao in Dongwuyang was completely outside Zhuge Liang's considerations.

If you don't court death, you won't die.

Zhuge Liang believed that if Yuan Shao could endure his anger and regain his former glory, he might still be able to compete with Cao Cao; if he insisted on fighting Cao Cao for a short time and suffered another defeat, his morale would be completely shattered.

Zhuge Liang was not Tian Feng; he wouldn't stop Yuan Shao from courting disaster. But before Yuan Shao did, Zhuge Liang would do everything he could to acquire resources for Liu Bei!
Heading to Changshan to cultivate land is the best way for Liu Bei to acquire resources under the current circumstances.
Whether it's the experienced commanders of the Black Mountain Army or the Black Mountain people who yearn for peace, if they can be brought under Liu Bei's command, they will surely become a foundation no less important than Youzhou!
Even now, the total number of registered Han Chinese in the seven prefectures of Youzhou is only a little over 200,000.

In chaotic times, what is most precious?

It's people!

With people, we can talk about stabilizing the people and creating a future; without people, restoring the Han Dynasty is just empty talk.

As Zhuge Liang said during his debate with Tian Feng: The foundation of a state lies in the "Dao" (the Way), not in the "Qi" (the means). The Dao is the human heart. As long as the human heart remains, the foundation of a state will endure forever.

Liu Bei was still deep in thought.

Qian Zhao was already deeply shocked.

When Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu invaded various counties, Zhuge Liang thought of directly subduing all the Black Mountain leaders and their people to establish his popularity; Qian Zhao only thought of stationing troops to intimidate them, so as to prevent the people of Ji Province from suffering from the ravages of war again.

High judgment.

Qian Zhao had not returned to Ye City for a long time and was unaware of Zhuge Liang's current reputation in Ye City, nor of Zhuge Liang's past achievements. Therefore, he looked at Liu Bei with a questioning expression.

“Zijing is my sworn brother, so I will speak frankly.” Liu Bei also grasped the essence of Zhuge Liang’s analysis and turned to Qian Zhao, saying, “I wish to accomplish great things and establish a great career. Would Zijing be willing to help me?”

Qian Zhao was even more shocked.

In fact, during Liu Bei's conversation with Zhuge Liang, Qian Zhao had vaguely sensed something was amiss, but he wasn't sure.

At this moment, Liu Bei spoke frankly about his great ambitions, confirming Qian Zhao's speculation.

"Then, General." Qian Zhao was an official recruited by Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao had been kind to Qian Zhao but had no enmity towards him. Even when Liu Bei invited him, Qian Zhao hesitated.

Qian Zhao values ​​gratitude and righteousness above all else.

During the rebellion of the Ten Attendants years ago, He Miao and Yue Yin were killed. Qian Zhao, along with Yue Yin's disciple Shi Lu and others, risked their lives to collect Yue Yin's body and carry him back to his hometown. On the way, they were ambushed by mountain bandits. Shi Lu and the others scattered and fled, but Qian Zhao tearfully pleaded with them. In the end, even the mountain bandits were moved by Qian Zhao's righteousness and let her go.

It can be seen.

Liu Bei knew Qian Zhao's character well, so he didn't want to deceive him and told him the truth: "I don't want Zijing to abandon the Grand General and help me. Now, both the Grand General and I are here to assist the Emperor and bring peace to the people. Zijing only needs to help me within the scope of his duties. As for the future, if the Grand General and I have a conflict, I will certainly not make things difficult for Zijing." Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.

Back then, Liu Bei found himself in a dilemma due to the conflict between Gongsun Zan and Liu Yu, and ultimately had to choose to escape. Naturally, he did not want to put Qian Zhao in a difficult position because of this.

If it were anyone else, Liu Bei would not have spoken so frankly; but the person before him was Qian Zhao, and Liu Bei was unwilling to deliberately conceal it.

Qian Zhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief: Xuande was still the same loyal and righteous Xuande he always was.

He then added, “If it is within my duty, I will do my utmost to assist Xuande! Although I do not know how the world will change, I know that the tide of history is irreversible. Even someone as powerful as Gongsun Zan burned himself in Yijing. If the general is ultimately swallowed up by the tide of history, I ask Xuande to consider the kindness shown to him today and protect his lineage. At that time, I am willing to work with Xuande to build a great cause.”

Liu Bei was overjoyed and grasped Qian Zhao's hand, saying, "With Zijing's words, I am relieved."

Qian Zhao's idea was similar to Tian Feng's: as long as Yuan Shao was still alive, he would not serve a new master, not even his sworn brother Liu Bei; if Yuan Shao was gone, as long as Liu Bei treated Yuan Shao's sons and former subordinates well, he could serve Liu Bei.

It has nothing to do with stance or sentiment, but rather it is a principle upheld by those who value righteousness.

Having received Qian Zhao's reply and with Zhuge Liang's analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of going to Changshan State to cultivate land, Liu Bei no longer had any doubts. He turned to Zhuge Liang and said, "I will entrust the matter of sending the new recruits to Changshan State to cultivate land to the military advisor. It has been ten years since we last met, and we must have a good drink today."

Zhuge Liang understood, rose to take his leave, and did not disturb Liu Bei and Qian Zhao's reminiscing any longer.

After leaving Liu Bei's camp, Zhuge Liang summoned Guan Yu, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Jiao Chu, and Zhang Nan to convey Yuan Shao's military orders.

Yan Liang and Wen Chou were alright; the two generals were originally ordered to serve as Liu Bei's deputy generals, and wherever Liu Bei was transferred, Yan Liang and Wen Chou had to go with him.

Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan's expressions were different, but with Yan Liang and Wen Chou present, they could not speak openly.

Zhuge Liang, understanding the two generals' thoughts, directly instructed them: "General Jiao and General Zhang can go and find Governor Yuan. I've heard that Governor Yuan's wife is from Zhongshan. Why not take her back to Zhongshan to pay respects to our ancestors?"

Although Yuan Xi became the governor of Youzhou, his wife Zhen Mi did not go to Zhuojun with him, but stayed in Yecheng to serve Lady Liu.

It can also be said that leaving Zhen Mi in Ye City was one of the ways Lady Liu restrained Yuan Xi for Yuan Shang, preventing Yuan Xi from having any improper thoughts outside.

Zhuge Liang had his own ideas about sending Yuan Xi and his wife back to Zhongshan to pay respects to their ancestors.

If Zhen Mi had not stayed in Ye City, Cao Pi would not have been able to have her, and without Zhen Mi, Cao Pi would naturally not have been able to father Cao Rui.

By striking at the heart of the matter, they directly nipped Cao Rui, the most cunning of Cao Cao's grandsons, in the bud.

At the same time, this plan can also prevent Yuan Xi from being forced to turn against Liu Bei in the future because Zhen Mi is controlled by Yuan Shang.

Furthermore, the Zhen family of Zhongshan was a wealthy family in Hebei. When Liu Bei led his army to cultivate land in Changshan, how could Yuan Xi, who had a close relationship with Liu Bei, not urge the Zhen family to provide assistance with money and grain "within their power"?

The significance of sending Yuan Xi and his wife back to Zhongshan to pay homage to their ancestors far outweighs the significance of the event itself.

Upon hearing this, Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan immediately understood Zhuge Liang's intention: Yuan Xi was going back to Zhongshan to pay respects to his ancestors, and Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan could naturally accompany him! As for whether they would go to Zhongshan or Changshan, that was another matter.

　Update 4 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)