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

Chapter 158 Liu Bei enters Changshan Kingdom, shocking officials, civilians, and Black Mountain bandits (3rd update)
Changshan Kingdom, Zhending County.

Changshan Chancellor Tao Sheng led all the civil and military officials to stand at the city gate.

Tao Sheng was originally a minor official in Neihuang County, Wei Commandery. Later, he became a minor commander under Yu Du, the leader of the Black Mountain tribe, but he was unwilling to remain a bandit forever.

At that time, Yu Du allied with Yuan Shu to attack Wei Commandery. Taking advantage of the great battle between Yu Du and others and Li Cheng, the governor of Wei Commandery, Tao Sheng led his army from Xicheng to attack Ye City. After entering the city, he closed the four gates and did not allow anyone to enter. He then personally escorted Yuan Shao's family and confidants to Yuan Shao's place in Chiqiu. For his merits, he was appointed as Jianyi Zhonglang General by Yuan Shao. Now he has been appointed as Changshan Chancellor by Yuan Shao.

Although Tao Sheng possessed considerable wisdom and courage, Yuan Shao had drawn a large number of elite troops from Changshan State during his southern campaign. As a result, when the Black Mountain generals invaded various counties, Tao Sheng could only protect Zhen Ding County from invasion.

As for the other counties, Tao Sheng was powerless to help.

Zhang Yan's generals deeply resented Tao Sheng, who had betrayed Yu Du and sought only wealth and power. Whenever Tao Sheng dared to lead his troops out of the city, they would attack him with several times the number of troops, causing him immense suffering.

Upon learning that Yuan Shao had sent Liu Bei to Changshan, Tao Sheng was overjoyed, as if a long-awaited rain had fallen on a drought: "With the Left General here in Changshan, we are no longer afraid of Zhang Yan and the other bandits!"
In recent months, Liu Bei's reputation has become quite prominent, especially his exploits of pacifying the six counties of Youzhou and crippling the Wuhuan kings, which have earned Tao Sheng both respect and fear.

"coming!"

Looking at the large banner with the character "Liu" hanging high in front of him, Tao Sheng couldn't help but tremble.

"This humble general, Tao Sheng, the Lieutenant General of Jianyi, pays his respects to the Left General."

Tao Sheng adopted a very humble attitude.

If we consider civil service positions, Tao Sheng was the Chancellor of Changshan, and Liu Bei was the Prefect of Zhuojun; there was no difference in their status.

In terms of military rank, Tao Sheng was the General of Jianyi, and Liu Bei was the General of the Left, so he could also refer to himself as a junior general.

Seeing this, Liu Bei dismounted and helped Tao Sheng up, saying, "I have long admired Prime Minister Tao's reputation. The General also told me that if it weren't for Prime Minister Tao's righteous help in the past, his family and trusted men would have suffered."

Tao Sheng repeatedly said, "I dare not." Yuan Shao could remember such a great favor as saving Yuan Shao's family and trusted men, but Tao Sheng could not remember it forever.

If one is not sensible, a great favor can turn into a great enmity.

Liu Bei then led his left and right generals Guan Yu, Zhuge Liang, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou to meet Tao Sheng.

When Tao Sheng saw that Yan Liang and Wen Chou, whom Yuan Shao relied on as generals, had arrived in Changshan Kingdom as Liu Bei's deputy generals, he was shocked and felt even more awe for Liu Bei.

"With General Zuo stationed in Changshan State, the Black Mountain bandits will certainly not dare to invade the counties again." Tao Sheng's tone became even more respectful, and he hurriedly invited Liu Bei into the city.

Looking at the two characters "Zhen Ding" above the city gate, Liu Bei couldn't help but think of Zhao Yun, who was still in the valley.

Zhao Yun was from Zhen Ding.

If Zhao Yun were here at this moment, it would be a triumphant return home.

Mind this.

Liu Bei then asked, "Does Prime Minister Tao know Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong, from Zhending?"

Tao Sheng had clearly done his homework carefully, and immediately said, "General Zhao's feat of beheading the Wuhuan King Nanlou and his four sons has long been known throughout Zhengding. No one in Zhengding is unaware of General Zhao's heroic name! I have also heard that the Zhao clan chief of Zhengding Village has even dedicated a page in the clan genealogy to record General Zhao's achievements, in order to encourage his clansmen. He has also repaired the tombs of General Zhao's elder brother Zhao Jun and his wife, so that the clansmen can offer sacrifices to them in all four seasons."

No one asks the poor in the downtown area, and the rich has distant relatives in the mountains.

This has always been the case.

Before Zhao Yun achieved fame and merit, let alone having a separate family genealogy, the Zhao clan chief was afraid that Zhao Yun would cause trouble.

Now that Zhao Yun has achieved merit, not only has a separate genealogy been established for him, but his deceased elder brother and sister-in-law are also entitled to be worshipped by the clan members throughout the four seasons. Usually, only those of high moral standing and prestige within the clan are qualified to receive such worship. Although the Zhao clan chief acted out of self-interest, Liu Bei found it quite pleasing.

Regardless of how Zhao Yun was treated in the clan in the past, he is now respected by his clansmen.

That's human nature; you can't force it.

After entering the city.

Liu Bei then inquired about the Black Mountain bandits' incursions into various counties. Tao Sheng truthfully relayed the recent intelligence, and added at the end, "Perhaps they have heard that General Zuo has arrived in Changshan Kingdom, and in recent days the Black Mountain bandits have restrained their troops, or perhaps they are observing General Zuo's attitude."

At this point, Tao Sheng felt a renewed admiration for Liu Bei: just a title was enough to make the Black Mountain bandits, who claimed to number 100,000, retreat in fear. What more could one ask for in life?

Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then turned to Zhuge Liang: "What are your thoughts, strategist?"

Tao Sheng's gaze then turned to Zhuge Liang.

When Liu Bei introduced Zhuge Liang at the city gate, Tao Sheng was surprised that Zhuge Liang had become a military advisor and general at such a young age, but he was actually dissatisfied.

Tao Sheng is over forty years old this year. He has studied, worked as a minor official, entered the Black Mountain, and became the General of Jianyi Zhonglang because of his kindness to Yuan Shao. After several years of hard work, he finally became the Chancellor of Changshan. Tao Sheng believes that he has achieved his current position despite his humble origins, which can be described as having wisdom, courage and luck that surpass ordinary people.

But Zhuge Liang, according to Liu Bei's introduction, was also from a poor and destitute family, yet he was able to become the military advisor general in charge of the Left General's Office and oversee both internal and external affairs at the age of less than twenty, which is too unbelievable.

Although Tao Sheng wasn't foolish enough to provoke and ridicule Zhuge Liang with such low emotional intelligence and brainless scholars, he still wanted to hear what insightful opinions Zhuge Liang might have.

Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan, glanced at Tao Sheng out of the corner of his eye, and said without hesitation, "The men and horses are exhausted, they should rest first!"

Tao Sheng was immediately surprised. Zhuge Liang's words, in plain language, meant: I'm too tired, I'll take a nap first.

Is this the kind of response Zhuge Liang, as a military strategist and general, should have given?

Just as he was about to ask, Liu Bei yawned and said, "The strategist is right. We are exhausted from the journey and should get some rest." He then cupped his hands in thanks to Tao Sheng and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Prime Minister Tao."

Looking at Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei, one daring to speak and the other daring to listen, Tao Sheng felt like he hadn't woken up yet: the Black Mountain bandits had only temporarily restrained their men and were observing, they hadn't withdrawn from Black Mountain! Was it really appropriate to take a nap?

What surprised Tao Sheng even more was that Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei were actually sleeping in the city! The 10,000 infantry and cavalry they brought were also camped and sleeping in the city! They didn't take the Black Mountain bandits outside the city seriously at all!

For three consecutive days.

Liu Bei and his entourage were either resting or sightseeing.

Even the soldiers in the camp were given holidays, either shopping in the city or strolling around outside the city.

To Tao Sheng's surprise, these soldiers did not engage in forced buying and selling or cause trouble within the city, nor did they disturb the people outside the city. Some soldiers, who were "bored," even helped the people hoe the fields outside the city, simply to ask for a drink of water!
Not to mention Tao Sheng, none of the civil and military officials in Zhen Ding City have ever seen Yuan Bing not arrogant and domineering after leaving the military camp!

The Black Mountain Army scouts who were gathering information outside the city were shocked to see the "Yuan soldiers" with such strict military discipline for the first time!

But outside the city.

A well-dressed young man, however, had a gloomy expression: "It's Liu Yu's old tricks again! Soldiers risk their lives, occasionally harassing the common people or robbing woodcutters, so what?"

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(End of this chapter)