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

Chapter 17 The Holy Body of Officialdom: Zhuge Liang

"My brother isn't taking me along again."

Zhang Fei's tone was as aggrieved as that of a young wife.

Whenever there was an important matter, Liu Bei would bring Guan Yu with him to discuss it, while leaving Zhang Fei behind.

This has been the case for more than a decade.

Although Zhang Fei once lost Xiapi, Cao Bao and Lü Bu were there to assist him from the outside. Moreover, Lü Bu was brought to Xiaopei by Liu Bei, so it was not Zhang Fei's fault.

Therefore, Liu Bei's favor towards Zhang Fei did not change in the slightest after the loss of Xiapi. On the contrary, he valued Zhang Fei even more and continued to entrust him with important responsibilities.

Seeing Zhang Fei's expression, Liu Bei couldn't help but scold him lightly: "Yide, it's not that I'm unwilling to take you with me. Now you are the chief clerk of the Left General, and Yunchang is the military advisor of the Left General. You must not misuse your authority."

The implication is: Why are you, the chief clerk, running around aimlessly instead of staying in Xiapi to assist Zhuge Liang in delivering the grain?
Zhang Fei wanted to argue, but after seeing Liu Bei's glare, he instantly wilted like a frostbitten eggplant.

"I will certainly live up to your expectations, brother!" Zhang Fei said, shrinking back, his words not sincere.

Helpless, Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Liang again: "Yide is young. If he speaks inappropriately and offends the strategist, please forgive him."

Zhuge Liang accepted the order and said, "Yide is a man of true character. Although he has minor flaws, he will certainly not jeopardize important matters."

Zhang Fei was delighted to hear this: "You understand me best, strategist!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Bei glared at Zhang Fei again: "Look at you, so capable! You've read a few articles and you're already acting like a cultured person?"

I thought about it.

Liu Bei then took off the sword and seal and bestowed them upon Zhuge Liang in public, saying solemnly, "When I was not in Xiapi, all matters were decided by the strategist. You gentlemen should not underestimate the strategist just because you have followed me for many years."

Everyone was in awe.

Seeing the sword seal is like seeing Liu Bei; this is no joke.

Even Zhang Fei straightened his posture and said, "I will obey my elder brother's orders."

After giving instructions to everyone, Liu Bei kept Zhuge Liang behind.

"Strategist, you have caused Che Zhou to lose face today. I expect Che Zhou will not let this go easily. You must not be careless. If things go wrong, you may take the blame yourself. No matter what you do in Xiapi, you can always retreat behind me."

Liu Bei's sincere tone brought tears to Zhuge Liang's eyes.

It's like telling Zhuge Liang: With me standing in front of you, strategist, you can act freely!
"Liang will certainly live up to the general's expectations!"

Zhuge Liang spoke with a firm tone and a resolute gaze.

When a man meets a true friend, he should devote himself wholeheartedly to the cause.

I would die without regret!

Due to the urgency of military affairs, Liu Bei led Guan Yu and Xu Shu out of the city early the next morning to conscript laborers in the counties of Xiapi.

Zhuge Liang, along with Zhang Fei, Jian Yong, Sun Qian, the Mi brothers, Pang Tong, and others, remained in the city to handle the delivery of grain and fodder.

The person in charge of the grain delivery was Cao Xuan, Che Zhou's adjutant.

Upon learning that Liu Bei had assigned Zhuge Liang to oversee the delivery of provisions, Cao Xuan couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

There are many intricacies involved in the delivery of grain and fodder.

Cao Xuan did not believe that Zhuge Liang, who was not yet twenty years old, could understand the intricacies of the matter, so he planted many obstacles during the delivery of grain and supplies.

Or, during delivery, the spilled grain would be recorded in the delivery accounts and Zhuge Liang's men would not be allowed to take it away; or chaff would be mixed in, so that the actual amount of grain delivered was far less than the amount recorded in the accounts.

Or they might claim that "the official seals are not complete" or "the warehouses need to be checked," repeatedly checking irrelevant details, attempting to use procedural obstacles to reasonably delay the delivery time.

They might mix old, moldy grain into the delivery, or use unhulled grain to fill the quota, thus passing off inferior grain as superior grain and forcing Zhuge Liang to expend extra manpower.

Or they could cite articles from the Household Law to demand that Zhuge Liang provide irrelevant "supporting evidence" or question the authority of subordinate officials such as Jian Yong and Sun Qian to affix their seals.

Such practices were common among Han Dynasty clerks and officials, employing tactics like "obstructing official documents" and "shirking responsibility"—unspoken rules of officialdom that could maintain appearances of compliance while actually hindering rivals. If Zhuge Liang had truly been only eighteen, he might have fallen into these traps.

however.

The obstacles Cao Xuan set up seemed childish in the eyes of Zhuge Liang, who had served as prime minister for over a decade and was in charge of finances and taxes for many years.

Furthermore, Zhuge Liang possessed Liu Bei's sword and seal.

In just three days, Zhuge Liang, with irrefutable evidence, publicly executed four lower-ranking officials who had violated the law.

If it weren't for Che Zhou's timely intervention, Cao Xuan, the Prefect of Xuzhou, would have been arrested by Zhuge Liang with conclusive evidence.

Zhuge Liang's swift and decisive methods, as well as his profound knowledge of the intricacies of grain delivery, once again instilled in Che Zhou a sense of dread, as if he were facing Mount Tai.

"Are there truly beings in this world who are born with knowledge?"

"Otherwise, how could Zhuge Liang, at the tender age of eighteen, have been so learned?"

Che Zhou was a seasoned official, a typical bully who preyed on the weak and feared the strong.

After being intimidated by Zhuge Liang's swift and decisive actions, Che Zhou dared not let Cao Xuan cause trouble in secret anymore, and became amiable towards Zhuge Liang, showing a humble attitude of "I admit that my voice was a bit loud just now".

"That scoundrel Che Zhou, arrogant at first and obsequious at second, is laughable!"

Zhang Fei was overjoyed.

Zhang Fei, already furious that Che Zhou had deliberately allowed Liu Bei to conscript laborers, was overjoyed to see Che Zhou suffer a setback in front of Zhuge Liang.

Jian Yong, Sun Qian, the Mi brothers, and even Pang Tong were all shocked by Zhuge Liang's shrewdness.

Jian Yong, Sun Qian, and the Mi brothers were seasoned officials and used to such things. They had always turned a blind eye to such matters, but they had never seen Zhuge Liang's ruthless methods.
Pang Tong was shocked that Zhuge Liang seemed to be born with a natural talent for officialdom, having mastered all the tricks of the trade as soon as he became a military advisor.

What many people don't know is that although Zhuge Liang was only eighteen years old, his soul and memories carried the weight of a fifty-four-year-old.

Zhuge Liang, who was able to centralize all military and political power in the Prime Minister's office, would not be hindered by the petty tricks of Che Zhou and Cao Xuan.
Without any obstacles, Zhuge Liang's delivery of supplies went very smoothly.

September arrived.

Liu Bei conscripted more than 10,000 laborers from various counties in Xiapi and promised them rations for two months of round-trip travel.

This promise, however, caused Che Zhou to frown deeply.

"General Zuo, how could I possibly have extra rations to distribute to these ten thousand or so conscripted soldiers?"

Che Zhou intended for the conscripts to bring their own rations, never expecting that Liu Bei not only forbade them from bringing their own rations but also promised them rations for their round trip.

Liu Bei chuckled: "Kongming has already calculated it for me. These ten thousand or so conscripted soldiers are enough to transport the grain delivered by Governor Che to Langya within a month, and the losses along the way will definitely not exceed half. It's enough to feed the troops in Langya for three months."

Che Zhou's pupils constricted sharply, and his tone became urgent: "General Zuo! I've prepared enough provisions for half a year! Not three months!"

Liu Bei smiled as before: "Governor Che, don't be in such a hurry. I have already made a promise to those more than ten thousand conscripted soldiers. You can't expect me to go back on my word, can you? It doesn't matter if I go back on my word. I can just set off for Xuchang right now."

Che Zhou was furious.

That's a scoundrel!

That's outrageous!

When you set off back to Xuchang, who will transport grain for me?

"General Zuo, you've caused me so much trouble!"

Che Zhou stamped his foot, not daring to speak loudly to Liu Bei, fearing that Liu Bei might really set off back to Xuchang in a fit of anger.

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(End of this chapter)