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

Chapter 18 Liu Bei is not simple

From the moment Che Zhou asked Liu Bei to conscript laborers and transport grain and supplies into Langya, Che Zhou fell into Liu Bei's trap.

Having fought on the battlefield for over ten years, how could Liu Bei not understand the custom of conscripts providing their own tools and rations?

One of the main reasons why people in various counties would resist becoming laborers was that laborers needed to provide their own tools and rations.

Life was already hard enough, but they were forced to become laborers and had to provide their own tools and rations.

Those from impoverished families might have their wives, children, and elderly parents starve to death because they served as laborers for two months.

The young are not covered, and the old are not warm.

This is no exaggeration!

Liu Bei was unwilling to conscript people like corrupt officials, so when he conscripted laborers in the counties of Xiapi, he directly promised them two months' worth of rations.

For ordinary people struggling to make ends meet, being a conscript not only meant not having to provide their own food rations, but also earning enough for two months' worth of rations. If they were frugal with their food along the way, they could even bring some home to supplement their household income.

In comparison, Liu Bei's conscription of laborers in the counties of Xiapi was tantamount to providing timely help to the impoverished people of Xiapi!

Faced with Che Zhou's "complaints," Liu Bei's smile remained unchanged, and he said confidently, "An army marches on its stomach. Governor Che, I will transport the provisions for these three months to Langya for you. No need to thank me."

Thanks?
Che Zhou felt a wave of dizziness.

You lied to Mr. Che, and Mr. Che should thank you?

But given the current situation, Che Zhou had no choice but to accept it, no matter how unwilling he was.

The grain supplies had to be transported to Langya on time, and Che Zhou could only grit his teeth and accept his bad luck!

And you have to say in a friendly tone, "General Zuo, you've worked hard!"
Liu Bei had just left.

Cao Xuan arrived shortly after.

"Lord Che, Liu Bei is despicable!"

Cao Xuan spoke with resentment.

"I just went to the camp of the conscripted soldiers and found that less than half of the conscripted soldiers Liu Bei conscripted were men. The rest were the elderly, women, children, and even newborn babies!"

"Liu Bei definitely wants to embezzle the army's rations!"

"Is this really true?" Che Zhou asked in astonishment.

I told you to conscript laborers, and you made those laborers bring their families along?

I will not only provide the conscripts with two months' worth of food, but also their families with two months' worth of food.
I am conscripting laborers, not providing relief to starving people!
Che Zhou instantly felt deceived and angrily waved his sleeve, saying, "I, Che, will definitely ask Liu Bei for an explanation!"

But just as he reached the door, Che Zhou stopped again.

"Lord Che, why have you stopped?" Cao Xuan asked, puzzled.
Che Zhou's facial muscles tightened, and he asked through gritted teeth, "Prefect, can you still conscript laborers to transport grain?"

Cao Xuan was stunned for a moment, then instantly understood Che Zhou's worries, and shook his head in dejection: "No. Even if we could, there wouldn't be enough time."

until now.

Che Zhou and Cao Xuan then understood why Liu Bei had dared to confidently claim that "within a month, more than 10,000 laborers could be conscripted."

From the very beginning, Liu Bei never intended to conscript laborers in a step-by-step manner!
If laborers were conscripted by providing rations, would there be any need for Liu Bei?

Both Che Zhou and Cao Xuan could easily conscript more than 10,000 laborers!

Even more!
Che Zhou sighed at the door, "I've been hunting geese all day, only to have them peck my eyes. I shouldn't have let Liu Bei be in charge of conscripting laborers. Now Liu Bei is confident that he has more than 10,000 laborers at his disposal, and I can't conscript enough more in a short time. I can only pretend not to know."

Cao Xuan said indignantly, "This is truly unbearable!"

A fierce glint flashed in Che Zhou's eyes.

Having been tricked by Liu Bei, Che Zhou was equally frustrated.

Just quickly.

Che Zhou suppressed his fierce glint: "Let Liu Bei run rampant for a few months. Once Sikong defeats Yuan Shao, I, Che, will avenge this humiliation!"

Taking a deep breath, Che Zhou told Cao Xuan to ignore Liu Bei for the time being.

With half the expected amount of provisions, Che Zhou had to find a way to procure more. Thinking of this...

Che Zhou looked at Cao Xuan.

Ordinary people have no surplus grain; only wealthy families have surplus grain: "Prefect, it will be difficult for you to raise the grain and fodder."

Cao Xuan immediately turned bitter: "Lord Che, my family doesn't have much grain left either."

Che Zhou reassured him, saying, "Every household should contribute, otherwise Sikong will blame us, and we cannot bear the consequences. You have helped me out of this predicament today, and I will never forget your kindness in the future."

One family is filled with sorrow while the other rejoices.

While Che Zhou and Cao Xuan were filled with worry, Liu Bei's residence was filled with laughter and joy.

Mi Zhu publicly praised, "General, you have shown compassion for the people's suffering and secured two months' worth of food for them. You far surpass the wise men of old!"

Zhang Fei slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "That's great! If that old man Che Zhou knew that half of the more than 10,000 conscripts that my brother has conscripted are old, weak, women and children, he'll be so angry he won't be able to sleep!"

The others, such as Jian Yong, Sun Qian, and the Mi brothers, all spoke with pleasure, fully expressing their joy.

Amidst cheers from the crowd.

Pang Tong quietly moved to Zhuge Liang's side and whispered in amazement: "General Zuo, by taking advantage of the opportunity to conscript soldiers, you are using military provisions to relieve the starving people. Although this may make Che Zhou resentful, Che Zhou will not dare to blame you at this time. General Zuo has won the hearts of the soldiers."

Zhuge Liang then recalled the scene of Liu Bei leading his people across the river: more than 100,000 people, with thousands of taels of baggage, were willing to die at the hands of Cao Cao's iron cavalry rather than follow Liu Bei south.

If Liu Bei had not treated the people well, how could he have won their hearts and minds?
Mind this.

Zhuge Liang then turned to Pang Tong and asked softly, "General Zuo's benevolence is the foundation for standing firm in this chaotic world. Shi Yuan, when do you plan to work with me?"

Although Pang Tong is under Liu Bei's command, he is currently only serving as a minor official as Zhuge Liang's page, rather than officially holding office as a member of the elite of the Southern State. Therefore, he cannot be said to be working with Zhuge Liang.

"hold on."

Pang Tong responded softly.

Although Liu Bei has shown signs of being a wise ruler recently, Pang Tong has very high standards for a wise ruler, and he is not yet ready to meet those standards.

Seeing that Pang Tong politely declined, Zhuge Liang did not ask any further questions.

All those with great talent possess an air of arrogance.

If Zhuge Liang had not returned from Wuzhang Plains, normally Liu Bei would have had to visit him three times to invite him to serve. As long as Pang Tong was still under Liu Bei's command, he would eventually choose Liu Bei as his lord.

As laborers were conscripted from various counties, the conflict between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao intensified.

Cao Cao sent Zang Ba with elite troops from Langya into Qingzhou, while ordering Yu Jin to lead 2,000 infantry and cavalry to garrison Yanjin, an important ferry crossing on the south bank of the Yellow River, to assist Liu Yan, the governor of Dongjun in Baima, in blocking the reinforcements from crossing the Yellow River to the south.

At the same time, fortifications were built in the Guandu area.

Guandu is located near the Bian River, connecting the strategic passes of Hulao, Gong, and Luo to the west, and extending eastward to the Huai and Si Rivers, serving as a barrier to the north and east of Xuchang.

Yuan Shao wanted to seize Xuchang, and Guandu was a crucial battleground.

In addition to military deployments, Cao Cao also used the emperor's decree to actively win over powerful forces in various counties such as Yan, Yu, Xu, Jing, Yang, Sili, and Guanzhong.

While it appears that Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were vying for power, the actual forces involved far exceeded the two individuals involved.

Mid-September.

Wu Shuo, a court advisor, claimed to have been ordered by Cao Cao to meet Liu Bei in Xiapi.

Upon hearing the name "Wu Shuo, the Imperial Advisor," Liu Bei's brows furrowed immediately.

When Liu Bei was in Xuchang, he secretly participated in Dong Cheng's conspiracy of the secret edict in the belt, and Wu Shuo, the Imperial Advisor, was also one of the participants!

"Wu Shuo came to Xiapi, presumably to serve General Dong Cheng."

"It seems that Dong Cheqi can no longer hold back."

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(End of this chapter)