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

Chapter 182 Recruiting Talented Individuals: Zhuge Liang's Hoe Slashes Towards Bingzhou (2 Updates)
Simply put: Zhuge Liang did not support useless people.

Whether it was Huchuquan himself or the eight thousand Hu prisoners, their daily supplies had to be provided by Zhuge Liang. If there was any negligence or mismanagement, it would be very easy to cause a rebellion by the Hu people.

Even the Hu people are human, and they have their limits when it comes to enduring pressure.

If this were to harm the 100,000 Black Mountain people who had just been settled, then Liu Bei would have broken his promise to the Black Mountain army led by Zhang Yan, who were deep in Bingzhou fighting against the Hu people.

Liu Bei established himself on the foundation of integrity and trustworthiness; he could lose a battle, but he could never lose his integrity and trustworthiness.

Liu Bei acted with benevolence and virtue in mind. He would never have done something like Cao Cao's massacre of prisoners of war.

Therefore, Zhuge Liang could not possibly bury those eight thousand Hu prisoners alive again, as this would not only damage his integrity but also betray the principles of benevolence and virtue.

However, the situation changed drastically when Huchuquan and his eight thousand Hu people were released back to Bingzhou: Zhang Yan and his men were looking for an opportunity to kill the Hu people, and this was like a pillow delivered to their sleepy head.

As for whether Huchuquan will obediently hand over the 80,000 abducted Black Mountain people according to the "handover order," or let Zhang Yan and others resort to force and fight a few battles, that depends on Huchuquan's own choice: to fulfill the agreement or to breach the contract.

Zhuge Liang always kept his word and never engaged in evasive or deceptive behavior.

If you say you'll release someone, you will release them; if you say you'll beat someone, you will do it.

Zhuge Liang did not go there specifically to redeem Cai Wenji. He was merely using the release of Huchuquan and eight thousand prisoners as a pretext to add a condition that would enhance Liu Bei's reputation for benevolence.

The aim was to make the most of everything and everyone, squeezing out the remaining value of Huchuquan and the more than 8,000 prisoners.

Moreover, Cai Wenji does indeed possess extremely high redemption value.

Cai Wenji could still recite more than 400 of the more than 4,000 volumes of books left to her by her father, Cai Yong, even after more than ten years of wandering. If she could have redeemed them a few years earlier, she could have recalled more than 1,000 volumes.

These books were all treasured by Cai Yong, and their value was in no way inferior to the books that Chen Deng and Zheng Xuan gave to Liu Bei.

At that time, Zhuge Liang could spread the news: Cai Wenji, daughter of the late Confucian scholar Cai Zhonglang, grateful for General Liu Bei's rescue, specially gifted Liu Bei several thousand volumes of books from her family collection. Liu Bei admired Cai Zhonglang's family's profound scholarship and thus ordered his two daughters to become Cai Wenji's students.

Once this news spreads, regardless of others, Wang Can, who possessed Cai Yong's collection of over six thousand volumes of books but was not valued by Liu Biao, would certainly be restless.

If we're lucky, we might even be able to transport Wang Can's collection of over six thousand volumes to Youzhou as well!
In times of chaos, nothing is more precious than the inheritance of traditions.

Especially the preservation of written language!

The book collections of renowned scholars such as Cai Yong and Zheng Xuan were all carefully selected, and their value is immeasurable.

Having understood Zhuge Liang's profound meaning, Zhang Nan suddenly realized what was going on. He bowed deeply and exclaimed in sincere admiration, "The wisdom of strategist Zhuge is truly unfathomable!"

Zhuge Liang laughed heartily, waving his fan.

Just then, a minor official reported that Yuan Xi had returned from Ye City.

Zhuge Liang then went with Zhang Nan to see Yuan Xi.

Upon seeing Zhuge Liang, Yuan Xi hurriedly led a child to bow to Zhuge Liang: "Military Advisor Zhuge, this is the General's youngest son, Yuan Mai. As you predicted, the General was overjoyed when he learned that I was going to bring my brother Mai to Zhongshan to take care of him, and even asked me to stay and drink with him alone. It's just that Liu Shi gave me a rather unfriendly look."

At this point, Yuan Xi couldn't help but burst into laughter again: "The way Liu hates me but can't do anything about it is truly exhilarating!"

Although Yuan Mai was six years old, he had lost his mother at a young age and was often scolded by Lady Liu, so he was extremely shy. He also showed fear in his eyes when he bowed to Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang then instructed Yuan Xi to have Yuan Mai taken away to rest. He then said to Yuan Xi, “Governor Yuan, you can first send Young Master Mai to Zhongshan to be looked after by Lady Zhen, and then secretly send both Lady Zhen and Young Master Mai to Zhuo County. At that time, even if the General wants Young Master Mai to return to Ye City, Governor Yuan will have a reason to refuse.”

Yuan Xi clapped his hands and laughed: "Strategist Zhuge's plan is brilliant. As long as the people go to Zhuo County, whether they return to Ye City or not will no longer be up to the General! In this way, they will no longer be threatened by that poisonous woman Liu."

Zhuge Liang nodded and then asked, "Does Governor Yuan know what the General thinks of Gao Gan, the Governor of Bing Province?"

Without hesitation, Yuan Xi replied, "The Gao family of Chenliu has a long-standing reputation for chastity and filial piety, and enjoys a high reputation among scholars. That is why the Yuan family and the Gao family formed a marriage alliance. Although Gao Gan is only the General's nephew, he is like a son to the General. I am ashamed to say that my position in the General's heart is not as high as Gao Gan's."

Yuan Xi wasn't talking nonsense. In Yuan Shao's strategy of assigning each of his sons to a province to observe their abilities, the sons included Gao Gan.

In the uncle's eyes, there really wasn't much difference between his nephew and his son.

Seeing Zhuge Liang deep in thought, Yuan Xi had a guess in his mind: "Does the strategist Zhuge mean that I should win over high-ranking officials? But given my current status, high-ranking officials will not support me."

Zhuge Liang shook his head slightly, his gaze intense: "With the General still alive, Governor Yuan need not overreact, lest he incur the General's displeasure. I have heard that Gao Gan has a cousin named Gao Rou, son of Gao Jing, the Commandant of Shu Commandery, who is skilled in governance. He once braved the long and arduous journey of war to Shu to handle funeral arrangements, enduring hardship for three years before returning, and was praised by all for his filial piety and righteousness. Governor Yuan, could you personally make a trip to Shangdang and invite Gao Rou to Changshan to help the General settle the 100,000 newly surrendered people of Heishan? If Gao Rou is willing to enter Changshan, I can help Governor Yuan persuade him. Governor Yuan can then praise Gao Rou's merit in settling the 100,000 newly surrendered people of Heishan and request the General to appoint Gao Rou as the Chancellor of Zhongshan. At that time, if there is any change in Yecheng, Zhuojun, Zhongshan, and Changshan can be united and all under Governor Yuan's command. If Governor Yuan can suppress Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang and gain the support of the governors and chancellors of the various commanderies and kingdoms, how could Gao Gan not understand the general trend?"

Yuan Xi was overjoyed: "Strategist Zhuge's words are like the sun breaking through the clouds, enlightening me completely. There's no time to lose, I'll head to Shangdang right now."

Zhuge Liang chuckled, fanning himself: "Governor Yuan, why don't you rest for a few days first?"

Yuan Xi shook his head: "The longer the night goes on, the more things may go wrong. If Yuan Shang returns to Ye City and finds out that I took Yuan Mai away, he may become suspicious of me. If Yuan Shang also appoints Gao Rou as the Chancellor of Zhongshan, Changshan and Zhuojun will not be able to be connected."

Zhuge Liang did not try to persuade him to stay any longer. He cupped his hands and said, "Then I wish Governor Yuan all the best in his endeavors. If there are any unsuccessful wanderers in Shangdang, Governor Yuan may also invite them to Changshan State. I will help Governor Yuan persuade them."

When it comes to poaching talent, Zhuge Liang was a professional.

Although Gao Gan liked to recruit talented people, he did not know how to distinguish between the wise and foolish. Zhong Changtong, a man from Shanyang County, once visited Gao Gan and commented that he "had great ambitions but no great talent, and loved people but could not choose them well."

This was extremely good news for Zhuge Liang.

Whether it was Gao Rou or any other wandering scholars who were not successful in Shangdang, Zhuge Liang had ways to keep them in Changshan as long as they were willing to follow Yuan Xi.

　I was a bit lazy over the weekend, but I'll try my best to finish writing by dawn.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)