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

Chapter 188 Zhuge Liang's brilliant calculations and Xu You's discernment of Liu Bei's ambitions (3rd update)
Although he did not understand Zhuge Liang's deeper meaning, Jiao Chu knew one thing: as long as he followed Zhuge Liang's instructions, he could steadily make contributions.

Jiao Chu immediately advised Yuan Tan: "If Cao Cao retreats to the south bank, the General might take the opportunity to establish Young Master Shang as his heir. Young Master Tan must be wary."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Tan's expression changed.

Previously, Zhuge Liang had informed him in a letter that Yuan Shao had sent Yuan Shang to lead troops into Dongwuyang to fight Cao Cao, and had also ordered Yan Liang and Wen Chou to lead troops from Changshan State to assist him. This alarmed Yuan Tan, who rushed from Linzi to Pingyuan day and night to keep a close eye on the changes in the battle situation in Dongwuyang.

Just now, the scouts reported that Cao Cao's entire army had crossed the river to the south.

Just as Yuan Tan was cursing Yuan Shang for his good luck, he heard Jiao Chu's words and his anger flared up.

Considering that Yuan Shang was favored and was now replacing Yuan Shao to lead the troops in the decisive battle against Cao Cao, Yuan Tan felt more and more that what Jiao Chu said was probably Yuan Shao's true intention. This was clearly to gild Yuan Shang's image and pave the way for Yuan Shang to become the heir!
If I hadn't become the heir, they wouldn't have treated me like an elder brother. But if I had become the heir, where would I have a place to stand?

Thinking of this, Yuan Tan couldn't help but shudder.

Hua Yan, standing nearby, was also somewhat panicked: "If the General formally establishes Yuan Shang as his heir, then Your Excellency will be completely at his mercy from now on! Your Excellency must not sit idly by and wait for death; you must make a decision as soon as possible!"

Hua Yan's eyes were gloomy. If Yuan Shang were to take the throne, all the resources invested in Yuan Tan would be wasted. Participating in the succession struggle was a high-stakes gamble, and for a gambler, there was no room for failure but to win.

Yuan Tan also sensed the gravity of the situation. He paced back and forth for a long time, his brows furrowing even more: "I must go to Ye City in person to stop the Grand General from making Yuan Shang his heir, otherwise I will have no place to stand in Hebei! However, I am now an outside general and cannot enter Ye City without being summoned. So how can I go?"

Just as he was hesitating, someone reported that Liu Bei's letter had arrived.

"A letter from General Zuo?" Yuan Tan was slightly taken aback and hurriedly ordered it to be presented.

The letter contained only a few words: Xu You will soon be escorted to Ye City. Only by protecting this man can we contend with Yuan Shang.

Yuan Tan was both surprised and suspicious: Hadn't Xu You surrendered to Cao Cao? How could he have been taken to Ye City? Could he have been captured alive by Yuan Shang? Xu You's defection led to Chunyu Qiong losing Wuchao, and the Grand General's defeat as a result. If Yuan Shang uses the capture of Xu You to win over the civil and military officials of Hebei, I will have no chance at all!

Thinking of this, Yuan Tan felt the situation was even more dire.

Taking a deep breath, Yuan Tan thought of a reason to enter Ye City, and then instructed Hua Yan: "Immediately prepare rare treasures for me. I want to go to Ye City in person to celebrate my brother Shang's victory!"

He then turned to Jiao Chu and said, "General Jiao, may I travel with you?"

"Huh?" Jiao Chu was in a dilemma: Zhuge Liang had not told me to go to Ye City... Should I go or not?
Seeing Jiao Chu hesitate, Yuan Tan continued, "General Jiao is a general under Brother Xi. If you come along, the civil and military officials of Ye City will know that Brother Xi has chosen to support me. The reason why the General has been hesitant to establish an heir is because the people of Hebei are divided in their support for me and Brother Shang. Now that the General wants to use Yuan Shang's victory over Cao Cao to establish an heir, he also needs the people's consent! After the matter is accomplished, I will certainly not let you down!"

Jiao Chu lowered his head, pondering: "Following Young Master Tan into Ye, I fear there may be danger... Hmm? Danger? That's right, the strategist's secret plan! With such a brilliant plan, what is there to fear! The strategist foresaw that I might encounter danger."

Thinking of this, Jiao Chu no longer hesitated, cupped his hands and replied, "It would be my greatest honor to serve Young Master Tan!"

Hua Yan glanced at Liu Bei's letter and asked doubtfully, "How does Your Excellency intend to protect Xu You? If you plead for Xu You, you may lose the hearts of the people in Hebei. Seventy or eighty thousand people were buried alive, and countless people in Hebei want to kill Xu You."

Yuan Tan, chin in hand, pondered, "I haven't come up with a good plan yet. But if I can save Xu You's life, scholars from the south like Guo Tu and Xin Ping will surely choose to support me." Jiao Chu interjected, "I've heard that Xu You rebelled because Shen Pei arrested Xu You's family without authorization. Why do they all only want to kill Xu You and not Shen Pei?"

His words were a wake-up call for Yuan Tan and Hua Yan.

Hua Yan clapped his hands in delight: "General Jiao is right! If the Grand General wants to severely punish Xu You, then you should impeach Shen Pei! If you can manage to save Xu You, then the scholars of the Southern State will definitely choose to support you; even if you cannot save Xu You, you can still get rid of Shen Pei and cripple Yuan Shang. Without Shen Pei's support, how can Yuan Shang compete with you for the heir?"

Yuan Tan laughed loudly: "General Jiao has rendered a great service! Since both Shen Pei and Xu You are at fault, then these two must either live or die together!"

The agreement has been reached.

Yuan Tan no longer hesitated and immediately selected eight hundred cavalrymen to go to Ye City with Jiao Chu.

And on the other side.

Yuan Chen and Xiahou Bo also secretly returned to Zhen Ding City with Xu You.

Yuan Chen entered the city first and conveyed Liu Bei's instructions to Zhuge Liang. He added, "The Left General has not yet returned to Zhending, and Xu You wants to have a face-to-face meeting with the Left General. The strategist needs to find a way to cover it up."

“This is easy. Bring Xu You to see me first.” Zhuge Liang immediately understood Liu Bei’s plan, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Before long, Yuan Chen and Xiahou Bo brought Xu You to Zhuge Liang's office.

Seeing that Liu Bei was not there, Xu You frowned and turned to Yuan Lin: "Is the Left General not in Zhen Ding?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhuge Liang burst into laughter: "Mr. Xu has misunderstood. General Zuo received news yesterday that Mr. Xu was coming to Zhending. Furthermore, due to an urgent invitation from Yuan Youzhou, who was in Zhongshan with his wife to pay respects to their ancestors, General Zuo went to Zhongshan. He will return in a few days."

Xu You was slightly surprised: "Yuan Xi is also in Zhongshan? He didn't return to Zhuojun?"

Zhuge Liang laughed and said, "Not only is Yuan Youzhou in Zhongshan, but the General's youngest son, Yuan Mai, is also in Zhongshan."

Xu You immediately sensed something was amiss and asked warily, "I've always heard that Yuan Xi follows Yuan Shang's lead. Now Yuan Xi is not in Youzhou but in Zhongshan, and even Yuan Mai has been placed in Zhongshan. General Zuo, have you perhaps stopped supporting Yuan Tan and started supporting Yuan Shang instead?"

Seeing Xu You's wary expression, Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan, signaling Yuan Chen and Xiahou Bo to step back. Instead of answering, he asked, "Why can't it be that Yuan Youzhou no longer supports Yuan Shang, but instead supports Yuan Qingzhou?"

Xu You stared at Zhuge Liang for a moment, then let out a cold laugh: "It is said that General Zuo has found a rare talent in the world, a man of great strategy and eloquence. Seeing him today, it is indeed as the rumors say. It is probably not that Yuan Xi supports Yuan Tan, nor that General Zuo has switched his support to Yuan Shang, but rather that General Zuo has switched his support to Yuan Xi. However, Yuan Xi is a rootless duckweed, lacking both extraordinary courage and wisdom, and is neither the eldest son nor the heir apparent. Even with General Zuo's support, he will only be doing all the work for others."

"Mr. Xu, you jest. I am but a humble farmer from Nanyang, though my hometown is near yours. In terms of wisdom and strategy, I am not even half as good as you." Zhuge Liang said calmly, simultaneously belittling himself and praising Xu You: "When you fled to Luoyang, General, you had only Mr. Xu by your side to advise you. After that, you gained control of the four northern provinces and became a force to be reckoned with. However, in the Battle of Guandu, you were easily defeated by Cao Cao because of Mr. Xu's absence. Without Mr. Xu, you would not have gained Hebei; without Mr. Xu, you would not have won Guandu. Tell me, how can I, a man of such extraordinary talent as Mr. Xu, possibly compare to you?"

　Chapter 3 is here! Please vote with your monthly tickets!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)