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

Chapter 202 Zhuge Liang's Strategic Adjustment, Guan Yu's Return Home Countdown (3rd Update)
At this point, Zhuge Liang's eyes flashed, and he tapped his feather fan slightly: "Moreover, Yuan Xi is also accompanying the general this time. Just think, if the achievements Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan gain on the Yan-Xu front are not as good as what Yuan Xi gained while accompanying the general in Guanzhong, with Yuan Xi's character, how could Yuan Xi be content to be subordinate to the two of them? When Yuan Xi returns, he will definitely compete with Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan."

Liu Bei immediately understood.

Although Yuan Xi invited Yuan Shao to Zhongshan under the pretext of filial piety, he actually harbored thoughts of vying for succession.

If Yuan Xi achieves greater merit in Guanzhong than Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan, and Yuan Shao insists on making Yuan Shang his successor, not only will Yuan Tan be dissatisfied, but Yuan Xi will also be unwilling.

With this thought, Liu Bei felt relieved and then asked about the personnel deployment: "For this expedition, what do you think, strategist, should be the person left behind to guard the front, and who should accompany him?"

Guan Yu, who was right behind him, tensed up, held his breath, gripped the reins tightly, and looked anxious in his phoenix eyes, clearly not wanting to miss the opportunity to follow.

Zhuge Liang glanced at Guan Yu, a slight smile playing on his lips, and deliberately lowered his voice: "I think it is better to leave General Guan behind and have Generals Zhang, Zhao, and Huang accompany him."

Before he could finish speaking, Guan Yu jerked the reins and stepped forward, his tone urgent: "Strategist! My home is in Hedong, and this is the time to return home. Why have you ordered me to stay behind?"

Liu Bei and Zhang Fei have now returned to their hometowns in glory and are revered by their fellow villagers.

Although Guan Yu did not say it explicitly, he longed to return to his old home in Hedong.

Years ago, Guan Yu accidentally injured someone and was forced to flee his hometown, spending more than twenty years in exile in Youzhou. Due to the chaos of the times, he lost all contact with his family, so much so that even today, Guan Yu does not know the fate of his parents and wife in Hedong.

Previously in Luoyang, Guan Yu learned from Xu Huang that Guan Family Village still existed, but he did not know the specific details. Guan Yu originally wanted to go to Hedong, but he did not go alone because of his brotherhood with Liu Bei.

Now that he had this convenient opportunity, Guan Yu really didn't want to miss it, so much so that his voice was unconsciously urgent.

Seeing this, Liu Bei quickly reached out to comfort him, and after speaking gently, he turned to Zhuge Liang and said, "Strategist, Yun Chang has not returned home for more than twenty years since he left Hedong. We should allow him to accompany us."

After saying this, Liu Bei sighed softly, a look of reluctance showing between his brows.

Over the years, Guan Yu never explicitly mentioned returning home, but Liu Bei, having spent so many years with Guan Yu, could hardly have been unaware of Guan Yu's longing for home. However, as a wanderer, he didn't know where he was going, and even if he had the thought of returning home, it was difficult to realize.

Now that he had the opportunity to go to Hedong, Liu Bei wanted to take Guan Yu back home in glory.

Zhuge Liang did not refute, but instead smiled and asked in return: "If General Guan accompanies me, who can stay behind to guard Youzhou?"

“This…” Liu Bei sighed, rubbing his forehead.

Among the civil and military officials under his command, if Guan Yu is to be brought along, Zhuge Liang or Zhang Fei must be left behind to guard the area.

However, keeping Zhuge Liang would make it difficult to plan for events, while keeping Zhang Fei might cause him to harbor resentment. For a time, Liu Bei felt caught in a dilemma.

Seeing Liu Bei's predicament, Guan Yu slumped his shoulders, lowered his head, and whispered, "If that's how it is, then so be it. I'll stay behind and let Yide go with my elder brother."

He then turned his head away, as if trying to suppress his disappointment.

Just as Liu Bei was hesitating, Zhuge Liang laughed loudly and raised his feather fan high: "How about this, I will stay and guard Zhuojun, and Generals Guan and Zhang can both come with me."

Liu Bei hurriedly waved his hand, his face showing anxiety, and said repeatedly, "Absolutely not!! Without a strategist, who can I consult with when I encounter problems?"

Guan Yu turned around in surprise, seeing the anxiety on Liu Bei's face, and hurriedly said, "Strategist, you mustn't! I can wait a few more years before returning home." Zhuge Liang smiled slightly and calmly recommended, "General, do not worry. You can take Shi Yuan and Yuan Zhi with you. Shi Yuan is good at building connections and understands military strategy; Yuan Zhi is also knowledgeable in military affairs. The two of them are sufficient to devise a plan. General Huang can also come along. We can also leave Zilong as the camp commander to guard Youzhou with me, and we can be assured of safety."

Such an arrangement.

Zhuge Liang had also given it careful consideration.

Pang Tong and Xu Shu have been following Liu Bei for almost two years and are already proficient in governing prefectures and counties and local military affairs, but they lack experience in battle.

Although Zhuge Liang was also worried that Pang Tong would die from an arrow wound like when he attacked Luocheng in Xichuan, Zhuge Liang knew even better that if he kept Pang Tong in the rear, Pang Tong would be too eager to make a name for himself and cause even greater accidents.

Moreover, Zhuge Liang had been away from Zhuojun for more than half a year and urgently needed to return to Zhuojun to organize military and political intelligence, improve the strategy for the seven counties of Youzhou, and guard against Yuan Shao's infiltration of the seven counties of Youzhou.

These matters, involving political and diplomatic aspects, were beyond the capabilities of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

Just as Yuan Xi was about to leave, Zhuge Liang was able to thoroughly integrate the officials and people of the seven counties of Youzhou. Even if Liu Bei turned against Yuan Shao in the future, he could still roam freely in Youzhou and Yan like Gongsun Zan.

Afterwards, Zhuge Liang told Liu Bei about his thoughts one by one, which made Liu Bei feel guilty again: "If I hadn't brought Xu You back to Hebei, the strategist wouldn't have been so tired."

Zhuge Liang gently shook his head: "General, please don't do that. Even without Xu You, I would have found a way to get you to go to Hedong and other places. Bringing Xu You back to Hebei only changed the order of my deployment, but it did not really affect my overall strategy."

Although Zhuge Liang said this, Liu Bei's guilt did not lessen. Liu Bei believed that what Zhuge Liang had just said was just something he had made up on the spot, just to reduce his own guilt.

Guan Yu also felt ashamed: "Strategist, it was me."

Zhuge Liang lightly raised his feather fan, interrupting Guan Yu's words, and said with a smile, "General Guan, I am from Langya, a place of gentle climate; Hedong is a bitterly cold land. Do you really want me to suffer there as well? Although I pride myself on my robust physique, I am not as strong as you, General Guan. What if I suffer from acclimatization problems on the way? Wouldn't that make me suffer?"

Guan Yu was speechless. Although he wanted to say that Zhuojun was even more bitterly cold than Hedong, he swallowed the rest of his words when he saw Zhuge Liang's gentle smile. He could only cup his hands to express his gratitude.

At the same time, Yuan Xi also received military orders to raid Guanzhong.

Upon seeing the phrase "to restrain Cao Cao for Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan" in the document, Yuan Xi's jealousy flared up again: Why is it always like this! Am I really that much less than Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan in your eyes? I am also your son!
He originally planned to spend more time with Yuan Shao in Zhongshan to fulfill his filial duties, hoping that Yuan Shao would also think highly of him, and finally find an opportunity to express his desire to compete for the position of heir.

I never expected that after only a few days in Zhongshan, Yuan Shao would send me to harass Guanzhong.

Just as I was feeling down...

Then someone claiming to be Lady Liu's maid came looking for Yuan Xi, to convey Lady Liu's question: why were Zhen Mi and Yuan Mai not in Zhongshan?

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xi felt even more resentful.

Lady Liu's calculations were clearly aimed at Yuan Xi. She wanted to take control of Zhen Mi and Yuan Mai while Yuan Xi was leading his troops on the expedition, in order to prevent any further changes in Yuan Xi's plans. She even hoped that Yuan Xi would give the credit for raiding Guanzhong to Yuan Shang.

Yuan Xi coldly dismissed Lady Liu's maids, clenching his fists: "Fortunately, Military Advisor Zhuge had me send Lady Liu and Mai Di to Youzhou beforehand, otherwise I would have been blackmailed by that wicked woman again! Once I've made a name for myself in the raid on Guanzhong, I will make that wicked woman understand that I am the one who will inherit the Yuan family's legacy!"

　Update 3 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)