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

Chapter 205 Zhuge Liang becomes the governor of Youzhou, Liu Bei mobilizes troops again (1st update)
"It cannot be changed."

Liu Bei suddenly felt like teasing Zhang Fei.

But Zhang Fei's drinking motion suddenly stopped, his big eyes darting around as if he were plotting something.

Just as Zhang Fei was about to speak, Liu Bei changed the subject again.

"But I am going to Bingzhou soon and need to send generals to accompany me."

Seeing Zhang Fei's hasty remark that he swallowed back the words that were about to come out, Liu Bei picked up the small cup and savored it.

Zhang Fei's expression instantly became complex, and he hurriedly picked up the wine jar again to pour wine for Liu Bei: "Brother, how about I go and get you a bigger jar?"

"A little wine is pleasant, but too much is harmful; a small cup is just right." Liu Bei sipped his wine carefully.

Zhang Fei picked up the wine jar, poured the last drop of wine into the wine bowl, barely covering the bottom, and nodded, "I'll have a little too, I'll have a little too."

Upon seeing this, Liu Bei burst into laughter: "Yide, would you like another jar?"

Zhang Fei was about to say yes, but then changed his mind: "Let's drink after we get back from Bingzhou! When are you leaving, Brother? I need to go back to Ji County to hand over the reins to General Pang."

"No rush." ​​Liu Bei stopped laughing. "Shiyuan will also be going."

Zhang Fei exclaimed "Eh?" and his expression became more serious: "What brings you to Bingzhou this time, elder brother? You even want to transfer General Pang?"

Without asking why, he followed Liu Bei first, and only after Liu Bei agreed did he ask what he was going to do in Bingzhou. This was Zhang Fei.

Liu Bei also slightly composed himself and said, "Yuan Shao wants his two sons, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, to attack Yan and Xu provinces to determine who will be the heir. He has sent me and Yuan Xi to Bing province to harass Guanzhong with Gao Gan and contain Cao Cao's forces. The strategist will stay in You province with Zilong. You, Shiyuan, Yuanzhi, Hansheng, and Yunchang will all go with me."

Upon hearing that it was Yuan Shao causing trouble again, Zhang Fei immediately flew into a rage: "Brother, Yuan Shao is doing this on purpose. He sends his two sons to compete for credit, while making you, brother, toil in Guanzhong. Why not take this opportunity to raise our banner in Youzhou, then attack Jizhou in the south, capture that scoundrel Yuan Shao, and you, brother, will become the ruler of Hebei!"

"Don't speak nonsense," Liu Bei said lightly, then slowly continued, "This was the strategist's decision. Our trip to Guanzhong is not only to relocate the elite troops of Youzhou for training, but also to convert the resources I acquired in Changshan Kingdom into military supplies and provisions. At the same time, it can also incite Yuan Xi's ambition to seize the throne. Currently, the gap in strength between me and Cao Cao is too great, and we cannot suddenly clash with Yuan Shao. How could Yide not understand the principle of 'when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits'? Only by letting Cao Cao and Yuan Shao fight can I mediate between them to strengthen my own position."

Zhang Fei scratched his head and said, "I don't understand these grand principles. Since you're going, I'll fight for you."

Seeing Zhang Fei's slightly excited expression, Liu Bei felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He downed the wine in his cup in one gulp and said with great enthusiasm, "Good! I have never been to Guanzhong before. It's a good opportunity to see what the old capital looks like."

He chatted with Zhang Fei for a while.

Liu Bei then set off for Lu's residence to find Lu Yu, as he had not forgotten the promise he made to Sun Qian at the banquet the previous day.

Lu Yu lost his father at the age of ten, and his two older brothers also died in the war. Due to the frequent battles between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan, there was a lot of famine in Youzhou and Jizhou. At the age of ten, Lu Yu became the pillar of the Lu family. He supported his widowed sister-in-law and nephew while studying and doing his job. To this day, he has quite a reputation.

Lu Yu was fond of studying the law, and after Liu Bei entered Zhuojun, he appointed Lu Yu as a legal officer to gain experience.

Although the legal clerk was only a minor official, Lu Yu was only eighteen years old this year. To be appointed as a minor official in the prefecture before reaching adulthood was already an exceptional appointment. Although both Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan had studied under Lu Zhi, Lu Yu's fondness for Liu Bei was greater than that for Gongsun Zan.

In Lu Yu's view, although Gongsun Zan came from the noble Gongsun clan of Liaodong, his words and deeds were too cruel, which contradicted Lu Zhi's pursuit of stability for the people. On the other hand, although Liu Bei came from a humble background, his words and deeds were closer to Lu Zhi's, with the same integrity, perseverance, and benevolence, and the same combination of strength and gentleness.

Therefore, Lu Yu accepted Liu Bei's offer to serve as the legal clerk in Zhuojun and was willing to associate with Liu Bei and his civil and military officials.

Upon arriving at Lu's residence, Liu Bei first paid homage to Lu Zhi's memorial tablet to fulfill the duties of a disciple, and only then did he explain his purpose to Lu Yu.

Upon learning that Liu Bei had come specifically to act as matchmaker for Sun Qian, Lu Yu couldn't help but smile and say, "Mr. Gongyou and my sister are truly a match made in heaven; Mr. Gongyou originally wanted to ask Duke Kangcheng to be the matchmaker, but he was worried about the long distance from Beihai to Zhuojun and the advanced age of Duke Kangcheng. Now that General Liu Bei is acting as matchmaker for Mr. Gongyou, I am relieved."

Liu Bei smiled with delight: "Since we are of one mind, I should make it happen."

After finalizing Sun Qian's marriage, Liu Bei inquired with Lu Yu about suitable marriage partners in Zhuojun. Upon learning that Lu Yu was looking for a suitable match for Jian Yong, Lu Yu immediately recommended more than ten families to Liu Bei, such as the Liu family of Fangcheng in Zhuojun, the Liu family of Fanyang, the Li family of Fanyang, the Zu family of Qiuxian; the Kou family of Changping in Shanggu, the Hou family of Juyong; the Yang family of Quanzhou in Yuyangjun, the Liu family of Quanzhou, the Xianyu family of Yongnu; and the Tian family of Wuzhong in Youbeipingjun, the Liu family of Wuzhong.

They were all prominent families who had lived in Youzhou for generations.

After leaving Lu's residence, Liu Bei encountered Liu Su and Liu Shi, who had returned after hearing the news.

For several days in a row, Liu Bei was either visiting and receiving guests, or on his way to visit and receive guests.

And during this period.

Huang Zhong of Dai Commandery, Zhao Yun of Shanggu Commandery, and Pang Tong of Guangyang Commandery were successively summoned back to Zhuo County, while Zhuge Liang gradually took over the political and military affairs of the seven commanderies of Youzhou.

Although Yuan Xi was the governor of Youzhou, the officials of the seven counties of Youzhou were basically appointed by Liu Bei. On the surface, they obeyed the military orders of the governor's office of Youzhou, but in reality, they obeyed the military orders of the Left General's office.

Since Yuan Xi was also going to accompany Liu Bei to raid Guanzhong, and Zhen Mi and Yuan Mai had also arrived in Zhuo County, Yuan Xi discussed with Liu Bei and then appointed Zhuge Liang as the Chief Administrator of Youzhou, formally establishing Zhuge Liang's authority in Youzhou in name and in fact.

Although Han Heng held a higher position as Biejia Ceshi, his authority was far less than that of Zhuge Liang, who held the position of Zhizhong Ceshi. Han Heng was well aware of this, and the fact that he wasn't replaced was already a concession. If Han Heng dared to presume on his position and interfere with Zhuge Liang's management of the seven counties of Youzhou, he wouldn't need to come to work tomorrow.

Liu Bei then selected 3,000 infantry and cavalry from the troops of the seven commanderies, appointing Pang Tong and Xu Shu as military advisors, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Huang Zhong as generals, and Yuan Chen, Xiahou Bo, Xin Zhe, Jiao Chu, Zhang Nan, and others as deputy generals.

Liu Bei had his reasons for choosing only three thousand infantry and cavalry.

Firstly, although the external threats to Youzhou have been quelled, the nomadic tribes on the grasslands are like spring breezes that keep springing up again. Even if the kings of Tadun and his ilk are gone, other kings will emerge, and they cannot be completely eradicated. Secondly, there are also powerful clans within the seven commanderies of Youzhou, and it is hard to guarantee that these clans will not have any ulterior motives. Furthermore, the implementation of Zhuge Liang's policies will inevitably harm the interests of a group of people. Therefore, it is necessary to leave enough troops for Zhuge Liang to command.

After all, Liu Bei was only going to harass Guanzhong, not to conquer it. Moreover, Gao Gan of Bingzhou also had troops!

　Update 1 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)