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

Chapter 216 Liu Bei Orders Pang Tong to Command the Generals, Xun Yu's Heart Is Pierced (2 Updates)
Accompanied by Pang Tong's laughter and arrogant words, whether it was the generals Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou, or the deputy generals Yuan Chen, Xiahou Bo, Xin Zhe, Jiao Chu, and Zhang Nan, they all wore cold smiles and arrogance.

It is an insult to the generals that Zhong Yao, Ma Teng, Han Sui, and others had to rely on the power of Huchuquan to seize Jiangyi and Pishi!

Guan Yu stroked his magnificent beard with one hand, stepped forward, and volunteered: "This humble general, Guan Yu, is willing to be the vanguard!"

The voice just fell.

Zhang Fei hurriedly protested, "Second Brother, I haven't been on the battlefield for a long time, don't try to take the vanguard position from me!"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Fei turned to Huang Zhong, who had taken a half-step forward, and glared at him with his tiger eyes: "Hansheng, take your foot back! You just went to Changshan a few months ago and captured Huchuquan alive in the midst of ten thousand troops. How dare you try to steal my vanguard?"

Seeing Zhang Fei's "fight if you dare to take the lead" look, Huang Zhong withdrew his foot and chuckled, "Yide, you misunderstand! My legs are just numb from standing for so long, I'm just moving my shins, I won't take the lead from you!"

Gao Gan and Xun Chen both sharpened their eyes and turned to look at Huang Zhong.

Seeing that Huang Zhong was extremely strong but had a simple and honest smile on his face, they couldn't help but wonder: Was this the man who captured Huchuquan alive?
After the initial surprise, a chill ran down their spines: one was able to kill Tadun amidst a vast army, and the other could capture Huchuquan alive amidst a vast army. In addition, there were the renowned Zhang Fei, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou. Indeed, there was no need for Huchuquan to make a point!
Xun Chen thought even deeper: The Left General first intimidated Governor Gao, and now he wants to intimidate the people of Hedong. If he establishes both prestige and authority, the Grand General will be difficult to control in the future!
Although he had worries in his heart, Xun Chen dared not show them. Even the high-ranking officials had bowed their heads and admitted defeat, so what could Xun Chen, a mere administrator, do?

While Xun Chen was pondering, Zhang Fei turned to Guan Yu, leaned closer, and flattered him, saying, "Second Brother, why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut! Why should you personally go to kill a mere Jia Kui? I may not be very skilled, but I've learned a few farming tricks, so I can manage to kill a chicken. How about I take the vanguard position?"

Seeing that Zhang Fei was willing to risk everything to be the vanguard, Guan Yu was speechless: If you are just a chicken-killing knife, then how much better am I than a chicken-killing knife?
Knowing that Zhang Fei had been waiting in the rear, Guan Yu also retreated: "Very well. If Third Brother wants to go, then let him go!"

Zhang Fei chuckled with delight, then bowed to Liu Bei and pleaded, "Brother, please give the order!"

Liu Bei smiled without saying a word, but instead took off the sword seal and handed it to Pang Tong: "General Pang, you will be in charge of deploying troops in this battle."

Liu Bei's visit to Hedong was also intended to give Pang Tong a chance to demonstrate his talents.

After all, in the eyes of Zhuge Liang and Xu Shu, Pang Tong was also a rare genius in the world, capable of becoming both a general and a prime minister.

Liu Bei had already witnessed Xiang's talent.

Liu Bei still needs to observe the general's abilities.

This scene shocked Gao Gan and Xun Chen once again: the Left General had actually entrusted the power to deploy troops to a young man in his early twenties.

Xun Chen, in particular, was feeling quite uneasy at this moment.

According to his resume, Xun Chen was once the chief strategist of Yuan Shao's 100,000-strong army; however, according to his authority, Xun Chen was merely one of the advisors under Yuan Shao.

He was neither as trusted by Cao Cao as Xun You, Cao Cao's strategist, nor as powerful as Pang Tong, who was directly granted a sword and seal by Liu Bei.

Who would be content to be just a minor strategist with such strategic acumen as Xun Chen?

What hurt Xun Chen even more was that he was nearly forty years old, while Pang Tong was only in his early twenties!

For a moment, Xun Chen was somewhat dazed, subconsciously recalling Xun Yu's words when he joined Cao Cao: "Yuan Shao is good at scheming but indecisive, and will ultimately fail to achieve great things; moreover, he is outwardly lenient but inwardly suspicious, and can share hardship but not prosperity." His eyes dimmed. Liu Bei glanced at the dejected Xun Chen, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

When it comes to winning people's hearts, Liu Bei was second to none, and few dared to claim to be number one.

By deliberately handing the sword seal to Pang Tong in front of everyone, Liu Bei was intentionally demonstrating to Xun Chen his magnanimity and ability to recognize and utilize talent.

Of Yuan Shao's three chief strategists: Xu You was arrogant and betrayed even his old friend Yuan Shao. Liu Bei could spare Xu You's life for the sake of interests, but he would never trust Xu You to entrust him with important matters; Tian Feng was upright and unyielding and had excellent strategies, but he was deeply indebted to Yuan Shao and was unwilling to get too close to Liu Bei; the remaining Xun Chen was neither as fickle as Xu You nor as deeply indebted to Yuan Shao as Tian Feng.

In other words: Xu You and Yuan Shao had been friends for over twenty years, and he wouldn't leave Yuan Shao for a small favor from Liu Bei; when Tian Feng was first invited by Yuan Shao with generous gifts, Yuan Shao's kindness was no less than Liu Bei's three visits to Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage, so these two were the most difficult to win over; as for Xun Chen, he only went to Yuan Shao to avoid trouble after the turmoil in Yingchuan. Although he was treated with courtesy by Yuan Shao because of his talent and reputation, he was used to protecting himself and remained independent from the succession struggle between Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan, so he could not become a guest of Yuan Shao. He was the most suitable person to be won over by the principle of "a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, and a wise minister chooses a good master to serve".

Pang Tong respectfully accepted the sword seal handed to him by Liu Bei with both hands, his heart filled with excitement.

Pang Tong used to be very envious when he saw Zhuge Liang wielding his sword and seal to command troops.

Influenced by Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong worked hard on military affairs during the year he was in charge of the military affairs of the four western counties of Youzhou. He even tempted Zhang Fei with wine and tricked him into revealing all the big and small battles Zhang Fei had experienced with Liu Bei over the years, using these experiences and lessons to combine theory with practice.

Although he was a close friend of Zhuge Liang, they still had to compete with each other in their careers.

However, Zhuge Liang's formidable strength, in turn, forced Pang Tong to strive to catch up.

Otherwise, when the arrogant young men who flock to Liu Bei mention Pang Tong in the future, they will say: "Oh, I've heard of this person. He seems to have some connection with Zhuge Liang. He just followed Liu Bei for a long time. He probably doesn't have any real skills. If we had come earlier, he wouldn't have been needed."

With the sword in hand, Pang Tong's aura changed accordingly.

"Everyone listen up!"

The clear voice carried a hint of authority, and Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, as well as the deputy generals Yuan Chen, Xiahou Bo, Xin Zhe, Jiao Chu, and Zhang Nan, all stood up straight.

No one disrespected Pang Tong at this time. Besides Pang Tong's own qualifications and talents, it was also because Liu Bei had given Pang Tong the sword and seal in public. Disrespecting Pang Tong was disrespecting Liu Bei.

This unanimous command, which earned the trust of both civil and military officials, stung Xun Chen's heart: Why didn't anyone step forward to object?
"Immediately order Zhang Fei to lead his troops as the vanguard to Jiangyi, and convey the Left General's order to suspend the attack on Jiangyi and await the arrival of the Left General's main army. If Guo Yuan disobeys, he may be captured alive! Restrain Guo Yuan's soldiers; if any of them harm the people, they shall be executed on the spot to uphold military law!"

"Immediately order Guan Yu and Huang Zhong to lead their troops as the left and right wings, to oversee the retreat of the Hu troops, and to patrol south to Anyi. At the same time, they must restrain their troops, and anyone who harms the people must be executed on the spot to uphold military law!"

"Immediately order Yan Liang and Wen Chou to lead 5,000 troops from Shangdang to oversee the transport of supplies and provisions."

"Xu Shu is hereby ordered to lead Generals Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan, along with his own troops, to remain and garrison Shangdang without fail."

Pang Tong's commands continued, while Xun Chen's heart was filled with anguish.
　Update 2 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)