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

Chapter 219: Courtesy First, Then Force; Even the Impetuous Zhang Fei Knows How to Use Tactics (5 Updates)
Zhang Sheng glanced at Hu Deng, then swept his gaze across the officers and soldiers in the tent. Some were surprised, some were envious, and his eyes finally settled on Zhang Fei.

What appears to be a simple "Please sit down" is actually a ploy to divide the 5,000 troops Guo Yuan brought from Bingzhou. Once Zhang Sheng sits down, it means that he has sided with Zhang Fei.

Think about it for a moment.

Zhang Sheng gritted his teeth and sat down on the stool that Zhang Fei had prepared.

Zhang Sheng sought refuge with Gao Gan because over 100,000 people from Heishan had followed Liu Bei to Changshan to cultivate land, leaving Zhang Sheng unable to survive in Heishan.

Although Gao Gan accepted Zhang Sheng, he was wary and suspicious of Zhang Sheng's identity as a Black Mountain bandit. He had no gratitude or favor towards Zhang Sheng, and Zhang Sheng was not loyal to Gao Gan. It was just a relationship of mutual cooperation and exploitation.

At this moment, circumstances are beyond his control. Zhang Sheng's choice to side with Zhang Fei was not out of genuine loyalty, but merely to avoid immediate losses.

As for Zhang Fei's statement that "we were from the same clan five hundred years ago," just listen to it and don't take it seriously; Zhang Sheng wouldn't dare to take it seriously.

Seeing Zhang Sheng take his seat, Zhang Fei then scanned the other officers and soldiers. Under his fierce gaze, no one dared to meet his eyes, and they all lowered their heads.

"By order of the Left General, anyone who harms the people shall be executed on the spot to uphold military law. I hope you all will strictly discipline your troops and not let me be accused of lax military discipline in front of the Left General. If I am convicted, you will certainly be implicated as well. Do you understand?" Zhang Fei's tone was not fast and his voice was not loud, but it could be clearly heard by the officers in the tent.

The officers and soldiers dared not delay and responded in unison: "We will obey the orders of the Left General!"

"Good!" Zhang Fei laughed loudly, "Since you are all willing to obey my orders, I will not treat you unfairly. The reason for letting you withdraw your troops back to camp is to quickly break through Jiangyi. Before returning to Shangdang, any merits I make will be shared with you all!"

All the officers and soldiers replied, "We dare not."

“General Zuo has always been fair in rewarding and punishing. Since I have spoken, I will share the rewards with you all. Why do you say ‘I dare not’?” Zhang Fei glared at him and ordered Zhu Ao, “Write down my words.”

Zhu Ao was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly took out a pen and ink, and recorded it on the document as Zhang Fei had instructed. After showing it to everyone, Zhang Fei signed and stamped the document.

This scene left the officers and soldiers in the tent completely dumbfounded.

"I have already signed and stamped it. Please leave your names as well." Zhang Fei waved his hand, instructing Zhu Ao to present the document to the officers and generals again.

Zhu Ao's hands, holding the documents, trembled uncontrollably.

The other officers might not understand, but Zhu Ao, Guo Yuan's strategist, had already figured out Zhang Fei's intention: he was using the pretense of sharing credit to tie the interests of the officers in the camp together. In particular, the phrase "before returning to Shangdang" was telling everyone that the credit to be shared in the future would not only be for the capture of Jiangyi, but that as long as Zhang Fei could participate, the credit would be shared with everyone!

Raiding Guanzhong is not a short-term task; it could take anywhere from three months to six months or even a year.

After these officers return to Bingzhou, will they still listen to the high-ranking officials?
Even Zhu Ao secretly speculated that even if Guo Yuan were released now, no one would heed Guo Yuan's military orders, because Guo Yuan would definitely not give more than Zhang Fei!
As for the families of the generals and officers, they are all in Bingzhou?

This is not a problem!

Whether it's the high-ranking official Guo Yuan or Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, they all now obey the orders of General Yuan Shao.

Who dares to detain the families of soldiers without authorization?

"What are you still standing there for?" Zhang Fei frowned and scolded Zhu Ao when he saw him in a daze. Zhu Ao snapped out of his daze and hurriedly showed the document to the officers again. At first, some officers hesitated, but after someone took the lead, all the officers in the tent signed and stamped the document.

"Good!" Zhang Fei exclaimed again, then instructed Zhu Ao, "The documents are now in your care. If you lose them, you will be asked to come back with your head."

Zhu Ao shuddered again in fright, carefully hiding the document close to his body, and forced back his trembling as he replied, "Your subordinate will certainly not fail in your duty!"

But in his heart, Zhu Ao felt like crying but had no tears: If I lose the documents, the officers and soldiers will surely cut me into pieces!

Watching Zhang Fei effortlessly win over Guo Yuan's core officers and soldiers of five thousand men, Zhang Sheng, sitting on the stool, was shocked: not only did he possess the courage of a bear and a tiger, but he also had extraordinary cunning. This was Zhang Fei, the great general under General Zuo.
Two years ago, Zhang Fei certainly wouldn't have had this kind of cunning.

In the past two years, Zhang Fei first received instruction from Zhuge Liang, constantly honing his character while drawing maps, and later received instruction from Pang Tong, continuously broadening his knowledge through reading and conversations with scholars.

Although he still couldn't change his nature of whipping his subordinates, he learned to share credit and benefits.

In other words: as long as you are willing to share credit and benefits with your subordinates, let alone whip them, even if you urinate in their helmets, the subordinates will comfort themselves by thinking, "Fame and fortune are right in front of us, what does a little pee matter?"

The reason we are having everyone sign the document today is thanks to the inspiration from Zhuge Liang's "transfer order": words are not enough, so let's put it in writing.

Where had Guo Yuan's officers ever seen such a meticulous approach to assigning credit?

Without comparison, there is no harm. Compared to Guo Yuan's arrogance based on his status, Zhang Fei seems approachable.

After intimidating the generals and officers, Zhang Fei left Xin Zhe to guard the camp, and then led Zhu Ao and Zhang Sheng to the city of Jiangyi.

The sudden withdrawal of the besieging troops had already astonished Jia Kui on the city wall. Seeing Zhang Fei arrive at the city gates, Jia Kui dared not be careless.

Zhu Ao recognized Jia Kui and hurriedly said to Zhang Fei, "General Zhang, that man is Jia Kui. He is well-versed in military strategy, can win popular support, and is also quite skilled in archery. He should not be underestimated."

Following Zhu Ao's guidance, Zhang Fei saw that Jia Kui was tall and imposing, possessing both the might of a military general and the elegance of a scholar, and immediately felt a sense of goodwill towards him.

"Zhang Fei, a subordinate general under the Left General of the Great Han, greets Magistrate Jia. May I come out of the city for a chat?" Zhang Fei tossed his eighteen-foot spear to his personal guard and bowed to Jia Kui with his hands clasped in a salute.

Jia Kui's officials and advisors were greatly alarmed and urged him not to leave the city.

"General Liu Bei is known for his integrity and loyalty. He has Guan Yu and Zhang Fei as his right and left arms. Today, Zhang Fei has withdrawn his troops from the city and shown me courtesy. If I do not leave the city, it would be disrespectful. You all guard the city well. I will go out and have a chat with Zhang Fei." Jia Kui politely declined the offer of his men, opened the city gates wide, and rode out of the city alone.

Seeing Jia Kui's extraordinary spirit, Zhang Fei was even more impressed and laughed heartily, praising, "County Magistrate Jia is truly a hero!"

Jia Kui returned the greeting with a cupped hand and asked, "I wonder what General Zhang's purpose is in inviting me for a chat?"

Zhang Fei laughed frankly, "I have no other intention than to witness firsthand the heroism of the magistrate of Jiangyi, who with only a few hundred county soldiers held off Guo Yuan's five thousand troops. Magistrate Jia's courage and wisdom are truly admirable, and he is deeply loved by the people of Jiangyi. I can also promise Magistrate Jia that I will not attack Jiangyi for the next seven days; after seven days, the Left General will personally arrive in Jiangyi. During this period, the people of Jiangyi are free to leave the city to cultivate the land, gather firewood, or hunt. I have already ordered all officers to restrain their troops and have relayed the Left General's order that anyone who harms the people will be executed on the spot to uphold military law!"

　The fifth update is here! Since it's Saturday and there's a fifth update anyway, please vote with your monthly tickets!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)