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

Chapter 225 Jia Kui Chooses a Wise Ruler, Liu Bei Secretly Releases Guo Yuan to Scheme Against Zhong Yao (2nd Update)
Zhang Fei's words deeply moved Jia Kui once again.

Jia Kui's heart was already churning with turmoil:
First, Zhang Fei provoked Jia Kui's dissatisfaction with the powerful and wealthy families who oppressed the common people.

Then, witnessing that Pang Tong, who was only in his early twenties, had already risen to the position of General of the Army under the Left General, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unfulfilled potential.

However, Liu Bei's benevolence and lofty ambitions made Jia Kui yearn for a wise ruler.

At this moment, Zhang Fei brought up the old story again, and Jia Kui's complex emotions that had been accumulating in his heart were completely stirred up: Yes! A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, and a wise minister chooses a good lord to serve! I believe that I am virtuous and talented and no less than the sons of noble families. General Zuo is benevolent, virtuous and trustworthy, and is a hero's lord. Why should I hesitate?

Once a person understands this, they will no longer stubbornly persist in their ignorance.

Although Jia Kui claimed to have received favors from the state, he actually received very little, and his salary was only a pitiful hundred or so shi (a unit of dry measure).

Wang Yi, the governor of Hedong, who was far inferior to Jia Kui, not only appointed officials by fraudulent means but also repeatedly violated the law. As a result, he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Anyang and given the title of General Zhenbei simply because he sent silk and cotton to Liu Xie, who was returning to Luoyang.

Not only that, but when Hedong was ravaged by war, he hid in Anyi and dared not leave the city, which was unworthy of his status as the governor of Hedong, general of Zhenbei, and marquis of Anyang.

With this in mind, Jia Kui no longer hesitated and immediately bowed deeply: "If General Zuo does not mind my humble origins and coarse manners, I am willing to lend General Zuo a helping hand!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei quickly bent down to help Jia Kui up, firmly supporting his arms with both hands. His voice was warm and solemn: "County Magistrate Jia, please rise! You come from humble origins, not from the dust of this chaotic world; nor are you born into a noble family! I judge heroes by their talent and virtue, not by their social standing. County Magistrate Jia, you care deeply for the common people and possess profound wisdom. I greatly admire you!"

Liu Bei's words were powerful and resonant, affirming Jia Kui's value and reiterating his principle of seeking talent without being bound by convention. Every word struck a chord with Jia Kui.

Zhang Fei, standing to the side, laughed and said, "My elder brother once said, 'Heroes have never been judged by their origins!' Fan Kuai was a dog butcher, Zhou Bo played the funeral tune, Guan Ying sold cloth, and Xiahou Ying drove a chariot. None of these four were from noble families, yet they were able to assist Emperor Gaozu in establishing his imperial dynasty. Being of humble origin is not a disgrace; being able to bend and stretch is what makes a true man. I used to be just a butcher in Zhuo County, and even the military advisor in the Left General's office, who oversaw everything, was once a villager from Nanyang."

The boisterous yet sincere laughter instantly broke the solemn atmosphere. Upon further reflection on Liu Bei's earnest words, Jia Kui suddenly felt a sense of relief after months, even years, of pent-up frustration.

Immediately.

Liu Bei then appointed Jia Kui as the Left General's subordinate to oversee thieves, granting him the authority to enter and leave the commander's tent to participate in military affairs.

Jia Kui was even more moved. Although the position of the supervisor of thieves was not high, the authority to enter and leave the commander's tent to discuss military affairs far exceeded that of the supervisor of thieves himself.

Subsequently, Liu Bei ordered his men to bring Guo Yuan and Huchuquan along.

Seeing Guo Yuan's swollen right eye socket, Liu Bei couldn't help but look at Hu Chuquan in surprise.

Hu Chuquan, however, preemptively complained: "General Zuo, I didn't mean to hit him. He grabbed my collar as soon as he saw me and questioned me about why I was withdrawing the troops. I was under General Zuo's orders, so of course I had to withdraw! But he wouldn't listen to my explanation and even tried to fight me. I was forced to fight back, but who knew he was so weak and I knocked him down with one punch."

Guo Yuan was so angry that his face turned pale.

Under normal circumstances, Guo Yuan would never have been knocked down by Hu Chuquan with a single punch.

However, during the days that Zhang Fei imprisoned Guo Yuan, he was constantly sulking and had no appetite. He often lost his appetite due to his sullenness and was sometimes hungry and sometimes full, so he naturally had little strength.

Unexpectedly, Hu Chuquan actually dared to make a move, and Guo Yuan was suddenly knocked down by Hu Chuquan's counterattack. "Liu Bei! Are you going to betray the General?" Guo Yuan turned to Liu Bei, as if he had found an outlet for the frustration of the past few days, and questioned Liu Bei by name.

Seeing Guo Yuan's rudeness, Zhang Fei was about to start a fight when Liu Bei gestured for him to back down.

Seeing Guo Yuan still resentful, Liu Bei's tone remained gentle as he calmly asked, "Is Zhong Yao your uncle?"

Guo Yuan's expression changed: "What do you mean by that?"

Liu Bei leaned against the table, his gaze suddenly sharpening: "News has arrived that Ma Teng's son Ma Chao and Han Sui's son-in-law Yan Xingzheng are leading more than 20,000 elite troops to assist Zhong Yao. You previously told Governor Gao that Ma Teng and Han Sui have long been dissatisfied with Zhong Yao. Now it seems that Hedong is a trap."

Guo Yuan's expression changed again, and he struggled to say, "Although Zhong Yao is my uncle, I have always despised his character. Are you implying that I have an affair with Zhong Yao? This is a trumped-up charge!"

Liu Bei sneered: "The Han Dynasty has always valued filial piety. You come from the powerful Guo family of Yingchuan, how could you not understand what filial piety is? Zhong Yao is your maternal uncle and has a good reputation. How could you despise him? You could deceive Governor Gao, how could you deceive me?"

When the pit was dug, Guo Yuan was dumbfounded.

To admit to having a relationship with Zhong Yao would be treason and death; to insist on despising Zhong Yao would be disrespectful to filial piety and ruin one's reputation.

No matter what choice Guo Yuan makes, it will be wrong.

"This matter is not up to you. I want to see the General!" Guo Yuan panicked and hurriedly invoked Yuan Shao's name.

"Untie him." Liu Bei stared at Guo Yuan, his tone even colder: "Don't say I didn't give you a chance. If you want to see the General, go ahead, I won't stop you; but you'd better not let me find any evidence of your collusion with Zhong Yao, otherwise I will definitely kill you!"

Guo Yuan clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his flesh, and said hatefully, "Liu Bei, it is you who betrayed the Great General! You just wait!"

Seeing that Guo Yuan had been released, Hu Chuquan hurriedly kowtowed and begged for mercy: "General Zuo, I know I was wrong! Please forgive me this time, considering that I sent people to safely deliver Cai Zhonglang's daughter and the more than a thousand volumes of books to Changshan Kingdom! I can guarantee that I will never leave the royal court without General Zuo's military orders!"

"I can spare you, but you have to do something for me first. If you succeed, you might just become the next Jin Ridi," Liu Bei promised, his eyes unchanged.

Hu Chuquan was overjoyed and spoke with even greater humility: "Please enlighten me, General Zuo!"

Liu Bei beckoned Huchuquan closer and whispered, "I don't want Guo Yuan to return to the north, but I also don't want him to die at my hands. Go find Guo Yuan immediately and lie that I sent you to kill him to silence him, but you're reluctant to kill him because you remember your past friendship with him and are worried that I'll discard you after I've served my purpose. Once you've gained Guo Yuan's trust, suggest that he go to Zhong Yao to save his life. The rest is up to you to decide. Are you ready to go?"

Hu Chuquan was both surprised and delighted, and hurriedly replied, "I will do my best to fulfill General Zuo's instructions!"

"Yide, untie him, prepare weapons, wine, and meat, and send him out of the camp immediately!" Liu Bei called to Zhang Fei, a smile on his face, but in Hu Chuquan's eyes, that smile was more terrifying than murderous intent.

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(End of this chapter)