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

Chapter 260 Zhuge Liang, with his wisdom in hand, met with Ju Shou and Tian Feng (2nd update)
The states of Zhongshan and Changshan were always the core areas in Zhuge Liang's plans for Hebei.

Occupying Zhongshan and Changshan, it can connect to Zhuojun and Daijun to the north, control Yanmenjun and Shangdangjun to the west, guard Hejian and Anping to the east, and intimidate Julujun and Zhao to the south, making it a strategic location for all four sides.

In the past, when Yuan Shao still had great ambitions, Zhuge Liang always endured and knew when to stop, never giving Yuan Shao any opportunity to criticize or question him.

Now, Yuan Shao's ambitions have been completely shattered by Yuan Shang's repeated defeats on the battlefield of Yanzhou. Yuan Shang has also lost his composure due to the defeat in Yanzhou, so Zhuge Liang naturally did not want to miss this opportunity.

Indecisiveness leads to disaster.

Especially with Cao Cao to the south also eyeing the lands of Hebei, there was no room for hesitation when making a decision.

Upon receiving Zhuge Liang's military order, Zhao Yun did not hesitate. He sent a trusted confidant to deliver an urgent message to Qian Zhao in Lingqiu, and at the same time selected fifty skilled horsemen and archers to head straight for Zhengding.

Having been away from home for several years, Zhao Yun also missed his family.

The idea that "wealth and honor without returning to one's hometown is like wearing embroidered clothes at night; who will know of it?" is indeed like a monkey wearing a crown, which is unlikely to achieve great things for the feudal lords who want to dominate the world.

But for civil and military officials like Zhao Yun who followed the feudal lords to conquer the world, this was only human nature.

Seeing that Liu Bei and Zhang Fei had returned to their hometown of Zhuojun, and Guan Yu had also gone to his hometown of Hedong, it would be self-deception for Zhao Yun to say that he didn't care at all about returning to his hometown.

Fallen leaves return to their roots, which are deeply rooted in people's hearts.

Leaving a distant place is not because I dislike my hometown, but because I am poor.

If one could be wealthy and prosperous in their hometown, who would be willing to wander and struggle for an uncertain future?

Zhao Yun was very grateful to Zhuge Liang.

As the commander of the garrison, Zhao Yun's greater responsibility was to stay in Youzhou to protect it, rather than to go to Zhengding to perform a task that anyone else could have done.

Given Zhuge Liang's foresight regarding the changes in Changshan and Zhengding, it's impossible that Zhao Yun was the only option.

However, Zhuge Liang still sent Zhao Yun to Zhending, so that Zhao Yun could not only make meritorious contributions but also return home in glory and be respected by the people of his hometown.

In this way, Zhao Yun can gain both merit and fame!
From this perspective, Zhuge Liang was indeed very biased towards Zhao Yun.
After sending Zhao Yun away, Zhuge Liang did not waste any time, but instead invited Tian Feng, who was seeking refuge in Zhuo County, and Ju Shou, who was devoted to literature.

Aside from their personality flaws, Tian Feng and Ju Shou were impeccable in talent and character, perfectly meeting the orthodox standards for filial and incorruptible officials in the Han Dynasty.

Although the recommendation system for officials based on filial piety and integrity solidified the class structure of powerful families in practice, the original intention of recommending such officials was not problematic. The fact that Tian Feng and Ju Shou were able to uphold the orthodox standards of officials based on filial piety and integrity even in the chaotic late Han Dynasty makes them worthy of Zhuge Liang's efforts to win over Liu Bei.

Tian Feng and Ju Shou also recognized and admired Zhuge Liang's talent and character.

Only a great sage could have cleaned up the officialdom of Youzhou at such a young age, allowing the people of Youzhou to abide by the law and live in peace and prosperity.

Zhuge Liang was a great sage in the eyes of Tian Feng and Ju Shou!
"Greetings, strategist."

Tian Feng and Ju Shou humbly inquired about etiquette.

Subsequently.

Tian Feng cupped his hands and asked, "I wonder why the strategist has summoned us here?"

Zhuge Liang's gaze fell on Tian Feng and Ju Shou, and he said calmly, "Tao Jing, son of Tao Sheng, the Chancellor of Zhongshan, hastily took his mother to Zhuo County to avoid disaster, claiming that Yuan Shang led troops into Lu Nu."

Tian Feng's pupils dilated slightly, and his tone turned serious: "Yuan Shang is leading troops into Lu Nu at this moment, and Tao Sheng has sent his son and mother to Zhuo County to escape disaster. This is an attempt to seize power!" Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan, his eyes piercing: "Since Mr. Tian has already seen through Yuan Shang's intentions, he should know that this move will drastically change the situation in Hebei. If Yuan Shang succeeds in seizing power, he will definitely send troops to block the Left General's retreat route back to Youzhou. And I, trusted by the Left General, will be stationed in the rear and will certainly not sit idly by. If war breaks out, it will inevitably affect the two of you. Therefore, I have invited the two of you to come and discuss a solution that benefits both sides."

Unlike Tian Feng, Ju Shou remained calm and composed. When asked about a solution that would benefit both sides, he simply replied, "I am currently only a literary official in Youzhou, not a military supervisor under the General. If war breaks out, I will stay home and teach. I only want to educate people and do not want to participate in any power struggles."

Ju Shou had long since given up on Yuan Shao and his son.

Zhuoxian County has a large collection of books, enough for Ju Shou to express his feelings.

A few days ago, after Cai Wenji returned to Zhuo County, she also brought back many of Cai Yong's treasured books, which made Ju Shou so engrossed in them that he was even less willing to pay attention to the affairs outside the window.

Seeing that Ju Shou had made a choice, Zhuge Liang then looked at Tian Feng.

Compared to Ju Shou, who devoted himself to literature, Tian Feng was more concerned about the affairs of the world. In addition, he remembered Yuan Shao's generous invitation in the past and did not want to sit idly by while Yuan Shao suffered.

If it weren't for fear of persecution by Yuan Shang, Tian Feng wouldn't have come to Zhuo County to avoid trouble.

After pondering for a long time, Tian Feng made a decision: "I wish to make a trip to Lu Nu. Could the strategist allocate a few guards for me?"

"Very well!" Zhuge Liang readily agreed to Tian Feng's request, and added, "I have already sent someone to Lingqiu to inform Qian Zhao. Qian Zhao will soon lead his troops back to Lunu. If you encounter Qian Zhao, you can go with him to see the General. Hebei has been in turmoil for many years, and the people are impoverished. It is truly inappropriate to start another great war. If we can reduce the bloodshed and give the people a chance to breathe, you, Mr. Tian, ​​will be greatly rewarded!"

Tian Feng understood Zhuge Liang's words very well.

Before the Battle of Guandu, the people of Hebei were already exhausted and urged Yuan Shao to take care of them, but his advice was not heeded. Instead, Yuan Shao intensified his efforts.

As a result, in the Battle of Guandu, 70,000 to 80,000 able-bodied men were massacred, not to mention the laborers who died from forced labor and the people who died from starvation.

The once prosperous land of Hebei has become devastated, a heartbreaking sight.

And now.

In his quest for power, Yuan Shang was willing to go to war with Liu Bei. After the battle, regardless of who won or lost, both would have to face Cao Cao's military might.

At that time, war will continue incessantly, and countless people will perish due to natural disasters and man-made calamities.

"Rest assured, strategist, I will do my utmost to promote harmony between the two sides." Tian Feng bowed and withdrew. Ju Shou also left without saying anything more.

Watching the two figures depart, Zhuge Liang quietly waved his feather fan and fell into deep thought.

"Ju Shou is exceptionally talented, yet he is so heartbroken because of Yuan Shao. It is truly pitiful and lamentable. If we want to revitalize Ju Shou, we can only wait until our lord returns to Youzhou before we can devise a plan."

"Although Tian Feng's heart belongs to Yuan Shao, he still has the ambition to govern the country and bring peace to the people. If Yuan Shao can really follow Tao Qian's example and step down to give way to the lord, Tian Feng can also serve the lord under Yuan Shao's command."

Mind this.

Zhuge Liang had already made up his mind.

Subsequently.

Zhuge Liang then summoned Sun Qian, the official in charge of the Imperial Household Department, and instructed him: "Hebei is about to fall into chaos, and our lord is away on a distant expedition. We cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom. Right now, the entire Kang Cheng family has settled in Zhuo County. Gongyou, you can go and ask Kang Cheng for a letter to persuade Yuan Shao to consider the people of Hebei and to dissuade his three sons from vying for the throne."

　Update 2 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)