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

Chapter 261 Zhuge Liang obtains Zheng Xuan's handwritten letter; Zhao Yun feels apprehensive as he approaches home (3rd update)
A while ago, Sun Qian went to Beihai and not only brought Zheng Xuan's whole family back to Zhuo County, but also took the opportunity to persuade Wang Xiu, who was not valued by Yuan Tan.

Although Wang Xiu did not return to Zhuo County with Sun Qian, he was also very tempted. However, since Yuan Tan was away on a campaign, he could not resign. He only promised to resign and come to Zhuo County after Yuan Tan returned.

Upon hearing Zhuge Liang's concerns, Sun Qian didn't hesitate and immediately accepted the task to meet Zheng Xuan.

Zheng Xuan is now seventy-five years old.

Because of Liu Bei's entry into Hebei, Zheng Xuan was spared the fate of being conscripted into the army at the age of seventy-four to fight alongside Yuan Shao in the Battle of Guandu, thus avoiding death on the way.

Now that the family has moved to Zhuoxian, they not only witnessed the marriage of Lu Qiong, the daughter of an old friend, to Sun Qian, a favorite student, but also saw Cai Yong's treasured collection of books.

When people are happy, they are in high spirits. Zheng Xuan also became radiant and showed no signs of being 75 years old. He was still able to spend an hour every day annotating the Book of Changes.

"Teacher."

Sun Qian cautiously approached Zheng Xuan's door and quietly greeted him.

"It's Gongyou."

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Zheng Xuan put down his pen and turned to Sun Qian with a gentle smile.

Although Sun Qian was not Zheng Xuan's most outstanding disciple, he had achieved remarkable success in recent years under Liu Bei's guidance. Both his talent and virtue met Zheng Xuan's expectations, making Zheng Xuan quite proud.

Zheng Xuan's son died young, so all his concern fell on his grandson Zheng Xiaotong and many of his students.

This is also the main reason why Zheng Xuan was willing to come to Zhuo County at the age of seventy-five to witness the marriage of Sun Qian and Lu Qiong. Originally, Zheng Xuan wanted Sun Qian to take Zheng Xiaotong away, while he himself would stay in his old home and wait for fate. However, when he heard Sun Qian kneeling and weeping, saying, "My parents died early, and I was fortunate to meet my master. If my master does not come, I will be a homeless person even if I get married," Zheng Xuan immediately softened.

Sun Qian sat down and slowly explained Zhuge Liang's intentions to Zheng Xuan.

"Kongming is only twenty years old, yet he is so concerned about the country and its people. He is truly a rare talent! I should lend him a hand!" Zheng Xuan exclaimed in admiration. He then took out a blank bamboo slip, picked up a pen, and wrote a letter to Yuan Shao.

The gist of the argument was to advise Yuan Shao to consider the well-being of the people of Hebei and to prevent disaster.

Zheng Xuan's decisiveness surprised and delighted Sun Qian: "With my mentor's help, the strategist's grand plan can succeed!"

"I only lent a small favor." Zheng Xuan handed the completed letter to Sun Qian and added, "When Gongyou reports back to Kongming, please convey my message: Human strength has its limits, so one should learn the ways of preserving life in order to prolong one's life. I dare not claim to be long-lived, but having lived for seventy-five years, I have some insights into preserving life. If you have the time, Kongming, please come to my residence more often, and I am willing to impart all my knowledge of preserving life to you."

Zheng Xuan spoke tactfully. Since arriving in Zhuo County, Zheng Xuan had often heard that Zhuge Liang was working tirelessly on military and political affairs. He was worried that this extraordinary talent might die young because of his precociousness, so he used Sun Qian to convey his knowledge of health preservation.

Upon hearing Sun Qian relay Zheng Xuan's words, Zhuge Liang couldn't help but sigh, "Kang Cheng Gong truly understands my heart. If I have the time, I will definitely visit him."

Whether Zheng Xuan's health regimen had some merit is not important. What is important is that as long as Zhuge Liang went to see Zheng Xuan, he could no longer handle military and political affairs in front of Zheng Xuan.

Rather than saying that Zheng Xuan wanted to impart all his knowledge of health preservation, it would be more accurate to say that Zheng Xuan gave Zhuge Liang an excuse to be lazy.

Zhuge Liang felt a sense of relief after glancing at Zheng Xuan's letter to Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao came from a family that had held high office for four generations, a prominent position, and was also a person who cared a great deal about his reputation.

Zhuge Liang's status and reputation were far from sufficient to persuade Yuan Shao, but if it were Zheng Xuan, a renowned scholar from Dongzhou, who had advised Yuan Shao, then Yuan Shao would have had a way out.

After carefully storing Zheng Xuan's letter to Yuan Shao, Zhuge Liang gave Sun Qian a few more instructions. He then summoned Mi Zhu, Jian Yong, Han Heng, and others in Zhuo County and issued a series of tasks and orders. The spring planting the following year was particularly important.

Food is the most important thing at all times and in all places.

When granaries are full, people know etiquette; when food and clothing are plentiful, people know honor and shame. If we want to restore peace and stability to the world, the first problem to solve is that all people in the world can be fed and clothed.

If people are not well-fed and clothed, no matter how beautifully the emperor and his officials express their ideals, they are just high-sounding excuses.

As Gu Yanwu of later generations said: "Those who protect the country are the rulers and ministers who eat meat; those who protect the world are the common people who have a responsibility."

Ensuring internal stability and peace within the nation, and ensuring that all people have enough to eat and wear, requires the rulers and officials to devise solutions; the people should not be burdened with this undue responsibility. However, preventing external invasion of the nation is the responsibility of both the rulers and officials, as well as the people themselves.

Although the times were different, the understanding of the great sages was almost the same: only after solving the problem of food and drink for all the people could one talk about restoring the Han Dynasty.

As Zhuge Liang's arrangements were implemented one by one, the situation in Hebei became even more complicated.

Lingqiu, in the northern part of Zhongshan.

Qian Zhao, the Ji Province official in charge of the Wuhuan cavalry under Yuan Shao, was greatly alarmed upon learning that Yuan Shao was in trouble at Lunu.

Although the news came from Youzhou, Qian Zhao had already made his intentions clear to Liu Bei, promising to do his best to help Liu Bei within the scope of his duties. If Liu Bei could remember Yuan Shao's kindness and protect his lineage, Qian Zhao was willing to work with Liu Bei to achieve great things.

Therefore, Qian Zhao did not doubt the authenticity of the news from Youzhou, and Zhuge Liang had no need to deceive Qian Zhao on such a matter and cause Qian Zhao to be dissatisfied with Liu Bei.

"The General has shown me great favor, and now that he is in trouble in Lunu, how can I not go to his aid?"

Qian Zhao immediately summoned his deputy general and ordered him to stay and guard Lingqiu to defend against the Wuhuan. He then led eight hundred Wuhuan cavalry back to Lunu.

For Qian Zhao, those who have shown him kindness must be repaid with one's life. He did so in repaying his mentor Yue Yin in the past, and he will do the same in repaying Yuan Shao today.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yun arrived in Zhen Ding first.

Returning to his homeland, even the composed Zhao Yun could not hide his excitement.

Looking back, Zhao Yun was recommended by his own county and led his righteous soldiers to see Gongsun Zan, but unexpectedly, Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao were birds of a feather, and Zhao Yun's ambitions could not be realized. Later, he encountered the death of his brother and sister-in-law and observed three years of mourning. After that, he wandered the world in search of a wise ruler and was fortunate enough to meet Liu Bei, which led to his achievements today.

After many years of wandering, Zhao Yun was now in his thirties.

In an era when most people married in their teens, it was quite rare for Zhao Yun to be single in his thirties.

Although Zhao Yun often encouraged himself with the saying, "A great man only worries about not achieving fame and fortune, not about not having a wife," who would willingly marry and have children late if they could truly marry and have children early?
Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is having no offspring; it is not that I am unwilling, but that I am unable to.

Seeing Zhao Yun standing outside the village, reluctant to enter, Xiahou Lan couldn't help but chuckle: "Is Zilong also feeling timid as he approaches his hometown?"

　Update 3 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)