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

Chapter 271 The Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix: One Orthodox, One Unorthodox, Liu Bei Returns to Hebei (3rd Update)
"You say I'm colluding with Cao Cao, so I am colluding with Cao Cao?" Su You was even more indignant.

Xu Shu's smile remained unchanged: "That's right! If I say you're colluding with Cao Cao, then you are colluding with Cao Cao. Do you think the Left General believes you or me?"

"You—" Su You was so angry that she couldn't speak.

Guo Yuan, however, retorted defiantly, "Xu Shu, don't be so smug! The Grand General has already stepped down and handed over the reins to Young Master Shang. We are here on orders, how could we be so easily slandered by you! If you surrender now, you may still have a chance to live! Otherwise, when Young Master Shang's army arrives, it will be too late for you to beg for mercy!"

"So that's how it is. No wonder you two dared to plot against Huguan City; you have such a powerful backer." Xu Shu remained expressionless, then pointed to the ground and mocked, "But this is Huguan City. If there are fewer than 100,000 people, I can stop them with ease; if there are fewer than 10,000, I can devour them as easily as taking something out of a bag. Does the young master Shang you speak of have more than 100,000 troops?"

His bold words left Guo Yuan speechless with astonishment.

He had intended to say that Xu Shu was boasting, but now that he had been captured by Xu Shu, even the most powerful rebuttal would seem weak and powerless.

Xun Chen, who was playing chess with Xu Shu at the city gate, was equally shocked.

Although I knew Xu Shu was a man of exceptional strategy, his boastful words, "I can hold off those with fewer than 100,000 men as easily as walking in a courtyard; I can devour those with fewer than 10,000 men as easily as taking something out of a bag," were not something an ordinary person would dare to claim.

"Yuanzhi. Something has happened in Hebei. Cao Cao is very likely to send troops to Hanoi to reap the benefits. We need to inform the Left General as soon as possible and make preparations accordingly." Xun Chen said in a low voice with a solemn expression. Whether it was Su You, Guo Yuan, or Yuan Shang behind them, they were only minor troubles. The real threat was Cao Cao, who had long coveted Hebei.

When Guo Yuan saw Xun Chen speak up to remind him, his anger turned to Xun Chen: "Xun Youruo, Governor Gao has treated you well, but instead of repaying Governor Gao's past kindness, you have aided and abetted evil. Do you not know shame?"

Xun Chen was immediately taken aback: What did I do to offend you?

Xu Shu waved his hand and ordered Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan: "Take them away and interrogate them severely."

He then turned to Xun Chen, his expression serious, and asked, "Brother Youruo, your former lord has stepped down and relinquished his position. Now, will you choose General Zuo or Yuan Shang?"

When Xu Shu brought up the matter of choosing a lord again, Xun Chen sighed with regret: "How could I not know Yuanzhi's intentions? However, I have received favors from the Yuan family and cannot leave lightly. Even if I were to choose the Left General as my lord, I should first return to Ji Province to bid farewell to Lord Yuan."

Xu Shu smiled again, cupped his hands, and said, "Then I congratulate Brother Youruo in advance on finding a wise ruler! Brother Youruo, rest assured, although Xun Yu is known as a talent fit to assist a king, I believe your character surpasses Xun Yu's. You cannot stand idly by when your own brother goes astray. When General Zuo marches south to capture Cao Cao, I will definitely help you capture Xun Yu alive. Then you can use the Xun family's rules to whip Xun Yu and persuade him to return to the right path. The Xun family has received the Han's favor for generations; how can we help Cao Cao commit tyranny and disgrace our family name?"

Xun Chen turned his head away from Xu Shu, his desire to beat Xu Shu growing stronger. He was even thinking about taking advantage of his drunkenness to beat Xu Shu up and then pretending to apologize.

After interrogating Guo Yuan and Su You, Xu Shu confirmed the intelligence that something had happened in Hebei, and then dispatched a fast horse to Hedong.

After making peace with Zhong Yao, Liu Bei had been cultivating land in Jiangyi, waiting for the situation to change; during this time, news that Xiahou Yuan's banner had appeared in Hanoi also reached Liu Bei's ears.

However, Xiahou Yuan remained stationed in the Shequan area of ​​Hanoi Commandery, seemingly without any intention of leading troops to Hedong to fight Liu Bei. In addition, rumors that Yuan Shao wanted to step down and hand over the reins to Liu Bei also reached Jiangyi, which made Liu Bei suspicious of Cao Cao's intentions.

All military actions ultimately serve politics; military conflict is merely one means of political maneuvering, not the only one. "My lord, Yuanzhi has sent a letter."

Pang Tong strode in from outside the tent and presented Liu Bei with the secret letter that Xu Shu had delivered on horseback.

After glancing at the contents of the letter, Liu Bei was shocked and exclaimed, "How dare that brat Yuan Shang do such a rebellious thing? He is Yuan Shao's favorite son!"

“In the struggle for power, what is there to say about father-son affection or brotherhood?” Pang Tong sighed softly, then said, “Now that things have changed in Hebei, you should not stay here any longer. You should return to Shangdang immediately to prevent Cao Cao from taking advantage of the chaos to advance.”

Liu Bei did not answer immediately, a complex expression flashing across his face: "Shiyuan, if I were to return to Hebei now and fight against Yuan Shang, wouldn't I be breaking my promise to the world? Although Yuan Shao has schemed against me, he has treated me well on the surface. If the people of Hebei see me as a treacherous person because of this, wouldn't all my previous efforts be in vain?"

Those who stand on integrity are often constrained by it. Although everyone knows what is going on, many things are judged by actions, not intentions. No matter what one thinks in one's heart, one cannot criticize someone if they haven't done it.

However, Liu Bei was not a rigid person like Song Xiang. He knew that there were difficulties and he also knew how to find solutions. He asked Pang Tong for advice so that Pang Tong could find a way to maintain his integrity and gain momentum in Hebei.

Hear the words.

Pang Tong pondered for only a moment before coming to an answer: "What you are worried about is nothing more than 'having no legitimate reason to send an army.' But Yuan Shang has already severed himself from the Yuan clan's patriarchal system by forging an order to seize power! If Yuan Shao really wanted to abdicate, why would he need to send Guo Yuan with troops to coerce him? This is a strange matter that can be used to make a big fuss."

Liu Bei's brow furrowed: "Shiyuan, what brilliant plan do you have? Tell me quickly."

Pang Tong devised a strategy, pondering for a moment before saying, "First, send an envoy to visit Yuan Shao under the pretext of inquiring about his illness. If Yuan Shang obstructs the meeting, it will be seen as 'imprisoning his father and seizing power'; if he does meet Yuan Shao, ask him to personally write a letter inviting you back to Ji Province to uphold justice! Second, have Yuan Zhi spread rumors in Hebei that Yuan Shang has 'imprisoned his biological father.' The gentry value filial piety; once public opinion is in turmoil, you can then launch an expedition under the pretext of 'following the Grand General's secret orders to quell the rebellion.' Who would dare to object then?"

Liu Bei nodded, still worried: "Xiahou Yuan has stationed troops at Shequan, watching us like tigers eyeing the enemy. Cao Cao's main force is also nowhere to be found. How can we defend against them?"

Pang Tong sneered, "Xiahou Yuan's inaction is precisely to wait for you and Yuan Shang to be weakened. Why not turn the tables on him and pretend to fight Yuan Shang, luring Cao Cao's main force into Hebei? At that time, you can join forces with Yuan Tan and turn your attention directly to Cao Cao, turning the 'Liu-Yuan conflict' into a 'joint campaign against the traitor'!"

Liu Bei's worries gradually disappeared, and he clapped his hands and laughed: "Shiyuan's words are excellent! In this way, I can both uphold my integrity and gain the practical benefits of establishing a foothold in Hebei!"

Pang Tong added, "We can release Su You's troops back to Ji Province and spread false news that you, my lord, are being pressured by Yuan Shang and are in a dilemma, and that Zhong Yao has sent an envoy to persuade you to surrender. This will prevent Yuan Shao from indulging Yuan Shang and condoning his actions! At the same time, we can order Zhang Yan and others from the Black Mountain Army to quickly march to Yanmen County and enter Changshan, raise the banner of Yuan Shao's treachery, and forcibly seize Changshan and Zhongshan counties!"

At this time, Pang Tong was unaware that Zhuge Liang had already cut off Yuan Shang's escape route. Therefore, his plan was more ruthless. Although it differed from Zhuge Liang's plan, the goal was the same: to take advantage of this opportunity to make Yuan Shao feel the crisis of his clan's extermination and death, and to truly give way to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei laughed loudly: "With Shi Yuan's strategy, what is there to worry about in achieving our great cause? Quickly send an order to Yuan Zhi to act according to the plan!"

　Update 3 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)