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

Chapter 279 Yan Liang and Wen Chou Enter Lu Nu, Liu Bei Deploys Civil and Military Officials in Shangdang (1st Update)
Yan Liang and Wen An remained silent for a long time after their conversation ended.

To follow Yuan Shao's orders to attack Liu Bei is unjust; to disobey orders is disloyal.

If one is unjust to Liu Bei, one will have no face to stand before heaven and earth; if one is disloyal to Yuan Shao, one will find it difficult to gain Liu Bei's trust. Today one can betray Yuan Shao for Liu Bei, and tomorrow one can betray Liu Bei for someone else.

"I would like to hear your wise advice, Chief Secretary!"

Yan Liang and Wen Chou, unable to find a solution, humbly sought advice from Xu Shu.

Seeing this, Xu Shu advised, “The Left General originally intended for you two to lead troops to pay homage to the Grand General. However, I believe that if you bring troops, it will be difficult to refuse. If you do not bring troops, even if the Grand General intends for you two to assist Yuan Shang, Yuan Shang will certainly not dare to let you command the troops of Ye City. This is because Yuan Shang is unwilling to give you important positions, not because you two are disobeying orders; if the Grand General knows that Yuan Shang will be suspicious of you two, he will certainly not force you. You two can take this opportunity to stay in Lu Nu and guard the Grand General to fulfill your duties as subjects. In this way, you will neither be disloyal to the Grand General nor unjust to the Left General. If the Grand General truly intends to resign, he will not want to delay your future and will certainly personally instruct you two to serve the Left General. In this way, you can achieve both loyalty and righteousness.”

Xu Shu patiently persuaded him, and finally revealed the ultimate goal: people could go to Lu Nu; soldiers should remain in Hu Guan; being loyal to Yuan Shao did not necessarily mean fighting for Yuan Shang, but could also mean protecting Yuan Shao.

Yan Liang and Wen Chou exchanged a glance, immediately understanding Xu Shu's intention. They both cupped their hands and said, "We are willing to follow the Chief Secretary's wishes and will only take a few personal guards with us."

To be fair, Yan Liang and Wen Chou were also unwilling to be enemies with Liu Bei.

Following Liu Bei meant victory, while following Yuan Shang meant certain death. Now that Xu Shu had offered a win-win solution, Yan Liang and Wen Chou naturally had to give it a try.

Although it was just a rumor that Yuan Shao was stepping down, if he really did intend to do so, Yan Liang and Wen Chou wouldn't have to struggle with whether to sacrifice loyalty for righteousness or righteousness for loyalty.

After tidying up, Yan Liang and Wen Chou went to see Liu Bei to say goodbye. When they arrived, they found Liu Bei and Yuan Xi discussing matters.

Seeing Yan Liang and Wen Chou coming to say goodbye and head to Lu Nu, Yuan Xi's mood became quite conflicted. The rumors that Yuan Shao was stepping down and abdicating the throne hurt Yuan Xi's heart.

Yuan Xi really wanted to ask Yuan Shao: Am I really that unworthy to inherit the Yuan family's legacy?
Thinking of this, Yuan Xi suddenly said to Liu Bei, "General Zuo, I also plan to make a trip to Lu Nu first."

Seeing Yuan Xi's complicated expression, Liu Bei sighed softly, "Very well. With Generals Yan and Wen here, we can look after each other on our way to Lu Nu. If Governor Yuan suffers any injustice in Lu Nu, he may return to Hu Guan City. My previous promise will not change."

Yuan Xi cupped his hands and said, "I am fully aware of General Zuo's kindness." He then turned to Yan Liang and Wen Chou and said, "I will go back to prepare first, and I will travel with you two generals early tomorrow morning."

After Yuan Xi left, Liu Bei invited Yan Liang and Wen Chou to sit down, and bowed apologetically, saying, "It is my fault for putting you two generals in such a difficult position. In this world, the Han Dynasty is in decline, and it is the time for people of ambition to work together to restore the Han Dynasty. After you see the General, please convey my message."

Yan Liang and Wen Chou were deeply moved and clasped their hands in greeting: "General Zuo, rest assured, we will convey your message to you truthfully."

With the policy of "dismissing the army and allowing the people to rest" confirmed, and with the departure of Yuan Xi, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou, Liu Bei also focused on seeking out talented individuals.

Although Gao Gan had a high opinion of himself, his advantage was that he could gather wandering scholars from all directions. Many wandering scholars stayed temporarily in Huguan City. After Xu Shu took over the military and political affairs of Huguan City, he treated the wandering scholars recruited by Gao Gan quite well.

Liu Bei didn't care whether the person was from a noble family or a poor family; as long as they were in Huguan City, he would visit them one by one, both to find talent and to cultivate his reputation.

This visit allowed Liu Bei to discover many outstanding individuals, such as Chang Lin, Yang Jun, Wang Xiang, and Xun Wei, all from Hanoi who had fled to Bingzhou to escape the turmoil. Chang Lin, courtesy name Bohuai, was from Hanoi. He had fled to Bingzhou due to the war and was known for his integrity and upright character. He was not afraid of powerful figures. He once tried to seize the women and property of the Chen and Feng families, two prominent official clans. Chang Lin advised the two families to protect their families and property. Because of his high moral character and prestige, he was well-regarded among the scholars of Hanoi.

Yang Jun, courtesy name Jicai, was a native of Henan. In his youth, he studied under Bian Rang, a native of Chenliu. Due to the war, he fled to Bingzhou. He was a righteous man who liked to help the poor and needy. If any of his relatives or friends were kidnapped and forced into servitude, Yang Jun would do his best to rescue them.

Wang Xiang, courtesy name Xibo, was a native of Henan. In his youth, he was poor and worked as a servant. When he was seventeen or eighteen, he was punished by being beaten with a wooden stick while herding sheep and studying. Later, Yang Jun, a man from the same prefecture, redeemed him and helped him get married and settle down. He was a gentle and talented man. In terms of academics alone, he could be ranked after Wang Can, Chen Lin, Ruan Yu, Lu Cui and others.

Xun Wei, courtesy name Wengao, was from Henan. Although he shared the same surname Xun, he was not from the same lineage as the Xun family of Yingchuan. He was a man of literary talent and military strategy, and was a remarkable figure of his time.

However, apart from Wang Xiang, who was poor and answered Liu Bei's call, the other three declined Liu Bei's summons.

Liu Bei understood that scholars from aristocratic families were reluctant to take up official positions easily. He was also confident that as long as he could ensure the peaceful and prosperous lives of the people under his rule, these upright scholars would change their minds.

What attracted Wang Xiang, however, was Liu Bei's vast collection of books.

Including those given by Chen Deng, Zheng Xuan, Cai Wenji, Zheng Xuan after moving to Zhuo County, Lu Zhi's family, and others, Liu Bei's collection of books in Zhuo County had exceeded ten thousand volumes.

For scholars like Wang Xiang, who loved scholarship but came from humble backgrounds, Liu Bei was like carrying a library and gently asking Wang Xiang: Young scholar, did you drop this book, Kang Cheng's commentary on the Book of Changes, or this book, Bo Jie's exhortation to learning, or this book, Zi Gan's commentary on the Book of Documents?
A polite refusal?

Only a fool would politely decline!

Liu Bei was generous and appointed Wang Xiang as the literary official of Shangdang Commandery, to work with Zhao Yun, the governor of Shangdang, to educate the people.

Although Wang Xiang came from a humble background, his good friend Yang Jun was from a prominent family and had connections with Chang Lin, Xun Wei, and others. By appointing Wang Xiang as a literary official in Dang County, Chang Lin and others would naturally assist Wang Xiang in educating the people.

Liu Bei was quite skilled in employing people.

In addition, Liu Bei appointed Jia Kui, whom he had brought back from Hedong, as the magistrate of Changzi County, a key county in the heart of Shangdang Commandery located south of Huguan City, to both support the people and guard against Cao Cao's troops from the Henei and Hedong directions.

Meanwhile, Lu County, another important county in the heart of Shangdang and located northeast of Huguan City, was managed by Yuan Chen, a confidant of Liu Bei, who served as the county magistrate, and Xiahou Bo as the county commandant, in order to resist the troops coming from Ye City.

The entire Shangdang Commandery has temporarily formed a personnel structure with Zhao Yun as the leader, and Mi Zhu, Jiao Chu, Zhang Nan, Wang Xiang, Jia Kui, Yuan Chen, and Xiahou Bo as the core assistants. Except for Mi Zhu, who has not yet arrived, the others have all performed their duties.

The only thing missing was a strategist by Zhao Yun's side who could devise plans with him.

Originally, Liu Bei favored Xu Shu, but Xu Shu recommended another person to Liu Bei: "Xun Chen, formerly an official in Shangdang, greatly admires you, my lord, and comes from a powerful family in Yingchuan. He is more likely to win over wandering scholars from all over the country who are seeking refuge in Bingzhou for you."

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(End of this chapter)