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

Chapter 296 Zhuge Liang's Perfect Plan to Make Up for the Regret of Leading the People Across the River (3rd Update)
Liu Bei was secretly pleased upon hearing this, but outwardly remained calm: "What is your plan, strategist? I would like to hear the details."

Ju Shou turned his gaze to Zhuge Liang, and his breathing became rapid.

Ye City not only housed Ju Shou's son, but also Ju Shou's uncle, mother, younger brother, and over a hundred other relatives. Although they claimed that "in chaotic times, everyone has their own destiny and cannot force things," no one is perfect and can be without feelings. Ju Shou was also extremely worried.

“Shen Pei’s ancestors’ foundation was in Wei Commandery. I thought he would not want to abandon the city and flee after running out of food. In addition, Guo Tu’s request for reinforcements failed and Ye City was isolated and without support. Therefore, I thought Shen Pei would definitely use the old plan again. However, I observed that Shen Pei’s plan was quite fierce. Yuan Shang would not dare to carry out this plan. If Shen Pei wanted to carry out this plan, he would definitely persuade Yuan Tan.”

Just as Guo Jia had predicted, Zhuge Liang saw through Shen Pei's scheme and then proposed:
"My lord, you may send a trusted confidant to Ye City immediately, falsely claiming that Yuan Shao pities Yuan Shang and therefore requests your rescue. My lord, mindful of your past kindness to Yuan Shao, may then dispatch troops from Changshan south to Handan to provide support. You may also persuade Yuan Shang to entrust his sword and seal to Shen Pei, and then personally lead the officers and their families to evacuate to Handan to bolster the morale of the officers and soldiers in Ye City. However, this plan is perilous and may not succeed. The person sent to Ye City must be both wise and brave, and of high moral character and prestige."

"I am willing to go!" Ju Shou blurted out his request as soon as he finished speaking!

Ju Shou, being exceptionally intelligent, naturally understood Zhuge Liang's meaning of "two wins": with Liu Bei's current military and civilian resources, it was indeed unsuitable to confront Cao Cao head-on, but if he only sent troops to rescue the families of the generals and officials in Ye City, Liu Bei would have the resources to spare; moreover, after rescuing the families of the generals and officials in Ye City, Liu Bei would also gain a great deal of prestige in Hebei, which would be enough to compensate for the military and civilian resources consumed by sending troops to rescue them and the risks involved.

"Ju Gong's righteousness is truly admirable!" Zhuge Liang bowed deeply to Ju Shou. When discussing matters with a wise person, Zhuge Liang didn't need to waste too much breath.

Then, Zhuge Liang nodded slightly to Liu Bei, who understood and agreed, saying, "Since Lord Ju is willing to go in person, I will send another fifty elite soldiers to assist him."

Ju Shou was deeply moved.

Looking into Liu Bei's gentle gaze and listening to his concerned words, Ju Shou bowed twice and said, "If I do not die, I will repay the great kindness of the Left General!"

Liu Bei quickly helped Ju Shou up and said, "Lord Ju, you must not say such unlucky things. I only wish you a successful journey to Ye City!" He then instructed Chen Dao to lead Ju Shou to select elite White Feather soldiers.

After Chen Dao and Ju Shou left, Liu Bei let out a long sigh of relief and bowed to everyone, saying, "If Lord Ju is willing to help me in the future, it will all depend on your efforts."

Everyone laughed, their laughter conveying their unspoken understanding.

After the laughter subsided, Zhuge Liang became serious and said, "Ju Shou has gone to Ye City. I predict he will be able to bring the families of all the generals and officials of Ye City out. However, bringing the families out is the easiest part, but ensuring their safe arrival at a safe place is the most difficult. If Yuan Shang and the families of the generals and officials of Ye City have all left the city, the people and officials in the city will also flee in panic, and the officials, officials, and people of the counties along the way will surely join them upon hearing the news. By the time they reach Handan, I'm afraid their numbers will not be less than 100,000."

Liu Bei was also stern: "Ye City is more than a hundred li from Handan. If Yuan Shang travels light and quickly, he can reach Handan in one night. But if he takes his elderly and weak family members, he can't travel more than twenty li a day. After Cao Cao defeats Shen Pei, he can catch up in as little as one day."

Two years ago, Liu Bei brought the people of Xiapi to Zhuo County, and he knew the hardships involved. Ju Shou would face even greater hardships on his way to Ye City than when Liu Bei brought the people of Xiapi to Zhuo County.

In particular, Cao Cao's pursuing troops will be the biggest challenge Ju Shou will face.

Zhuge Liang then cupped his hands and said, "My lord, do not worry. I will personally go to Changshan to coordinate the reinforcements."

Zhuge Liang's decision was not made without reason.

Although Liu Bei had many civil and military officials, only Zhuge Liang was capable of commanding more than 100,000 soldiers and civilians.

Subconsciously, Zhuge Liang recalled the story of Liu Bei leading the people across the river. "Cao Cao led 5,000 elite cavalry in hot pursuit, covering more than 300 li in a day and night, and reached Changban in Dangyang. Liu Bei abandoned his wife and children and fled with Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and several dozen riders. Cao Cao captured a large number of his men and their supplies." At that time, Zhuge Liang was a novice and had not yet fully matured. Faced with such a perilous situation, he was almost powerless to fight back.

Now, after decades of hindsight, Zhuge Liang has gained experience in coordinating more than 100,000 soldiers and civilians. As the prime minister of a country, he can coordinate far more than 100,000 people!

Faced with a similar predicament, Zhuge Liang also sought a different outcome.

If Liu Bei could free the families of the officials and soldiers of Ye City, as well as the common people who had joined him, from Cao Cao's clutches, his prestige in Hebei would surpass that of the Yuan family.

Having acquired Ye City, Cao Cao could only regard it as a military center, not a political one.

Therefore, this time, Zhuge Liang had to make a trip to Changshan in person!
Liu Bei, unwilling to overwork Zhuge Liang, worriedly said, "Shiyuan is already in Lunu, why should the strategist go there personally? The strategist is already exhausted enough in Zhuo County, and I cannot bear to see him suffer further from the long journey and exhaustion."

Zhuge Liang bowed again with his hands clasped: "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, my lord. However, this battle concerns the will of the people of Hebei. Although Shi Yuan is wise, he is not familiar with the geography and customs of Changshan, and has never managed a population of 100,000. Only I can do it."

If others were to evaluate Pang Tong in this way, it would be considered arrogant and impolite; but when Zhuge Liang evaluated Pang Tong, no one dared to say a word against it.

In just two and a half years, Liu Bei transformed from a fugitive general who had escaped from Xudu with only a hundred or so brave men into the renowned Left General who now commands seven counties in Youzhou, as well as Zhongshan, Changshan, and Shangdang, with dozens of core civil and military officials under his command and more than 30,000 troops. The emperor issued an edict to bestow upon him the title of Left General, who was appointed as the military governor of You and Bing provinces to recognize his merits in defending the border.

With that kind of resume, no one in the world could touch him.

Seeing Zhuge Liang's insistence, Liu Bei turned to Tian Feng and said, "I am not at ease with the strategist going alone. Yuan Hao also knows the people's conditions in Hebei, and Zhongzhi also knows the details of Ye City. They can go with the strategist."

Just as Zhuge Liang was about to speak, Liu Bei raised his hand to interrupt him: "If the strategist is unwilling to let Yuan Hao accompany him, I will also be unwilling to let the strategist go. As far as I am concerned, the strategist is of utmost importance!"

This scene filled Tian Feng and Xin Ping with envy, and they both secretly sighed: If Lord Yuan could have done the same, how could things have come to this?
"I am willing to assist the strategist!"

Tian Feng and Xin Ping both bowed.

Zhuge Liang was deeply moved by Liu Bei's sincerity and care, and thus he no longer insisted, bowing and saying, "Liang will obey the lord's wishes."

After all the matters were settled, Liu Bei hurriedly ordered people to prepare wine and food, wanting to personally see Zhuge Liang, Tian Feng, and Xin Ping off. At night, Liu Bei kept Zhuge Liang with him for a late-night chat before finally going to sleep.

The next morning, Liu Bei personally escorted Zhuge Liang and the other two to the city gate. After seeing no one from the ground, he climbed the city tower to look out until the three disappeared from sight.

“The strategist is only twenty! He’s not even married yet, and I’ve made him work so hard.” Liu Bei then turned to Xu Shu and said, “I previously sent a letter to Huang Chengyan, a renowned scholar from Miannan, praising the strategist’s talent, character, and ambition, as well as the strategist’s admiration for his daughter Yueying’s talent. Huang Chengyan only mentioned that his daughter is young and didn’t say anything else. Yuanzhi, could you write another letter home and ask your mother to inquire about it for me?”

　It's late tonight. I'll stop at 3 PM. I owe two more chapters, I'll make up for them later. Sorry.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)