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

Chapter 297 Zhuge Liang gallops into Changshan, Liu Bei plots to conquer Hejian and Bohai (4 additional chapters)
Of the four who came from Jingzhou, apart from Huang Zhong, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Xu Shu all had relatives who were detained in Jingzhou.

However, two and a half years have passed, and none of Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Xu Shu have returned to Jingzhou to visit their families, nor have any of them gotten married.

Liu Bei felt deeply ashamed about this.

In turbulent times, fates diverge.

Liu Bei certainly wished for his subordinates to achieve great success in both civil and military affairs, for their families to be happy, and for their parents to be healthy.
However, in a chaotic world, it is already a blessing to be able to save one's life, let alone to achieve fame and success.

All we can do now is to do our utmost and treat each other with all our hearts.

"I am deeply grateful for your kindness, my lord." Xu Shu looked towards Xiangyang, his gaze heavy with melancholy.

Xu Shu, who was known for his filial piety, stayed in Xiangyang with his elderly mother in order to pursue fame and fortune. The torment he endured was something that no one else could truly understand.

On ordinary days, only by being diligent in my work and burying myself in official duties can I temporarily suppress the pain of missing my loved ones that lingers in my heart.

After a while.

Xu Shu composed himself and regained his usual decisiveness, then advised Liu Bei: "Yuan Shang previously secretly ordered Yuan Rong, the governor of Wei Commandery, to garrison troops in Hejian, which was indeed intended to guard against you, my lord. Ye City is currently in danger, and Yuan Rong's family and relatives are also in the city. Since you, my lord, have already decided to help the families of the officers and soldiers in Ye City, you might as well write a letter to Yuan Rong and persuade him to surrender."

Changing the subject, Xu Shu continued, “Hejian and Bohai are adjacent to Zhuojun, both fertile and prosperous lands with wealthy people. Zhang Zhi, the chancellor of Hejian, and Xu Xun, the prefect of Bohai, are both former protégés and officials of the Yuan family. My lord could write to them, analyze the advantages and disadvantages, and persuade them to surrender their entire prefectures.”

In fact, Liu Bei had the opportunity to recruit the two men as early as when Yuan Shao stepped down as Grand General and retired to the shores of the East China Sea.

However, at that time, Yuan Shao had just recommended five talented men—Tian Feng, Qian Zhao, Tao Sheng, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou—to Liu Bei. If he were to immediately have Yuan Shao write a letter to persuade Liu Bei's former subordinates to surrender, it would seem both unreasonable and akin to taking away someone else's support and acting too hastily.

The situation is completely different now!

Yuan Shang was in a precarious situation in Ye City. Moreover, Liu Bei had already sent Zhuge Liang to Changshan to coordinate the reception of Yuan Shang and the families of the officials in Ye City. This move was also to protect the families and friends of Zhang Zhi and Xu Xun.

At this juncture, I wrote to the two men again, explaining the current situation and its advantages and disadvantages. Considering the safety of their families and friends, as well as Liu Bei's kindness in protecting his former master's offspring, the two men had no choice but to agree.

Liu Bei nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, “In the world today, the only one who wants to compete with me for the foundation of Hebei is Cao Cao. Cao Cao acts rashly, so I will treat him with leniency; Cao Cao is tyrannical, so I will spread benevolence; Cao Cao is cunning, so I will uphold loyalty and righteousness. Whatever Cao Cao does, I will do the opposite, and this is the key to success! In the past, at Guandu, Cao Cao ruthlessly massacred 70,000 surrendered soldiers, and the people of Hebei still gnash their teeth in pain; now he has stationed his troops in Yecheng, forcibly attacking the fortified city, causing the people of Ji Province to live in fear day and night. At this time, it is the right time to spread kindness and trust and win back the hearts of the people of Hebei!”

Xu Shu bowed and said, "My lord is wise!"

After discussing the details with Xu Shu, Liu Bei began to write letters to Yuan Rong, Zhang Zhi, and Xu Xun, and also ordered Sun Qian, the official in charge of the Imperial Household Department, to go in person.

After marrying Lu Zhi's daughter and welcoming his mentor Zheng Xuan back to Zhuo County, Sun Qian was riding high, with both his career and family life being the envy of many.

Upon learning that Liu Bei intended to pacify Hejian Kingdom and Bohai Commandery, Sun Qian did not hesitate at all: his ability to use his eloquence to help Liu Bei obtain Hejian Kingdom and Bohai Commandery was no less meritorious than military conquest.

And the art of persuasion was precisely what Sun Qian excelled at. Even if the current situation was favorable to Liu Bei's persuasion, to obtain the Hejian Kingdom and Bohai Commandery by relying on the art of persuasion, two basic qualities were required: first, extensive knowledge and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances; second, a distinguished lineage and a good reputation.

Sun Qian possesses both of these fundamental qualities!

The position of the steward in charge of dealing with Yuan was not one that anyone could hold.

A few days later.

Sun Qian arrived at Lecheng in Hejian Kingdom.

Zhang Zhi, the chancellor of Hejian, and Yuan Rong, the prefect of Weijun, were both in the city.

Upon learning of Sun Qian's purpose and seeing Liu Bei's letter, Zhang Zhi and Yuan Rong were both astonished.

After learning that Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan had been defeated in Liyang and were trapped in Yecheng, Yuan Rong had the idea of ​​leading his troops back to relieve the siege, but Zhang Zhi stopped him from doing so.

Zhang Zhi's reasoning was simple: Yuan Rong was capable of defending the city, but going back to reinforce Ye City and fighting Cao Cao outside the city would be like throwing an egg against a rock. Not only would it fail to save Ye City, it would also damage the morale of the city.

Yuan Rong was also self-aware, and after hearing Zhang Zhi's reasons, he held back his troops in Lecheng; however, both men's families and friends were in Yecheng, and they were suffering every day, so they could only send more scouts to find out the situation in Yecheng.

Now, upon learning that Liu Bei had sent Ju Shou to Ye City and that Liu Bei had also ordered Zhuge Liang to rush to Changshan to coordinate the reception, the two were surprised but also delighted.

"I've long heard that Young Master Shang and General Zuo are at odds, but I never imagined that General Zuo would set aside his petty grievances for the greater good. He not only invited Ju Gong to Ye City, but also dispatched Military Advisor Zhuge to Changshan to coordinate the rescue! I thought my family was trapped in Ye City, and our fate was uncertain. That's why I couldn't sleep at night and couldn't eat. Who would have thought that General Zuo would be so benevolent? It's truly a great fortune!" Yuan Rong couldn't hide his joy, and his hands holding Liu Bei's letter trembled uncontrollably.

Zhang Zhi also slammed his hand on the table and stood up, a rare smile spreading across his face: "Brilliant! Brilliant! We have been suffering day after day, and the scouts have brought no good news. Now, with General Zuo's protection, it is much safer than if you and I personally led our troops back to Ye City!"

Yuan Rong was also moved to tears, and so excited that he was incoherent: "Exactly! Exactly! Before, when I wanted to go back to help, you said that would be courting death, but now that General Zuo has taken action, I have no worries! I have long heard that Strategist Zhuge is unparalleled in wisdom and strategy, and that Ju Gong is also a wise and brave man. They will surely be able to safely rescue the families of the officers and soldiers of Ye City. I am even more grateful for General Zuo's kindness: Cao Cao massacred surrendered soldiers and harmed the elders of Hebei; yet he used benevolence to help the tyrannical and repay evil with kindness! What virtue or ability do I have to deserve General Zuo's mercy?"

Zhang Zhi took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and his tone gradually became firm: "In these chaotic times, it is already difficult to make a living. We are fortunate to have received General Zuo's assistance in protecting our families! How can we not repay General Zuo's great kindness?"

Yuan Rong nodded emphatically and said, "When Lord Yuan stepped down, he recommended Tian Feng, Qian Zhao, Tao Sheng, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou to serve under the Left General. If it weren't for Young Master Shang and Young Master Tan's insistence on competing with the other warlords, Lord Yuan would have recommended us as well. Now, Young Master Shang and Young Master Tan are no longer able to contend with Cao Cao. The only one who can compete is the Left General! The Left General has always been benevolent and trustworthy. If he can take control of Hebei, he will surely help the people of Hebei defeat Cao Cao and avenge the massacre at Guandu!"

After discussing it carefully for a while, the two went out of the mansion together to welcome Sun Qian and expressed their willingness to submit to Liu Bei.

Such frankness surprised even Sun Qian: I haven't even started persuading them yet, and Yuan Rong and Zhang Zhi have already signed up?

Although Yuan Rong and Zhang Zhi's direct declaration of allegiance might make Sun Qian feel like he had accomplished nothing, Sun Qian has always been magnanimous.

After the initial surprise, all that remained was a sense of ease and comfort, since no one likes to suffer without effort.

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(End of this chapter)