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

"Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang are actually dead?"

Upon hearing the sudden news of the changes in Liaodong, even Liu Bei couldn't help but be surprised. However, he quickly dispelled his surprise and replaced it with solemnity.

Although Gongsun Du died, his successor Gongsun Kang was still able to stabilize the situation in Liaodong, and Liu Bei was still unable to extend his influence into Liaodong.

Although Gongsun Kang sent envoys to form an alliance, how could he allow others to sleep soundly beside his bed? If Gongsun Kang could form an alliance with Liu Bei today, he could also form an alliance with Cao Cao tomorrow.

If Gongsun Kang allied with Cao Cao to attack Liu Bei's rear, Liu Bei would have to deploy heavy troops to defend Youbeiping. If that happened, Liu Bei's military strength would be stretched thin when facing Cao Cao head-on.

In Cao Cao's Northern Expedition, without the Wuhuan cavalry of Youbeiping, Liu Bei would not have had enough military strength to force Cao Cao to retreat.

After obtaining a large amount of money, grain and supplies through the land survey order, Liu Bei originally intended to take advantage of Gongsun Du's death to launch an attack on Liaodong. However, Gongsun Kang's assertiveness forced Liu Bei to abandon this idea.

Gongsun Kang's strength meant that a swift victory in Liaodong was impossible, and the inability to achieve a quick victory in Liaodong would give Cao Cao another opportunity to launch a northern expedition.

However, the speculation that Cao Cao and Gongsun Kang might form an alliance still bothered Liu Bei.

In fact, Cao Cao did send an envoy to Liaodong, not only bestowing the title of Marquis of Xiangping upon Gongsun Kang in the name of the false emperor, but also appointing Gongsun Kang as Left General, the meaning of which is self-evident.

Liu Bei, the Left General, was still alive when Cao Cao appointed Gongsun Kang as the Left General. This was not only to curry favor with Gongsun Kang, but also to deliberately incite Gongsun Kang to attack Liu Bei.

There can only be one Left General. Whether it's Liu Bei or Gongsun Kang depends on how you two compete for it.

However, because Xu You helped Gongsun Kang thwart Gongsun Gong's plan to seize the throne, his status under Gongsun Kang grew day by day. Therefore, when Cao Cao's envoy presented the seals of the Marquis of Xiangping and the General of the Left, Xu You immediately drew his sword and killed Cao Cao's envoy. He even said to Gongsun Kang, "My lord, you can be a sovereign in Liaodong. What do you need the seals of the Marquis of Xiangping and the General of the Left for?"

Gongsun Kang then followed Gongsun Du's example, throwing the seals of the Marquis of Xiangping and the General of the Left into the armory. He even claimed that he had never seen Cao Cao's envoy. Later, the envoy sent by Cao Cao was secretly intercepted and killed by Xu You's men.

Xu You's goal is clear: as long as he can stabilize Liaodong for Liu Bei, he will not only enjoy superior treatment in Liaodong, but also be able to help Liu Bei seize Liaodong after Liu Bei gains power.

However, before this, Xu You did not explicitly tell Liu Bei about his plan, but instead devoted himself to serving Gongsun Kang.

Whether it was helping Gongsun Kang eliminate Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang or devising strategies for Gongsun Kang's campaign against Goguryeo, Xu You did his utmost to think and plan. Apart from his unchanging greedy nature, he appeared to be no different from a loyal minister under Gongsun Kang.

Gongsun Kang didn't care that Xu You was greedy for money; on the contrary, he trusted Xu You deeply because of this. If a subject is neither greedy for money nor lustful, then the one who is greedy for money might be Gongsun Kang's head.

After learning that Xu You held a high position in Liaodong and was deeply trusted by Gongsun Kang, Zhuge Liang concluded that Gongsun Kang was no longer a threat.

Xu You today is just like the "pseudo-God of War" Guo Kai; the higher his status, the more he can leave Gongsun Kang with no capable generals inside and no help from outside.

Unlike Guo Kai, Xu You genuinely cared about Liu Bei's interests. Even though they held different positions, his achievements were no less than those of generals like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

After listening to Zhuge Liang's analysis, Liu Bei suppressed his worries and agreed to form an alliance with Gongsun Kang.

Then, Liu Bei asked Zhuge Liang, "Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang have died in Liaodong. Should we inform Brother Benchu?"

Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment and said, "Yuan Shao's two sons died in Liaodong, and it is only right and proper that we inform them. Now Yuan Shao only has his one son, Yuan Mai, left. To prevent Cao Cao's spies from taking the opportunity to assassinate him, my lord should take extra precautions."

The struggle between the two forces was not limited to military means; tricks such as sowing discord and assassination also emerged one after another. Zhuge Liang would not believe that Cao Cao was a person who followed the rules.

If Yuan Mai were assassinated by Cao Cao's spies right under Liu Bei's nose, even if Yuan Shao suspected Cao Cao was behind it, he would still be displeased. Yuan's former subordinates might also be incited by treacherous individuals to harbor resentment towards Liu Bei. Liu Bei understood Zhuge Liang's concerns, so he sent messengers to Yuan Shao while simultaneously increasing protection for Yuan Mai.

Since Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang had no children, and both died in Liaodong, their wives and concubines returned to their parents' homes.

It's not fair to blame Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang for their heartless wives and concubines. Their marriages were arranged by their families rather than based on love; they were brought together for the benefit of both families.

If she had children, she could raise them and remain chaste; if she didn't have any children, she could only return to her parents' home. Even someone as noble as Cai Wenji could only return to her parents' home to make a living after Wei Zhongdao's death.

As for concubines, they were basically all bought with money, and had no choice but to find a new husband to rely on.

Women who return to their parents' home, no matter how unwilling they are, will be urged to marry by their parents' family. For example, not long after Zhen Mi returned to her parents' home, Zhen Yao found six or seven sons of wealthy and powerful families for her to marry.

This is the stark reality of wealthy families, especially during times of chaos, when this situation is even more pronounced.

Although it may sound very different from postmodern views on marriage and love, in this era, the survival of the family and being alive are the top priorities. As for other pursuits, they can be considered later when one is alive and well enough to eat.

Originally, Zhen Mi was to be married off by Zhen Yao to the illegitimate son of a wealthy family surnamed Zhang in Zhongshan. Coincidentally, Zhang Fei was traveling with his newlywed wife Xiahou Juan to Wuji County when they encountered Zhen Yao.

Upon hearing that Zhen Yao was going to marry off his sister, Zhang Fei immediately became dissatisfied: "Zilong isn't even married yet! You have a sister to marry off, why are you looking down on my brother?"

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yao was overjoyed.

Dislike Zhao Yun?

Only a fool would look down on Zhao Yun!

By offering Zhao Yun to her widowed sister, Zhen Yao was climbing the social ladder!

Although Zhao Yun's background was not as good as Zhen Mi's, he was now not only the governor of Shangdang under Liu Bei, but also someone Liu Bei could entrust his family to, and was deeply trusted by Liu Bei.

Given time, Zhao Yun will surely be able to be ennobled and appointed as a general, holding a high position. For the Zhen family of Zhongshan, the benefits they would gain would be no less than those from marrying Zhen Mi to Yuan Shao's illegitimate son, Yuan Xi.

Ever since.

With Zhang Fei acting as matchmaker, Zhen Yao agreed to marry Zhen Mi to Zhao Yun.

Worried that Zhao Yun might refuse, Zhen Yao directly sent Zhang Fei with several cartloads of valuables to Huguan City, ostensibly to help Prefect Zhao of Shangdang settle the displaced people.

It was practically telling Zhao Yun: "The Zhen family is rich and powerful. If you marry Zhen Mi, come to me if you ever run out of money or food in Shangdang!"
In the past, Yuan Shang's birth mother, Lady Liu, tried to secretly abduct Zhen Mi, but Zhao Yun stopped her in time and stabbed several of Lady Liu's servants who approached Zhen Mi. Zhao Yun and Zhen Mi also had some romantic connection.

Therefore, Zhao Yun did not explicitly refuse Zhang Fei's matchmaking offer, only saying that Zhen Mi was from the Zhen family and was also Yuan Xi's widow, so he needed to consult Liu Bei first.

Liu Bei was also happy to see this happen. Although Zhao Yun often said, "A great man only worries about not achieving fame and fortune, not about not having a wife," he was actually just unable to find a good match.

It is a fortunate event for Liu Bei to witness Zhao Yun and Zhen Mi's happy marriage. (End of Chapter)