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

Chapter 57: With Zhuge Liang, the fate of the world can be decided.
"Does General Zuo intend to establish a foothold in Youzhou?" Yuan Tan asked in astonishment.

Youzhou was a place that Yuan Shao had painstakingly conquered over nearly ten years. Yet, Pang Tong suddenly asked Yuan Tan to help Liu Bei establish himself in Youzhou. How could Yuan Tan not be shocked?
Pang Tong smiled warmly: "I hit it off with Governor Yuan at first sight, so naturally I don't want to deceive him. If Cao Cao hadn't been so coercing, why would the Left General have used the excuse of returning to Zhuojun to teach to go north and avoid disaster?"

"General Zuo has always considered it his duty to restore the Han Dynasty. How could he sit idly by while Cao Cao deceives the emperor and acts as a mere teacher? How could we, men of ambition, follow a General Zuo who has no great ambition?"

Yuan Tan said sternly, "Chief Clerk Pang has told you the truth. Aren't you afraid that I will harm General Zuo?"

Pang Tong chuckled: "Governor Yuan is an upright man, how could he possibly harm the Left General? Moreover, Governor Yuan and the Left General would both benefit if they were together, and both would suffer if they were apart."

"In the current situation, whether the Grand General defeats Cao Cao or Cao Cao defeats the Grand General, as long as Governor Yuan has the Left General in Youzhou to assist him, he can restrain Yuan Shang internally and Cao Cao externally."

"The reason I spoke frankly was that I did not want any wicked people to use their schemes to sow discord and cause Governor Yuan and General Zuo to fight each other."

“If Governor Yuan really intends to harm General Zuo, he can kill Tong first. Tong is willing to sacrifice himself to Governor Yuan’s flag.”

Yuan Tan exclaimed in surprise, "Chief Clerk Pang is exaggerating! How could I possibly kill Chief Clerk Pang so recklessly! It's just that Yuan Xi, the Governor of Youzhou, has always followed Yuan Shang's lead, and I have no good plan. Let's discuss this further with the Left General!"

As Pang Tong said.

Given Yuan Tan's current situation, without external assistance, he has no chance to compete with Yuan Shang.

Although Yuan Tan was Yuan Shao's biological son, according to the patriarchal system, Yuan Tan was no longer Yuan Shao's son. Therefore, in public, Yuan Shao had to be addressed as "Grand General" rather than "my father." [Note: The previous address was incorrect and has been corrected.]

Therefore, Yuan Tan had no right to inherit Yuan Shao's legacy!
But as Yuan Shao's eldest son, how could Yuan Tan be willing to sit idly by and watch Yuan Shang enjoy everything the Yuan family had to offer?
If Yuan Tan had truly accepted his fate, he wouldn't have gone through all that trouble to travel north to Qingzhou to quell Tian Kai's rebellion, east to attack Kong Rong, wield his troops in the coastal regions, and even contend with Zang Ba and others from Langya.

Pang Tong provided an in-depth analysis of the current situation, explaining the advantages and disadvantages and appealing to reason and emotion, thus laying the foundation for cooperation between Yuan Tan and Liu Bei.

True.

Liu Bei was not one to be subservient to others.

But both Liu Bei and Yuan Tan are now at a disadvantage.

Liu Bei could not compete with Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, while Yuan Tan could not compete with Yuan Shang.

If you want to change, you have to be willing to make sacrifices and take risks!
Yuan Tan did not give Pang Tong a direct answer, but instead said that he wanted to meet with Liu Bei first.

Pang Tong said no more.

Everything that needed to be said had been said; whether or not the goal could be achieved ultimately depended on Liu Bei's response.

When Liu Bei arrived in Beihai.

It was already the end of February in the fifth year of Jian'an.

On average, Liu Bei's daily travel speed was nearly twenty li.

For Liu Bei, who was leading tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians northward, this speed was not slow.

The concerns of wise men are generally similar.

If Liu Bei had taken the shortest route, he should have gone directly to Dongguan and entered the State of Qi. The reason he went around Beihai was that he wanted to visit Kang Cheng Gong Zheng Xuan in Gaomi.

And during this period.

A Zhang Fei who is willing to use his brain is quite reassuring.

With the handover orders from General Wang Zhong, Chancellor Zang Ba of Langya, and various county magistrates, as well as Cao Cao's secret letter to Liu Bei, the prefects of Licheng, Dongguan, Chengyang, and Beihai, Wu Dun, Yin Li, Sun Kang, and Sun Guan, all readily handed over their grain, weapons, able-bodied men, and old soldiers.

With Zang Ba having already handed over the goods, how could Wu Dun and the other three, led by Zang Ba, dare to act recklessly?

Although each person handed over only a small amount, the total amount was considerable. The four generals handed over nearly 6,000 shi of grain, a quantity of military equipment, 400 able-bodied men, and 200 old soldiers.

Moreover, the able-bodied men and old soldiers who were handed over were all from the north, having migrated south from the north to join the four generals.

When Liu Bei led tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians to Gaomi, Zhang Fei was already waiting with the handover order signed and stamped by Wu Dun and others, as well as the handover materials and personnel.

"Brother, I didn't use any force this time!" Zhang Fei proudly boasted to Liu Bei, then pointed at Mi Zhu: "If you don't believe me, you can ask Zizhong."

Mi Zhu, already accustomed to Zhang Fei's temperament, also said, "As Yide said, no violence was used this time. After seeing Zang Ba's handover order, Wu Dun and the others readily signed it."

"I am very pleased with Yide's talent," Liu Bei praised generously.

Although it was only eight words, it made Zhang Fei beam with joy, and he pulled Guan Yu aside to "show off." They had only recently arrived in Gaomi.

Sun Qian from the People's Daily has returned.

"Huh? Gongyou isn't in Linzi?"

Liu Bei was slightly surprised.

Zhuge Liang, however, guessed the reason.

As I recall, Zheng Xuan died of illness in Yuancheng due to being forcibly conscripted by Yuan Shao.

Sun Qian must have learned the news from Yuan Tan before leaving Linzi and returning to Gaomi.

Zhuge Liang also deeply regretted Zheng Xuan's death.

If Cao Cao hadn't massacred Xuzhou back then, Zhuge Liang would have planned to study under Zheng Xuan.

The reputation of Zheng Xuan, a renowned scholar from Dongzhou, was unmatched by ordinary people.

Even the Yellow Turbans, upon seeing Zheng Xuan, "all bowed to him and agreed not to enter the county territory."

Even though the world was in chaos after Zheng Xuan's death, his funeral was kept simple. More than a thousand people, including the prefect and his students, wore mourning clothes to attend his funeral.

His great reputation is evident.

"There may be some hidden reason, General, you must not be careless," Zhuge Liang subtly reminded Liu Bei.

Liu Bei, visibly pleased, welcomed Sun Qian inside and inquired about the details.

Upon learning that Zheng Xuan was ill and that Yuan Shao, under the influence of others, had ordered Yuan Tan to force Zheng Xuan to join the army, Liu Bei was furious: "Lord Kangcheng is old and ill, how can he travel far? Gongyou, do not worry. Even if we are at war with Yuan Shao, I will protect Lord Kangcheng."

Sun Qian was deeply moved and, with tears in his eyes, bowed and said, "I will never forget the general's kindness!"

Liu Bei quickly helped Sun Qian up and said, "Gongyou, why do you say that? If it weren't for your help in the past, how could I have established myself in Xuzhou? Now that your master is in trouble, how can I stand idly by!"

"military adviser?"

Liu Bei then looked at Zhuge Liang, as if seeking his advice.

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, not answering immediately, but instead asking Sun Qian, "Before Gongyou returned to Gaomi, did Shiyuan have anything to say?"

Sun Qian wiped away his tears, straightened his clothes with a solemn expression, and truthfully recounted how Pang Tong had wanted Zheng Xuan's collection of over ten thousand volumes of books.

Liu Bei's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in shock, "Shiyuan has misled me! How could I take advantage of someone's misfortune and do such an unjust thing!"

Zhuge Liang's eyes sharpened, and he immediately understood Pang Tong's intention.

Chen Deng had already gifted Liu Bei a thousand volumes of books. If he could also receive books from Zheng Xuan, it would be a great opportunity for Liu Bei to establish a teaching institution in Zhuojun.

Scholars from near and far will surely come upon hearing the news!

Whether Liu Bei could teach or not is not important.

Whether Liu Bei had books or not is the most important thing!

Mind this.

Zhuge Liang then asked Sun Qian, "What are your thoughts, Lord Kangcheng?"

Liu Bei said urgently, "Strategist, no matter what Kang Cheng Gong thinks, I cannot do such an unjust thing!"

The words have not yet fallen.

Sun Qian replied, "My master said that the more than 10,000 volumes of books cannot all be given away; 4,000 volumes should be kept as family heirlooms; the remaining 6,000 volumes can all be given to the general."

"Hey?"

Liu Bei's eyes widened.

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(End of this chapter)