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

Chapter 6 We are prepared to treat you as an honored guest.
Many virtuous men from Yingchuan attached themselves to Cao Cao's command.

When Liu Bei was in Xuchang, he was often invited to banquets by Cao Cao. They would ride together when going out and sit at the same table, so he had conversations with wise men from Yingchuan such as Xun Yu, Xun You, and Guo Jia.

Whenever Liu Bei saw the wise men of Yingchuan under Cao Cao discussing the state of the country at banquets, he felt an envy that was hard for ordinary people to understand.

After many years of twists and turns, he suffered more defeats than victories.

The thousand or so miscellaneous barbarian cavalry that had been painstakingly gathered were also completely wiped out in the battle.

The series of defeats made Liu Bei even more eager for wise and capable men.

If they had wise advisors like the Yingchuan strategists under Cao Cao, and with the assistance of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who were capable of defeating ten thousand men, how could they have fled east and west like stray dogs?
Initially, Liu Bei actually wanted to seek advice from Chen Deng.

Unfortunately, Chen Deng had gone to Guangling and had a conflict with Sun Ce, making it difficult for him to come to Xiapi.

Therefore.

After leaving Xuchang and arriving in Xiapi, Liu Bei neither competed for power with Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao nor with Che Zhou, but instead prioritized seeking out talented individuals!

If we can find talented people to offer advice and strategies, then neither Zhu Linglu Zhao nor Che Zhou are worth worrying about.

Go to a secluded place.

Liu Bei brought out a straw mat, spread it out, and invited Xu Shu to sit down, while he himself sat directly on the weeds.

With just one gesture, he gave people a feeling of warmth and comfort.

Because Xu Shu came from a poor family and had once made a living as a wandering knight, he suffered a lot of contempt and ridicule in Jingzhou.

Whether they were famous scholars or officials, very few people gave Xu Shu a second glance.

In contrast, Liu Bei was incredibly enthusiastic towards Xu Shu, even though it was only their first meeting!

No wonder Zhuge Liang held General Zuo in such high esteem, preferring to travel a thousand miles to serve him rather than seek an official position in Jingzhou through nepotism. How fortunate he was to have met General Zuo!

Liu Bei was unaware that Xu Shu was deeply moved by the act of spreading out the mat.

For Liu Bei, the act of laying out mats for guests while sitting on the grass himself was a daily habit.

As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words.

Don't worry about what the other person thinks, worry about what they do.

Liu Bei was desperately lacking in talented individuals!
At present, Liu Bei only has a handful of renowned men around him, such as Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Jian Yong, Sun Qian, and the Mi brothers. The other brave and loyal men are not capable of planning important matters for Liu Bei.

Even Guan Yu and others had very limited ideas for Liu Bei.

Otherwise, Liu Bei wouldn't have suffered such a tragic fate, losing several wives and his entire fortune.

Although he didn't know if Xu Shu had any real talent or ability, Liu Bei was willing to give it a try.

The straw mat was too narrow for two people to sit on at the same time.

Xu Shu also abandoned his plan to sit at the same table as Liu Bei and got to the point: "May I ask what the Left General's ambitions are?"

Without hesitation, Liu Bei declared: "I will serve the country, bring peace to the people, eliminate bandits and thieves, and restore the Han dynasty."

Liu Bei spoke vaguely about his grand ambitions.

Don't speak too deeply with someone you don't know well.

Although Liu Bei was eager to find talented people, he wasn't so eager that he immediately opened his heart to Xu Shu upon their first meeting.

Xu Shu understood the reasoning behind this, and said, "In these chaotic times, with so many complex matters, it is difficult to resolve disputes through reasoning. Military might is necessary to deter the bandits. Forgive my boldness, but may I ask how many troops the Left General currently commands?"

Liu Bei looked ashamed: "I only have a little over a hundred brave men."

Xu Shu was taken aback.

More than a hundred athletes?
Subconsciously, Xu Shu looked at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who were standing to Liu Bei's left and right.

Zhang Fei couldn't keep his mouth shut and snorted, "I don't know which sick bastard slandered my elder brother to Cao Cao, but Cao Cao actually sent someone to take away my elder brother's military power. The more than 10,000 troops that my elder brother brought from Xudu are now under the command of Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao."

"I see!" Xu Shu reassured him, "General Zuo, there is no need to worry. In these chaotic times, many people are starving. Soldiers can be recruited with money and provisions."

Liu Bei looked even more ashamed: "To be honest, even my hundred or so strong men are short of supplies. I have no extra money or grain to recruit the starving as soldiers, let alone extra money or grain to buy horses and weapons."

Xu Shu couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart.

Kongming, oh Kongming, the wise ruler you chose was far too pathetic!

Seemingly afraid of scaring Xu Shu away, Liu Bei added, "I have a good friend who is now the governor of Guangling. I can send someone there to borrow some money and provisions."

That being said, Chen Deng is currently preoccupied with his own problems in Guangling, so how could he possibly have any extra money or supplies to lend to Liu Bei?

Liu Bei's words were merely meant to reassure Xu Shu.

If Xu Shu were truly scared away, the news would spread like wildfire, and Liu Bei's search for talent in Xiapi would become a complete joke.

If it were an ordinary scholar or commoner, they would really be scared away by Liu Bei's apparent poverty: we came here to seek wealth and honor, not to suffer without hardship.

However, Xu Shu was no ordinary Confucian scholar. If assisting Liu Bei were easy, how could Xu Shu's abilities be demonstrated?
ponder for a moment.

Xu Shu continued, “The world is in chaos, and many counties are suffering from famine. Even if the governor of Guangling were to lend money and grain to General Zuo, it would only be a drop in the ocean. It is better to rely on ourselves than on others. I have a plan that can help General Zuo replenish his supplies and troops.”

Liu Bei was both surprised and delighted.

I am so poor, yet this person actually has a good plan to help me.
Liu Bei forced down his excitement: "Please teach me, sir!"

Xu Shu replied without hesitation: "Xuzhou has suffered from war and there are many vagrant households. General Zuo can ask Governor Che to issue a notice to all counties, ordering the vagrant households to register themselves."

"Although this move can fill the household register of Xiapi, it will displease the vagrants. I expect Governor Che will refuse to take it on. General Zuo can take this opportunity to persuade them of the greater good and take on the task."

“The governor of Che provides the money and grain, and the general of the left provides for the vagrant households. In this way, the vagrant households are grateful for the kindness of the general of the left, and the governor of Che fills the household register of Xiapi. Everyone gets what they need, and it is a win-win situation.”

Liu Bei was immediately tempted.

In Liu Bei's impression, Che Zhou was a seasoned veteran of officialdom.

Stability is key to success.

Given Che Zhou's shrewdness, he surely understood that allowing itinerant residents to register their own households would replenish the household register of Xiapi.

Che Zhou did not issue the order because he did not want the wandering households to cause trouble due to their dissatisfaction with the registration.

If trouble were to arise and reach Cao Cao's ears, it would leave him with the impression that he was "incompetent in governing the people."

Especially now, with Liu Biao and Sun Ce causing trouble in the south, Yuan Shao plotting to move south in the north, and the remnants of Yuan Shu in Huainan not yet completely wiped out, Xiapi needs stability even more!
Che Zhou feared that the wandering villagers would cause trouble, but Liu Bei was not afraid.

Firstly, Liu Bei had a good reputation in Xiapi, so it was not difficult for him to appease the wandering people.

Both of them, Liu Bei did not want Che Zhou to remain secure in Xiapi.

Therefore.

When Liu Bei heard Xu Shu say, "The Governor of Che will provide the funds and provisions, and the General of the Left will take care of the vagrant households," he made up his mind.

"Mr. Talented!"

Liu Bei was generous with his praise.

“If you do not find me crude, I wish to treat you as an honored guest and have conversations with you day and night.”

Xu Shu was already captivated by Zhuge Liang's high regard for Liu Bei, and his goodwill towards Liu Bei had only grown stronger because of Liu Bei's actions. Now that Liu Bei had invited him to be an honored guest, Xu Shu had no reason to refuse.

"I, Xu Shu, a commoner, am willing to serve as General Zuo!" Xu Shu replied resolutely.

Liu Bei was overjoyed: "With your help, sir, I am truly fortunate! Second brother, third brother, quickly return to the city and prepare a banquet. Tonight, I will drink with you until we are both drunk."

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(End of this chapter)