I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 81 A Strategy on the Bed (Part 1)
Lu Zijing?
Chen Yu pondered for a moment before remembering that Lu Su was a wealthy man from the eastern part of Linhuai who sold land to provide relief to the poor.

Chen Yu still didn't understand: "Lu Su is not well-known, he is neither a filial and incorrupt official nor from a prominent family, so how can Zhongshan be so sure that he is a man of great talent?"

Liu Miao then countered with a question to Chen Yu: "Yuan Shu is indeed renowned, being both a candidate for the civil service examination and a member of the Runan Yuan clan, which has produced four generations of high-ranking officials. Does Gongwei really think that such a person can restore the Han dynasty?"

Chen Yu's eyes were filled with resentment.

We were having a nice conversation, why are you bringing up Yuan Shu?

As long as Yuan Shu is not mentioned, everyone can still be friends peacefully!
Liu Miao pointed to the date on the document: "If Gongwei doesn't believe me, why don't you come with me to meet this Lu Zijing then?"

Chen Yu hesitated again, "Is it okay?"

"You clearly went to see Yuan Shu, so how did you pick up his brother Yuan Shao's indecisiveness? You came when I told you to!"

After being scolded by Liu Miao, Chen Yu seemed refreshed and invigorated, completely shaking off his previous dejection. Liu Miao even thought Chen Yu had developed some strange new hobby, so he specifically emphasized this to Zhou Tai and Chen Wu—

"Be more vigilant in the future! Don't let that old bastard get a chance to come inside!"

As a result, Chen Yu, who had been in high spirits, became listless again, and his gaze towards Liu Miao turned resentful once more...

Strangely, Lu Su did not arrive in Shuxian on the originally scheduled date.

Every day spent in Huainan increases the danger. Both Zhou Yu and Lu Kang wrote to Jiangdong urging Liu Miao to set off as soon as possible. However, Liu Miao thought that it was Lu Su after all, so he decided to wait two more days and let the rest of the soldiers leave first, leaving only one ship for crossing the river.

at last.

On the very last day, Lu Su finally arrived, albeit belatedly!
Moreover, Lu Su did not come by boat, but by land, and was covered in dust from the journey.

Liu Miao went to greet him personally, and his eyes lit up when he saw Lu Su.

Although he was a little tired from the journey, Lu Su, who was just over twenty years old, was undoubtedly full of vigor and was no less impressive than Zhou Yu!

Lu Su came from a wealthy family; even his footstool was painted with vermilion lacquer, and his rhinoceros-hide boots shattered the lingering shadows of winter. A three-inch-wide brocade apron hung down to his knees, the twelve imperial symbols swirling in the wind, and the tassels of his jade crown brushed past his eyebrows, making his bright eyes shine even more brilliantly.

"Lu Zijing of Linhuai greets Liu Yangzhou!"

"No gift."

Liu Miao welcomed Lu Su into the main hall, and Lu Su was the first to apologize to Liu Miao for being late.

“I am but a humble commoner who dared to present my credentials to the governor and was fortunate enough to be summoned by him. I should have paid my respects on time according to etiquette, but I was delayed by other matters. Even if Governor Liu Yangzhou threw me out, I deserved it. I never expected that Governor Liu Yangzhou would not only not mind, but also treat me as an honored guest. How could I not be moved?”

Liu Miao sighed inwardly, thinking that Lu Su was indeed a diplomat, just like Han Yin, and could speak eloquently!

One shouldn't hit a smiling face, and Liu Miao wanted to let it go: "It's just a few extra days, it's not a big deal."

"Liu Yangzhou's statement is incorrect!"

Lu Su retorted, "Normally, it's nothing."

“But now Liu Yangzhou has to be wary of Yuan Shu. If he arrives even a day late, there is a risk that Yuan Shu will send troops to intercept him. Liu Yangzhou is willing to stay and wait for me, which is already risking his life. How could I, Lu Zijing, not know that?”

"Oh?"

Liu Miao smiled slightly: "Zijing said I was wary of Yuan Shu? Does Zijing not know that I just presented the Imperial Seal to the General of the Rear, and the General of the Rear also appointed me as the Governor of Yangzhou and General Who Conquers the East, and even married a woman from the Yuan family to me?"

Lu Su replied, "Indeed!"

"Otherwise, how could you, Liu Yangzhou, have allowed Yuan Shu to lower his guard and bring the people of Huainan to Jiangdong in order to achieve your own hegemony?"

The main hall was not empty; Chen Yu, who was curious about what kind of "talented advisor to the king" Lu Su was, was already sitting inside.

When Chen Yu heard Lu Su mention "hegemony" as soon as he entered, Chen Yu's wrist trembled as he poured wine. He looked at Lu Su with trepidation, not understanding what he meant.

Upon hearing this, Liu Miao deliberately feigned a sinister smile: "Zijing, do you know that your words just now could very well cost you your life?"

"To say such things on your first meeting, don't you think you're incredibly audacious?"

Lu Su disagreed: "Just as I said, Liu Yangzhou was willing to stay in Shuxian to wait for me, which is actually to risk his life for me, Lu Su. Since that's the case, what difference does it make if I were to risk my life for Liu Yangzhou now?"

"However, I am confident that my judgment of people is not too bad. Liu Yangzhou should not be the kind of ruler who would slaughter others at will, just as Liu Yangzhou's judgment is not bad either, otherwise why would he still be waiting for me in Shuxian?"

Liu Miao looked at Lu Su and saw that his eyes were bright and shining like stars, and immediately burst into laughter.

However, he did not respond directly to Lu Su, but instead gestured to Chen Yu, who was staring in disbelief, and said: "Hahahaha! Gongwei! Did you see that? Didn't I tell you? Lu Zijing is a talent fit to be a king's advisor, and it's worth me waiting here for him!"

Lu Su then learned that the person sitting next to him was Chen Yu, who had resisted Yuan Shu in Shouchun City. He immediately bowed and said, "Lu Zijing of Linhuai greets Governor Chen."

"The story of Governor Chen's defense of the city that day spread throughout Huainan, which was very inspiring and truly commendable!"

"I thought the governor had fallen into Yuan Shu's hands, or had already left Huainan. I never imagined he would be here with Liu Yangzhou?"

Lu Su's words made Chen Yu's face burn, and he waved his hands repeatedly: "I did not stop Yuan Shu from entering Huai, but I was a useless person who did useless work. Zijing, please don't shame me."

"how come!"

Lu Su respectfully bowed deeply to Chen Yu.

"The governor's righteous act is deeply moving. Even if it cannot stop Yuan Shu, it lets everyone know that the Yuan family is not invincible."

"Now everyone in the world is lamenting that the world is either Shao or Shu. With someone like you standing up, you are proclaiming to the world that the Han Dynasty still exists! The court still exists! The laws still exist!"

Chen Yu, who had just felt ashamed, suddenly felt a little smug and even proud after hearing Lu Su's words. However, what came out of his mouth was just a polite "Not at all, hehe..."

"Alright, Zijing, stop praising him, or he'll really get cocky!"

Liu Miao interrupted Chen Yu's sweet dream, which made the resentment in the latter's eyes even more intense.

Lu Su also sat down on the couch. Seeing that there were only some wine and some pickles on the table, he became even more certain of his guess.

"It seems the situation is truly urgent. If it weren't for waiting for me, Liu Yangzhou would probably have already set off by now, wouldn't he?" Now that Lu Su had seen through him, Liu Miao decided to speak frankly.

"Exactly!"

"Yuan Shu was not exactly cruel, but because of his wealthy background, he was completely ignorant of the suffering of the common people. He was also extravagant and dissolute, often taking every last penny and spending it like dirt. He did not care about the people's well-being, as if money and grain were just numbers on an account book. If the people lived under his rule, they would surely suffer terribly and end up with their families destroyed and their lives ruined."

"I will do my best to attract the people of Huainan to Jiangdong by leveraging the reputations of Lu Zhongyi and Chen Gongwei. It is my small contribution."

Liu Miao picked up his wine cup to moisten his throat: "However, Yuan Shu is not a fool. Sooner or later he will find out what I am doing. If he really sends troops to attack, then there is no chance of winning in Huainan. The only option is to go to Jiangdong and rely on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River to fight against him!"

Lu Su pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"Liu Yangzhou has a heart that cares for the people, which is a blessing for them."

"I wonder what Liu Yangzhou's plans are after this? Is it enough to simply bring the people to Jiangdong?"

As soon as Lu Su entered, he took the initiative to attack, aiming straight for the core!

Now, we've finally reached the last step, and the true colors are about to be revealed!

Liu Miao, naturally following Lu Su's lead, asked, "What do you think I should do, Zijing?"

coming!

Lu Su remained calm and composed.

He knew that his performance from now on would almost determine his entire career path!
Those who perform well will naturally become Liu Miao's trusted advisors, the "talented advisors to the king" he speaks of! Those who do not perform well will have to remain in hiding and wait for the next opportunity.

But now they are full of vigor and youthful spirit! Where is the talk of lying low?
Moreover, in this era of great strife, how could Lu Su guarantee that a second ruler who could meet his standards would emerge in this corner of Yangzhou?

Therefore, Lu Su has decided to use all his knowledge and skills to fight with all his might!
"Liu Yangzhou is a descendant of the Prince of Langya, a member of the Han imperial family! Now that the Han dynasty is in great turmoil, how can Liu Yangzhou remain stagnant, trapped between the Yangtze and Huai rivers, and watch as heroes from all walks of life vie for control of the Central Plains?"

Liu Miao asked knowingly, "Then what should I do?"

"Now that Liu Yangzhou is leading more than 100,000 people from the north across the river, he is like a dragon entering the sea, and should unleash his full potential!"

Lu Su had clearly done his homework for this meeting, and even pointed out specific issues—

"Because Liu Yangzhou took a concubine from the Lu family, he gained the support of the Lu family of Wu County. Therefore, even in Jiangdong, the local gentry would think that you, Liu Yangzhou, are a local and would not ostracize you."

"Even so, your sudden trip to Jiangdong, bringing with you common people to compete with the local gentry for profit, makes the future conflicts and contradictions obvious."

"In addition, there are mountain tribes like Pan Lin and Fei Zhan causing trouble in Jiangdong, as well as powerful leaders like Zu Lang and Bai Hu gathering their followers. Furthermore, there are officials like Zhou Xin, the governor of Danyang, Xu Gong, the governor of Wu Commandery, and Wang Lang, the governor of Kuaiji, who are left to guard the region. These are all problems that you need to solve!"

Previously, Liu Miao thought that Jiangdong was a piece of fat meat. As long as he could cross the Yangtze River, he could be like a hungry wolf entering a sheepfold, eating until his mouth was full of oil.

But now Lu Su tells Liu Miao that this is not the case!
First, there's the issue of the local gentry.

Resources are limited. If Liu Miao wants a share, or even a large share, it will inevitably lead to exclusion from the other side. Even though Liu Miao currently holds military power, he cannot be too forceful. He cannot simply take up a butcher's knife and slaughter everyone. He must always plan carefully.

Secondly, there are the mountain tribes and the powerful generals.

Unlike the aristocratic families, these people held real military power, and we had to fight them in a real battle!
Even though Liu Miao now has the elite troops left behind by Sun Jian and a commander like Zhou Yu in charge, these people still have the advantage of terrain and are not as easy to deal with as one might imagine.

Finally, there are the orthodox officials.

Zhou Ang, the Prefect of Danyang; Xu Gong, the Prefect of Wu Commandery; Wang Lang, the Prefect of Kuaiji; and Hua Xin, the Prefect of Yuzhang.

These four individuals each have their own titles and positions. If Liu Miao handles any of them improperly, he could very well become a target of criticism and ridicule for his reputation and sense of righteousness.

These three issues are all things that Liu Miao needs to consider. Only by solving these three issues can Liu Miao be considered to have truly entered Jiangdong, become the ruler of Jiangdong, and become a prince who can contend for the world!
Liu Miao nodded and continued to ask Lu Su, "Then what should I do?"

Liu Miao was the ruler, while Lu Su was the one trying to sell himself to Liu Miao!

Since Lu Su could see the problem, he should also be able to solve it; otherwise, wouldn't he be just talking the talk but not walking the walk? How could he be worthy of the title "a talent fit to assist a king"?

Lu Su was parched, so he picked up a wine cup from the table and took a swig.

"easy!"

"The matter concerning the gentry can be mediated by the Lu family of Wu Commandery, using a policy of appeasement, while simultaneously employing the elite troops under Liu Yangzhou as a deterrent, using a decisive and measured approach. Offer them some benefits without touching their core interests, and the problem will naturally be resolved!"

Liu Miao pressed further: "What is the fundamental principle?"

"In chaotic times, military strategy naturally prevails!"

It's not about military strategy, but about the interplay between strategy and tactics!
Military power! Law!
These two crucial things must absolutely not be allowed to be tainted by the aristocratic families, lest they hinder Liu Miao's rule!

Military power represents force, and laws represent the system.
Compared to that, even money and grain are not that important! Or to put it another way, as long as we control these two things, why would we be afraid of not being able to collect taxes?

Liu Miao smiled slightly again, which made Lu Su know that he had passed the first question.

"Secondly, there are those mountain tribes and their leaders!"

"Although I say this is a problem, it can actually be solved in two ways."

Whether it was because he had gained Liu Miao's approval or because he couldn't hold his liquor, Lu Su's face was flushed and his emotions were high. He looked like he was giving orders. The fatigue that had been on his face when he entered had vanished and turned into motivation!
“Commanders like Zu Lang and Yan Baihu may seem powerful, easily amassing tens of thousands of troops, but they are actually easy to deal with! Once defeated in one strike, they will surely lose their courage and dare not challenge the royal army again!”

"The real trouble comes from those mountain tribes that are like weeds."

Lu Su's face showed a solemn expression.

"There are also Yue people in Lujiang, located in the Dabie Mountains to the east. These Yue people do not value agriculture and sericulture; they live by plundering! Their leaders and people do not even think there is anything wrong with plundering; it is simply the survival of the fittest, their way of life!"

"Therefore, dealing with them cannot simply involve using military force to encircle and suppress them; more importantly, it is about winning their hearts and minds!"

Chen Yu, who was standing nearby, was also engrossed in listening. He knew that what Lu Su said was indeed Liu Miao's current dilemma, so he couldn't wait to ask Lu Su, "Please tell me, Zijing, how exactly should we win people's hearts!"

(End of this chapter)