Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 334 Heaven and Earth are ever-changing; a single tree cannot be supported.

[Troops have been moved to Yanzhou in preparation for unforeseen circumstances.]

The letter contained only eight words, spoken lightly, yet it silenced all the officials in the court.

Deploying troops?

Haven't all the troops been transferred to Huanyuan Pass by you, Prime Minister Cao, to block the main force of Yuan's army?
Even if there were any remaining troops, they were either blocking Zhang Xiu's Jingzhou army at Wuguan Pass or preventing Yuan Shao from taking the opportunity to move south.

Where are we going to find troops to deploy now? We can't just withdraw the troops that were originally meant to defend against Yuan Shao back to guard Yanzhou just because Yuan Shao hasn't attacked yet, can we?
What's the point of robbing Peter to pay Paul? Yuan Shao will attack in a couple of days, where will we send troops then?

Everyone remained silent, except for one person who had to speak up: Xun Yu.

Although he knew that the current situation was difficult and that his troops were stretched thin, he also knew that if, as Cao Cao had thought, the Cao-Lü alliance broke down and Lü Bu was ordered by the King of Han to go north and enter Yan.

With Yanzhou now completely vulnerable, it has no power to resist. If Lü Bu were to advance unimpeded and attack Luoyang from Yanzhou, the situation would only deteriorate further.

Therefore, no matter how difficult the situation is, in order to maintain this turbulent Han Dynasty, we must always spare the troops.

After a moment's thought, Xun Yu bowed with his hands clasped.

"His Majesty!
The country is in grave danger, and there are no troops left in the surrounding area. Only Luoyang still has 20,000 Western Garden troops and 10,000 Imperial Guards to protect the capital.

Now that things have come to this, the only option is to ask General Che Zhou to lead 20,000 Western Garden troops on an expedition to prepare against Lü Bu.

As for Luoyang, I will conscript more laborers to assist the Imperial Guards in their duties, in order to safeguard the capital's security.

As soon as Xun Yu finished speaking, all the ministers agreed. Although there was nothing they could do, this was the only solution they could find.

We can't just leave our troops in Luoyang and wait for Lü Bu to attack before we have to fight a battle to defend the capital, can we?

However, when Xun Yu made the proposal, all the ministers agreed, and only the emperor, who was nominally just a tool for stamping the document, nodded in approval, a very different voice rang out in the court.

"I disagree!"

The courtiers were astonished and stared at him.

Then, the man who looked like an old farmer, whose shoes were still covered in mud from the fields, and who had been unknown in the court for so long that almost everyone had forgotten his existence, walked out slowly, covered in dust.

Covered in mud, yet with firm steps, he bowed respectfully to the emperor.

"Your subject, General Liu Bei, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"Royal Uncle?"

On the dragon throne, the emperor's empty eyes, vacant from days of confinement, seemed to be pierced by the burning fire in Liu Bei's eyes, and he spoke in disbelief.

"But what's wrong with Xun Qing's plan?"

"Uncle, you might as well speak plainly."

"I believe that Lord Xun's plan is not wrong, but Che Zhou is not suitable as the person to lead the expedition."

He is no match for Lü Bu; sending him to lead the army is tantamount to sending him to his death!

Liu Bei spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but it was firm and resonant, carrying a convincing charm.

"Among those present, I am not boasting, but I am afraid no one understands Lü Bu better than me."

As for Lü Bu, the world calls him:
Among men, Lü Bu is the best; among horses, Red Hare is the best. Without Ji Ling, who can rival him?
If not Ji Ling, who could rival him?

With Che Zhou's martial prowess, he would surely be killed by Lü Bu's army of ten thousand men in a single exchange. How could he be a general?

Even if they avoid battle and win by commanding their troops, Lü Bu has Chen Gong under his command to devise strategies. If Che Zhou falls into the trap, the defeat of the army will be a minor matter, but Luoyang will be in danger.

Moreover, sending 20,000 Xiyuan troops to Yanzhou to resist tens of thousands of troops under Lü Bu's command was a suicide mission if it were not led by a famous general who was capable of winning against the odds.
Che Zhou was unmatched in martial arts by Lü Bu, unparalleled in military strategy by Chen Gong, and lacked the military strength to withstand the Qi army.

Without these three, Che Zhou is destined to fail. Sending him into Yan is merely a desperate measure, a short-sighted solution that won't even buy time. Instead, it will leave Luoyang vulnerable and cause endless trouble!

When these words were spoken, the entire hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The only person whose expression changed drastically was Che Zhou, who angrily pointed at Liu Bei and rebuked him.

"Liu Xuande, how dare you insult me?"

However, Liu Bei simply looked at him indifferently and smiled apologetically.

"General Che, can't you tell?"
This isn't directed at you, but rather out of concern for you!
If you are unfortunately defeated and die, you will be spared death, but if the emperor suffers danger as a result, you will not be able to atone for your sins even if you die ten thousand times, and you will be cursed for thousands of years.

Or does General Che, standing here before the Emperor and his court officials, dare you say that victory is assured and that Lü Bu is no match for you?

Meeting Liu Bei's caring gaze, Che Zhou felt a surge of anger, but instead of venting it, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head.

He suddenly realized that this trip to Yanzhou might be for a good job.
If Cao Cao's guess is correct, then the alliance between Cao Cao and Lü Bu is a sham, and Lü Bu's submission to the King of Han and his northward campaign against Yan are indeed the real intentions.

So what he was about to face was a desperate situation: leading a mere 20,000 troops, without any strategists or generals, and fighting against Lü Bu's entire Qi state group all by himself.

With the mighty Lü Bu and the strategist Chen Gong, they also had eight generals, ample provisions, and tens of thousands of elite troops.

And what do I have?
My chariot is only for myself.

Cao Cao's main force and elite troops were all tied down at Huanyuan Pass by Yuan Shu. The fact that he could bring any troops was already a drain on Luoyang's defensive strength.

Forget about supplies; with fighting on multiple fronts, it's uncertain how much they can even manage to squeeze out.

Damn it!

Is this his plan to lead an expedition to Yanzhou to defend against Lü Bu?

This isn't a mission to deliver Lü Bu's head; even Che Zhou himself doesn't believe it!
Thinking of this, Che Zhou's gaze towards Liu Bei changed. When he met Liu Bei's loving eyes again, he felt that it was so sincere.

Lord Xuande, you are a good man!
They even prepared reasons for me to decline.

If it weren't for Xuande's reminder, Zhou would have almost been tricked to death in Yanzhou by the inherently evil Xun Wenruo.

To everyone's surprise, Che Zhou, who was expected to contend with Liu Bei, took the initiative to back down.

He also bowed to the emperor and said, “Your Majesty, what Liu Huangshu said makes sense!”

Though I may die a martyr, I am willing to serve my country with all my heart and soul, even unto death, only regretting that my strength is insufficient.

"It is not that I am afraid of death, but I fear that defeat and death are minor matters; what is more important is leaving Luoyang vulnerable, which could be exploited by Lü Bu and endanger Your Majesty!"

Emperor: "."

Liu Bei had laid the groundwork to this extent, so the emperor naturally understood his meaning.

Although all the ministers who had served the Han dynasty were killed by Cao Cao after the assassination attempt, Liu Bei became very close to Cao Cao, often eating and drinking together and becoming confidants. This made Liu Xie unsure whether he could trust Liu Bei again.

But as Liu Bei said, if we send people to Yanzhou now, who else in Luoyang besides Liu Bei can resist Lü Bu?
As for deliberately letting Lü Bu into Luoyang, will this loyal general who once killed Dong Zhuo and rescued him try to rescue him again?
Liu Xie disagreed.

People change, and Lü Bu has already become king!

What difference is there between the King of Qi, the King of Han, and even the King of Wei in the north—these treacherous officials and rebels?
Compared to these self-proclaimed kings who would eventually declare themselves emperors and usurp the throne, Cao Cao, who merely held himself hostage and controlled the court, seemed like a good person, even appearing handsome and refined.

With a soft sigh, the emperor spoke as if resigned to his fate.

“What you say, Imperial Uncle, is very true. Lü Bu is no ordinary man. If we want to stop him, only you, Imperial Uncle, can do it.”

"Since General Che also admits he is no match for them and fears delaying the battle, then let the Imperial Uncle lead the troops on this mission." As he spoke, he looked up at Xun Yu and asked.

"Does Lord Xun agree with this arrangement?"

Xun Yu fell silent.

During this period of time, no matter how harmless Liu Bei appeared, spending his days farming at home as if he had long since lost all ambition, Xun Yu's vigilance towards him never diminished.

Liu Bei, a hero indeed, how could he bear to remain subservient to others for so long?
The more a hero endures in such a way, the more it proves that he has great ambitions.

Xun Yu had an almost intuitive feeling that if Liu Bei were allowed to enter Yanzhou this time, he would probably be like a fish out of the sea or a bird in the sky, never to return.

It must be said that Liu Bei seized the opportunity perfectly.

It's a pity there are no great generals in the court, which only allows Liu Bei to show off his heroism.

All the capable generals were either tied down by Yuan Shu or defending against Yuan Shao in the north. Looking around, who could rival Lü Bu except Liu Bei?
Che Zhou was already the best of the worst, but as Liu Bei said, sending him would only be a temporary measure, a delaying tactic.

Is it really the only option to send Liu Bei?

If Liu Bei had indeed escaped, even if he could have stopped Lü Bu, Yanzhou would still have fallen into Liu Bei's hands. It seemed like he had held on, but it also seemed like he hadn't.
Xun Yu: "."

Thinking of the possibility that Lü Bu might march straight into Luoyang, and considering Cao Cao's current attitude towards the emperor, as well as the ever-growing ambition of that once wise lord, Xun Yu thought to himself: So be it!

As long as Lü Bu, who declared himself King of Qi, can be stopped, even if Liu Bei takes Yan Province, he will still be a subject of the Han Dynasty and continue to submit to the court.

After the deaths of Han officials such as Liu Biao, Liu Yao, and Dong Cheng, if Liu Bei, a loyal member of the Han imperial family, could regain power, he might be able to further maintain the increasingly unbalanced power in the court, consolidate the power of the emperor's faction, and limit Cao Cao's growing ambition.

Besides, things have come to this point, so there's no better choice, is there?
However, Liu Bei could go to Yanzhou, or even stay there and not return, but Yanzhou could not be taken away from the control of the imperial court.

Thinking of this, Xun Yu also bowed to the emperor with his hands clasped.

"Your Majesty is wise."

Liu Bei, as the commander-in-chief of the Western Garden Army, is naturally the best candidate to lead the expedition.

However, the puppet Qi general Lü Bu had a large army and many generals, and no one could defeat him.

Since Che Zhou is the deputy general of the Western Garden Army, he can accompany Liu Bei on this journey to assist him in defending against the puppet Qi regime.

Because the Western Garden Army had always been under Cao Cao's control, and Liu Bei was always shrewd and spent his days farming, appearing indifferent to worldly affairs.

Therefore, Liu Bei, the commander of the Western Garden Army, had long been sidelined by Che Zhou. Sending Che Zhou along on this trip was a good way to monitor Liu Bei and prevent Yanzhou from completely slipping out of the court's control.

However, upon hearing this order, Che Zhou was greatly shocked, his face filled with disbelief. "Ah, this? I'm afraid..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xun Yu gave him a cold look and said, "What? Didn't General Che just say that he was willing to die for his country? Now that Liu Bei is leading the troops to resist Lü Bu, what difficulties do you have?"

Che Zhou could no longer refuse, and hurriedly smiled wryly, saying:
"No problem, this subordinate will accept the order."

Xun Yu nodded, "On this journey to Yanzhou, you are more familiar with the area than Liu Bei, so I will need you to lend a helping hand, stay by my side, and provide protection and guidance."

Che Zhou knew this meant he was to keep a close watch on Liu Bei, so he bowed and said, "Yes."

Seeing that Xun Yu and the men in Cao Cao's camp had reached a satisfactory agreement, the Emperor issued the following order:
"Now I hereby appoint Liu Bei as General of the Left and Governor of Yanzhou, leading 20,000 troops from the Western Garden Army to resist the puppet Qi state."

Do not disappoint me.

Liu Bei bowed deeply and refused to rise.

"Prepare, and respectfully obey the imperial edict."

"I am going to Yanzhou to quell the rebellion, and I do not know when I will return. From now on, I will not be in Luoyang. I beg Your Majesty to take good care of your health."

Seeing his emotional outpouring, almost to the point of tears, the emperor was also moved, rose up, walked over, and grasped his hand tightly.

"Take care, Imperial Uncle."

"I am in Luoyang, awaiting your triumphant return."

Xuande bid farewell to the emperor, tears streaming down his face. The emperor wept as he saw him off, his eyes brimming with tears.

After the court session ended, Xuande returned to his quarters. He packed up his weapons and horses under the cover of night, hung up his general's seal, and went to the West Garden to urge the troops to set off for the expedition.

Che Zhou, summoned in the middle of the night, looked at the Xiyuan Army, who were already lined up and waiting for him, and was completely bewildered.

"Why is Your Majesty in such a hurry?"

"Today, the world is in decline, and the Han dynasty is in distress. I toss and turn every day and night, unable to sleep due to worry."

We have heard that Lü Bu, the usurper of Qi, has invaded our Han territory. Every day we delay sending reinforcements, another part of Yanzhou's counties and prefectures will fall into enemy hands.

This ancestral legacy has been squandered by future generations; how can we not be anxious?

Che Zhou was speechless and could only accompany Liu Bei as he led his troops out of the city and hurried to Yanzhou.

On that day, Xuande led his troops to Yanzhou when he suddenly saw a man on the road, wearing a linen turban and a cloth robe, with a black sash and black shoes, singing as he approached.

The song goes: "Heaven and earth are in turmoil, the fire is about to die out; the great building is about to collapse, and a single tree cannot support it."

"Throughout the world, there are wise men who wish to serve a wise ruler; the sage ruler searches for worthy men, yet he does not know of me."

After the song ended, he laughed uncontrollably.

Xuande was astonished and said to Zhang Fei, "This is an extraordinary man. I should treat him with courtesy."

He then dismounted to meet him and asked his name.

The man said, “I am a native of Yingshang, surnamed Shan, named Fu. I have long heard that Your Excellency is recruiting talented people, so I came here to seek your help. I did not dare to visit you directly, so I sang this song here.”

Xuande was overjoyed and hurriedly helped him mount his horse, personally leading it for him.

Dan Fu was surprised and puzzled, saying, "General, you are a royal uncle, but I am just a country bumpkin. How can you receive such treatment after only meeting me once?"

"General, aren't you afraid I'm not a man of talent and virtue, but merely a charlatan?"

Xuande chuckled and replied, "The world is in disarray, various kings have risen up, people's hearts are filled with dissent, and the banner of Han has fallen to the side."

It is already a great fortune that someone has come to join me, someone with the same ideals, to work with me to restore the Han Dynasty.

How dare you distinguish between loyal and righteous people based on their talent or lack thereof, treating them with favoritism or indifference?
Regardless of anything else, given your trust in me, sir, who has come to me in dire straits, I am willing to serve you with utmost loyalty and righteousness, even at the cost of your life. What is wrong with that?

How could Shan Fu not be moved upon hearing this?

"I have long heard of Lord Xuande's benevolence and righteousness, and his desire to spread justice throughout the world. Seeing him today, I am even more impressed by his reputation."

The two became fast friends and spent their days together, discussing important matters of the world. Time flew by unnoticed.

Soon after, Xuande led his troops to Chenliu and rested in the government office.

Upon hearing that Lü Bu's army had marched out of Langya and was launching a fierce attack, claiming to be in the name of the King of Han, all the counties and prefectures surrendered without resistance.

At this time, they had already captured the three prefectures of Taishan, Shanyang, and Jiyin, and were fighting against Wang Yi, the governor of Dongjun, in Puyang.

Knowing the gravity of the situation, Liu Bei hurriedly invited Shan Fu to the government office to discuss strategies for dealing with the enemy.

(End of this chapter)