Brother, stop curling up! You're curling up like the founder of the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 256 Liu Bei Allies with Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu Plans Northern Expedition (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)
February 2nd, 195 AD (the fourth year of Zhangwu).

Liu Bei and Yuan Shao formally exchanged official letters at Cangting Ferry. In addition to issuing a joint statement declaring Yuan Shu a "false emperor," they also discussed exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including politics, economics, military affairs, culture, and diplomacy.

For example, in terms of population movement, both sides adopted a diplomatic strategy of easy entry and easy exit: those who thought Yuan Shao's policies were good went to Yuan Shao's Da Zhong; those who thought Liu Bei's policies were good went to Liu Bei's Da Han.

Although Yuan Shao wanted to emulate Yuan Shu's policy of easy entry and strict exit to prohibit commoners from migrating south, the specific circumstances in the north and south were different.

The north was a region where the Yellow Turbans were active, especially Jizhou, which was the place where the Yellow Turban ideology was most radical.

They won't let me move south?
Then I'll become a Yellow Turban.

Therefore, in order to reassure the common people to stay in the north, Yuan Shao adopted Tian Feng's suggestion to improve the treatment of the common people in the north under the premise of a policy of easy entry and exit, and to adopt a method of light taxes and levies so that the common people in the north could farm with peace of mind.

As for commoners who insisted on migrating south, they were neither encouraged nor forced to stay, which prevented a large-scale migration of commoners to the south and the possibility of another Yellow Turban Rebellion.

After all, the basic need of ordinary people is survival. Once their basic needs are met, most people are unwilling to actually leave their homeland.

For example, in terms of cultural dissemination, Yuan Shao decided to purchase papermaking and printing technologies from Liu Bei, and Liu Bei sent apprentices to Hebei to assist Yuan Shao in setting up workshops and streamlining processes.

Prior to this, Tian Feng had suggested to Yuan Shao that they follow Liu Bei's example and set up papermaking and printing workshops in Hebei.

Papermaking has been developing for hundreds of years, and it is hardly a secret to established families.

The difference is that aristocratic families generally use their wealth to pursue elegance rather than promote it.

Just like Zuo Bo paper, the original intention of papermaking was to have better paper for calligraphy and painting, pursuing aristocratic art.

Printing technology was not particularly difficult.

It's just that no one has promoted this before.

The powerful and wealthy families in Hebei also possessed sophisticated techniques for making rubbings of stone inscriptions.

Furthermore, Liu Bei deliberately gave Yuan Shao the complete simplified Chinese Thousand Character Classic, instructing Yuan Shao to promote the simplified characters in Hebei.

This provided Hebei with the objective conditions to establish printing workshops.

Although Tian Feng lacked military ability, his political skills were commendable.

Liu Bei's propaganda offensive during his last attack on Hebei made Yuan Shao uneasy, and to this day, the proclamations Liu Bei sent out still remain in counties and townships of Hebei.

It is better to block than to open up.

Since we can't stop Liu Bei's proclamation from spreading in Hebei, let's use Liu Bei's own tactics to fight back against him.

Therefore, after Tian Feng proposed to open papermaking and printing workshops, Yuan Shao supported Tian Feng's decision despite the opposition of many ministers.

At the same time, an order was issued to officially promote simplified characters as the common script used by the Zhongshi government in various counties and townships of Hebei.

After declaring himself emperor, Yuan Shao's execution ability improved significantly compared to the past, and he became less indecisive.

After learning that Yuan Shao was going to open papermaking and printing workshops and officially promote simplified characters as the common script in the Zhongshi Palace, Liu Bei sent Yuan Shao ten printed copies of "Xiangshizi" in advance.

Compared to the simplified Thousand Character Classic originally given to Yuan Shao, "Memorizing Characters by Matching" added simplified graphics and changed from woodblock printing to printmaking.

Starting with "sky, cloud, thunder, rain" and ending with "dung bucket, broom", the collection contains 388 characters, including 224 monosyllabic words and 82 disyllabic words. All the characters are based on objects from nature and daily life, and are accompanied by 306 illustrations.

Liu Bei's request was simple and direct: Don't waste time researching, I will directly sell you the technology of the papermaking and printing workshops, and I can even sell the woodblock printing technology of "Xiangshizi".

Although they knew Liu Bei wanted to make money off Zhongshi, the costs of setting up papermaking and printing workshops, as well as creating their own woodblocks and prints, were far higher than buying directly from Liu Bei.

After discussing with the court officials, Yuan Shao decided to deepen his cooperation with Liu Bei in papermaking and printing.

Liu Bei was not worried that selling his technology to Yuan Shao would lead to being surpassed; on the contrary, he was more worried that Yuan Shao would be complacent and insist that he spend money and time to study it himself.

If the powerful families of Hebei outwardly comply but inwardly refuse to deliver on their promises, causing Yuan Shao to lose his motivation to promote the project, this would be more than just a financial loss for Liu Bei.

Therefore.

Liu Bei had to make Yuan Shao feel threatened: Look, the Han Dynasty not only has the simplified Chinese character Thousand Character Classic, but now there is also an illustrated version of "Xiangshizi" to help people learn to read; moreover, papermaking and printing are booming and the technology is advancing by leaps and bounds. If you don't buy my technology, what will you use to compete with me in the future?

This is a conspiracy.

Even if the high-ranking officials and ministers were unwilling, Yuan Shao had to push through it.

In prosperous times, literacy is a cultural competition; in chaotic times, it is an arms race.

If you don't want to lose, you have to follow.

In comparison, Yuan Shao was not short of money.

After all, Yuan Shao, like Yuan Shu, did not place much importance on the people's livelihood.

Even the promotion of simplified characters was for the purpose of cultivating disciples and loyal followers, not for the purpose of eradicating illiteracy like Liu Bei did.

With the signing of the Cangtingjin Alliance, Yuan Shao's Da Zhong and Liu Bei's Da Han ushered in a temporary peace.

Yuan Shao knew he couldn't defeat Liu Bei, and believed he had gained a great advantage in the Cangting Ferry Alliance. To show his sincerity, he even transferred the troops stationed in Julu to Youzhou, preparing to attack the Xianbei and Wuhuan.

Liu Bei wanted to use Yuan Shao's power to promote productive tools and cripple the northern Di tribes. Therefore, he not only did not pursue Yuan Shao's victory, but was also happy to share productive tools to help Yuan Shao strengthen his rule over the north.

The basis for cooperation is mutual benefit.

The Cangtingjin Alliance benefited both Liu Bei and Yuan Shao, providing a basis for them to cease hostilities and deepen cooperation.

As for Yuan Shu...

The world was only achieved when Yuan Shu was injured.

To avenge the humiliation he suffered when he was an envoy to Yuan Shu, Zhang Jin suggested to Yuan Shao that they also beat up Yuan Si and, incidentally, have Yuan Si return to Echeng to inform Yuan Shu of the Cangtingjin Alliance.

Yuan Shao agreed to the proposal, but out of consideration for their shared kinship, he only symbolically beat Yuan Si and sent him back to Echeng to report to Yuan Shu.

Liu Bei then opened up the post road, allowing Yuan Si to bypass the detour and directly take the Cangting Ferry to enter Yanzhou, then Yuzhou, and finally back to Jingzhou.

"You big-eared scoundrel, the son of a concubine, you have gone too far in bullying me!"

Yuan Shu was furious.

The original intention of sending Yuan Si to persuade Yuan Shao to declare himself emperor was to have Yuan Shao attack Liu Bei, so that he could reap the benefits after the two fought each other.

Never thought.

Yuan Shao did indeed declare himself emperor!
Yuan Shao, who was capable of becoming emperor, not only did not use his military force against Liu Bei, but also made an alliance with Liu Bei at Cangting Ferry!
Yuan Shu was completely baffled!
Liu Bei, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, was not only not angry when faced with a self-proclaimed Da Zhong, but he was actually happy to see it happen. He not only did not send troops to attack him, but also signed an alliance.

Where is the dignity of your Han Dynasty emperor?
Yuan Shao is getting too big for his britches, why aren't you attacking him?
Not only did they not launch a campaign against Yuan Shao, they also deepened cooperation in politics, economy, military, culture, and diplomacy, truly treating Yuan Shao's Dazhong as a country!
What angered Yuan Shu even more was that Yuan Shao not only proclaimed himself Emperor Zhong, but also issued a joint statement with Liu Bei declaring that "Yuan Shu is a false emperor!"
I am the true Emperor Zhong, Yuan Shao is an imposter!

In terms of lineage, I am the legitimate son of the Yuan family.

In terms of precedence, I appointed my eldest son first.

Why am I considered a false emperor?

When can the Great Zhong regime be considered legitimate and justified only if it needs the permission of the Great Han?

Yang Hong, who advised Yuan Shu to persuade Yuan Shao to declare himself emperor, was equally bewildered.

Liu Bei and Yuan Shao shouldn't have reacted like that!
Shouldn't they be mortal enemies?
When will the basis for an alliance between Han and Zhong be established, since they are irreconcilable enemies?
Yang Hong didn't understand; this was the benefit of destroying the old and then building the new.

If the emperor were still Liu Xie, Liu Bei certainly wouldn't have been able to do this, otherwise it would have been an undermining of the Han dynasty's prestige and would have provoked opposition from Liu Xie and his ministers. But since the emperor was now Liu Bei, he directly refused Liu Xie's abdication and established his own dynasty. Liu Bei became the founding emperor, and although the dynasty was named Han, it was not the same Han dynasty as Liu Xiu's.

Furthermore, Liu Bei actively invited Yuan Shao to form an alliance rather than passively forming one. To ally with a strong power is to lower one's own prestige; to ally with a weak power is to display one's great prestige.

Therefore, there is no issue of Liu Bei lowering his own authority; rather, it is a consistent diplomatic strategy adopted by Liu Bei to counterbalance the two Yuan brothers.

Yuan Shao could not attack Liu Bei, and even signed the Cangting Ferry Alliance with Liu Bei, instantly putting pressure on Yuan Shu.

They could either remain in the south and wait for changes to occur in the north.

They could either launch a northern expedition to confront Liu Bei and decide the outcome of the battle.

"A northern expedition! I want a northern expedition!"

Yuan Shu felt a sense of urgency.

With Liu Bei and Yuan Shao ceasing hostilities, both sides were able to rapidly grow stronger.

If our side refuses to launch a northern expedition, it will eventually lose the will to fight.

It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.

Three years is enough time for a capable and fighting army to become complacent.

However, this proposal still failed to gain the support of the nobles.

Just as last year Yuan Shu wanted to take advantage of Liu Bei's suffering to launch a northern expedition, most of the officials were evasive about the expedition and unwilling to support it.

For the nobles, now is the time for vigorous development in the south, with both agriculture and commerce flourishing.

Why insist on fighting Liu Bei?
Wouldn't it be better to cease hostilities, achieve peace and prosperity, and live in tranquility?
One by one, the officials voiced their objections, which enraged Yuan Shu: "I am the Zhong Emperor! I want to launch a northern expedition, who dares to stop me?"

See this.

Lu Bu suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty wishes to launch a northern expedition, and I am willing to be the vanguard! However, the northern expedition is a major undertaking and cannot be decided in a short time. We also need to carefully consider where to launch our troops."

Since last year, Yuan Shu had been carefully considering "where to send troops".

Hanzhong is a strategically important and easily defended area, but difficult to attack.

Although Xuzhou was easy to attack but difficult to defend, capturing it would not be of much significance to Yuan Shu.

Once Yu Province is captured and Liu Bei's main force is defeated there, Xu Province can be pacified with a single proclamation.

He then replied, "I have long planned this. In this northern expedition, we should first take Yuzhou!"

After glancing at the assembled officials who were about to speak again, Yuan Shu shouted sternly, "Anyone who dares to dissuade me again will be executed without mercy!"

In recent years, Yuan Shu's prestige has grown daily, and he has shown no mercy when killing people.

Seeing that Yuan Shu truly intended to kill to establish his authority, the officials immediately dared not offer any further advice.

Having intimidated everyone, Yuan Shu no longer hesitated and ordered General Zhang Xun to lead more than 200,000 troops in seven routes to launch a northern expedition against Yuzhou.

General Zhang Xun of the First Route Army is in the center.

General Zhou Xin of the Second Route Cavalry was positioned on the left.

The third general, Lü Bu, was positioned on the right.

The fourth general, Zhou Ang, who led the northern expedition, was positioned on the left.

Cai Mao, the fifth general in charge of the eastern expedition, is positioned on the right.

The sixth general of the Western Expedition, Qiao Rui, was positioned on the left.

Liu Xun, the seventh general in the southern campaign, is on the right.

He then appointed General Ji Ling as the commander of the seven routes, while Yuan Shu led 30,000 troops and appointed Li Feng, Liang Gang, and Yue Jiu as envoys to urge the troops forward and support the seven routes.

Powerful generals from the Jingchu region, such as Zhang Yun, Wen Pin, Lü Jie, Huo Du, and Xu Gong, also accompanied the army.

Yuan Shu was determined to use his military might to intimidate others.

The governor of Yuzhou, Guan Yu, sent scouts to discover that Zhang Xun, Lü Bu, Qiao Rui, and Liu Xun were advancing from the main road from Nanyang directly towards Yingchuan, while Zhou Xin, Zhou Ang, and Cai Mao were advancing from the east directly towards Peiguo.

The seven armies, each traveling fifty li a day, came in a mighty and imposing manner.

Yuan Shu's army also took the main road to Nanyang.

Guan Yu then summoned his civil and military officials to discuss the matter.

Today, Guan Yu has both civil and military officials stationed in Yingchuan Commandery, Chen State, Liang State, Lu State, Pei State, and Runan Commandery, as well as in the governor's office.

Characters like Wu Ban, Zhang Zhang, Zhou Cang, Gong Du, He Yi, Huang Shao, Wang Ling, Han Meng, Guan Ping, Yang Xiu, and Xi Zhicai, though of humble origins, each possessed both literary and martial talents.

Outside the governor's mansion, there were outstanding figures of the time, including Yingchuan Prefect Mao Jie, Prince Liu Chong of Chen, Chancellor Luo Jun of Chen, Chancellor Du Xi of Liang, Chancellor Zhuge Jin of Lu, Chancellor Yuan Huan of Pei, and Prefect Man Chong of Runan. Each of them was skilled in both civil and military affairs.

Xu Chu also led troops to garrison Qiao County to assist in the defense of Yuzhou.

After glancing at the civil and military officials, Guan Yu said solemnly, "Although Yuan Shu's army is numerous, it is all a rabble. I am entrusted by His Majesty to guard Yu Province, so I cannot allow Yuan Shu to bring disaster to Yu Province."

“Yuan Shu’s troops are extremely undisciplined. If they are allowed to enter the country, they will surely plunder along the way, and the people of Yu Province will suffer from Yuan Shu’s plunder. It is my fault! Military strategy says that a good defender should keep the enemy outside the country’s gates.”

"I intend to take the initiative and defeat the enemy's main force in Nanyang!"

"Order: He Yi, Huang Shao, and Gong Du, lead 3,000 soldiers from Gebei to the camp below Bowangpo immediately."

"Order: Wu Ban, Zhang Zhang, and Zhou Cang form the left team, and Wang Ling, Han Meng, and Guan Ping form the right team, to follow up."

"Someone personally led the Lingyan Army to escort the grain and fodder, and they arrived shortly after."

"."

After carefully issuing all the military orders, Guan Yu instructed Yang Xiu: "Dezu, quickly send an order to Prince Chen, Liu Chong, instructing him to lead his troops into Runan to assist the Runan Prefect, Man Chong, in resisting Yuan Shu's eastern army."

Yang Xiu nodded in agreement: "The rebel army on the eastern route is adjacent to Xuzhou. Should we ask Sun Jian, the governor of Xuzhou, to send troops to help us?"

Guan Yu shook his head: "Sun Jian is brave and skilled in battle, and he also has many resourceful men under his command. If he sees Yuan Shu attacking Yu Province, he will surely have a countermeasure. There is no need for me to send someone to invite him."

After a pause, Yang Xiu asked again, "Should Luoyang send a message requesting reinforcements?"

Guan Yu was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty is already exhausted from managing state affairs. If you have to trouble yourself with everything, what use are we? Moreover, if the troops of Yu and Xu provinces cannot even stop Yuan Shu, how can Sun Jian and I have the face to guard Yu and Xu?"

As Liu Bei's most valued sworn brother and governor of Yu Province, Guan Yu naturally possessed an air of arrogance.

Guan Yu acknowledged that Yuan Shu's development trend in recent years had been quite fierce, but this apparent ferocity could not frighten Guan Yu.

there is always a solution to a problem.

As the governor of Yu Province, how could he rely on Liu Bei for everything?

Since Yuan Shu dared to come, Guan Yu would let Yuan Shu know: a skeleton in a tomb is not worthy to contend with his elder brother!

(End of this chapter)