Three Reconstructions of the Han Dynasty: I Helped Zhuge Liang Perfect the Longzhong Plan

Liu Bei looked up in surprise: "Zimao, what do you mean?"

Gu Sulin bowed slightly, adhering to the duties of a strategist, and spoke in a calm and respectful tone: "Zhou Yu has presented the Wu Lord with his grand plan to attack Shu, and the Wu Lord has approved it. Afterwards, Zhou Yu strongly advised the Wu Lord to keep our lord under control and not to let him return. The pawns I planted have already moved according to plan, and the news has already reached the ears of the Lady."

"She should be on her way by now."

Before the words were finished, clear and hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, accompanied by the respectful announcement of a servant.

"The princess has arrived!"

Liu Bei suddenly stood up, his expression slightly changing.

Gu Sulin stood with his hands at his sides, looking calm, as if everything was within his expectations.

The curtain was gently lifted, and a cool and upright figure stepped into the pavilion.

Lady Sun stood before the door, her gaze fixed directly on Liu Bei, without the slightest hesitation or formality; her words were clear and firm:

"Uncle, you can no longer stay in Nanxu."

"Zhou Yu has already decided on the grand plan to conquer Shu, and the rear cannot be lost. He advised my brother to keep you under house arrest here and keep you under strict guard, otherwise you will never be able to leave."

Although Liu Bei had anticipated this, he was still shocked upon hearing it, and his expression of surprise was hard to hide.

Gu Sulin stepped forward at the opportune moment, bowed slightly to Liu Bei, and calmly gave his key assessment:

"With Zhou Yu's campaign against Shu imminent, in order to ensure the safety of the rear, he must place our lord under his control. In name only, he will be under house arrest. Once this is confirmed, Jingzhou will be in chaos, the alliance will be in danger, and Jiangdong will not be at peace either."

"Given the current situation, there is no other choice but to leave quickly."

"Zimao..." Liu Bei's voice was slightly hoarse, "Then how do we escape?"

"My lord, what the lady says is true. Zhou Yu prioritizes the conquest of Shu. Knowing that you have been staying in Nanxu for so long, he will surely be on high alert to prevent us from returning. Now that he has already made a plan with the Marquis of Wu, if we ask to return again based on common sense, it will surely be rejected, and it will also arouse Zhou Yu's suspicion."

"Then what should we do according to Zi Mao's plan?" Liu Bei pressed.

Gu Sulin raised her eyes, the lamplight reflecting in them, as if a galaxy had sunk to the bottom of her eyes:

"We should not set out with the intention of fleeing, but return to our town with the greater good in mind."

Liu Bei was taken aback: "The greater good?"

"Exactly." Gu Sulin's tone was calm, but every word was sharp. "My lord can tell Lord Wu that after being away from Jingzhou for so long, the old troops in Jingzhou are restless, the surrendered generals are not settled, and the powerful are watching and waiting. If they are not returned to their posts in time, I fear that internal strife may break out."

He paused, then continued:

"My lord, you can say: Liu Bei's departure is not for his own return, but to defend the territory of Jiangdong. To guard Jingzhou is to protect Jiangling; to protect Jiangling is to assist Gongjin's western expedition. This is a reason he cannot refuse, nor dares to delay."

A slight light appeared in Madam Sun's eyes.

The brilliance of this plan lies in the fact that it does not resemble a plan to flee, but rather places Sun Quan in a position of "overall situation".

Opposing Liu Bei's return would jeopardize the overall situation in Jiangdong; supporting his return to his post would truly be for the good of Jiangdong.

Could Zhou Yu have imagined that Jingzhou wouldn't be in chaos?

can.

But he couldn't guarantee it.

He dared not insist on Liu Bei's departure in front of Sun Quan, for if things really went wrong, it would be like Zhou Yu's mistake in the western expedition.

What Sun Quan feared most was that unforeseen events would occur in the rear, delaying his grand western expedition.

Having just made the decision to attack Shu, how could he allow any worries to arise in the rear?

Gu Sulin continued, "My lord, you only need to emphasize one point—I am not determined to leave, but it is my duty, and the overall situation cannot be delayed any longer." His tone was gentle and his attitude sincere; it did not sound like he was fleeing, but rather like he was pleading for his life.

He looked at Lady Sun, his tone softening slightly: "With you here, a simple statement like, 'If Jingzhou is safe, then Jiangdong is safe; if the Imperial Uncle returns, then the western expedition will be worry-free,' will be enough to reassure the Marquis of Wu."

Madam Sun nodded: "I understand."

Liu Bei took a deep breath, and his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally calmed down a bit.

Gu Sulin's words, though seemingly mild, are in fact impeccable.

"I will go to see Lord Wu immediately," Liu Bei decided.

"My lord, please remember this," Gu Sulin reminded him in a deep voice, "Do not be hasty, do not panic, and do not show any eagerness. You must prioritize the overall situation and the well-being of Jiangdong."

"Noted down."

……

Inside the Wu Hou Mansion, the lights were on full display.

Sun Quan sat calmly at his desk, but a sense of unease lingered in his heart.

He had just finalized a plan with Zhou Yu to continue keeping Liu Bei under control, and now that Liu Bei had come, he was somewhat uneasy.

Liu Bei entered the hall, bowed, and moved with proper decorum.

"Uncle, what brings you to see me in such a hurry?" Sun Quan asked indifferently.

Liu Bei bowed and said sincerely, "Lord Wu, I have come here today to ask you a favor."

"you say."

"Having been in Nanxu for half a year since the marriage alliance, I have been treated kindly by Lord Wu and enjoyed a peaceful and leisurely life, for which I am deeply grateful," Liu Bei said calmly. "However, Jingzhou has just been annexed, and the people's hearts are not yet settled. There is no one to lead my old troops, no one to suppress the surrendered generals, and the powerful clans are also hesitant to act. If I am away from Jingzhou for too long, doubts will inevitably arise in the army, and the people's hearts will inevitably become turbulent."

He raised his eyes, his gaze solemn: "If Jingzhou is in chaos, Jiangling will be shaken; if Jiangling is shaken, Gongjin's rear route in the west will be in grave danger."

The grand plan of the western expedition cannot be allowed to fail because there is no one in the rear.

Sun Quan frowned slightly.

These words sounded agreeable, but they also made his heart tighten.

"How did the Imperial Uncle know that Gongjin was preparing for a western expedition?"

Liu Bei calmly replied, "Gongjin has been stationed in Jiangling for a long time, intending nothing more than to attack Cao Cao and conquer Shu. However, Cao Cao is powerful, and if we attack him, the whole country will be mobilized. We will not be completely unaware of this in Nanxu."

Liu Bei paused for a moment, then continued, "It is not that I am unwilling to stay in Nanxu, but it is my duty and the overall situation that compels me. I am willing to return to Gong'an to pacify the army and the people, stabilize the region, and safeguard the rear for Gong Jin's western expedition, so that the great cause of Jiangdong will have no worries about the rear."

He bowed deeply and said, "I humbly request permission from Lord Wu."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Sun Quan tapped his fingers lightly on the edge of the table, his mind racing.

Release? Zhou Yu just said, "We must not release them."

"Don't let go?" Liu Bei's words were so insightful and to the point that he had no way to refute them.

Before anyone knew it, the palace door was gently pushed open.

Madam Sun entered slowly and bowed gracefully, saying, "Brother."

Sun Quan looked at his sister: "What brings you here?"

Lady Sun raised her eyes, her gaze resolute: "I married the Imperial Uncle on my brother's orders. I wholeheartedly agree with what my husband just said."

She looked at Sun Quan, her tone gentle yet resolute: "If Jingzhou is safe, then Jiangling is safe; if Jiangling is safe, then Jiangdong is safe. The return of the Imperial Uncle to his post will be beneficial to the great cause of the Sun family, without any harm."

If your elder brother suspects him of being unreliable, he can be sent back to the capital to report on the situation in Jiangling regularly. This will both reassure the people and ensure the success of the western expedition.

This push, though light and delicate, struck Sun Quan's most vulnerable spot.

Sun Quan pondered for a moment, then looked up at Liu Bei:

"Since Lord Xuande prioritizes the overall situation and is also thinking of our Jiangdong expedition... then, go back."

With those words, Liu Bei felt relieved.

Not far away in the corridor, Zhou Yu, who had just arrived from elsewhere, rushed in upon hearing the news: "My lord—"

But Sun Quan had already nodded.

He froze, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.

He had just decided not to release Liu Bei, so how did he end up being forced into a position of having no choice but to release him by Liu Bei's righteousness?

Zhou Yu opened his mouth, but in the end he only sighed and swallowed his words.