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

The city gates were wide open, the armor and weapons were gleaming, and the music was solemn. Guan Yu, dressed in a green robe and golden armor, with a dignified beard and hair, personally led the civil and military officials of Jingzhou to wait there.

On the left, military generals such as Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Mi Fang, and Feng Xi stand with their hands on their swords, exuding an imposing aura;

On the right, civil officials such as Mi Zhu, Ma Liang, Jiang Wan, and Xiang Lang, dressed in official robes, stood in neat formation, respectful and awaiting Liu Bei's return.

Liu Bei dismounted and walked forward with hurried steps.

Before he could speak, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had already stepped forward. The three brothers had been separated for many years, experiencing life-and-death separations and battles across thousands of miles. Now that they were reunited, countless words were stuck in their throats.

Zhang Fei's eyes reddened first, and he hugged Liu Bei tightly, his rough voice choked with uncontrollable sobs:

"Big brother! We've been waiting for you to come back!"

Guan Yu could not hide his emotions either, and they embraced tightly. The three of them stood side by side, embracing and weeping. Every word they uttered was filled with deep longing, expressing the concern and yearning they had felt after being separated for so many years.

After a long while, the three brothers slowly loosened their grip.

Liu Bei looked up at the assembled civil and military officials of Jingzhou who were lined up to welcome him. Seeing the sincerity and respect in their eyes, he was filled with mixed emotions and bowed deeply.

"I am deeply grateful to all of you for guarding Jingzhou and Xiangyang and upholding our foundation!"

All the civil and military officials in the hall bowed in unison, their voices resounding through the heavens: "We are willing to die for our lord!"

The crowd escorted Liu Bei into the Jiangling Mansion. The hall was warm and inviting, filled with the excitement of a long-awaited reunion.

Zhang Fei, being the most impatient of them all, couldn't contain his eagerness and stepped forward, asking loudly, "Brother, now that you've returned and have both Jing and Yi under your control, shouldn't you immediately launch a northern expedition?"

Looking at Zhang Fei's eager eyes and glancing around at the civil and military officials in the hall who were craning their necks to wait, Liu Bei laughed loudly and said, "What Yide said is absolutely right!"

Now that Yizhou is stable, Hanzhong is secure, and the three eastern commanderies are safe, Jingzhou and Yizhou are united, making it an opportune time for a northern expedition.

My return is to take command of the entire army, march north, capture Xiangfan, and punish the traitor Cao Cao!

After speaking, he straightened his expression and looked at the civil and military officials of Jingzhou: "For several years, you have worked hard to guard Jingzhou. Now that the Northern Expedition is imminent, you should all report on your duties and report on all matters concerning Jingzhou's military and political affairs, civil administration, food supplies, and military preparations."

"I come first!"

Zhang Fei, with his fiery temper, stepped forward before anyone could speak, and spoke in a deep, clear voice.

"Brother, ever since I was stationed in Lingling and Xiangdong counties, I have been doing everything according to the strategist's instructions before he left!"

Keep an eye on those people from Eastern Wu in the east. If they dare to send spies to infiltrate, I will arrest and severely punish them, and not a single word of it will get out!

I will show no mercy to those disobedient and troublesome aristocratic families within my territory. I will intimidate those who need to be intimidated and take away their troops as needed, so that they will be completely subdued!

Following the strategist's order to cultivate land, he led soldiers and civilians to reclaim fertile fields and repair irrigation canals. The two prefectures were fully stocked with grain, making the eastern defense line impregnable, ensuring that Eastern Wu would not have any opportunity to exploit the situation!

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei nodded repeatedly and praised, "Excellent! Yide is brave and also devoted to the administration of the people. Very good!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Guan Yu, exuding an aura of righteous indignation, stepped forward slowly, his voice booming like a bell, his demeanor calm and composed:

"Brother, I am in charge of all military affairs in Jingzhou."

He diligently followed the strategist's advice, oversaw the construction of warships day and night, trained the Jingzhou navy, and controlled the Yangtze and Han River waterways. His naval warfare skills were already highly proficient.

The army also adopted the military advisor's method of training troops, with strict discipline and proper advance and retreat.

He also supervised the manufacture of the improved Yuanrong crossbow by his military advisors. This crossbow was incredibly powerful, capable of firing ten arrows at once. It was easy to operate and extremely powerful. After being equipped by the entire army, our fighting strength increased dramatically, and ordinary Cao Cao's troops simply could not withstand it!

After saying this, Guan Yu's eyes showed a hint of admiration, clearly indicating his high regard for the weaponry.

A glint of light flashed in Liu Bei's eyes: "Yun Chang is a capable commander; with you here, there's nothing to worry about in Jingzhou's military affairs!"

Zhao Yun immediately stepped forward, his posture upright, his tone humble yet calm and resolute:

"My lord, during Yun's time guarding Wuling, he vigorously promoted the military-agricultural settlements and pacified the people within his territory."

He strictly followed the strategy of pacifying the barbarians set by the strategist and Mr. Ji Chang, treating the various tribes of the Five Streams with both kindness and severity, treating them with courtesy, not imposing heavy taxes or oppressing them, opening up trade markets and providing relief to the tribes, thus gaining the deep trust of the barbarians.

King Shamoke, grateful for the benevolent rule of our lord, made a pact with us, promising to personally lead over ten thousand barbarian soldiers to aid us in the northern expedition.

The soldiers of the Five Streams Barbarians have lived year-round in the mountains, forests, and waterways, excelling in surprise attacks in the mountains and familiar with open-field warfare. They will undoubtedly be a great asset to the Northern Expedition.

Liu Bei was overjoyed: "Zilong's actions were thorough and skillful; he even managed to subdue the barbarians. This is truly a great achievement!"

Among the civil officials, Ma Liang stepped forward calmly, his manner refined and his words appropriate:

"My lord, Liang should be in charge of reconciling the gentry in Jing and Xiang, and also oversee diplomacy with Wu."

When the strategist was in Jingzhou, he devised a strategy to appease the powerful families and weigh the pros and cons, thus stabilizing the morale of the gentry.

After the Xiang River was demarcated, Eastern Wu repeatedly stirred up trouble in secret, but the strategist resolved them one by one.

After the strategist entered Shu, he entrusted us with all the strategies for dealing with Wu's diplomacy. Although Eastern Wu secretly tested us again and made constant small moves based on previous alliance treaties, we dealt with them all properly according to the strategist's plans, preventing Jiangdong from gaining any advantage. The border between Jing and Wu is temporarily stable.

Jiang Wan followed closely behind, stepping forward with a respectful expression and earnest tone: "My lord, I have been exceptionally promoted by the military advisor to take charge of the administration and general affairs of Jingzhou, and I dare not slack off in the slightest."

Wan diligently followed the military advisor's rules and regulations, rectified officials at all levels, verified their performance, clearly distinguished between rewards and punishments, and eliminated those who held positions without performing their duties, resulting in a gradually cleaner and more transparent administration.

Furthermore, official schools were established in Jiangling, Changsha, and other places, selecting gifted but impoverished students to enroll and teach. A large number of capable grassroots personnel have been cultivated, enriching local administration and providing more useful men for the Northern Expedition in the future. We will certainly live up to the trust placed in us by our lord and strategist!

The remaining civil officials stepped forward in turn to report in detail:

He reported to Lang that the entire Jingzhou region had undergone a thorough survey of household registrations and the resettlement of displaced people, ensuring that the people lived in peace and prosperity without any displacement or chaos.

Mi Zhu reported that the grain and tax revenues were substantial, the military farms were highly effective, the official granaries were full of grain and the taxes were fully collected, enough to support the army for several years of war.

Yin Guan then detailed the military equipment reserves, the repair of the canal, and that warships, armor, and arrows were all in place, ensuring unimpeded supply routes.

All the civil and military officials performed their duties in detail, covering everything from military affairs and border defense to foreign diplomacy, and from official administration and education to grain and taxation, leaving nothing out.

Liu Bei sat upright in the main seat. After everyone had finished their reports, he slowly raised his eyes and glanced at all the civil and military officials in the hall. He had a clear understanding of the current state of Jingzhou's administration, military preparedness, finances, border defenses, and the true state of the people's hearts.

After years of painstaking efforts, Jingzhou and Xiangyang were secured, the army was well-equipped, the talent pool was abundant, and the rear was secure. A grand ambition grew stronger in his heart, and a smile slowly spread across his face. His determination to launch a northern expedition to pacify the Central Plains became more and more unbreakable.

"it is good."

Liu Bei said in a deep voice, his tone steady and powerful:

"For many years, you have guarded Jingzhou and Xiangyang, managing the civil administration internally, defending against powerful enemies externally, pacifying the gentry, maintaining harmony with the barbarians, training troops, stockpiling grain, and consolidating the territory. Your efforts have been meritorious and arduous."