Three Kingdoms: Daily settlement helps Liu Bei revive the Shu Han dynasty.

Chapter 120 The defeat at Kuaiji was not due to our incompetence, but rather the will of Heaven.

The two looked at each other and then remained silent.

The car headed towards Wanling City.

The outline of the city gate grew closer, banners fluttered atop the city walls, and soldiers stood tall and proud.

Liu Bei received the news early on and led Xu Kun, Zhuge Xuan, Mi Zhu, Sun Qian, Jian Yong and others out of the city to welcome them.

The military officer arranged by Xu Sheng rode ahead of the procession of carriages and horses.

Upon seeing Liu Bei in the distance, he immediately dismounted, strode forward, and knelt on one knee, saying, "My lord, this humble general has been ordered to escort Lord Wang and Chief Clerk Yu here."

"You've worked hard." Liu Bei bent down to help the military commander up. "Take the brothers to complete the handover, and then get a good rest for a couple of days."

"Yes! Thank you, my lord!" The young man was so excited that he was trembling all over.

Liu Bei's gaze fell on the blue-curtained carriage.

The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, and Wang Lang and Yu Fan stepped down from the carriage one after the other.

Liu Bei stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Gentlemen, you must be tired from your journey."

As the governor of a province, Liu Bei now effectively controls four commanderies, commands tens of thousands of elite troops, and has advisors such as Lu Yong, Guo Jia, and Lu Su, as well as generals such as Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun.

He not only showed no airs, but also took the initiative to perform this grand ceremony for the two surrendered officials.

Yu Fan's heart surged with emotion, and he couldn't help but think to himself, "How many people like this can there be in the world?"

Wang Lang and Yu Fan quickly returned the greeting.

"Why should Liu Yuzhou personally welcome a defeated general?" Wang Lang replied in a somewhat hoarse voice.

With a warm smile on his face, Liu Bei said, "I deeply respect you, my lord, for your loyalty in defending the land."

This time, with troops approaching Kuaiji, we truly do not wish to commit further atrocities and cause more suffering to the people.

Fortunately, the two men were wise and understanding, which saved the land from widespread suffering.

If Huai'an has offended you in any way, I will apologize to the two gentlemen on his behalf.

After saying this, Liu Bei bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle.

Wang Lang and Yu Fan quickly returned the greeting.

After the three men straightened up, Wang Lang couldn't help but sigh, "I have failed in my duty to defend the land, resulting in the loss of troops and territory. I have no face to see you, my lord."

However, Your Excellency did not punish me but instead welcomed me; I, Lang, am ashamed and unworthy of such praise.

His expression was full of melancholy as he spoke.

After all, he had managed Kuaiji for several years, and when the city fell and he surrendered, he still felt somewhat resentful.

"Why do you say such things, my lord?" Liu Bei gently comforted him, "Back then, when Dong Zhuo was in power, you abandoned your post and fled to the capital. Your reputation for loyalty and righteousness is known throughout the land."

Returning to Han today is the right thing to do; why should I feel guilty?

Seeing Liu Bei's sincere and unpretentious words, Yu Fan's unease gradually dissipated.

He immediately curtsied and said, "Your Excellency, as the governor, personally came out of the city gate to welcome us defeated generals. Your magnanimity is truly admirable."

Liu Bei quickly reached out to help him up, his eyes smiling as he said, "Yu Zhongxiang's talent is widely known, and he is upright and outspoken. I have long heard of him. It is truly a fortunate occasion to meet him today."

Liu Bei stepped aside, leading Wang Lang, Yu Fan, and the others behind him to meet.

"This is Xu Kun, the Chancellor of the Chongwen Academy," Liu Bei said, pointing to Xu Kun.

Xu Kun stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "I have long admired the name of Governor Wang. It is my great honor to meet you today."

Wang Lang quickly returned the greeting: "Master Xu is a descendant of Xu Ruzi, whom I have long admired."

"9

Xu Kun smiled and said, "If Your Excellency is willing to stay, Chongwen Academy will have another great scholar!"

"No, no, I wouldn't dare."

The two looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.

Liu Bei then pointed to Zhuge Xuan and said, "This is Zhuge Xuan, the Director of the Chongwen Academy and the former Prefect of Yuzhang."

Zhuge Xuan cupped his hands in greeting, and Wang Lang and Yu Fan returned the gesture.

Mi Zhu and Sun Qian also stepped forward to pay their respects.

Jian Yong was the last one. He said with a grin, "Lord Wang, the wine of Wanling is the best in the Han Dynasty. You must have a few more cups."

"Definitely, definitely!" Wang Lang was also a connoisseur of wine, and he was already quite impatient.

Liu Bei led Wang Lang and Yu Fan into the city.

The wide streets were bustling with pedestrians.

The shops on both sides are lined up one after another, and the place is bustling with activity.

Wang Lang noticed a newly built school on the street corner.

The plaque above the gate reads "Wanling Township School," and the sound of children reading aloud can be heard intermittently from inside.

"Liu Yuzhou, how long has this school been open?" Wang Lang asked curiously.

"It hasn't even been two months yet," Liu Bei replied. "This rural school will be piloted in Wanling first, and will be gradually extended to local counties next year."

Yu Fan moved slightly closer and listened intently.

Inside, the children were reciting in unison: "—The cold comes and the heat goes, autumn harvests and winter stores. Leap years complete the year, the musical scales harmonize the seasons—"

"Cold comes and heat goes, autumn harvests and winter stores. Leap years complete the year, musical scales harmonize the seasons—"

He couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, asking, "I've never heard of this article before, yet it's easy to recite and every word contains profound truths."

Who wrote this article?

Liu Bei laughed and said, "That is the Thousand Character Classic compiled by Huai'an and meticulously revised by Zhuge Kongming."

It contains a thousand different characters, arranged in four-character phrases, rhyming and easy to pronounce, specifically for the purpose of introducing children to the world.

Wang Lang turned his head and looked at Liu Bei in astonishment: "Organized by the Army Division?"

"That's right," Liu Bei nodded.

Wang Lang and Yu Fan exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

They had lived most of their lives and considered themselves quite knowledgeable, but they had never seen teaching materials tailored specifically for children like this.

Lu Yong was not only skilled in military strategy and governance, but also capable of compiling such enlightening and remarkable articles.

But he's clearly only in his early twenties, where would he find the time to learn so many things?

Yu Fan smiled wryly and sighed, "Lu Junshi is only in his early twenties, yet he is so learned. It really makes us ashamed."

"It's not just Lu Huai'an," Jian Yong suddenly blurted out, "There's another prodigy like him, Zhuge Liang!"

"Zhuge—" Wang Lang pondered, then turned to look at Zhuge Xuan.

Zhuge Xuan immediately broke into a bright smile, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Excellency, Kongming is my nephew, and he has just turned fifteen this year."

Wang Lang and Yu Fan were completely speechless.

He started writing books at the age of fifteen?

Have we wasted all these years of our lives?!

Upon arriving in Wanling, Wang Lang and Yu Fan suddenly realized that they were like country bumpkins entering the city.

The sheer variety of things I'd never heard of and things I'd never seen before left me feeling overwhelmed.

Liu Bei invited the two of them directly to his governor's mansion, while the others returned to their posts and continued their work.

Tea and refreshments had been prepared in the main hall. Liu Bei invited Wang Lang and Yu Fan to take their seats, and then sat in the main seat himself.

"Gentlemen, you must be tired from your journey. Please rest for a moment. I have prepared a banquet to welcome you both," Liu Bei said.

"You're too kind, Liu Yuzhou," Wang Lang said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Yu Fan sat to one side, his gaze sweeping around the hall.

The governor's mansion, a grand place, had no decorations other than a piece of cursive calligraphy hanging on the wall.

If you look closely, you can see the signature, which is none other than Liu Bei's sworn brother, Zhang Fei!

The entire hall was so simple, it could even be described as somewhat shabby.

"Prefect Liu, your residence—" Yu Fan couldn't help but ask.

Liu Bei laughed and said, "Soldiers, workshops, schools, water conservancy, and so on, all of these will cost a lot of money."

Huai'an never helps me save money, so I have to be frugal myself.

Wang Lang and Yu Fan laughed together.

But he was deeply shocked.

When Liu Bei spoke of Lu Yong, his tone was not like that of a subject and his servant, but rather like that of a close relative.

This shows Liu Bei's trust in Lu Yong, and it also explains why Lu Yong would fight for Liu Bei in the east and west and wholeheartedly assist him.

The two of them couldn't help but summarize it in one sentence: "Only today does Lang realize what the true aura of a dragon is."

"The defeat at Kuaiji was not due to our incompetence, but rather the will of Heaven!"

'