Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

He paused, then added, "Besides, Hanzhong is the gateway to Shu. If Your Highness wants to pacify Yizhou, you will definitely need to find a more suitable person to guard it. I know my own abilities, and occupying this position would only hinder Your Highness's important matters."

He became more and more relaxed as he spoke, and his tone became more lively:

"Besides, as the Prefect of Hanzhong, I'm caught between you and Liu Yan of Yizhou, like a sandwich filling every day. I've had enough! Your Highness is giving me a more stable job, and I'd be overjoyed. Why would I disagree?"

These words amused Liu Ce even more, and he pointed at him and laughed, "You, Su Gu, are quite the honest man! Alright, don't worry, I won't let you make this trip for nothing."

He sat back in the main seat and said seriously, "Even if you're relieved of your post as Prefect of Hanzhong, you won't be sent back to farm. The Three Auxiliary Regions happen to be short of a Prefect of Right Fufeng. You've managed the people's livelihood in Hanzhong for many years and have plenty of experience. This position is perfect for you. Your salary will be doubled, and you'll have considerable real power. It's much better than being a sandwich filling in Hanzhong, isn't it?"

Upon hearing this, Su Gu's eyes lit up instantly.

Youfufeng! One of the Three Auxiliary Regions, a strategically important area near the capital! This position is several levels higher than that of the Prefect of Hanzhong!

He quickly bowed deeply to Liu Ce again, his voice filled with surprise and delight:

"Your Highness, I thank you for your great kindness! Rest assured, Your Highness, I will do my utmost to govern Right Fufeng perfectly and will absolutely not cause you any trouble!"

He originally thought that he would be lucky to save his life and be given a sinecure.

Unexpectedly, Liu Ce gave him a position with real power, and the last bit of unease in his heart completely disappeared.

That afternoon, Su Gu handed over all the official documents and seals in Hanzhong to the officials of the Prime Minister's residence in a very efficient manner.

After the handover was completed, he stood at the entrance of the Prince of Yan's residence, looking at the bustling scene of Luoyang, let out a long sigh of relief, and smiled as he said to the registrar beside him:

"See? I told you! Following His Highness Prince Yan, we won't suffer! This trip to Luoyang was definitely worth it!"

...

After Su Gu left the Prince of Yan's residence, Liu Ce immediately summoned his men to the council hall.

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, Jia Xu, Cheng Yu, Li Jing, Xu Da, Zhang He... a whole room was filled with them.

Liu Ce told everyone about Su Gu's surrender and the capture of Hanzhong.

In the council chamber, everyone nodded in approval, agreeing that the matter had been handled admirably.

Fang Xuanling said, "Su Gu is a man of great principle and has taken the initiative to surrender, saving us a lot of trouble. With Hanzhong in our hands, the gateway to Yizhou will be opened."

Du Ruhui said, "The next step is to send someone to take over Hanzhong and stabilize the situation. At the same time, we need to assign capable people to govern it and prevent any trouble from happening in Hanzhong."

Guo Jia waved his feather fan and laughed, "Su Gu is a man who knows how to seize the moment. He has been operating in Hanzhong for many years and has considerable prestige. If he takes the initiative to surrender, the noble families and common people of Hanzhong will not cause trouble. It is only natural for us to take over."

Liu Ce nodded and began to make arrangements:

"Hanzhong has been captured; the next step is to send people to take over."

"Zhang He, listen to my command!"

Zhang He strode forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Your subordinate is here!"

"I hereby order you to lead ten thousand soldiers to Hanzhong Commandery and take over Hanzhong. Once there, stabilize the situation, appease the people, and reorganize the troops. Hanzhong is strategically important and is the gateway to Shu; you must defend it firmly and without the slightest mistake."

Zhang He clasped his hands in a fist salute and said in a loud voice, "This humble general obeys! I will certainly defend Hanzhong and not allow a single enemy to set foot inside!"

Liu Ce nodded, then looked at Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Xun Yu, and the others, and said:

"Xuanling, Keming, Wenruo, you arrange for people to govern Hanzhong Commandery. Officials should be drawn from the Youzhou Academy, selecting those who are reliable, hardworking, and familiar with the people's conditions..."

Fang Xuanling cupped his hands and said, "Rest assured, my lord, we will make the arrangements immediately."

Du Ruhui added, "Hanzhong is located at a crucial crossroads between the north and south, and its people are complex. We need to send a capable person there. I recommend Li Ke, a graduate of the third class of Youzhou Academy. He excelled in his studies at the academy and also completed a year of internship in Jizhou. He is familiar with government affairs and is well-suited for important tasks."

Xun Yu nodded and said, "I have also heard of Li Ke; he is indeed a promising talent. Sending him to Hanzhong will allow him to gain experience and also help him manage government affairs smoothly."

Liu Ce thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, let him go. Also, assign a few experienced veterans to help him out. Hanzhong has just submitted; we can't afford any trouble."

"promise!"

And that's how it was settled.

Zhang He accepted the order and began mustering troops that very day.

After several days of preparation, ten thousand elite soldiers, gleaming in armor and high in morale, arrived.

After leaving Luoyang, we headed west, heading straight for Hanzhong.

...

half a month later.

Yizhou, Guanghan Commandery, Mianzhu County, Governor's Office.

Liu Yan slumped in the cushioned seat, her face sallow, her eyes sunken, making her look ten years older.

Ever since he received the news that Su Gu, the governor of Hanzhong, had been summoned to Luoyang and that Hanzhong had fallen into Liu Ce's hands, he hadn't had a good night's sleep.

Clumps of white hair were falling out from his temples, and his beard was a mess, making him look like an old man fleeing famine.

He listened to Dong Fu's advice and risked his life to come to Yizhou because he saw that Shu had natural defenses and supplies, and that he could become a local tyrant by closing the door.

He was just waiting for the world to descend into chaos so he could ascend the throne in Shu and experience what it meant to be an emperor.

And it's only been a few years?

Liu Ce swept across the land from Youzhou, conquering most of the country.

Now that they've even taken Hanzhong, it's like a knife is being held directly to his throat.

"Oh no, it's all over now..." Liu Yan sighed, unable to even hold the teacup steady, spilling tea all over his robe.

The attendant from the Prefectural Governor's office rushed in, holding tightly sealed letters, his face as white as paper.

"My lord! A letter from Luoyang! Written by Liu Ce, the Prince of Yan, and sent in the name of the imperial court!"

"What?!" Liu Yan's hand trembled, and the teacup crashed to the ground with a "bang," splashing tea everywhere.

He didn't even bother to wipe it; he quickly reached out and snatched the letter, tearing it open with trembling hands.

The letter was written by Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui according to Liu Ce's wishes, using both soft and hard tactics, and clearly explaining the advantages and disadvantages in plain language.

First, they gave him plenty of face, addressing him as "uncle of the same clan" from the very beginning, praising him for his meritorious service in guarding Yizhou and pacifying the people, thus protecting the southwestern gateway for the Han Dynasty.

Then he presented the facts, saying that all ten provinces of the empire had already fallen to the Han Dynasty, with only Yi Province, Yang Province, and Jiao Province remaining uncertain. Jiao Province would soon be under control, and Hanzhong had already submitted, so Uncle, you shouldn't try to hold on any longer.

Then they offered plenty of benefits—as long as you surrender the city, you will retain your title of Marquis of Yangcheng and be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and a hundred bolts of brocade.

Your sons can also enter the court as officials (hinting at his sons in Luoyang), enjoying a life of wealth and honor, just like Liu Yu in Jingzhou.

Finally, he made a harsh statement, saying that if people insisted on resisting to the end, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu were ready examples.

We've reserved a spot for you at Gongdelin, but don't even think about the eight dishes and one soup; we'll have plenty of steamed buns.