The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 95 Liu Ye is envious. This monarch and minister are truly a wise couple that will last forever (Please subscribe!)

"The other person is a famous scholar from Yingchuan, from the Xun family, Xun You, Xun Gongda."

"Xun You was orphaned at a young age, but he was extremely smart and intelligent since childhood. He was able to distinguish between loyalty and treachery at a young age."

Oh?
Another child prodigy?

Liu Bei was slightly startled.

The people of the Han Dynasty had no immunity to child prodigies.

For example, Kong Rong was ridiculed when he was ten years old:

"If a child is good at something, he will not be good when he grows up."

Just because someone is smart when they are young, that may not be the case when they grow up.

Kong Rong retorted on the spot:
"When I think of you as a child, you must have been successful."

This means you must have been very smart when you were a child?
His reaction was so quick.

Therefore, whenever someone mentions Kong Rong, they will describe him as having a long-standing reputation and broad knowledge.

No matter how people today view Kong Rong, people at that time almost all praised him highly.

Whether it is Liu Bei, Chen Deng, or Cao Pi.

Even a madman like Ni Heng would put Kong Rong first when evaluating talented people.

"When Xun You was seven or eight years old, he was accidentally injured by his uncle Xun Qu, who was drunk."

"Xun You often avoided Xun Qu in order to prevent him from feeling guilty when he woke up from his drunken stupor."

"Xun Qu knew the time and was amazed at his wisdom."

"When Xun You was thirteen years old, his grandfather Xun Tan died, and a man named Zhang Quan volunteered to guard his tomb."

"Xun You then said to Xun Qu: This official has an unusual look, and he may be treacherous."

"Xun Qu investigated and found out that Zhang Quan was a fugitive murderer."

"From then on, all the Xun clan members looked at Xun You differently."

Liu Bei nodded, "He is indeed a young talent, but I wonder why he came to Jingzhou?"

Li Yi explained:

"Several years ago, Xun You was the Imperial Court Attendant in Luoyang, and conspired with Counselor Zheng Tai and Chief Clerk He Yong to assassinate Dong Zhuo."

"But the plot was leaked, and all the people involved were thrown into prison and charged."

"He Yong was so worried that he committed suicide in prison, but Xun You ate and drank as usual."

"Afterwards, Dong Zhuo was executed and a general amnesty was issued, and Xun You was also pardoned and released."

"He has now sought the position of governor of Shu County and was supposed to take up the post, but due to road obstruction, he was stopped in Xiangyang, Jingzhou."

"As for Gan Ning, who I just mentioned, he also knew that he could not accomplish anything in Shu, and he heard that there were many wars in Jiangdong, so he wanted to go to Jiangdong to realize his ambitions."

"But we were also affected by the war and could not cross the river. We could only temporarily rely on Huang Zu, the governor of Jiangxia."

"Zi Jing went south to Jingzhou and wanted to reach Xiangyang, so he first passed through Jiangxia."

"These two can be conquered together."

Li Yi introduced the life stories of Xun You and Gan Ning to Liu Bei in a very eloquent manner.

Xun You, a man of many brilliant ideas and from a noble family.

A hero on the river, Gan Ning, who is invincible in naval battles.

One literary and one martial, like adding wings.

What frightened Liu Bei even more was the breadth of Li Yi's knowledge.

Although I knew that he studied under a hermit master and had been with him for more than a year, I already knew that he was extremely talented.

But every time I see him recommending someone, I still feel amazed.

Liu Bei thought to himself:

"The master has been taught by immortals and is able to see into the secrets of heaven and the human heart."

"I have no great kindness, but I have received help from gods and men."

"This is why Heaven blesses the Han Dynasty."

"I am not happy to get Xuzhou, but I am happy to get Ziyu."

Liu Bei immediately summoned Lu Su and told him what had happened.

Lu Su was a hero among men and he loved making friends.

Upon hearing that Gan Ning and Xun You were both outstanding people, he happily went to Jingzhou.

He also summoned Taishi Ci and told him about buying horses in Liaodong and making friends with Gongsun Du.

Taishi Ci immediately patted his chest and assured:
"I am familiar with the Liaodong section. It may take others half a year to go back and forth."

"I'll be back in April."

Liu Bei repeatedly reminded him to be careful on the road.

Taishi Ci thanked him and immediately went to the East China Sea, found a good day, and prepared to set sail for Liaodong.

"Zi Jing and Zi Yi are both gone."

"I am really worried about you, but I am very worried about you all the way."

Liu Bei said while holding Li Yi's hand.

"My lord, are you worried that the war in Jiangnan might affect Zijing?"

Li Yi asked.

He was still relieved about this, because Lu Su in history was definitely a sinister and ruthless person.

Ordinary people really can't bully him.

"Zi Jing is a hero of his time, so I am not too worried."

"Even Xun You, whom Ziyu just recommended, I am afraid he may not be willing to come."

Liu Bei said what was in his mind.

As Li Yi said, Xun You came from a prominent family in Yingchuan.

This family has existed since the Qin and Han Dynasties, and is definitely a T0-level family in the late Han Dynasty.

Cao Cao's Sima Xunyu was also Xun You's uncle.

And remotely controlled Yingchuan.

Li Yi once said that in troubled times, they would follow whoever controlled the hometown of the aristocratic families.

So Liu Bei was worried that Xun You would choose to join Cao instead of himself.

"I think Xun You will definitely come if the lord calls for him to come."

Li Yi said with a solemn vow.

"Oh? Sir, you are so confident again."

Liu Bei smiled. He was used to Li Yi's carefree and confident demeanor.

And Li Yi, as usual, expressed his own views:
"Although Xun You was born in the Xun family of Yingchuan, he lost his father at a young age, and his seniority in the family is not high."

"These aristocratic families usually don't put all their eggs in one basket."

"Now your majesty is powerful in Xuzhou, linking up with Yuan Tan in the north and Yuan Shu in the south."

"I think Xun will not give up this bet."

Indeed, the Xun family of Yingchuan has already bet on Boss Cao.

But as a younger generation in the family whose power was not strong, it was not impossible for Xun You to place another bet. Within two days, when Liu Bei was reorganizing his troops and preparing to go to Guangling to fight Yuan Shu.

Suddenly, a message was received that the envoy from Yanzhou, Man Chong, was coming to visit.

Li Yi and Liu Ye both suggested that Liu Bei should first focus on dealing with Yuan Shu and repairing his relationship with Cao Cao.

So when faced with the arrival of the Yan envoy, Liu Bei chose to meet him.

However, the people of Xuzhou hated Cao Cao very much.

In Xun Yu's words,
"Their sons and younger brothers will remember the shame of their fathers and brothers, and will defend themselves and have no intention of surrendering."

That is, everyone would rather die in battle than surrender to Cao Cao.

This is roughly how Xuzhou people hated Cao Cao.

So when Man Chong came to Xia Pi, although he traveled with a small entourage, he was still besieged by the people of Xuzhou.

Liu Bei had no choice but to send Zhao Yun to lead a hundred infantry and cavalry to escort them to Xia Pi.

With escort all the way, Man Chong was able to enter the provincial capital safely.

After a while, Man Chong was invited into the main hall.

Liu Bei knew that Man Chong came well prepared, so he also brought along his trusted advisers such as Li Yi and Liu Ye.

So that he could deal with Cao Cao's envoy.

Many local officials in Xuzhou hated Cao Cao for attacking Xuzhou the previous year and begged Liu Bei to severely punish Man Chong.

Because there were many aristocratic families in Xuzhou, almost all of Xuzhou's officials came from these families.

But when Cao Cao arrived, all the land and workshops of these families were looted.

Wherever it passed, everything turned into white.

Of course, these families hated Cao Cao to the core, and naturally had no good feelings towards Man Chong.

They all suggested that Liu Bei kill Man Chong and then march west to attack Cao Cao in order to avenge the blood feud between two generations of Xuzhou’s military and civilians.

Liu Bei adhered to the policy of marching south first and west later, and endured the pressure from local officials in Xuzhou to march west for a full year.

Today, after seeing the envoy from Yanzhou again, everyone's emotions finally exploded.

Li Yi stood up and shouted:
"As officials of the prefecture, you did not put the interests of Xuzhou first, but the great cause of your lord. Instead, you pursued your own selfish desires and used personal interests as a pretext for public interests."

"This is not what a human subject should do!"

After a loud curse, the crowd's anger was finally calmed down.

Although Li Yi had only served in Xuzhou for one year, his prestige was already very high.

Few people dare to argue or conflict with him.

It's not just because Li Yi was favored by Liu Bei.

It was also because Li Yi and Chen Deng, the young master of the Xia Pi Chen family, were close friends.

He is also related by marriage to Mi Zhu, a wealthy man from the East China Sea.

Cao Bao, an old minister of Tao Qian who commanded the Danyang troops, had a close relationship with Li Yi.

With such connections, which local official in Xuzhou would dare to offend him?

It can even be said that some people are more afraid of Li Yi than Liu Bei.

Li Yi continued:

"Although Cao Cao was trapped in civil strife, he still had tens of thousands of soldiers ready to fight."

"In addition, Yuan Shao has already sent Zang Hong southward with 5,000 elite soldiers."

"Although Lü Bu has Chen Gong and Zhang Miao to help him, he has now switched from offense to defense. You must see clearly how his victory in Yanzhou will be."

If Liu Bei had not secretly provided financial support to Lu Bu, Cao Cao would have relied on Yuan Shao's support and the support of the Xun family of Yingchuan, the Cao family of Peiguo, and the Xiahou family.

Lu Bu would have collapsed long ago, how could he have resisted for so long?
"Xuzhou is currently pacifying the troops of Qingzhou, spending a huge amount of money and food."

"Yan Shu's troops are still in Guangling and have not retreated. Last year's harvest was good, and the money and grain in the government treasury are not much left."

"If you insist on going west to attack Cao Cao, you can donate money and food."

"As long as the proceeds are sufficient for military needs, there is no need for you to waste your breath."

"I advise my lord to march west to attack Cao Cao!"

Li Yi scolded all the officials so harshly that he felt ashamed.

These people are usually very active when shouting for war and killing.

When they were really asked to pay, they all shut up.

"What the military advisor is teaching us is that we were not thoughtful enough just now."

"I hope you will forgive me!"

All the officials apologized to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei comforted him by saying:

"Cao Cao has committed crimes against the elders of Xuzhou, causing their flesh and blood to be shed in the wild."

"You and Cao Cao have a deep blood feud."

"Now that I have seen Cao's envoy, I am filled with anger, which is human nature."

"You don't have to take the blame."

The officials felt even more ashamed and expressed their gratitude to Liu Bei for his leniency.

Liu Ye saw this scene.

I am completely impressed by the tacit understanding between Liu Bei and Li Yi, the king and his minister.

There are some things that are not suitable for the lord to say in person.

Just now, Li Yi played the good guy role.

To tell the truth, everyone was scolded.

Then Liu Bei played the good guy, appeased everyone with sweet words and won their hearts.

In this way, the people of Xuzhou were all grateful to Liu Bei for his kindness and were willing to do their best for him.

No wonder others say that Liu Bei is kind and generous, and can get people to work hard for him.

This pair of king and minister is a true close friend.

Liu Ye felt admiration and envy.

How he wished he could be one of them.

It's obviously a movie about three people, but I still can't name them.

Liu Ye knew that although his lord was also Liu Bei.

But as long as Li Yi is there, no one can ever interfere with their relationship.

This pair of monarch and minister will be truly wise and virtuous for all eternity in the future.

I am very lucky to be able to participate in it.

"Okay, bring Man Chong here first."

"Let's see what he has to say."

At Liu Bei's order, Man Chong was quickly welcomed into the main hall.

……

(End of this chapter)