The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 23 The longest road Che Zhou has ever walked is the road of Liu Bei's schemes.

"Snapped--"

Governor's Mansion.

As the letter fell to the ground, Cao Xuan, the Prefect, shouted his curses.

"Those traitors have gone too far!"

The letter was sent by someone sent by Zang Ba.

The gist of the sentence is: Winter is approaching, and the soldiers have no warm clothes or shoes. They urgently need five thousand sets of thick linen clothes and five thousand pairs of thick linen shoes.

For Che Zhou, preparing winter supplies for the soldiers on the front lines was his duty.

For Cao Xuan, Zang Ba was exploiting him to the bone.

Che Zhou, a governor from another prefecture, owned almost no land or workshops in Xiapi.

Rather than saying that Zang Ba was demanding winter supplies from Che Zhou, it would be more accurate to say that Zang Ba was demanding winter supplies from Cao Xuan and the powerful local magnates of Xiapi.

"Lord Che, I really can't do this!"

Cao Xuan looked mournful.

I should have known better than to become the Prefect of Xuzhou.

They spent a lot of money and supplies, only to end up with a lot of trouble and complaints.

Furthermore, the powerful clans of Xiapi were certain that Cao Xuan would return all the money, silk, and grain, and that everyone's money, silk, and grain would be split 50/50.

This left Cao Xuan feeling extremely frustrated!
I, Cao Xuan, am the greatest victim!

Che Zhou sighed upon hearing this.

Che Zhou could understand Cao Xuan's frustration, but there was nothing he could do to help.

Liu Bei could not afford to offend Che Zhou.

Zang Ba was someone Che Zhou couldn't afford to offend either.

The former bandits of Mount Tai had long since formed their own faction amidst the chaos of war.

After Lü Bu's defeat and death, the imperial court officially appointed Zang Ba as Chancellor of Langya, Wu Dun as Prefect of Licheng, Yin Li as Prefect of Dongguan, Sun Guan as Chancellor of Beihai, and Sun Kang as Prefect of Chengyang.

Furthermore, this order for Zang Ba to attack Yuan Tan was Cao Cao's military command, and Che Zhou was not able to control the forces both overtly and covertly.

The Book of Changes says: "Peace, the small goes and the great comes, good fortune and success."

"After hardship comes happiness, and I will certainly not treat you unfairly."

Che Zhou dared not offend Liu Bei and Zang Ba, so he could only make empty promises to Cao Xuan, and even quoted classical texts in a literary manner in front of Cao Xuan.

Cao Xuan was furious upon hearing this.

All the suffering comes with joy?

How much suffering must I endure before I can enjoy happiness?
Cao Xuan was similar to Mi Zhu.

Although they were quite wealthy, they lacked the foundation of an aristocratic family, and no one in their clan was skilled in studying the classics.

Therefore, if Cao Xuan wanted to change his background and join the ranks of the gentry, he could only follow the example of Mi Zhu.

In the past, Mi Zhu served as Tao Qian's advisor; today, Cao Xuan serves as Che Zhou's advisor.

The two had quite similar experiences.

Tao Qian and Che Zhou are equally matched.

On one hand, they make empty promises; on the other hand, they look down on it.

They can share hardship, but not prosperity; at most, they'll throw a bone at each other as long as their own interests aren't affected.

the difference is:

Mi Zhu was lucky; he met Liu Bei after Tao Qian's death.

Liu Bei, having received financial assistance from Mi Zhu, truly shared both hardship and prosperity with him.

When feeling stifled.

The People's Daily reported that Liu Bei had come to visit.

Cao Xuan was even more alarmed: "Zang the traitor just deceived me, and now Liu Bei wants to deceive me too?"

Because Liu Bei openly used half of the grain to support the conscripted soldiers and their families, and because Che Zhou was unwilling to offend Liu Bei openly, Cao Xuan now panics whenever he hears Liu Bei's name.

"Lord Che, I'll excuse myself for now." Cao Xuan made a move to leave.

Before Cao Xuan could even lift his foot, Che Zhou called out to him, "Prefect, don't be in such a hurry. General Zuo is always benevolent and righteous, how could he possibly deceive you? Come with me to greet him."

Upon hearing Che Zhou's words, Cao Xuan felt even more bitter. "So they're all targeting me, aren't they?"
Unfortunately, circumstances forced Cao Xuan to follow Che Zhou to welcome Liu Bei into the mansion.

"I am deeply grateful for General Zuo's righteous assistance. Your presence here today is truly an honor to my humble abode."

"Governor Che is diligent in his duties and loves the people. I have only done my bit and it is nothing to mention! The people of Xiapi live in peace and the granaries are full, which is enough to show Governor Che's benevolence and virtue."

After exchanging pleasantries, Che Zhou inquired about the purpose of their visit.

Liu Bei hesitated, then sighed and remained silent.

Che Zhou was slightly puzzled: "General Zuo, please speak freely! I will do my best to help in any way I can."

Liu Bei opened his mouth, then turned his head and sighed, remaining silent.

Che Zhou secretly regretted his actions.

Oh no, I agreed too soon!

Liu Bei remained silent twice, which must have been an extremely difficult matter; if one agreed but did not comply, it would displease Liu Bei.

Caught in a dilemma.

Liu Bei spoke with difficulty: "Governor Che, I have a request."

An unkind request?

This is indeed an extremely difficult matter!
Che Zhou tentatively inquired, "Please, General Zuo, speak plainly."

Liu Bei sighed: "Winter is approaching, and the conscripted soldiers are eager to return home. I intend to send them home to reunite with their wives, children, and elders, but I fear this will delay Governor Che's important business."

"Absolutely not!" Che Zhou exclaimed, his eyes wide. "If General Zuo dismisses the conscripted soldiers, who will be able to transport grain and supplies into Langya for me?"

Cao Xuan was going to abandon his post, and so was Liu Bei.

Che Zhou couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for not having consulted a divination master to predict his fortune after getting up.

And on the side.

Cao Xuan was overjoyed and immediately agreed: "In governing prefectures and counties, the people should be the foundation. It is only natural for conscripted soldiers to want to return home. Governor Che, I think what the Left General said is reasonable!"

Huh?
Cao Xuan didn't object?

Liu Bei glanced at Cao Xuan, his face showing surprise.

Seeing Liu Bei's gaze fall upon him, Cao Xuan began to grumble again: "General Zuo, you may not know this, but Governor Che has always loved the people and could not bear to see them suffer."

“Indeed, that Zang Ba has gone too far, demanding that Governor Che immediately send five thousand sets of thick linen clothing and five thousand pairs of thick linen shoes to Langya.”

Che Zhou hesitated, as if he wanted to speak.

Che Zhou intended to stop Cao Xuan, but Cao Xuan spoke so quickly that Che Zhou couldn't stop him in time.

Che Zhou sighed softly: "General Zuo, Minister Cao has already given me a military order to fully cooperate with Zang Ba in attacking Yuan Tan. If I fail to deliver the clothes and shoes to Langya in time, I will be punished."

Clothing and footwear for 5,000 people to get through the winter?

Liu Bei's eyes lit up, and he said in a fabricated manner, "Winter is approaching, and the roads are cold and the weather is freezing. Zang Ba's actions are indeed excessive. However, I believe that Zang Ba may have done it on purpose."

Che Zhou asked in surprise, "General Zuo, what do you mean by that?"

Liu Bei feigned a deep voice: "Zang Ba has occupied Langya for many years, how could his soldiers not have warm clothes?"

“Winter clothing cannot be obtained in a short time. We should have informed you in advance, but Zang Ba deliberately waited until winter was almost here before sending a message to Governor Che. Isn’t that suspicious?”

"Therefore, I believe that Zang Ba's attack on Yuan Tan was unsuccessful, and fearing the blame from the Minister of Works, he made things difficult for Governor Che in order to shirk responsibility for the unsuccessful attack."

Che Zhou was even more shocked: "Zang Ba wouldn't do such a thing!"

Seeing that Che Zhou did not believe him, Liu Bei cupped his hands and said, "Since Governor Che does not believe me, then I will not say anything more."

"My conscripted soldiers will certainly return to their hometowns. I do not wish for their lives to be lost because of Zang Ba's scheme to shirk responsibility!"

"General Zuo, wait!" Che Zhou panicked and hurriedly called out to Liu Bei, "It's not that I don't believe you, but I have to do as Commander Cao's orders."

Liu Bei laughed and said, "Governor Che, have you not heard that 'a general in the field may disobey some military orders'?"

Che Zhou panicked even more.

Do you want me to play the "general in the field may disobey orders" trick with Cao Cao?

Am I tired of living?

Mind this.

Che Zhou cupped his hands and said, "I would never dare to disobey Cao Sikong's military orders. I beg General Zuo to devise another plan for me."

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(End of this chapter)