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

Chapter 28 With a strategist in hand, who among the heroes of the world could rival Liu Bei?

Although Che Zhou relinquished power and Cao Xuan and his entire family submitted to him, the most powerful force in Xuzhou was neither Che Zhou nor Cao Xuan.

Whether it was Chen Deng, the governor of Guangling, Zang Ba, the chancellor of Langya, or Chang Xi, Wu Dun, Yin Li, Sun Guan, Sun Kang, and others, their power was stronger than that of Che Zhou and Cao Xuan.

To establish oneself in a chaotic world.

They either had a prestigious family background or a powerful private army.

In both of these aspects, Che Zhou and Cao Xuan were far inferior.

however.

Liu Bei had a shallow relationship with Zang Ba, Chang Xi, and others, and could not promise them official positions and titles like Cao Cao did.

Winning over Zang Ba, Chang Xi, and others was no easy task.

Hear the words.

Zhuge Liang smiled but did not answer, signaling to Pang Tong that he wanted to give Pang Tong the opportunity to shine.

Pang Tong, unwilling to let Zhuge Liang yield, also gestured for Zhuge Liang to speak first.

See this.

Liu Bei laughed and said, "Since both of you strategists have good plans, why not write them down on your palms and see if they differ?"

So Liu Bei summoned someone to bring pen and ink, and had Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong each write their strategies on their palms, and then they opened them together.

On the palms of both men were the words "Sowing Discord".

The three of them looked at each other and laughed.

Throughout history, the strategy of sowing discord has been the most commonly used tactic.

When Qin unified the six states, it frequently used the strategy of sowing discord and succeeded time and again. Guo Kai even used this strategy to kill two of Zhao's great war gods single-handedly.

It can be seen.

After laughing.

Liu Bei said:
“In the past, when Cao Cao was in Yanzhou, he appointed Xu Xi and Mao Hui as generals. When Yanzhou was in turmoil, both Xu Xi and Mao Hui betrayed Cao Cao. Later, after Cao Cao pacified Yanzhou, Xu Xi and Mao Hui fled to Zang Ba for their lives.”

"After Lü Bu's defeat, Cao Cao wanted to execute Xu Xi and Mao Hui, so he ordered me to go to Langya to see Zang Ba, wanting Zang Ba to present the heads of Xu Xi and Mao Hui."

“Zang Ba was grateful to Cao Cao for saving his life. He was unwilling to disobey orders, nor was he willing to betray Xu Xi and Mao Hui. He asked me to speak to Cao Cao on his behalf, arguing that ‘a king who is a tyrant can be persuaded by righteousness.’”

"Cao Cao was moved by Zang Ba's integrity and righteousness. He not only praised Zang Ba's benevolence and virtue, but also appointed Xu Xi and Mao Hui as prefects to show that he did not hold a grudge."

“Wu Dun, Yin Li, Sun Guan, Sun Kang and others respected Zang Ba even more afterward, and these people always regarded Zang Ba as their superior, making it extremely difficult to sow discord between them.”

There was a pause.

Liu Bei then said, "Although Chang Xi once gathered a band of outlaws with Zang Ba and others on Mount Tai, he has always been arrogant and thinks he is more capable than Zang Ba and the others. He is only superficially friendly with Zang Ba and the others. If we want to use a divisive tactic, only Chang Xi might have a chance."

Although his relationship with Zang Ba, Chang Xi, and others was superficial, Liu Bei paid close attention to them when he succeeded Tao Qian as the governor of Xu Province.

In the years that followed, although he was unable to maintain close contact with Zang Ba, Chang Xi, and others for various reasons, Liu Bei was quite familiar with their past and character.

Therefore, after both Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong wanted to use the strategy of sowing discord, Liu Bei was able to accurately identify the most suitable person and the one with the greatest chance of being sown apart: Chang Xi, who was entrenched in the East China Sea!
Perhaps Cao Cao disliked Chang Xi's character.

Or perhaps Cao Cao didn't want Zang Ba, Chang Xi, and others to form a united front.

When Cao Cao enfeoffed the six generals of Mount Tai, he broke up and reorganized the original prefectures, kingdoms and counties, and legitimized the spheres of influence of the six generals.

Therefore.

Cao Cao appointed Zang Ba as Chancellor of Langya and Sun Guan as Chancellor of Beihai.

It was further divided into the Beihai Kingdom and Langya Pavilion, and Dongguan Commandery and Chengyang Commandery were added. Yin Li was appointed as the governor of Dongguan, and Sun Kang was appointed as the governor of Chengyang.

Chang Xi was appointed as the Chancellor of Donghai, and the Donghai Kingdom was divided into Changlu Commandery and Licheng Commandery, with Wu Dun appointed as the Prefect of Licheng.

Although Changlu Commandery only governed two counties, Changlu and Hexiang, these two counties were strategically located, controlling the route from Xuzhou to Cao Cao's rear in Yanzhou.

Only Changlu County was outside the control of the Six Generals of Mount Tai, and Cao Cao also ordered General Wang Zhong to garrison Changlu.

Geographically speaking, Zang Ba and his group could expand outwards and compete with Yuan Tan for territory.

And Changxi.

In the north, there were those who appeared to be on good terms but were actually at odds with each other, such as Zang Ba; in the south, there was Chen Deng, the governor of Guangling, who was at odds with Chang Xi.

Xiapi had Che Zhou, the nominal governor of Xuzhou, while Changlu had Wang Zhong, Cao Cao's general. Chang Xi was trapped in the East Sea like a caged beast.

He relied on his own talent and refused to submit to Zang Ba and others, and was treated worse than Zang Ba and others.

People do not suffer from scarcity but from inequality.

As long as Chang Xi complained about Cao Cao's unfair distribution of resources, Liu Bei would have an opportunity to sow discord between Chang Xi and Cao Cao.

Having determined the method and objectives of the plan, what is still needed are the people to implement it.

Zhuge Liang suggested that Xu Shu and Sun Qian go together: "Sun Gongyou is a disciple of Kang Chenggong and has a good reputation in the counties of Qing and Xu. If Sun Gongyou goes, Chang Xi will not make things difficult for him. Yuanzhi was once a chivalrous knight-errant. He is both brave and good at strategy. If there is any change, he can protect Sun Gongyou."

Pang Tong added, "Chang Xi occupies the East Sea and is very arrogant. He only has Yuan Zhi and Sun Gongyou, which may cause him to underestimate you, General. We can send General Huang Zhonglang to the East Sea to intimidate Chang Xi with his martial prowess. That will surely succeed."

After considering the suggestions of Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, Liu Bei made a decision: "In that case, let's follow the advice of the two strategists and send Yuanzhi, Gongyou, and Hansheng to Donghai under the guise of Che Zhou. If we can win over Chang Xi, even if the secret edict is exposed, I will be able to deal with it."

There was a pause.

Liu Bei added, "I once pleaded with Cao Cao on behalf of Zang Ba to save the lives of Xu Xi and Mao Hui. Zang Ba owes me a favor."

"I wish to send a private letter to Zang Ba, asking him to consider that Xuzhou has suffered from repeated wars and that its people have been fighting for a long time, and to temporarily cease hostilities, neither aiding Cao nor Yuan."

"What do you two strategists think?"

Use a divisive tactic against Chang Xi.

Treat Zang Baxiao with reason and emotion.

Even Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong couldn't help but admire Liu Bei's skill.

"The general is wise!"

Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong both bowed.

Liu Bei laughed and said, "It is all thanks to the two strategists who have shown me the way. Otherwise, if I were on my own, I would not know how to make decisions and deal with the situation."

Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong also laughed heartily.

It was past midnight.

Zhuge Liang feigned exhaustion and left first.

Pang Tong and Liu Bei were left alone to sit around the stove and cook wine.

Liu Bei worked with Zhuge Liang for several months and often had long talks with him, so he could naturally guess Zhuge Liang's intentions.

The fatigue is fake.

The real purpose was to let Liu Bei and Pang Tong have fireside chats, stroll arm in arm, have long talks, and sleep side by side, thus strengthening the bond between ruler and subject.

After Zhuge Liang left...

Liu Bei and Pang Tong no longer discussed military and political strategies, but instead talked about the customs of Youji, the elegant affairs of Jingchu, and their evaluation of people.

They talked until dawn before Liu Bei and Pang Tong finally fell asleep, exhausted.

Although Pang Tong claimed to Zhuge Liang that "I am not used to walking arm in arm with others," he readily agreed when Liu Bei offered to sleep side by side with him while he was drunk.

By noon the next day.

The two then awoke from their deep sleep.

After sobering up, Pang Tong found himself sleeping with Liu Bei side by side. He quickly bowed to Liu Bei and apologized, saying, "I was drunk and behaved improperly. Please forgive my rudeness, General."

Liu Bei laughed loudly: "Strategist, I have heard that one can entrust one's life to someone who can sleep with their feet touching."

"I have also heard that true intentions are revealed after drinking. The strategist considers me a sworn brother; if I were to blame him, how could I face the world?"

Pang Tong was not one to be rigid and formal, and upon hearing this, he laughed and said, "I was being petty; I deserve a cup of wine as punishment!"

As they were talking...

A loud, gruff voice came from outside.

"Brother, I heard you've acquired another [water]! I'd like to see who dares to speak so arrogantly in front of you, daring to be ranked alongside Strategist Zhuge!"

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(End of this chapter)