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

Chapter 60 Zhuge Liang devises another plan: to get Yuan Shao to voluntarily provide troops.

Yuan Tan adopted Pang Tong's good strategy, truthfully summarized the intelligence related to Liu Bei, and sent a messenger on horseback to Liyang.

A few days later.

Liu Bei led tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians to Zhuxu County in the Beihai Kingdom.

Zhuxu County was located in the southern part of Beihai Kingdom (belonging to Yuan Tan) and was controlled by Yuan Tan.

South of Zhuxu County was Dongguan Commandery, controlled by Yin Li; east of Zhuxu County was Beihai State (under Cao's control), controlled by Sun Guan.

Liu Bei's arrival in Zhuxu County signifies his formal departure from Cao Cao's sphere of influence and his entry into Yuan Shao's sphere of influence.

"General Zuo has come all the way from Xiapi. I am sorry for not being able to greet you properly. Please forgive me!"

Yuan Tan rode ahead on horseback, warmly welcoming Liu Bei's arrival.

The former governor of Xuzhou, now the Left General, led tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians north during the struggle between General Yuan Shao and Minister of Works Cao Cao, which greatly boosted the morale of Hebei.

Yuan Tan had no reason not to be enthusiastic!
As for whether Yuan Tan and his confidants suspected Liu Bei of being Cao Cao's inside man?
Perhaps so at the beginning.

However, as Liu Bei's influence continued to grow, and Zheng Xuan gifted him more than 6,000 volumes of books, the suspicion that "Liu Bei was Cao Cao's inside man" was directly denied by Yuan Tan and his confidants.

Rather than saying Liu Bei was Cao Cao's inside man, it's more accurate to say that Liu Bei wanted to reap the benefits.

Moreover, Pang Tong bluntly told Yuan Tan that Liu Bei wanted to establish himself in Youzhou.

This clearly tells Yuan Tan that the world is bustling with activity, all driven by self-interest, and that Liu Bei's visit to Hebei is for mutually beneficial cooperation.

We can cooperate with Yuan Shao for mutual benefit, we can cooperate with Yuan Tan for mutual benefit, we can cooperate with Yuan Shang for mutual benefit, and we can even cooperate with Yuan Xi for mutual benefit.

There is only one scenario in which Liu Bei would act as Cao Cao's inside man.

That is: Neither Yuan Shao nor his son were willing to give Liu Bei any benefits!

However, such a situation is impossible.

Those who are capable of ruling the world, how could they be unwilling to relinquish their interests?

Yuan Tan showed him warmth, and Liu Bei reciprocated with benevolence and righteousness: "Governor Yuan personally led his infantry and cavalry to welcome me. How dare I, a down-and-out man, be rude! When I meet the General in the future, I will definitely praise Governor Yuan's benevolence and righteousness."

Liu Bei was a man of words.

The words, "When I meet the General in the future, I will certainly praise Governor Yuan's benevolence and righteousness," immediately delighted Yuan Tan.

What kind of gratitude could compare to praising Yuan Tan's benevolence and righteousness in front of Yuan Shao?

"General Zuo, you are too kind!" Yuan Tan's smile widened. "If it weren't for General Zuo's recommendation of me as a talented scholar, I would not have had the opportunity to become the governor of Qingzhou."

Although Yuan Tan's appointment as governor of Qingzhou had little to do with Liu Bei, exchanging compliments was a basic courtesy when welcoming and seeing off guests, and Liu Bei's recommendation of Yuan Tan as a talented scholar did simplify the process for Yuan Tan to become governor of Qingzhou.

During their greetings, Pang Tong moved from behind Yuan Tan to behind Liu Bei, standing alongside Zhuge Liang.

"Kongming, the statistics are brief, are they to your liking?" Pang Tong stroked his short beard, a smile on his face.

In front of ordinary people, Pang Tong was humble and gentle.

Pang Tong did not hide his brilliance in front of Zhuge Liang.

Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang were both close friends and rivals.

Zhuge Liang, holding a fan, bowed and said in admiration, "You were able to secure over six thousand volumes of books for the Left General. Your strategies surpass mine a hundredfold. I am ashamed to admit my inferiority!"

With just a slight gesture, Pang Tong received over six thousand volumes of books from Zheng Xuan. In terms of merit alone, it is no exaggeration for Zhuge Liang to say that he was "ashamed to be inferior."

As they were talking...

Zhang Fei suddenly leaned closer and said, "Military Advisor Pang, I've learned to use strategies too. I used strategies to obtain nearly six thousand shi of grain, some military equipment, four hundred able-bodied men, and two hundred old soldiers."

Guan Yu turned his face away, looking as if he didn't recognize the man.

Because Zhang Fei only used his brains and not his fists when he was sent as an envoy to the four generals of Mount Tai, Zhang Fei, who always admired scholars, tasted the sweetness of using strategy. Therefore, he would often "show off" it during this period. Guan Yu was almost tired of hearing it.

Furthermore, Zhang Fei and Pang Tong had a harmonious relationship, so when he heard Pang Tong "show off" his strategies in front of Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei couldn't resist the urge to "show off" his strategies as well.

After learning the details, Pang Tong praised him generously: "It is a blessing for General Zhang that he can use strategies! However, the art of strategy is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you will fall behind. Zhang should study more in the future."

Zhang Fei was so happy to hear the praise that he couldn't stop smiling: "I'll remember it!"

Everyone laughed.

Subsequently.

Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang exchanged intelligence and discussed various matters together.

"Zhuojun is cold in winter and hot in summer, and the people have traveled a long distance and are not used to the local climate. I intend to enter the plains first. What do you think, Shiyuan?"

Youzhou was bitterly cold, and soldiers often froze to death.

The summer heat also led to diseases among the soldiers.

If even the strongest soldiers cannot withstand the bitter cold and scorching heat, let alone the common people who have traveled long distances.

It's early March now.

It takes at least four months to travel from Zhuxu to Zhuojun.

When they arrived in Zhuojun, it was late summer and early autumn (lunar calendar), and the summer heat had not yet subsided. If they were not careful, the weak among the people would fall ill due to the change in environment.

These tens of thousands of people followed Liu Bei north out of admiration and respect. If they were to die from the plague, it would be a major blow to Liu Bei's benevolence and reputation.

It takes about a month to travel from Zhuxu to Pingyuan.

They arrived in the plains in early April, just in time to plant soybeans and alleviate the pressure on food supplies.

At the same time, allowing tens of thousands of people to adapt to the climate and soil north of the Yellow River in the plains will alleviate their discomfort with the climate and soil when they migrate to Zhuojun in the future.

Later generations spread rumors that Zhuge Liang's aggressive military campaigns made life difficult for the people of Shu Han, but in reality, the living standards of the people of Shu Han were a model of "limited prosperity" in a chaotic world.

The Northern Wei geographer Li Daoyuan's "Commentary on the Waterways Classic: Mian River" records that: When Liang died, the people held a public sacrifice.

It is only because Zhuge Liang was well-versed in the people's will, understood their hardships, and formulated and implemented effective countermeasures, such as setting up officials to maintain the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and overseeing the construction of the Jiuli Dike, that the people spontaneously held sacrifices in the wild, a tradition that has lasted for two thousand years.

In later generations, a district was named Wuhou District, and the road was named Wuhou Avenue. There was even a road construction plan that was changed because of the Wuhou Temple. More than 8 million bullet comments on a certain website bid farewell to Wuhou.

The eyes of the masses are discerning; no one would be worshipped for two thousand years for mistreating the people!
"Kongming's words are not without reason."

Pang Tong also agreed with Zhuge Liang's concerns.

"General Zuo once served as the Prefect of Pingyuan. When he was stationed in Pingyuan, the harvest was plentiful and the people respected him. If he could return to Pingyuan, it would indeed be a good choice."

"But once we enter the plains, General Zuo will likely not be able to remain unscathed, and Yuan Shao will certainly use him."

Zhuge Liang laughed and said, "Although he has a plan, I also have a countermeasure. General Zuo has a reputation but no troops or supplies. If Yuan Shao wants to use General Zuo, he can't be stingy with troops."

Hear the words.

Pang Tong immediately understood Zhuge Liang's intention.

He did not want his people to contract diseases due to the long journey and unfamiliar climate, which would not only enhance Liu Bei's reputation for benevolence and righteousness, but also allow him to take the opportunity to get Yuan Shao to give him a portion of his troops.

It would be time-consuming and laborious for Liu Bei to recruit his own troops.

If Yuan Shao were to voluntarily provide troops, everyone would be happy.

Cao Cao was able to retain Zhu Ling and his three battalions for his own use, and so was Liu Bei!
Pang Tong couldn't help but chuckle: "Yuan Shao is truly unfortunate to have met Kongming."

　I burned my hand last night, so the second update today will be a little late.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)