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

Chapter 71 Liu Bei Enters Liyang, What is the Meaning of 100,000 Infantry and Cavalry?
Observing Liu Bei's demeanor, which did not seem feigned, Yuan Shao couldn't help but ponder:
Demanding too much at this moment would be inappropriate.

[Let him fight alongside Wen Chou first, using Cao Cao's hand to observe his abilities; if he can achieve merit, then entrust him with important responsibilities. I don't believe Xuande will still not need Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.]

Xin Ping also advised: "Guan Yu and Zhang Fei should protect the Left General's family. If they are forcibly conscripted to join the army, the Left General will not be at ease."

Hear the words.

Without further hesitation, Yuan Shao raised his cup in invitation, concealing his scheming amidst laughter: "Xuande, your heroic spirit soars to the clouds, you are truly a hero!"

Liu Bei responded with a laugh, respectfully drinking the wine in his cup: "I will certainly live up to the General's high expectations!"

The banquet ended in high spirits.

Yuan Shao first sent someone to escort Liu Bei to rest in another tent, and then privately said to Xin Ping: "Zhongzhi, you should return to the Liyang camp first and transfer your son Xin Zhe to the position of Cavalry Commandant. After Liu Bei and I return to the Liyang camp, we will transfer him to Liu Bei's command."

Xin Ping was taken aback: "Why is the General acting this way?"

Yuan Shao sneered: "Liu Bei appears to be innocent, but in reality, he is just like Cao Cao, who likes to seize other people's troops by trickery. We must be wary of the example of Zhu Ling; if an outsider is transferred to Liu Bei's command as a cavalry commander, I will not feel at ease."

When Cao Cao was campaigning against Tao Qian, Yuan Shao sent Zhu Ling with three battalions of troops to support Cao Cao.

As a result, Zhu Ling not only did not return to Hebei after the battle, but also led three battalions of troops to surrender to Cao Cao, much to Yuan Shao's annoyance.

If Liu Bei had followed Cao Cao's example, it would have been a small matter for Yuan Shao to lose a cavalry battalion commander, but a much bigger matter to lose a whole battalion of cavalry!
The Xin family, consisting of over eighty members, lived in Ye City, unlike Zhu Ling, who was all alone.

Only when Xin Ping's son became Liu Bei's cavalry commander did Yuan Shao dare to truly entrust Liu Bei with the task of assigning him a cavalry battalion.

Although Yuan Shao's reasons were reasonable, Xin Ping's heart was bleeding.

Although I advised Liu Bei to join Wen Chou in fighting Cao Cao, I did not advise my own son to join Wen Chou in the same campaign.

Aristocratic families have their own smooth path to officialdom, unlike those from humble backgrounds or commoners who have to accumulate military merits to gain a foothold.

From the moment Xin Ping joined Yuan Shao, he never considered pursuing a career in the military, much less letting his son join the army to gain seniority.

It's not easy to have a son.

Raising a son is even more difficult.

Xin Ping still hoped that Xin Zhe would inherit the family business, so how could he be willing to let Xin Zhe follow Liu Bei and Wen Chou to fight Cao Cao?

"General, my son is unfamiliar with military affairs and may cause problems. It would be better to choose another capable person!" Xin Ping said, forcing himself to persuade Yuan Shao to retract his decision.

Although Yuan Shao was criticized for being good at planning but indecisive, he was not entirely without his own opinions and would not change his decision simply because Xin Ping said, "My son is not familiar with military affairs."

Seeing that Xin Ping was deliberately belittling Xin Zhe, Yuan Shao thought that Xin Ping was being modest, so he comforted him and promised: "Ju Shou's son wanted to be the Cavalry Commandant, but I did not allow it; let your son gain experience in the position of Cavalry Commandant first, and I will use him in a great way in the future."

The implication is: Cavalry Commandant is not a position that anyone can just want to hold. Even Ju Shou's son couldn't get the position if he wanted to, but Xin Ping's son just picked up the position directly. His future is limitless, so why don't you hurry up and kowtow to express your gratitude?

Yuan Shao had already said so much, Xin Ping had no choice but to comply, unless he wanted to anger Yuan Shao and ruin his future like Ju Shou and Tian Feng.

"I will obey the General's orders!"

Xin Ping bowed his head and accepted the order, his reluctance hidden in his downcast face.

But in another tent.

Liu Bei had Huang Zhong guard the tent entrance while he discussed matters with Xu Shu inside the tent.

Upon learning that Liu Bei was to lead the cavalry to attack Cao Cao on behalf of Yuan Shao, Xu Shu was greatly alarmed: "General, since you are not the main general, you will be hampered by Wen Chou in both marching and battle; moreover, you have only recently taken command of Yuan Shao's cavalry, and it will be difficult to make good use of them in a short period of time. How can you possibly fight against Cao Cao's army?"

“I am well aware of Yuanzhi’s concerns.” Liu Bei’s eyes were bright and his tone was firm: “But Yuan Shao gave me a battalion of cavalry. If I can make good use of them, I will be able to roam freely in the Youyan region.”

Military generals from the north find it hard to resist the allure of cavalry.

Before Liu Bei lost Xuzhou, he led a band of over a thousand miscellaneous barbarian warriors, traversing the four provinces of You, Ji, Qing, and Xu. Yuan Shao coveted Guan Yu and Zhang Fei because he had witnessed their bravery on the battlefield.

Yuan Shao's decision to offer Liu Bei a battalion of cavalry as a lure was based on his certainty that Liu Bei would not be able to resist the temptation.

If we don't judge heroes by success or failure, then none of the heroes who fought for supremacy at the end of the Han Dynasty and left their mark would be fools. Even Yuan Shu, who was known as Yuan Mishui, had his moments of glory.

While Liu Bei was scheming against Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao was also scheming against Liu Bei.

"But what if?"

Xu Shu's tone was worried.

Zhuge Liang's strategy of conquering Hebei was already difficult, and if Liu Bei were to suffer another unexpected event, it would become even more challenging.

"Why are you so timid, Yuanzhi?" Liu Bei interrupted Xu Shu and laughed heartily: "Since I quelled the Yellow Turban Rebellion, I have fought countless battles. My survival until now is due to both my courage and strategy, and also to fate."

"The strategist once said that he had as many strategies as I had. Wealth and honor should be sought in danger. If one is afraid and avoids danger, how can one achieve great things and establish a great career?"

"Moreover, the people of Youyan are fierce and brave. Whether they are Hu or Han, they are all good at riding horses and shooting arrows. Without cavalry, even with a good strategist, it would be difficult for me to gain a foothold in Youyan."

"Besides, I am not alone. I have Yuanzhi and Hansheng with me. What do I have to fear from Cao Cao!"

For a moment, Xu Shu didn't know how to refute Liu Bei, and was instead aroused by Liu Bei's passion.

finally.

Xu Shu's rationality prevailed, and he advised, "If you wish to lead the troops for Yuan Shao, you can send someone to inform Kongming."

Liu Bei was unwilling to trouble Zhuge Liang with such a trivial matter, but he could not persuade Xu Shu otherwise, so he had to agree to send someone back to Gaotang to deliver a letter to Zhuge Liang.

Silent all night.

Early the next morning.

Yuan Shao then sent someone to invite Liu Bei to return to Liyang together.

Before setting off, Yuan Shao complained that Liu Bei's three hundred conscripted soldiers were poorly dressed, so he ordered Liu Bei to send all three hundred soldiers back to Gaotang, and only allowed Liu Bei to take Huang Zhong, Xu Shu and Chen Dao with him on horseback.

Liu Bei was delighted with this.

Why not let the three hundred conscripted soldiers suffer? Yuan Shao even generously provided Liu Bei with the grain and rice to send the three hundred conscripted soldiers back.

A distance of two hundred li would normally take five or six days to march.

However, like Yuan Shao and Liu Bei, they fled with light cavalry and returned to their camp in Liyang in less than three days.

Yuan Shao mobilized 100,000 infantry and cavalry for his southern campaign against Cao Cao, not including the civilian laborers.

The entire Liyang camp was occupied by Yuan's army of 100,000 infantry and cavalry, which was like a giant beast.

Whether it was Liu Bei, Huang Zhong, or Xu Shu, it was the first time they had witnessed the might of 100,000 infantry and cavalry, and they couldn't help but rein in their horses and stop to look into the distance.

See this.

Yuan Shao proudly brandished his whip: "When Xuande was in Xuchang, did you ever see so many soldiers?"

Liu Bei couldn't help but swallow hard.

Let alone when he was in Xuchang, Liu Bei had never seen 100,000 infantry and cavalry in his entire life!
Only after climbing to the summit of Mount Tai can one realize how insignificant other mountains are; only after witnessing the might of 100,000 infantry and cavalry can Liu Bei understand the vastness of the world.

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(End of this chapter)