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

Chapter 74 With Yuan Shao's promotion, Liu Bei is about to become famous throughout Hebei.
Ju Shou was secretly licking his wounds, Xin Ping was correcting his son's distorted thinking, and Liu Bei was happily following Yuan Shao to observe how 100,000 infantry and cavalry should set up camp.

Yuan Shao, wanting to show off the power of his 100,000 infantry and cavalry, answered Liu Bei's questions without reservation, showing no concern that Liu Bei would learn from his words.

There was a kind of pride in it, as if to say, "So what if you've learned how to set up camp with 100,000 infantry and cavalry? Do you even have 100,000 infantry and cavalry?"

Xu Shu, Huang Zhong, and Chen Dao, along with a few riders, silently followed behind Liu Bei, observing Yuan Shao's camp while listening to Yuan Shao boast.

Being able to observe the camp of 100,000 infantry and cavalry up close is a great honor in life, and both Liu Bei and Xu Shu cherished this opportunity very much!

Seeing Liu Bei and the others' unworldly appearance, Yuan Shao's vanity was once again greatly satisfied, and the embarrassment and annoyance caused by Ju Shou's provocation dissipated.

"Are my troops and soldiers in my camp still to your liking?"

His seemingly humble words were actually filled with arrogance. Yuan Shao looked at Liu Bei with a smile, as if he could already see Liu Bei's shocked expression in his mind.

Liu Bei did not disappoint Yuan Shao's expectations, his face showing both shock and awe: "General, you are truly a celestial being!"

"Xuande, you flatter me!" Yuan Shao laughed heartily, clearly pleased with Liu Bei's shocked expression and reverent tone when he uttered the words "a man of heaven and man."

Liu Bei's awe was feigned, but his shock was genuine.

Compared to witnessing the imposing sight of 100,000 infantry and cavalry as if they were mountains and forests from the hilltop outside the camp, the actual observation after entering the camp made Liu Bei feel the oppressive force of those 100,000 infantry and cavalry as if they were mountains and peaks.

Considering the historical records of major battles like the Battle of Changping between Qin and Zhao, the Battle of Pengcheng between Chu and Han, and the Battle of Kunyang between Xin and Han, all involving hundreds of thousands of soldiers, Liu Bei's shock intensified.

If 100,000 infantry and cavalry have such prestige and oppression, what kind of power would hundreds of thousands of infantry and cavalry have?
The general who was in charge of the central command must have been incredibly talented.
It wasn't until dusk that Yuan Shao led Liu Bei back to the central command tent, where they feasted and conversed with the civil and military officials of the Liyang camp.

In order to enhance the prestige of Yuan Shao's claim that the Yuan family was divinely ordained to rule by taking advantage of Liu Bei's defection to the north, Yuan Shao deliberately exaggerated the impact of Liu Bei leading tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians to the north on the divinely ordained to rule. He also exaggeratedly promoted Liu Bei's "not betraying Cao Cao but being suspected by petty people" at the banquet, thereby belittling Cao Cao's reputation among the soldiers and civilians of various prefectures and counties.

and many more.

Although it was false propaganda, once the people of the various states believed it, the falsehood naturally became the truth.

During the banquet, Liu Bei witnessed for the first time the abundance of strategists and fierce generals under Yuan Shao's command.

The group included renowned civil and military figures such as Tian Feng, Xun Chen, Xu You, Shen Pei, Feng Ji, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang He, and Gao Lan, as well as those with slightly lesser reputations, such as Xin Pi, Meng Dai, and Jiang Qi.

During the toasting ceremony.

Liu Bei met Chen Yu, the former governor of Wu Commandery and now the commander of Gu'an.

"I never expected to meet Gongwei Gong here. He entrusted me with a letter from Yuanlong to pass on." Liu Bei took out the private letter from Chen Deng to Chen Yu from his bosom.

Chen Yu was taken aback and quickly opened the letter to read it.

The letter essentially stated that Chen Deng earnestly requested Chen Yu to use his connections in Hebei to help Liu Bei gain fame, and also mentioned to Chen Yu matters such as gifting Liu Bei a thousand volumes of books.

During the chaotic end of the Han Dynasty, heroes rose up everywhere.

The Chen brothers of Xiapi, at their peak, were able to manipulate Tao Qian, Liu Bei, and Lü Bu behind the scenes and contend with Yuan Shu.

When Liu Bei was the governor of Xu Province, Chen Deng regarded Liu Bei as a close friend, but Chen Gui and Chen Yu actually looked down on Liu Bei. The Chen brothers only regarded Liu Bei as a replacement for Tao Qian.

Therefore, after Lü Bu betrayed Liu Bei, the Chen brothers directly regarded Lü Bu as Liu Bei's replacement.

For the Chen brothers, the Chen family of Xiapi was the true master, while Tao Qian, Liu Bei, and Lü Bu were merely vicious dogs supported by the Chen family of Xiapi.

However, life is unpredictable. The Chen brothers' glory days are over. Chen Gui has fallen ill and is unable to manage affairs, while Chen Yu's plot to assassinate Sun Ce has failed, forcing him to flee to Hebei and live under the protection of others. Only Chen Deng remains in Guangling, still holding some semblance of dignity. In contrast, Liu Bei, whom they once looked down upon, has had a tumultuous life, yet he always manages to turn misfortune into good fortune.

Despite his seemingly aimless wandering, he rose through the ranks step by step, becoming not only a Left General but also a distinguished guest whom Yuan Shao had to personally welcome!

Life is unpredictable, which often makes people sigh.

"I already understand Yuanlong's intentions. If General Zuo encounters any difficulties in the future, I will do my best to help." Chen Yu had lost the pride he had in Xuzhou, leaving only humility and gentleness after seeing through the ways of the world.

Yuan Shao also witnessed Liu Bei's conversation with Chen Yu, but did not interfere.

A fallen phoenix is ​​no better than a chicken. Chen Yu is no longer the son of the Grand Commandant and a hero of Xiapi. He is just an old man who is barely surviving under Liu Bei's command. His value is far less than that of Liu Bei.

Most of the civil and military officials under Yuan Shao also showed goodwill towards Liu Bei.

It wasn't that the officials and military officers of Hebei admired Liu Bei, but rather that Yuan Shao was now on friendly terms with Liu Bei, so the officials and military officers naturally couldn't afford to embarrass Yuan Shao.

On the surface, it was an act of goodwill towards Liu Bei, but in reality, it was an attempt to curry favor with Yuan Shao. Not everyone is as self-assured and unwilling to flatter as Ju Shou.

Of course, there were also people like Tian Feng and Shen Pei who couldn't stand Liu Bei no matter what.

That night.

Liu Bei returned home drunk.

Yuan Shao sent someone to escort Liu Bei to another tent, and also ordered Xin Zhe to lead a battalion of cavalry to guard him on both sides in case of any unexpected events.

If there were Cao Cao's spies in the army, or if someone like Ju Shou harbored hostility towards Liu Bei and attempted to assassinate him while he was drunk, Liu Bei's death would be a minor matter, but Yuan Shao's loss of face would be a major one.

Xu Shu, Huang Zhong, Chen Dao, and other cavalrymen also remained vigilant throughout the night, taking turns on duty.

One should always be wary of others. Even with Xin Zhe's cavalry battalion protecting him, he had suffered a setback with Ju Shou during the day, so he should not take any chances.

Xu Shu and the others only breathed a sigh of relief when Liu Bei woke up the next day.

Glancing at the tired faces of Xu Shu and the others, Liu Bei felt both regret and guilt: "It is my fault that everyone has suffered because of me!"

If anyone else had said this, Xu Shu and the others would have taken it as mere politeness; but when Liu Bei said it, Xu Shu and the others were deeply moved.

Xu Shu then brought in the soup and rice, and while eating at the same table with Liu Bei, he said in a low voice, "Last night while on duty, I chatted with Xin Zhe, the cavalry commander."

"Although this person comes from the prominent Xin family of Yingchuan, he is sincere and has no contempt for my humble origins; moreover, because he was required to study by his elders since childhood, he greatly admires Ban Chao, who dared to abandon his pen for the sword."

"If the general can win him over, it will not only please Xin Zhe's elders, but also allow this battalion of cavalry to serve the general."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was overjoyed.

Although Yuan Shao did not say it explicitly, Liu Bei knew perfectly well who Xin Zhe's elders were.

"Where is Commandant Xin now?" Liu Bei asked, standing up with his rice bowl in hand.

Xu Shu also picked up his rice bowl and said with a smile, "I'm having dinner in another tent. Would you like to come along, General?"

Liu Bei laughed and said, "It's easier to get along with someone over a meal, so we should go together!"

　Asking for monthly ticket
　　
　
(End of this chapter)