Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 65 Liu Ye: I'll make Yuan Shu declare himself emperor?

When fighting with someone, attack their weaknesses directly.

He has been using the pretense of making advance arrangements to demonstrate his ability to anticipate others' moves, ostensibly to intimidate, but in reality to cover up his true intentions.

This is to intimidate us and prevent us from acting rashly, lest we expose his fatal flaw: his inability to make timely decisions and provide direct guidance when advising Yuan Shu.

The candlelight flickered, its light shifting uncertainly. Xi Zhicai's gaze fell meaningfully on the documents about Yuan Shu on the table.

“Yuan Shu had long harbored the ambition to become emperor since he obtained the Imperial Seal of the State. The reason he did not become emperor must have been persuaded by his strategist.”

However, it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. After carefully observing Yuan Shu's life over the past thirty years, I have concluded that he was by no means someone who could resist the urge to declare himself emperor.

A mastermind behind the scenes could persuade Yuan Shu once or twice, making Yuan Shu work hard for a while and briefly pretend to be wise and powerful.

Could it be possible to completely change Yuan Shu's nature, sever all ties with his character of the past thirty years, and give him a new life?
If that's the case, then whether or not he becomes emperor is not a decision for him, a mere strategist.

We only need to take advantage of the fact that he is not by Yuan Shu's side and that correspondence is delayed, and then find another person of exceptional talent to pretend to offer Yuan Shu a plan to "proclaim himself emperor and rule the world".

Simply state the pros and cons, making Yuan Shu understand all the benefits of becoming emperor, and refute one by one the reasons that the person behind him originally persuaded him not to become emperor. With Yuan Shu's arrogant heart, how could he not comply?

If Yuan Shu were to declare himself emperor, firstly, he would be too busy stabilizing the internal situation and preparing for his coronation to launch a strong attack on us. Secondly, we, who are already facing a joint attack from the other warlords, could then use the emperor to command the entire world to jointly attack Yuan Shu.

At that time, Liu Bei, who had no base to settle down and had no choice but to come to Yuzhou to establish himself, had no choice but to obey the imperial edict to punish the rebels, no matter how much he didn't want to fight.

With the greater good in his hands, how could Yuan Shu not be defeated?

"The strategist's plan can defeat Yuan Shu's 100,000-strong army without losing a single soldier!"

Le Jin praised the plan as brilliant and then asked him for his opinion.

"I wonder who should be sent as an envoy to persuade Yuan Shu to declare himself emperor? This time, we must be very careful in choosing the right person, and we must not repeat the mistakes of Jiang Ziyi."

"The selection of the person to carry out this plan is of paramount importance, and I am well aware of that."

Xi Zhicai nodded slightly and pondered for a moment.

"First of all, this person must not come from Cao's camp again, lest, like Jiang Ziyi before, people will be on guard and he will be plotted against without even realizing it."

Ideally, he should be one of Yuan Shu's men, so as not to arouse Yuan Shu's suspicion. In that case, I do have someone in mind.

"Appreciate further details."

"Liu Xun, who was previously beheaded by Yuan Rang, had a strategist named Liu Ye, a famous scholar from the Jianghuai region, whose foresight and insight were extraordinary."

He had long seen that Yuan Shu was not a wise ruler and that his heart was with Cao Cao's camp. Therefore, he once wrote a letter to his lord, saying that he would persuade Liu Xun to establish himself and communicate with Cao Cao, so as to take advantage of his position.

Before this plan could succeed, Yuan Shu led his army north, and Liu Xun was also killed by Yuan Rang.

Liu Ye had previously feigned illness to avoid Yuan Shu. Now I can write him a letter, instructing him to feign offering a strategy for "declaring himself emperor," praising its merits to Yuan Shu. With his reputation in the Jianghuai region, this matter is sure to succeed.

"I have heard of Liu Ye's reputation, and I don't think it's a problem if he tries to seduce me."

"It's better to be safe than sorry; what if Yuan Shu truly doesn't want to become emperor?"

"just in case?"

Before Yue Jin could finish speaking, Xi Zhicai pursed his chapped lips and gave a cold laugh.

"Yuan Gonglu doesn't want to become emperor? Do you even believe that yourself?"

When Yue Jin thought about Yuan Shu's character, he immediately agreed.

"A brilliant plan from the strategist!"

Not long after, in the State of Lu. "My lord, the news of the loss of Xuzhou has spread throughout Cao Cao's army, and our soldiers are filled with fear and have no will to fight."

In contrast, Cao Cao's army, aided by Xun You and Dian Wei with 30,000 reinforcements, is now riding high, successively recapturing lost territories of Lu. Even with the valiant efforts of Generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, they cannot withstand the decline of our army.

Sun Qian looked anxious and asked Liu Bei for advice, saying, "My lord, things have come to this point. The State of Lu cannot be defended for long. What should we do and where should we go from here?"

Liu Bei remained silent, only staring intently at Sun Qian.

Mr. Sun, is it possible that you are the mastermind? You're asking me what to do? Then give me a plan!
Fortunately, Mi Zhu advised in time, "We are currently unable to win and have no way to retreat. Our army has less than half a month's worth of food left. I hope you will make plans as soon as possible, otherwise, once our food supplies run out, our tens of thousands of troops may be wiped out here."

Liu Bei: "."

What you say is very true, sir. So what should I do? You should give me some advice!

Fortunately, Zhang Fei was still there. He cursed and stepped forward.

"Brother, in my opinion, we should turn back and fight Lü Bu. Even if it means dying ten thousand times, I will take back Xuzhou. I will never let that treacherous Lü Bu get away with it."

Guan Yu stroked his beard and sighed, “Third brother, you must not act rashly. If we fight Lü Bu now, and Cao Cao’s army attacks from the rear, we will be attacked from both sides and die without a burial place in an instant.”

"This won't work, that won't work, I'm stuck here, it's really frustrating."

Zhang Fei, furious, drank a whole jar of water to satisfy his craving, feeling utterly resentful.

"If I had known this would happen, I should have tied up Chen Yuanlong as well. If he were here, he would surely have a plan."

Liu Bei was also troubled by this, and it took him a long time to address the crowd.

"In my opinion, without a foundation, it cannot last long. The only plan now is to choose a vassal state to submit to and temporarily submit."

I am in this predicament because I responded to Yuan Gonglu's call. If I were to join him, I would not be harmed because of the greater cause of the anti-Cao alliance.

Lü Bu has received much kindness from me in the past. If I disregard past grievances and vindicate him for seizing Xuzhou, and proactively appoint him as the governor of Xuzhou, I believe he will be treated well.

"Whether to side with Yuan Shu or Lü Bu, what do you all think we should do now?"

As the group was discussing this, a soldier announced that an envoy from Xuzhou had arrived.

Upon seeing the refined scholar in his tall hat and wide belt slowly approaching from outside, Liu Bei's eyes welled up with tears, and he rushed forward to shake the scholar's hand tightly.

I thought I would never see Yuanlong again in this lifetime, but I never expected to see him now. What more could I ask for?

"It's been a few days. Is Yuanlong alright?"

Seeing that Liu Bei was still so enthusiastic and his attitude had not changed at all, even though he had already betrayed him and joined Lü Bu, how could Chen Deng not feel nostalgic and tearful?

"My lord, it is not that I am wavering, but that I am forced by circumstances to submit to Lü Bu and plot to restore order to the world."

He then hurriedly ordered his entourage to be invited to meet Liu Bei, and bowed deeply to him.

"Fortunately, I have succeeded in my mission. I persuaded Lü Bu to return the lord's wife. Deng personally guarded her throughout the journey, ensuring that she would not suffer any harm."

"Now we shall return the jade intact to Zhao, to honor the kindness and righteousness shown to our lord."

When Liu Bei saw his wife and family, he was also moved, but he still held Chen Deng's hands tightly, his eyes already filled with tears.

"For the sake of my family, I have forced one of my closest friends and brothers to submit to the enemy. How can I live with myself in such a state?"

Chen Deng knew he stayed in Xuzhou for the sake of his family, but in Liu Bei's words, he became a virtuous man who endured humiliation and hardship to uphold the friendship and protect the family of his close friend.

Lord Xuande! How can you not be moved by this!

(End of this chapter)