Brother, stop curling up! You're curling up like the founder of the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 102 Liu Bei Demands Military Power, Fa Zheng Confronts Huangfu Song (Seeking Follow-up and Monthly Tickets)
Huaili.

Upon returning from his inspection of the military camp, Huangfu Song immediately summoned Huangfu Jianshou and Huangfu Li, urging them to inquire, "When will the money and grain allocated to Chang'an arrive?"

Thirty thousand soldiers were stationed in Huaili, and even in peacetime, their daily food and drink expenses were considerable.

Because of the change in the powers of officials in Chang'an, the money and grain that should have been transferred from the Chang'an treasury half a month ago have not yet arrived.

This greatly annoyed Huangfu Song.

Huangfu Jianshou, who was in charge of money and grain, glanced at Huangfu Song, who had an unhappy expression, and said cautiously, "I have sent people to ask several times. Yang Kuo, the clerk, said that the money and grain are being allocated and that we should be patient."

Upon hearing this reason, Huangfu Song's already displeased expression darkened even further: "Even if I can wait, how can the soldiers in the army wait? What is Yang Kuo's intention in doing this? Does Liu Yongzhou know about this matter?"

Huangfu Jianshou lowered his head and remained silent.

Huangfu Li, however, said bluntly: "Given Liu Yongzhou's current power in Chang'an, how could Yang Kuo dare to conceal the truth? Rather than Yang Kuo telling us to be calm, it would be more accurate to say that Liu Yongzhou is telling us to be calm."

Huangfu Song frowned: "Liu Yongzhou is also a man who knows about military affairs. How could he not know that if there is no money or food to pay the soldiers, the soldiers will surely mutini."

Huangfu Li sighed, “The Left General commands 30,000 troops to quell the rebellion, while Liu Yongzhou only has 2,000 Western Garden soldiers. Since military power is not in Liu Yongzhou's hands, how can Liu Yongzhou control the military and political affairs of Yongzhou? Therefore, I believe that Liu Yongzhou is not unaware, but deliberately pretending not to know.”

Huangfu Song frowned even more: "When Liu Yongzhou was reforming the officials of Yongzhou, some people came to Huaili to find me, wanting me to persuade Liu Yongzhou to stop, but I refused them all, and even closed my doors to guests to show my attitude. I did not interfere with Liu Yongzhou's decisions, so how can Liu Yongzhou treat me like this?"

Huangfu Li, a man of exceptional talent, quickly discerned Liu Bei's intentions and said, "Two tigers cannot share one mountain. The biggest obstacle to Liu Bei's control of Yongzhou's military and political affairs is not the officials of Yongzhou, but the Left General and the Commandant of the Capital Region. Now that the Commandant of the Capital Region has gone to Hongnong, only the Left General remains."

Huangfu Song sneered: "I was ordered by the court to take command of the troops to suppress the rebels in Liangzhou. I have no other intentions than to interfere in the affairs of Yongzhou, unlike Zhang Wen. I am not the same as Zhang Wen! I will write a letter later to clarify the misunderstanding. You should send someone to Chang'an as soon as possible to have Yang Kuo transfer the money and grain to Huaili."

Huangfu Li didn't know whether Huangfu Song was genuinely ignorant or pretending not to, so he reminded him again: "As long as General Zuo still commands these 30,000 troops to quell the rebellion, he is interfering in the military affairs of Yongzhou."

"Absurd!" Huangfu Song coldly retorted, "What does my 30,000 troops have to do with Liu Yongzhou? He manages his military affairs, and I am fighting my rebels. We keep to ourselves and do not interfere with each other. How can you say that we are interfering?"

Seeing Huangfu Song's anger, Huangfu Jianshou muttered under his breath, "But General Zuo's 30,000 troops for suppressing the bandits were provided with money and provisions by Liu Yongzhou from the Chang'an treasury. Once these funds and provisions are transferred to Huaili, Liu Yongzhou will have no more money and provisions to recruit soldiers."

Huangfu Song's expression changed, and he shouted, "What are you whispering about? Do you really think I don't know anything? The Liangzhou rebels are no match for Liu Yongzhou. He provides money and supplies while I fight the rebels, so he won't need to recruit any more soldiers. Why not do it?"

Upon hearing Huangfu Song's words, Huangfu Jianshou and Huangfu Li dared not speak again.

As Huangfu Song just said, it's not that Huangfu Song doesn't understand, but that he doesn't want to understand and prefers to maintain the status quo: Liu Bei provides the money and supplies, and Huangfu Song fights the rebels.

Huangfu Song wasn't stupid either.

The reason he can still stay in Huaili is because the Liangzhou rebels have not been completely eliminated.

As long as the Liangzhou rebels remain, Huangfu Song will have the opportunity to kill the enemy and earn merit.

As a soldier who rose through the ranks, Huangfu Song had neither a noble birth nor a family background to rely on. Apart from killing enemies and making meritorious contributions, he had almost no chance of promotion.

With military power in his hands, Huangfu Song could advance further; without military power, he might be conscripted as the city gate commander of Luoyang.

However, although Huangfu Song had good ideas, reality was cruel.

Two tigers cannot share one mountain. If Huangfu Song refuses to relinquish military power, Liu Bei will be unable to realize his ambitions unless Huangfu Song is willing to bow down to Liu Bei and acknowledge him as his master!

If Huangfu Song refuses to back down, Liu Bei will surely drive him out of Yongzhou, just as he did with Zhang Wen.

It's not about who's right or wrong, but about having different perspectives.

In Yongzhou, Liu Bei did not allow anyone to disobey his orders, whether in military or political matters.

Seeing that Huangfu Jianshou and Huangfu Li remained silent, Huangfu Song became even more irritated.

If Liu Bei continues to delay and refuses to allocate funds and provisions, these 30,000 soldiers sent to quell the rebellion will, like the Wuhuan cavalry that Zhang Wen once recruited, defect to their own country.

Can't we just go and rob them?

If they went to rob him directly, Liu Bei would have even more reason to drive Huangfu Song away.

In his frustration, someone reported that Dian Wei, Liu Bei's scribe in the central army, along with Fa Zheng, a disciple of Liu Bei, were requesting an audience.

"It seems that Liu Yongzhou sent someone to test the Left General's intentions," Huangfu Li asserted.

Huangfu Song took a deep breath, suppressing his displeasure, and ordered Dian Wei and Fa Zheng to be brought into the main tent.

“Dian Wei, the clerk of the central army under the governor of Yongzhou, greets the Left General.”

“Fa Zheng, a student of the Governor of Yongzhou and grandson of Master Xuande of Fufeng, greets General Zuo.”

When Dian Wei and Fa Zheng introduced themselves, Huangfu Song, Huangfu Jianshou, and Huangfu Li were all taken aback.

You call an extremely fierce and powerful warrior a military clerk?
When did the grandson of Fa Zhen, a famous scholar from Fufeng, become Liu Bei's disciple?

Dian Wei impressed Huangfu Song and his companions with his imposing presence, while Fa Zheng impressed them with his status.

A show of force, huh?

Huangfu Song and the other two became wary without prior agreement.

Suppressing his impatience, Huangfu Song asked in a cold voice, "Why did Liu Yongzhou send the two of you here?"

Dian Wei's voice was also very loud as he called out, "In three days, Governor Liu will be hosting a banquet in Chang'an. General Zuo, please bring your son Huangfu Jianshou and your nephew Huangfu Li and be sure to attend on time."

Huangfu Song frowned and did not respond.

Upon seeing this, Huangfu Li hurriedly said, "Since it is Governor Liu who has invited us, we will certainly go on time. I wonder if Governor Liu has said when the money and grain allocated to Huaili will arrive?" Dian Wei shook his head: "Governor Liu has not given any instructions."

Seeing that Huangfu Song's face had turned gloomy, Huangfu Li quickly said, "Thank you for informing me, scribe. You must be tired from your journey. I will arrange your food and lodging right away. Please come with me."

"No rush." ​​Dian Wei clasped his hands in a fist and said to Huangfu Song, "I have long heard that there are many fierce warriors in the army that is fighting against the bandits. I would like to have a friendly spar with these warriors. I would appreciate your permission, General Zuo."

Huangfu Song's face darkened further, and his tone became unfriendly: "The brave warriors in the army only know how to kill the enemy, not how to spar."

Dian Wei laughed and said, "It's alright. I'll only use seventy percent of my strength; I won't kill them."

Too arrogant!
Is this a case of someone trying to cause trouble?
Huangfu Jianshou and Huangfu Li both looked at Dian Wei with trembling eyes, and then at Huangfu Song, whose face was ashen.

"I'll say it again, the brave warriors in the army only know how to kill the enemy, not how to spar." Huangfu Song's voice was already nasal.

Dian Wei's smile abruptly stopped, and just as he was about to speak again, Fa Zheng suddenly burst into laughter: "Clerk Dian, I told you long ago. What kind of brave warriors are there in the army that is fighting the rebels? Back then, when the rebel Wang Guo besieged Chencang, General Dong Zhuo wanted to quickly send troops to Chencang to fight the rebels with bravery; but General Zuo wanted to plan carefully before acting and refused to send troops. If it weren't for the Chencang garrison fighting to the death to defend the city, the rebels would have already entered Chang'an."

"When the Chencang garrison finally managed to hold out until the rebels were exhausted and ready to retreat, General Zuo hastily launched another attack. Although he was fortunate enough to defeat Wang Guo, the Chencang garrison suffered heavy casualties. When the court was awarding merits, all the credit went to General Zuo. Isn't that ridiculous?"

Fa Zheng's mouth was truly vicious. He directly changed the story of Huangfu Song's great defeat of the Kingdom into that Huangfu Song was cowardly and did not move forward, watching the soldiers of Chencang fail to come to their aid. In the end, after the soldiers of Chencang had fought hard to defend the city, he ran to steal the credit.

Ironically, what Fazheng said made sense.

After all, you, Huangfu Song, were in charge of suppressing Dong Zhuo's rebellion, with a total of 40,000 troops, yet you just watched the battle from Youfufeng.

Instead, the soldiers of Chencang were left to defend the city alone for more than eighty days. They pursued the rebels as soon as they retreated, which seemed suspicious of cowardice and a desire to steal credit.

Just because Chencang was a fortified city, does that mean it deserved to hold out for more than eighty days?
The soldiers of Chencang waited anxiously for reinforcements, but they never arrived. They finally managed to hold out until the rebels retreated, and now you're trying to steal their credit?
Huangfu Song was so angry at Fa Zheng's mockery that his lips trembled: "Insubordination and disrespect for hierarchy, what is the punishment?"

Fa Zheng, seemingly oblivious to Huangfu Song's anger, retorted, "To remain inactive and await divine punishment—what crime is that?"

"General Zuo, please calm down!" Seeing that the situation was not good, Huangfu Li hurriedly advised Huangfu Song: "There is nothing to amuse the army. Since the clerk is interested in sparring, we can have the warriors wrestle for fun."

After persuading Huangfu Song, Huangfu Li turned to Fa Zheng and said, "It's not that General Zuo didn't want to rescue Chencang, but that the enemy forces were too strong to fight back. How about we let this matter rest?"

Seeing that Huangfu Song didn't speak again, Fazheng also decided to stop while he was ahead.

Fearing another conflict, Huangfu Li gave Huangfu Jianshou a look and then took Dian Wei and Fa Zheng to find a fierce warrior to spar with.

After the three left, Huangfu Song could no longer contain his anger. He kicked over the table and shouted, "Liu Bei has insulted me too much!"

In Fazheng's eyes, Huangfusong was holding back his troops and waiting for divine retribution; but Huangfusong did not think he had done anything wrong.

"A skilled strategist prioritizes the preservation of the entire army over its destruction. It is better to subdue the enemy without fighting than to win a hundred battles. The best strategy is to outmaneuver the enemy's plans; one should advance when the opportunity is favorable and retreat when difficulties arise. A hasty battle is the worst policy."

"The rebels are powerful. I will first feign weakness and wait for the right opportunity. Victory is in our hands, but we can defeat them. Their defense is weak, while our attack is strong. Those with strength will soar to the heavens, while those with weakness will be trapped in the depths of the earth."

"A mere child, ignorant of military strategy, speaks arrogantly and bluntly; it's truly laughable!"

Huangfu Song cursed and swore. He had seen that Fazheng was young and he couldn't scold him to his face, but now that Fazheng had left, Huangfu Song could no longer hold back.

Huangfu Jianshou dared not argue back, but waited until Huangfu Song finished scolding before cautiously asking, "General Zuo, should we go to Liu Yongzhou's banquet or not?"

"Go! Of course I have to go! If I don't go, why would Liu Bei allocate money and provisions to me?" Huangfu Song said indignantly, "I want to see with my own eyes how Liu Bei plans to resolve this matter!"

Huangfu Jianshou couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

As Huangfu Song's son, Huangfu Jianshou did not want to clash with Liu Bei.

Let alone Liu Bei, even though Dong Zhuo and Huangfu Song harbored mutual resentment, Huangfu Jianshou was on good terms with Dong Zhuo in private.

In terms of military strategy, Huangfu Jianshou knew he was no match for Huangfu Song; in terms of handling affairs, Huangfu Jianshou thought Huangfu Song was too inflexible.

Zhang Wen dared not compete with Liu Bei and fled to Hongnong, but Huangfu Song still wanted to stay in Fufeng and hold on tightly to the 30,000 troops sent to quell the rebellion.

Even if Liu Bei had enough money and supplies to raise more troops after allocating them to Huangfu Song, it would be strange if Liu Bei could sleep soundly in Chang'an, given that Huaili was so close to Chang'an and Huangfu Song had 30,000 troops under his command!

How can you allow others to sleep soundly on the side of the couch?
Huangfu Jianshou silently left the main tent to find Huangfu Li, and heard cheers from afar.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that Dian Wei had already knocked down several valiant soldiers who were fighting against the bandits.

"Did General Zuo curse again?" Huangfu Li wondered as he saw Huangfu Jianshou arrive.

Huangfu Jianshou sighed: "You know General Zuo's temper. He's conservative, stubborn, and inflexible. Last time, when Dong Zhuo refused to hand over his military power, you advised General Zuo to kill Dong Zhuo. But General Zuo believed that 'Dong Zhuo was guilty of disobeying orders, but it was also a crime not to kill him.' So he directly petitioned the court to handle the matter. General Zuo didn't dare to take responsibility, so what could the court do? At most, they could reprimand Dong Zhuo a few times, which only incurred Dong Zhuo's resentment."

Looking at Dian Wei, who was invincible on the field, Huangfu Li said worriedly, "Our dynasty has lost its way and the world is in dire straits. When the late emperor was alive, with General Zuo's merit in eliminating the rebels, we could have stabilized the situation. However, General Zuo refused to listen to my advice and missed a good opportunity. Now Liu Yongzhou has become the governor of Yongzhou and is in charge of military and political affairs. Even the Commandant of the Capital Region has to avoid his sharp edge. How can General Zuo survive alone? If a conflict really breaks out with Liu Yongzhou, it will only be General Zuo who suffers."

Huangfu Jianshou was also worried, saying, "As both a subordinate and a son, even if I don't want to clash with Liu Yongzhou, I can't change the Left General's will. Alas—"

After a moment's thought, Huangfu Li said, "Although General Zuo commands troops, he has no base of operations in Yongzhou. The court only needs one transfer order to send General Zuo away from Yongzhou. Given General Zuo's character, if the court transfers him to Luoyang, even if he knows there is danger there, he will surely obey."

“I have observed that Liu Yongzhou is bold and fearless, and his actions are skillful. Even Zhang Rang and He Jin could not do anything to him. After arriving in Chang'an, Liu Yongzhou vigorously rectified the administration of officials, and most of the corrupt officials in the counties were dismissed. This action has already angered the powerful bandits in the counties. Although General Zuo has closed his doors to guests and refused to associate with the powerful bandits, the powerful bandits may not necessarily need General Zuo to take charge if they want to raise an army to rebel.”

Huangfu Jianshou was taken aback: "You mean, if the powerful bandits were to rebel, they would very likely collude with the Liangzhou rebels to attack Chang'an?"

Huangfu Li nodded emphatically: "If I'm not mistaken, news of the rebellion will surely arrive within half a month to a month. At that time, if General Zuo clashes with Liu Yongzhou again, we will be in grave danger!"

Huangfu Jianshou's expression changed: "Then, according to your opinion, what should we do?"

(End of this chapter)