Three Kingdoms: I rely on system loopholes to survive

In the dim darkness, Zhong Ping felt someone sitting beside the couch holding his hand, and then there was a vague voice asking and caring through gauze. He vaguely caught a few words, probably "seriously injured" and "strong heart pulse". The voice was very low and sounded a bit strange.

The room was silent for a while, and soon a violent and rough voice was heard, shouting a few words of "kill them all", and was interrupted by a familiar voice. Zhong Ping felt that the person who spoke was holding his hand more tightly. The man wiped his face and hands, carefully helped him up, and fed him medicine.

The medicine soup was at a temperature that was just right for drinking, and the bitterness was neutralized by the slightest sweetness. Zhong Ping felt at ease for some reason, and called out in a very low voice: "...Mom."

"Bo Heng?" Liu Bei heard a voice and quickly put the bowl aside, gently stroking Zhong Ping's back.

Zhong Ping subconsciously reached forward, opened his eyes and saw the face of the person in front of him clearly. For a moment, he couldn't tell what was in his mind, but later he realized that his wound was pulled and he grimaced in pain.

Although it was only a moment, Liu Bei could still see the disappointment in Zhong Ping's eyes and knew that he must be missing his family. Thinking about the fact that he had inquired about Zhong Ji several times before but still had no idea about his current situation, he could only hope to get some news to comfort him when he sent officials to the court meeting at the end of the year.

"Sir, how long have I been unconscious? How is my elementary education?" Zhong Ping moved his arms and shook his legs under the quilt. He felt relieved when he found that he had no disability.

"... Boheng, don't worry." Liu Bei said seriously, "You have been unconscious for only half a month. Now, each county in Cangwu has set up a primary school, and there are more than a thousand students in the county. Previously, Wu Zhi used the method of selecting ears to breed Lingling rice, and the yield per mu was no more than two shi. However, there is Xianglin rice in Rinnan County, which can produce five shi in just over fifty days."

Zhong Ping sat up straight in a flash.

I almost forgot that Wu Zhi has been farming for almost two years... Why does this thing sound so much like Champa rice? Could it really be a great achievement for this kid Wu Zhi?

Liu Bei could naturally understand Zhong Ping's excitement. After all, when he first learned that there was such a high-yield and early-maturing rice variety in the world, his behavior was no less outrageous than Zhong Ping's.

"Boheng drink some water first and calm down." Liu Bei gave a look, and Zhang Fei, who was standing at the door as a door god, immediately brought in a bowl of warm water. He deliberately used less force and placed it steadily in Zhong Ping's palm, and scolded him unhappily: "I know the saying that a gentleman does not stand under a broken wall, but you are so worried that your life is not strong enough."

Zhong Ping drank water with a guilty conscience, and then he heard Liu Bei continue: "This is my fault. I neglected defense. This time, thanks to the joint diagnosis and treatment of Zhang Ji and Hua Tuo, otherwise..."

"?" Zhong Ping almost choked himself to death before he could swallow a mouthful of water. "You two gentlemen are here in Guangxin?"

"That's right. Mr. Zhang just prescribed some new medicine and left." Liu Bei pointed to the medicine bowl on the table. "Both gentlemen are very interested in witchcraft. I also heard that Bo Heng gave Fan A a prescription to treat malaria. In addition to treating Bo Heng, they have mostly stayed in the mountains and forests these days, identifying herbs and formulating new prescriptions to control malaria, fever, insect diseases, etc."

Zhong Ping couldn't help but feel confused: Was he really in a coma for only half a month? How did the outside world change so quickly? When would these policies be implemented so quickly and easily?

Zhang Fei was tall and strong, and felt uncomfortable standing in the house. He opened the window and let in a soft breeze. Although it was December, it was not cold at all. Instead, it was refreshing. He nodded with satisfaction, took down a salted duck hanging on the wall, and hurried out of the house: "You've been lying down for so many days, I'm afraid you've lost your appetite. I'll ask someone to cook you some porridge and vegetables!"

Liu Bei's attention was also attracted by the cured duck on the wall. It turned out that Zhong Ping was very good at cooking duck. The air-dried duck meat was rouge red in color, with a salty aroma. The corners of the wall were already shiny with grease.

"…Life is like a fleeting moment in the universe. Whenever I think about how many years it has been since I came to Jiaozhou, and how the sun and moon have moved, I always feel a sense of trance. Perhaps I am getting old. Although I am less than a hundred years old, I always worry about living a thousand years."

"If you observe the sun and the moon, you will see that the heaven and earth cannot even blink. If you observe them from the perspective of their unchanging nature, then all things and people are endless. Why should you be sad?"

Zhong Ping looked at the white hair on Liu Bei's temples and felt something strange in his heart. When Su Shi was boating on the river and sleeping under the moon, he dreamed of a time and space. Would the chapters and verses he wrote about visiting Chibi and reminiscing about the past be brought to Liu Bei by people in later generations?
Liu Bei clapped his hands when he heard this and said, "The rotation of the sun and the moon, the alternation of day and night are the natural way, and the same is true for birth, aging, sickness and death. Instead of worrying about life span, it is better to follow Bo Heng's words and look at the unchanging. The sun and the moon shine through the past and the present, and all who come and go are human beings. After me, there will be another person to carry on my aspirations. There will always be people who share the same path, and of course, I and all things will be endless."

Zhong Ping was stunned, then lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously stroking the lines on the quilt, the system panel in front of him was quietly suspended, twenty-eight years old... He had felt a sense of urgency before, worrying about this matter, what could be done in eight years? Even if he offered advice every day, what was the probability of prolonging his life? He was afraid that he had done too little and made too many mistakes. After listening to what Liu Bei said today, he felt that he had entered a maze.

Yes, since we have come here, as long as we can make a little change and leave a little spark, isn't that enough? Even if there is only a pile of old papers left behind, as long as there is a person who can benefit from it, this life will not be in vain.

"Ping knows the envoy's intention."

Zhong Ping lifted the quilt, turned over and got out of bed. His face had a little more color and he looked much more energetic than before.

He dug out the map and hung it on the wall and unfolded it: "Now that Yuan Shu is doomed to fail, the north is only in the hands of Yuan Shao and Cao Cao. Once the two decide the winner and the north is unified, they will raise a large army and march south. So you should take this as an opportunity, join Liu Qi, take Yizhou on the left, unify the southwest and aim for Yangzhou. By then, the south will be settled, then you can plan for Guanzhong, revive the Han Dynasty, and return to the old capital."

"Take Yizhou..."

Liu Bei nodded slightly. He also knew that Liu Zhang only wanted to defend himself, and the possibility of him wanting to unite with him was very slim. Moreover, the people in Yizhou were too powerful to bully their master. He was afraid that when the army was raised in the north, these people would be eager to find an opportunity and betray their master.

He had made up his mind and could not refuse. He stared at the map for a while and said, "Yizhou is easy to defend but difficult to attack. I wonder if Bo Heng has any good strategy to teach me?"

"There was a scholar in Yizhou named Zhang Lu, who founded the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, which had many followers. Liu Zhang was very jealous of him."

Zhong Ping's finger moved on the map. "When the Yellow Turbans were wreaking havoc in Jingzhou, some refugees fled to Yizhou to survive. Most of them were accepted as followers by Zhang Lu, so his reputation became even worse. Recently, he has been in constant conflict with Liu Zhang's troops. Your Excellency might as well write a letter to Liu Qi and ask him to send an envoy to Liu Zhang to test the situation, under the pretext of stability in Jingzhou and the return of the people. If Zhang Lu does not obey Liu Zhang's orders, your Excellency will have a 30% chance of winning."

Liu Bei understood the meaning of the song: "If Zhang Lu does not obey, Liu Jiyu can naturally send troops to attack. Is Bo Heng sure that if the two fight, Liu Zhang will lose?"

"That's right." Zhong Ping smiled and turned around. The bells on his waist collided and made a crisp "ding" sound. "Liu Zhang is weak. Although he controls the fertile land of Yizhou, he is like a child holding a sword and can hardly control the heroes. Fa Zheng, Zhang Song and other talented people are not valued. Pang Xi and Li Yi are arrogant because of their achievements. Liu Zhang can neither make full use of their talents nor control their hearts. The soldiers under his command are either alienated or lazy to fight. This is his shortcoming."

"Liu Zhang inherited his father's business, but not his prestige. His Dongzhou soldiers fought with local tyrants, like a wolf among sheep, and the people suffered greatly. Liu Zhang indulged in cruelty and failed to appease the hatred of the people. He was already terminally ill but did not know it, just like oil in a boiling pot, which was difficult to quench. Liu Zhang lost the support of both the army and the people. These were his two shortcomings."

"Zhang Lu occupied Hanzhong, and educated the people with the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, set up charity houses to help the poor, and implemented benevolent policies for the people. The people all called him "Teacher" and were willing to fight for him until death. On the other hand, Liu Zhang was troublesome in collecting taxes, harmed those who advised him, and his policies were harsh, so the people had no attachment to him. The people's support is the key to victory or defeat. Zhang Lu has the power of education, while Liu Zhang has no benevolence. Before the battle, Liu Zhang has two shortcomings. How can he not be defeated?"

"Your reputation for noble character is known to all the prefectures and counties. You also helped Liu Qi to seize Jingzhou. If Liu Zhang wants help, how can he not come to you? Moreover, weak people are often biased and credulous. It is difficult for those who flatter their superiors to refuse bribes. You can also start here."

Zhong Ping felt a little tired after talking, so he sat down and drank a sip of water.

"Good." Liu Bei's heart was filled with emotion. He stared at the map on the wall, his eyes lingering on the word "Luoyang" for a long time.

Back to the old capital...

(End of this chapter)