Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 103: Liu Bei: Do you understand what it means that Emperor Gaozu is still alive?
When Liu Bei led his men to inspect the counties to eliminate locusts, Liu He rushed over on horseback as soon as he arrived at Le'an County.

The report said: "Sir, Yuan Shao sent Qu Yi with 20,000 soldiers and conscripted another 50,000 people to dig trenches, build city walls and watchtowers in the seven counties of Duxian, Yimu, Lingxian, Weixian, Yuancheng, Guantao and Qingyuan.

"In addition, the four counties of Dongguang, Chonghe, Gaocheng, and Yangxin in Bohai County are also recruiting laborers in an attempt to build a strong city to trap Qingzhou and Dongjun."

"Yuan Benchu ​​pursued fame and wealth, and he used his personal gain to sacrifice the country for his own benefit. Ganling County and Wei County in Jizhou are adjacent to Qingzhou and Yanzhou and are also suffering from drought. In addition, they have also conscripted laborers in the face of natural disasters. I don't know how many families in the two counties are about to be destroyed." Bao Xin cursed angrily, disregarding the Confucian tradition.

As early as several years ago when the princes of Guandong were fighting against Dong Zhuo, he discovered that Yuan Shao had evil intentions. After the defeat at the Bian River in Xingyang, Cao Mengde rushed to Henei County to see Yuan Benchu ​​and wanted to invite him to go with him to find out the truth, but he flatly refused.

Later, he kept advising Meng De to draw a clear line with Yuan Shao. Yuan Benchu, as the leader of the alliance, took away Han Wenjie's place. Judging from his actions, he was just using public power for personal gain. How could he have the face to lead the princes of Guandong?

Liu Bei restrained his expression and said, "Yuan Shao did not dare to attack me during the drought, but chose to build a city out of fear. He wanted to make the city high and thick so that I could not break through, and then find an opportunity to fight me."

After being severely beaten, Yuan Shao really learned his lesson.

"Unfortunately, this method won't work for long." Liu Bei chuckled and said, "As long as Chenliu and Jiyin counties in Yanzhou are captured, I can lead my army to seize Henei and recapture Luoyang.

We can then attack Weijun from the west. Unless Yuan Shao moves his state troops back to Gaoyi in Changshan County, Yecheng will always be under the control of our generals, and Yuan Shao's men will be uneasy and waver."

The clerks looked cheered up and Bao Xin also breathed a sigh of relief.

Duke Xuande's advance on Yecheng frightened Yuan Shao so much that he dared not fight back. He was cowardly even when he was accused of being a traitor to the Yuan family and did not venture out. He was also frightened by the suspicious movements of the three generals.

In the battle, the envoy defeated Yan Liang and Wen Chou and then withdrew his troops calmly. The Yuan army did not dare to pursue him and could only look at him across the Huan River.

Most of the officials here were from the wealthy families of Qingzhou, such as the Liu, Guan, Rong, and Yi families. They had long been deeply bound to Liu Bei and shared the same fate. As long as Liu Bei was not afraid of Yuan Benchu's aggressive power, they naturally would not be afraid either.

Liu He replied, "Sir, Lü Bu of Liyang has sent people to ask for food, and they are waiting in Pingyuan now."

After saying this, he took out a scroll from the bag on his horse's back, handed it to Liu Bei respectfully, and then stood aside with a low breath.

The officials who were more discerning also dispersed to avoid accidentally reading the letters.

Bao Xin also turned his head, looked at the withered hills and dilapidated fields, and couldn't help but sigh and shake his head.

The disasters are floods and droughts, and the whole world is in turmoil.

Natural disasters have caused national chaos and people have no leader. If you hadn't made preparations early, the people would have suffered from famine and disease, and I'm afraid that half of the people in each county would have died!

Liu Bei read it carefully and frowned, saying, "This is not Lü Bu's handwriting. The wording of this letter is as if it was written by a woman."

From Dongjun to Qingzhou, the inns and post offices need to be carefully checked many times by the postal servants along the way. If it is written by an unidentified person, it is impossible for it to be delivered to him through all the layers.

Especially since Lu Bu was not under the jurisdiction of Liu Bei, the sealed documents had to be checked and stamped when they arrived at the county. Only after confirmation that they were issued by General Fenwei and Marquis Wen Lu Bu would they be passed on to the next county.

Other states and counties might have been slack, but in order to ensure that official documents were delivered in a timely manner on the main roads, Liu Bei deployed dozens of soldiers in each county and town, and also hired horse boys to cut water chestnuts and grass to deliver documents more quickly.

Some official documents were also transported downstream by boat, in order to know the situation in various places as quickly as possible.

"Could it be written by Mrs. Lu Fengxian?" Liu Bei asked in surprise.

Then the situation changed. Either Lu Bu felt that his wife wrote better, or Lu Bu was not convenient to write.

"Have there been any changes in the direction of Liyang recently?" Liu Bei asked.

Liu He thought for a moment and replied, "May I report to you, sir? There has been no change in the Lu's troops stationed in Liyang. It was only two months ago that Yuan Shao reduced the food and fodder supply.

By the way, half a month ago, a plague broke out in Henei County, and some people fled to Liyang and were taken in by Lu Bu. I wonder if this has anything to do with it?"

Liu Bei listened carefully and thought about it for a moment. He felt that it was related to the plague. Lü Bu fell ill and had no choice but to ask his wife to revise the book. No wonder he was respected as Lord Xuande.

Liu Bei sighed, "Even though Lü Fengxian was trapped in a county, he still put all his energy into gathering the people to replenish the population. He really has perseverance."

He turned around and asked, "Who is coming?"

"It's the Cavalry Commander Zhang Liao."

"Zhang Liao?!"

Liu Bei was startled, then smiled and said, "Well, Zhang Wenyuan is here as a guest in Pingyuan, so we can't let him go back easily."

Fengxian's illness was just right.

Lu Bu's wife might not have expected that in order to successfully obtain food, she had to show her sincerity. Not only did she show respect in the letter, she also asked the Cavalry Commander Zhang Liao to come to Qingzhou to ask for an audience with Liu Bei.

It may seem sincere to ordinary people, but it seems even more sincere to Liu Bei.

Among the five outstanding generals, only Zhang Wenyuan was favored by him.

Liu Bei raised his hand and smiled, "Let Zhang Liao come to Le'an Commandery to see me, and let him see Qingzhou on the way to see how it is different from Bingzhou, Sizhou, and Jizhou that he has been to."

Liu He had followed the envoy for a long time, so of course he understood what he meant.

I saw county officials and clerks on the side roads of the towns and villages using chestnuts and wheat from the government treasury to provide relief to the common people.

He nodded gently to the envoy in farewell, then mounted his horse and left westward.

Liu Bei stood where he was and watched Liu He ride away on horseback. He laughed amid the puzzled looks of Bao Xin and a group of clerks.

Many things need to be said and done in order to convince others.

Liangcai didn't know where to go, so he could only take things one step at a time.

But it’s different in Qingzhou. Anyone with a little ambition will be attracted.

Liu Bei asked himself in his heart that even among all the princes in the world, no one was more hardworking and competitive than him.

He is not greedy for pleasure. He does not keep any entertainers, dancers, concubines or beautiful maids at home for his amusement. He is unmoved by the seized Yellow Turban gold items, money, grain and fine silk. He is eager to recruit talented people. As long as you do practical work, you will be guaranteed to be promoted.

When you wave your arm, the people will follow you; when you wave your hand, the army will be motivated.

He has led his troops without fear of life or death, and has repeatedly defeated powerful enemies in the battlefield, thus gaining a reputation throughout the world and treating people like an elder.

Which prince can be singled out and compared with me, Liu Xuande?

Any scholar who had been to Qingzhou and seen Liu Bei in person, as long as he had read the Records of Emperor Gaozu, would know what kind of figure had emerged in the world.

What about the three generations of dukes, the famous relatives, the eight most talented people in the world, and the princes and dukes who occupied the world? In front of the style of Emperor Gaozu and the talent of Emperor Guangwu, they could only die in regret.

Many nobles and wealthy families tried to follow these people, but they were just trying to find a way to the underworld.

How many powerful people have been like ants clinging to the Han Dynasty, sucking its blood for four hundred years, and now they want to change the dynasty by just patting their butts. How can such a good thing happen?

Liu Bei looked up at the sky with a smile in his eyes and said, "Don't be anxious, everyone."

A large number of manpower will be needed to reopen the Western Regions and Hetao. If we don't exile you thousands of miles away, how can the Han Dynasty start over again?
(End of this chapter)