Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 455 The Refutational Personality

"Does Your Majesty still know my brother?"

Duan Wei was very respectful to the imperial edict, but his words were quite impolite: "I am indeed a straightforward and blunt person, and I am afraid I am not worthy of the Prime Minister's attention. Your Majesty already has the Prime Minister in charge of affairs, why would you need an old man like me?"

If it were anyone else, Duan Wei's words would have been considered offensive.

To most people, saying this means "we're not on the same wavelength."

"General Duan, there is no need to be modest. You have lived in Liangzhou for a long time and are familiar with its customs and features. Moreover, your elder brother, Grand Commandant Duan, is renowned in Liangzhou. If you were to lead the remaining troops of Lord Dong, I believe that pacifying the bandits in Liangzhou would be a piece of cake."

Liu Bei began by praising and criticizing at the same time: "Your Majesty wishes to appoint General Duan to lead the army to conquer Liangzhou, but is worried that the general will disregard the law and engage in endless infighting and private disputes..."

"The conflict with Li Jue was caused by Minister Yang hiring me to assist in investigating the case. I was acting in accordance with the laws of the government, so how can you say I disregarded the law?"

Duan Wei looked unconvinced: "His Majesty has just arrived, the old capital is in dire need of reconstruction, the soldiers in Xizhou are not of one mind, and the provisions are insufficient. How can we rush to conquer Liangzhou?"

To say that Duan Jiong was famous was not to praise Duan Wei, but rather to say that Duan Wei only relied on his brother's fame.

As for letting Duan Wei lead Dong Zhuo's remaining forces... Duan Wei himself knew that was impossible.

But Duan Wei's focus seems to be a bit off...

Liu Bei now understood—Duan Wei was a typical rebuttal type of person; aside from not refuting imperial edicts, every sentence he uttered was tinged with rhetorical questions.

No wonder he can't get along with anyone.

"Now that Your Majesty has arrived, the soldiers of Xizhou are all Your Majesty's army. If they cannot be of one mind, then that is treason... The edict in your hand is issued for the sake of the soldiers' unity."

Liu Bei smiled and said, "As for provisions... I've heard that you have achieved great success in water management and land reclamation in Hongnong, which is why His Majesty wants to appoint you as the Governor of Liangzhou... Could it be that you are reluctant to part with the grain from the land reclamation?"

Liu Bei asked this question deliberately because he was facing a person with a confrontational personality...

"It was originally public funds of the imperial court, so why should I, Duan, feel reluctant to part with it?"

Duan Wei frowned: "But if we want to conquer Liangzhou, transporting grain from Hongnong to Longxi will take us through three prefectures and eleven counties, and across seven tributaries of the Wei River... By the time the grain reaches Longxi, it will be exhausted! The Prime Minister's fame for conquering the northern barbarians is renowned throughout the world, and he has reached the highest position of the court at the young age of thirty. Does he not know anything about military affairs?"

"It seems that the general has always harbored the intention to conquer Liangzhou, and his loyalty to the country is no less than that of your elder brother, Duke Ji..."

Liu Bei laughed and said, "Since General Duan has long harbored the idea of ​​pacifying Liangzhou, he must have done a lot of planning. I wonder how General Duan intends to pacify Liangzhou?"

“Transporting grain from Hongnong is not advisable. We should first establish a base in Chang’an, Meiyang, and Chencang, and then advance westward step by step to build fortifications. We should also build a new fortress at the Longdao Pass north of Chencang, and settle laborers along each tributary of the Wei River to set up defenses and build pontoon bridges.”

Duan Wei seemed to have considered this many times, and he immediately said, "The laborers will go first, and we will set up many military camps. Once the fortifications and pontoon bridges are completed, we can ensure a continuous flow of grain and supplies to Chencang. Only then can we win the battle in one fell swoop, and the rebels in Liangzhou will be unable to rise again..."

It seems that Duan Wei wasn't just making baseless refutations. Although his way of speaking was annoying, he did actually have a solution.

After posing the question, Liu Bei became the one refuting it: "If that's the case, I'm afraid we'll need tens of thousands of laborers, and then our supplies will be even more scarce. Right now, all the generals in Xizhou are plundering counties for their own benefit, and Your Majesty has no grain to use in the Three Auxiliary Regions... What should we do?"

"Does the Prime Minister actually condone their plundering of the Three Auxiliary Regions? The grain produced in the Three Auxiliary Regions belongs to the imperial treasury and should be handed over to His Majesty. Only when His Majesty controls the grain can he control the armies."

Duan Wei argued without hesitation.

"Oh? I thought that once it's in private hands, it would be difficult to snatch food from the tiger's mouth... Could it be that General Duan is willing to procure provisions for His Majesty?"

Liu Bei raised an eyebrow.

"Why would I be unwilling? This is the duty of a subject!"

Duan Wei seemed to be habitually refuting, and the words just slipped out.

"In that case, General Duan, please transport grain to Chang'an first, so that His Majesty will have grain to use."

Liu Bei bowed to Duan Wei and said, "I need your help, General Duan, to get the generals of the various tribes in Xizhou to hand over the grain they have plundered. Please come to my camp and assist me."

Duan Wei then realized that Liu Bei had already won him over and made him one of his own... He was even starting to actively consider how to organize his army and prepare for war.

"This……"

Duan Wei initially wanted to refute, but then realized that everything Liu Bei said was his own strategy...

He's now fighting against himself, contradicting himself.

“I thought General Duan might have selfish motives, but I didn’t expect him to be so selfless. I think those who slander him are just jealous people who are envious of his talent… I will thank the general for his loyalty on behalf of His Majesty.”

Liu Bei didn't give Duan Wei time to think and immediately changed the subject: "It just so happens that Wenhe mentioned that General Duan saved my fellow disciple Jiang Ye before... In this way, I should thank General Duan both publicly and privately."

After saying this, Liu Bei bowed to Duan Wei with the courtesy due to a junior.

When Liu Bei mentioned his disciples, he did so in a casual manner, as if he put public affairs first and personal matters second, and he showed that he trusted Duan Wei very much—he did not have Duan Wei escort him back to 'Jiangye', but only expressed his gratitude.

Duan Wei was completely at a loss...

Duan Wei's original stance was actually quite ambiguous.

When Dong Zhuo controlled the Three Auxiliary Regions, Duan Wei was ordered by Dong Zhuo, but he was not Dong Zhuo's subordinate. Instead, he was a colleague serving in the same court. He was appointed as a General of the Household by Liu Hong.

Dong Zhuo sent him to Hongnong County to cultivate land, actually because he couldn't stand him... But Dong Zhuo had to give Duan Jiong face, so he gave Duan Wei a piece of land to play with on his own - the location of the land cultivation was in Huayin County of Hongnong County, which is Yang Biao's hometown.

Duan Wei held the title of General of the Central Army, so no one in the prefecture could control him. He was essentially an independent warlord, but his strength was limited because he could not get any support.

Although he was born in Liangzhou, he no longer belonged to the Liangzhou military leaders, but rather to the meritorious officials and gentry.

At the same time, he was unable to integrate into the aristocratic community—even though he did want to.

Duan Jiong was already regarded as a member of the eunuch faction by the gentry and was ostracized. Duan Wei could neither squeeze into the gentry circle nor was he willing to become a military leader again. His own personality also meant that he had few friends, so no one liked him.

The argumentative personality type really offends everyone. Even with a brother like Duan Jiong, no one still considers Duan Wei one of their own. Even Jia Xu thinks it's hard to tell whether Duan Wei is a friend or foe.

In fact, Duan Wei certainly had his own selfish motives, and quite a lot of them.

The argumentative personality disorder stems from a desire to protect oneself. It involves viewing everything in the outside world as a threat and maintaining one's own "correctness and power" by arguing that "others are wrong." This is a psychological disorder caused by cognitive rigidity.

However, Duan Wei also had a certain arrogance and pride in his heart. Perhaps it was because of Duan Jiong's achievements that he always put on airs and maintained a high image. He always felt that he had to achieve something to justify his actions, so he always maintained relatively good private morality.

Therefore, Liu Bei told him to convince himself.

Seeing Liu Bei treat him with the respect due to a nephew, Duan Wei felt uneasy again: "How can the Prime Minister, with his status, act like a junior?"

"I am both a teacher and a friend of Ji Minggong. My wife and my brother are both disciples of Ji Minggong. I regard Ji Minggong as an elder, and General Duan is naturally a senior as well."

It was only then that Liu Bei began to establish a connection: "General Duan saved my disciples, and I originally intended to thank him with gifts, but Wenhe said that the general is upright and principled and never accepts gifts. I fear that thanking him with money would be an insult to the general... Therefore, I submit this memorial to Your Majesty, if General Duan is concerned about his hometown, then I will reward the general for his loyalty and righteousness with the important task of overseeing Liangzhou. Please do not refuse."

When dealing with an elderly person, one should first belittle them and then flatter them to bring up the topic, and then give them enough face to coax them. At least in terms of age, Duan Wei is indeed an elder, and Liu Bei still possesses the traditional virtues of respecting the elderly and caring for the young.

"This... this is..."

Duan Wei was stunned for a moment, and finally realized that he had nothing to refute, so he could only bow his head and return the greeting: "Wei still has the heart to bring peace to his hometown. If His Majesty issues an edict, Wei will certainly serve."

"Then please move into His Majesty's camp, so that His Majesty may summon you at any time."

Liu Bei extended his hand: "General, please."

Duan Wei didn't move or speak, seemingly hesitant.

On the other side, Jia Xu readily led over a horse and secretly gave Liu Bei a wink.

This was Jia Xu's own horse; clearly, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Liu Bei pointed to the horse Jia Xu was leading: "This horse is a gift to the general, but not a private one. It was a warhorse assigned to the governor of Liangzhou by the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty... I wonder if the general still possesses the ability to ride it?"

"Though the stew is old, it is still capable of fighting..."

Duan Wei habitually retorted, then leaped onto his horse without using the stirrups, cupped his fists in thanks from his saddle, and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Prime Minister."

To have such agility at his age is truly remarkable, and certainly shows a lack of manners.

Liu Bei smiled and said, "Return to camp."

Jia Xu, being very sensible, immediately took the horse and left.

Duan Wei was taken aback. To have the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat lead the horse—what kind of protocol was this? "Minister Jia, how can you do this?"

Just as he was about to dismount, Jia Xu said, "This is the ceremony for inviting a general, which is in accordance with national law. I am also a junior of Lord Duan, so it is only right that I lead the horse and hold the stirrups."

This truly provides both substance and appearance.

That night, Duan Wei moved into Liu Bei's camp, and his troops followed him.

The next morning, Liu Bei had Duan Wei carry the flag to lead the emperor's entourage.

This was obviously intentional.

However, it is also an honor. Ordinary people are not qualified to carry the emperor's flag. At least one must be a Commandant of the Capital Region or a Commandant of the Imperial Guard to do this job.

Originally, this task was to be done by Liu Bei himself.

The others who came to welcome the emperor were all surprised and suspicious when they saw Duan Wei holding a flag in Liu Bei's army.

At this point, Jia Xu, Guo Jia, Xu Shu, and other quick-witted individuals had already split up and taken action.

During this period, the working hours of Liu Bei's strategists were very irregular, and they often worked overtime.

They split up, obviously to scare people.

Given the current situation, it seems that all the warlords Liu Bei encountered along his westward march have surrendered without a fight...

Zhang Ji, Cao Cao, and Duan Wei all joined Liu Bei's army. Zhang Ji followed the emperor all the way, Cao Cao had previously ridden in the same carriage as Liu Bei, and now Duan Wei became the vanguard.

Moreover, Duan Wei's troops had already begun supplying food and supplies to Liu Bei's army—in reality, those supplies were for the emperor. Liu Bei would not allow Duan Wei to provide military rations these days; he only allowed him to deliver the grain to the Chang'an government warehouse.

However, these three families belong to different camps, so at first glance it seems as if all camps have sided with Liu Bei.

The situation has indeed stabilized.

Yang Biao received the imperial edict with great anxiety. Upon seeing it, he breathed a sigh of relief and immediately sent Yang Ding back to Huayin to organize the laborers.

Huayin is nearby, so it's estimated that grain will arrive in Chang'an soon.

At the same time, Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, Li Meng, Wang Fang and others all received orders from the Ministry of Personnel to report the taxes they had collected to the Ministry of Personnel and to hand over the grain taxes due to the Ministry of Personnel to the Chang'an Treasury.

This wasn't coercion; it was just a formal document—Dong Zhuo would issue similar documents when he was in power, instructing his generals to complete their tax collection tasks.

The food shortage problem has actually been solved. Issuing this document is just to see how the various parties react, so as to speed up the incorporation process.

……

……

Three days later, in Chang'an.

Duan Wei had a camp outside Chang'an, which was formerly the Northern Army camp, and Dong Zhuo's troops had used this camp.

Liu Xie is currently in Duan Wei's camp.

After several months of unease, Liu Xie finally met Liu Bei again.

Upon seeing Duan Wei lead Liu Bei inside, Liu Xie burst into tears.

"Junior brother, what are you crying about, a real man?"

Seeing that Liu Xie was about to speak, Liu Bei spoke first, silencing Liu Xie's utterance of "Young Master".

"Yes Yes."

Liu Xie wiped away his tears: "I'm just happy to see Brother Xuande..."

He did know that many people called Liu Bei that.

Duan Wei, standing nearby, advised, "It's normal for the young man to feel aggrieved after being kidnapped by thieves. Why should the Prime Minister be so harsh on him? As for those thieves, how does the Prime Minister intend to deal with them? I originally intended to hand them over to the judicial authorities, but there are not enough officials in Chang'an right now, and I don't know who to hand them over to."

There are actually quite a few officials in Chang'an right now, and Yang Biao's side can basically be said to have a whole team.

But Duan Wei also knew that the emperor might not approve of this team—he was just habitually refuting it because he always lacked a sense of security and was suspicious of everything, not because he was stupid.

Liu Bei nodded: "Then let Your Majesty handle it."

He then beckoned to Liu Xie and led him away like a mafia boss leading his underlings.

After leaving Duan Wei's camp, Liu Xie whispered, "Grand Tutor, did the traitors use me to threaten you?"

"What do you say?"

Liu Bei laughed and said, "If they weren't using you to blackmail me, why would they kidnap you?"

"Then... now I..."

Liu Xie looked hesitant, stammering, "Am I... left with no choice but to become emperor again?"

Judging from this, he really doesn't want to be emperor.

After all, he had been kidnapped several times...

Liu Bei sighed, "We can't keep having Zhuge Liang do all the work for you, can we? He's working very hard too..."

Liu Xie also sighed.

……

Liu Xie, who had regained his throne, appeared dejected.

Zhuge Liang was much happier now that he was an ordinary teenager again...

Now Zhuge Liang has replaced his brother Zhuge Jin and started writing documents for Liu Bei.

This was a part-time job. Liu Bei didn't actually assign him any tasks; he just made him go back to being a student.

But Zhuge Liang said that he was already feeling suffocated on the emperor's throne and had to do something to make himself feel better...

However, perhaps because he had developed a cautious habit during his time as emperor in order to avoid being discovered, Zhuge Liang was able to find a small problem in a document.

That was a report from Niyang, sent by Li Jue.

(End of this chapter)