The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 24: Liu Bei issues orders to Che Zhou, making a grand promise.
See the helmet on the chariot.

Liu Bei feigned reluctance: "I have a plan, but it will cause Governor Che some injustice."

Che Zhou was overjoyed.

Che Zhou seemed to support Zang Ba's demands, but in reality, he was furious.

As Liu Bei just said: warm clothing cannot be obtained in a short time, and we should have informed you in advance.

Zang Ba took it as he pleased, showing he didn't take Che Zhou, the governor of Xuzhou, seriously at all!
To say that he wasn't angry was just Che Zhou deceiving himself.

"I can bear this slight grievance, General Zuo. I humbly request your guidance." Che Zhou bowed and asked again.

Liu Bei waved.

But Zhang Fei approached and placed his short sword directly across Che Zhou's shoulder.

Che Zhou was taken aback: "General Zuo, what does this mean?"

Cao Xuan, who was standing to the side, was equally astonished.

what's the situation?
They were having a pleasant conversation just now, why did they suddenly start using knives?

Before Cao Xuan could speak, Liu Bei smiled gently and said, "Che Zhou, the governor of Xuzhou, is cruel and tyrannical, causing resentment among the people and bringing shame to the emperor. As the Left General, I should eliminate this traitor for the emperor and cannot stand idly by!"

"Is this General Zuo's plan?" If Liu Bei hadn't spoken in a gentle tone and had a smile on his face, Che Zhou would have almost mistaken it for Liu Bei's intention to "eliminate traitors for the emperor."

Liu Bei said frankly, "If Governor Che is unwilling to disobey Cao Sikong's orders under the pretext of 'a general in the field may disobey some military orders,' then this is the only option. Governor Che, rest assured, if Cao Sikong holds me accountable, I will take full responsibility."

Che Zhou was both surprised and doubtful: "General Zuo is willing to take responsibility for me. I wonder how I should repay him?"

Che Zhou wasn't stupid.

Liu Bei was the Left General, and he could ignore all matters concerning Xuzhou.

And now.

Liu Bei not only conscripted laborers to transport grain and supplies for Che Zhou, but also willingly took responsibility for Che Zhou's actions.

There must be something they want!
Liu Bei remained unfazed and replied, "Cao Cao and I are both friends and rivals. My reluctance to return to Xuchang is not because I am unwilling to resist Yuan Shao, but because I am unwilling to resist Yuan Shao as a general under Cao Cao."

"If Governor Che is willing to help me, he may temporarily obey my orders. Once my name is known throughout Hebei, I will definitely report Governor Che's merits in governing the prefectures and counties before the Emperor and Minister Cao."

"What does Governor Che think?"

Che Zhou's eyes widened in surprise.

Is Liu Bei trying to steal credit from Cao Cao?

A chill ran through Che Zhou's feet.

If you listen to Liu Bei, you will offend Cao Cao; if you listen to Cao Cao, you will offend Liu Bei.

And now.

Neither Liu Bei nor Cao Cao could afford to offend Che Zhou!
Che Zhou couldn't help but complain inwardly: "Minister Cao, why did you leave Liu Bei in Xiapi?"

"If I am unwilling, what will General Zuo do?" Che Zhou asked tentatively, forcing himself to speak.

Liu Bei smiled but remained silent.

Zhang Fei's cold laugh rang in Che Zhou's ears: "Che Zhou, let me give you a piece of advice: don't refuse a toast only to suffer the consequences."

"If you refuse, you will ruin my elder brother's future. If you dare to ruin my elder brother's future, what do you think my elder brother should do?"

Feeling the coldness of the sharp blade against his shoulder, Che Zhou couldn't help but tremble.

To ruin someone's future is tantamount to creating an irreconcilable enmity.

As a seasoned official, Che Zhou was well-versed in the philosophy of seeking advantage and avoiding harm, and naturally did not want to become mortal enemies with Liu Bei.

"General Zuo, it's a misunderstanding!" Che Zhou quickly admitted, "I am willing to obey General Zuo's orders."

Seeing that Che Zhou had given in, Liu Bei then offered a promise: "Governor Che, we are both ministers of the Emperor and have no enmity with each other. As long as Governor Che keeps his mouth shut and obeys my orders, our futures will be bright. It is not impossible for us to become high-ranking officials."

Che Zhou sighed inwardly.

Just now, Che Zhou was making empty promises to Cao Xuan; now, Liu Bei is making empty promises to Che Zhou.

The situation is better than people.

Cao Xuan couldn't refuse the promise Che Zhou made.

same.

Che Zhou couldn't refuse the promise Liu Bei made.

Che Zhou sighed inwardly: "So be it! So be it! I'll just obey Liu Bei's orders for now. As long as I can repel Yuan Shao's troops, I don't think Cao Cao will be too harsh on me." Although Che Zhou wasn't entirely sincere, he didn't want to make an enemy of Liu Bei, so he tacitly agreed to let Liu Bei secretly take control of Xiapi.

Liu Bei then looked at Cao Xuan: "Prefect Cao, can I trust you?"

Cao Xuan felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Even the governor of Che dared not disobey orders, so how could I, a mere deputy governor, dare to disobey?
Seeing the look Liu Bei gave him, Cao Xuan hurriedly said, "I am willing to obey General Zuo's orders!"

Liu Bei laughed and clapped his hands: "Good! With the help of Governor Che and Assistant Governor Cao, I will surely become famous throughout Hebei."

"When I return to Xuchang, I can once again drink and discuss heroes with Cao Cao, living up to Cao Cao's words, 'The only heroes in the world are you and Cao Cao.'"

Upon hearing the words, "The only heroes in the world are you and Cao Cao," Che Zhou and Cao Xuan became even more fearful.

When the two dragons are playing together, how dare the shrimp soldiers and crab generals make any rash moves?

Seeing that Cao Xuan had yielded, Liu Bei asked directly, "Prefect Cao, I need a thousand sets of thick hemp clothing and shoes. Are you willing to prepare them for me?"

"Your subordinate is willing to prepare for General Zuo!" Cao Xuan readily agreed, clearly understanding the difference between five thousand sets and one thousand sets.

Liu Bei originally had more than a hundred troops.

After Xu Shu arrived, the number of men increased to three hundred.

After Zhuge Liang arrived, the number of men increased to over eight hundred, and they were called a thousand men, named after the White Feathers.

Originally, Liu Bei wanted to recruit more soldiers, but Zhuge Liang believed that "the strength of an army lies not in its quantity, but in its deployment."

In addition, Liu Bei did not have enough money, silk and grain to support more troops, so he followed the old model of Lü Bu's Trapped Camp, supporting strong soldiers and training elite troops.

These thousand sets of thick linen clothing and shoes were what Liu Bei used to distribute to his troops.

Subsequently.

Liu Bei then had Che Zhou sign an edict designating the White Feather Soldiers as the governor's direct subordinate troops.

On the bright side.

Che Zhou remained the governor of Xuzhou.

secretly.

Liu Bei gave orders to Che Zhou and his subordinates.

Thanks to the "active cooperation" of Che Zhou and Cao Xuan, Liu Bei completed the transfer of power without bloodshed.

"Che Zhou is forced by circumstances to temporarily obey the general's orders. We must be wary of this. We can send someone to closely monitor Che Zhou's every move."

"Although Cao Xuan is Che Zhou's assistant, he is not Che Zhou's loyalist. Moreover, he comes from a humble background. General, you can visit him often and offer him generous benefits. Perhaps you can win him over."

Zhuge Liang spoke slowly and clearly, making arrangements for Che Zhou and Cao Xuan.

Che Zhou, a seasoned official, might be forced by circumstances to temporarily obey Liu Bei's orders, but he would never follow Liu Bei in raising an army against Cao Cao.

Cao Xuan was different.

Changing his social status and joining the ranks of the gentry was something Cao Xuan strived for.

to this end.

Cao Xuan did not hesitate to follow Mi Zhu's example and use his family wealth to pave the way, willingly providing Che Zhou with money, silk, and provisions, hoping that Che Zhou could give him some guidance in his future career.

Only when you have something to ask for will you have the opportunity to be won over.

In Zhuge Liang's eyes, Cao Xuan was like a second Mi Zhu.

the difference is.

Mi Zhu's family fortune was exhausted, and he had no surplus grain.

Cao Xuan, on the other hand, was quite wealthy!

Liu Bei was destined not to stay in Xiapi for long, but if he wanted to make a strategic move, money, food, and even slaves were urgently needed.

Liu Bei deeply agreed with Zhuge Liang's arrangements for Che Zhou and Cao Xuan.

With Zhuge Liang pointing the way, Liu Bei was no longer as indecisive as before when faced with complex situations, and his decision-making became increasingly decisive.

He immediately decided, "I will personally handle the matter of winning over Cao Xuan. As for the rest, I will leave it to the strategist and everyone else."

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(End of this chapter)