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

Chapter 31: A Masterful Attempt to Sow Discord: General Zuo Desires to Become Friends with Prime Minister Chang
"No! General Zuo is a benevolent man of our time, and he has always treated me with great courtesy. If I were to abandon General Zuo simply because he is in a temporary predicament, how would I be any different from a beast?"

Sun Qian first denied betraying Liu Bei and joining Che Zhou, then sat up straight, smiled faintly, and remained silent.

See this.

Changxi dismissed his wife and children and ordered his attendants to wait at the door.

He asked, "Mr. Gongyou, have you come for General Zuo or for Che Zhou?"

Compared to his previous arrogance, Changxi has clearly become more restrained.

He no longer referred to Liu Bei, but instead called him General of the Left.

It wasn't that Changxi's impression of Liu Bei had changed.

However, if Liu Bei were to address him by his full name in front of Sun Qian after Sun Qian denied switching allegiance to Che Zhou, it would be extremely rude.

Seemingly unwilling to beat around the bush with Sun Qian, Chang Xi spoke frankly: "If you have come for Che Zhou, I can hold a banquet in the city to bid farewell to Mr. Gongyou; if you have come for General Zuo, I can listen to what General Zuo desires."

This Chang Xi is quite a sensible man.

Xu Shu, standing to the side, secretly observed.

Before leaving Xiapi, Zhuge Liang reminded Xu Shu: Chang Xi was able to rise from a bandit to become the Chancellor of Donghai, and should not be underestimated.

At first, Xu Shu did not realize how formidable Chang Xi was.

Seeing that Chang Xi had guessed Sun Qian's purpose from just a few words, he couldn't help but be secretly amazed.

And in fact.

Chang Xi was quite talented.

After Yuan Shao's defeat at Guandu, Chang Xi rebelled.

Cao Cao sent Zhang Liao and Xiahou Yuan to attack Chang Xi, but they failed to defeat him even when they ran out of food. In the end, Zhang Liao went to Sangong Mountain alone and persuaded Chang Xi to surrender.

Several years later, Changxi rebelled again.

Cao Cao sent Yu Jin to attack Chang Xi, but Yu Jin failed to conquer him. In the end, it was only through the combined efforts of Yu Jin, Xiahou Yuan, and Zang Ba that Chang Xi's main force was defeated.

It is no exaggeration for Chang Xi to be able to stand against Zhang Liao, Xiahou Yuan, Yu Jin, and Zang Ba with only a few counties in the East Sea region and not be at a disadvantage, because he believed that his talents and strategies were superior to those of Zang Ba and others.

but.

The more talented and resourceful a person is, the less willing they are to remain subservient to others for long.

Lü Bu was like that.

The same applies to Changxi.

This is also why Liu Bei believed that a strategy of sowing discord could be used against Chang Xi.

Sun Qian and Xu Shu exchanged a glance and whispered a few words.

Subsequently.

Sun Qian laughed loudly: "Changxiang speaks his mind. If I were to try to hide it, I would appear petty. Although I am acting on the orders of Governor Che, I am actually here for General Zuo."

Chang Xi looked sharply at Xu Shu: "May I ask how the two men beside Master Gongyou are addressed?"

At the beginning.

Chang Xi thought Huang Zhong was Sun Qian's bodyguard and Xu Shu was Sun Qian's follower. Although he was surprised by the extraordinary demeanor of the two men, he was only surprised.

Judging from Sun Qian's reaction just now, it seemed that he was discussing with Xu Shu.

How could a mere attendant be qualified to discuss matters with Sun Qian, who was an aide to the Left General and a disciple of Duke Kangcheng?
Furthermore, Huang Zhong was tall and imposing, with piercing eyes and a rock-solid aura, unlike ordinary guards.

Changxi became suspicious of the two men's identities.

What keen observation skills!

Xu Shu was even more astonished.

Immediately.

Xu Shu no longer concealed his intentions, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Xu Shu, the military advisor under the Left General, greets Chancellor Chang."

He then pointed to Huang Zhong and introduced him, saying, "This is Huang Zhong, also known as Huang Hansheng, a guest general under the Left General and the General of the Central Army of Jingzhou."

Chang Xi was startled.

Xu Shu's status as a "military advisor" was alright; at most, he was just an advisor to Liu Bei.

Huang Zhong's status as General of the Central Army of Jingzhou was quite unusual. How could a dignified General of the Central Army of Jingzhou end up serving as a guest general under Liu Bei, the Left General, in Xiapi?

Although the current position of General of the Central Army does not carry as much power as it did in Lu Zhi's time, it should not be underestimated.

More importantly, Huang Zhong came from Jingzhou, which was the territory of Liu Biao, the General Who Guards the South!
According to Chang Xi, Liu Biao and Cao Cao were at odds.

So here's the question: Why would Liu Biao, who was at odds with Cao Cao, send a lieutenant general to Xiapi to serve as a guest general under Liu Bei, whom Cao Cao called a "hero"?
Changxi's intuition told him: Liu Bei sending Sun Qian to Tan County must mean something big!

"What does General Zuo wish to request?"

Chang Xi's expression turned serious, and his tone became more menacing.

Sun Qian smiled calmly: "Prime Minister Chang is overthinking it. General Zuo only wants to befriend Prime Minister Chang, and has no other requests."

Should we become friends?

Chang Xi's gaze toward Sun Qian became even sharper: "General Zuo's name is renowned throughout Henan and Xuzhou. I also wish to become friends with General Zuo."

“Very well!” Sun Qian stood up and said, “General Zuo is waiting for a reply in Xiapi, so I will not disturb Chancellor Chang any longer.”

Are you leaving already?

Chang Xi was confused by Sun Qian's actions.

“Does Mr. Gongyou think I am speaking falsely? I have no enmity with General Zuo. It is my good fortune that General Zuo wishes to become friends with me. How could I refuse?” Changxi stood up.

Changxi couldn't sleep soundly until he got a clear answer.

Sun Qian gently shook his head: "No! It is precisely because I trust Chang Xiang's character that I do not doubt that Chang Xiang is lying."

"Chang Xiang probably wants to know why General Zuo wanted to become friends with Chang Xiang?"

"The reason is simple: in chaotic times, having more friends means having more ways to survive."

Throughout history, the struggle for power has always been brutal.

"When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked; when the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away. Such examples abound!"

"In terms of talent and strategy, Chang Xiang is far superior to Zang Ba and others; but in terms of treatment, Chang Xiang is far inferior to Zang Ba and others."

"In my opinion, it is not that Minister Cao does not recognize Minister Chang's talent and strategy, but that Minister Cao is wary of Minister Chang's talent and strategy; just as Minister Cao seems to call General Zuo a 'hero,' but in reality he is wary of General Zuo's talent and strategy."

"He wanted to raise a tiger as his claws and teeth, but he was also afraid that the tiger would hurt him, so he did it on purpose."

“When General Zuo was the governor of Xuzhou, Donghai originally had thirteen counties; but now, in Changxiang’s Donghai, the three northern counties have been assigned to Licheng County, and the two western counties have been assigned to Changlu County.”

"Although Changxiang had eight counties in Tancheng under his control, he was like a bird in a cage or a fish in a net, bound by constraints everywhere, wasting his years, and living in constant fear."

"Both General Zuo and Chancellor Chang possess talents that are feared by Minister Cao. If they can become friends and advance and retreat together, they may be able to avoid disaster."

Sun Qian truly lived up to his reputation as a highly regarded disciple of Zheng Xuan.

Using a step-by-step approach, the situations of both Chang Xi and Liu Bei can be summarized as follows: they were talented and strategic, yet were feared by Cao Cao.

This would allow Changxi to resonate with Liu Bei when considering the future.

In fact, when Cao Cao divided the five counties of Donghai and added Changlu and Licheng counties, Chang Xi already had the feeling of being "a bird in a cage and a fish in a net".

They were all from the Taishan Generals, but Cao Cao treated Zang Ba and others with kindness and gentleness, while treating Chang Xi as if he were a thief. How could Chang Xi possibly be at ease with this?

Before Sun Qian could speak, Chang Xi could only keep his bitterness to himself and suffer in silence!
After Sun Qian spoke, Chang Xi felt a surge of bitterness rising in his throat, and he had to get it out!
"My talent and strategy surpass Zang Ba's tenfold. How unfair is Cao Sikong!"

Chang Xi's discontent was amplified by Sun Qian.

See this.

Seizing the opportunity, Sun Qian deliberately provoked him: "Prime Minister Chang, be careful, walls have ears, and loose lips sink ships."

"Humph!"

Chang Xi snorted coldly in dissatisfaction.

Could I possibly bring trouble upon myself by complaining about Cao Cao a few times at home?

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(End of this chapter)