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

Chapter 39 Your opponents are: Guan Yu in his prime and Zhuge Liang in his fullest form after the fact.
Changlu.

The residence of General Wang Zhong.

Liu Dai, the Chief Clerk of the Minister of Works, solemnly read aloud Cao Cao's secret order:

"Now, General Liu Bei has usurped the position of governor, incited the people, and betrayed the Emperor's grace. I hereby order General Wang Zhong to immediately lead the elite troops to capture this traitor. This matter must be handled swiftly and without delay!"

Wang Zhong was startled: "Liu Changshi, does the Minister of Works really intend to capture the Left General?"

It's no wonder Wang Zhong was suspicious; the relationship between Cao Cao and Liu Bei was too delicate, and the saying "The only heroes in the world are you and Cao Cao" was widely circulated in various counties.

Now Liu Dai comes to tell Wang Zhong that Cao Cao has a secret order to capture Liu Bei. How can Wang Zhong believe it?
Seeing that Wang Zhong was disobeying orders, Liu Dai frowned: "General Wang, are you going to disobey orders?"

As he spoke, Liu Dai pressed his right hand on the hilt of the sword hanging at his waist, veins bulging on his arm, and his eyes scanned left and right.

"Liu Changshi has misunderstood!" Seeing Liu Dai's alarmed expression, Wang Zhong hurriedly explained, "It's not that I want to disobey orders, but that all the counties are saying that 'Che Zhou held a banquet to murder the Left General, and the Left General submitted a memorial requesting to resign and return to Zhuojun to teach.' That's why I asked this question."

"Heh!" Liu Dai sneered, "Could it be that General Wang also believes that it was the Minister of Works who listened to the slander of petty men and secretly ordered Che Zhou to plot against Liu Bei?"

This charge?
Wang Zhong suddenly felt a cold sweat soak through his shirt.

"The Grand Commandant is always wise and mighty; how could any villain dare to slander him?" Wang Zhong's survival instinct was extremely strong.

"Although I neither believe nor spread rumors, the people of all the counties in Xuzhou believe that General Zuo has been wronged. If I lead troops to capture General Zuo, I fear that the people of all the counties in Xuzhou will not be convinced."

"You disagree?" Liu Dai raised his voice.

"General Wang, you are stationed in Changlu by order of the Minister of Works, and your duty is to guard the counties of Xuzhou. When have you ever considered whether the people of those counties are convinced of your loyalty?"

Seeing Liu Dai's arrogant demeanor, Wang Zhong couldn't help but curse inwardly.

As a mere Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Works, and not one to linger in Changlu, you naturally don't need to consider whether the people of Xuzhou are convinced.

But if I station my troops in Changlu without considering whether the people of Xuzhou's counties will accept this, what if I force them to rebel?
If I succeed in quelling the rebellion, the Minister of Works will reward me for my merits.

If I fail to quell the rebellion, I will be punished by the Minister of Works.

Even more surprisingly, my head might be used by the Minister of Works to quell the resentment of the people in various counties.

Do you think I can mess with people like Zang Ba and Chang Xi?

Liu Bei, who killed Che Zhou, is someone I can afford to offend.
Despite his silent curses, Wang Zhong dared not open his heart to Liu Dai in person.

The Chief Clerk of the Minister of Works is one rank higher than any other official.

A few slanderous words to Cao Cao were enough to send Wang Zhong to his death.

"My talent is mediocre. I was fortunate enough to gather more than a thousand followers to join the Minister of Works, which allowed me to be appointed as a General of the Household."

"I have long heard of Liu Changshi's exceptional talent and wisdom, and Sikong often discusses military strategies with him. I dare to ask Liu Changshi to accompany me and help me capture Liu Bei."

Wang Zhong adopted a very humble attitude.

In the past, when Guanzhong was in great turmoil, Wang Zhong, due to hunger, ate people and fled south from Wuguan with the masses.

At that time, Lou Gui was in northern Jingzhou welcoming guests from the north on behalf of Liu Biao. Wang Zhong was unwilling to submit, so he led his companions to attack Lou Gui, seized Lou Gui's troops and provisions, and gathered more than a thousand followers to join Cao Cao.

Historical records indicate that Wang Zhong lived until the third year of the Zhengshi era, which was the third year of the reign of Cao Fang, the King of Wei Qi.

In other words, Wang Zhong's primary concern is survival. He is capable of cannibalism and murder to survive, and he is also capable of compromising his principles to survive.

really.

Wang Zhonggang lowered his stance, and Liu Dai readily agreed: "Even if you didn't say it, I would have done the same! The Minister of Works ordered me to come to Changlu, ostensibly to read out a secret order, but in reality to help you with your plans."

Hear the words.

Wang Zhong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Liu Dai spoke and acted as if he were a superior person, Wang Zhong was not afraid of failing to capture Liu Bei and taking the main responsibility, as long as Liu Dai was willing to go with him.

Liu Dai, unaware of Wang Zhong's true thoughts, assumed Wang Zhong was cowardly and timid, and thus commanded Wang Zhong in the tone of a general:
"Select troops and send out more scouts. Within five days, I need to know Liu Bei's exact location!"

Before five days had passed, a messenger arrived from Xiaopei.

The messenger claimed to be Xue Liang, a bandit from Xiaopei, and was delivering a message to General Wang Zhong on behalf of General Liu Bei.

however.

When Wang Zhong saw the words, "The general has been stationed in Changlu for years, never leaving his armor, yet his achievements are not recorded. Is he not like a dragon trapped in shallow waters? I wish to hunt with the general on the banks of the Si River and together support the Han dynasty," he was nearly scared out of his wits.

I am not a dragon, nor am I trapped in shallow waters!

All I want is to live a quiet life as a lieutenant general in Changlu, I ask for nothing more!
"How brave!"

Liu Dai, the Chief Clerk of the Minister of Works, had a livid face.

I've seen arrogant people before, but I've never seen anyone as arrogant as Liu Bei.

Having first usurped the governorship and then incited the people, they still show no remorse. Now they have seized Xiaopei and misled Wang Zhong, their rebellious intentions are obvious.

"I was just worried about not being able to find Liu Bei, but I never expected that Liu Bei would actually deliver himself to my door!"

"There's no time to lose. Let's march on Xiaopei and capture Liu Bei!"

Seeing Liu Dai's eagerness to send troops, Wang Zhong hesitated: "Chief Clerk Liu, could this be a trap?"

"Liu Bei issued a proclamation to the counties and also submitted a letter of resignation to the Minister of Works, claiming that he wanted to return to Zhuojun to teach. Scouts also discovered that a large number of scholars and civilians were heading north from the direction of Tancheng."

"It would be better to postpone it for a few days, send more scouts into Xiaopei, investigate carefully first, and then decide whether to send troops to Xiaopei."

Having led troops for several years, Wang Zhong knew all too well the dangers of the battlefield and the need for utmost caution.

however,
Liu Dai was eager to make a name for himself and worried that Liu Bei would flee prematurely if he heard the news, so he wouldn't listen to Wang Zhong's advice at all, and instead scolded him:

"Speed ​​is of the essence in war; how can we afford to delay? If Liu Bei escapes, how can we pursue him? If the Minister of Works holds us accountable, neither of us can bear the consequences! Execute the order!"

After being reprimanded by Liu Dai, Wang Zhong could only reluctantly lower his head and accept the order.

Half an hour later.

Two thousand soldiers marched out of the south gate of Changlu and headed straight for Xiaopei.

"A brilliant plan from the strategist."

"With just one letter, Wang Zhong brought his entire army here."

Guan Yu's tone revealed undisguised admiration for Zhuge Liang.

After seizing Xiaopei, Guan Yu was troubled by how to restrain Wang Zhong and prevent him from sending troops to harass the people heading north.

Zhuge Liang calmly took out a pre-prepared letter and asked Xue Liang, the recently surrendered bandit leader from Xiaopei, to deliver it to Wang Zhong.

With just one letter, Wang Zhong summoned his entire army.

Wang Zhong's troops all came to Xiaopei, so naturally they would no longer harass the people who were heading north.

"Although Liang addressed him as General of the Left in the letter, Wang Zhong was a man who always valued his life. Logically, he should have been hesitant and indecisive in Changlu, rather than rushing over."

"If Liang is not mistaken, it must be that Cao Cao secretly sent someone to Changlu to give Wang Zhong a secret order to harm the Left General."

“They mistakenly believed that the Left General was in Xiaopei. They wanted to make a name for themselves but were also afraid of the Left General’s bravery, so they sent all their troops here.”

Zhuge Liang's eyes were piercing, and with a gentle wave of his feather fan, he displayed his wisdom in anticipating the enemy's moves.

The conversation turned.

Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "If they divide their forces and come, it will be very troublesome; if they bring all their troops, it will be simpler."

　It's almost the end of the month, and Dragon Boat Festival is coming up, so I'm asking for monthly votes. If I run out of votes this month, can I shamelessly ask for votes at the beginning of the month (October 1st)?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)