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

Chapter 51 Zhuge Liang was an absolute master of financing.
As the proverb says: "A son of a wealthy family will not die in the marketplace."

Therefore it is said: The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is bustling, all for profit.

Zhuge Liang skillfully guided the situation, turning the conflict between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao into the primary conflict, while relegating the conflict between Cao Cao and Liu Bei to a secondary one; he also ensured that Cao Cao and Liu Bei would both benefit from cooperation and both suffer from separation.

Although Cao Cao could no longer hold Liu Bei's family hostage to force Guan Yu to fight, Zhuge Liang's advance intelligence that Yuan Shao wanted to seize Baima gave Cao Cao the upper hand in his response.

The Battle of Baima will not be significantly altered by Guan Yu's absence.

same.

Although Liu Bei's entry into Hebei would inevitably become a major threat to Cao Cao, before Yuan Shao's defeat, Liu Bei, unwilling to be subservient to others, remained a natural ally that Cao Cao could trust.

More than ten days later.

Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu caught up with Liu Bei, who was leading his people north, in Kaiyang, Langya Kingdom.

Liu Bei led his people northward along the Yi River, traveling more than ten li a day, and it took him more than thirty days to finally arrive.

[Note: The previous calculation (Chapter 37) that it would take at least two months to travel from Xiapi to Zhuojun was incorrect; it has been changed to at least six months.]
"Strategist, you must be tired from your journey."

Liu Bei grasped Zhuge Liang's hand.

During this month or so, Liu Bei also sent scouts to investigate the movements in the direction of Xiaopei.

After clashing with Cao Cao, Zhuge Liang also sent scouts to report to Liu Bei that he was safe.

Upon learning that Liu Dai and Wang Zhong had been defeated by Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu, Liu Bei was overjoyed; upon learning that Cao Cao's generals had returned, Liu Bei was filled with worry; upon learning that Cao Cao had retreated, Liu Bei was filled with emotion.

At this moment, a thousand thoughts are condensed into a single sentence.

Zhuge Liang sensed Liu Bei's sincere concern and laughed, "How could my little bit of fatigue compare to the hardships General Zuo endured leading the people north?"

Liu Bei then led everyone to meet, and everyone smiled with joy.

"Why are Shiyuan, Gongyou, and Hansheng nowhere to be seen?"

Zhuge Liang glanced at the crowd and, not seeing Pang Tong, Sun Qian, or Huang Zhong, couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Liu Bei laughed and said, "Strategist, do not worry. I have already sent three men ahead to Qingzhou to meet Yuan Tan."

Only then did Zhuge Liang learn the whole story.

It turned out that when Liu Bei learned that Cao Cao's general had returned, he was worried that Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu would not be able to hold out in Xiaopei for long, and he was also worried that Cao Cao's general would be blocked by Zang Ba after arriving in Langya.

Seeing that Liu Bei had no appetite, Pang Tong offered him a suggestion: he would go on a mission to Qingzhou to ask Yuan Tan to send troops to support him.

Yuan Tan had been recommended as a talented scholar by Liu Bei, and Liu Bei's northward march with his people had already caused quite a stir.

Therefore, Pang Tong believed that whether it was to win over Liu Bei under the guise of recommending him or to gain popular support and morale, as long as Yuan Tan wasn't stupid, he would definitely lead his infantry and cavalry to welcome Liu Bei.

"Since Shi Yuan has already offered his plan, why must he go in person? Why doesn't the general stop him?"

Zhuge Liang harbored some concerns, and whenever he recalled Pang Tong's death from a stray arrow, he felt deep regret.

Xu Shu, who was standing nearby, said, "Kongming has misunderstood the general. It's not that the general didn't try to stop him, but Shiyuan insisted on going in person, saying, 'Kongming doesn't even care about his own safety, so how can I be afraid of death?' The general had no choice but to agree."

Liu Bei sighed, “Shi Yuan is gentle on the outside but firm on the inside. If we forcefully obstruct him, he may be disheartened. Strategist, do not worry. I have already sent Han Sheng and Gong You to accompany and assist him. There will be no major problems.”

Pang Tong even used Zhuge Liang as an example, so how could Liu Bei stop him?
They were both military advisors and generals; it couldn't be that Zhuge Liang was willing to risk his life to cover the rear, while Pang Tong was just a coward who feared death.
Hear the words.

Zhuge Liang immediately realized that he had misunderstood Liu Bei and quickly apologized, saying, "I was in a hurry and misunderstood you, General. Please forgive me."

Liu Bei didn't take it to heart: "These are all minor matters. Strategist, please don't worry about them."

During the conversation.

Zhuge Liang then inquired about Changxi of Donghai.

Liu Bei said, "I originally intended to invite Chang Xi to go north with me, but Chang Xi was afraid that I would not be able to establish myself in Hebei and was unwilling to leave Donghai. He only promised that if I regain control of Xuzhou in the future, he would definitely raise troops to help me." Although Liu Bei had a high reputation and great charisma, he was in a chaotic world and prioritized preserving his life.

Even Liu Bei could not easily make people bow down and worship.

Liu Bei's foundation was not yet established, and the powerful clans in the north mostly supported Yuan Shao. Moreover, Yuan Shao was strong while Cao Cao was weak, so the advantage in the overall situation lay with Yuan Shao.

Chang Xi could not foresee Liu Bei's future in establishing himself in the north, so his choice is not surprising.

"Pity."

Zhuge Liang couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

If Chang Xi were willing to follow Liu Bei north and select his elite troops for use, Liu Bei's foothold in the north would gain an additional three-fold advantage.

Despite his sigh, Zhuge Liang did not dwell on it too much.

Zhuge Liang then took out Cao Cao's letter and said, "Cao Cao has a letter for me to deliver."

After glancing at the contents of the letter, Liu Bei couldn't help but snort: "Cao Cao was initially defiant but later became obsequious, which is laughable. If it weren't for the strategist's wisdom and strategy intimidating Cao Cao, would Cao Cao have given up so easily? The strategist deserves much credit for saving me and tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians from Cao Cao's military calamity."

Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan and said with a smile, "General, you can send someone to deliver this letter to Zang Ba. Ask Zang Ba to provide some provisions, weapons, able-bodied men, or even old soldiers who can fight."

Liu Bei was taken aback, but then he understood Zhuge Liang's intention.

Judging from Cao Cao's letters, the expressions between the lines all indicate that Cao Cao wanted to plot a great undertaking with Liu Bei.

It would be reasonable to hand the letter to Zang Ba and then "ask" Zang Ba to sponsor some food, weapons, young men, or even veteran soldiers who could fight, right?

"The strategist is right!" Liu Bei laughed.

Kaiyang.

Government office.

Zang Ba sat upright on the soft mat, holding in one hand the letter from Cao Cao to Liu Bei and in the other Cao Cao's old documents, carefully examining the handwriting.

Down the hall.

Xu Shu remained calm and composed, neither arrogant nor impatient.

After Zhuge Liang advised Liu Bei to "deliver the letter to Zang Ba," Xu Shu volunteered to deliver the letter to Zang Ba.

Zhuge Liang went to Xiaopei to cover the rear and resist Cao's generals, Pang Tong went to Qingzhou to be an envoy to Yuan Tan, and Xu Shu, along with Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, went north to join Liu Bei, naturally not wanting to fall behind.

Although being an envoy is quite dangerous, fortune favors the bold, and the more dangerous the mission, the greater the merit one can gain.

a long time.

Zang Ba put down the letter and documents, his tone grave: "The Minister of Works has not ordered me to provide General Zuo with provisions, weapons, able-bodied men, and old soldiers. General Zuo's request is too unreasonable. Please ask Military Advisor Xu to convey to General Zuo that it is not that I am unwilling, but that I have not received the Minister of Works' secret order and dare not act on my own."

Upon hearing Zang Ba speak, Xu Shu smiled elegantly: "If Prime Minister Zang does not believe me, he can send someone to Guandu overnight to consult the Minister of Works; General Zuo can wait!"

The phrase "General Zuo can wait" instantly left Zang Ba speechless.

Isn't this just being a scoundrel?

True.

Cao Cao never issued a separate order for Zang Ba to provide Liu Bei with provisions, weapons, able-bodied men, and old soldiers.

However, Cao Cao wanted to form an alliance with Liu Bei, and this was written in his own hand.

If Zang Ba did not send someone to consult Cao Cao, Cao Cao would be too focused on dealing with Yuan Shao to give Zang Ba any orders; however, if Zang Ba took the initiative to send someone to consult Cao Cao, Cao Cao would not only give orders but also be dissatisfied with Zang Ba.

Do you think I have nothing better to do than ask me for permission to handle such a trivial matter separately?

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(End of this chapter)