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

Chapter 68: Holding the Sword Seal, Conquering Youzhou, Zhuge Liang's Reinforcements Afterwards
"Now that I have received the sword and seal of the Left General, I should naturally plan for the Left General's future." Zhuge Liang's eyes were piercing.

Before the Battle of Baima, Zhuge Liang had a detailed plan for establishing a foundation for the dynasty, which he discussed with Liu Bei and Pang Tong.

Before leaving Gaotang, Liu Bei handed over the sword and seal to Zhuge Liang. Ostensibly, this was to ensure that all civil and military officials obeyed Zhuge Liang's orders, but in reality, it was to give Zhuge Liang full authority over the execution of the plan.

Zhuge Liang signaled Guan Yu to calm down, and then summoned Zhang Fei, Pang Tong, Jian Yong, and Sun Qian to the mansion to discuss matters.

Once everyone had arrived, Zhuge Liang took out another map.

He spread it out on the couch and showed it to everyone.

"As far as I know, although Yuan Shao has eliminated Gongsun Zan, there are still people in Youzhou such as Yan Rou and Xianyu Fu who are not convinced by Yuan Shao. We can try to win over Yan Rou, Xianyu Fu and others to our aid."

After Cao Pi became emperor, he sent Xianyu Fu to Shu Han to persuade Zhuge Liang to surrender.

Therefore, Zhuge Liang had a corresponding understanding of Xianyu Fu's past and the attitudes of the various forces in Youzhou towards the three families of Yuan, Cao, and Liu.

Since Zhuge Liang was planning to help Liu Bei in Hebei, he couldn't possibly be completely ignorant of the people and affairs in Hebei.

Only with in-depth understanding can one have the right to speak.

Zhuge Liang also remembered that after Gongsun Zan died, Xianyu Fu adopted the strategy of Chief Clerk Tian Yu and secretly submitted to the Xudu court; Yan Rou also submitted to the Xudu court after Cao Cao conquered Nanpi.

The reason why Yan Rou, Xianyu Fu and others submitted to the Xudu court was not because they admired or loved Cao Cao, but because they were acting wisely to protect themselves in the face of the changing world.

Among the various prefectures and counties, those small forces that lack the power to contend for supremacy in the world will generally rely on a powerful force in order to survive in the chaotic world.

Chen Deng was like that.

Yan Rou, Xianyu Fu, and others were the same.

"After Gongsun Zan killed Liu Yu, Yan Rou was recommended as the Wuhuan Sima. He recruited Wuhuan and Xianbei people, and gained tens of thousands of Hu and Han people. He defeated Zou Dan, the governor of Yuyang, north of the Lu River. He also joined forces with Yuan Shao's army to defeat Gongsun Zan at Baoqiu."

“Yan Rou is capable and ambitious, and Yuan Shao has been quite fond of him. Given General Zuo’s current background and prestige, trying to win over Yan Rou would probably only invite Yan Rou’s ridicule.”

After Zhuge Liang proposed a strategy to win over Yan Rou, Xianyu Fu, and others, Jian Yong offered a different opinion.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei was displeased: "Xianhe, how can you boost the morale of others and diminish the prestige of our elder brother? Our elder brother is a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, Marquis of Yicheng, General of the Left, and Governor of Yuzhou. In terms of background and prestige, how is he inferior?"

"Yan Rou, a prisoner of war, has been kneeling before the Xianbei and Wuhuan since childhood. He even murdered Xing Ju, the Wuhuan Protector. How dare he mock my elder brother?"

"If Yan Rou dares to disrespect my elder brother, I will surely take his head!"

Despite Pang Tong's advice, Zhang Fei's nature of respecting gentlemen and despising petty people could not be changed overnight.

Yan Rou was captured by the Xianbei and Wuhuan people when he was young. Later, he was trusted and befriended by the Xianbei and Wuhuan people. In order to gain power, he killed Xing Ju, the Protector of Wuhuan, and took his place.

Although Yan Rou was well-known in Youzhou, Zhang Fei looked down on her.

Seeing Zhang Fei acting recklessly, Guan Yu quickly pulled him back and whispered a reprimand: "Third brother, don't be rash!"

The longer Guan Yu followed Zhuge Liang, the deeper his understanding of the "art of winning people over" became.

Personal likes and dislikes should not affect the overall situation. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Even if we cannot become friends, we should not become enemies.

"Second Brother!" Zhang Fei was still unconvinced.

How could Yan Rou, a mere nobody, compare to even a fraction of my elder brother?
"Let's listen to the strategist."

Guan Yu stopped Zhang Fei from speaking again.

“What Jian Yong is concerned about, I have also considered.” Zhuge Liang was not annoyed by Jian Yong’s different opinion, but patiently explained: “However, Yan Rou has lived in the border region for a long time and is deeply trusted by the Wuhuan and Xianbei. If we win over Yan Rou, we can pacify the Hu people and make him our servant.”

"Although Yan Rou has ability and ambition, he comes from a humble background and is unable to compete with the world. He can only rely on a local area for protection. Yuan Shao's favor towards Yan Rou is also because he is clear that Yan Rou does not pose a threat in Youzhou."

“A cunning and adaptable person only cares about survival and practical benefits. Now that Yuan Shao and Cao Cao are fighting, the outcome is still unclear. Yan Rou sees that the Left General’s reputation is growing day by day, and he may well be able to be used by the Left General.”

Pang Tong added, "Kongming is absolutely right. Although Yuan Shao treats Yan Rou well, he is by nature suspicious. Yan Rou is neither a direct subordinate of Yuan Shao nor is he trusted by the Wuhuan and Xianbei. In time, he will surely become a target of Yuan Shao's jealousy."

"In the past, Yan Rou fought alongside Qu Yi against Gongsun Zan and knew Qu Yi's capabilities well. However, Qu Yi was killed for his arrogance and disrespect towards Yuan Shao, and his remaining troops were wiped out by Yuan Shao's divided forces. Yuan Shao was so ruthless, how could Yan Rou not feel disheartened?"

"If we send a skilled eloquent person with generous gifts to secretly persuade them, even if we cannot win them over immediately, we can sow discord and make them hesitate and waver, which would be advantageous to our army."

Jian Yong pondered for a moment, realizing that Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong's analysis was insightful and that they understood Yan Rou better than he did. He then bowed and said, "I am deeply impressed by the strategist's profound and far-sighted words. I am willing to bring gifts to persuade Yan Rou."

Zhuge Liang returned the greeting with his fan and said, "With Jian going, success is assured. I have also heard that Xianyu Fu's chief clerk is Tian Yu, an old friend of the Left General. Jian can go to Dai County to see Tian Yu first."

Upon hearing Zhuge Liang mention "Tian Yu," both Jian Yong, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's expressions changed.

Zhang Fei, unable to conceal his thoughts, spoke out loudly: "Tian Yu saw that my elder brother was in dire straits, so he lied and said that his mother was old and wanted to return home. Why should we see him!"

The old days.

After Liu Bei's defeat at Haixi, he had to beg Lü Bu for mercy in exchange for the return of his wife, daughters, and the families of his civil and military officials, and they temporarily settled in Xiaopei.

Afterwards, Lü Bu attacked Xiaopei, and Liu Bei had no choice but to flee to Xuchang.

In order to win over Liu Bei to deal with Lü Bu, Cao Cao appointed Liu Bei as the governor of Yu Province and provided him with troops and provisions.

At this time, Tian Yu requested to return to Youzhou, citing his mother's old age.

Zhang Fei was quite annoyed, believing that Tian Yu was only pretending to be old and asking to return home because he looked down on Liu Bei's impoverished state.

Guan Yu did not reprimand Zhang Fei, but his expression shifted between light and dark, clearly indicating his dissatisfaction with Tian Yu's departure when Liu Bei was in dire straits.

Jian Yong, after noticing the expressions and demeanor of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, hesitated to speak.

Seeing the different reactions of the three men, Zhuge Liang carefully chose his words and said, "I once heard from the Left General that when Tian Yu was young, he entrusted himself to the Left General; when the Left General was the Governor of Yu Province, Tian Yu could not bear to see his elderly mother suffer the hardships of wandering again, so he asked to return home."

"Although General Zuo regrets his departure, he also knows that Tian Yu's filial piety is commendable. Since ancient times, it has been difficult to be both filial and righteous. Given General Zuo's situation at the time, if he had forced Tian Yu and his mother to stay by his side, it might have caused Tian Yu to feel the pain of losing his mother."

"Given General Zuo's benevolence and righteousness, how could he possibly use Tian Yu and harm Tian Yu's mother, causing Tian Yu to regret it for the rest of his life? General Zuo doesn't blame Tian Yu for leaving, so how can we blame Tian Yu for betraying his principles and bringing shame to General Zuo?"

"Moreover, Tian Yu is now Xianyu Fu's chief secretary and is well aware of the situation in Youzhou. If we can get Tian Yu's help, we can definitely persuade Xianyu Fu to submit to the Left General. We must not hold grudges over the past and ruin the Left General's great cause."

　Asking for monthly ticket
　　
　
(End of this chapter)