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

Chapter 88 Liu Bei returns with his troops, and a few things about Zhuge Liang and Zhang Fei (3rd update)
"What amazing horsemanship and archery! It's unbelievable that the Southerners also have skilled horsemen and archers!" Zhao Yun exclaimed in amazement.

The layman looks at the excitement and the insider looks at the doorway.

To the untrained eye, Huang Zhong would simply be described as "awesome"!
Those who are knowledgeable about Huang Zhong will subconsciously empathize with him, and only then will they realize how formidable Huang Zhong's archery skills were!
"Is Zilong alright?" Liu Bei rode closer and asked Zhao Yun with concern.

Zhao Yun shook his head apologetically: "I failed to keep to the appointed time, causing the lord some worry."

Seeing Huang Zhong throw the captured Yuan general in front of Liu Bei's horse, Zhao Yun said in a deep voice, "My lord, this was the man who led troops to search for civilians. After I scattered them, he claimed that he would go back to gather troops. I waited for him all day yesterday but he did not come. I did not expect him to appear at this time! It is my fault that this man has disturbed your mood! I only regret that I was too soft-hearted to kill this villain at that time, which led to today's disaster."

"Then kill him." Liu Bei gave the order without even glancing at Yuan Jiang.

Liu Bei would not be merciful to those who harm the people and spoil their fun.

"General Zuo, spare my life!" General Yuan cried out in alarm and fear, "Hua Gongcao of Pingyuan is my second uncle! For my second uncle's sake, spare my life!"

Liu Bei glanced at Yuan Jiang and sneered, "What are you? Even if Hua Yan came, and I wanted to kill you, he wouldn't dare say a word of 'no'!"

Huang Zhong raised his sword and brought it down, killing Yuan Jiang with a single blow.

Seeing Liu Bei swiftly and decisively kill Yuan's general, the surrounding Yuan soldiers were terrified. Some fled in fear, while others knelt down to beg for forgiveness. However, the Yuan soldiers who fled in fear were forced back by Liu Bei's cavalry arrows after only a few steps, and the rest were too frightened to move rashly.

"After removing your armor, you may leave."

Liu Bei glanced at the Yuan soldiers kneeling on the ground, but did not make things too difficult for them. He simply ordered the Yuan soldiers to remove their armor.

The soldiers of Yuan Shao felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They quickly removed their armor and bowed to Liu Bei, shouting "General Zuo is benevolent and virtuous!" before leaving in a hurry.

From the people who were hiding in the mountains, Liu Bei learned that the taxes and corvée labor in the plains were becoming increasingly heavy, and that almost every county and township was recruiting soldiers and conscripting laborers.

Farming requires young and strong men. If all the young and strong men are conscripted into the army and forced to perform corvée labor, and the remaining people hide in the mountains and become bandits, then who will be able to farm?
Thinking of how the people of Huainan had resorted to cannibalism due to war and natural disasters a few years ago, Liu Bei was even more worried.

"If things continue like this, even if Yuan Shao defeats Cao Cao, there will be a famine this winter. We must hurry back to Gaotang and discuss countermeasures with the strategist and others." Liu Bei pondered for a while, while reassuring the righteous followers and the people, he sent someone to Gaotang to report the news.

During the two months that Liu Bei was away, various military and civilian measures in Gaotang were being implemented in an orderly manner.

Of all the counties and townships in Pingyuan Kingdom, only Gaotang County was not forcibly conscripted into the army or forced into corvée labor.

It's not that I don't want to, but I can't.

Not only did Zhuge Liang and others only listen to Liu Bei, but Chen Zhen, the magistrate of Gaotang, also only listened to Liu Bei.

As for sending troops to forcibly recruit soldiers and conscripting laborers?

That depends on whether anyone dares to compete with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, two fierce warriors.

In comparison, Gaotang County could be considered a paradise in the entire Pingyuan Kingdom and even in all the counties of Qingzhou controlled by Yuan Tan.

It was late at night and all was quiet.

However, the hall was still brightly lit by candlelight. Zhuge Liang sat alone at the table, his head bowed as he carefully reviewed military and political documents. The bamboo slips piled on the table showed the heavy workload of military and political affairs.

Down the hall.

Zhang Fei hurried over, his face pale with anxiety. Guan Yu, behind him, pulled Zhang Fei along while gently advising him, "Third brother, it's already late at night. You can come again tomorrow morning."

Zhang Fei, however, insisted, "I won't be able to sleep until I get to the bottom of this tonight." "Third brother, third brother, don't rush," Guan Yu said anxiously, deliberately lowering his voice so as not to disturb Zhuge Liang inside the hall.

But Zhang Fei was unusually stubborn tonight. Even though Guan Yu tried to stop him, he forced his way into the hall. However, when he saw Zhuge Liang with his head down reviewing official documents, Zhang Fei restrained himself and respectfully bowed to Zhuge Liang.

"military adviser!"

Subsequently.

Zhang Fei sat silently at Zhuge Liang's table, head down and saying nothing.

Zhuge Liang looked up at Guan Yu, who returned a helpless look.

See this.

Zhuge Liang had some guesses in his mind, but he didn't ask any questions. He just kept his head down and reviewed the official documents as if no one else was around.

Seeing Zhuge Liang raise his head and then lower it again, Zhang Fei glared at Guan Yu, signaling to him.

Guan Yu shook his head and simply lifted his foot to clear the weeds off his feet.

If Zhuge Liang hadn't been there, Guan Yu would have exclaimed: "You were the one who said you wouldn't be able to sleep tonight until you got to the bottom of this, and now that you're here, you're the one who doesn't ask!"
Seeing that Guan Yu was unwilling to speak, Zhang Fei clenched his fist to calm his anxiety, and then lowered his voice as if afraid of disturbing Zhuge Liang: "Strategist, it has been dozens of days since my elder brother left, why have we not heard from him yet?"

Zhuge Liang put down the bamboo slips in his hand, looked up and asked with a smile, "Why do you say that?"

Zhang Fei was a bit stubborn at this moment. If I knew why, why would I come to find the strategist?

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Fei said with a hint of resentment, "I have worked hard for dozens of days, leading people to draw a map of the mountains and rivers from Gaotang to Zhuoxian, and also recording the astronomical and meteorological conditions of various mountains and rivers. I thought I would get some praise from you when I returned, but you have not returned. You must have taken Yuan Shao's cavalry and forgotten about us."

Upon hearing Zhang Fei's words, Guan Yu's hand, which was clearing weeds, trembled involuntarily, and his magnificent beard also shook. He couldn't help but say, "Third brother, don't make wild guesses!"

Zhuge Liang was amused by Zhang Fei's words.

At this moment, Zhang Fei was like a child who rarely received praise from his parents, who suddenly accomplished something great and was eager to go home to show off in hopes of gaining his parents' praise. However, he found that his parents were away on a trip and had not returned. With nowhere to channel his enthusiasm, he felt resentful.

Zhuge Liang chuckled and reassured him: "General Zuo has always acted with composure and skill, and he is ambitious and unwavering in his resolve. How could he forget his ambition to rise up in Hebei and restore the Han Dynasty because of Yuan Shao's cavalry? When the time is right, General Zuo will return."

Zhang Fei tilted his head to the side, then turned to another direction, and said in a muffled voice, "Since my elder brother has not returned, then the map of mountains and rivers that I drew and the records of the astronomical phenomena of various places cannot be shown to the strategist."

Guan Yu put his foot down, held his forehead with his right hand, and looked as if he was "too ashamed to look": I shouldn't have accompanied my third brother to see the strategist!
Zhuge Liang, in a doting manner, agreed to Zhang Fei's request: "As you wish, Chief Clerk Zhang, after you return, I will show it to you first, and then I will show it to you, how about that?"

Zhang Fei's eyes lit up: "Is what you say true, strategist?"

Zhuge Liang laughed and said, "When have I ever lied to anyone?"

As they were talking...

A rider arrived swiftly, carrying bamboo slips, and called out, "Strategist, a letter from the Left General has arrived."

Zhang Fei jumped up in surprise, strode forward, and snatched the letter.

Just as he was about to open it, he stopped, then turned around and came to Zhuge Liang. He respectfully handed the letter to Zhuge Liang with both hands, grinning, "Strategist, my elder brother's letter is here."

　Asking for monthly ticket
　　
　
(End of this chapter)