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

Chapter 90 Liu Bei decides to enter Zhuojun, Zhuge Liang devises a new strategy for the northward march (2nd update)
The Yuan family had produced four generations of high-ranking officials, and their disciples and former subordinates were found throughout the country.

Throughout the land, the common people admire his virtue and hope that he can promote benefits and eliminate abuses, reduce taxes and levies, so that the elderly can be cared for, the young can grow up, and granaries and baskets of cloth can be filled.

however.

The Yuan brothers not only failed to bring peace and prosperity to the people, but instead turned Hebei and the Jianghuai region into a sea of ​​suffering for the common people: Yuan Shao in Hebei levied taxes excessively, leaving soldiers hungry and cold; Yuan Shu in the Jianghuai region indulged in extravagance and debauchery, leading to widespread cannibalism.

It's a waste of the reputation that the Yuan family has accumulated over four generations.

"General, your concern for the suffering of the people is a virtue that even Yuan Shao and Cao Cao cannot match!" Zhuge Liang first praised Liu Bei's benevolence, then his expression turned serious as he pointed out the core issue: "In this turbulent world, tigers and leopards roam the court, and jackals roam the countryside. General, you hope for abundant granaries and peace for all. The most important task is to quell the chaos, eliminate the traitors, and seize the reins of the state, only then can you bestow grace and benefits upon the people."

In short: If Liu Bei wanted to realize his ambitions, he first needed to establish a foundation, and only then could he spread benevolence and righteousness.

Liu Bei actually understood this principle.

However, on his way back to Gaotang, Liu Bei was deeply saddened to see the people hiding in the mountains as bandits to avoid corvée labor and taxes.

He even doubted whether his scheme of "mediating between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao and using their strength to strengthen himself" was in cahoots with Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, and that it was an act that violated benevolence and righteousness.

The entanglement between military conflict and benevolence caused Liu Bei anxiety and confusion.

"I'm confused."

Liu Bei was a man of bold and unrestrained character. At first, he got stuck on a point and became confused about whether his methods of power and strategy violated benevolence and righteousness. After being enlightened by Zhuge Liang, he came to his senses.

He then mentioned his past in Liyang to Zhuge Liang, briefly recounting his friendship with Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong, his enmity with Ju Shou, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou, and his appointment by Yuan Shao to guard Zhuojun as governor, among other things.

He then asked, "The strategist's original plan was for me to stay in Pingyuan for a year. Firstly, so that the people who followed me north could adapt to the climate and soil of Hebei, and secondly, so that I could use Yuan Tan's help to establish myself in Youzhou. Now that I have been ordered to guard Zhuojun as the commander-in-chief, should the northward journey be brought forward?"

Seeing that the worry that had caused Liu Bei's confusion had disappeared from his brow, replaced by the determination to achieve his great ambition, Zhuge Liang felt very gratified.

In times of chaos, it is fortunate enough to survive, but to regain control of the nation is harder than climbing a ladder to heaven.

Only those with great perseverance have the chance to reach the summit.

"According to Liang's opinion, since the general has been ordered to guard Zhuojun as the governor, there is no need to stay in Pingyuan. The sooner you enter Zhuojun, the sooner you can establish your foundation."

Zhuge Liang first gave the answer directly, and then explained the arrangement:

"Liang has already sent Jian to Dai County, Yuyang County and other counties to win over Yan Rou, Xianyu Fu and others."

"A dozen days ago, Jian Congshi replied that Xianyu Fu had left Dai Commandery to search for Cao Cao and had not returned. However, Tian Yu, the Chief Clerk of Dai Commandery, was willing to persuade Xianyu Fu on behalf of the General, and also asked Jian Congshi to convey his apology for leaving the General in the past."

Upon hearing that Tian Yu was in Dai County and was willing to persuade Xianyu Fu, Liu Bei was deeply moved and sighed, "It is not that Guo Rang has failed me, but that I have failed Guo Rang. I am the one who should apologize."

Liu Bei never harbored any resentment towards Tian Yu for leaving.

When Liu Bei was serving under Gongsun Zan, he was just a minor commander with no reputation or base of operations. However, Tian Yu, out of admiration for Liu Bei, entrusted himself to Liu Bei.

Tian Yu was willing to entrust himself to Liu Bei when Liu Bei was in dire straits; how could he be someone who couldn't share hardships?
The final decision to leave Liu Bei and return to Youzhou was that Tian Yu did not want his mother to suffer from fear and displacement any longer.

Since ancient times, it has been difficult to balance filial piety and righteousness. At that time, Liu Bei had lost his base in Xuzhou and his own future was bleak. He was unwilling to let Tian Yu and his mother suffer any more.

And in fact.

Both Liu Bei and Tian Yu felt apologetic towards each other. Liu Bei felt ashamed that he had not been able to help Tian Yu achieve great things, and that Tian Yu had almost suffered the pain of losing his mother because of the loss of their base in Xuzhou.

Tian Yu felt ashamed that he could not share the hardships with Liu Bei when he was in trouble. Therefore, after learning that Liu Bei had a plan to establish a career in Youzhou, he immediately agreed to Jian Yong's request to persuade Xianyu Fu on Liu Bei's behalf.

Although many years have passed since their separation, Tian Yu still hopes to achieve great things with Liu Bei again.

The thought of being able to rekindle his friendship with Tian Yu after returning to Youzhou made Liu Bei even more excited.

Zhuge Liang then mentioned Zhang Fei's deeds: "Zhang Fei led his men on a two-month journey through mountains and rivers and only returned the day before yesterday. He has already drawn a map of the mountains and rivers between Gaotang and Zhuoxian and recorded the mountains, rivers, astronomical and meteorological records."

If Tian Yu surprised Liu Bei, then Zhang Fei surprised him: "Strategist, are you referring to Yide?"

Zhuge Liang smiled, fanning himself: "General, is there perhaps another clerk surnamed Zhang under your command?"

Liu Bei remained surprised: "Although Yide has some skills in drawing, he is not good at drawing maps of mountains and rivers or recording astronomical and meteorological phenomena."

Zhang Fei had followed Liu Bei for over twenty years.

When he was a teenager, Zhang Fei, like many other young men in Zhuojun, admired Liu Bei and vied to join his cause.

Liu Bei knew Zhang Fei's character perfectly well.

Therefore, when Liu Bei heard that Zhang Fei had led his men on a two-month trek through mountains and rivers to draw a map of the landscape between Gaotang and Zhuojun and to record the mountains, rivers, astronomy and meteorology, his first reaction was: Is this Chief Clerk Zhang the same person as my third brother?
What Liu Bei didn't know was:
After Guan Yu began learning from Zhuge Liang, he became increasingly gentle, humble, and showed great potential as a general, which made Zhang Fei feel increasingly threatened.

In the past, there were hundreds of chivalrous young men who came from Zhuojun to join Liu Bei, but only Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were regarded as his right-hand men and were called brothers by Liu Bei.

Zhang Fei was always proud of this, and considered himself on par with Guan Yu, no less capable than him.

Now, Guan Yu seemed to have suddenly become enlightened, and his intelligence improved by leaps and bounds. Zhang Fei felt that if he did not follow suit, he would no longer have the face to call himself Liu Bei's right-hand man, and even less face to be called Liu Bei's third brother.

Under Zhuge Liang's "care," Zhang Fei trekked for two months, drawing and recording the mountains, rivers, geography, astronomy, and meteorology, all in hopes of earning a few words of praise from Liu Bei.

Upon hearing Zhuge Liang mention that Zhang Fei had been sulking the previous night because Liu Bei had not returned for several days, Liu Bei felt somewhat apologetic: "It is I who have neglected to care for Yide."

Simultaneously.

Liu Bei was greatly pleased.

Two months after their separation, all the civil and military officials under his command were doing their best to help him establish himself in Youzhou.

What more could one ask for than to have such virtuous men following one's lead?

Mind this.

Liu Bei had no more doubts: "I will follow the strategist's advice and enter Zhuojun as soon as possible! Please make further plans for the money and provisions needed by the strategist."

Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan and devised a plan: "Hua Yan, the clerk of Pingyuan, has repeatedly sent people to forcibly collect money and taxes, and has also been searching for and arresting the people like birds and beasts, causing them unbearable suffering. Now the people are in dire straits, and you, General, are a man of benevolence and virtue, so we cannot sit idly by."

"I believe that forcibly levying taxes and provisions from the common people is inhumane; forcibly levying taxes and provisions from Hua Yan is truly benevolent! Does the general have any interest in this?"

　The third update came a little later.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)