Reborn Liu Bei: I'll lead this Three Kingdoms to victory!

In the tenth month of the first year of the Chuping era, in Ji County.

Liu Bei, in his capacity as "General Who Guards the North and Governor of Youzhou," convened the first joint military and political meeting of Youzhou.

The attendees included: prefects, commandants, and chief clerks of various prefectures, garrison commanders, and newly recruited renowned scholars and Confucian masters.

The meeting was originally scheduled to be held in the main hall of the governor's mansion, but there were too many people, so it had to be moved to the drill ground—even with hundreds of mats set up, it was still packed to capacity.

"Goodness," Zhang Fei muttered softly, standing behind Liu Bei, "Brother, are there really that many officials in Youzhou?"

"Most of them were recently appointed by your elder brother," Liu Bei said without changing his expression. "In chaotic times, it's better to have too many people than too few. Give them official positions first to keep them in check, and we'll talk about their qualifications later."

Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes: "I'm afraid of a mixed bag of good and bad."

"That's why we need to have a meeting," Liu Bei said in a low voice. "Let's see what they're made of."

The meeting began.

The first to speak was Tian Yu, who, as the Prefect, reported on the current situation in Youzhou:

"Since Liu Zhenbei took charge of Youzhou, he has suppressed bandits, brought peace to the people, rectified officialdom, constructed water conservancy projects, and reclaimed farmland. By this autumn, the eleven prefectures of Youzhou have reclaimed a total of 400,000 mu of wasteland, increasing grain production by 1.2 million shi. The treasuries of each prefecture are full, the people live in peace, and bandits have disappeared..."

Whispers arose from the audience.

There were exclamations of amazement, doubts of disbelief, but mostly...shock.

In just one year, how did things turn from the mess left by Gongsun Zan's rebellion to this state?

Is Liu Bei some kind of deity?

"Furthermore," Tian Yu continued, "border trade is thriving, with trade with the Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes. On average, five hundred horses and three thousand cattle and sheep are traded each month in exchange for grain, cloth, salt, and iron. This alone brings in a thousand gold pieces a month..."

"Is he bragging?" someone muttered under their breath.

He was Wang Men, the Commandant of Yuyang, a former subordinate of Gongsun Zan. Although he had surrendered, he was never quite convinced of his loyalty.

Liu Bei heard this, but he didn't speak; he just smiled.

Tian Yu heard this too, but did not refute it. He simply took out an account book from his sleeve and said, "This is a detailed account of the trade. If Commander Wang does not believe it, he can check it."

Wang Men's expression changed, and he dared not reply.

"Alright," Liu Bei finally spoke, "Guorang, you've worked hard. Now, everyone, please feel free to say what you have to say."

silence.

No one dared to be the first to speak.

Finally, Liu He stepped forward—he was now the Chancellor of Zhongshan, a position of great importance.

"General Zhenbei," Liu He bowed, "the current stability of Youzhou is entirely due to your efforts. However... before my father left his post, he said that Youzhou is located on the frontier, and the priority should be defense, not reckless warfare. I wonder what your plans are next?"

That's a clever question.

On the surface, it was a request for advice, but in reality, it was a test—now that you, Liu Bei, have obtained Youzhou, are you going to expand outwards?

Everyone looked at Liu Bei.

Liu Bei smiled.

"Prime Minister Liu asks a good question." He stood up and walked to the front of the stage. "I, too, often ponder this question: After Youzhou is pacified, what should we do?"

He paused, then looked around at everyone: "Will you remain content in a corner of the world, a local tyrant? Or will you be ambitious and strive to conquer the world?"

The entire room fell silent.

That's too blunt.

It was so blunt it was frightening.

"My answer is..." Liu Bei raised his voice, "Youzhou must be strong, but it cannot be strong only within Youzhou. The world is in chaos now, with warlords rising up everywhere. Yuan Shao holds Jizhou, Cao Cao holds Yanzhou, Sun Jian holds Jiangdong, Liu Biao holds Jingzhou... Which of these people isn't eyeing us covetously?"

"Youzhou is located in the north, seemingly safe, but in reality, it's as precarious as a bed of eggs." Liu Bei walked to the map. "If Yuan Shao unifies Hebei, who will he attack next? If Cao Cao pacifies the Central Plains, who will he attack next? If they join forces to attack, can Youzhou withstand them?"

Everyone's expression changed.

"Therefore," Liu Bei turned around, his eyes blazing, "Youzhou cannot be defended; it must be attacked. But not blindly; rather, it must be expanded strategically."

"May I ask, General, how do we plan to expand?" asked Zheng Xuan.

This great scholar was rescued from the fire in Luoyang by Liu Bei and now runs a school in Ji County, where he enjoys a very high reputation.

"Lord Zheng," Liu Bei said respectfully to Zheng Xuan, "I believe we should proceed in three steps."

"What are the three steps?"

"The first step is to consolidate Youzhou." Liu Bei held up one finger. "Reorganize the troops, stockpile provisions, and purge the internal forces—for example, eliminate those who harbor disloyal intentions."

As he said this, he glanced at Wang Men, seemingly unintentionally.

Wang Men broke out in a cold sweat.

"The second step is to forge alliances." Liu Bei held up a second finger. "Make alliances with distant states while attacking nearby ones. Establish friendly relations with Tao Qian of Xuzhou and Liu Biao of Jingzhou to contain Yuan Shao and Cao Cao. Establish trade relations with the Wuhuan and Xianbei to stabilize the northern border."

"And the third step?"

"The third step," Liu Bei held up his third finger, "is to the south."

"Where to the south?"

"Qingzhou." Liu Bei pointed to the map. "Qingzhou is located on the Shandong Peninsula, bordering Youzhou to the north, Xuzhou to the south, the sea to the east, and Yanzhou to the west. This place is prosperous, but the remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion are rampant, and the power of the warlords is weak. It is the perfect place to use our strength."

The crowd was buzzing with discussion.

Attack Qingzhou?

It sounds feasible, but...

"General," Xianyu Fu, the Prefect of Dai Commandery, questioned, "Although Qingzhou is in chaos, it is still a prefecture of the imperial court. Under what pretext should we send troops?"

"Good question." Liu Bei smiled. "So we need... a pretext."

"Under what pretext?"

"Borrowing a path."

After the meeting, Liu Bei left behind the core members.

"Brother," Zhang Fei scratched his head, "Are we really going to attack Qingzhou? Will Yuan Shao agree to that? Qingzhou is his territory now, isn't it?"

"Nominally yes," Liu Bei said, "but in reality, Jiao He, the governor of Qingzhou, is a useless man who can't control the situation at all. Qingzhou is now in disarray: Guan Hai, a remnant of the Yellow Turbans, occupies Beihai; Zang Ba, a powerful local tyrant, occupies Langya; Sun Guan, a bandit from Mount Tai, occupies Mount Tai... Yuan Shao's influence hasn't even fully extended yet."

"Then under what pretext shall we send troops?" Guan Yu asked.

"To suppress the bandits," Liu Bei said with a smile. "The Yellow Turbans are rampant in Qingzhou, ravaging the people. As the governor of Youzhou and a subject of the Han dynasty, how could I sit idly by? Therefore, I sent troops south to help Qingzhou suppress the bandits. This is a perfectly legitimate and just cause."

Jian Yong frowned: "But what about Yuan Shao..."

"So we need to 'borrow a route'," Liu Bei said, a sly glint in his eyes. "We need to pass through Ji Province to get from You Province to Qing Province. We need to ask Yuan Shao for a favor."

"Would Yuan Shao agree?"

"So we need to send someone who can speak well." Liu Bei looked at Jian Yong. "Xianhe, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you again."

Jian Yong smiled wryly: "My lord, Yuan Shao is not like Liu Yu; he can't be fooled."

"No need to fool him," Liu Bei said. "Tell him the truth—we need to borrow his passage to fight the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou. As for the conditions... he can have 30% of the spoils."

"Thirty percent?" Zhang Fei's eyes widened. "Why?!"

"Because we need his approval," Liu Bei said calmly. "Besides, that 30% might not actually be given to us."

"What do you mean?"

"The Yellow Turbans of Qingzhou claim to number a million, but in reality, only about 100,000 are truly capable of fighting," Liu Bei analyzed. "If we send 10,000 elite troops, along with the cooperation of the local strongmen of Qingzhou, our chances of victory are very high. Once we win, the territory will be ours, the money and provisions will be ours, and we'll share 30% of the spoils with Yuan Shao... which is just some scrap metal anyway, so why not give it to him?"

Jian Yong understood: "My lord, you're... trying to get something for nothing?"

"No," Liu Bei corrected, "this is called strategic investment. Yuan Shao is busy fighting Gongsun Zan right now and has no energy to manage Qingzhou. We're 'managing' it for him, and he's happy to have some peace and quiet. Once we've established a foothold in Qingzhou, it will be too late for him to interfere."

Everyone nodded.

This plan is feasible.

"Who should we send to Qingzhou?" Zhao Yun asked. "This humble general is willing to go."

"No." Liu Bei shook his head. "Zilong, you have a more important task—to guard Youzhou. Youzhou is our foundation, and we cannot afford to lose it."

He looked at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei: "Yun Chang, Yi De, you two come south with me. Also... bring someone else with you."

"Who?"

"Qian Zhao," Liu Bei said. "He's been to Bingzhou and is familiar with the terrain of the Taihang Mountains. Qingzhou is mountainous, so we'll need him."

"Where will those 10,000 troops come from?" Tian Yu asked. "Our total strength is 50,000, but they are scattered across various locations, with only 20,000 mobile. If we withdraw 10,000, the defense of Youzhou..."

"Draw from the White Horse Cavalry." Liu Bei had already planned this. "The three thousand White Horse Cavalry left behind by Gongsun Zan have now completely surrendered. Draw two thousand from them, and another eight thousand from various camps, to make a total of ten thousand elite soldiers. In addition, have Zou Jing recruit another ten thousand new soldiers to fill the vacancies."

"Where are the provisions?"

"Transfer it from the prefecture," Liu Bei said. "Also, send a message to Liu Deran, telling him to speed up the production at the brewery. Wine is a valuable commodity for our southward journey."

With the arrangements made, everyone went off to prepare.

Liu Bei sat alone in his study, looking at a map.

Qingzhou...

This is the first step.

Taking Qingzhou would connect Youzhou and Qingzhou, giving them the resources to contend for supremacy in Hebei.

and then?

Bingzhou? Jizhou? Or...?

Just then, a guard came to report: "My lord, someone requests an audience."

"Who?"

"They said he came from Xuzhou, his surname was Chen, his given name was Deng, and his courtesy name was Yuanlong."

Chen Deng?

Liu Bei's eyes lit up.

The Chen family of Xuzhou were powerful local clans.

Why would he come to Youzhou?

"Please come quickly!"

Chen Deng was in his early thirties, dressed like a scholar, with a refined appearance but sharp eyes.

"Chen Yuanlong of Xuzhou pays his respects to Liu Zhenbei." Chen Deng bowed, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Mr. Yuanlong, there's no need for such formality," Liu Bei greeted him warmly. "Sir, you've come from afar; what can I do for you?"

"I wouldn't dare," Chen Deng smiled. "I've come here on the orders of my lord, Tao Xuzhou, to make friends with Liu Zhenbei."

Tao Qian?

Liu Bei's heart stirred.

Tao Qian, the governor of Xuzhou, should be over sixty years old now. He is mature and prudent, but it is said that he is in poor health.

"I am deeply grateful for Governor Tao's kindness," Liu Bei said. "May I ask what advice Governor Tao has for me?"

"I dare not presume to accept your instruction," Chen Deng said. "However... the world is in chaos now, with warlords rising up everywhere. Xuzhou is located in the Central Plains, a place of constant warfare, and my lord is deeply worried. Hearing that Liu Zhenbei is a man of great talent and strategy, and governs Youzhou effectively, he specially sent me here to form an alliance and support each other."

An alliance?

Liu Bei smiled.

Tao Qian is looking for a powerful backer.

"Prefect Tao thinks too highly of me," Liu Bei said humbly. "I have only recently taken charge of Youzhou, and my talents and knowledge are limited. What merit do I possess..."

"Liu Zhenbei is too modest," Chen Deng interrupted. "The Three Heroes fought Lü Bu, saved the officials from the fire, quelled the rebellion of Gongsun Zan, and governed Youzhou... Who in the world doesn't know these things? If Liu Zhenbei is considered lacking in talent and learning, then wouldn't all the warlords in the world be useless idiots?"

That's a well-said statement.

Liu Bei no longer declined: "Then, in your opinion, how should this alliance be formed?"

"Simple," Chen Deng said. "Xuzhou and Youzhou are a thousand miles apart, and there is currently no conflict of interest between them. We can make a pact: if one is in trouble, the other must send troops to help. In peacetime, we can maintain trade relations and exchange envoys. What do you say?"

"Very well." Liu Bei nodded. "However... I have one more request."

"Please speak, Zhenbei."

"I intend to march south to Qingzhou to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion," Liu Bei said. "But I need to pass through Jizhou. Yuan Shao might not be so easy to deal with. If Tao Qian could mediate..."

Chen Deng's eyes lit up: "Is Zhenbei going to attack Qingzhou?"

"Yes," Liu Bei replied frankly. "The Yellow Turban Rebellion is raging in Qingzhou, and the people are suffering terribly. Although I am not talented, I am willing to rid the Han Dynasty of this scourge."

"Good!" Chen Deng slammed his hand on the table. "Leave this to me. I have a past relationship with Xu You, a strategist under Yuan Shao, and can write a letter to persuade him. Moreover... Xuzhou borders Qingzhou, so if Zhenbei sends troops, Xuzhou can provide them with food and supplies."

Liu Bei was overjoyed: "Thank you very much, Mr. Yuanlong!"

That evening, Liu Bei hosted a banquet for Chen Deng.

The wine is excellent—Liu Deran's newly brewed "Youzhou Chun" is even stronger than "Liehuo Shao".

The dish is excellent—braised pork belly, a specialty of Zhongshan, is fatty but not greasy.

Chen Deng had an excellent alcohol tolerance; he drank ten cups in a row without changing his expression.

"Mr. Yuanlong has a good capacity for alcohol," Liu Bei praised.

"The wine in Zhenbei is also good," Chen Deng said with a smile. "This 'Youzhou Chun' is much stronger than the wine in Xuzhou. If it were transported to Xuzhou, it would definitely sell very well."

"Are you interested, sir?"

"Yes," Chen Deng nodded. "Xuzhou is wealthy, but it lacks good wine. If Zhenbei is willing, the Chen family can become the general agent for this wine in Xuzhou."

"General agent?" Liu Bei was taken aback.

"It's... an exclusive deal," Chen Deng explained. "The wine from Youzhou is only sold to my Chen family in Xuzhou. As for the price... it's negotiable."

Liu Bei chuckled inwardly.

Chen Deng was not only a strategist but also a businessman.

"Okay," Liu Bei readily agreed, "but I have one condition."

"Please speak, Zhenbei."

"I want to open several 'intelligence stations' in Xuzhou," Liu Bei said in a low voice. "Nominally, they'll be restaurants and warehouses, but in reality, they'll be for gathering intelligence and contacting people. The Chen family must provide assistance."

Chen Deng hesitated for a moment: "This... is quite risky."

"Risk and reward are proportional," Liu Bei said. "If this succeeds, Xuzhou... might very well fall into the Liu family's hands in the future."

That's incredibly bold.

Chen Deng's hand trembled, and the wine spilled.

He stared at Liu Bei for a long time.

"Zhenbei...has lofty ambitions."

"In chaotic times, without ambition, one is simply waiting to die." Liu Bei said frankly, "Mr. Yuanlong is a wise man and should understand this."

Chen Deng remained silent.

He was from a powerful family in Xuzhou, but his family was not the only dominant force there. Tao Qian was old, and his son was incompetent; Xuzhou would change hands sooner or later.

Rather than waiting until then to be passive, it's better to...

"Alright." Chen Deng raised his glass. "I agree to this matter. But we need to consider it carefully."

"Of course." Liu Bei raised his cup in response.

The two drank it all in one gulp, their understanding unspoken.

Chen Deng stayed in Youzhou for five days, and then returned to Xuzhou with Liu Bei's reply and ten jars of "Youzhou Chun".

Three days after he left, Jian Yong set off for Ye City to meet Yuan Shao.

Ten days later, Jian Yong returned, looking rather unwell.

"My lord, Yuan Shao... is difficult to deal with."

"Tell me slowly," Liu Bei said, pouring him a cup of tea.

Jian Yong took a sip of tea and caught his breath: "Yuan Shao is really powerful now. Gongsun Zan has been defeated by him and is hiding in Yijing, afraid to come out. He now calls himself General of Chariots and Cavalry and Governor of Ji Province. He has a cloud of strategists and a rain of generals under his command, and he doesn't take us seriously at all."

"What about the matter of borrowing the road?"

"He did mention it." Jian Yong smiled wryly. "Yuan Shao said that he would allow passage, but on three conditions."

"What are the conditions?"

"First, we cannot send more than five thousand troops." Jian Yong held up his first finger. "Second, we will give him fifty percent of the spoils. Third... after we take Qingzhou, we must appoint his men as the governors of Qingzhou."

Zhang Fei slammed his fist on the table: "Why doesn't he just rob it!"

Liu Bei laughed, "Interesting. What else did he say?"

"He also said..." Jian Yong hesitated, "He also said that our lord is young and that he was lucky to pacify Youzhou. As for Qingzhou, we don't need our lord to worry about it; he will handle it himself."

"Arrogant!" Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes.

Liu Bei waved his hand: "It's alright. So, what did you reply?"

"I said I would come back to ask for instructions," Jian Yong said. "But before I left, Xu You secretly came to me and said something."

"What did you say?"

"He said that Yuan Shao's focus is currently on Gongsun Zan, and he can't attend to Qingzhou for the time being. If our lord really wants to attack, we can 'act first and report later.' As long as we act quickly, by the time Yuan Shao reacts, the deed will already be done."

Liu Bei's eyes lit up.

Xu You...

This was an important strategist under Yuan Shao.

What does he mean by saying that?

"What else did Xu You say?"

"He said..." Jian Yong lowered his voice, "Under Yuan Shao's command, there are many factions. Feng Ji and Shen Pei are one faction, Guo Tu and Xin Ping are another, and Xu You has formed his own faction. Now Feng Ji and Shen Pei are in power, and Xu You is being suppressed. He hinted... that if necessary, we can make contact."

Liu Bei understood.

This is internal differentiation.

"Good." Liu Bei nodded. "Xianhe, your trip was worthwhile. You've learned at least two things: First, Yuan Shao will not interfere in Qingzhou for the time being. Second, there are internal conflicts within Yuan Shao's administration."

"Then let's..."

"Proceed as planned." Liu Bei stood up. "However, five thousand soldiers are too few. We'll send ten thousand, but in two groups. The first group of five thousand will make a big show of it and take the official road so that Yuan Shao knows. The second group of five thousand will break up into smaller groups and take the mountain roads to sneak into Qingzhou."

"The spoils of war..."

"Give it to him," Liu Bei sneered. "But what we give him is up to us. Broken copper and scrap iron, tattered clothes, give him as much as he wants. As for the governor of Qingzhou... once we take Qingzhou, he'll send someone over. Whether he can return alive will depend on his abilities."

The group understood.

That's a really shady tactic.

"When do we set off?" Zhao Yun asked.

"Ten days from now," Liu Bei said. "Yun Chang, Yi De, you prepare for the first batch. Zi Long, you stay and guard Youzhou. Guo Rang, I'll entrust the administration to you. Xian He..."

"exist!"

"Go to Ye City again," Liu Bei said, his eyes gleaming. "Tell Yuan Shao that we agree to his conditions. But... add one more thing."

"Add what?"

"Borrow grain," Liu Bei said with a smile. "Just say that Youzhou is poor and lacks sufficient provisions for our troops. Ask Lord Yuan to 'borrow' 30,000 shi of grain. We will repay double the amount after we conquer Qingzhou."

Jian Yong's eyes widened: "My lord, this... Yuan Shao can lend it?"

"He will lend it," Liu Bei said confidently. "Because he cares about his reputation. We agreed to his conditions, and if he doesn't even lend us this little bit of grain, it won't look good. Besides... he'll definitely think that since we can't take Qingzhou, this grain is just a free gift. Why not?"

Zhang Fei laughed heartily: "Brother, I heard everything you were planning back in Zhuo County!"

"Not only that," Liu Bei continued, "but also borrow some things from him."

"What else do you need to borrow?"

"Borrow some people," Liu Bei said. "Just say we lack guides and people familiar with the terrain of Qingzhou. Ask him to send a few people to 'assist' us. As for the candidates... it would be best if they were people he doesn't particularly like, but who are still somewhat capable."

Jian Yong was completely convinced.

This lord is truly a ruthless man, plucking feathers from a passing goose and leaving skins on a fleeing beast.

They need to borrow a route, a grain supply, and even a person.

"Understood, Your Majesty." Jian Yong bowed deeply. "I will take care of it immediately."

After Jian Yong left, Liu Bei received a letter.

They came from Langya.

The handwriting on the envelope was neat, but slightly immature.

Liu Bei opened the package, read a few lines, and smiled.

The letter was written by Zhuge Liang.

To be precise, it was written by Zhuge Liang when he was seven years old, under the "guidance" of his uncle Zhuge Xuan.

The gist of the content is:

To Liu Zhenbei: I am deeply grateful for your kind invitation, but I am too young and lack talent to accept it. However, your illustrious name, Zhenbei, is renowned far and wide. Your heroic deeds, such as the Three Heroes battling Lü Bu, rescuing officials from a fire, and quelling the rebellion in Youzhou, are all acts of great men. Though I am young, I admire and aspire to such achievements. When I have completed my studies, if Zhenbei does not despise me, I am willing to serve you with utmost loyalty.

The inscription reads: "Respectfully bowed by Zhuge Liang of Langya."

"A seven-year-old child can write such a letter?" Tian Yu exclaimed in amazement after reading it.

"So he is Zhuge Liang." Liu Bei carefully put away the letter. "Issue the order: send someone to Langya every year to deliver books, provisions, and money to Zhuge Liang. Give him whatever he wants. But remember, do not disturb him; let him study in peace."

"My lord," Tian Yu said, puzzled, "why are you so concerned about a seven-year-old child..."

"Guorang," Liu Bei said earnestly, "some people are born to change the world. Zhuge Liang is one of those people. Investing in him now will bring you returns a thousandfold or even ten thousandfold in the future."

Tian Yu seemed to understand, but nodded nonetheless: "This subordinate understands."

Just then, a guard reported again: "My lord, Duke Zheng requests an audience."

Zheng Xuan?

Liu Bei hurriedly went out to greet him.

Zheng Xuan, leaning on a cane, entered with the help of his disciples.

"Lord Zheng," Liu Bei helped him sit down, "why did you come in person? You could have just sent someone to let me know if you needed anything."

"It's alright, it's alright." Zheng Xuan waved his hand. "I heard Zhenbei is going south to Qingzhou?"

"Yes." Liu Bei nodded. "The Yellow Turbans are rampant in Qingzhou, and the people are suffering terribly. I intend to send troops to quell them and restore peace to Qingzhou."

"Excellent," Zheng Xuan praised. "However, I have a request."

"Please speak, Lord Zheng."

"Qingzhou is my hometown." Zheng Xuan's eyes showed a look of reminiscence. "Gaomi in Beihai is the ancestral home of the Zheng family. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the family was scattered, the ancestral home was destroyed, and all the books were lost... I would like to ask Zhenbei to visit the Zheng family members in Beihai and protect the ancestral home ruins. If you can find some of the lost books, I would be extremely grateful."

As he spoke, tears streamed down his face.

Liu Bei solemnly replied, "Lord Zheng, rest assured, I will do my utmost. If we reach Beihai, I will definitely seek out members of the Zheng clan and protect our ancestral home. As for books... I will establish 'library pavilions' in various counties of Qingzhou to collect scattered and lost classics for scholars to study."

Zheng Xuan was moved to tears: "Your Excellency Zhenbei is truly benevolent. On behalf of the scholars of Qingzhou, I express my deepest gratitude!"

After seeing Zheng Xuan off, Liu Bei remarked, "Do you see that? This is the will of the people. When we attack Qingzhou, we must not only seize territory, but also win their hearts."

Tian Yu nodded: "I understand."

Ten days later, at the drill ground.

Ten thousand elite soldiers were arrayed in formation.

The front row of white-horse-riding guards, clad in silver armor and white robes, looked majestic and imposing.

The middle row of infantry, armed with swords and shields, exuded a fierce aura.

The archers in the back row, arrows nocked, yet ready to fire.

Standing on the command platform, Liu Bei looked at the army he had built with his own hands, his heart filled with boundless pride.

"Soldiers!" he began, his voice not loud, but it carried throughout the entire arena, "Today, we are going to war!"

The entire room fell silent.

"Where are we going? To Qingzhou!" Liu Bei raised his voice. "What for? To quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion and save the people!"

He paused, then said, "Some people ask, Qingzhou is a thousand miles away from Youzhou, what does that have to do with us? I'll tell you, it does!"

"What are the Yellow Turbans? They are bandits! They are robbers! They burn, kill, loot, and commit all sorts of atrocities! The people of Qingzhou, like the people of Youzhou, are subjects of the Han Dynasty! How can we stand idly by while they suffer?"

"No!" someone shouted from the audience.

"Yes! No!" Liu Bei clenched his fist. "What are we soldiers for? Not to bully the people, but to protect them! The swords in our hands are not for killing, but for stopping killing!"

He pointed south: "Now, the people of Qingzhou are waiting for us! Waiting for us to rescue them! Waiting for us to bring them peace! What do you say, are we going or not?"

"Go! Go! Go!" Ten thousand people shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

"Very well!" Liu Bei drew his sword. "But I've made it clear beforehand! This expedition will be conducted with strict discipline: we will not take a single needle or thread from the people, nor will we deceive them in any way! Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

"Yes, sir!"

"And another thing!" Liu Bei continued, "This journey is fraught with danger, the Yellow Turbans are powerful. But we are not afraid! Because we are the Youzhou army! The invincible Youzhou army! We defeated the Three Heroes against Lü Bu! We defeated Gongsun Zan! This time, we will defeat the Yellow Turbans just as easily!"

"Win! Win! Win!"

Morale is high.

Liu Bei turned to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei and said, "Yunchang, Yide, the first batch of five thousand soldiers is entrusted to you. Remember, make a big show of it, let the whole world know that our Youzhou has set out!"

"Don't worry, brother!" The two clasped their hands in a fist salute.

"Zilong," Liu Bei said, looking at Zhao Yun, "I'm entrusting Youzhou to you. Guard the home and wait for my return."

"Take care, my lord." Zhao Yun nodded solemnly.

"Guorang, Xianhe, Deran... I entrust the administration of Youzhou to you."

Everyone cried out in unison, "Take care, my lord (elder brother)!"

Liu Bei mounted his horse, drew his double-edged sword, and pointed it south:

"Set off!"

The army set off.

Dust flew everywhere, and banners obscured the sun.

On the city wall, Tian Yu watched the departing army and murmured, "My lord, who knows when he will return..."

Jian Yong laughed and said, "Don't worry, with your abilities, my lord, Qingzhou will be under the Liu family's control sooner or later. When that time comes, we should consider whether to attack Jizhou or Bingzhou."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

In chaotic times, it is a blessing to be able to follow the right lord.

Their lord is ushering in a new era.

An era belonging to Liu Bei.