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

(Autumn of the third year of Jian'an, Liaodong Xiangping Governor's Office)

The autumn harvest data from Liaodong, brought by Tian Yu, was spread out on the desk: 300,000 mu of newly reclaimed land, with an estimated harvest of one million shi of grain. But my gaze remained fixed on the huge map of Hebei on the west wall—covered with small black flags representing Cao Cao's army, stretching northward from the three ferry crossings of Liyang, Baima, and Yanjin on the north bank of the Yellow River.

"My lord," Xu Shu entered with the latest intelligence, "Cao Cao has personally led 80,000 main forces across the river, and his vanguard Cao Ren is only a hundred li from Ye City. Yuan Shang has consolidated his forces in the three cities of Ye City, Handan, and Xindu, and it seems he intends to hold them to the death."

I took the bamboo slip and glanced at it: "What about the 30,000 men of Yuan Tan's former subordinates, Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan?"

"They were scattered by Cao Cao and incorporated into the Yanzhou army, and their families were moved to Xuchang... It was said to be resettlement, but in reality they were taken hostage."

"Standard procedure." I put down the bamboo scroll and walked to the map. "How many troops does Yuan Shang have left?"

"The number was claimed to be 100,000, but the actual number was about 60,000, of which 20,000 were newly conscripted men."

Zhuge Liang emerged from the side chamber, holding a newly completed "Twelve Strategies for Analyzing the Situation in Hebei"—this boy had become noticeably more composed since returning from Liaodong. The eleven-year-old was beginning to grow taller, and his eyes held a thoughtfulness beyond his years.

"Teacher, I have deduced three possibilities." He unfolded the silk scroll. "The best strategy is for our army to cross the river under the pretext of 'mediation' and seize Ji Province while Cao Cao and Yuan Shao are locked in fierce fighting. However, this strategy violates the five-year agreement and could easily provoke Cao Cao to launch a full-scale counterattack."

"The middle strategy: Observe the success or failure, and after Cao Cao destroys Yuan Shao, unite Sun Ce, Lü Bu, and Liu Biao in the name of the 'Anti-Cao Alliance' to put pressure on Cao Cao from all sides and force him to cede part of Hebei."

"The worst strategy..." he paused, "is to secretly support Yuan Shang, prolong the war, deplete Cao Cao's money, food, and manpower, and then march north when he is exhausted."

I looked at Xu Shu: "What does Yuanzhi think?"

Xu Shu pondered: "The worst option is the best, but it's the most difficult to implement—how can we provide the aid without leaving any evidence against us? Yuan Shang is not a wise ruler; giving him the aid would be like throwing good money after bad."

"Then we won't need supplies." I pointed to the Taihang Mountains on the map. "We'll provide aid to...people."

"people?"

"Black Mountain Army," I smiled. "Zhang Yan."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Xu Shu's eyes lit up: "My lord means... to send Zhang Yan's Black Mountain Army out of the mountains to harass Cao Cao's supply lines?"

"Not only that." I unfolded another file. "This is news brought back by the caravan from Bingzhou—Liu Bao, the nephew of Huchuquan, the Xiongnu Chanyu, is active in the Taiyuan area and is eyeing the Central Plains covetously."

Zhuge Liang quickly replied, "Teacher, do you intend to use one tiger to devour another? But leading the barbarians into the Central Plains might compromise our principles..."

"It's not 'attracting,' it's 'defending,'" I corrected. "We're worried that the Hu people will invade the south and harm the people, so we've sent troops to the Bingzhou border in advance to 'assist in defense.' As for whether Cao Cao's supply lines will be intercepted by the Black Mountain Army, or whether the Xiongnu will take advantage of the chaos to invade the south... that's none of our business."

Xu Shu smiled wryly: "My lord, you..."

"I truly cannot bear it," I said, feigning a perfectly measured expression of heartache. "But to spare the people of Hebei from the ravages of war between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, and to prevent the Hu people from taking advantage of the situation... this is the only way."

Zhuge Liang blinked and lowered his head to take notes—he was learning this "art of packaging benevolence and righteousness".

Three days later, deep in the Taihang Mountains, at the Black Mountain Army's stronghold.

I came in person, with only Zhao Yun and ten personal guards. Zhang Yan set up his troops in the main tent, with dozens of leaders standing on both sides, each with a ferocious face.

"Lord Liu, you have quite the nerve," Zhang Yan said, a lean man with hawk-like eyes. "Aren't you afraid I'll tie you up and hand you over to Cao Cao?"

"You won't." I sat down on my own. "First, Cao Cao hates you to the bone. Even if you send me there, he won't let you go. Second..." I clapped my hands, and Zhao Yun carried in two boxes.

Open it, and you'll find a chest full of gold ingots and a chest full of fine salt.

The sound of swallowing saliva could be heard from inside the tent.

"Third," I said, looking directly at Zhang Yan, "I can give your 100,000 Black Mountain troops a way out—they will no longer be bandits, but government troops."

Zhang Yan stared at me: "Be specific."

"Cao Cao crossed the river to the north, leaving Ji Province vulnerable." I spread out a map. "You will lead your army out of the mountains, not to attack cities, but to seize grain. I will buy the seized grain at market price and exchange it for salt, iron, and cloth to return to you. If anyone is injured, I will send a physician to treat them. If anyone dies in battle, their pension will still be paid."

"And the price?"

"Three years." I held up my finger. "You'll be at my command for three years. After three years, those who wish to join the army will be given military status in Youzhou; those who wish to farm will be allocated newly reclaimed land in Liaodong. The elderly, the weak, women, and children will be settled."

Zhang Yan remained silent for a long time: "How can I trust you?"

"You can send a hundred men with me back to Liaodong right now," I said, standing up. "See how I settle the surrendered Yellow Turban soldiers, see if the people under my rule are starving, and see if my words count."

If you're lying to me...

"Then go back to the mountains and be the bandit king again," I laughed. "But Zhang Yan, you've been in the mountains for over ten years. Do you want your descendants to be thieves for generations?"

That statement hit the nail on the head.

Zhang Yan slammed her fist on the table: "...Deal!"

As they left Black Mountain, Zhao Yun whispered, "My lord, this man is fickle and unpredictable..."

"So we need to give him tangible benefits." I spurred my horse forward. "Rob a grain haul and exchange it for a cartload of salt, and he'll immediately understand the advantages of cooperation. Once he gets used to this kind of 'transaction,' he won't be able to leave."

Ten days later, on the border of Bingzhou.

This time, I met with the representative of Liu Bao, the Left Wise King of the Xiongnu—a Xiongnu nobleman who could speak Chinese. I had Guan Yu disguise himself as a caravan guard and "accidentally" meet him at the border market.

"My master wants to buy two thousand warhorses," Guan Yu said, using the words I taught him. "The price is negotiable, but we need to act quickly."

The Xiongnu envoy's eyes darted around: "There's war in the Central Plains now, and horse prices have gone up..."

"Use this in exchange." Guan Yu opened a small box—inside were glass beads, silk, and... several scimitars made of fine steel.

The Xiongnu envoy picked up the scimitar and tested it; the blade's gleam illuminated his face. "A fine sword! Where did you get it?"

"They're from the east," Guan Yu mumbled. "Just tell me whether to exchange or not."

"Change it! But I want three thousand of these knives!"

"I'll pay you a thousand bolts of silk upfront, the swords in installments," Guan Yu bargained. "After all, the roads aren't safe right now; I've heard the Black Mountain Army has resurfaced..."

"The Black Mountain Army?" the Xiongnu envoy scoffed. "That's your Han Chinese business. Our Xiongnu warriors..."

"Even warriors need to eat," Guan Yu said in a low voice. "My master also said that if your troops could... operate on the border of Bingzhou and hold back Cao Cao's army, there would be even more good things to come."

The deal is done.

On the return journey, Zhuge Liang was recording these actions when he suddenly asked, "Teacher, if the Xiongnu really launch a large-scale southward invasion, wouldn't that harm the people of Bingzhou?"

"Liu Bao doesn't have the guts." I closed my eyes to rest. "The Xiongnu have been divided for many years, and he can only mobilize about ten thousand cavalrymen, who only dare to raid the border. I have secretly ordered Tian Yu to send five thousand Youzhou cavalrymen to Dai County—ostensibly to guard against the Hu, but in reality to monitor them. If Liu Bao dares to go deep into the Xiongnu territory, we will wipe him out."

"What if Zhang Yan loses control..."

"So we need to find a third piece." I opened my eyes. "Yuan Shang."

October of the third year of Jian'an, Ye City.

Yuan Shang was already a trapped beast. Cao Cao besieged the city for three months, and the city's food supplies ran out, so the defenders began to eat tree bark. When my secret envoy infiltrated the city through the underground waterways, Yuan Shang was smashing things in frustration.

"Liu Bei will save me?!" He grabbed the messenger, his eyes crazed. "What do you want? Ji Province? I'll give it to you! As long as he can lift the siege of Ye City!"

The envoy, following my instructions, calmly said, "My lord doesn't want Ji Province, he only wants one person."

"Who?"

"Approval and matching."

Yuan Shang was stunned: "Why?"

"When Shen Pei was in Youzhou, he once saved my lord's old friend." The envoy lied without changing his expression. "My lord values ​​loyalty and is willing to exchange this for a chance to save Ye City."

In reality, Shen Pei is very knowledgeable about the powerful families of Ji Province and will be of great use in governing Hebei in the future. Moreover, he is a man of strong character, and Cao Cao will surely kill him after he conquers the city. It would be better for me to save him first.

Yuan Shang struggled for a moment, then gritted his teeth: "...Fine! But how will Liu Bei save me?"

"Tomorrow at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), at the East Gate." The messenger handed over a scroll of silk. "Act according to this plan."

The plan was simple: Yuan Shang would lead the main force to break out from the east gate and feign an attack on Cao Cao's camp. Meanwhile, I would "coincidentally" send Zhao Yun with three thousand cavalry to "exercise" thirty miles outside the city. Upon seeing the fire in Ye City, I would approach under the pretext of "preventing the chaos of soldiers harming the people," thus creating confusion.

Yuan Shang took advantage of the chaos to break through the encirclement; whether he could escape alive was up to fate.

As for Shenpei, he will be taken out of the sewers by my other team.

That night, a great fire broke out in Ye City.

Yuan Shang led his army out of the east gate and engaged in fierce fighting with Cao Cao's army. Zhao Yun's three thousand cavalry "happened" to appear on the flank of the battlefield, firing their crossbows, but did not get close—perfectly playing the role of "passing by to maintain order."

In the chaos, Yuan Shang led several hundred personal guards to flee towards Zhongshan.

Shen Pei was successfully rescued and sent to Liaodong overnight.

Cao Cao was so angry that he beheaded the general guarding the east gate, but faced with Zhao Yun's explanation that "this humble general was suppressing bandits and came to investigate when he saw the fire here," he could only grit his teeth and accept it—after all, he couldn't afford to turn against me now.

After the battle, Cao Cao had captured Ye City, but Yuan Shang had fled, Shen Pei had disappeared, and only a group of old, weak, and disabled soldiers had been captured.

More importantly, the Black Mountain Army began to frequently raid Cao Cao's supply lines, and Xiongnu cavalry roamed the border of Bingzhou, forcing Cao Cao to divide his forces to deal with them.

"My lord, Cao Cao has sent an envoy." In early November, Xu Shu entered the study with a letter in his hand, his tone...very impolite.

I unfolded Cao Cao's handwritten letter, which began with:

"My dear brother Xuande, the Black Mountain bandits have risen again, and the Xiongnu are eyeing the south, all within your territory. If you cannot subdue them, I will send troops to assist you."

Translation: I know all about your little tricks. If you don't stop, I'll send troops into your territory to "help suppress the bandits."

I picked up my pen and wrote back:

"Brother Mengde, I have already dispatched generals to suppress the Xiongnu of Heishan. However, your northern expedition against the Yuan clan left Hebei vulnerable, allowing the bandits to grow stronger. This is not my fault. Now that you have captured Ye City, you should quickly pacify Ji Province, pacify the people, and withdraw your troops. Then the bandit problem will naturally disappear. Your younger brother, Liu Bei, bows his head."

Translation: Clean up your own mess, don't try to shift the blame to me.

After the messenger left, Zhuge Liang asked softly, "Teacher, will Cao Cao tolerate this?"

"Yes." I looked out the window at the snow that had begun to fall. "Because he needs more time to digest Ji Province than we do right now. The Black Mountain Army and the Xiongnu are just minor problems; the powerful families of Ji Province are the real threat—that will keep him busy for a while."

"Then let's..."

"Deepen our cultivation." I turned around and unfolded the three-year plan map for Liaodong. "Conquer Liaodong, reorganize the three prefectures, stockpile grain and forage, and train a new army. By the time Cao Cao has dealt with the powerful families in Hebei, we should be ready too."

"What about Yuan Shang..."

"He won't survive this winter," I said calmly. "The governor of Zhongshan is my man, and the powerful figures in Zhongshan... I've already sent people to make contact with them."

Sure enough, news came half a month later: Yuan Shang fled to Zhongshan, where he was betrayed by local powerful figures, and his head was sent to Cao Cao to claim credit.

The Yuan family was thus completely wiped out.

In the twelfth month of the third year of Jian'an, the imperial court in Xudu issued an edict: Cao Cao was appointed Governor of Ji Province and Prime Minister. He was granted the privilege of being addressed by name, entering the court without having to bow, and wearing a sword and shoes in the palace.

On the same day, I received a "gift" from Cao Cao—an exquisite coffin containing Yuan Shang's head.

There was also a note:

"The traitor has been beheaded, and I will share the spoils with you. I hope you will quickly settle the matter with the Xiongnu of Black Mountain. Next spring, we shall hunt together by the Yellow River."

I closed the coffin lid.

"Teacher, is this a threat?" Zhuge Liang asked.

"It's an invitation." I laughed. "It means: there are still four years left in our five-year agreement. In four years, we'll see who's the real deal on the banks of the Yellow River."

The snow is getting heavier.

I opened the window and let the cold wind in.

"Kongming, remember this day."

"Students, please remember this."

"Because from this day forward, the world has changed from a battle of heroes to..." I looked towards Xuchang in the west, ""a battle between two tigers."

The chessboard was mostly cleared.

There aren't many players left in the game.