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

The snow came exceptionally early in the fourth year of Jian'an.

In early October, Liaodong was already covered in a blanket of white. In the agricultural settlements outside Xiangping City, the last harvest of autumn grain had just been completed, and farmers were rushing to turn the soil and fertilize it before the heavy snow sealed the ground—this was the "winter plowing method" promoted by Tian Yu, who said it would make the seedlings grow stronger in the spring of the following year.

I stood outside the newly built "Liaodong Academy" lecture hall, looking through the window at the scene inside: more than thirty teenagers aged ten to fifteen sat upright, but the one lecturing on the stage was not a white-haired Confucian scholar, but Zhuge Liang, who was only twelve years old.

"...Therefore, the Guanzi says: 'When the granaries are full, people know etiquette.' Do you all know why Liaodong suffered three hundred starving deaths last year, yet this year the granaries are open to relieve the people?"

A dark-skinned boy raised his hand: "Because the magistrate distributed the land!"

"Distributing land is a means, not the root cause." Zhuge Liang stepped down from the podium, picked up a pointer, and pointed to the Liaodong map on the wall. "The root cause lies in 'not missing the farming season'—last spring, the Governor's Office allocated 3,000 oxen and 100,000 shi of seeds; in the summer, we fought the drought and dug 17 irrigation canals; and in the autumn, we organized soldiers to help with the harvest... These are all means of 'filling the granaries'."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the students, most of whom came from humble backgrounds: "But without the protection of the law, the land that is divided today may be seized back by powerful families tomorrow. Therefore, Your Majesty promulgated the 'Land Ordinance,' which surveyed the land, registered it, and made three copies of the land deeds: one for the household, one for the government, and one for the village elders. This is called 'settling disputes and preventing further conflicts.'"

I smiled out the window. This kid has really grasped my theory of "institutional guarantees."

"My lord," Xu Shu whispered as he approached, "a secret report from Xuchang says that Cao Cao... has made his move."

I gestured for him to go to the next room.

"Yesterday, Cao Cao arrested and executed Kong Rong, a renowned scholar from Ji Province, on charges of 'colluding with Yuan Shao,' and exterminated his entire family." Xu Shu's face turned pale. "At the same time, Cui Yan and Mao Jie were also imprisoned, both on charges of 'slandering the court.' More than three hundred students from the Imperial Academy in Xuchang jointly petitioned for leniency, but they were dispersed, and the seventeen ringleaders were... beaten to death."

I closed my eyes.

It's time to come.

"Where is the Zhen family?"

"The Zhen family offered their daughter to Cao Pi as a concubine and donated 500,000 shi of grain, so they are temporarily safe." Xu Shu paused, "But Cao Cao ordered that every aristocratic family in Ji Province must contribute 'military aid money,' calculated based on land area. The Zhen family contributed 30 million coins."

"They're going to squeeze them dry." I walked to the brazier to warm my hands. "Cao Cao is desperate for money. The Battle of Guandu was too costly, and he needs to maintain an army to intimidate us and Jiangdong... so he can only target the aristocratic families."

"Isn't such brutality risking inciting a popular uprising?"

"He'll know how to handle it." I shook my head. "Kill a few famous scholars to establish authority, fine a batch of money and grain to pay the army, and then win over spineless cowards like the Zhen family as role models... This is the art of emperors."

Just then, Zhuge Liang came in after class. Seeing our solemn expressions, he stood quietly to the side.

I beckoned him over and handed him the confidential report: "Take a look, and tell me your thoughts."

The boy quickly glanced at the document, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

"Teacher, Cao Cao is... destroying his own foundation." He looked up. "Although the powerful clans are greedy, they are indispensable for governing the regions, providing talent, and stabilizing the people's hearts. Such killing may bring money and grain in the short term, but in the long run, it will inevitably lose the people's hearts."

"and then?"

"Then..." Zhuge Liang's eyes lit up, "a large number of scholars from Ji Province will flee. We should prepare to receive them in advance."

Xu Shu clapped his hands: "Young master is right! Our Liaodong Academy is in dire need of teachers. If we could invite renowned scholars from Jizhou..."

"Not only should we invite them, but we should do it in a grand and impressive way." I laughed. "Issue the order: Liaodong Academy will establish a 'Classics Academy' and appoint Zheng Xuan as its dean. Publicly announce that anyone who has mastered a single classic will be granted 100 mu of land and a monthly salary of 10 shi of grain upon arriving in Liaodong. If there are renowned Confucian scholars, their treatment will be negotiated separately."

"This will cost a lot of money..." Xu Shu said with a pain in his throat.

"Money can be earned back, but talent is gone once it's gone." I waved my hand. "Also, have Zilong send an elite cavalry unit disguised as a merchant caravan to infiltrate Ji Province and secretly escort those scholars who have been targeted by Cao Cao to move north—remember, they must appear 'just in time' when Cao Cao's army is pursuing them, and stage a 'righteous rescue of famous scholars' play."

Zhuge Liang suddenly asked, "Teacher, what if Cao Cao holds a grudge because of this and sends troops to attack...?"

"He wouldn't dare now," I said with certainty. "Ji Province is not yet stable, Xiliang is not yet pacified, and Jiangdong is not yet settled—if he were to fight on three fronts, he would be courting death."

A month after the order was issued, scholars from Jizhou began to arrive in Liaodong with their families.

The first group to arrive was a father and son: the father, Xing Yong, was over forty years old and had originally served under Yuan Shao; the son, Xing Yuan, was only fifteen years old and was said to have a photographic memory. Tian Yu personally settled them in, and as I instructed, gave them a small courtyard with a study outside the city and fifty mu of farmland for their education.

Xing Yong was deeply grateful and volunteered to teach at the academy. I examined him and found that although he was not good at military strategy, he was skilled in civil administration, especially household registration management—precisely the kind of talent Liaodong urgently needed.

The second group of people who arrived surprised me.

"The Sima clan of Hanoi?" I looked at the register. "Sima Fang's son? What's his name?"

"Sima Lang, courtesy name Boda, was traveling with his brothers Sima Yi and Sima Fu." Xu Shu's expression was strange. "My lord, Sima Fang is an old friend of Cao Cao. Why is his son...?"

My heart skipped a beat.

Sima Yi. The man who, in the original history, emptied the Cao family's empire, is only sixteen years old now.

"Where is he?"

"He was arranged to stay at the post station. Sima Lang requested an audience, saying... he had important matters to discuss."

In the main hall of the Governor's Mansion, I met the three Sima brothers.

Sima Lang, in his early twenties, was refined and composed, his manners impeccable. Beside him, Sima Yi appeared slightly thinner, his eyes lowered, but when he occasionally glanced up, his gaze was sharp as a dagger. The youngest, Sima Fu, was only thirteen, nervously clutching his second brother's sleeve.

"My lord," Sima Lang said bluntly, "my father asked me to convey a message: Cao Mengde is no longer the Cao Mengde of the past. I hope you will make preparations as soon as possible."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"Cao Cao established the 'Office of Inspectors' in Xuchang, which is responsible for supervising all officials and can execute first and report later. Last month, Zhao Yan, a court advisor, was imprisoned and tortured to death simply for saying 'The Prime Minister's power and influence are too great' after drinking." Sima Lang lowered his voice, "My father said that Cao Cao's next target is those regional warlords who hold military power—and the first to bear the brunt is you, my lord."

I gestured for him to drink some tea: "Is your father in danger while he's in court?"

"It's alright for now. But Cao Cao has tested us several times, trying to appoint my father as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, which is essentially house arrest." Sima Lang smiled bitterly. "Therefore, my father ordered my two brothers and me to 'travel and study in Liaodong,' which was actually... to leave ourselves a way out."

I looked at Sima Yi, who had remained silent all along: "Zhongda, when do you think Cao Cao will launch a military campaign against Youzhou?"

The boy raised his head, his eyes calmer than a sixteen-year-old's: "Not within three years."

Why?

"We lack food, horses, and people's hearts." Sima Yi spoke calmly, "Ji Province has just been annexed, and the powerful families harbor resentment; Ma Teng and Han Sui of Xiliang are only superficially united; Sun Ce and Lü Bu of Jiangdong are on good terms, but none of them are willing to be subservient to others. If Cao Cao attacks You Province, chaos will surely break out in these three places."

"So he needs to address these potential problems first?"

"Yes." Sima Yi paused for a moment, "I believe that Cao Cao's next step will be to launch a western expedition against Ma Teng to eliminate any worries about his rear. At the same time, he will send envoys to Jiangdong to appoint Sun Ce as General Who Subdues the Barbarians and Lü Bu as General Who Pacifies the East—to divide and conquer them."

I gave him a long look.

This young man's insight into the situation surpasses that of many strategists.

"Would Zhongda like to study at the academy?" I asked.

Sima Yi bowed and said, "That is indeed my wish. But I have a request—I wish to join the army for training."

"You're still young..."

"Gan Luo became an envoy at the age of twelve, and Huo Qubing was ennobled at the age of eighteen." The young man raised his eyes, his gaze intense. "I am sixteen years old, not young anymore."

I laughed: "Alright. First, I'll go to the White Horse Cavalry and work as a clerk, learning from Zhao Yun for three months. If I can adapt, then we can talk about other things."

After the three brothers left, Xu Shu whispered, "My lord, this Sima Yi... his eyes are too deep; he is probably no ordinary man."

"I know." I looked out the window at the falling snow. "But it's better for a dragon to enter the sea than to be trapped in shallow waters. Let him go to the army to temper his character. Whether he's a dragon or a worm, it will be clear at a glance."

In the days that followed, Liaodong Academy became increasingly lively.

Besides the scholars from Ji Province, there were also impoverished students from Qing and Xu Provinces, and even two Confucian scholars who had fled from Jing Province—Liu Biao's side was also in turmoil, with Cai Mao and Kuai Yue vying for power, which affected innocent people.

Zhuge Liang was responsible for arranging these people's studies and daily life, and the twelve-year-old boy managed everything in an orderly manner. I occasionally checked and found that the files he created for each person were very detailed, including their place of origin, special skills, personality traits, and even included an assessment of "usable directions".

"This Xing Yuan, you marked him 'photographic memory, suitable for handling documents'," I said, flipping through the file. "But why does the 'Notes' section say 'His father, Xing Yong, values ​​his reputation highly; do not allow him to handle confidential matters'?"

Zhuge Liang said earnestly, "I have observed that although Xing Yuan is intelligent, he often repeats his father's teachings. If he were to handle confidential matters, he might inadvertently leak them. It would be better to let him organize the classics at the academy first, and then use him for other purposes once his character has matured."

I nodded in satisfaction.

This kid is starting to understand the importance of "judging people by their fundamental qualities".

The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is the Little New Year.

I hosted a banquet at the Governor's Mansion to entertain all the scholars who came to seek my services. Thirty tables were set up, and the guests ranged from renowned scholars of Jizhou to impoverished scholars of Jingzhou.

After several rounds of drinks, I rose and raised my glass: "Gentlemen, I am deeply grateful to you for leaving your homes to come to this harsh and cold place. Today is the eve of the Lunar New Year, and I have nothing of value to offer but one thing to tell you—"

The entire room fell silent.

"Although Liaodong is remote, it is far from the reach of the emperor, making it an ideal place for learning and nurturing talent. I hereby promise: all those who are truly dedicated to learning will have their needs fully provided. For those who wish to cultivate talent, the academy and lecture halls will be open at any time. For those who have ideas for saving the world, please speak frankly, and we will adopt and implement them without burying them."

Some people choked up during the meal.

An elderly scholar with white hair stood up shakily: "My lord... I am Zhao Yu, formerly the Prefect of Beihai Commandery. I offended a retainer of Cao Cao, and my family was destroyed. I have been in Liaodong for three months and have seen that the children in the academy can all read, and the old farmers in the countryside all say that my lord is benevolent... Only today do I realize that there is still a pure land in this world."

He bowed deeply: "I am willing to dedicate the rest of my life to the academy, to leave behind some seeds of learning for my great Han Dynasty."

Everyone in the room rose, raised their cups, and shouted in unison, "We are willing to die for our lord!"

After the banquet, I sat alone in my study.

Zhuge Liang brought over some hangover soup and asked softly, "Teacher, were your words today too harsh?"

"Are you saying I made too many promises?"

"Hmm. If in the future someone becomes arrogant because of their talent, or makes excessive demands..."

"Then let's do it the rules." I took a sip of soup. "I'll give them a stage, and they can showcase their talents. If they're compatible, they can stay; if not, they can leave—but before they leave, they have to give back what they've taken from me."

The boy smiled: "Teachers always...appear benevolent on the surface, but are governed by rules on the inside."

"That's called 'institutionalized benevolent governance'." I rubbed his head. "By the way, after spring, take Sima Yi to Youzhou to inspect the border troops' farmland. That kid has been working with the White Horse Cavalry for three months. Zhao Yun said he is 'quiet and reserved, but meticulous in his work'—go and see if he's truly talented or just putting on an act."

"The student obeys."

Spring came exceptionally late in the fifth year of Jian'an.

In March, as the ice and snow began to melt, astonishing news arrived: Cao Cao's western expedition against Ma Teng had been a great victory. Ma Teng surrendered, sending his son Ma Chao to Xuchang as a hostage. Han Sui retreated to Jincheng, but was no longer a threat.

"Cao Cao acted swiftly," Xu Shu said, looking at the battle report. "From the start of the campaign to the pacification, it took less than four months."

"Because he never intended to destroy Xiliang." I pointed to the map. "What he wanted was unimpeded trade routes and a supply of warhorses. With Ma Teng surrendering and Han Sui becoming isolated, his goal would be achieved. Now..."

I moved my finger to Jiangdong: "It's time to deal with this side."

Sure enough, in April, envoys from Xudu went to Wu County and Kuaiji.

Sun Ce was appointed "General Who Subdues the Barbarians and Governor of Kuaiji"—even though Kuaiji did not have an inch of land.

Lü Bu was appointed "General Who Pacifies the East and Prefect of Wu Commandery"—similarly, Wu Commandery was in the hands of Sun Ce.

"What a brilliant 'Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors' move!" Zhuge Liang shook his head after reading the intelligence. "No, it's 'Two Counties Kill Two Generals'."

"Cao Cao is forcing them to start a war." Sima Yi rarely spoke up—he had just returned from an inspection tour of Youzhou, his skin was darker, and his eyes were calmer. "Whoever strikes first is a traitor. The court can then rightfully punish them."

"Will they fight?" I asked.

Sima Yi pondered: "Sun Ce is fierce and will certainly not be willing to accept this. But Zhou Yu is here and will persuade him to stay. Lü Bu... Chen Gong is greedy for merit and may instigate an attack."

"So we should..."

"Add fuel to the fire." The boy looked up. "Send the student to Jiangdong."

I raised an eyebrow: "You're going?"

"I have met Lu Su several times, and we can use the guise of 'study tour' to find out the truth," Sima Yi said calmly. "If there is an opportunity... let this fire burn slower."

Looking at this sixteen-year-old boy, I suddenly thought of the "Tomb Tiger" from history.

"Approved." I nodded. "But bring twenty guards, disguised as a caravan. In case of danger, survival is the top priority."

"The student understands."

After Sima Yi departed, Zhuge Liang asked with some concern, "Teacher, is this man... trustworthy?"

"Now it's believable." I looked south. "Because his family has no future with Cao Cao, they can only rely on us. As for the future..."

I didn't finish my sentence.

In chaotic times, who can truly see through a person?

In early May, news came from Jiangdong.

Sun Ce couldn't resist and led 3,000 troops to cross the river to attack Lü Bu. But when the boats reached the middle of the river, Zhou Yu led his navy to intercept them and forcibly "escorted" them back to Wu Commandery. It is said that the two brothers had a big argument in their mansion, and Sun Ce smashed half of the hall.

Meanwhile, Chen Gong advised Lü Bu to take advantage of Sun Ce's house arrest and launch a surprise attack on Wu Commandery. However, Gao Shun and Zhang Liao opposed this, believing it to be a trap set by Cao Cao. The two sides argued back and forth, and Lü Bu remained indecisive.

Just at this critical juncture, Sima Yi's "caravan" arrived.

Ten days later, he brought back a letter written by Zhou Yu himself.

The letter contained only eight words:

"The three-year promise, let us not forget the riverbank."

I laughed.

Zhou Gongjin is reminding me: Jiangdong cannot be in chaos, at least not now.

"What did you do?" I asked Sima Yi.

The young man said calmly, "When I met Lu Su, he told me that Cao Cao had already pacified Xiliang and his next move would surely be to take over Jiangdong. If Sun Quan and Lü Bu were to fight, and Cao Cao's army crossed the Huai River, Jiangdong would fall entirely to others."

"Then?"

"Then Lu Su brought his student to see Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu asked, 'What does Lord Liu intend to do?' The student replied, 'Lord Liu is willing to act as guarantor to help the two generals jointly resist the traitor Cao, but he needs a blueprint for the Jiangdong navy's warships to prove his sincerity.'"

My eyelids twitched: "He wanted it?"

"I'll take it." Sima Yi took out a scroll of silk from his bosom. "These are the designs for the multi-span ships from the Wu Commandery Shipyard. Although they are not the latest, the craftsmanship details are very detailed. Zhou Yu said... this is the deposit."

I unfolded the diagram, and it was indeed a core secret of the Jiangdong navy.

"Zhou Gongjin had such great courage," I exclaimed. "He was risking his life."

"Because he knows we won't harm him now," Sima Yi said. "Zhou Yu understands the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold' better than anyone else."

In June, Sun Ce and Lü Bu resumed peace talks.

This time it was on a sandbar in the middle of the Yangtze River, with each side bringing ten men. I didn't go as the guarantor, but I sent Xu Shu and Sima Yi instead.

The treaty was more specific: the Qiantang River was the boundary, with the north belonging to Sun Ce and the south to Lü Bu. Border markets were to be opened and marriages to be arranged between the two sides—Sun Ce's sister, Sun Shangxiang, was betrothed to Lü Bu's son, Lü Lingqi (although Lü Lingqi was only five years old and Sun Shangxiang was only seven).

"Political marriage, it's an old trick." I looked at the marriage certificate and shook my head. "But it's worth it for three years of peace."

Xu Shu smiled and asked, "Does my lord know who drafted this peace treaty?"

"Who?"

"Sima Yi," Xu Shu sighed, "that kid drafted a document on the spot, breaking it down into details, even clearly outlining the tax revenue sharing and dispute resolution mechanisms in the border cities. Zhou Yu and Chen Gong couldn't find any fault with it."

I looked at the boy standing quietly to the side: "Zhongda, what reward do you want?"

Sima Yi bowed: "This student only wants to return to the army. The position of scribe... is too leisurely."

"Alright." I made the decision. "Go and serve as a military officer under Zhao Yun, leading a cavalry unit. But you must return to the academy for three days each month to teach the other students your 'treaty negotiation skills'."

"The student obeys."

Summer passed and autumn came; the fifth year of Jian'an passed peacefully.

The Liaodong Academy now has 300 students and 47 teachers. 500,000 mu of new farmland have been reclaimed in the military settlements, and grain reserves have exceeded 8 million shi. The navy has added 20 warships and 50 ocean-going vessels.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao's side also seemed to have hit a standstill—the backlash from the powerful families of Ji Province was more intense than expected, forcing him to slow down and appease the people.

On the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, it's time for the New Year's Eve dinner.

Five tables were set up at the Governor's Mansion, where the core civil and military officials were gathered. Zhang Fei, carrying a wine jar, went around offering toasts to everyone, while Guan Yu, though not a heavy drinker, drank until his face was flushed. Zhao Yun and Sima Yi discussed cavalry tactics in hushed tones in a corner, while Tian Yu and Shen Pei debated a detail of a tax system.

Zhuge Liang sat beside me, watching the lively scene, and suddenly whispered, "Teacher, sometimes I feel...like I'm dreaming."

"Oh?"

"Three years ago, I was still studying in Langya, unaware of the vastness of the world." The candlelight reflected in the young man's eyes. "Now, however, I've witnessed countless life-and-death calculations and participated in the power struggles among the feudal lords... Sometimes, when I wake up in the morning, I'm stunned for a moment before I remember who I am."

I patted him on the shoulder: "That's called growth. It's just that your growth is a bit faster than most people's."

"Does the teacher regret it?" he suddenly asked. "I regret going down this path. I'm always scheming and on guard, and I can hardly even have a peaceful meal."

I was silent.

Amid the crackling of the candlelight, I slowly said, "I have regretted it. Especially when I saw soldiers dying in battle and people being displaced. But every time I thought of giving up, I would think of so many more people—those who survived because of us, those who were able to eat their fill because of us, those whose children could go to school, and those whose elderly could die peacefully."

"The world is vast, and I can't save it all by myself." I took a sip of my drink. "But I'll save whoever I can, and I'll save wherever I can. That's enough."

Zhuge Liang nodded emphatically.

After the banquet, I climbed the city wall alone.

The north wind howled, making the flags flutter loudly.

In the distance, lights were still lit in the direction of the academy—those were the students from Xingyuan staying up late to study.

Further away, in the residential houses of Tuntian District, the candlelight cast a warm glow.

Three years.

It has been a full ten years since I awakened my memories.

From selling straw sandals to ruling four states, from being alone to being a man of both literary and military talent.

But I know the hardest part is yet to come.

Cao Cao wouldn't wait forever.

Sun Ce and Lü Bu will not be at peace forever.

This world must eventually come to an end.

I took a deep breath of the cold air and turned to leave the city.

Nurturing scholars for three years, so that they may be put to use in a single moment.

Everything that needs to be prepared has been prepared.