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

The fifteenth day of the first month of the sixth year of Jian'an (200 AD) was the Lantern Festival.

The snow fell for three whole days in Xiangping City, Liaodong, accumulating to a depth of over a foot. In the study in the backyard of the Governor's Mansion, the charcoal fire was burning brightly, and I, Zhuge Liang, Xu Shu, Tian Yu, and I sat around a table, reviewing last year's financial accounts.

"...salt and iron monopoly revenue was 3.2 million coins, wine tax was 1.8 million coins, and commercial tax was 2.4 million coins." Tian Yu fiddled with the abacus. "After deducting military pay, official salaries, school expenses, and land reclamation subsidies, the surplus is... 860,000 coins."

Zhuge Liang quickly jotted down notes in his notebook, then suddenly looked up: "Mr. Tian, ​​the school's charcoal expenses are 30% higher than last year, but the number of students has only increased by 20%—is someone falsifying the figures?"

Tian Yu smiled wryly: "Young Master has sharp eyes. This matter has been investigated. It was due to the expansion of the academy, and the newly built library consumed too much charcoal. Master Zheng Xuan said that bamboo slips are prone to decay when damp and need to be kept at a constant temperature."

"Then we should improve the architecture." The thirteen-year-old boy already had an engineer's mindset. "I've read the 'Kaogongji' (Record of Trades), and I can build fire walls. The charcoal fire passes through the inside of the wall, so the heat is lasting and even. Although it's labor-intensive, it saves charcoal in the long run."

I nodded: "Approved. Let's do it in the spring."

Just as Xu Shu was about to speak, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

"My lord! Urgent dispatch from Xuchang, eight hundred li away!" The personal guard's voice trembled with a rare tremor.

The door was pushed open, and a gust of cold wind carrying snowflakes rushed in. The messenger was covered in snow, his lips were frozen purple, and he held a mud-stained bamboo tube in his hands—it was a top-level secret report from the "Night Scouts," the red sealing wax of which had cracked.

My heart sank.

He took the bamboo tube, broke it open, and pulled out the silk cloth inside. The handwriting was messy, clearly written in extreme haste:

"On the seventh day of the first month of the sixth year of Jian'an, a great change occurred in Xuchang."

"Cao Cao, on the charge of 'the remnants of the imperial edict in the belt,' arrested and killed thirteen people, including General of Chariots and Cavalry Dong Cheng, General of Zhaoxin Wu Zilan, and Colonel of Changshui Zhong Ji, and exterminated their three clans, with more than seven hundred people dying."

"On the ninth day, the palace of the Grand Tutor Fu Wan was surrounded, and a copy of the 'Imperial Edict in a Belt' was found (suspected to be a forgery). Fu Wan and his two sons, Fu Dian and Fu Zun, were killed on the spot, and all the women in the family were enslaved. Only the youngest daughter, Fu Shou (eight years old), is missing."

On the tenth day, Grand Master of the Palace Kong Rong questioned Cao Cao in court, "What evidence do you have?" Cao Cao was furious and imprisoned him for "slandering the court." Three hundred of Kong Rong's disciples knelt at the palace gate to plead for his life, but were dispersed by the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, and seventeen of them were beaten to death.

"On the eleventh day, Cui Yan and Mao Jie, renowned scholars of Ji Province, were imprisoned on charges of 'colluding with Yuan Shikai.' Xun Chen of Yingchuan (Xun Yu's cousin) was placed under house arrest."

On the 12th, Cao Cao issued the "Order to Prohibit Unfounded Discussions": Anyone who discusses state affairs shall be beheaded; anyone who privately gathers scholars for lectures shall be exiled; anyone who harbors criminal officials shall be executed along with their entire clan.

"The bloodshed in Xuchang has caused widespread panic. Scholars are fleeing in droves. Cao Cao's army has sealed off all the gates. I risked my life to escape through the drainage ditch. If this message reaches you, I may already be dead. Gentlemen of Liaodong, make preparations as soon as possible."

The signature reads "Number 7, No. 7, Night Detective (Night Detective was a secret intelligence agency established by Xu Shu)".

The study was deathly silent.

The charcoal crackled and popped, sending up a few sparks.

Zhuge Liang's hands trembled slightly—not from fear, but from anger. Xu Shu closed his eyes, and Tian Yu's fists clenched so tightly that the veins bulged.

I slowly rolled up the silk.

"Number 7, Class A..." I said softly, "Is it Wang Shan? The one who ran a pharmacy in Xuchang for ten years and saved our intelligence agents three times?"

Xu Shu's voice was hoarse: "Yes. His last message was that his daughter was getting married and he wanted to finish this job and then retire to Youzhou to live out his days."

I placed the silk on the table, got up, and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the lanterns for the Lantern Festival shone brightly red in the snowy night. In the distance came the laughter of children—the students of the academy were having a snowball fight.

A world is laughing.

Another world is bleeding.

"My lord..." Tian Yu began.

I raised my hand to stop him.

"Three points." I turned around, my voice so calm it sounded unfamiliar even to myself. "First, immediately activate the 'Noah's Ark Project.' Yuanzhi, you're in overall charge; allocate all available resources."

"Secondly, Guo Rang, under the pretext of 'spring plowing and famine prevention,' ordered all counties in Youzhou to open their granaries to receive refugees—no matter how many came, they would all be accepted. At the same time, he issued the 'Order to Recruit Talented Individuals': anyone who is proficient in one classic or one skill will be granted land and exempted from taxes in Liaodong."

"Third..." I looked at Zhuge Liang, "Kongming, go to the Military Equipment Bureau and load the three hundred sets of cotton armor and five hundred shi of grain from the inventory onto carts. Also, have Hua Tuo prepare external wound medicine and twenty medical apprentices."

The three men solemnly accepted the order.

Xu Shu asked, "My lord, who should we send to provide backup?"

I thought for a moment: "Let Zilong..."

"Students are willing to go."

A cold, clear voice came from outside the door.

Sima Yi stood at the door, dressed in a black outfit, snowflakes falling from his shoulders, having listened for an unknown amount of time. The seventeen-year-old boy was already nearly an adult, the last trace of childishness gone from his features, leaving only a sharp, razor-like edge.

"Zhongda?" Xu Shu frowned. "You just returned from your duty shift with the border troops in Youzhou..."

"Precisely because I have just returned from the border and am familiar with the terrain," Sima Yi said as he entered, kneeling on one knee. "My lord, I request permission to lead three hundred White Horse Cavalry to infiltrate Ji Province. Cao Cao has just massacred Xuchang, and the garrisons at the passes must be lax—this is our only chance."

"Who do you want to save?" I asked.

"Kong Rong's youngest son, Kong Shao, six years old, is reportedly being hidden by his retainers in a manor outside Xuchang. Fu Wan's youngest daughter, Fu Shou, eight years old, may have been taken to their ancestral home in Yingchuan by servants." Sima Yi spoke calmly, "If these two are rescued, the scholars of the world will know of your benevolence. Moreover, Kong Rong has disciples all over the world; by obtaining his son, we can win the hearts of the literati."

Zhuge Liang couldn't help but say, "This is too risky! From Xuchang to Youzhou, there are seven passes and eighteen checkpoints along the way; Cao Cao's cavalry could arrive in an instant!"

"Therefore, speed is necessary." Sima Yi raised his eyes. "The White Horse Cavalry, one person and three horses, will gallop day and night. They will take the narrow paths of the Taihang Mountains, avoiding the official roads. They can make a round trip within seven days."

What if we get surrounded?

"The students have already studied the terrain along the way." Sima Yi took out a hand-drawn map from his robes and spread it on the ground. "There are twelve pre-arranged hiding places here, all guarded by 'night watchmen.' If we encounter danger, we can break up into smaller groups and regroup at the border of Youzhou in ten days."

I looked at him.

There was an almost cold composure in the boy's eyes. This wasn't recklessness, but rather a calculated confidence.

How many people do you need?

"Three hundred elite cavalry will suffice. However, we need the lord's order to mobilize all the 'night scouts' resources along the way."

What if it fails?

"If I am captured, I will commit suicide and will never reveal a single secret." Sima Yi paused. "If I succeed... please grant me one request, my lord."

"explain."

"Let Kong Shao and Fu Shou study at the academy, treating them the same as other students—there's no need for special treatment," the boy said earnestly. "Preferential treatment is a label, while ordinariness is protection."

I remained silent for a long time.

"Granted." I walked to the desk, picked up my pen, and wrote down the order, "but add one more clause: if things become unmanageable, prioritize your own safety. People can be saved, but the elite must not be destroyed."

Sima Yi accepted the order with both hands and bowed deeply: "This student understands."

He turned to leave.

"Zhongda," I called out to him.

The boy turned around.

"Come back alive," I whispered. "Liaodong needs you, and I need you too."

A flicker of emotion crossed Sima Yi's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure: "Yes."

He disappeared into the snowstorm.

Xu Shu sighed, "This boy... is too dangerous."

"But it has to be risky." I sat back down at my desk. "Cao Cao's blow isn't just aimed at a few people, but at the hearts of scholars across the land. If we don't hold onto those hearts, we've already lost half the battle."

Zhuge Liang suddenly asked, "Teacher, why did Cao Cao suddenly take such drastic measures? Wasn't the case of the imperial edict in the belt resolved last year?"

"Because he promoted the 'merit-based' system in Ji Province, which angered the powerful clans." I spread out the map. "Cui Yan, Kong Rong, and others like them were the representatives of these powerful clans in the court. Killing them would deprive them of their voice."

"Then why not even spare women and children?"

"Cut the weeds and eliminate the roots." My voice turned cold. "Cao Cao is establishing his authority: those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish. He wants everyone to know the consequences of resisting him."

Tian Yu said in a low voice, "Such cruelty will surely alienate people..."

"So our opportunity has arrived." I pointed to the map. "Issue the order: From today onwards, all passes in Liaodong shall allow passage for scholars coming from the south. Establish a 'Refugee Resettlement Office,' and Tian Yu, you shall concurrently lead it, specifically in charge of receiving them."

"Supplies may be insufficient..."

"We will requisition grain ahead of schedule this spring," I decided. "We will purchase the surplus grain from the people at the market price plus 30%. If that's still not enough... we will use the reserves to buy grain from Jiangdong."

"What about our food reserves..."

"Saving lives is the priority," I interrupted him. "Tell the people that this spring may be tough, but there will be double compensation after the autumn harvest. I, Liu Bei, guarantee this with my honor."

Orders were issued one after another.

At midnight, Xiangping City quietly awoke.

In the military camp, Zhao Yun was mustering his troops. Three hundred White Horse Cavalrymen, clad in armor and armed with weapons, each had three warhorses—one for riding and two to carry provisions and supplies.

"This journey is perilous. Are you all willing to go?" Zhao Yun slammed his silver spear to the ground.

Three hundred people shouted in unison, "Yes!"

"Alright." Zhao Yun mounted his horse. "Remember three things: First, obey the orders of Sima Jun; second, never leave your armor or your sword; third... come back alive."

The horses, their hooves wrapped in cloth, galloped swiftly, gagged in the mouth. Three hundred riders vanished like ghosts into the snowy night.

At the same moment, the city gates of various counties in Youzhou quietly opened.

In Jicheng, Zhuojun, Yuyang, Youbeiping... soup kitchens were set up at the gates of every city. Officials dispatched by Tian Yu, carrying torches, addressed the arriving refugees from the south:

"By order of Governor Liu: All scholars and commoners coming from the south may enter the city! Those with skills will be registered, and those without skills will be provided with shelter! Children and the elderly will be given priority in being provided with hot porridge and cotton clothing!"

The refugees were skeptical.

Until the first poor scholar trembled as he accepted the hot porridge, took a sip, and suddenly knelt down, wailing, "My lord...my lord is so benevolent!"

The crowd just began to move.

Meanwhile, the Liaodong Academy was brightly lit.

Zheng Xuan rose, put on his robe, and summoned all the teachers: "Gentlemen, you must have heard of the tragedy in Xuchang. From today onwards, the academy will establish a 'Refuge School,' where any scholar's son who comes to seek refuge can enroll. I will personally teach the classes."

A young gentleman hesitated: "Lord Zheng, harboring the descendants of a disgraced official might offend Cao Cao..."

The white-haired old scholar slammed his fist on the table: "If Cao Cao slaughters loyal and virtuous people, and we are afraid and do not come to their aid, what use is studying the classics?! If any disaster strikes, I will bear the responsibility!"

The gentlemen stood solemnly at attention and bowed deeply in unison: "We are willing to follow Lord Zheng!"

That night, Liaodong was sleepless.

I stood atop the highest watchtower of the Governor's Mansion, gazing at the city awakening amidst the wind and snow.

In the distance, the lights of the academy shone like stars.

Nearby, steam rose from the soup kitchen.

Further away, three hundred iron cavalrymen were marching south through the snow.

"Teacher." Zhuge Liang appeared beside him unnoticed, handing him a cloak. "The snow is heavy; be careful not to catch a cold."

I took the cloak and put it on, then suddenly asked, "Kongming, do you think what I'm doing is truly benevolent and righteous, or is it calculated?"

The boy remained silent for a moment.

"I believe... sincerity and scheming are not contradictory," he said softly. "A teacher genuinely wants to save people, and also calculates that saving people will win their hearts. If there is only sincerity without scheming, not many people can be saved; if there is only scheming without sincerity... how is that different from Cao Cao?"

I laughed.

"You've grown up."

"It's because the teacher taught well."

The snow is getting heavier.

But I seem to see countless streams converging from the south, passing through Cao Cao's blockade, through the wind and snow, and flowing towards this bitterly cold land.

Those are not refugees.

That's human nature.

That is the future.

---