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

On the third day of the second month of the sixth year of Jian'an, outside Xiangping City.

The snow had stopped, but the melting snow was colder than when it was snowing. I stood on the newly erected watchtower, looking towards the official road—where a line of people had already formed, stretching for four or five miles, like a tired gray snake slowly crawling through the muddy snow.

"More than 700 people arrived this morning." Tian Yu's voice was tired. "From the seventh day of the lunar month until now, 23 days, a total of 19,400 migrants have entered the country. Among them, about 2,000 are scholars and their families, 800 are craftsmen, 60 are doctors, and the rest are mostly farmers and merchants."

I looked into his bloodshot eyes: "How much longer can the food supply last?"

"At the minimum standard of one liter per person per day... we can last for seventeen days." Tian Yu paused, "But if the number of people continues to grow at this rate, we will run out of food in ten days."

Zhuge Liang stood to one side, holding a thick register in his hands. The thirteen-year-old boy had lost a lot of weight in the past few days, but his eyes remained sharp. He turned to a page of the register: "Teacher, I've done the math. Less than 30% of the refugees are carrying food, and most of it is only enough for three to five days. If we wait until their food runs out, our pressure will be even greater."

What are your thoughts?

"The student suggests a three-step approach," Zhuge Liang said quickly, clearly having given it considerable thought. "First, immediately send people to Jiangdong and Jiaozhou to purchase grain. Transport it by sea using our warships; it will be faster and safer than by land."

"Second, we implemented 'work relief' for the refugees. Skilled craftsmen were gathered together to make farm tools and repair houses; able-bodied laborers were organized to clean up river channels and build roads; women, children, the elderly, and the infirm could spin hemp and weave cloth—we issued food coupons according to the amount of work done, and people could collect food with the coupons."

"Third..." He hesitated for a moment, "Investigate the grain reserves of wealthy households in Xiangping City. Purchase them at market prices, and severely punish anyone found hoarding or price gouging."

Xu Shu frowned: "Young sir, the first two options are feasible, but the third... might alienate the people. Liaodong is newly annexed, and the powerful local lords are already hesitant. If we forcibly requisition grain..."

"Then let them donate 'voluntarily'," I continued. "Kongming, go and draft a 'Donation Edict.' It should say that to save our compatriots from the south, the government will purchase surplus grain at the market price plus 20%. Anyone who donates 100 shi or more of grain will be awarded a plaque of 'Righteous Citizen,' and their children will have priority admission to the academy. Anyone who donates 500 shi or more of grain will be granted the title of 'Local Gentry' and will be eligible to participate in the county council."

Zhuge Liang's eyes lit up: "Give those who value reputation the honor, and those who value practical benefits the benefits!"

"Yes." I patted him on the shoulder. "This is your job. Tian Yu will assist, but you'll be in charge."

The young man took a deep breath and bowed solemnly: "This student obeys!"

After descending from the observation tower, I rode my horse slowly along with the procession of refugees.

The scene was shocking.

An elderly man huddled under a tattered quilt, his coughs heart-wrenching. A woman held an infant, the child too weak to even cry from hunger. Most were men with numb faces, their eyes vacantly fixed on the north—their last hope.

"My lord..." A middle-aged man who looked like a scholar recognized me and knelt tremblingly in the mud. "I am Chen Ji from Yingchuan. I have fled here with my elderly mother and young child... I beg you, my lord, to grant me a way to live..."

I dismounted and helped him up, saying, "Please rise, sir. Once we reach Liaodong, we'll be home."

"But... I've heard that Liaodong is bitterly cold, barren, and its people are impoverished..."

"Land is created by people." I pointed to the wasteland being cleared in the distance. "See those people? They all came from the south, just like you. When the spring thaws, each person will be allocated twenty mu of land. The government will lend seeds and oxen, and the first three years will be tax-free. As long as you are willing to work, you won't starve."

Chen Ji's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"I, Liu Bei, hereby swear: all who come to me will be provided with land to cultivate, houses to live in, and schools to attend." I raised my voice so that all the refugees around me could hear me. "But the prerequisite is—to abide by my rules and put in physical labor. Liaodong does not support idlers."

The crowd stirred.

"My lord! I know how to forge iron!"

"I'm just a commoner who can do carpentry!"

"This old man has had a few years of schooling; he can work as an accountant..."

I raised my hand to signal for quiet: "Everyone has a chance. There's a registration point five miles ahead, categorized by skill. Report what you're good at, no false reporting allowed—if you're caught, you'll be expelled from Liaodong."

The refugees helped each other and quickened their pace to move forward.

I remounted my horse and whispered to Xu Shu, "Have all of Hua Tuo's medical apprentices set up quarantine tents at the registration points. Isolate anyone found with fever or coughing up blood immediately. Also... have all the students from the academy come out to help with registration, distributing porridge, and maintaining order—this is the best practical lesson."

"The students are still very young..."

"Precisely because they are young, they should be shown the suffering of humanity." I looked towards the distant academy. "Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. Traveling ten thousand miles is not as good as relieving the suffering of ten thousand people."

It was already afternoon when they returned to the Governor's Mansion.

The desk was piled high with documents. The top one was a message sent by Sima Yi via carrier pigeon from his journey, containing only eight characters:

"We have arrived north of Ye City and are awaiting our move."

I calculated the time. They set off on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and today is the third day of the second lunar month, nineteen days later. According to the plan, they should have arrived at the outskirts of Xuchang five days ago... It seems they encountered trouble on the way.

"My lord," Xu Shu said, bringing in a newly arrived secret report with a grave expression, "Cao Cao has made a move."

When I unfolded it, I saw that it was a message from Xudu that read "Night Observer".

Cao Cao issued two orders:

Firstly, all land and property of scholars who fled north were confiscated, and their clansmen were also implicated.

Secondly, additional checkpoints were set up at various crossings along the Yellow River. Anyone traveling north was required to have a "travel permit" issued by the government. Anyone who violated this was to be treated as "colluding with the enemy" and executed without exception.

"He wants to lock down the north," Xu Shu said. "Moreover... scouts report that Cao Cao has sent Cao Ren with 5,000 troops to patrol along the Yellow River, specifically to arrest scholars who attempt to cross it."

I walked to the map and traced the Yellow River with my finger: "Where should we set up our rendezvous point?"

"Originally, they were stationed in Liyang, Baima, and Yanjin. But now Cao Ren's patrols are focusing their attention on these three locations..."

"Then let's go somewhere else." I pointed to an inconspicuous spot on the map. "Pingqiu. The river here is wide and shallow, and the ice is thick in winter, making it suitable for carriages and horses. Cao Ren's attention is focused on those major ferry crossings, so this place is a blind spot for him."

"But Pingqiu is too close to Xudu, there are risks..."

"It's precisely because it's close to Xuchang that Cao Cao didn't expect it." I turned around and said, "Send a message to Sima Yi, instructing him to change his route to Pingqiu after the success. At the same time, notify the rendezvous point in Liyang, deliberately exposing our movements to attract Cao Cao's attention—to cover the real retreat route."

Xu Shu gasped, "My lord, this...this is a scapegoat!"

"It's not a sacrifice, it's a feint," I said calmly. "The brothers in Liyang won't really fight; they'll scatter and evacuate immediately after being exposed. Trading the safety of Sima Yi and hundreds of scholars for the risk of a few dozen men—it's a worthwhile trade."

Xu Shu remained silent for a long time before whispering, "Yes."

He turned to leave, but I called him back: "Tell the brothers in Liyang that if they are captured... I will take good care of their families. If they die in battle, they will receive triple the compensation. If they return alive, each of them will be promoted one rank and awarded a hundred taels of gold."

"...They will understand."

After Xu Shu left, I sat alone for a long time.

Light snow began to fall outside the window again.

In chaotic times, human life is as worthless as grass. But that is precisely why we should cherish every life—even the life used as bait.

On the seventh day of the second lunar month, the "donation campaign" began in Xiangping City.

Zhuge Liang's method was ingenious. Instead of going door-to-door to ask for grain, he built a high platform in the center of the city, set up an incense table and a bronze tripod, and invited Zheng Xuan to preside over the sacrificial ceremony to commemorate the scholars who died in Xuchang.

The eulogy was written by Zhuge Liang himself:

"Alas! Blood has been shed in Xuchang, and loyal officials have perished. What crime have the children committed? What evil have the women and children done? Cao Mengde established his authority with his butcher's knife; we should resist with compassion. Now, Liaodong is short of grain, barely enough to feed ten thousand people. How can we stand by and watch our compatriots freeze and starve? Anyone with a bushel of grain is willing to donate a pint; anyone with a bushel of grain is willing to donate a bushel. Every little bit helps. Every little bit helps. Saving one life is saving one life..."

After the eulogy was read, Zheng Xuan burst into tears and was the first to step forward, donating three hundred shi of grain stored in his home—the food rations for his entire family.

Next came the teachers of the academy, some giving ten bushels of grain, others twenty.

Then it was the turn of the wealthy families in the city.

Mi Zhu's younger brother, Mi Fang, stood below the stage, his expression shifting. He was now the largest grain merchant in Liaodong, with no less than ten thousand shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain in his possession.

"Mr. Mi," Zhuge Liang approached him and bowed, "when your elder brother Mi Zizhong was in Xuzhou, he often distributed porridge to the poor, saving countless lives. Now that Liaodong is in trouble, would you be willing to follow your brother's example?"

This statement was very tactful. It both praised the Mi family's good reputation and offered a way out—it wasn't a forced requisition, but rather "following the example of our ancestors."

Mi Fang gritted her teeth and finally spoke: "The Mi family...will donate two thousand shi of grain!"

A low murmur arose from the crowd.

Zhuge Liang bowed deeply: "Sir, your righteousness is truly admirable. On behalf of the displaced people, Kongming expresses his gratitude."

With the Mi family taking the lead, other wealthy households followed suit. In just one day, they raised 18,000 shi of grain—enough to feed the refugees for half a month.

But Zhuge Liang did not let his guard down. He came to me with the roster: "Teacher, I have checked and found that the largest granary in the city is not the Mi family, but Wang Tong, the nephew of Wang He, a former subordinate of Gongsun Du. This man only has 500 shi of grain on the surface, but I learned from the dockworkers that he transported 3,000 shi of grain from Jiangdong last month and hid it in the cellar of his old house in the west of the city."

"What do you want to do?"

"The student wishes to ask General Zhang for help."

Half an hour later, Zhang Fei led a troop of soldiers and knocked on Wang Tong's door.

"Manager Wang! My distillery is short of grain for brewing wine. I heard you have some stored grain? Sell me some!" Zhang Fei's loud voice could be heard throughout half the city.

Wang Tong smiled ingratiatingly: "General Zhang is too kind. I have no spare grain..."

"Hey! Don't try to fool me!" Zhang Fei glared. "Someone saw you bringing in dozens of cartloads of grain last month! What, you look down on me, Old Zhang? You're not selling?"

"It's not that we're not selling, it's that we genuinely don't have any..."

"Then I'll search!" Zhang Fei waved his hand, and the soldiers were about to rush in.

Wang Tong panicked: "General! Trespassing is illegal!"

"Law?" Zhang Fei grinned. "In Liaodong, my elder brother's word is law! Search!"

The cellar was opened, and it was filled with grain sacks.

Zhang Fei picked up a bag, tore it open, and fresh rice gushed out: "Manager Wang, is this what you call no grain?"

Wang Tong's face turned ashen.

At this moment, Zhuge Liang slowly approached, cupped his hands, and said, "Mr. Wang, according to the 'Liaodong Grain Administration Regulations,' anyone who hoards more than 500 shi of grain without reporting it will have half of it confiscated. Your 3,000 shi... should be fined 1,500 shi. Are you willing to accept the fine, or would you like to go to the mine for labor reform?"

Wang Tong knelt down with a thud: "I accept the punishment! I accept the punishment!"

"Alright." Zhuge Liang nodded. "The 1,500 shi will be confiscated and given to you in cash or grain at market value. As for the remaining 1,500 shi... would you like to keep it for yourself, or 'voluntarily' donate it in exchange for a 'Righteous Citizen' plaque?"

Wang Tong dared not refuse: "Donate! Donate it all!"

This scene was witnessed by spies sent by many wealthy households. That afternoon, more than a dozen more households voluntarily "reported" their grain reserves and donated a portion of them.

By evening, the total amount of grain collected had exceeded 30,000 shi (a unit of dry measure).

"That should last a month," Tian Yu breathed a sigh of relief. "The grain-purchasing fleet from Jiangdong will be returning in ten days, and we can pick them up."

I looked at Zhuge Liang.

The boy was checking accounts under the lamp, his fingers red from the cold, but he was completely unaware of it.

"Kongming," I called him.

He looked up: "Teacher?"

"You used both strategy and influence in today's matter," I said slowly. "You borrowed General Zhang's prestige, my reputation, and Zheng Xuan's virtue—very good. But remember, power plays may last, but people's hearts need time to grow. Wang Tong's submission today will surely breed resentment. We need to have someone keep an eye on him. If he behaves himself, we can offer appropriate compensation; if he causes trouble... we must also have a plan to deal with it."

Zhuge Liang solemnly noted: "I understand. I have arranged for people to 'protect' Wang Tong's family, but in reality, to monitor them. If he behaves himself, he will return 30% of the confiscated grain in three months; if he makes any unusual moves..."

He didn't finish speaking, but his meaning was clear.

I nodded and turned to leave.

As she reached the door, she turned back and said, "By the way, you're...fourteen this year, right?"

"The first month of the lunar calendar has just ended."

"It's time to give you a name," I said. "I'll personally give you one after these refugees are settled."

A glint flashed in the boy's eyes, and he bowed deeply.

February 10th, late at night.

Another message from Sima Yi arrived by carrier pigeon, this time longer:

"Kong Shao was rescued on the second day and hidden in a villa outside Xuchang. Fu Shou is in the Xun family's villa in Yingchuan, secretly protected by Xun Chen. On the fifth day, they were captured by Cao Cao's army and dispersed. They agreed to meet at Pingqiu on the tenth day. However, upon arrival today, we found that the rendezvous point had been exposed and there was an ambush. We suspect there is a traitor. We are currently hiding in an abandoned temple thirty miles north of Yecheng. We have run out of food and seven people are injured. Please advise."

I burned the note over the lamp.

Traitor.

The worst-case scenario.

"Yuanzhi," I summoned Xu Shu, "Has there been any unusual activity recently with the 'Night Scouts' network in Ji Province?"

Xu Shu's face turned pale: "Yes... three days ago, Zhao San, the person in charge of the Liyang rendezvous point, went missing. I thought he was evacuating according to plan, but now it seems..."

"Was he arrested, or did he defect?"

"Zhao San has followed me for eight years, and his family is all in Youzhou... He shouldn't have betrayed me." Xu Shu gritted his teeth. "Unless... he was tortured."

I closed my eyes.

In chaotic times, loyalty has its limits.

"Activate the emergency plan." I opened my eyes. "Activate the entire 'Group C' and create chaos along the line from Ye City to Pingqiu. Set fires, blow up bridges, and spread rumors—say that Cao Ren is going to purge the surrendered generals of Ji Province."

"this..."

"Force Cao Ren to divide his forces." I walked to the map. "At the same time, send Zhao Yun with 1,000 light cavalry south to meet them on the north bank of the Zhang River. Don't cross the river; just patrol the north bank and draw their attention."

"How did Sima Yi and his men cross the river?"

"Take the waterway." I pointed to a thin line on the map. "The Qi River. It's shallow in winter, but small boats can still navigate it. Have Sima Yi abandon his horse, disguise himself as a merchant caravan, and head north along the Qi River to Neihuang, where our boats will meet us."

Xu Shu quickly wrote it down: "But there are also Cao Cao's troops along the Qi River..."

"So we need to make a feint." I looked at him. "Have Guan Yu gather 5,000 troops in the direction of Julu, making it look like he's about to cross the river. Cao Cao is most afraid of us moving south right now, so he will definitely deploy heavy troops to defend the area—which will weaken the defenses of the Qi River."

"A diversionary tactic..." Xu Shu suddenly realized, "But this requires time to coordinate, and Sima Yi and his forces can't hold out for more than a few days..."

"Send him a message by carrier pigeon: Hold on for four days. After four days, a signal fire will be lit in the direction of Julu. When he sees three beacon fires, he should head towards the Qi River." I paused. "Then tell him... if he really can't hold on, he can abandon the mission and escape separately. I want him to live; that's more important than anything else."

"promise!"

That very night, after the order was issued, I climbed the watchtower again.

The south was pitch black.

But I know that three hundred miles away, a group of young people are hiding in a dilapidated temple, starving and freezing, and could be surrounded and wiped out at any moment.

Further away, those scholars who had fled north with their families were trudging through the snow with great difficulty.

In this city, tens of thousands of refugees have just had hot porridge and warm beds to sleep on.

"Teacher." Zhuge Liang appeared at some point and handed over a package of oiled paper. "These are pancakes I made; you haven't eaten them all day."

I took it; the pancake was still warm.

"Kongming, tell me... is it worth mobilizing thousands of troops to save a few dozen people?"

The boy thought for a moment: "If we only consider the cost of provisions and military expenses, it's not worth it. But if we consider the morale of the people... it is worth it."

"How so?"

"If we abandon Sima Yi and those scholars today, who will be willing to risk their lives for us tomorrow?" Zhuge Liang gazed south. "If we turn a blind eye to those refugees today, who will come to us for refuge tomorrow?"

He turned to look at me, his eyes clear: "My teacher taught me that in chaotic times, what we fight for is talent, but even more so, the hearts of the people. If the hearts of the people are lost, even a million-strong army is nothing more than a tower built on sand."

I took a bite of the pancake; it smelled delicious.

"You're right." I patted him on the shoulder. "Go to sleep. There's more to do tomorrow."

The boy bowed and left.

I stood alone in the cold wind, looking south.

Four days.

Sima Yi, you must hold on.

We still have a long way to go.