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

I. General Baima's entourage was a bit too grand.

When Gongsun Zan arrived, he brought with him three hundred loyal followers on white horses.

All the horses were white, the armor silver, and the spears long, their whiteness dazzling in the sunlight.

They galloped along the official road, their hooves thundering, startling the people along the way who scattered in panic. Leading them was Gongsun Zan, clad in gleaming silver armor, a white cloak, and twin blades at his waist; his face was like jade, truly befitting the title of "White Horse General."

It's just that the scale is too big.

Standing at the gate of the manor, Liu Bei gazed at the vast expanse of white cavalry, silently calculating in his mind: three hundred warhorses, at market price, each good horse worth twenty gold coins, that's six thousand gold coins. Armor and weapons not included. Maintaining such a cavalry force would cost at least five hundred gold coins per month...

"They're really rich," Liu Bei murmured in amazement.

"Show-off," Zhang Fei muttered, scoffing. "Wearing so much white in broad daylight, who are you trying to impress?"

Guan Yu squinted his phoenix eyes: "Not bad."

Indeed, they are quite good. These white horses are all top-quality Youzhou horses, with tall shoulders and strong bodies, clearly carefully selected.

The cavalry stopped in front of the manor.

Gongsun Zan dismounted swiftly and cleanly. He surveyed Liu Bei's estate—not large, but tidy; the local militia were training, their ranks neat and their spirits high.

"Junior Brother Xuande!" Gongsun Zan strode over, beaming. "It's been many years! Junior Brother, you're even more charming than before!"

Liu Bei greeted him with a smile: "Senior Brother Bogui! What brings you here? Please come in!"

The two walked arm in arm, appearing very close.

But they were all making plans in their minds.

Gongsun Zan thought: This kid is no ordinary person. His three hundred local militia are quite well-trained. I watched them train just now; their formation was rigorous, and their orders were strictly followed—they're even better than my county soldiers. And... the way he looked at my White Horse Cavalry was strange.

Liu Bei was thinking: Three hundred fine horses... If only I could get them... Ahem, calm down, calm down. Let's see what this senior brother is up to first.

II. Tests at the Dinner Table

The banquet was set out.

Gongsun Zan didn't stand on ceremony. He sat down and drank a cup of "Liehuo Shao" (a type of liquor). His eyes lit up: "Good wine! This is the famous 'Liehuo Shao' from Zhuo County?"

"It's homemade, I'm glad you like it, Senior Brother," Liu Bei said with a smile. "Someone, pack ten jars for Senior Brother to take away."

"How could I possibly accept that?" Gongsun Zan said politely, but did not refuse.

After several rounds of drinks, Gongsun Zan put down his wine cup and said seriously, "Xuande, your senior brother has come this time to discuss something."

"Please speak, senior brother."

"Although the Yellow Turban Rebellion has been quelled, the world is not yet at peace." Gongsun Zan sighed. "I am in Liaoxi, and you are in Zhuojun. We are both disciples of Lu Shi, so we should look after each other."

"What you say is true, senior brother." Liu Bei nodded. "I am new to this field and still need your guidance."

"It's not really a matter of mentoring," Gongsun Zan waved his hand. "But there really is an opportunity right now. The Wuhuan people have been quite restless lately, frequently raiding the border. I plan to send troops out after autumn to teach them a lesson. If you're interested, Junior Brother, you can come along."

Liu Bei's heart stirred.

Fight the Wuhuan?

Historically, Gongsun Zan did indeed rise to power by fighting against the Wuhuan, and through his military achievements against foreign tribes, he gradually became the overlord of Youzhou.

Inviting me to join them is ostensibly to take care of my junior brother, but is it really... to recruit me as a henchman? Or perhaps, to test my abilities?

"Since you have given your order, I will certainly obey." Liu Bei readily agreed. "How many troops are needed?"

"No need for much," Gongsun Zan said with a smile. "I know you just recruited three thousand new soldiers, and they're still training. How about this: you contribute one thousand, and I'll contribute three thousand. We'll join forces. The spoils will be divided according to the proportion of troops contributed, how about that?"

That sounds fair.

But Liu Bei knew it wasn't that simple.

The Wuhuan were a nomadic people who primarily fought with cavalry. Gongsun Zan had his White Horse Cavalry, which was highly mobile and would give him an advantage in battle. His own side consisted mostly of infantry, who would likely be cannon fodder or used to defend the camp.

And what spoils of war... what spoils could the Wuhuan people possibly have? Nothing more than cattle, sheep, and horses. Gongsun Zan would definitely take the lion's share of the horses; as for the cattle and sheep, they had to transport them all the way back themselves, and the losses were considerable.

"I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Senior Brother," Liu Bei said, raising his cup. "However..."

"But what?"

"However, I think that we may not need to wage a major war against the Wuhuan," Liu Bei smiled. "The Wuhuan raid our borders mainly for grain, cloth, salt, and iron. Instead of sending troops to conquer them, we should... do business with them."

Gongsun Zan was stunned: "Do business?"

"That's right." Liu Bei put down his wine cup. "The Wuhuan have horses, cattle, sheep, and furs. We have grain, cloth, salt, and iron. They used to rob us because the court prohibited border trade. But if we open up trade and let them legally buy what they want, why would they risk robbing us?"

"This..." Gongsun Zan frowned, "What about the imperial court..."

"Youzhou is far from the capital," Liu Bei said in a low voice. "My senior brother is in Liaoxi, and I am in Zhuojun. If our two families join forces, we can control the northern border trade of Youzhou. The Wuhuan people will have to go through us to buy grain; it will also be convenient for us to buy horses. The profits will be substantial. Moreover, the various Wuhuan tribes will fight among themselves for trade rights, and we will reap the benefits."

Gongsun Zan's eyes lit up.

He's good at fighting, but he's never thought about doing business.

"Junior Brother's idea... is interesting." Gongsun Zan pondered, "But the Wuhuan people are barbaric. What if they take the goods and don't pay..."

"So we need to set rules," Liu Bei laughed. "For the first batch of goods, we'll send people to escort them, and at the same time, we'll demonstrate our military strength—my senior brother's White Horse Cavalry will come in handy. Let them know that doing business with us will make money; but fighting with us will result in death."

"A show of force..." Gongsun Zan mused. "So, we still have to fight?"

"Fight, but only one." A cunning glint flashed in Liu Bei's eyes. "The Wuhuan are divided into five tribes. We'll pick the most disobedient one and beat it to a pulp. After we're done, we'll tell the other four tribes: 'See, this is what happens when you break the rules.' Then we'll do business with them, and we'll set the prices."

Gongsun Zan stared at Liu Bei for a long while.

He suddenly burst into laughter: "Xuande, Xuande, what's wrong with your brain? No wonder Master Lu praised you in his letter, saying you 'outwardly appear benevolent and righteous, inwardly harbor sharp wit,' it's absolutely true!"

"You flatter me, senior brother," Liu Bei said modestly. "I just feel that killing a thousand people while losing eight hundred of our own is not worth it. It's better to make money, raise an army, and strengthen ourselves."

"Well said!" Gongsun Zan slammed his hand on the table. "Then let's do it your way! But..."

He then changed the subject: "How should we split this business?"

"My senior brother will provide the cavalry, responsible for armed escort, to deter the Wuhuan, accounting for 40%." Liu Bei was well-prepared. "I will provide the goods, organize the caravans, and smooth things over, also accounting for 40%. The remaining 20%... will be used to bribe the court and local officials."

Gongsun Zan did some calculations.

Forty percent is quite a lot. And it doesn't even require real fighting; it's just a matter of taking the cavalry to the border to flex their muscles. Liu Bei provides the goods, and he bears the risks...

"Deal!" Gongsun Zan raised his cup.

The two clinked glasses.

After finishing his drink, Gongsun Zan casually asked, "By the way, junior brother, how are the equipment of your three thousand new troops? Do you need some help from your senior brother? I have an armory in Liaoxi..."

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother," Liu Bei smiled. "However, I have already taken care of the equipment."

"Oh?" Gongsun Zan raised an eyebrow. "Solved?"

"I recently quelled the Taiping Dao rebellion and obtained some spoils," Liu Bei said casually. "I also bought some iron from Bingzhou and forged some weapons and armor myself, which is barely enough for my needs."

In fact, his armory workshop had been in operation for three months.

Designed according to modern assembly line concepts, the workshop is five times more efficient than traditional workshops. It can now produce one hundred sets of armor, three hundred swords and spears, and fifty crossbows each month.

Although it is not as powerful as those major feudal lords, it is enough to deal with the Wuhuan.

A strange light flashed in Gongsun Zan's eyes.

He's farming for his own gear? This kid's got some big ambitions.

However, he didn't expose it, but simply smiled and said, "Junior brother is quite capable. Come, let's drink!"

III. Jian Yong's mouth is a deceitful devil.

After the banquet, Gongsun Zan stayed overnight.

Liu Bei arranged for him to stay in the best guest room and assigned two clever servants to attend to him.

After Gongsun Zan fell asleep, Liu Bei summoned Jian Yong to his study.

"Xianhe, I'm giving you a task."

"What mission?" Jian Yong's eyes lit up. "Do I have to trick Gongsun Zan?"

"Smart," Liu Bei laughed. "Tomorrow, you'll accompany Gongsun Zan around Zhuo County to demonstrate our strength—but not all of it. Also, try to get some information out of him and see how he treats the other governors of Youzhou."

"Understood!" Jian Yong rubbed his hands together. "I'm good at fooling people. But Xuande, how do you plan to deal with this senior brother? I don't think he's someone to be trifled with."

"Of course not." Liu Bei leaned back in his chair. "Gongsun Zan is ambitious and capable. He's polite to us now because we're useful. Once we're no longer useful, or become a threat to him..."

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

"Then why are you still cooperating with him?"

"Cooperation is temporary," Liu Bei said calmly. "We can't eat the whole cake of Youzhou by ourselves. Now we have Gongsun Zan, who can help us hold off the Wuhuan in the north and Gongsun Du in the east. Once we've absorbed southern Youzhou and our army is strong enough..."

He made a gesture.

Jian Yong understood: "When the birds are all gone, the bow is put away; when the rabbit is dead, the dog is cooked."

"No," Liu Bei shook his head, "I will leave him a way out. After all, we are fellow disciples, and we can't be too ruthless."

Looking at Liu Bei, Jian Yong suddenly realized that this young man, who was ten years younger than him, had a terrifyingly deep mind.

"Oh, right," Liu Bei remembered something, "tomorrow, take Gongsun Zan to see our military settlement. Remember, only take him to the best one."

Why?

"Let him know we have grain, but not how much," Liu Bei smiled. "Gongsun Zan is in Liaoxi, short of grain. Knowing we have grain will make him more willing to cooperate with us. But if he doesn't know the exact amount, he won't have any ulterior motives."

"I understand." Jian Yong said admiringly, "Xuande, you must have eight hundred cunning schemes in your mind, right?"

"Not much, just enough."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

IV. Zhang Fei's eighteen-foot spear was a bit too hasty.

The next morning, Zhang Fei blocked Liu Bei's door.

"Brother! You really want to cooperate with Gongsun Zan?" Zhang Fei asked indignantly. "The way that kid looked at me yesterday, like I was a country bumpkin! It made me so angry!"

Liu Bei, who was washing up, laughed upon hearing this and asked, "What kind of look is he giving you?"

"It's just..." Zhang Fei gestured, "looking down at me with a sidelong glance and a smile on his lips, as if to say: This is Zhang Fei? Nothing special."

"So, how do you feel about yourself?"

"Of course..." Zhang Fei suddenly stammered, "I... I'm indeed not as good as him now. His martial arts skills, and those three hundred White Horse Cavalry..."

"So," Liu Bei wiped his face, "we need time now. Gongsun Zan has soldiers, horses, and prestige; what do we have? Three thousand new recruits, a few hundred horses, and a nominal captain's rank. We can't win a head-on confrontation."

"That's still not allowed..."

"Can't what?" Liu Bei patted Zhang Fei on the shoulder. "Third brother, remember this: when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. But that bowing is only temporary. Once we've toughened up, we can lift the roof off anytime."

Zhang Fei seemed to understand but not quite: "When will that be?"

"Soon." Liu Bei looked towards the training ground. "Once our cavalry is trained, once our Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) troops are formed, once we have ten thousand elite soldiers..."

He turned to Zhang Fei and said, "When the time comes, however many white horses you want, I'll rob you as many as you need."

Zhang Fei's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Really," Liu Bei laughed. "But before that, you need to master your spear. I've had the blacksmith design a new spear for you; it should be finished soon."

"A new spear?" Zhang Fei asked excitedly. "What kind is it?"

"It is eighteen feet long, weighs sixty-three catties, has a blood groove on the spearhead, and the shaft can be disassembled," Liu Bei described. "This spear has a special feature: it is specifically designed to counter cavalry. When cavalry charges, you can pierce through both the rider and the horse with one thrust of the spear."

Zhang Fei was filled with excitement: "When will it be ready?"

"Next month," Liu Bei thought for a moment. "Oh, right, today you accompany Yun Chang and take Gongsun Zan to see our cavalry training. Remember, only show the basic formations, not the charging formations."

Why?

"We should keep something in reserve," Liu Bei said with a smile. "We can't reveal our trump card so soon."

Fifth, Gongsun Zan saw what he wanted to see.

Jian Yong accompanied Gongsun Zan on a day trip around Zhuo County.

I visited the wheat fields—the wheat was swaying in the breeze, growing very well.

I visited the armory—the furnaces were roaring and the craftsmen were busy at work.

I watched the local militia training – their formations were impeccable, and their battle cries were deafening.

The more Gongsun Zan looked, the more alarmed he became.

This Liu Bei, without making a sound, actually amassed such a fortune!

That military farm covers at least 2,000 mu (approximately 133 hectares), and judging by the wheat's growth, it should yield 300,000 jin (approximately 150 tons) of grain this year. That's enough to support 5,000 soldiers.

The armory was small in scale, but extremely efficient. He personally witnessed a craftsman forge a ring-pommel sword in half an hour—twice as fast as his own workshop.

The training of the local militia was even more remarkable. The infantry formations advanced and retreated with perfect discipline, the archers fired in unison with perfect precision, and there was even a cavalry squad of a hundred men, whose horses were of average quality but whose horsemanship was superb.

"Junior Brother Xuande, you are truly a man of great hidden talent," Gongsun Zan remarked.

"Not at all," Liu Bei said modestly. "These are just small-scale operations, nothing compared to my senior brother's White Horse Cavalry."

That's a sincere statement.

But Gongsun Zan felt that something was... off.

It seems like this junior brother is brewing up some amazing move?

In the evening, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei took Gongsun Zan to watch the cavalry training.

On the drill ground, a hundred cavalrymen are practicing.

Gongsun Zan was an expert and immediately saw the problem: the horses were of poor quality. They were all short Mongolian horses, no match for his tall white horse.

But the riders were quite skilled. They were adept at controlling their horses, maintained a neat formation, and were especially adept at the "stirrup stealth" maneuver, which almost everyone knew.

"Junior brother, how long have you been training your cavalry?" Gongsun Zan asked.

"Three months," Liu Bei answered truthfully.

Three months? Gongsun Zan was startled again.

It would take at least six months for his White Horse Cavalry to train to this level.

"How did you train?"

"Nothing special," Liu Bei laughed. "We just get plenty of pay, all the food is provided, and we train for six hours every day. If we train well, we get rewarded; if we don't, we get punished."

It sounds simple.

But Gongsun Zan knew that very few could do it.

Sufficient pay? Most troops were in arrears. Adequate rations? That was a pipe dream. Six hours of training a day? County soldiers were lucky to get two hours of training a day.

Liu Bei was quite skilled at managing his army.

"Junior brother," Gongsun Zan suddenly asked, "how much does it cost to feed your three thousand soldiers each month?"

"About... five hundred gold coins," Liu Bei said.

It was actually a thousand taels of gold. But he underestimated it by half.

Even so, Gongsun Zan was astonished.

Five hundred gold coins! His White Horse Cavalry had three hundred men, which would only cost three hundred gold coins a month. Liu Bei had three thousand soldiers, and only wanted five hundred gold coins? How did he manage that?

"What's your secret, junior brother?"

"We'll be frugal and meticulous," Liu Bei said vaguely. "We'll grow our own grain and forge our own weapons, saving wherever we can."

Gongsun Zan was skeptical.

But he didn't ask any more questions.

Asking too many questions can hurt feelings.

VI. The deal is done, but it's not just about the business.

On the third day, Gongsun Zan was leaving.

Before leaving, he and Liu Bei formally signed a "border trade cooperation agreement".

According to the agreement: Liu Bei would provide the goods and organize the caravan; Gongsun Zan would provide the cavalry and be responsible for escorting them; the profits would be split 40/40, with the remaining 20% ​​used to bribe the various parties.

After signing and stamping the document, Gongsun Zan said casually, "Junior brother, there's something I need to remind you of."

"Please speak, senior brother."

"Youzhou is not a peaceful place," Gongsun Zan said in a low voice. "Besides the Wuhuan, there are two other people you need to be careful of."

"Who?"

"Gongsun Du and Liu Yu," Gongsun Zan said. "Gongsun Du is in Liaodong, where he commands a large army and harbors ambitions of secession. Liu Yu is the governor of Youzhou, appointed by the court, but he is... too kind and cannot control his subordinates."

Liu Bei nodded: "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."

"We are brothers, and we should look out for each other." Gongsun Zan patted Liu Bei on the shoulder. "If anything happens in Youzhou in the future, feel free to come to me."

"must."

After seeing Gongsun Zan off, Liu Bei returned to his study and spread out a map.

Jian Yong leaned closer: "Xuande, what...what does Gongsun Zan mean by that?"

"That means there are three forces in Youzhou right now," Liu Bei said, pointing to the map. "Gongsun Du in Liaodong, Gongsun Zan in Liaoxi, and Liu Yu in Ji County. We are in Zhuojun, which is the fourth force."

"Then let's..."

"We are the weakest," Liu Bei frankly admitted. "That's why Gongsun Zan cooperated with us—the weak are easy to control. Once we become strong, his attitude will change."

"What should we do then?"

"Leverage their influence." Liu Bei's finger moved across the map. "Use Gongsun Zan's influence to deal with the Wuhuan and open up border trade. Use Liu Yu's name to develop in southern Youzhou. Once we're strong enough..."

He paused, then said, "Turn the three strands into one."

Jian Yong gasped: "You want to absorb them?"

"It's not about annexing, it's about integrating," Liu Bei corrected. "Youzhou is vast and sparsely populated, and it's fragmented, so no one can develop properly. Only by unifying it can we contend with the warlords of the Central Plains."

"But Gongsun Zan..."

"Gongsun Zan is a fierce general, but not a wise ruler," Liu Bei commented. "He is too arrogant and looks down on scholars. He can only win the hearts of his soldiers, not the hearts of the people. Moreover... he has killed too many people, and the Wuhuan hate him to the bone. Sooner or later, he will turn against him."

"What about Liu Yu?"

"Liu Yu is a good man, but good men don't live long in chaotic times." Liu Bei shook his head. "He is too benevolent, always appeasing the foreign tribes and lenient with his subordinates. He can't control those arrogant and unruly soldiers in Youzhou."

Jian Yong looked at Liu Bei: "So you think..."

"I think Youzhou needs a new master," Liu Bei said with a smile, "someone who understands both military and political affairs; who can fight battles and govern the country; who wins the hearts of both the soldiers and the people."

"You are this person?"

"Not yet," Liu Bei said soberly, "but it will be soon."

He put away the map: "Xianhe, get ready. The caravan is setting off next month. This time, you will lead it yourself."

"Me?" Jian Yong pointed to himself. "I'm going to Wuhuan?"

"Yes." Liu Bei nodded. "Didn't you say you're good at deceiving people? Go and fool all the Wuhuan tribes. Remember, our goal isn't a one-time deal, but long-term control over Wuhuan trade."

"How do you control it?"

"Divide, win over, and suppress," Liu Bei advised. "For those obedient tribes, offer low prices and good goods. For those disobedient ones, raise prices or simply refuse to sell. Let them fight amongst themselves, and we'll be the referees."

Jian Yong's eyes lit up: "I'm good at this!"

"Also," Liu Bei added, "keep an eye out for good horses from the Wuhuan. If they do, buy them at any cost. Our cavalry needs a replacement."

"clear!"

VII. The First Appearance of the Mo Dao Team

Three days after Jian Yong set off, Liu Bei's new weapon was successfully tested.

On the drill ground, a hundred strong men, each over eight feet tall, stood in a row, each holding a strange long sword.

The knife is seven feet long, with a blade three feet long and a handle four feet long. It is double-edged and has a thick, heavy blade.

This is the "Han Mo Dao" designed by Liu Bei based on the Tang Dynasty Mo Dao.

"My lord, is this the... Mo Dao team you mentioned?" Zou Jing looked at the broadswords with some doubt. "Aren't these swords too long? Won't they be too inflexible for infantry?"

"We'll see when we try." Liu Bei nodded to the centurion leading the group. "Begin!"

The centurion shouted, "Modao squad! Advance!"

One hundred strong men stepped forward at the same time.

"Raise your sword!"

One hundred longswords were raised simultaneously, gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

"cut!"

A hundred knives slashed down at the same time!

"boom--"

The blade struck the wooden stake, which was as thick as a bowl, and snapped in two!

It wasn't cut off, it was smashed off!

Zou Jing gasped.

This power...

"Again!" Liu Bei commanded.

The Mo Dao team changed formation, from a horizontal line to a vertical line.

Ahead were fifty straw men clad in leather armor—simulated light cavalry.

"The Mo Dao Team! Charge!"

The strong men planted their knife handles on the ground, blades facing forward, forming a wall of knives.

"Cavalry charge!" Liu Bei commanded.

Although there were no real horses, the soldiers playing the roles of cavalrymen still charged forward.

Then, they stopped in front of the Mo Dao formation.

I dare not rush in.

Those densely packed blades meant certain death if you charged in.

"Did you see that?" Liu Bei said to Zou Jing. "The Mo Dao team specializes in defeating cavalry. When cavalry charges, one slash and they're cut in two, man and horse."

"But..." Zou Jing hesitated, "This sword is too heavy, and it's slow to swing. What if the cavalry fires arrows..."

"Therefore, the Mo Dao (陌刀) unit needs to be equipped with shield bearers and crossbowmen." Liu Bei was prepared. "A three-layer formation: the first layer is shields, the second layer is Mo Dao, and the third layer is crossbowmen. When the cavalry charges, use crossbowmen to shoot first, and then use Mo Dao to cut them when they get close. The shields protect the Mo Dao bearers."

Zou Jing imagined the scene, and his eyes lit up.

"My lord, this formation... is truly marvelous!"

"Not good enough." Liu Bei shook his head. "The biggest problem with the Mo Dao team is that they are too difficult to train. We need to find tall and strong men, train them to cooperate seamlessly, and equip them with the best armor—after all, they are at the forefront."

"So, what do we do now..."

"Train these hundred men first," Liu Bei said, looking at the burly men. "Train them into the elite of the elite. In the future, this will be our trump card."

Just then, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei arrived.

Both of them were stunned when they saw the Mo Dao team.

"Brother, what is this...?" Zhang Fei's eyes widened.

"The Mo Dao team," Liu Bei explained simply.

Guan Yu circled the Mo Dao (陌刀) team once, then suddenly asked, "Brother, can I use this sword?"

Liu Bei laughed: "You can give it a try."

Guan Yu took the longsword and weighed it in his hand—it weighed about thirty pounds, which wasn't heavy for him.

He brandished it a few times, his brow furrowing slightly. "It's a good knife, but... it's not suitable for me. Too heavy, too clumsy."

"It wasn't originally intended for you," Liu Bei laughed. "You're a fierce general charging into battle, where agility is key. The Mo Dao troops are for formation warfare, where power and discipline are essential."

Zhang Fei also tried it, and shook his head as well: "I'm not used to it. I still prefer my serpent spear."

"Each has its own strengths." Liu Bei sheathed his Mo Dao. "Yun Chang, Yi De, you are the spearhead, meant to tear through the enemy's defenses. The Mo Dao team is the iron wall, meant to hold back the enemy's charge. Our roles are different."

Guan Yu nodded: "Understood."

He looked at the hundred swordsmen and suddenly said, "Brother, let me train these men."

"you?"

"Although I don't use the Mo Dao (陌刀), I do know swordsmanship," Guan Yu said earnestly. "I can teach them techniques for generating power, so they can conserve their energy."

Liu Bei thought for a moment and said, "Alright. Then I'll leave them to you. Remember, don't train them like ordinary soldiers; train them as potential officers. These people will be the backbone of the grassroots in the future."

"clear."

8. The news from Luoyang is a bit bad.

Half a month after Jian Yong set off, news came from Luoyang.

This is not good news.

"My lord, something terrible has happened at court." Qian Zhao rushed in, his face grave. "His Majesty... is seriously ill."

Liu Bei paused, pen in hand: "When did this happen?"

"Three days ago. News is being blocked in Luoyang, but our people there still managed to spread it." Qian Zhao lowered his voice. "It's said that His Majesty is no longer able to govern, and the court is now controlled by He Jin and the Ten Attendants, and the two sides are fighting fiercely."

Liu Bei put down his pen and walked to the window.

Emperor Ling fell seriously ill... two years earlier than in history.

The butterfly effect is becoming increasingly apparent.

"Furthermore," Qian Zhao continued, "He Jin is recruiting troops from outside the capital, and it is said that he has already given secret orders to Ding Yuan of Bingzhou and Dong Zhuo of Liangzhou."

Foreign troops enter Beijing...

Liu Bei felt a chill run down his spine.

This is going to be a big problem.

Historically, He Jin summoned troops from outside the capital, but was killed by eunuchs. Then Dong Zhuo entered the capital, deposed and installed emperors, and the country was thrown into chaos.

Now, this process has been accelerated.

"My lord, what should we do?" Qian Zhao asked.

"Let's wait and see." Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then ordered his men in Luoyang to closely monitor the situation and report back promptly. Also... have Xianhe expedite the process; the border trade needs to yield profits as soon as possible.

"yes!"

After Qian Zhao left, Liu Bei stood alone in front of the map.

Emperor Ling is seriously ill, He Jin is embroiled in a power struggle with the eunuchs, and foreign troops are about to enter the capital...

Chaos is truly on its way.

And it arrived faster than expected.

His current strength is not enough.

Three thousand new soldiers, one hundred Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword), two hundred cavalry... This meager strength is insufficient compared to the tens of thousands of troops commanded by the warlords of the Central Plains.

We need to speed things up.

"Someone come here," Liu Bei summoned his personal guards. "Go and fetch Zijing."

The summons arrived quickly.

"Zijing, I'm giving you a task." Liu Bei looked at him, "Take five hundred men and go to the State of Zhongshan."

"The State of Zhongshan? What for?"

"Suppress the bandits." Liu Bei pointed to the map. "The Zhongshan Kingdom is vast and sparsely populated, and bandits roam freely. Go and suppress the bandits, and at the same time... recruit refugees. Remember, they should be able-bodied young men, and it would be even better if they had families with them. Tell them to come to Zhuojun, where they will be allocated land and exempted from taxes for three years."

"Isn't this... a bit too generous?"

"With chaos looming, population is the foundation," Liu Bei said in a deep voice. "Zhongshan is the northernmost state of Ji Province, and the closest to us. While the other warlords haven't reacted yet, let's seize as much as we can."

"Understood!" Qian Zhao accepted the order.

"Also," Liu Bei added, "keep an eye out for talented people in the State of Zhongshan. I've heard there's a man there named Liu Deran, who is my kinsman. Find him and invite him to Zhuojun."

"yes!"

After Qian Zhao left, Liu Bei summoned Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

"Yun Chang, Yi De, you'll have a tough few months ahead."

"Brother, just give the orders!" Zhang Fei patted his chest.

"Train the troops." Liu Bei looked at them. "Within three months, I need three thousand new soldiers, all of whom must meet the standards of combat soldiers. Archers must be able to hit a target from a hundred paces away, infantry must be able to fight in formation, and cavalry must be able to charge into battle."

"Three months?" Guan Yu frowned. "That's a bit tight."

"I know," Liu Bei nodded. "That's why we need to increase the intensity of training. Starting tomorrow, all the troops will cancel their rest days and will train three times a day. Food rations will be doubled, pay will be doubled, but the assessment standards will also be doubled. Those who fail will be eliminated."

"What happens if it's phased out?"

"Convert them into auxiliary troops, or settle them in the fields." Liu Bei was very realistic. "We are raising elite troops, not a rabble."

"Understood." Guan Yu nodded. "I will strictly control the process."

"Yide," Liu Bei said, looking at Zhang Fei, "your task is even more important. I want you to train a heavy infantry force of five hundred men within three months. They will be clad in heavy armor, wielding large shields, and equipped with short spears, specifically to defeat cavalry."

"Heavy infantry?" Zhang Fei scratched his head. "Brother, don't we already have the Mo Dao (陌刀) unit?"

"The Mo Dao troops are offensive, while the heavy infantry are defensive," Liu Bei explained. "In the future, when we attack cities and seize strongholds, the heavy infantry will lead the charge. When we defend cities and camps, the heavy infantry will guard the front line."

"Got it!" Zhang Fei exclaimed excitedly, "I'm good at this!"

After arranging everything, Liu Bei stood alone on the training ground.

Three thousand soldiers are training, their battle cries shaking the heavens.

But he knew that wasn't enough.

Far from enough.

Chaos is approaching, and warlords are rising up. To survive and thrive in this chaotic world, one needs greater strength, more territory, and more talented individuals.

"My lord," Zou Jing appeared beside him unnoticed, "What are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking... we're still moving too slowly," Liu Bei said with a wry smile. "Time waits for no one."

"My lord has done a great job," Zou Jing comforted him. "In just one year, from three hundred local militia to three thousand new soldiers, plus the Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) team and the cavalry team... no one in Youzhou can match this speed."

"No one in Youzhou can compare, but what about the Central Plains?" Liu Bei shook his head. "Yuan Shao has already amassed 30,000 troops in Jizhou. Cao Cao is also recruiting soldiers in Chenliu. Sun Jian is in Changsha, dominating Jingnan... Our resources are insufficient."

Zou Jing remained silent.

Indeed, compared to those powerful warlords, Liu Bei's strength was truly insignificant.

"So," Liu Bei took a deep breath, "we have to take a different path."

"What road?"

"The path to an elite army." Liu Bei's eyes gleamed. "The value of an army lies in its quality, not its quantity. Since we have fewer soldiers, we must ensure that each one is worth ten. Our equipment must be better than theirs, our training stronger, and our morale higher. In this way, three thousand can be as effective as thirty thousand."

"But that requires money..."

"The money will come." Liu Bei looked north. "Xianhe went to Wuhuan this time to make money. Wuhuan has horses and furs. If we transport them to the Central Plains, we can make ten times the profit."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Besides, we have other ways to make money."

"What are your sources of income?"

"Salt," Liu Bei uttered the word. "Youzhou is by the sea, so we can boil salt. I've already sent people to survey the Bohai Bay. Once we find a suitable location, we'll build saltworks. The profits from salt and iron have always been enormous."

Zou Jing's eyes lit up: "My lord is truly insightful!"

"That's not enough." Liu Bei turned around. "Come on, come with me somewhere."

"Where to?"

"Ji County." A sharp glint flashed in Liu Bei's eyes. "Go and see our governor, Lord Liu Yu."

It's time to have a serious talk with this "benevolent" governor.

How should this piece of cake, Youzhou, be divided?

There needs to be an explanation.

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