He originally intended to surrender to Wei, so why did he end up restoring Han?

Lu Wan's plan can be summed up in one word: perfect.

He didn't bring out the curved plow just to curry favor with the powerful families of Xuzhou.

Show this to Chen Deng first. Such an excellent production tool will surely attract him, and the Chen family will be able to use the curved plow sooner because of their proximity to the source.

This move was intended to send a single message: the better the relationship with Liu Bei, the more profitable it would be.

Although Lu Wan really wanted to emulate Er Zhu Rong and hold a diving competition in Xuzhou, the powerful families nowadays almost monopolized knowledge, and after eliminating these people, it would be difficult to find even a literate person.

Since we can't eliminate them all, we should learn from the excellent experiences of our predecessors: win over some, divide some, and suppress some.

As for powerful figures, Lu Wan felt that the suppression should be even more intense.

The powerful families and the local magnates were mutually beneficial and symbiotic. The powerful families provided economic support to the powerful families, and the powerful families helped the local magnates obtain official positions and status.

Directly attacking the powerful clans would easily arouse their suspicion and lead to a counterattack, ultimately causing all efforts to be in vain. Moreover, Lu Wan was planning to work for Cao Cao, and provoking the powerful clans too much would not have a good impact.

But the powerful clans are different. They are discriminated against by aristocratic families because of their lower status. The reason they can exist is because they control land and population, and can continuously produce and supply aristocratic families.

Of course, this doesn't mean that aristocratic families no longer have land, but rather that no one would complain about having too much grain in their hands.

Most importantly, compared to aristocratic families, powerful clans are easier to deal with. Eliminating powerful clans becomes the most basic and simplest step in weakening aristocratic families.

Lu Wan thought to herself: Now it's hard for Cao Cao not to notice me. I'm so smart.

He then bid farewell to Liu Bei and the others, and returned to continue thinking about how to persuade the powerful clans to willingly relinquish their land and people.

--------

The news of Liu Bei's annihilation of Yuan Shu's main army spread like wildfire throughout the states of Guandong.

The first to receive this good news was Yuan Shu, the victim.

Shouchun City, Jiujiang Prefecture

Although there were many people standing in the room, there was no other sound. Although it was already autumn, everyone's face was covered with a layer of oily sweat, but no one dared to wipe it off. In the huge space, only a civil official in front of Yuan Shu was whispering something.

"In the south, Lei Bo and Li Feng's troops have already reached the Guangling Tangyi area." Yang Hong pointed on the map, indicating the location to Yuan Shu.

Yuan Shu nodded: "Very good. As long as Ji Ling holds on, everything will be alright."

Although Yuan Shu has not yet officially declared himself emperor, his men have already begun to change their titles.

"Your Majesty... Ji Ling, he..." Yang Hong's voice suddenly trembled.

Seeing Yang Hong stammering like this, Yan Xiang had no choice but to be blunt: "General Ji Ling did not hold his ground and wait for reinforcements, but retreated towards the Sishui River."

"Phew—" Yuan Shu let out a long breath, covered his face and said, "Yang Hong, Yan Xiang and Yuan Yin stay here, everyone else leave."

The crowd, who had long been tormented by the oppressive atmosphere, felt as if they had been granted a pardon upon hearing these words and quickly left the hall.

The three people who remained inside were already drenched in sweat. They had spent a long time with Yuan Shu and knew that their lord was on the verge of exploding with rage.

Yuan Shu gently put down the map in his hand, and the next second, an angry voice rushed towards the three of them.

"This is an order! It's an order for Ji Ling to hold his ground! How can he ignore my order!"

"All the troops are lying to me! Even the Tiger Infantry!"

"These generals are all disloyal and cowardly!"

Yan Xiang wanted to say a few more words in defense of others: "Your Majesty, what you said is too hurtful!"

"I'll hurt your horse's head!"

Yuan Shu stood up and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"You people have only studied for a few years and yet you call yourselves capable ministers and generals. In reality, all you've learned is how to eat with chopsticks."

"For so many years, all you've done is hold me back!"

"I should have executed all these bastards long ago, like that traitor Dong Zhuo!"

Having vented his resentment, discontent, and barely perceptible fear, Yuan Shu seemed drained of all his strength, and he sat back down in his seat. He murmured:

"All orders are being ignored; how am I supposed to lead like this?"

He listlessly rolled up the map on the table and tossed it aside, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps to the three of them:

"It's over. You can do whatever you want now."

Having said that, Yuan Shu staggered to his feet and walked out of the hall. Perhaps Heaven felt that Yuan Shu hadn't suffered enough shock today, because a young eunuch hurriedly ran to Yuan Shu, knelt down, and cried out in a pitiful voice, "Your Majesty! General Ji, he..."

"What's wrong with him?"

"General Ji and General Liang have been captured alive, and our army... our entire army has been wiped out!"

At that moment, everyone felt as if a century had passed, yet as fleeting as an instant. With his last breath, Yuan Shu shouted, "Ji Ling!!! Give me back my legion!!!"

After saying this, he vomited several mouthfuls of blood and fainted, causing chaos among Yuan Shu's high command.

Then there's Lü Bu, who's stationed in Xiaopei. He can now sit up and drink wheat porridge.

"The entire army was wiped out?" Lu Bu stared wide-eyed at Chen Gong.

Chen Gong nodded, his expression somewhat bitter.

He had just sent a letter to Yuan Shu not long ago, subtly indicating that he wanted to switch sides and join Yuan Shu's side. Now that the salary and benefits had been agreed upon, why is his new employer suddenly going to fall through?

Could it really be my fault, Chen Gong? Whoever I vote for is doomed?

Lost in his own world, Chen Gong didn't see that Lü Bu's expression grew increasingly agitated, his smile becoming ever more radiant: "Now that Yuan Shu's power has been greatly diminished and Liu Bei's army is waning, it's time for us to reap the benefits!"

Chen Gong: "?"

"Gongtai, what are you standing there for? Quickly gather the generals! Let's march on Huainan and take a big city to have some fun. This Xiaopei is no place for humans; there are hardly any people here."

Chen Gong could only sigh and think, "Fine, I'd better stay obediently under Lü Bu's command."

He bowed respectfully and said, "I will obey the orders of Marquis Wen." He then turned and dispatched a messenger to the Bingzhou garrison.

Xu County, Yuzhou

"I never expected that this straw sandal seller would be such a good fighter." Cao Cao smiled slightly after seeing the message from his old friend.

Although Cao Cao and Liu Bei had already clashed on the battlefield, Cao Cao still privately acknowledged Liu Bei as his old comrade-in-arms who had recruited soldiers together.

Cao Cao said in a strange tone, "First quell the internal strife, then expel the enemy. It seems Liu Bei has capable men under his command."

Xi Zhicai is currently serving as Cao Cao's military advisor, responsible for intelligence gathering. He is reporting the intelligence he has gathered about Lu Wan to Cao Cao.

"According to reports from spies, Liu Bei recently recruited a strategist named Lu Wan, and it is likely that the plan to destroy Ji Ling was mostly devised by this person."

The record says that this person only arrived in Liu Bei's army last month and has been living in seclusion ever since. However, once he makes a move, he wipes out the generals of Danyang in Xuzhou and even unites the powerful families of Xuzhou to oppose our army.

Now, having decisively defeated Yuan Shu, his abilities are truly remarkable.

"I never expected that such a virtuous scholar would exist in Xuzhou..."

Cao Cao paced slowly with his hands behind his back, saying, "Such a talent has been wasted on Liu Bei."

He clicked his tongue twice, composed himself, and ordered, "Keep a close eye on Xuzhou. Report any moves Liu Bei makes to me."