Liu Bei: My younger brother is a deity.

Liu Quan's words were obviously meant to appease Zhang Fei.

He was willing to take Zhang Yue as his wife, but Cai Wan would definitely be the principal wife, in charge of the household affairs and managing the family matters; this was something that would never be changed.

Otherwise, wouldn't the house be in chaos?

As for Zhang Yue...

If she is sensible and willing to remain a concubine, he will treat her with the respect due to a wife, giving her dignity and honor, and ensuring she has everything she needs.

If you don't want to be subordinate to others... that's simple, just set up a separate residence.

"It's up to Yue Niang to choose." Liu Quan's lips curled up slightly as he lightly flicked non-existent dust off his sleeve.

Ultimately, what women care about most is nothing more than status, favor, and a stable life.

In order to pursue Cai Wan, he studied the ways of men and women with Pangu for a long time. Putting aside other things, he believed that his knowledge and skills in dealing with women were already quite superb.

Although Yue Niang had a fiery temper, she was not unreasonable and should have known the benefits of her family marrying Cai's daughter.

As long as you reason with her and offer her benefits, and gently coax and persuade her, you won't have to worry about her not complying.

As a transmigrated android, Liu Quan was actually somewhat indifferent to the humans of this world.

Life and death, separation and reunion, love and hate, all kinds of emotions, in his view are nothing more than fluctuations in the chemical hormones in his body.

He can laugh when needed, get angry when needed, and show his loyalty and righteousness when needed...

But most of those emotions are acted out; they are pre-planned social maneuvers.

Ah Bei was the only exception.

Only the chubby boy who brought him home held a very special place in his heart.

As for the others—Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Liu Deran, and even Liu Shi and Liu Yuanqi—he only dealt with them incidentally because of his relationship with A Bei.

Whether they are happy or sad, to him it is nothing more than a social game that needs to be handled properly.

We should coax those who need to be coaxed, deceive those who need to be deceived, and give those who need to be given sweet treats. As long as it doesn't ruin our own plans for Abei's future, it doesn't matter.

As Liu Quan thought of this, a slight smile appeared on his lips.

His smile was gentle and refined, making him appear to be a true gentleman to anyone who saw him.

But that was just Liu Quan's highly skilled expression management.

March has arrived.

For some unknown reason, news suddenly spread in Luoyang that Liu Quan had angrily rebuked Yuan Shu at the White Horse Temple and rescued a beauty.

Even Yuan Shu, who was confined to his home reflecting on his mistakes, heard the news.

Yuan Shu was furious, slamming his fist on the table and cursing, "You little brat! You damned little brat!"

He was convinced that Liu Quan had deliberately publicized the matter to humiliate him, and his resentment grew even stronger.

However, Liu Quan himself was quite surprised by this: "Who spread this rumor? Was it those three women, or Yuan Shu's guards?"

In Yuan Shao's residence.

Xu You looked at He Yong and whispered, "Bo Qiu, won't this expose our spies planted around Yuan Shu?"

He Yong smiled slightly: "It's alright. I know Yuan Shu well; he's stubborn and self-willed, and will surely think that Young Master Yu is just boasting about his achievements. By the way—"

He hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Have you written to inform Benchu ​​about the matter of the Jade Gentleman?"

Xu You nodded: "The letter has already been sent. By now, Yuan Shao may have already read it."

Yuan Shao, far away in his old home in Ruyang County, put down the bamboo slips in his hand and softly uttered a name: "Liu Quan, Liu Yuangu."

Xu You suddenly asked, "Bo Qiu, you seem to think quite highly of this young man from Youzhou?"

He Yong said solemnly, "This young man has only been in Luoyang for a few months, yet he has already made a name for himself among scholars, found a good teacher, married a woman from the Cai family, and established himself in less than a year. These achievements are nothing short of legendary."

"When he enters officialdom through the recommendation of filial piety and integrity, with the connections he has built up, he may have the opportunity to rise to the rank of two thousand shi. If we can win him over to Yuan Shao's side, he could be a great help in the future."

"Two thousand shi? A great help?" Xu You looked surprised.

Although he knew that He Yong valued Liu Quan, he did not expect him to think so highly of him.

Today is the day that Liu Bei and his two brothers, along with Zhang Fei, are moving.

After becoming Liu Kuan's apprentice, Liu Quan urged Liu Bei to find a house in Luoyang, whether to rent or buy, so that he could have a place to stay in Luoyang.

This also made it easier for them to socialize with the scholars in Luoyang...

Fortunately, the Liu family is not short of money these days.

Liu Bei sold several of the horses he had brought from Youzhou, and with the money he had brought, he bought a house of moderate size in the east of Luoyang.

When they moved, Han Yue and Fu Xie both came to help.

Gongsun Zan did not arrive; it is said that he took his two younger brothers to hunt in the Funiu Mountains.

Liu Bei, Liu Deran, and Zhang Fei couldn't figure it out.

Liu Quan, however, noticed the change in Gongsun Zan's attitude.

After the incident at Baima Temple spread, Gongsun Zan visited less frequently than before.

On such an important occasion as moving, he refused to come, citing that he had already promised to take his younger brothers hunting in the Funiu Mountains.

hunt?

That's a lie.

Liu Quan's lips curled slightly, and he sneered inwardly: "This Gongsun Bogui, who is described in history as 'arrogant and stubborn,' seems to be quite capable of judging the situation after all."

In the original history, Gongsun Zan later formed a military alliance with Yuan Shu.

While shared interests certainly played a role, it was probably not just interests that convinced Yuan Shu, that arrogant and haughty man, to agree to the alliance.

It would be more reasonable to say that Gongsun Zan had a prior relationship with Yuan Shu and had secretly colluded with him while in Luoyang.

"Could it be..." Liu Quan raised an eyebrow, "that's when you got involved?"

He thought about it again and wasn't surprised.

Gongsun Zan was able to dominate the north during the chaotic times, but that was not because of his uprightness.

Assessing the situation and acting accordingly, while also maximizing benefits and minimizing harm, are essential.

Now that he is too influential in Luoyang, he has clashed with the eldest son of the Yuan family.

If Gongsun Zan were to establish a relationship with Yuan Shu, it would be a wise move to temporarily avoid conflict and distance himself from him.

"That's fine too!" Liu Quan smiled.

Gongsun Zan's base of operations is in Youzhou, and A Bei's base of operations is also in Youzhou, so they are bound to clash in the future.

Abei is too sentimental. If he could learn Gongsun Zan's true colors sooner, he would be able to act more freely in the future.

Thinking this, Liu Quan walked toward Liu Bei.

Zhang Fei is directing his troops to move things.

Liu Bei, Han Yue, and Fu Xie were chatting and laughing under the eaves when he saw Liu Quan coming over. He waved and said, "Quan, you've come at the right time. Wen Yue was just talking about the border affairs in Liangzhou, and it made my heart pound."

Liu Quan laughed and said, "Then I'll have to listen carefully."

…………

In the Funiu Mountains.

Gongsun Zan drew his bow and shot an arrow, but missed and the arrow stuck obliquely in the ground.

At the same time, another arrow flew out from the side, hitting the deer in the neck. The fawn struggled for a few steps and then fell to the ground.

Gongsun Fan's face lit up with joy. He quickly took two steps and headed straight for his hunted prey.

Gongsun Yue looked at Gongsun Zan with surprise, thinking to himself, "My elder brother is not focused today; he has already missed several shots."

So he asked, "Brother, you seem to have something on your mind? Could it be because of your estrangement from the Liu brothers?"

Gongsun Zan sighed and slowly said, "Because Yuan Gu and Yuan Gonglu had fallen out, I deliberately distanced myself from the Liu brothers... A-Yue, did I... did I do something wrong?"

Gongsun Yue thought to himself, "I advised my elder brother before, but he wouldn't listen; now he regrets it."

He said, "Brother, things have come to this point, there's no need to think about it anymore. Maintaining our friendship with Yuan Gonglu is not wrong."

"After all, the Yuan family had held high office for four generations, and their disciples and former officials were all over the country. Their power and influence were far beyond what the Liu brothers could match."

"If my elder brother wishes to accomplish great things in the future, the Yuan family's assistance will certainly far surpass that of the Liu family."

Gongsun Zan exhaled a heavy breath, as if trying to dispel all the doubts and hesitations in his heart.

He then threw his head back and laughed loudly, saying, "Ah Yue is right! Things have come to this, there's no point in thinking about it anymore. Besides—"

He paused, a smug look on his face, "Given the Liu brothers' family background, my willingness to associate with them is already a condescending act of humility and lowering myself. When I return to Youzhou, I'll visit them again; how dare they not greet me with smiles?!"