The imperial cause at the end of the Han Dynasty was not one of partial peace.

After returning victorious and rewarding the troops, Liu Bei ordered the army to set up camp. He himself, along with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Jian Yong, Qian Zhao, Tian Yu, and more than ten other core military officers, went to pay their respects to the prefectural government.

The main hall of the prefectural government is decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers today, and the curtains are brand new.

The corridors and pavilions are adorned with bronze vessels, and the courtyard displays a set of chime bells. These are all ritual objects from the prefectural treasury, which are not used except for grand ceremonies.

Liu Bei led his men into the hall and paid their respects according to etiquette.

With a broad smile, Liu He rose from his seat and descended the steps, personally taking Liu Bei's hand and leading him to the head seat on his left—the seat of honor for a distinguished guest in the prefecture.

Liu Bei declined several times before finally taking his seat, and Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others sat down in turn.

The waiters filed out a lacquered table, which was set out with seasonal delicacies such as roasted venison, sashimi, steamed pork, and leek roe. The wine served was clear fermented liquor, and the vessels were all lacquered cups and bronze goblets, a setting befitting the reception of distinguished guests from the prefecture and county.

After several rounds of drinks, Liu He, holding his wine cup, laughed and said, "Xuande, you were entrusted with this mission a month ago in a time of crisis. Leading a small army, you braved the blades and within ten days cleared the borders of the prefecture, securing the neighboring territory of Nan'an. Your achievements are immense! I wonder how many enemies you have captured? And how much hardship your soldiers have endured, and how heavy the casualties have been?"

Liu Bei cupped his hands and calmly replied, "Thanks to Your Excellency's strategic planning, the soldiers' valiant efforts, and Your Majesty's great fortune, we have fortunately fulfilled our mission."

"We have defeated more than 10,000 bandits, killed 37 leaders and chiefs, and taken in more than 1,400 of them. We selected 500 of the strongest and most capable to join the army."

"We recaptured Fanyang and Gu'an, and leveled more than ten fortifications. We captured ninety-three horses, and the armor, weapons, and provisions were countless. Our army suffered forty-seven dead and more than one hundred wounded, all of whom have been generously compensated."

Upon hearing this, Liu He clapped his hands in praise: "Xuande is truly a reincarnation of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi! With a force of just over a thousand, he defeated ten thousand bandits and recovered the county, suffering no more than a hundred casualties himself. Such a feat is comparable even to the military exploits of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing!"

"What's even more remarkable is that whenever he conquers a new place, he always pacifies the people, disperses those who were coerced, and his reputation for benevolence spreads far and wide. The elders in the southern part of the prefecture have already expressed their desire to build a shrine in his honor!"

As he spoke, he took out a roll of silk from under his desk and slowly unfurled it; it was a copy of the victory report submitted to the court.

"Upon hearing the frequent reports of victory, I was overjoyed and three days ago dispatched a fast horse with an urgent 600-li mile delivery to send this report directly to the Imperial Secretariat in Luoyang, so that it may reach the Emperor's ears!"

He pointed to a passage in the text and read it to Liu Bei: "...Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation and bow my head twice: Zhuojun is fortunate to have Your Majesty's divine might. Although the treacherous rebels Cheng Yuanzhi and others have been causing trouble for ten months, I have been vigilant day and night and have sent officials to investigate the traitors. Furthermore, the generals and soldiers of the prefecture and county have been able to serve with their lives."

"Now, the bandit Cao Liu Bei, leading the soldiers and righteous men of the prefecture, joined forces with the troops of Colonel Zou of Youzhou to launch a fierce attack. They won one battle after another, beheading more than ten thousand, and the prefecture is now pacified..."

Thinking of this, he looked up at Liu Bei, as if he regarded him as a trusted confidant, and said, "Xuande, please look, in my memorial, I have already described your merits in great detail and in full!"

"Upon reading this report of victory, the Emperor, knowing that Zhuojun possesses such a loyal, brave, and talented individual as Liu Bei, how could he not be overjoyed and promote him beyond the usual ranks?"

Then he lowered his voice and said, "Xuande, in my opinion, after this great achievement, you will no longer be a mere county official. You may return the seal of 'Supervisor of Southern Bandits' to the Chief Clerk, and my nephew will temporarily take over it."

"Xuande, please rest assured and await the imperial decree. In my estimation, good news will arrive within ten months at the latest! At that time, Xuande will either become a county magistrate or a county assistant, thus becoming a local official and no longer a mere clerk. Moving about in official robes will be a fitting reward for your great talent!"

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent.

Guan Yu slammed his wine cup heavily on the table, spilling wine. His phoenix eyes snapped open, and he stared at Liu He with a foolish and dignified expression.

Zhang Fei's expression changed drastically. His leopard-like eyes widened, his beard bristled, and his right hand was already on the hilt of the ring-pommel sword at his waist. His chest heaved violently, and he was about to erupt in anger.

Before the rebellion was fully quelled, news of the victory had already been sent to the emperor!

Their memorials were never discussed with them, so how could they possibly describe their military achievements?

It's possible that the merits they earned through bloody battles have been misappropriated by this old man and attributed to the governor's cronies and trusted confidants in the prefecture!

No wonder he was so attentive before, with all the lavish feasts and outings; it turns out he wanted to use the grand ceremony to appease them and take back their "traitorous official" seal.

He attributed all the credit for pacifying Zhuojun to his own "effective command" of "being vigilant day and night and sending county officials early" and Zou Jing's "provincial troops assisting in the battle." As for Liu Bei, who actually fought bloody battles, he was probably just a supporting character in the report who "led the county soldiers and righteous men to join forces"!

He might even reserve even greater military achievements for his nephew or other close associates who are about to take over the seal!

"Damn it!" Zhang Fei cursed inwardly, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. He turned to Liu Bei and growled, "Brother! This old scoundrel is trying to embezzle the merits of our brothers' bloody battle and enrich his own nephews and nieces!"

"What imperial edict? Bullshit! As long as you nod, I, Old Zhang, will chop this bastard up right now and see if he dares to betray me and embezzle all the credit!"

His words were by no means empty boasting.

Since the late Han Dynasty, local powerful families have grown increasingly powerful, and there has always been a saying in the region: "I would rather lose a two-thousand-stone official than lose a powerful family."

The cruel officials of the Former Han Dynasty, such as Zhi Du and Yan Yannian, all met untimely ends because they suppressed powerful and influential families.

If Zhang Fei were to suddenly launch an attack, it would merely be another assassination attempt, and wouldn't even implicate Liu Bei.

But Liu Bei, upon hearing this, showed no emotion, merely glancing at Zhang Fei indifferently, which silenced Zhang Fei.

Then Zhang Fei snorted angrily, finally loosened his grip on the hilt of his sword, sat back down on his seat, grabbed the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, as if he were drinking not fine wine, but a bellyful of pent-up frustration.

Guan Yu slowly withdrew his gaze and closed his phoenix eyes again, but the veins on his hand, which was resting on the hilt of his sword, were bulging.

Liu Bei remained calm; how could he not see through Liu He's intentions?

He was never a direct subordinate of Liu He, and his appointment as "Supervisor" was merely a result of being forced by circumstances and a mutual exploitation.

Now that the turmoil has just subsided, Liu He is eager to reclaim military power, attributing the credit to his own faction and sharing the spoils with his cronies—a common practice in officialdom. To blend in with the crowd is always the way things are.

But what Liu Bei was thinking about was the story of the phoenix flying over a rotten rat in the "Autumn Floods" chapter of Zhuangzi.

The achievements in Zhuojun were a tempting target for the governor.

But to Liu Bei, they were nothing more than rotten rats.

He has ambitions for the world; why would he contend with a frog in a well for such trivial matters?

As the saying goes, how can a sparrow know the ambition of a swan!

He calmly took out the bronze seal that read "Supervisor of the Southern Bandits," held it flat with both hands, rose from his seat, walked to the center of the hall, and bowed to Liu He.

"Your Excellency's foresight and careful planning for my future are deeply appreciated. Now that Your Excellency has recommended me, I will respectfully await Your Majesty's orders. This seal of the Bureau of Rebels was originally a temporary measure for suppressing the rebels. Now that the prefecture is somewhat pacified, it should be returned to you."

After speaking, he handed the seal to Li Fu, the clerk who was standing to the side, without the slightest hesitation or reluctance.

Li Fu quickly bowed and accepted it, a faint bead of sweat on his forehead.

The prefect hadn't heard what Zhang Fei had just said, but he, who was standing to the side, had heard it all. He was genuinely afraid that Zhang Fei, in a fit of rage, would cause bloodshed.

Sitting behind the table, Liu He was slightly surprised, seemingly not expecting Liu Bei to be so agreeable and not hold a grudge at all.

His smile widened immediately, and he exclaimed, "Xuande is a man of great wisdom and righteousness, truly a national hero! Rest assured, the imperial court's reward is just around the corner!"

But Liu Bei did not take the opportunity to back down; instead, he went a step further and immediately offered his advice:

"My lord, although Zhuojun is currently at peace, the unrest in Youzhou has not subsided. In Guangyang, Yuyang, Youbeiping and other prefectures, the Yellow Turban Rebellion is raging like wildfire, shaking the prefectural capitals. Although Cheng Yuanzhi is dead, his remaining followers have scattered and will surely flee north to join forces. If we allow them to grow stronger, it will not only be a disaster for neighboring prefectures, but also a future worry for Zhuojun."

"The best course of action now is to take advantage of our army's recent victory and high morale. Your Excellency should quickly dispatch the elite troops from the prefecture to the north to join forces with the state troops and assist in suppressing the bandits."

"In this way, the people of Youyan will be at peace, and His Majesty's heart will be comforted. Your Excellency, as a civil official, has accomplished a remarkable feat in suppressing the rebellion. This is a golden opportunity bestowed upon you by Heaven, and it is also your chance to rise to the rank of one of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers!"

These words were full of heroic spirit and passionate fervor. Many of the county officials in the hall were excited upon hearing them.

If the governor can rise to the rank of high-ranking officials due to his merit in suppressing the rebellion, then his subordinates will naturally also be promoted.

Upon hearing this, Liu He stroked his beard and pondered, appearing rather uninterested. He picked up his wine cup, took a small sip, and then slowly said, "Xuande's loyalty and bravery are commendable, and his strategies are far-reaching. How could I not know that?"

"However... each prefecture and county has its own boundaries, and the laws and regulations are relevant. The Xing Law has a clear provision: 'If a prefect has no border relations with other prefectures and sends troops without authorization, he shall be fined four taels of silver; if the offense is carried out for more than ten days, he shall be executed in the marketplace.'"

"As the prefect, how dare I mobilize troops and launch a campaign across the border without the imperial edict? This is a path to disaster, not something a subject should do."

He paused, looked at Liu Bei, and said sincerely, "Xuande, you are young and vigorous, and your ambition is commendable. However, the key to governance lies in prudence and composure."

"Now that the prefecture is pacified and the people are somewhat at ease, this is a great achievement. I am over fifty years old, and I have been able to protect this prefecture from danger. I have not failed the court above, nor have I let down the people below. This is enough for me. I dare not take any more risks or seek any illusory achievements. I only ask to avoid mistakes, not to seek merit."

These words reveal the mindset of a typical conservative official.

Liu Bei had no choice but to urgently advise, "My lord! The Yellow Turban Rebellion has broken out, and eight provinces have responded. They are no longer ordinary bandits. The court is shaken and will surely issue an edict allowing the governors and prefects of each province to raise their own righteous troops to protect their territories and people, and to seize opportunities to suppress the rebels. This is the general trend, and the edict will arrive soon!"

"Why doesn't Your Excellency emulate the wise men of old, making preparations beforehand, secretly rallying heroes, training soldiers and horses, and stockpiling provisions and weapons? Once the imperial decree is approved, you can immediately lead your troops, seize the initiative, and achieve unparalleled merit!"

"If we wait until the imperial edict is issued, and other prefectures are already mobilized while our Zhuo Prefecture is completely unprepared and acts hastily, wouldn't we fall behind and miss a golden opportunity?"

"The *Guoyu* says: 'When the time is right, do not be lazy, for time will not come again.' 'If Heaven gives something and you do not take it, it will bring you disaster. If you do not welcome the opportune moment when it arrives, you will suffer the consequences.' I earnestly hope that Your Excellency will think carefully!"

Liu Bei's words were both reasonable and persuasive, and many of the young or ambitious subordinates in the hall nodded in agreement.

Liu He seemed somewhat moved, but in the end he slowly shook his head and sighed, "What Lord Xuande said makes sense, but... this matter is of great importance and involves the law of the land. Allow me to think about it again and discuss it with the officials in the prefecture."

This is a typical example of bureaucratic delays and shirking of responsibility.

Knowing the situation was hopeless, Liu Bei said no more, cupping his hands and saying, "Your Excellency is a wise and experienced ruler, and you will make your own decisions. I have said all I need to say, and I will take my leave for now."

Having said this, he led Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others to bow to Liu He and the other county officials, then turned and left the hall. Liu He left a few words behind him, but Liu Bei pretended not to hear them.

As soon as he stepped out of the prefectural government gate and down the high steps, Zhang Fei could no longer contain himself. His eyes widened, his beard bristled, and he stomped heavily on the stone pavement, growling angrily in a low voice:

"Damn it! That old scoundrel, he crossed the river and burned the bridge, embezzling credit first; then he hesitated and missed a golden opportunity! A cowardly rat, does he even deserve to be a high-ranking official?"

"Brother, let's just hand over this damn 'Cao the Bandit' seal! Even without his title as governor, does that mean we brothers won't fight the bandits? The Yellow Turbans are defying Heaven; the whole world should unite to defeat them!"

"As long as you nod, Brother, I, Old Zhang, will go back to camp right now to muster my troops. I'll take several hundred men and head north, killing any bandits we see. I guarantee I'll rid the place of those yellow-turbaned bastards with holes and leave them without a single survivor! Let's see who dares to steal our credit!"

His voice was booming, drawing the attention of the soldiers guarding the gate of the prefectural government, who then hurriedly lowered their heads.

Guan Yu's expression was also somber, a cold glint flashing in his phoenix eyes. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and said, "Brother, Lord Liu is fickle and unreliable. Our army has just won a victory, morale is high, and supplies are plentiful. Why should we depend on others?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei raised his hand and gently patted Zhang Fei's tense back, offering words of comfort:

"Third brother, calm down. Do you think I don't know your loyalty and bravery? But military campaigns are not just about relying on blood and guts."

The Book of Changes says: "An army goes out according to the rules; otherwise, disaster will follow." It also says: "A wise man prepares weapons and guards against unforeseen events."

"Without imperial edicts or official seals from the prefectures and counties, we are arbitrarily raising private armies, no different from bandits. Even if we defeat the bandits, our merits will not be recorded, but will instead give others ammunition to criticize us. This is what is meant by 'If the name is not correct, the words will not be proper; if the words are not proper, things will not be accomplished.'"

He then glanced at his trusted confidants and said confidently and calmly, "In the past, Duke Huan of Qi respected the king and repelled the barbarians, uniting the feudal lords nine times. This was not due to the advantage of military force, but rather to the mandate of the emperor. When Emperor Guangwu first rose to power, he also needed the edict of Gengshi to command the four directions."

"Although Lord Liu is currently constrained by a conservative mindset, protecting the territory and ensuring the well-being of the people is the duty of a subject. We cannot force him to do so."

"But rest assured, gentlemen. The Yellow Turban Rebellion cannot be quelled by Zhuojun alone. Youzhou is in turmoil, and the court will surely take action. Lord Liu is making excuses today out of fear, but when the rebels are close in the future, or when the court issues urgent orders, he will surely have something to ask for."

He turned to look at the deep, dark county government behind him, and strode out with his head held high: "One day, he will come begging for our help. Gentlemen, just wait and see."

"At this moment, we should follow the advice of the Book of Changes: 'A wise man keeps his talents hidden until the right time to act.' Let us return to the manor first, reorganize our troops, repair our armor and weapons, stockpile provisions, and provide generous care for our warriors."

"Cultivate good governance internally and forge alliances with heroes externally. If the time is right and circumstances are favorable, why worry about not fulfilling our ambitions or failing to achieve great things?"

These words, full of classical allusions and clearly written with confidence, dispelled the resentment in the crowd and rekindled their spirits.

"Brother's insight is absolutely correct!" Guan Yu and Zhang Fei both bowed.

"Next time, we'll have to beg that old man Liu He to come!"

For the next few days, Liu Bei ignored the treacherous situation in the prefecture and devoted himself entirely to preparing the army.

On the drill ground, shouts and drills echoed incessantly; beside the furnace, the firelight burned day and night.

Previously, they had campaigned in the south and north, advancing along three routes, and had won over many who surrendered and submitted to them.

In wartime, in order to quickly stabilize morale and replenish combat strength, it is inevitable to accept both good and bad individuals.

Now that the prefecture is temporarily at peace, it is the perfect time to weed out the dross and retain the essence, forging a truly elite force.

Liu Bei summoned his trusted confidants, including Liu Deran, Qian Zhao, and Guo Rong, and held a detailed discussion by candlelight in the central command tent.

"In the art of war, quality is more important than quantity." Liu Bei pointed to the list of troops recorded on bamboo slips on the table and said gently, "Last time, due to an emergency, the troops swelled to 1,500 men."

"However, many of them were newly recruited and untrained, or old and weak men who filled the ranks. Their men consumed provisions and fodder, and in battle they were more likely to shake the morale of the army."

"We should take advantage of this opportunity to reorganize and eliminate weaker and more capable individuals; this is the best long-term strategy."

Liu Deran nodded: "Your Majesty is wise. When Emperor Guangwu subdued the Tongma bandits, he also had to 'inspect the camps and fortifications,' select the elite troops, and send the rest back to farming, in order to form a formidable force."

Qian Zhao agreed, saying, "Sun Tzu said, 'It is not the quantity of soldiers that matters, but the absence of aggressive advances, which is sufficient to concentrate forces, assess the enemy, and capture them.' Our army has just gained a winning position, and we should focus our efforts on concentrating our strength and not be greedy for quantity."

Once the plan was decided, the process of elimination was implemented.

For three consecutive days, various tests were set up on the training ground: drawing a hard bow, shooting at target, running with heavy loads, spear and halberd combat, and formation and command.

The students were personally examined by Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Qian Zhao, Tian Yu, and others, and were divided into three grades: superior, middle, and inferior.

Ultimately, from the more than 1,500 men, those skilled in archery and horsemanship, possessing extraordinary strength, courage, and knowledge of military commands were selected to form 300 elite cavalry and 700 foot soldiers, totaling 1,000 men.

These thousand men were all equipped with neat armor and military attire, sharp blades and powerful bows, and were considered regular combat troops. They were led by Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Wang Kai, Li Zheng, Wang Tong, Zhang Nan, Han Jing and others, and were rigorously trained to ensure that they were "courtesy when at home, awe-inspiring when moving, unstoppable in advance and unpursuable in retreat".

The remaining five hundred or so men were not all dismissed or left unused. That would be contrary to Liu Bei's reputation for benevolence and righteousness.

Liu Bei entrusted all these people to Liu Deran's command, who was in charge of land reclamation, animal husbandry, crafts, and transportation.

Following Liu Bei's plan, Liu Deran designated a large area of ​​farmland outside the manor, distributed seeds and farming tools, and ordered them to cultivate the land. The harvested grains, in addition to being used for their own needs, were all put into the military granary.

They also selected those skilled in metallurgy, carpentry, and leather making to establish a special workshop to repair captured weapons and craft arrows, horse tack, tents, and other items.

A separate unit was set aside specifically to care for the nearly one hundred horses seized this time, as well as the cattle and sheep that were originally on the estate.

"Although this unit is not capable of fighting on the battlefield, using it for land reclamation and smelting to support the soldiers is also a service to the country," Liu Bei instructed Liu Deran.

"You must take good care of them, clearly define rewards and punishments, and ensure that everyone is content with their lot. If I lead my troops on a distant expedition in the future, or if the court appoints me to another post, I will entrust the Liu family's legacy here to you. Do not let the Liu family's ancestral home be abandoned."

This is somewhat similar to the Xiang Army of the Song Dynasty. Except for not being responsible for fighting, they do everything, including building water conservancy projects and manufacturing military equipment.

This situation is not unfamiliar today either, namely the retainers and vassals of powerful manors.

Liu Bei did not intend to take the entire Liu clan with him; he was determined to return to Zhuojun in the future, just as Emperor Gaozu eventually returned to Pei County.

These people guarded the Liu clan and carried out production here, and in the future they could also support Liu Bei with supplies such as grain, weapons and equipment.

This would prevent Liu Bei from having his troops, like water without roots, without logistical support when he served as a county magistrate or commander of a separate department.

While his subordinates were in charge of reorganizing the troops, Liu Bei also turned his attention to the production of military equipment, especially the Xuanjia heavy armor.

This campaign involved nearly ten battles, large and small, sweeping through two prefectures and eight counties, with the captured weapons and armor piling up like mountains.

Liu Bei ordered Guo Rong to lead a team to carefully inventory the items, which included twenty complete sets of Han-style heavy iron armor, forty sets of leather armor, and thousands of ring-pommel swords, spears, halberds, and axes, many of which had chips and dull blades.

There are also countless pieces of broken iron armor, leather, and copper and iron materials.

"Ill-made armor is no different from no armor at all; ineffective weapons will only lead to defeat." Liu Bei stroked one of the finely crafted two-piece suits of armor, showing great importance to it, and said to Guo Rong.

"I have heard that the reason why the Wei Wu soldiers were so invincible in the past was not only because the soldiers were willing to die, but also because they were well-armored and had sharp weapons. If we want to establish ourselves in this chaotic world, in addition to the soldiers being willing to fight, we also need strong armor and sharp weapons."

He then looked at Guo Rong and the craftsmen surrounding him, and asked, "Our army has captured a great deal of fine gold and iron, and we have ample manpower. Could you forge heavy armor and repair our weapons for us?"

Guo Rong, brimming with confidence, cupped his hands and replied, "My lord, the Xuanjia heavy armor sounds exquisite and mysterious, but with enough charcoal and manpower, it is actually quite easy to make."

Fearing that Liu Bei might misunderstand him as being arrogant and boastful, he immediately explained in detail: "In the manufacture of military equipment in the Han Dynasty, armor is usually made of 'lamellae armor,' which consists of square iron plates sewn together as a lining, and is divided into 'body armor,' 'armored caps,' and 'skirt armor,' etc."

"The Liangdang armor consists of two large pieces of armor on the front and back, connected by straps, which facilitates mounted combat."

"To make heavy armor, one can simply increase the thickness and density of the armor plates, or forge the outline of the chest and back from large iron plates."

"This matter will only take a short time. Now that we have the manpower and materials, we will surely be able to forge a batch of excellent armor for our lord."

Liu Bei nodded, also believing the matter could be accomplished. Just as Guo Rong had said, Han Dynasty armor was mainly lamellar armor, made up of numerous rectangular or irregularly shaped armor plates.

In later generations, an ordinary person could buy iron plates and weave this kind of armor themselves. A skilled ordinary person could assemble a suit of armor in just a few days.

Therefore, Liu Bei guided the blacksmiths in production based on later experience, saying to Guo Rong, "In the past, when the Qin people made crossbows, they assigned craftsmen, cutters, and grinders to perform their respective duties, which is why the Qin crossbows were the best in the world. The same applies to making armor now. We can follow this method and implement the technique of 'division of labor and cooperation'."

"A group of laborers were appointed as iron officials, specifically responsible for forging armor plates, ensuring that the plates were standardized and uniform."

"The other part is the armor maker, who specializes in making armor. They take the properly treated armor plates and, according to different parts such as 'body armor,' 'armor caps,' 'shoulders,' and 'collar,' use tanned cowhide strips to weave them into shape using a fixed method, and line them with thick cloth and leather."

"In this way, each process is separated, and each person is trained repeatedly, so their skills will be refined and their speed will be fast."

"Those who forge armor plates do not need to learn how to assemble them, and those who assemble them do not need to be proficient in quenching. As long as the armor plates produced in the previous process are of uniform size, the subsequent process will be like a mold, and the efficiency will more than double. Moreover, if there are defects, it is easy to trace their source, so that the entire armor will not be ruined."

After discussing with several craftsmen for a while, Guo Rong agreed that the method would be effective. He then cupped his hands and said, "If we follow your method, my lord, and concentrate manpower to forge armor with more than 500 people, we can greatly increase our weaponry. Within ten days, we should be able to produce dozens of sets of heavy armor and thousands of swords, spears, and halberds."

Liu Bei was also encouraged and immediately ordered: "Excellent! Proceed accordingly. Guo Jiang, from this day forward, you will be in charge of all metallurgical matters, and all blacksmiths, apprentices, and laborers in the workshops will be under your command."

"Any materials you require, just report to Deran, and he will grant them without fail. There is only one request: within ten days, produce at least thirty suits of armor for me!"

Following this model, Liu Bei intended to emulate the Trapped Camp and transform his thousand-plus troops into a formidable force with refined and well-equipped armor and weapons.

If we could have three thousand elite infantry and cavalrymen, clad in armor and wielding sharp weapons, with strict discipline, how could we not establish a great cause in this chaotic world?