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

After taking a deep breath, Liu Bei sat up straight, cupped his hands, and said, "Since Your Excellency has inquired, I dare not fail to offer my utmost sincerity."

He said in a generous tone, "Military terms, the Yellow Turbans can be quelled in a month or two. The Zhang brothers rely on nothing more than three things: using talismans to deceive the masses, inciting them with prophecies, and hastily raising an army."

"Now the message of Fu Shui has been broken with the capture of Zhang Liang, the momentum of the prophecy has weakened with the recapture of Guangzong, and the hastily assembled troops have collapsed in the battle of Zhangshui."

"After Huangfu Zhonglang pacifies Yingchuan and Dongjun, he will soon march north to join forces with the royal army in Hebei. With 30,000 elite troops, he will exert his might and surely defeat the enemy. Within ten days, Zhang Jiao and Zhang Bao will be beheaded at the capital. This is not empty talk from Liu Bei, but a result of the inevitable course of events."

As expected, Liu Yu was greatly pleased upon hearing his generous words. He stroked his beard and nodded, saying, "With Xuande's words, I am at ease. I will relay Xuande's words to the Emperor to reassure him."

What worries the emperor most now is the resurgence of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, which no one can control.

If the situation during the suppression of the rebellion deteriorates completely, it will be even more costly and wasteful. The emperor loves money and wants to build palaces, so he would certainly not want to see this happen.

As a subject, although he wanted to offer comfort, he would never dare to say that the situation would be resolved in a month.

But Liu Bei was different; he decisively defeated the Yellow Turbans in both Youzhou and Jizhou. The situation in Jizhou, in particular, was largely due to the repeated victories of him and his disciple, which suppressed the Yellow Turbans' arrogance to the extreme.

At that time, the Yellow Turban rebels suffered repeated defeats. The royal army built a fortification and dug trenches, trapping the Yellow Turban rebels in an isolated city. The defeat and demise of the Yellow Turbans were imminent.

Therefore, only the court eunuchs and gentry dared to say that the Moth Rebels were easy to defeat.

Unexpectedly, the change of generals at the last minute led to failure, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion resurfaced, seemingly beyond anyone's control.

Now Liu Bei makes this assertion again, believing that if Huangfu Song and Liu Bei both return to the battlefield, they will surely be able to curb the Yellow Turban Rebellion's surging momentum.

Therefore, Liu Yu said with great enthusiasm, "Although Lu Zigan is temporarily imprisoned, you should follow in his footsteps and uphold his integrity. We must not allow this traitor to continue to cause harm. I will submit a memorial to the Emperor to appoint you as the Acting Martial and Fierce Commandant to assist Huangfu Yizhen in suppressing the traitor."

The Martial Valorate Commandant was a true commander-in-chief position. He was capable of leading troops independently to quell and suppress rebellions.

Although he is currently only a military commander, which is an acting position.

But once the rebellion is quelled, the word "行" can be removed.

This was of great significance to Liu Bei! It meant that if another rebellion broke out in the Han Dynasty, Liu Bei would have the authority to independently lead troops to quell it, just like the generals Lu Zhi, Huangfu Song, and Zhu Jun in the present day.

In fact, this Wu Meng Duwei can be regarded as a smaller version of a miscellaneous general.

However, in the Han Dynasty today, the title of general is not easily bestowed upon others. Therefore, generals such as Lieutenant General and Commandant are often appointed to lead troops to suppress bandits.

However, Liu Bei's ambitions naturally extended beyond the mere position of a captain.

After bowing in thanks, his voice became even more solemn as he said, "However—I believe that although the Yellow Turbans can be quelled, the world cannot be at peace."

Liu Yu frowned, stopped stroking his beard, and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Liu Bei cupped his hands in greeting and spoke eloquently: "My lord, as Guanzi said, 'If internal affairs are not well managed, external troubles will surely follow.'"

"When Chao Cuo discussed the essentials of defending the border, he also said: 'If there is trouble in the Central Plains, the barbarian cavalry will take advantage of the situation and invade; this is an inevitable trend.'"

"The Yellow Turbans have now spread across provinces and counties, shaking the state. The imperial court has deployed all its elite troops, leaving Guanzhong vulnerable and the border defenses in disarray."

"Therefore, it is predicted that the Qiang and Hu tribes of Liangzhou and the Wuhuan tribes of Youzhou will surely take action upon hearing the news. If the court does not prepare for this early, once the chaos in the Central Plains has subsided, war may break out on the borders again. At that time, we will be attacked from both sides, and the country will be in danger."

Upon hearing Liu Bei's words, Liu Yu immediately showed displeasure!

As a trusted advisor to the emperor, he naturally did not want to hear such alarmist words when the news of victory had just arrived.

He knew very well that the one who loved to hear joy and disliked to hear sorrow most in the imperial court was the emperor, who lived deep in the Southern Palace.

Liu Bei also bowed twice, his voice earnest, and said, "I know that such prophecies of impending doom are most disliked by people. Those who report good news are rewarded, while those who report bad news are punished; this has always been the case."

"Now that Your Excellency has inquired of me today, if I were to remain silent out of fear of punishment and spare my life, I would be failing the Emperor above, the common people below, and Your Excellency's deep concern for the country. Therefore, though I am foolish, I dare not consider my own safety."

"I have long heard that the wise consider things before they arise, and the insightful guard against them before they happen. Now, the smoke of war has not yet risen on the border, but the ambitions of the Qiang and Hu tribes are already evident; although the Wuhuan have sent hostages to the court, their people have not forgotten the wealth we have acquired from You and Bing. If we wait until the beacon fires illuminate Ganquan before discussing border defense strategies, it will be too late!"

He took a deep breath, looked directly at Liu Yu, and said with conviction:

"We know that Your Excellency is wise and virtuous, worrying about the world's troubles before enjoying its pleasures. Therefore, we dare to request Your Excellency to keep the world in mind and the state in your heart, and to promptly report to the Emperor to prepare for border defenses."

Having said that, he bowed his head and prostrated himself in reverence.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Liu Yu was initially slightly annoyed by those straightforward words, but when he heard "Be the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures," he was so shocked that he was stunned, feeling both ecstatic and amazed.

Be the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures!

Throughout his life, Liu Yu prided himself on his integrity and loyalty. He served as an official for decades, governing border regions and managing important internal affairs. His only concerns were the state and the common people.

Yet no one has ever been able to express his aspirations as a subject and as a person with such concise, profound, and golden words.

What shocked him even more was that these words came from the mouth of a young man who had just come of age and had risen from humble beginnings.

Such magnanimity and insight are beyond the reach of ordinary "warriors".

Therefore, even though Liu Yu was a renowned scholar and a member of the Han imperial family, he was so moved that he left his seat and personally went forward to help Liu Bei up.

With tears in his eyes, he looked at Liu Bei, deeply moved, and exclaimed, "Xuande's words make me ashamed."

"To be the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures—this saying illuminates the ages and perfectly expresses the heart of a loyal subject."

"Xuande's ability to express these invaluable words shows that Xuande's loyalty and righteousness are unparalleled in the world! He truly has the ambition and integrity to restore the Han Dynasty."

He released Liu Bei's hand, paced around the room a few times, then sighed deeply and said to Liu Bei, "Xuande treats me with utmost sincerity, and I cannot fail him. To be honest, I just heard about the talk of trouble on this side, and I was extremely displeased with it. Because you are young and prone to making alarmist remarks, I almost kicked you out of the manor."

"The words 'Be the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures' are truly thought-provoking. I know that what Xuande said is by no means alarmist."

"If I am like this, what about the many Ten Attendants' cronies in the court? If this statement is spread, the Emperor and the Ten Attendants will surely be displeased."

At this point, he even gave Liu Bei a slight bow and asked, "Xuande, do you have any strategies for me?"

Liu Bei hurriedly rose from his seat to return the greeting, repeatedly saying that he dared not accept it.

Then he replied with certainty: "In recent years, the people have seen no virtue, but only heard of war. Therefore, the great chaos is due to the times and circumstances."

"In particular, the Ten Attendants abused their power within the court and neglected virtuous governance, causing the achievements of tens of thousands of soldiers in suppressing the rebellion to be wasted in a single day. At this time of turmoil, the border troubles of the barbarians will not be content to remain silent. I fear that before the Yellow Turban Rebellion is quelled, the border troubles in Liangzhou will resurface. This is just as the Book of Master Guigu said: 'Everything has its inevitable course, and every principle has its inherent nature.'"

"Therefore, I believe that Your Excellency should not hastily speak of a major calamity, but should first use the existing minor alarms as a starting point to prove that the great disaster yet to come is real. The Yellow Turban Rebellion has already proven the principle of 'underestimating the enemy leads to defeat'; if the alarms on the Liangzhou border also prove the saying 'seeing the big picture from small signs,' then how could the Emperor and the court dare not believe what Your Excellency says thereafter?"

Liu Bei wanted to use Liu Yu's power to become famous throughout the world in one day!

Today he asserted that the Yellow Turban Rebellion had not been quelled, and that troubles on the border of Liangzhou had resurfaced.

If his words come true, the world will know them, and scholars and heroes will praise them.

Liu Yu was also deeply moved and said, "If the border troubles in Liangzhou are truly imminent, then what Xuande said today is indeed insightful and far-sighted, seeing the big picture from small details. A talent worthy of this era, you truly deserve your reputation!"

"You should return to Jizhou first and assist Huangfu Yizhen in quelling the E'zhai. I will now present the discussion of the border troubles to the Emperor."

Thus, Liu Bei knew that his great undertaking was about to succeed and that his fame would spread throughout the world, and this was the key to his success.

From then on, his reputation so great that all the heroes, scholars, and strategists in the counties and prefectures had to treat him with utmost respect and humility.

Although he was not a great Confucian scholar, he was still a renowned figure in the land. When recruiting scholars and heroes, he would no longer need to look up to them, but rather humbly treat them with respect.

The difficulty of recruiting talent has been greatly reduced!

As he left the mansion, Zhang Fei followed behind him, his eyes wide, and asked, "Brother, what did Liu Yu say that made you so excited, your face beaming with joy? Could it be that Liu Yu also wants to marry his daughter to you?"

Liu Bei was stunned by his train of thought and almost stumbled at the threshold: "Third brother, how could you have thought of this? We are all descendants of Emperor Gaozu, members of the Liu clan, how can we be bound by marriage?"

Zhang Fei said matter-of-factly, "Since we raised an army to fight the traitors for the country, I have only seen such a smiling face once before, when my elder brother first met the eldest daughter of the Zhen family."

Liu Bei composed himself, and couldn't help but gasp in astonishment. Was it really that obvious back then?

Indeed, both the original owner and himself found it difficult to resist the allure of women.

However, Liu Bei quickly felt at ease, perhaps this is the true nature of a hero!

He said with a smile, "This time it's not for a beautiful woman, but for a talented person!"

Perhaps before the end of the year, another group of outstanding talents from Hebei will join his ranks!

Liu Bei then said nothing more and quickly returned with Zhang Fei and a dozen or so riders.

When he crossed the river to the north and returned to Quzhou, it was already August, autumn had arrived.

On the Hebei Plain, it should have been a golden harvest season, but due to months of war, large areas of the fields remained barren.

Although some surrendered soldiers managed to plant a few beans and soybeans in the official fields along the banks of the Zhang River, it was far from enough to make up for the famine caused by last year's great plague and this year's great chaos.

Liu Bei had no time to lament the devastation of the war—the Yellow Turban Rebellion, which should have been completely quelled by summer, had been delayed until now due to the change of generals at the last minute.

The first thing he did upon returning to the Quzhou camp was to summon all the generals and inspect the soldiers and horses.

The elite infantry and cavalry he brought from Youzhou suffered heavy losses, losing hundreds in the Battle of Changshan and even more in the siege of Xiaquyang. They had to rest and recuperate during this period.

Fortunately, Guan Yu and Tian Feng, one a warrior and the other a scholar, were both extraordinary talents of their time.

During the time Liu Bei escorted Lu Zhi westward, they worked together to manage the Quzhou camp in an orderly manner.

Guan Yu was known for his strict military discipline, while Tian Feng was known for his meticulous planning. The two worked together to reorganize the troops and horses, and the results were remarkable.

Inside the central command tent, Guan Yu stood before the map, his phoenix eyes slightly closed, a hint of pride on his face. He reported to Liu Bei: "While you were away from the camp, Brother, Mr. Yuanhao and I, following your 'Military Training Order,' selected brave and strong men from among the surrendered soldiers and refugees. The Gengshi Camp has now expanded to a thousand men."

"Most of these thousand men were originally Yellow Turban warriors, known for their bravery and fighting prowess; a few were recruited from the refugees of Hebei, from the Yan and Zhao regions, and possessed extraordinary strength. The military judge Xiahou Lan has already completed the training according to the Han law, with drills every five days and a review every ten days, and all military commands following the Han system."

The situation at Gengshi Camp was indeed encouraging, but Liu Bei clearly could not bet all his strength on a surrendered army.

After reporting on the situation at Gengshi Camp, Guan Yu continued to report on other matters: "In addition, in the Hebei region, heroes have come to assist in the battle because of your reputation for loyalty and righteousness, Brother. Last month, Zhao Rui of Changshan and Gao Huan of Zhongshan each led their guests to join us."

"Zhao Rui is skilled in archery and horsemanship, able to draw a three-stone bow, and is exceptionally brave and fierce; Gao Huan is strong and fierce, wielding a spear and sword, charging into battle and causing a thousand men to flee. In addition, there are more than thirty heroes from Zhuojun, Guangyang, and Yuyang counties, all willing to die for their elder brother. I have already incorporated them into the army and entrusted them to Zilong for training."

After discussing the army recruitment, Tian Feng then turned to logistics: "Most importantly, the first batch of military supplies, escorted by Colonel Zou Jing dispatched by the Governor of Youzhou, arrived last month. It includes 500 sets of heavy armor and 300 warhorses, including 10 sets of horse armor."

"Feng has already allocated the troops according to their needs. Yunchang and Zilong have been recruiting overnight, and now there are twelve fully armored cavalrymen in the army."

"The Jingse Iron Cavalry has expanded to forty-nine men, and the elite Xuanjia Iron Cavalry has reached more than five hundred men."

"Among the soldiers, Cheng Demou supervised and trained eight hundred elite armored soldiers."

"The Gengshi camp had a thousand men, all of whom were fully armored and carried spears, and their weapons were well-prepared."

"The entire army consists of more than 2,800 infantry and cavalry. If we include the supply, medical, pasture, and engineering camps, it can be called 3,000 infantry and cavalry."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei clapped his hands and stood up, greatly encouraged!

Three thousand elite infantry and cavalry!

This is absolutely worthy of his title as a valiant military captain.

The key point is that this elite infantry and cavalry force is no longer comparable to the one he left Youzhou. More than 50% of the troops are now in heavy armor!

With this elite force, well-equipped and well-trained, he was confident that he could defeat even 20,000 or 30,000 bandits in a single battle.

"Excellent!" Liu Bei's gaze swept over the generals in the tent, and he said generously, "With my second brother leading the army and Yuanhao managing the administration, although our army has suffered a defeat, its strength has been restored. Once General Huangfu heads north, we will return to Xiaquyang to atone for our master's sins and to punish the traitors for the sake of our nation!"

But military strategy says: an army without food will perish, an army without reserves will perish, an army without rewards and punishments will perish.

Maintaining such an elite infantry and cavalry force requires a considerable amount of money and resources.

Liu Bei then asked with concern, "What is the current situation regarding provisions and supplies?"

At this point, Tian Feng's expression changed, seemingly quite amazed that Liu Bei had gained so much assistance.

He replied, "The governor of Youzhou has sent 10,000 bushels of grain and more than 20,000 bundles of hay this time."

"The Zhen family, a prominent clan in Zhongshan, also donated more than 8,000 bushels of grain and more than 3 million coins."

"The wealthy merchants Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang sent over two hundred fine horses, over five thousand bushels of grain, and over three thousand spears, halberds, swords, and spears."

"The Liu family of Zhuojun sent over 600 bushels of grain, over 100 sets of heavy armor, and over 2,000 pieces of military equipment and clothing."

"Now, Quzhou City has tens of thousands of bushels of grain, a thousand warhorses, more than 1,500 draft horses, donkeys and mules, and more than 400 chariots. It can be said that the army is well-trained, the food is plentiful, and the weapons are sturdy and well-maintained."

He paused, his tone revealing a hint of genuine admiration: "What's even more remarkable is that this wasn't allocated by the imperial court, but rather by the governor of Youzhou, the Zhen family of Zhongshan, the Liu family of Zhuojun, and the wealthy merchants Zhang and Su—some emptying their state treasuries to aid the army, others distributing their family fortunes to support the righteous army. All of this was inspired by our lord's reputation for loyalty and benevolence."

"Mencius said: 'Those who follow the Way receive much help; those who stray from the Way receive little help. When help is abundant, the whole world submits to them.' Now that our lord has such popular support, why should he worry about not achieving great things?"

Liu Bei was also greatly encouraged. With three thousand elite infantry and cavalry, carrying tens of thousands of bushels of grain, he could raise an army of righteous men to punish the tyrannical and roam the world.

He had even begun planning for the aftermath of the victory over the Yellow Turbans, asking Tian Feng, "How are the surrendered soldiers being resettled?"

Tian Feng immediately cupped his hands and replied, "The surrendered troops number over 50,000, and we have made every effort to settle them. Although it is not perfect, we have already cultivated over 800 hectares of official land and rushed to plant barley and beans. They can be harvested when the weather is clear and crisp in September. Even if we calculate the yield at 1.5 shi per mu, we can still collect no less than 50,000 hu of official grain."

"At that time, while feeding the surrendered soldiers, we can also relieve the famine in Julu."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was invigorated and filled with pride. Eight hundred acres of fertile land—in peaceful times, this might not even amount to the wealth of a powerful local family.

Among the powerful and wealthy, there were many who owned vast tracts of land, some even reaching thousands of acres.

But at this critical moment, the lives of tens of thousands of people are at stake!

A yield of 1.5 shi per mu is the most conservative estimate. However, along the Zhangshui River, the land is fertile, and a yield of 2 shi per mu is not difficult.

The amount of official grain collected was likely far more than 50,000 bushels, or even 60,000 or 70,000 bushels.

This was even enough to support many of the surrendered soldiers in Xiaquyang.

Just as he was pondering this, Zhang Fei walked in from outside the tent and said in a loud voice, "Brother, a messenger from Huangfu Zhonglang has arrived outside the camp. He is the person you were thinking of before, that eunuch's descendant, Cao Cao, Cao Mengde!"