Rejuvenation of the Han Dynasty in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 355
In the Yamen of Wancheng Mansion, Liu Bei discussed with Xu Shu, Kuai Yue, Chen Qun and others about Xinye.

Liu Bei sighed and said: "Although Dong Zhuo is dead now, Li Jue and Guo Si are in chaos, the emperor is young and weak, and the princes are standing side by side. We, the clansmen of the Han family, should restore the royal family and maintain unity. Why?"

Chen Qun said: "The current Zhennan General is graceful in Jingchu, and he sits and watches the changes of the times. There are countless heroes from all over the world who avoid the chaos in Jingzhou. However, he is nepotism. He regards Cai Mao as his confidant, and the rest do not know who to do. A virtuous person may not have ambitions in all directions."

Liu Bei knew that Chen Qun was the best at knowing people, so he said with emotion after hearing this: "Although Bei was born in a humble family, he did not dare to forget his family duties. Unlucky?"

Speaking of grievances and sadness, I couldn't help crying and sighing, and couldn't help myself.

Kuai Yue said: "Just now I have received the letter from my family. I am afraid that Mr. Liu has become wary of Xuande. Back then, he entered Yicheng alone, with both grace and power, and ruled the Jingjiang River. The people are convinced. How bold is it? Now it is so good. Yu sits and chats with self-defense, adores false fame but is suspicious and jealous, and wants to bring chaos to the world, Xuande should make plans early."

Chen Qun nodded and said: "It's reasonable to say different degrees, but Nanyang is the place where the Four Wars took place. Liu Shijun's prestige is in full swing, with a base of thousands of miles, and more than [-] armies. Once he fights with him, Yuan Shu of Yuzhou is still strong. If you attack the Duke of Ming, all previous efforts will be wasted."

Liu Bei was shocked and said, "Jing Sheng and I are brothers of the same clan. Even if there is a misunderstanding, how can we meet each other in battle and cause trouble for Xiao Qiang?"

Kuai Yue shook his head and sighed: "If it was in the past, maybe there is still room for change in this matter, but since Liu Shijun married the Cai family, he has loved her very much. Now that Cai Mao has power, he has a prejudice against Xuande, and it will change after a long time. "

"What should I do?" Liu Bei looked around and saw the two frowning and remained silent.

Looking back at Xu Shu, who bowed his head and pondered at the side, he grabbed his arm anxiously, and said with tears, "Mr. has the talent to help the world, and the situation is critical now. It is the country of the Han Dynasty. Please give me your advice."

Xu Shu had been listening to the two people's analysis just now, and raised his head when he heard the words, and said with a smile: "My lord has the ambition to revive the Han Dynasty, and has the heart to sweep the wilds. Now, just like a dragon trapped in the shallows and a bird in a cage, he wants to get rid of the current predicament. The only way to change is to take the initiative.”

Liu Bei hurriedly said, "Sir, please tell me."

Xu Shu said: "Those who govern peace put benevolence and righteousness first, and those who govern chaos put power and strategy first. There are not many soldiers, but the ability to win their own people. Today, the Duke of Ming has all the civil and military personnel under his command, and his soldiers are well-equipped. , It is like a potential dragon coming out of the abyss, soaring through the nine heavens, and achieving the ambition of the wind and the clouds."

Kuai Yue said helplessly: "However, Nanyang is small and the Central Plains is in chaos. I don't know when the time will come."

"The time has come!" Xu Shu smiled lightly and said, "Now that Dong Zhuo is defeated, Xiliang's army has no leader, and Li Jue and Guo Si are rough and unscrupulous. They are all ordinary people. Chang'an is the place where the Han Dynasty prospered. These are all given by God to the lord, and only you should consider them in detail."

Suddenly, Kuai Yue's eyes lit up, and he laughed loudly: "This is a great strategy. Today, the two thieves, Li and Guo, are holding the emperor hostage, extorting officials, and taking power. To be able to enter the customs to hunt for thieves will be popular in the world."

Chen Qun also nodded and said, "That's right. Now that Dong Zhuo is being punished, and Wang Situ is being killed by thieves again, the generals in Xiliang are fighting for success, and there will be internal chaos. Duke Ming went to Nanyang and entered Guanzhong. Isn’t the road the will of God?”

Xu Shu said with a smile: "That's right. My lord enters Chang'an to suppress the rebels and suppress the rebellion, helps the emperor restore the ancestral temple, enters to order the world's heroes to prosper the Han Dynasty, and retreats to occupy Guanzhong to win over ministers. Why not worry about the great cause?"

Liu Bei's heart was moved by what he said, and he wiped away his tears, saying: "I'm afraid Brother Jing Sheng will be suspicious, if I leave Nanyang, I have not yet taken Chang'an and the food and grass are not enough, will I be in a dilemma?"

But Kuai Yue said with a smile: "This matter is easy to hear. The general of Zhennan is best to have a false name, and he is afraid of Xuande. Xuande can go to Xiangyang in person and invite him into Chang'an to protect the emperor. If he succeeds, he will have the name of King Qin, and if he fails, he will be with him." If he has nothing to do, and can make Xuande leave the land of Nanyang, he will readily agree, and donate money and food to show his loyalty."

Liu Bei was overjoyed and was about to leave immediately, but Xu Shu told him not to act too hastily, so as not to arouse Liu Biao and Cai Mao's suspicion, and first sent Deng Zhi to Xinye to meet Yuan Tan, obeying the government order and following Liu Biao's heart.

Then Liu Bei immediately prepared in secret, first sent Wenpin to take a thousand elite soldiers to take Wuguan, claimed to the generals that it was to prevent the Xiliang army from invading Jingzhou, and secretly ordered Wei Yan, Li Yan, Liu Feng, Fu Tong and others to send the elite soldiers to Rang County , ready to send troops at any time.

Wen hired Wuguan for a few days, and immediately sent people to report. The two generals Ma Teng and Han Sui from Xiliang saw Li Jue and others as the leader of the chaos.

Xu Shu immediately came to see Liu Bei and said, "The time has come. Ma Teng raised his troops in Xiliang. My lord can respond to him from the east and fight against the bandits. Xiliang's army is under attack from the front and back. Chang'an is at your fingertips."

Liu Bei immediately sent Chen Zhen to Chang'an to meet Ma Teng to conspire against the bandits, while he himself went to Xiangyang to meet Liu Biao and asked to send troops to the commander of King Anqin.

Liu Biao was worried about Liu Bei's growing power, buying people's hearts and stealing his limelight, and was planning with Cai Mao and others how to transfer Liu Bei away, seeing him take the initiative to ask for his life, it was in his heart.

Immediately, in the capacity of Jingzhou Mu and General Zhennan, he ordered Liu Bei to send troops from Nanyang to fight against the thieves. In order to let Liu Bei go to Chang'an with peace of mind, he ordered Kuai Liang to supervise the transportation of grain and grass to support the army.

Cai Mao has always been afraid of Liu Bei's fame and strength. When he heard that he was going to leave Nanyang, he and his brothers laughed and said, "A certain Baoyuan Tan was the prefect of Xinye before, and Liu Bei was really afraid. Now that he leaves Nanyang, Jingzhou has no worries. .”

Cai Heyan said: "After the autumn harvest, I will go to Hebei to build canals. I am worried that my husband will not go north. Now that Liu Bei has left Nanyang, it happens that he can recruit from Nanyang. My elder brother still needs to recommend a reliable person to take up the post in Nanyang, so that we can act calmly. .”

Cai Hao waved his hands and said, "This matter should not be rushed. Before Liu Bei passes Wuguan, don't move lightly. If you don't have enough civilian husbands, you can recruit from Xinye first. He Yuan Tan got my favor, and he should be rewarded."

Cai He nodded and said, "Little brother understands."

Recruiting peasants in the name of the government is counted as servitude, and there is no need to pay wages. This saves a lot of money compared to recruiting manpower.

When Liu Bei returned to Wancheng, Xu Shu and others were ready. When Liu Qin heard that Liu Bei was going to Chang'an, he recommended Du Ji, a native of Duling in Chang'an, as his guide.

Du Ji was originally the magistrate of Zheng County. Because of the rebellion in Guanzhong by the Xiliang army, the people's livelihood was poor, so he abandoned his official position and fled for his life. He took his elderly stepmother and fled to Jingzhou with refugees to avoid the chaos.

When he arrived in Fancheng, Liu Qin heard about his filial piety, so he stayed in Fancheng as an official. Because he was good at judging cases, he was promoted to a meritorious officer. The city joins the army.

Liu Bei saw that Du Ji had extraordinary knowledge and had served as a meritorious officer in Jingzhao, so he worshiped him as the master and took charge of military affairs, money and food with Fanqin.

At the end of July, Liu Bei dispatched [-] troops to Chang'an. When the people of Nanyang heard that Liu Bei was going to leave, they helped the old and the young to see him off along the road, crying and asking to stay. They couldn't bear to part.

Liu Bei looked sad on the horse, and sighed: "If brother Jingsheng can treat the people of Nanyang kindly, why should I regret it?"

(End of this chapter)