In Runan, Yuzhou, Liu Bei led Guan Zhang and captured another city.
It is better to say that it was a defeat than a surrender. When the officials and generals in the city heard that Liu Bei's army was coming, they immediately opened the city gate and surrendered.
On the way from Shouchun, there are almost a dozen cities like this that look down from the wind.
Originally, according to Liu Bei's expectations, in order to welcome Liu Xie's southward movement and ensure smooth traffic along the road, he would try to seize the city and stabilize the situation in Yuzhou while advancing.
But the development of things far exceeded Liu Bei's expectations. Everywhere he went, the defenders and civilians came out of the city to surrender. Along the way, they encountered almost no decent resistance.
Liu Bei asked with doubts, only to learn that the people in Runan were not living well under Yuan Shu's rule.
Although Yuzhou is a land rich in grain production, it suffered from successive major disasters and the people's lives were in poverty. Yuan Shu only collected taxes without caring about the people's livelihood. Instead, he increased taxes, which caused complaints from the people below.
Later, Cao Cao and Yuan Shu fought, and Cao Jun came over. The people thought they could live a good life. However, Cao Jun either massacred the city or attacked with water. As a result, the people in Runan were frightened when they heard the name of Cao Jun.
At this time, Liu Bei's reputation for benevolence and righteousness in Xuzhou slowly spread to Yuzhou, so that when the people heard that Liu Bei was coming, they were overjoyed and went out of the city to greet him.
While Liu Bei was happy, he couldn't help but ask a question to the officials in the city.
"Yuan Xianyi and Yuan Shijun occupied Xuzhou, and now they occupy Jiujiang, which is also bordering Runan. If they come to attack, how will you react?"
The official hesitated and said, "Do you want to hear the truth?"
Liu Bei waved his hand and said, "Just say it."
The official smiled bitterly and said: "If we knew that Yuan Shijun was coming, I'm afraid the city would surrender even faster."
"After all, under Yuan Shijun's rule, the people are prosperous and happy, and it is said that there is no suffering from military disasters, because Yuan Shijun is invincible and can keep the enemy at bay."
When Liu Bei heard this, his face suddenly became a little embarrassed. Zhang Fei next to him raised his eyebrows and was about to scold him, but was stopped by Guan Yu.
The official added: "Furthermore, Yuan Shijun is relying on the Yuan family. Everyone knows that the Yuan family occupies most of the world. Previously, it was just internal fighting. Now that the dust has settled, Yuan Benchu's group has gained power. If Yuan Shijun takes over Yuzhou, I’m just afraid that the world will be peaceful.”
"By then, Runan will be safe and we will never have to fight again. Of course that's good."
"But Shijun Liu is also from the same lineage as Benchu Gong. They are all the same."
After hearing this, Liu Bei thanked the official and asked him to go back. He couldn't help but sigh to Guan Zhang: "We have lost our territory several times. Based on this alone, we are far inferior to Mr. Xian Yi."
Guan Yu said solemnly: "Everyone has his or her own strengths, brother, don't belittle yourself."
He then said to Zhang Fei: "Third brother, no matter what you think in your heart, without Yuan Shijun, we can't take Yuzhou, so don't criticize us in front of others to avoid being criticized."
After hearing this, Zhang Fei said dullly: "I know."
Liu Bei sighed: "Second brother is right, don't worry about what others do, we just have to do our own thing."
"The top priority right now is to welcome the emperor. Now most of Runan has been pacified. Going north from here, we reach the border of Yingchuan County."
"If we open up Yingchuan, we can enter Sili. However, Yingchuan County is completely different from Runan. Most of it is Cao Cao's territory."
"In particular, several big families, including the Xun family in Yingchuan, have taken refuge with Cao Cao. If we want to go there, we will inevitably have to fight a fierce battle. It is very difficult for Runan to surrender in Kaicheng."
"And what I'm worried about is not just Yingchuan, but also Sun Bofu."
"Like me, he has received the emperor's secret edict to welcome us. He has already arrived at Lujiang River and can meet us a few hundred miles north. But now he has not arrived. Is there something wrong?"
"It would be okay if he doesn't send troops, but if he has a connection with Cao Cao and attacks us from behind, what should we do?"
Guan Yu's eyes flashed, "Brother, do you think Sun Ce may have defected to Cao Cao?"
Liu Bei sighed: "It's just a guess."
"After all, Cao Cao can deceive us with marriage, and he may also use similar means to impress Sun Bofu."
Guan Yu hesitated and said, "Isn't it possible?"
"What benefits can Cao Cao give Sun Ce?"
Liu Bei nodded and said: "My second brother does make sense, but I can't figure out the connection."
"What a pity. I don't have an adviser I can trust now. If Chen Deng and Chen Qun had been here, we wouldn't be in this situation."
Guan Zhang also felt the same. It was too important to have a good counselor. They could fight, but in terms of strategy, they were played around by other forces. I have to say that the shortcomings of counselors really restricted Liu Bei's development.
Liu Bei pointed to the map, "So it is extremely important for us to capture Runan. Not only is it rich in grain production and has a large population, it also borders Yingchuan and Nanyang."
"We don't need to think about the Yingchuan noble clan for the time being, but there is a lot more work that can be done in Nanyang."
After hearing this, Guan Yu suddenly remembered something and said, "Brother, are you talking about the Jingzhou gentry under Liu Jingsheng?"
Liu Bei smiled: "Exactly!"
"Not only the Jingzhou nobles, but also the Central Plains nobles who fled to Jingzhou for refuge in large numbers after the Chang'an Rebellion!"
Li Jue and Guo Si rebelled in Chang'an, resulting in ten houses and nine empty houses and a loss of life. All the nobles in Sili fled one after another. Their first choice was naturally not Yanzhou and Yuzhou, which were prone to wars, but Jingzhou in the south, which had almost no war and had a prosperous life. .
In addition, after Liu Biaodan rode into Jingzhou, he got along well with the wealthy families in Jingzhou and built a charity school, which also attracted many fleeing nobles. Since then, talents have gathered and a large number of celebrities have settled in Jingzhou.
Liu Bei told Guan Zhang the whole story, "This is why I am trying my best to be a pawn of Master Xian Yi. Even if I am threatened by Cao Cao from behind, I still have to stand in Yuzhou."
"When the time comes, I will make friends with Liu Jingsheng. Both of us are members of the Liu clan, so we can help each other, and I can also recruit famous people from Jingzhou for my own use!"
"After all, there are many famous people in Jingzhou, but important positions are held by a few big families such as the Cai family. Many noble families who want to gain fame feel that their talents are not being met, but unfortunately they can't get the right opportunity."
"As long as Yuzhou is pacified, and we continue to welcome the emperor and increase our momentum to a higher level, we will be able to attract a large number of famous people to invest, and among them we will definitely find the counselors we need!"
After hearing this, Guan and Zhang were all happy and praised: "Brother has great foresight and is really smart!"
Liu Bei was also very proud. After experiencing so many setbacks, he finally understood a truth.
In a world where heroes gather together, if you want to seize opportunities and benefits from other forces, you cannot rely on the three brothers alone. You must rely on the effectiveness and connections of the nobles to realize your ambition to revive the Han Dynasty!
Before that, he still needs to hide his strength, bide his time, forbear his plot, and be the one who perseveres to the end when surrounded by powerful enemies!
The three brothers chatted happily, so they gave a banquet and called the city's dancers and singers to accompany them.
Zhang Fei was half drunk, stared at the dancer and said: "I can see her posture, but her appearance is not as good as that of Yuan Gongli's harem concubines."
"I don't know what happened to the ones my eldest and second brothers took away. I was always very energetic those nights!"
Liu Bei and Guan Yu all blushed after hearing this. They accepted Yuan Xi's wish to choose a woman. It was really difficult to talk about this matter, so there was no taboo in Zhang Fei's words.
However, the three of them had to admit that the appearance of the women in Yuan Shu's harem was worthy of being selected from several states. Each of them was a top choice, so the three of them did not have the heart to refuse in the end.
Liu Bei sighed in his heart, this is the benefit of status. As long as you have power and status, your ambitions and desires can be satisfied. No wonder everyone wants to be the emperor!
But on the other hand, if you want to maintain this power, you also need corresponding strength.
Otherwise, just like a child walking in a busy city holding a pearl, everyone who sees it will have the idea of snatching the pearl and holding the child hostage!
If the emperor has no power, a few warriors and generals can hijack him. If the emperor has no brains, he will be deceived and controlled by counselors and civil servants, and the imperial power in his hands will be as useless.
This is the case for the current emperor Liu Xie. Liu Bei couldn't help but have an idea in his heart, what does it mean to revive the Han Dynasty?
Does the current emperor Liu Xie necessarily represent the Han Dynasty?
Liu Bei was already half drunk. Looking at the dancing woman in front of him, the desire in his heart seemed to have swelled a little. However, at this moment, a messenger hurriedly came in and knelt down to Liu Bei and said: "Your Majesty, I am sending you an urgent message from the south." Letter here."
After hearing this, Liu Bei said casually: "To the south? Where?"
The messenger said: "Lujiang Wancheng."
Liu Bei was startled and he was mostly awake from the wine, "A letter from Sun Bofu?"
The messenger said: "No, it's about the assassination of Sun Bofu in Wancheng, Lujiang."
Liu, Guan, and Zhang opened their eyes in surprise at the same time. Liu Bei had completely sobered up from his wine. He waved to the dancer to go down, took the leather tube from the messenger's hand, tore open the paint on it, and pulled out a piece of silk.
When he unfolded it and took a look, his expression suddenly changed.
Guan and Zhang came over to take a look and were shocked.
Sun Ce was assassinated and shot in the face with an arrow. He was seriously injured and his life was in danger!
The first reaction of the three people was, what a coincidence, they happened to be welcoming the emperor!
Then a thought arose at the same time, who ordered it?
Zhang Fei blurted out: "Did the fierce tiger do it?"
Guan Yu said in a deep voice: "Third brother, don't make random guesses without evidence!"
Zhang Fei was unconvinced and said: "Who else besides him?"
"Sun Ce robbed him of Wancheng, so he naturally holds a grudge. Moreover, if Sun Ce is dead, wouldn't Yangzhou be in his pocket?"
"Now, his power will expand rapidly and he will become the next Yuan Shu!"
Although Liu Bei and Guan Yu don't agree with Zhang Fei's words, they have to admit that there is some truth in it!
Zhang Fei saw this and said proudly: "And this fierce tiger is really cruel. He knew that we were flattering the emperor, so he killed Sun Ce in advance because he didn't want the emperor to escape his control!"
"No," Liu Bei said at this time: "This is the unreasonable thing."
"If he knew that we secretly welcomed the Emperor, he could have taken the Emperor hostage to another place in advance. Why would he let him stay in Huaicheng?"
"You know, Lu Bu is one of his people. If you want so much, wouldn't it be a piece of cake?"
"Why would he risk the possibility of failing the assassination and falling out with Sun Ce?"
"If the matter is revealed and Sun Ce turns his back and attacks Lujiang and Jiujiang, and he is beyond his reach in Jizhou, wouldn't he lose all his territory?"
Guan Yu said solemnly: "Brother is right, this is indeed unreasonable."
(End of chapter)
