novelSusiti Chapter 31 Madman or Hero?
Chapter 31 Madman or Hero?
It was May, and the world was like a furnace.
However, when Liu Bei came to visit, Zhen Yu, the head of the Zhen family, personally led his two younger brothers, Zhen Yan and Zhen Yao, to open the door and greet them with great respect.
Liu Bei presented Zhao Le's private letter. After Zhen Yu read it, his attitude became even more attentive. He immediately ordered someone to slaughter an ox and prepare wine, and set up a grand feast to entertain him.
The banquet was held in the main hall of Zhen's Fortress, with lacquered tables and tripods, and the aroma of wine filled the air.
The three Zhen brothers sat with Liu Bei, while Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Tian Yu, and Jian Yong were seated on Liu Bei's side. The rest of the soldiers camped and rested outside the fortified village.
According to the customs of powerful families in the Han Dynasty, when male guests were entertained at home, female relatives were not allowed to enter the main hall and could only avoid the guests in the backyard or under the eaves.
But today's guest is quite unusual. He is not only a famous general who has shaken Youzhou and beheaded more than 10,000 Yellow Turbans, but also a young man who is only twenty-four years old.
Moreover, the private letter from his uncle Zhao Le had spread throughout the entire household, saying that he intended to marry a woman from the Zhen family to this Mr. Liu.
Once this news spread, how could the women of the Zhen family possibly hold back?
Zhen Jiang was just of marriageable age, and if she were to marry Liu Jun, she would be the best choice. Therefore, she was at the age when young girls were in love.
She tugged at her sister-in-law's sleeve and whispered, "Sister-in-law, let's go to the front hall and take a look, just to see what kind of person he is that my uncle praises so highly, saying he has the spirit of a hero."
"Doesn't my sister-in-law want to know what heroism is?"
The eldest sister-in-law, a member of the Zhang family from Changshan, was quite composed. Upon hearing this, she said, "What kind of behavior is this?"
The second sister-in-law, Liu, was a descendant of the imperial family of Hejian. She had the carefree spirit of a princess of the Liu clan and said with a smile, "An elder sister-in-law is like a mother. Now that my younger sister is of marriageable age, it would not be unreasonable for the elder sister-in-law to go and check on her."
As she spoke, she took light steps, leading several female relatives and ladies-in-waiting outside.
Although Zhang said it was improper, seeing that they had already left, she still moved her feet out a little and followed them, while making up an excuse for herself: "I'm just going to keep an eye on them, so that they don't cause too much trouble and lose their manners."
Soon, seven or eight women from the Zhen family had gathered in the corridor outside the hall.
Zhen Jiang was dressed in a dark blue robe, with a silver hairpin in her hair, her hair styled in a bun and tied with a blue silk ribbon, and a plain sash around her waist. She looked exactly like the "green collar" described in the Book of Songs.
She was slender with a fair complexion and exceptionally bright eyes. At that moment, her beautiful eyes blinked as she looked into the hall through the window under the corridor.
The hall was filled with guests and hosts. People sat on both sides of the lacquered table. At the head of the table sat a young man dressed in a deep crimson robe with a long sword at his waist. To his left was a majestic man in a green robe with a red face and a beautiful beard, and to his right was a fierce general with a leopard's head, round eyes, a swallow's jaw, and a tiger's beard.
Zhen Jiang's gaze lingered on Liu Bei's face for a moment, then she asked softly, "Sister-in-law, which one is Liu Xuande? Has he not yet taken his seat?"
After peering through the crack for a while to make sure she wasn't mistaken, Liu pointed to the young man in the main seat: "The one sitting in the most honored position is him."
"Hmm..." Zhen Jiang followed her finger and looked at him carefully, her brows furrowing slightly, her tone somewhat disappointed. "He just looks like a gentle and kind neighbor, nothing heroic at all. He's far less imposing than the green-robed general beside him. Uncle, are you exaggerating?"
Upon hearing this, Liu's smile deepened, and she said softly, "What's the rush... just listen to what he has to say."
Zhen Jiang immediately held her breath and looked into the room.
The pleasantries between the two parties inside the room had ended, and they were getting down to business.
Zhen Yu put down his wine cup, sat up straight, and bowed to Liu Bei, saying, "Lord Liu, I have been puzzled by something lately. Now that you have come to visit, may I ask you for your guidance?"
Liu Bei immediately cupped his hands and replied, "Please speak freely, Lord Zhen."
Zhen Yu immediately said, "I have heard that even before the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, Lord Liu was able to see through the wicked and treacherous, and decisively killed the ringleader of the rebels in the streets of Zhuojun. Afterwards, he led his righteous army to fight in three counties, winning battle after battle within a month, beheading more than ten thousand people, and his prestige shook Youzhou. Such foresight and military skills are truly beyond the reach of us who sit in the fortified villages."
"Although Yu and my younger brother have some meager assets, they are ultimately ignorant of military affairs. These days, they are trapped in a fortified village and can only see the situation outside the city through a fog. Right General Zhu Jun was defeated by Bo Cai, the Yellow Turbans in Runan defeated Prefect Zhao Qian, and Zhang Mancheng in Nanyang gathered more than 100,000 people—bad news came one after another, and we don't know how much we believe and how much we doubt."
He sighed, a bewildered look on his face: "In your opinion, Mr. Liu, where will the current state of the world go?"
He initially intended to ask the court if it could stabilize the situation, but considering Liu Bei's ambition to restore the Han dynasty, he hesitated and changed his question: "How long will it take for the court to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion? How should we deal with this turbulent situation?"
Under the eaves, Zhen Jiang couldn't help but hold her breath. Her disappointment with her appearance was quickly replaced by her expectation of her talent.
The world is in chaos, and the court and the countryside are out of order; even she, a woman confined to her chambers, has heard of this.
With the world situation unclear and people's minds in turmoil, his answer is enough to show whether he has heroic talent.
If one merely offers empty words of comfort and talks about the inevitable victory of the court, then that is nothing more than the opinion of an ordinary, mediocre person.
She wanted to listen carefully to how he would answer.
Liu Bei remained calm and asserted, "What you ask is also a question that perplexes countless heroes of this era."
"Although I am not talented, I am willing to try to analyze this for you all."
"Although the Yellow Turban Rebellion was raging and rampant, rising suddenly like wildfire, its rise was swift and its fall swift. In terms of preparedness for war, this band of rebels can be quelled with a mere command and pacified within ten days."
Before he could finish speaking, the whole room was shocked. Zhen Yan's wine cup clattered to the ground, spilling wine all over himself.
A series of low gasps came from the corridor outside the hall.
Could this person have some kind of megalomania, and likes to boast and deceive the world?
The imperial army has just suffered a defeat, causing shockwaves throughout eight prefectures. Local officials have fled, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion is gaining momentum.
The people were filled with fear, and it was uncertain whether the Han Dynasty could survive.
But at that moment, he said that the situation would be resolved in ten days.
Zhen Yan, young and impetuous, immediately rebuked upon hearing this, saying, "I thought you were an honored guest, so I humbly sought your guidance."
"Why do you try to deceive us with these words? The Yellow Turbans now number a million, spanning multiple prefectures and counties, and have won battle after battle, conquering prefectures and counties, beheading local officials, and the situation is in complete disarray, like a great river flowing eastward. It is a time when the world is unable to control them. How dare you say that it will be quelled in a month?"
Even Zhen Yu was deeply disappointed. This Liu Xuande was spouting nothing but empty boasts! Could he be a fame-seeking scoundrel who enjoys deceiving the world with wild words?
Could it be that my uncle was deceived by his boastful words? That's why he mistook this arrogant fellow for a hero?
Seeing that Zhen Yan, a mere child, dared to question his elder brother, Zhang Fei's eyes widened in fury. He transformed into a fiercely protective brother, slamming his fist on the table and shouting, "You callous brat, how dare you question the opinions of a hero? When we fought valiantly, utterly defeating the Yellow Turbans and beheading over ten thousand, you were still hiding in your fortified villages, trembling with fear and weeping!"
"My elder brother, seeing your humility in seeking knowledge, generously shared his wisdom. How dare you, ignorant of a hero's insight, speak so disrespectfully?"
His majestic and fierce aura was awe-inspiring; his roar of power chilled the entire room to the bone.
Even the Zhen family women who were watching from afar were terrified, their faces turning pale. They all shrank back and hid under the wall, not daring to look directly at the scene.
Faced with such a fierce general, Zhen Yan and Zhen Yao were so frightened that their bodies stiffened and they dared not make the slightest move.
Liu Bei waved his hand dismissively, silencing Zhang Fei, and then said, "Since the Zhen family still harbors doubts about me, there's no point in me saying more. I'll take my leave now."
As soon as he stood up, all his generals immediately sprang to their feet, gripped their swords, glared at Zhen Yu, snorted coldly, and prepared to leave.
Zhen Yu quickly stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Liu Jun, please don't be hasty. My second brother is still young and speaks without thinking. Please consider his youth and don't take it to heart."
"We came here specifically to seek your advice after hearing of Lord Liu's great victory over the Yellow Turbans and his awe-inspiring reputation in Youzhou. However, please forgive our ignorance, as we cannot see the true nature of the world. The Yellow Turbans are currently at their peak. How can Lord Liu claim that he can subdue them in a month? They are a million strong, spanning multiple provinces and counties, seemingly invincible."
"I hope that Mr. Liu will consider my relationship with my uncle and offer me more guidance."
"If we gain any insight into the times and the general trend, enabling the Zhen family to preserve their territory amidst the chaos, we will certainly lend you a helping hand, to serve the nation, uphold the Han dynasty, and to suppress the rebels and bring peace to the region."
"Mr. Liu, please sit down, please sit down."
Liu Bei then sat back down and told Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and the others to calm down, saying, "Although the Yellow Turbans are raging, there are three reasons why they are destined to be defeated."
"Firstly, the virtue of the Han dynasty has not declined, and the Mandate of Heaven has not changed. In particular, Your Majesty has issued an edict ordering local authorities to raise their own righteous armies to quell the rebellion. Many powerful figures in the land are loyal to the Han dynasty, while few are loyal to the Yellow Turbans. Just like the Zhen family, does Lord Zhen not also hope that the court will swiftly suppress the rebellion?"
At this point, Zhen Yu was taken aback. Indeed, according to his connections with powerful clans, almost none of the major families in Zhongshan were inclined to side with the Yellow Turbans.
Is this what they mean by "the virtue of the Han people has not yet been exhausted"?
Liu Bei, however, did not give him time to think further and continued, "Secondly, although the Yellow Turbans are numerous, their commands are not unified. The Zhang brothers occupy Ji Province, Bo Cai disturbs Yu Province, and Zhang Mancheng wreaks havoc in Nanyang. It seems that eight provinces have risen up at the same time, and their momentum is overwhelming, but in reality, each has its own followers, making it difficult to unite them."
"It is like a centipede, stiff but not dead. It cannot advance to attack Luoyang and command the world, nor can it retreat to support each other and defeat the king's army."
"The court only needs to calmly deploy its forces and defeat them one by one. This is what military strategy calls 'scattered forces are easily defeated, while concentrated forces are difficult to conquer.'"
These words finally moved Zhen Yu, and she felt relieved.
The biggest problem facing the Yellow Turbans right now is their stagnation and inability to move. Although they claim to number a million, they are slow, congested, and almost devoid of any drive to advance.
They might not even be able to muster tens of thousands of elite troops to defeat the royal army and then march on Luoyang. In that case, the overall situation would certainly be difficult to achieve.
"In the end, although the Yellow Turban rebels were numerous, they had very few elite troops. Most of them were farmers armed with plows and bamboo spears. They rose up hastily and, although they could capture people wherever they went, they had no rear base to sustain their war effort. Their food and weapons all depended on plunder. Once they could not capture a fortified city and their supply lines were cut off, they were like fish out of water, collapsing without a fight."
"The imperial court, on the other hand, possesses the nation's granaries and treasuries, with well-trained troops and ample provisions, enabling a sustained campaign of suppression. The Yellow Turbans will not be able to withstand this!"
"As for General Zhu's defeat at the hands of Bo Cai, it is merely a minor setback. In the past, Xiang Yu won every battle, but was ultimately defeated at Gaixia; Han Xin fought with his back to the river and was able to turn defeat into victory. The gain or loss of a single city or garrison is not a cause for concern about the overall situation."
"My esteemed teacher, General Lu, the Northern General, is personally leading the elite Northern Army, stationed in Ye City. He has won every battle; the defeat of the Yellow Turbans is imminent, either today or tomorrow. In my opinion, we will surely receive news of victory within a few months!"
Upon hearing this, Zhen Yu couldn't help but cup his hands and ask, "Then, in Lord Liu's opinion, how should our distinguished families conduct ourselves in this world?"
Liu Bei calmly replied, "I also have three strategies for you, Lord Zhen, to choose from."
"Those of lesser rank defend their fortified strongholds, ensuring the safety of their territory and people. The Yellow Turban Rebellion lasted only a summer. The Zhen family's fortified strongholds are high-walled and deeply moated, storing tens of thousands of bushels of grain and employing several thousand men, which is sufficient to hold their ground and await any change in the situation."
"Wait a few months and the outcome will be clear. Once the imperial army has arrived from all sides and the rebels have collapsed, the Zhen family can preserve their clan and weather the storm without losing a single soldier. This is a prudent strategy."
Zhen Yu nodded slightly but remained silent. He knew that since Liu Bei had said "the inferior one," he must have a better plan in mind.
"Among them," Liu Bei continued, "we have opened up granaries to store grain to aid the royal army. The imperial army is currently stationed in Ye City, locked in a stalemate with Zhang Jiao for months, and the daily consumption of grain by tens of thousands of soldiers is incalculable."
"The counties and prefectures of Hebei are in ruins, and the transport of grain is difficult. Lu Shi's army may not have enough provisions. If the Zhen family can send one of their sons and followers to deliver 10,000 bushels of grain and 100 horses to support the royal army in suppressing the rebels, it would be like sending charcoal in snowy weather."
"In this way, not only can we avoid the calamity of the Yellow Turban raids, but our merits will also be recorded by the court. When the rebels are pacified and rewards are distributed, the sons of the Zhen family may become magistrates of a county or officials of a prefecture. This is what is meant by 'buying merit with wealth,' achieving both fame and fortune."
Upon hearing this, Zhen Yu was already moved. For him, using financial gains to achieve his goals was the safest course of action.
But he still held onto the best strategy, so he looked intently at Liu Bei, waiting to ask again.
Liu Bei's gaze swept over the three Zhen brothers, he paused slightly, and said:
"As for those above—"
"Please forgive my bluntness, but I fear it is not what Lord Zhen wishes to hear."
Zhen Yu sat upright, respectfully cupping his hands in greeting: "Please speak freely, Mr. Liu!"
"Following the example of Emperor Guangwu, they gave their all to help the country in times of crisis. When Emperor Guangwu toured Hebei, heroes and valiant men from all the counties he visited gave their all to assist him."
"Liu Yang, the King of Zhending, contributed tens of millions of coins to help, Ren Guang of Xindu led several thousand members of his clan and guests to join the army, and Geng Kuang of Shanggu sent two thousand cavalry and one thousand infantrymen south—these people later became marquises and generals, and their names are recorded in history, too many to count."
"In these chaotic times, it is precisely the perfect opportunity for heroes like these to risk everything and seize the chance to be ennobled and appointed as generals."
The hall fell silent for a moment; indeed, this superior strategy was not something an ordinary person could adopt.
After a long while, Zhen Yu finally came to his senses and solemnly cupped his hands: "I am deeply grateful for Lord Liu's sincere treatment. Every word of your three strategies is precious. However, this inferior strategy is too conservative and lacks flexibility. Staying trapped in a fortified village and watching the situation change is nothing more than being a guard dog. How can it be worthy of Lord Liu's special instruction today?"
"The best course of action is to devote one's entire family to righteousness, which would indeed be worthy of being ennobled. However, the Zhen clan has thousands of members and guests, and as the head of the family, I dare not gamble with the lives of the entire clan for my own sake. My ancestor, Marquis Chengyang, protected the family with prudence, and I dare not forget that."
"The only middle strategy is to use wealth to aid the army by supplying grain. This will not harm the clan's foundation and will serve the country. This is the way the Zhen family should take."
He turned to his second brother, Zhen Yan, and said, "My second brother will lead a thousand followers and ten thousand bushels of millet to accompany Lord Liu south to serve in Lord Lu's army. This will not only help the royal army to defeat the rebels, but also allow him to make a name for himself on the battlefield."
Looking at Zhen Yan's passionate face, Liu Bei sighed inwardly.
It seems that choosing the best among the three options—superior, middle, and inferior—is a common practice throughout history.
However, he never expected the Zhen family to easily submit to him. It was enough that they were able to send their sons and brothers to serve the army.
The powerful clans of the world have always fought for their positions step by step.
So Liu Bei reached out and helped Zhen Yan up, saying, "Second Young Master, you are young and promising. With Lord Lu's army to rely on you on your journey to Ye City, you will soon be able to achieve great things. Although I am not talented, I am determined to fight alongside you and face the national crisis together."
Thus, the guests and hosts parted in high spirits.
After Liu Bei left, Zhen Yu gave a light snort and said to the people outside the hall, "Come in, everyone's gone!"
A moment later, Zhang and six or seven women, heads bowed, cautiously entered the hall.
"Greetings, my husband."
"Greetings, elder brother."
"Brother knows we're in the outer corridor? Does that mean Liu Lang also knows we're spying on us?"
Zhen Yu snorted and said, "I heard all your voices. How could Liu Jun, a master of archery, not know? It's just that Liu Xuande is a magnanimous and generous man, and he didn't point it out to save your face."
Zhen Yao, being the youngest, couldn't help but ask, "Brother, do you really believe what Liu Bei said? Now he's sending Second Brother to help in the battle. Doesn't that mean he'll really marry Eldest Sister to him later?"
Zhen Jiang's face flushed red instantly, and she scolded, "Nonsense! What does a child know about marriage?"
Zhen Yu turned to look at his wife, Madam Zhang, knowing she was in the corridor assessing Liu Bei, and asked, "What does Madam think of Liu Bei?"
Zhang hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "I am but a woman, how could I understand any heroic spirit? I only feel that they seem to be exaggerating. The Yellow Turbans spanned multiple prefectures and counties, numbering as many as a million. Even if they did not resist at all, could they be pacified in a single summer?"
Zhen Yu found Liu Bei's words reasonable, which is why he did not choose the best option. While he agreed with Liu Bei's statement that the Yellow Turbans were unlikely to gain momentum, he did not believe Liu Bei's claim that the Yellow Turbans could be quelled in a month.
He and his wife were both very displeased with Liu Bei's assertion.
At this moment, Zhen Jiang puffed out her cheeks and said defiantly, "What if it is truly as Liu Lang said, that the royal army will win in ten days and the Yellow Turbans will be pacified in a summer?"
Everyone looked surprised. Liu said, "That truly shows Liu Lang's heroic spirit, unparalleled in his generation, and his spirit soaring to the heavens."
Zhen Yu shook his head, looked at the black-armored cavalry encamped outside the fortified village, and sighed, "If that's really the case, it's not just about heroic spirit; it's downright unparalleled, with an aura that can swallow ten thousand miles!"
If she were truly marrying such a hero, so gentle and refined, it would be a perfect match! Zhen Jiang was overjoyed and said, "Then let's do as he says and wait a few months to see the outcome. Can't our great Zhen family even wait a few months?"
Liu Bei was unaware of the discussions among Zhen Yu and others within the clan.
He did not linger in Wuji. As the saying goes, all desires lead to suffering, while those without desires are invincible. He did not crave to serve the Zhen family, and his attitude was naturally indifferent.
The next morning, he decisively led his troops to set off, and Zhen Yan led his followers to follow.
Liu Bei was worried that something might happen to him, so he took him with him and had Cheng Pu help him manage the baggage.
Zhen Yan was a wealthy young man who disliked vulgar things and was happy to see this.
After the army left Zhongshan, Liu Bei couldn't help but smile. He hadn't taken away the Zhen family girl who was comparable to Empress Wenzhao during his visit, but instead he had taken away a young nobleman who resembled Mi Zhu.
It could be considered a different kind of gain.