usatvline Chapter 87 Langxie Zhuge Clan
Chapter 87 Langxie Zhuge Clan
Upon hearing Jia Xu's words, a glint of light flashed in Liu Bei's eyes.
Sun Qian and Jian Yong exchanged a glance.
Jia Xu's words, though seemingly casual, actually carried immense weight.
First, it points out that he had a past relationship with Yuan Tan and was not an ordinary prisoner;
Secondly, it might also be an implication that he has no interest in me, Liu Bei.
Alas, I, Liu Bei, am still far too weak.
Even if such a talented person were to fall into poverty, he would have no interest in me.
Fine, I owe Yuan Qingzhou a great debt anyway, so I won't compete with him for talent.
Thinking of this, Liu Bei sighed inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.
Zhang Fei muttered:
"When this Suan Ding was captured, he said he wanted to see Yuan Qingzhou. I didn't think he was lying, so I brought him here."
Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then said to Jia Xu:
"Mr. Wenhe, please go and rest first. I will treat you with the utmost courtesy and respect. I will speak with you again after I have ascertained the situation."
He then ordered his men to take Jia Xu and Hu Che'er away and make proper arrangements for them.
After Jia Xu left, Liu Bei's expression immediately turned serious. He looked at Sun Qian and Jian Yong:
"Gongyou and Xianhe, what are your thoughts?"
Sun Qian stroked his beard and said:
"My lord, Jia Wenhe is a man of profound wisdom and resourcefulness, and also adept at self-preservation. His mention of Yuan Qingzhou is certainly not unintentional. It would be better to keep him at arm's length for now and observe his future actions. The most urgent matter is Zhang Xiu's defection to Lujiang!"
Jian Yong spoke up, his tone filled with excitement:
"My lord, this is a golden opportunity! Zhang Xiu has just suffered a defeat and is like a dog with its tail between its legs. Liu Xun is mediocre and lacks the talent of a great ruler. Moreover, he has just submitted to Lü Bu, and his foundation is not yet stable. Lujiang is rich and prosperous, bordering Shouchun to the north and controlling the Yangtze River to the south. It is a strategic location!"
Yuan Shu relied on this in the past, which shows its importance. Now, Lü Bu has just obtained the Imperial Seal and his arrogance is running high. If he can stabilize Lujiang and connect with his old troops in Huainan, his power will be even more difficult to control!
Guan Yu slightly opened his phoenix eyes and said in a deep voice:
"Brother, Xianhe is absolutely right. Our stay in Shouchun is not a long-term solution. Although Yuan Xiansi treats us as guests, it is not the act of a true man to be subservient to others. Lujiang is the perfect place! It can not only cut off Lü Bu's arm, but also become our base!"
Zhang Fei was even more eager to fight:
"Second Brother is right! Let's attack Lujiang! Zhang Xiu is a defeated general, and Liu Xun is an unknown nobody; we can use them to establish our authority!"
As Liu Bei listened to the words of the crowd, his heart was already filled with turmoil.
He spent half his life wandering and repeatedly lost his footing. His desire for a truly his own, secure and defensible foundation far exceeded that of ordinary people.
Lujiang is indeed too tempting.
But he was also well aware of the risks involved.
"What is the pretext for attacking Lujiang?"
Liu Bei asked slowly.
Sun Qian had already thought it through:
"It is perfectly justified! Liu Xun has received rewards from the court, yet he secretly colluded with the traitor Lü Bu. He is two-faced and his disloyal intentions are obvious! My lord is a member of the Han imperial family and the governor of Yuzhou. He has been ordered to punish the rebel. It is the right thing to do! This is the first point."
Secondly, Zhang Xiu's defeated troops wreaked havoc in the region, plundering the border area of Shouchun. It was only natural for our lord to pursue and suppress the remaining bandits, bringing his army to Lujiang in order to secure the borders and protect the people!
A resolute look deepened in Liu Bei's eyes. He stood up and slowly nodded, saying:
"Excellent! Let us use the pretext of suppressing the rebellion and pacifying the people to advance our troops on Lujiang!"
But he immediately changed the subject:
"However, our army is short of troops, and we rely heavily on Yuan Xiansi for food, supplies and equipment. This matter requires his approval, or at least his tacit consent, so that he will not interfere."
Guan Yu frowned:
"Will Yuan Xiansi agree? Lujiang is also part of Huainan; how could he not covet it?"
Liu Bei said:
"This is the key point. I should personally write a letter and send an envoy to Linzi to explain the advantages and disadvantages."
He looked at Jian Yong.
"Xianhe, your writing is excellent, please draft this for me. There are a few points that need to be clarified: First, Lü Bu has obtained the imperial seal and is ambitious. Liu Xun has joined the rebellion and is his southern wing henchman. If he is not eliminated soon, he will become a major threat to Qing and Xu provinces. I am willing to be the vanguard and strike first."
Secondly, if we obtain Lujiang, I am willing to share it with Xiansi. Alternatively, following the previous example, I will serve as the garrison commander of Qingzhou in the southern border region, and the money, grain, and taxes can all be discussed.
Thirdly, regarding Jia Xu, he mentioned that Jia Xu had a past relationship with Yuan Qingzhou, and that he had been temporarily detained to await further instructions, thus demonstrating his sincerity.
"in addition,"
Liu Bei said to Sun Qian,
"Gongyou, you should go to Linzi in person and meet with Yuan Xiansi, Guo Fengxiao, and Lu Zijing. You must persuade them to at least provide food and military supplies. If they can send a detachment as reinforcements, or allow me to mobilize some of the garrison troops in Shouchun, that would be even better."
"Yong (Qian) accepts the order!"
Jian Yong and Sun Qian responded in unison.
"Yun Chang, Yi De!"
Liu Bei looked at his two brothers.
"exist!"
Guan and Zhang were solemn.
"Gather the troops, stockpile provisions, and send out more scouts to infiltrate Lujiang to investigate Liu Xun and Zhang Xiu's strengths and weaknesses, and await Qingzhou's response!"
"promise!"
……
Qingzhou, outside Linzi city, a newly built workshop area.
The spring sunshine shines on a brand-new complex of buildings.
Here, factories stand tall, and the constant sound of looms has replaced the silence of the former farmland.
Accompanied by Lu Su, the newly appointed "Master Craftsman" Pu Yuan, and a group of craftsmen, Yuan Tan inspected the newly completed government-run textile workshop.
Inside the huge workshop, dozens of improved, uniformly designed new spinning machines were running at high speed.
Each machine is operated by a craftsman and can drive dozens of spindles at the same time, making it more than ten times more efficient than traditional women's weaving!
This is the "Qingzhou-style multi-spindle spinning machine" that Yuan Tan successfully replicated and improved after countless failures, thanks to his memory that was ahead of its time and his oral explanation of the principles.
"My lord, please take a look."
Pu Yuan couldn't hide his excitement as he pointed to a rapidly spinning machine.
"This machine is water-powered and gear-driven, and one machine can do the work of thirty people! Today, the daily production of cotton and linen yarn is a hundred times that of the past! The cost of cloth has been greatly reduced, and the quality is uniform and the price is low. It can not only supply the military needs, but also sell to Jiangbei. Merchants from Jingxiang and Jiangdong have also come to buy it at high prices!"
Lu Su added:
"My lord, in accordance with your policy of 'replacing work with relief, government-led operation, and permission for private operation,' twelve large workshops have been established in various counties of Qingzhou, absorbing more than 10,000 refugees and military dependents."
The government's annual revenue, particularly in cloth alone, has increased by more than 50%! Surplus labor in the populace has been placed in jobs, the markets are thriving, and bandits have virtually disappeared—truly a sign of good governance and social harmony!
Yuan Tan stroked the smooth yarn spindle, a great sense of accomplishment welling up in his heart.
This is the foundation for a prosperous and powerful nation!
The knowledge of the time traveler finally bore real fruit in this chaotic world.
The people of Qingzhou were happy and prosperous, prostitution flourished, and literati and poets lingered there, with the saying "I'd rather be a dog in Qingzhou than a man in Luoyang" being widely circulated.
In addition, the number of soldiers in Qingzhou has expanded to 50,000, including Lou Ban leading 1,000 iron cavalry.
It wasn't because he couldn't afford a horse, but mainly because no one was willing to sell one to him.
Even so, Qingzhou can still be considered one of the top powers in the Central Plains.
As the saying goes, "If you have a sharp sword in your heart, the desire to kill will naturally arise."
Yuan Tan was preparing to summon his trusted advisors to discuss strategies for attacking Lü Bu.
At this moment, a clerk came to report:
"My lord, the Zhuge clan of Langya has sent an envoy to offer congratulations, along with a hundred fine horses and a thousand bolts of silk. They wish to meet with you to discuss the joint operation of the workshops."
"The Zhuge family?" Yuan Tan's heart skipped a beat. "Please come to the side hall."