Ji Han Grand Commander

Chapter 168 162. Confession
"Squeak-"

The heavy door closed gently, and the house was cool, which was in stark contrast to the stuffiness outside.

Zhuge Liang held his feather fan in both hands and walked a few steps from the door to the position in front of Liu Bei's bed where he had just stood.

"I have met your Majesty."

Although there were no outsiders here, Zhuge Liang was still meticulous and observed all the necessary etiquette.

"Kong Ming is here? It's been a long time since we met in Longzhong..."

After such a long conversation, Liu Bei was a little exhausted, but he still forced himself to stay awake, wanting to complete the last journey of his life without any regrets.

Unfortunately, Liu Bei's brain reaction was a little slow at this moment. It seemed that he could not even remember the time of the Longzhong Plan, the key node that determined the future direction of the Han Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, I have been following Your Majesty since the thirteenth year of Jian'an, and it has been thirteen years."

Zhuge Liang couldn't bear to see Liu Bei's look and quickly answered for Liu Bei.

"Oh...oh. Thirteen years... Military Advisor, you don't hold a grudge against me for what happened just now, do you?"

Liu Bei's eyes were blurred, and the imperial aura on his body was gone. Instead, he looked more like the Liu Shijun who stationed troops in Xinye back then.

"Your Majesty is the one who decides all national strategies. I am only offering suggestions. It is up to Your Majesty to decide whether to adopt them. How can I be resentful?"

Kong Ming bowed and spoke with natural emotion, as if he was explaining a trivial matter.

"Alas... Military Advisor, if the Marquis of Wu or the people of Jiangdong had some insight, I would not have had such an idea. But you know, a few months ago in Yiling, Xiu Yuan captured Lu Xun alive, and I personally talked to him. He did not hesitate to kill nearly 100,000 elite soldiers of my great Han, or even to kill me. He believed that the Marquis of Wu treated him as a national hero, and he should repay him as a national hero. What about my great Han? They don't care."

Liu Bei leaned on the couch and couldn't help but think of the great governor of Wu who had died a few months ago. That feeling made Liu Bei, who had been used to swallowing his anger all his life, feel a little awkward, just like the feeling in later generations where one treats others as a sweetheart and they treat him as an ATM.

Zhuge Liang sighed in his heart. Intellectually, he still insisted on the three-part strategy, but emotionally and practically, he really could not accept the actions of the King of Wei Wu and the generals under his command.

"I have seen what the Lord of Wu has done, so I have no objection to the Grand Commander's strategy."

Even someone who had never experienced it personally was somewhat angry, not to mention Liu Bei, who had lost his sworn brother and was almost burned to death by the Grand Commander of Jiangdong? Therefore, Zhuge Liang's words were sincere.

"Ah... That's good, that's good... I'm afraid that after I'm gone, there will be an unhealable rift between the two of you, one civil and one military, which may endanger the country. If the Han Dynasty does not perish from foreign enemies but dies from internal strife, it will really cause eternal ridicule."

Liu Bei's eyes were blurry and he seemed unable to open them, but he still forced himself to speak to Zhuge Liang.

"I have absolutely no such intention. Even if there are irreconcilable conflicts between me and the Grand Commander, I will not bring personal grudges into the court. How can national affairs be influenced by personal grudges?"

Zhuge Liang quickly bowed and expressed his attitude, which made Liu Bei nod repeatedly.

"Military Advisor, I have already told Xiu Yuan. He will be in charge of Jing, Yang, and Jiao. As for the governor of Jing, I want Gong Heng to be the governor. Gong Heng is brave and resourceful, and has fought with Xiu Yuan for several months. The two have become somewhat familiar with each other and have a tacit understanding. If Gong Heng is the governor of Jing, he can not only ensure that Jingzhou's production is not lost, but also assist Xiu Yuan in the war, and will not be a hindrance. In addition, Gong Heng was born in Yizhou, and he is a bold and independent person. I don't think anyone will think that Gong Heng is being sidelined by Xiu Yuan."

After reminiscing about the past, Liu Bei turned the topic to business. Feng Xi was not Guan Yu. Since he was in charge of the troops of three states as the Grand Commander, he must not be allowed to interfere in civil positions such as the Provincial Governor. Otherwise, even if Liu Bei agreed, there would be a lot of people who would oppose it.

Therefore, the position of the highest civil servant, the Governor of Jingzhou, must be someone who is capable enough so as not to be criticized as a puppet, and someone who is wise enough not to hinder Feng Xi.

Huang Quan was a capable official who could command battles on horseback and handle internal affairs, and he had made great contributions in the Eastern Expedition. So it was natural for him to be appointed as the Governor of Jingzhou, and there was not much resistance.

Zhuge Liang thought about it and felt that there was nothing wrong with Huang Quan being in Jingzhou. He could monitor Feng Xi without being a drag on him, so he was the best candidate.

"Your Majesty is wise and Gong Heng is both civil and military. He will be in charge of the important areas of Jingxiang and cooperate with the Grand Commander, so there will be no mistakes."

Zhuge Liang had no doubt about Liu Bei's ability to identify and employ people.

"In addition, I intend to let De'ang govern the land of Jiaozhou. De'ang has a lot of experience in pacifying foreign tribes. I heard that there are many Cham people in Jiaozhou, and it borders the Nanman, so the situation is complicated. Letting De'ang go there will help pacify the local people. In addition, De'ang is not a weak scholar, and he also has military strategy. Letting him watch over the surrendered general Yu Jin will ensure that there will be no problems."

Liu Bei mentioned Jiaozhou again. Jiaozhou was originally a mess. There were many races and cultures, such as the Nanman, Wulingman, Cham, and Han people. In addition, the climate was hot and the locals did not accept the king's rule. This place was the right remedy for Li Hui, who was talented and had dealt with many ethnic minorities.

As for Yu Jin, the method of dealing with him was even simpler. Liu Bei would let Yu Jin hold a high position, even nominally as Li Hui's deputy, but he would only be responsible for training and commanding the army, without the actual power to command the troops. And those Wei troops would be disrupted and dispersed to various places as county troops to suppress the local areas.

Later, the soldiers trained by Yu Jin will be led and commanded by the Han army's lieutenant generals, captains and other officers of all ranks, or even Feng Xi.

Of course, if the situation is urgent, it is not impossible to let Yu Jin fight a few battles. After the battle, the military power will still have little to do with him.

"In the future, if Yangzhou is pacified, you can send Li Zhengfang to take charge. I just told him this. Li Zhengfang is brave but also meticulous. I think he will have no problem governing Jiangdong."

Liu Bei would never see the day when he conquered Jiangdong, but that did not stop him from making arrangements in advance.

"By then, the troops of the three states will be under Xiuyuan's command. I have also told Xiuyuan that if he has any idea of ​​a northern expedition, he should first inform Chengdu, and I will have to trouble the military advisor to take care of it."

"Your Majesty, is it a bit strange for the Grand Commander to be in charge of the troops of the three states..."

Zhuge Liang did not continue, but Liu Bei naturally understood. Zhuge Liang felt that Feng Xi's power was too great and he might not be able to get rid of it in the future.

"Xiu Yuan is a smart man who knows the big picture. I made this arrangement because I really don't want Xiu Yuan to repeat Yun Chang's mistakes."

When Liu Bei saw Zhuge Liang asking, he couldn't help but sigh.

The former Nanjun prefect was appointed by Liu Bei. Liu Bei could not have imagined that Mi Fang, his second brother-in-law, would rebel directly because he could not bear the pressure and did not get along with Guan Yu.

(End of this chapter)