Chapter 388: The Successor

As Yuan Xi took the initiative to open Feihu Road to welcome Liu Bei into Zhuo County, the entire six counties of Youzhou were shocked.

Xianyu Fu was well prepared at this level, but there were also warlords at the next level.

Wang Song, who controlled the three southern counties of Yuyang County, was also confused about the future, so he sought out a few scholars who were affiliated with him to discuss and seek countermeasures.

Liu Fang, the descendant of Xixiang Marquis of Zhuo County, was at the banquet. When the other people's suggestions did not satisfy Wang Song, he persuaded them: "In the past, when Dong Zhuo rebelled, heroes rose up, blocked the troops and made arbitrary orders, and people enfeoffed themselves, which led to Cao Cao's rebellion and murder of the emperor. Looking at the situation today, only the Grand Marshal can save the country from danger and chaos, support the country, serve the people and punish the criminals, and he will surely win!"

"In the past, with the strength of the two Yuans, the Huainan ice melted if they defended, but they were defeated at Guandu. Now, with the might of the Grand Marshal, they have swept through the country and have cleared the Heshuo area. With the combined power and punishment, the various Hu peoples have asked for surrender. The great situation is clear."

"Thus, those who arrive quickly will gradually gain blessings, while those who follow later will perish first. This is the time to not wait for the whole day to rush."

"In the past, Ying Bu abandoned his position as the emperor and returned to Han with a sword. He truly understood the principles of prosperity and decline and knew the difference between staying and leaving. General, you should devote yourself to him and make friends with him."

Wang Song listened and nodded repeatedly. He stood up, took Liu Fang's arm and said with a smile: "That's right. What Ziqi said is very much in line with my heart! I have also heard that the Grand Marshal is powerful for a long time. I admire him and have always wanted to submit to him. But the Yuan family is watching and there are Wuhuan around, so I dare not take any action. Now the Grand Marshal has sent the General Zhenbei to guard Youzhou. It is the time for me to serve him."

Since he has already expressed his opinion in public, Wang Song does not think this is a wrong decision.

He immediately said to Liu Fang: "Ziqi is a fellow villager of General Zhenbei and a relative of the Han Dynasty. Please take my letter of surrender and my family register to Zhuo County to pay a visit to General Zhenbei."

"Yes, General, you have taken me in and saved my life. How dare I not fight to the death for you?"

Liu Fang also bowed solemnly and said, "Please rest assured, General. If I cannot satisfy you, I will bring my head to you."

"Ziqi really doesn't need to do this."

Wang Song supported Liu Fang and comforted him, saying, "The border counties will be pacified soon. I have no other request but to be the Grand Marshal and rule over the common people."

The three counties are really not enough, but the special environment of Youzhou allows warlords of Wang Song's level to survive.

I have heard of and witnessed the great battles involving hundreds of thousands of people in the Central Plains, as well as the horrific achievements of the Guanzhong Grand Marshal's conquest of the various Hu tribes.

Wang Song really didn't want to make enemies with Liu Bei, who came from the Central Plains and Guanzhong. A hundred-man commander under the other side had experienced wars and killed more people than him, a general of three counties.

They are really not on the same level. If he were to fight at the opponent's level, the external force alone would be enough to kill him and destroy his clan.

In this way, Liu Fang set out hastily with more than a dozen carts of property, more than fifty knights, and a total of less than a hundred people including servants.

Zhuo County, Lousang Village.

After Liu Bei arrived, he visited each household. Considering his age and the chaotic times, there were no elders in Lousang Village worthy of him to visit.

At night, he couldn't fall asleep for a long time in the strange yet familiar house.

Zhang Fei, who was traveling with him, added dry firewood as thick as his thigh to the fireplace. He also didn't know how to face his tribesmen.

Zhang Fei's parents died early, and he only had time to send people to repair their graves, and he could only go to worship them when he was free.

Seeing Liu Bei tossing and turning on the couch and sighing, Zhang Fei asked, "Brother, are you worried that Yuan's army will attack?"

"No."

Liu Bei sat up with his cloak on and came to the fireplace. Seeing Zhang Fei roasting a leg of lamb in front of the fireplace, he just glanced at him.

He was indeed a little hungry, but he really had no appetite.

Looking at the flames dancing in the fireplace, Liu Bei said, "I miss my elders so much that I can't fall asleep. I have no descendants and I have no face to worship my ancestors and parents."

After a pause, Liu Bei continued, "The Grand Marshal recently sent a letter saying that the Liu family in Changsha, Jingnan, has a nephew of the Kou family, who is extremely brave and heroic. He is a descendant of the Princess of Yiyang and a branch of the Kou family in Changping, Shanggu."

Zhang Fei understood almost immediately: "The Grand Marshal wants to persuade my elder brother to adopt him as his heir?"

In terms of bloodline and origin, this Kou family member is definitely qualified.

Zhang Fei didn’t have any ideas. As long as his elder brother thought it was suitable, then it was suitable.

Liu Bei had nothing to hide from Zhang Fei, and he said: "Looking at the sons and nephews of each family today, most of them are rough country folk and it is difficult for them to become useful. Although there are young children, they can be trained and made into useful people. But they are not old enough and can hardly be of any help." An heir who can be relied on is of decisive significance in stabilizing the morale of the army.

Zhang Fei also nodded slowly. In Zhang Fei's eyes, the twenty or so young boys he met today were of ordinary talent.

Not to mention adopting him as his adopted son, he felt that even training him as a personal soldier was a hindrance.

Besides, they have been away from home for a long time, and the feelings of the younger generation are just like that.

They have all fought on the battlefield and have seen separations of life and death, so they are wary of untested human nature and family affection.

But Zhang Fei thought about it and lowered his voice: "Brother, I heard that the Grand Marshal is interested in marriage. In this case, the Grand Marshal's persuasion to you to establish an heir may be a test."

Liu Bei shook his head: "You underestimate him. He just thinks my son should be as brave as that Kou family son."

Liu Bei looked at Zhang Fei's profile again and said: "After all, we are old. If we can accept this adopted son, we can also take care of the younger generation in the future."

The oldest of the next generation was actually Zhang Fei's illegitimate son, but he was still too young.

Zhang Fei was using a dagger to cut a roasted leg of lamb and chewing it directly before turning back to look at Liu Bei: "Brother, if you think it's suitable, then accept it. After all, he is a princess and a descendant of the Changsha Liu family. It would not be a disgrace to accept him as an heir. But even if you have children in the future, how will the family business be divided?"

Zhang Fei thought about it and said, "If we can form a marriage alliance, the Grand Marshal will not be stingy with the position of prince given his generosity. In this case, it is not a loss to accept this heir. I will write to my second brother tomorrow and see what he says."

Liu Bei nodded and said, "This matter is not urgent. Third brother, you can ask Yunchang privately when you have time. What I am worried about is the Yuan family. Yuan Xi is respectful and polite, but it seems that he has evil intentions. And Yuan Shang, this little tiger, how could he sit and watch me occupy all six counties?"

Zhang Fei frowned: "Why should I be afraid? Hebei has not had a great general yet. If Yuan Shang dares to lead a large army here, it will be a good opportunity for the Grand Marshal to take over Hebei."

Liu Bei just smiled at this. He felt that it was impossible for the Grand Marshal to use troops in Youzhou before he had sorted out the affairs of Liangzhou and Xichui.

Slowing down the pace is to clean up the mess left by Emperor Guangwu.

Liu Bei naturally supported the nationwide property inspection and redistribution.

If possible, Liu Bei also wanted to get along well with the Yuan family.

By the autumn of next year, when the Guanzhong troops conquer the Xianbei in the east, they will be completely united and there will be no need to worry about being attacked from both sides by the Yuan family.

Now back in Youzhou, Liu Bei instinctively began to not want to fight.

Any battle breaks out on the land of Youzhou.

In particular, the Yuan family will definitely instigate the Wuhuan to send troops. Once the war breaks out, the areas through which the Wuhuan pass will inevitably be reduced to a scorched earth.

Yuan Shang had defeated Cao Cao's main force head-on, and Liu Bei did not think he could fool or confuse Yuan Shang.

War will surely break out this winter, and we are tragically powerless to prevent it.

After chatting with Zhang Fei for a while, Liu Bei felt better.

Not interested in eating roasted lamb, Liu Bei ate half a wheat cake and went back to the couch to sleep.

Originally there was a kang in the house, and the clan also repaired the kang and the house in the past few days, but the kang has not been dried yet and people cannot sleep on it.

Lying on the cold couch, Liu Bei couldn't fall asleep listening to the sound of Zhang Fei biting and chewing the lamb leg.

He couldn't help but start missing Madam Gan and Madam Mi. When he left Chang'an, Madam Gan was already pregnant, and he didn't know whether she could give birth to a son.

Liu Bei was confident in his fertility, but because of the war, many of his children and even his wives and concubines were not able to survive.

If Mrs. Gan gave birth to a baby boy this time, with the stability in Guanzhong, he would surely grow up healthily and have a stable childhood and adolescence. With two older sisters to take care of him, he would be much happier than herself.

Thinking about the fate of the unborn child, I recalled my childhood and youth when I depended on my mother.

Soon his tears soaked the pillowcase, and Liu Bei simply pulled the quilt higher to cover most of his head.

(End of this chapter)