Chapter 27: The Scholar-Gentry and Powerful Clans Are Not as Formidable as Imagined

Jiujiang borders Xuzhou and is adjacent to Xiapi and Guangling. Should Yuan Shu harbor any treacherous intentions, it would pose a direct threat to the security of southern Xuzhou. This is precisely why, in history, Liu Bei chose to take a firm, aggressive stance against Yuan Shu.

"The strategist's words are reasonable. Yuan Shu is as ambitious as a wolf, and currently, Xuzhou’s control over Guangling is weak," Liu Bei remarked. "If Guangling were to lean toward Yuan Shu, then Xiapi would be in danger. I must raise an army as soon as possible to excise this threat!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Fei cupped his hands and declared, "I am willing to serve as the vanguard and resolve this worry for my elder brother!"

Li Yi took a light sip of tea and smiled. "Xuzhou has only just completed its transition of power, and the hearts of the various factions are uneasy. If my lord raises an army now, are you not afraid that Xuzhou might fall into the hands of others?"

This...

Liu Bei frowned. With the various factions in Xuzhou currently harboring mutual distrust, stabilizing the interior was indeed the priority. Yet, the external threat was real; he had only just taken charge of Xuzhou, and he had not expected to encounter such a daunting dilemma.

"My lord need not worry," Li Yi said, offering words of comfort. "I predict that Yuan Shu would not dare to invade Xuzhou at this moment. During this time, we only need to consolidate our internal affairs. When the timing is ripe, it will not be too late to launch a campaign against him."

"Oh?" Liu Bei raised an eyebrow, curious. "How can the strategist be so certain that Yuan Shu dares not invade Xuzhou now?"

Li Yi analyzed the situation for Liu Bei without haste: "Yuan Shu is arrogant, extravagant, and debauched; he is small-minded and volatile. He is not a ruler capable of bringing order to chaos. He has made too many enemies: Cao Cao to the north, Liu Biao to the west, and Liu Yao to the east. Although he styles himself a provincial governor, the territory he actually controls is merely a corner of Huainan."

In the final analysis, while Yuan Shu claimed jurisdiction over Yangzhou, most of the land was held by local scholar-gentry clans. He only held the Huainan region, relying solely on his family background—the foundation of the prestigious Yuan clan—to throw his weight around.

Li Yi continued, "As far as I know, the imperial court appointed Liu Yao, a member of the royal clan from Donglai, as the Governor of Yangzhou several months ago. This move was clearly intended to check Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu has clashed with him before, but because Liu Yao has the support of the local Jiangdong clans, Yuan Shu has failed to gain the upper hand despite several engagements. Furthermore, Liu Biao of Jingzhou has also spotted an opportunity and is restless, looking to strike at Yuan Shu’s rear. With fires burning everywhere, how could Yuan Shu truly dare to mobilize his forces to threaten Xuzhou?"

After a slight pause, he added, "Moreover, Sun Ce, who is currently under Yuan Shu, has begun to raise his own army. Although he serves under Yuan Shu in name, the two have long been at odds. Sun Ce has long harbored the ambition to rule Jiangdong; this military expedition will inevitably lead him to break free from Yuan Shu’s control. Tell me, how then can Yuan Shu threaten my lord’s Xuzhou?"

After this analysis, Liu Bei nodded repeatedly. As long as Yuan Shu could not threaten Xuzhou for the time being, he could free his hands to resolve his internal conflicts.

Li Yi tapped his teacup against the table and offered further counsel: "The Chen clan of Xiapi is a prominent family of a century’s standing in Xuzhou, with deep-rooted influence. Chen Gui was once the Chancellor of Pei, but because of Yuan Shu’s constant incursions, he was ultimately forced to resign and return home. The Chen clan has long held a grudge against Yuan Shu. If you can leverage the strength of the Chen clan to resist Yuan Shu, it will prevent him from looking northward, and you, my lord, will no longer need to worry about the south."

Hearing this, Liu Bei frowned slightly. If one were to ask which family held the most influence in Xiapi, it was the Chen clan. Even later, when Lu Bu took control of Xuzhou, the Chen clan did not hold their "new master" in any regard. History records that they toyed with him like an infant, leading him in circles. In truth, one could see the influence of the Chen clan by the fact that Chen Deng promised to help Liu Bei raise one hundred thousand infantry and cavalry. Although he was certainly bluffing, the fact that he dared to make such a bold claim—and even use it as a bargaining chip—was proof enough of his family’s power.

Such a powerful family was a force Liu Bei had to rely on, yet also a force he had to guard against. Liu Bei was deeply worried that if the power of the father and son became too great, his own position as the Governor of Xuzhou might be hollowed out should he be even slightly careless.

"What does my lord think of Chen Deng?" Li Yi did not rush to express his own stance, but instead asked for Liu Bei’s opinion.

Liu Bei’s eyes narrowed as he pondered. "Chen Yuanlong is fully prepared in both civil and military arts, with exceptional courage and ambition—a rarity in any age. Among the masses today, few can see the back of his heels."

Liu Bei was wary of the Chen clan, yet he sincerely admired Chen Deng. Chen Deng was indeed a young, promising, and all-around genius in military, domestic, and diplomatic affairs. When Tao Qian was in office, Xuzhou suffered no famines, thanks to the development work led by Chen Deng, acting as a de facto Minister of Agriculture.

"Since my lord also recognizes Chen Deng’s talent, why not memorialize the throne to appoint him as the Administrator of Guangling? Command him to attack Jiujiang from the east and threaten Yuan Shu’s flank."

Li Yi presented his proposal. Guangling was currently a masterless land; before Yuan Shu could swallow it completely, it would be wise to let an all-rounder like Chen Deng develop it. With the influence of their century-old family, they could surely win over the local hearts with ease. This would not only establish a powerful barrier in the south but also strengthen the cohesion of Xuzhou. Why not do it?

"But the Chen family’s ancestral property is in Xiapi. Why would they be willing to abandon their home and business to go to Guangling to deal with Yuan Shu?" Liu Bei voiced his concern. "Chen Gui is shrewd and calculating. How could he be used by me just for a moment’s pique? Even if the father and son did go, how would I know they would obey my commands? I fear they would only grow too powerful in Guangling and eventually turn around to hold me back."

Liu Bei’s concerns were not without merit; cases of local gentry usurping power were not uncommon. Especially since Liu Bei had yet to establish a firm foundation in Xuzhou, he was truly afraid to delegate power and gamble on the loyalty of the Chen clan.

"Was my lord’s evaluation of Chen Deng just now sincere?" Li Yi asked.

Liu Bei’s eyes sharpened as he spoke solemnly: "Every word came from the bottom of my heart. How could there be a shred of falsehood?" His admiration for Chen Deng was real, and his wariness of the Chen clan was equally real. The two were not contradictory.

"That is good then..." Li Yi smiled softly, his lips curling. "Would my lord like to know how Chen Yuanlong evaluates you?"

"...I do not know." Liu Bei shook his head.

Li Yi replied, "Chen Yuanlong described you as a 'hero of outstanding caliber, possessing the strategic vision of a king and hegemon.'"

Hmm... That was high praise indeed. Chen Deng had previously said he would assist Liu Bei in achieving the hegemony of Duke Huan of Qi in Xuzhou; this aligned with his earlier words.

"Judging by the strategist's words, is Chen Yuanlong trustworthy?"

"...Yes." Li Yi nodded. "My lord may have some misunderstandings about the Chen clan, or rather, about the scholar-gentry class. I believe they can be trusted and cooperated with. My lord might as well boldly delegate power to the Chen father and son. If Guangling can be entrusted to the Chen clan, it will certainly threaten Yuan Shu’s flank. And as long as my lord keeps a firm grip on Xuzhou, the Chen father and son will never betray you!"

Li Yi cast aside all doubt, urging Liu Bei to boldly and confidently employ the Chen clan.