Chapter 280

Huang Zhong, however, shook his head.

"In my view, there is a big difference. Liu Yan and his son have ruled Yizhou for more than ten years without implementing benevolent policies, and Yizhou has had internal strife almost every year.

My lord pacified Nanzhong, sparing Yizhou from the disaster of barbarian soldiers, and also halved the land tax to let the people rest and recuperate. Tell me the truth, who is more suitable to rule Yizhou?"

Zhang Ren was left speechless and could only bend his bow and nock an arrow, hitting the bullseye again!

Liu Bei, however, smiled.

"Zhang Ren, everyone says you are the number one famous general in Shu; in my view, your archery is just okay."

Zhang Ren was angry.

"Liu Bei, you are brave and skilled in battle and have outstanding strategy, but I am not convinced by you. If you have the ability, let your archery exceed mine!"

Zhang Ren naturally knew he wouldn't be Liu Bei's opponent in a fight, so he challenged him to archery 0......

Liu Bei laughed loudly.

"What if I defeat you?"

Zhang Fei's eyes rolled.

"Zhang Ren, I know you aren't convinced; why not compete with my elder brother? If my elder brother wins, you will serve him; how about that?"

Zhang Ren didn't hesitate.

"Good!"

The live stream exploded a little.

"This Zhang Ren doesn't look very smart; he was actually tricked by Zhang Fei!"

"Yeah, and he didn't even ask what would happen if Liu Bei lost!"

"My Brother Fei has a hidden intelligence of 90+; you thought it was fake!"

The competition began.

Zhang Ren went first; he nocked his bow and arrow.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

All three iron arrows hit the bullseye 150 paces away steadily!

Yan Yan and Huang Zhong nodded.

This Zhang Ren's archery was indeed superb!

Liu Bei also praised,

"General Zhang's archery is powerful; it would be a pity if such archery didn't go to the Central Plains to shock the heroes."

Zhang Ren snorted.

"Lord Liu Xuande, you should start shooting."

Liu Bei smiled.

"Men, move the target forward another fifty paces!"

Zhang Ren was stunned; Liu Bei was actually so arrogant!

But the others didn't seem to have any reaction.

The soldiers presented Liu Bei's four-stone bow.

Zhang Ren??

"It's actually a four-stone bow?!"

Liu Bei pulled three iron arrows from the quiver and nocked them on the bow.

Zhang Ren was truly stunned this time.

"Not only two hundred paces away, but it's also one bow with three arrows!"

Liu Bei didn't prepare much, nocked his bow and arrow, and shot instantly!

The three iron arrows struck the red heart of the target like lightning, not deviating at all!

Zhang Ren was dumbfounded!

"Good!"

"My lord truly has good archery."

Huang Zhong and Yan Yan were both masters of archery and naturally knew that the difficulty coefficient of this was extremely high!

The live stream also exploded.

"Zhang Ren's archery was already very good; I didn't expect Liu Bei to be so much stronger!"

"This isn't a competition at all; it's a dimensionality reduction strike!"

"The Big-Eared Thief is showing off again."

Zhang Ren was sincerely impressed and cupped his hands.

"Lord Liu Xuande's archery is superb; I am convinced!"

Zhang Fei snorted.

"A bet is a bet; don't have poor sportsmanship!"

Zhang Ren...

Liu Bei grabbed Zhang Ren's hand.

"General Zhang has both courage and strategy; I want to take General Zhang to establish achievements together and spread our prestige throughout the Great Han; I wonder if you are willing?"

Zhang Ren was moved in his heart and sighed long.

"Forget it, Lord Liu Xuande, I am willing to surrender!"

Liu Bei was brave and skilled in battle, shook the nine provinces, brought prosperity to the people of Yizhou, was respectful to the virtuous, and his archery had even convinced him; not surrendering would be unreasonable.

Liu Bei appointed Zhang Ren as the General of Yangwei on the spot, intending to take him out of Yizhou to fight!

"My lord!" Zhang Ren shouted excitedly.

"Good, good!"

Liu Bei thought to himself,

"I didn't lose out on Pang Tong; I earned a Zhang Ren. This wave is a huge profit!".

In the original history,

Liu Bei floated after taking Yizhou, rewarding all the wealth in the treasury to the soldiers, and when he needed money, he found he had none!

Liu Bei naturally didn't make such a nouveau riche mistake; he only took out a small half as a reward, and other rewards were replaced by land in Liangzhou and other places.

Liu Zhang finally decided to choose a county as a fief to enjoy his old age.

He truly didn't want to go to the Western Regions to start a business.

Liu Bei chose a county in Anding Commandery as his fief and allowed him to keep his own wealth.

Liu Zhang was grateful in his heart; people like Liu Bei who treated surrendered feudal lords this way were very few, almost none.

Liu Bei stayed in Yizhou for more than a month, besides handling government affairs, he drank and ate meat with the Yizhou gentry to get closer to them.

He went home to sit and discuss the Dao with Miss Zhu Rong and the Wu family!

Liu Bei left Wei Yan in Yizhou, ordering him to guard Badong Commandery, pay attention to the changes in Jingzhou at any time, and be responsible for training the navy!

The people had tangibly realized the benefits of Liu Bei's rule; the land tax was halved, and everyone's pockets were getting fuller.

Just as Liu Bei expected, the people of Yizhou knew how to enjoy life; with fuller pockets, they started to consume, greatly promoting the economic prosperity of Yizhou.

Yizhou was on the right track, and Liu Bei turned his gaze to Hanzhong.

He took thirty thousand elite troops, plus Zhang Ren's ten thousand elites, and went from Guanghan through Jiameng Pass, passed Baishui Pass, and arrived in Hanzhong.

What was originally a natural barrier of the Shu road now didn't stop him at all.

06 Also accompanying him was Liu Zhang's family, who were also rushing to Guanzhong.

The Great King brought troops back to Nanzhong, but gave five hundred elephant troops to his brother-in-law.

Zhuge Zhang Liang and Ma Chao greeted Liu Bei ten miles outside the camp.

"My lord!"

Liu Bei dismounted, held their hands, and smiled.

"Kongming, Mengqi, you both have great merit in taking Yizhou this time!"

Zhuge Zhang Liang said modestly,

"My lord, Mengqi taking Yangping Pass is a greater merit than mine; I haven't taken Nanzheng yet, failing your trust, my lord."

Ma Chao looked at Zhuge Zhang Liang; this village man seemed to be someone he could get along with.

Liu Bei, however, laughed loudly.