Chapter 83

Some Xiongnu jumped directly into the Fen River. The weather was cold at the time; it was their good luck if they didn't freeze to death.

Yufuluo, however, escaped luckily!

Liu Bei had Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Zilong each lead a cavalry unit to pursue Yufuluo, even if it meant chasing him all the way to Taiyuan to kill him!

He himself took the infantry to clear the battlefield and collect the spoils of war.

Guo Fengxiao looked at the corpses of the Xiongnu covering the ground,

"Brother Xuande, this battle will surely make you famous throughout the world. Ten thousand men crushing eighty thousand Xiongnu, and you yourself are almost completely unscathed!"

Liu Bei laughed heartily,

"Fengxiao, this was your strategy; it is you who should be famous throughout the world!"

Guo Fengxiao sighed. He hadn't expected that he would miss the exchange meeting in Southern Jingzhou because of drinking, and then get to know Liu Bei because of drinking.

"Those classmates are still reading in the academy, and I have already offered a strategy to become famous throughout the world?"

Guo Fengxiao's eyes suddenly became incomparably serious. He cupped his hands and said in a deep voice,

"Brother Xuande, tell me about your ambitions and plans."

Liu Bei knew this was Guo Fengxiao's final test; he was about to acknowledge him as his lord.

He paused,

"The Great Han is tottering, the imperial court is chaotic, and the people are living in misery. First there was the Huang Jin Uprising, and now the commanderies of every province are bolstering their own power. Great chaos is coming, and the warlords are vying for the deer. Xuande is untalented, but I also want to take a gamble!"

Guo Fengxiao cupped his hands,

"Brother Xuande truly has unique insight. Then where do you plan to start?"

Liu Bei looked around,

"Taiyuan Commandery has the benefits of salt, iron, and coal. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and the Fen River runs through the entire territory. Heading north to Yanmen, one can obtain excellent pastures and warhorses. Heading south to Hedong Commandery, there is the fertile land of the Hedong Plain to grow grain.

Hedong Commandery gazes like a tiger at Changancheng, from which one can seize the Guanzhong region, head south to Bashu, or go southeast to Nanyang Commandery... and one can also rely on the natural barriers of Tongguan, Hangu Pass, and Wuguan to defend, watching the warlords of Guandong fight among themselves..."

Guo Fengxiao's eyes lit up. Liu Bei's vision and planning were truly superior!

He looked at Liu Bei,

"But Taiyuan Commandery also has innate disadvantages. It has been invaded by foreign tribes for years, the population has greatly decreased, and talent is withered. How will you solve this?"

Liu Bei looked to the south,

"The lands of Guandong, Luoyang, and Hebei have large populations. When the warlords fight among themselves, we can introduce a large number of people."

"As for saying Bing Province is poor and has no profit? Among those foreign tribes, whose family doesn't have a few horses and dozens or even hundreds of cattle and sheep? They are much richer than our Han people."

Guo Fengxiao's eyelids twitched. Brother Xuande's perspective was indeed sharp. It felt like the Xianbei and Xiongnu were about to be unlucky!

Liu Bei looked at Guo Fengxiao,

"Fengxiao, we have spoken heart-to-heart today. Are you satisfied?"

Guo Fengxiao made up his mind, bowed, and cupped his hands,

"My lord is above, please accept Fengxiao's bow!"

Liu Bei was overjoyed, helped Guo Fengxiao up with both hands, and laughed heartily,

"Fengxiao, having your help is like Gao Zu obtaining Zhang Liang!"

Guo Fengxiao felt moved in his heart.

Liu Bei's trust and recognition of him had been consistent since the tavern, and he had no objections to his dissolute behavior or drinking and chasing women; instead, he had given him plenty of money.

The two men's hands were tightly clasped together, and both laughed out loud.