Chapter 1149

Liu Bei took a deep breath and did not speak.

Some things.

Not saying it doesn't mean not understanding.

In fact, Liu Bei understood better than anyone.

Can Langya State really not settle a million refugees?

It certainly can.

But some people are unwilling.

The Zhuge clan, the Wang clan...

From Zhuge Gui's words just now, Liu Bei had already heard the meaning.

But as an outsider, and relying on Tao Qian to gain a foothold in Langya, only compromise could allow him to stand firm in Langya State.

He recruited Zhuge Gui and made him the Assistant Governor.

He recruited the clansmen of the Wang clan of Langya and arranged for them to be Attendants and Administrators.

These were all interest exchanges.

Exchanging for their support.

"Sigh..."

Liu Bei sighed deeply: "Xianhe... this is a helpless move."

Jian Yong shook his head and said: "Lord, although that Duan Yu acts domineeringly, there is one point that I think he did very well."

Liu Bei frowned suddenly, and his left ear, which had already healed and was missing, instantly throbbed faintly.

"Lord, Duan Yu always holds a force that belongs to him; only when one truly holds the butcher's knife does one have the qualification to talk to others on equal terms."

"Duan Yu led a million refugees into Liangzhou and settled them; these million refugees are Duan Yu's confidence."

"Xianhe, how could I not want to, but..." Liu Bei shook his head: "This is so difficult."

"Lord... we have walked to this day, which matter was not difficult?"

"If the Lord really wants to settle down in Xuzhou, not to mention getting rid of all constraints, at least you must have a sharp knife in your hand."

"At present, my lord relies on Inspector Tao, and the troops and grain under your command are all provided by Inspector Tao."

"The civil officials under your command are also mostly from the Langya gentry."

"If one day Inspector Tao no longer needs you, my lord, he would only need a single transfer order, and you would be left helpless, would that not be the case?"

"You may seem glorious today, my lord, as the Chancellor of Langya State, but is that not still just a word from Inspector Tao?"

Liu Bei's brow furrowed deeper and deeper, and his hand inside his sleeve clenched into a fist unconsciously.

"Back when you were in Lu Zhi's army, my lord, you risked your life to protect him, but what was the result in the end?"

"If it were not for the fact that you still have some use to Inspector Tao, I fear you would be nothing more than a minor county official at best right now."

Jian Yong's words were very direct.

Every sentence seemed to be plucking at Liu Bei's heartstrings.

It pulled Liu Bei back to the battlefield in Jizhou once more, to that moment when he faced Duan Yu directly.

"My lord, if you wish to control your own destiny, you must break free from the constraints of others."

"This is one of the few opportunities you have at present, my lord!"

"If you can seize this opportunity, my lord, you will no longer be bound by others!" Jian Yong said with a solemn face.

Liu Bei took a deep breath, then cupped his hands in a bow toward Jian Yong: "I ask that you instruct me, Xianhe."

A sharp glint flashed in Jian Yong's eyes.

"My lord, if these million Qingzhou refugees can be absorbed by you."

"If they can be put to use by you, my lord, you would immediately have twenty or thirty thousand troops at your disposal."

"If you then have the remaining refugees reclaim wasteland and develop salt fields, there will be a constant supply of money and grain."

"With a powerful army in your hands and money and grain in your storehouses, why would you need to be held back by others?"

"That is why this subordinate says that seizing these million refugees is the only opportunity for you, my lord, to break free from these constraints at this time."

Liu Bei nodded slowly.

Yes, that is correct.

The logic holds.

But how to seize these million refugees is the key issue.

There is Cao Cao blocking the way in front, and the exclusion of the great Langya clans behind.

How can he manage to take these million refugees?

"Does Xianhe have a good plan?" Liu Bei looked at Jian Yong.

Since the problem was raised by Jian Yong, he could not just be blowing hot air.

Jian Yong nodded: "As long as you permit it, my lord, I will naturally secure this foundation for you."

Liu Bei nodded forcefully and said: "Please instruct me, Xianhe."

Jian Yong picked up the wooden ladle from the wine jar beside him.

Instead of pouring the scooped wine into a cup, he drank three ladles straight down, then wiped the wine from his beard, a sharp glint in his eyes as he said: "To seize these million 'golden' refugees, my lord, you need to make preparations on two fronts."

"First..."

PS: Checking the book reviews these past few days, there are many characters that some are not very familiar with, so the author has decided to reply with character profiles in the "Author's Words" of every chapter.

There are many key figures who, although not very famous, hold extremely important positions.

For example, Wei Zi, who appeared earlier; when Cao Cao first raised an army to punish Dong Zhuo, the person who provided the money for Cao Cao to recruit troops was Wei Zi, though unfortunately, he died during the first campaign against Dong Zhuo.

To help you all better understand these characters, the author will start a separate section in the "Author's Words."