Chapter 159 Chen Dao: Sweet!

night.

The moonlight outside the window was shrouded in leaden clouds, without any light at all, but the house was brightly lit. Liu Bei and Zhen De were having a pleasant conversation, but the conversation was interrupted by the sound of knocking on the door.

"Brother, it's me, I'm Zilong."

"Zilong, please come in."

As the words fell, the door slowly opened, and the tall and handsome Zhao Yun stepped over the threshold and walked into the house. He imitated the people coming and going in the theater and raised his hand to greet Zhen De, "Good evening, Director Zhen."

"Good evening, Zilong."

After saying this, Zhen De wanted to get up and leave, but his arm was grabbed by Liu Bei.

"Brother Liu, what are you doing?"

Liu Bei smiled and said, "Don't worry, Director Zhen, I have reminded Zilong of this matter. How about you come and check it for me?"

"I can't ask for it."

Zhen De did not reject Liu Bei's kindness. He sat back in his seat, grabbed a handful of melon seeds, stuffed them into Zhao Yun's arms, and swept the trash can in front of Zhao Yun with his right foot. He smiled and said, "Zilong, don't worry, let's eat while we chat."

Zhao Yun nodded, followed suit and started to crack melon seeds, slowly opening his mouth and saying, "If Jia Xu."

As Zhao Yun continued to talk, Zhen De finally knew the reason for this visit. It turned out that he was discovered by Zhang Fei and Guan Yu last time, and was ambushed by Black Cat and his mentor. Liu Bei and Zhao Yun discussed and decided to put it aside for the time being and write it down with pen and paper, and take a closer look at it before leaving for the fairyland in the afterlife. After all, they are busy with tasks now, and if such a critical matter is forgotten during the study, it may lead to big mistakes.

The so-called key thing turned out to be Jia Xu's instructions. Jia Xu used Zhao Yun's mouth to express his meaning. In simple terms, it was a plan against Wang Guo and Song Jian. If Wang Guo and Song Jian did not even dare to fight, then they would use the military to force them to move forward according to their own ideas. On the one hand, they could explore the way, and on the other hand, they could use the Qiang people to intimidate the Western Regions and make them ask for help from the Han Dynasty. Taking this opportunity, the Western Regions would return to the arms of the Han Dynasty.

The last sentence of the message was, My Lord, everything is fine, please don't worry.

After Zhao Yun finished speaking, Liu Bei did not speak. He looked at Zhen De, as if to say, Director Zhen, what do you think?
Zhen De said, "I think it's okay." He said, "Yes, the topography of the Han Dynasty is different from that of today. The lives of soldiers and civilians are precious. It's just right to use the lives of the bandits who harm the people. In addition, I have another suggestion."

"Director Zhen, go ahead." Liu Bei stopped eating melon seeds. He swept the shells on the table into the trash can, then stopped what he was doing, alertly looked at Zhen De, and even Zhao Yun did the same.

Zhen De asked back: "Brother Liu, I want to ask, why did the Han Dynasty downgrade the Protector General of the Western Regions to the Chief of the Western Regions?"

Facing Zhen De's question, Liu Bei held his chin up and frowned slightly. What he said to Sun Qian in the letter was not a lie. He really regretted not studying hard. Not only did he study in later generations, he also did not fall behind when he returned to the Han Dynasty. He also read a lot of relevant historical records.

The memories deep in his mind were awakened, and Liu Bei's brows relaxed. He said, "I remember that the court thought that setting up a Protectorate General in the Western Regions would only bring disadvantages and no advantages. Not only would they ask the Protectorate General for money and food from time to time, but if conflicts occurred between the two countries, they would have to send troops to quell the rebellion, which would be time-consuming and laborious. Ban Yong argued with reason and made an impassioned speech: 'The establishment of a Protectorate General has only advantages and no disadvantages. The Western Regions have many soldiers and strong horses. If there is no restraint, they will invade Liangzhou and Bingzhou at that time, and the cost of money and food is unimaginable.' The court finally adopted half of Ban Yong's suggestions and did not give up the Western Regions, but downgraded the Protectorate General of the Western Regions to the Chief of the Western Regions, losing many of his original powers."

Zhen De sighed: "To put it bluntly, it's nothing more than an economic war. As the saying goes, when a cannon is fired, a fortune is won. To put it bluntly, it has no hematopoietic ability, but."

At this point, Zhen De's tone changed and he said seriously, "But now is different from the past. In the Western Han Dynasty, the Western Regions were managed to deal with the Xiongnu. According to what Zilong said, now the Western Regions are being invaded by bandits. Liu Bei sent troops to protect them. There is no free lunch in the world. If I send troops to protect you, you have to pay me, right? As the old saying goes, give a stick and then a sweet date. For those who actively cooperate, we can consider trading with them, such as tea, salt, glass, and silk."

Liu Bei and Zhao Yun listened and nodded frequently, and began to discuss the details of implementation. The three of them talked more and more happily, and did not even notice the alarm clock on the wall striking twelve o'clock in the morning. It was not until Liu Bei and Zhao Yun yawned with their mouths open that Zhen De realized that the time had come.

"Brother Liu, Zilong, it's getting late, good morning." Before Zhen De could finish his words, there were two "clang" sounds, and the two fierce generals of the Han Dynasty seemed to lose all their strength in an instant. Their heads hit the table, and Zhen De's words were also hit back.

"Alas, now, not only do I have to support Brother Liu, but I also have to carry Zilong on my back."

Although Zhen De spoke with complaints, his tone was not complaining at all, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise.

"Lord"

When Liu Bei just sat up in a daze, a familiar voice broke into his ears, which immediately swept away the dizziness in his head. He opened his eyelids and saw a strong man in the dim candlelight. He took a closer look and found that it was Taishi Ci or someone else?
Liu Bei smiled and said, "Ziyi, is it time yet?"

After going back and forth between the Han Dynasty and the fairyland several times, the experienced Liu Bei had already grasped the time of coming and going. He made a special agreement with Taishi Ci to wake him and his two brothers up at a certain time period.

Taishi Ci nodded and said, "My lord, thanks to the concerted efforts of Generals Zhang and Xu, the surrounding bandits have retreated in a hurry. The threat to Loulan has been resolved!"

"good!"

Liu Bei was overjoyed. He put on his coat and shoes, opened the tent and looked out. It was pitch black outside. Looking up, he saw a lone moon hanging high in the sky.

"Forget it, I will visit the Western Regions Chief Historian tomorrow."

Liu Bei returned to his tent and said to Taishi Ci, "Ziyi, you have worked hard. Go and have a rest first."

"promise."

Taishi Ci clasped his fists.

It was time for the shift change. Taishi Ci walked out of the tent and Chen Dao came towards him. The two greeted each other and passed each other hurriedly.

"Shuzhi?" Liu Bei put down the book and looked at the person who came.

Chen Dao bowed to Liu Bei, who quickly helped him up and asked, "Why did you do this, Uncle Zhi?"

Looking at Liu Bei, Chen Dao had a lot to say, but he didn't know what to say. He had just woken up. He dreamed that Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu had a rift with each other, and Sun Jian and the coalition forces turned against each other because of the jade seal. Seeing this, he felt complicated emotions in his heart, not knowing whether he was relieved or moved. In short, he really wanted to meet Liu Bei.

"My lord, I have not let you down. I have successfully defeated the enemy." Chen Dao finally said.

"Haha," Liu Bei patted Chen Dao's shoulder and laughed, "Shu Zhi, you are a brave general, not bad, not bad, come and have some fruit."

Chen Dao lowered his head and looked at the fruit that Liu Bei stuffed into his arms. He was filled with emotion and took a bite of the fruit.

sweet!
　First update

　　
　
(End of this chapter)