Three Kingdoms: I switched to Liu Bei, why are you crying, Cao Cao?

Chapter 23: Treating with respect as a teacher, Lao Liu's weakness

Liu Bei had been confused for a long time, and now he finally met someone who could point him in the right direction. He bowed again and said:

"Although I am of low reputation and low virtue, I hope you will not abandon me and come out to help me."

"I should listen attentively to your wise instructions and serve you with the respect of a teacher!"

He believed that he did not have the reputation of the two Yuans, nor the strength of Lao Cao, but he had a sincere heart and hoped to move Qin Zhen.

But when Qin Zhen heard this, he shook his head and smiled, stepped forward to help Liu Bei up and said:
"Your Excellency, there is no need to do this. I am just saying this to thank you for visiting me that day."

"Since saying goodbye to Cao Gong, I have become disheartened and cannot obey your orders!"

When Liu Bei heard what Qin Zhen said, he felt disappointed and said hurriedly:
"If you don't come out, what will happen to the people?"

After saying this, he suddenly said with some sadness:

"So I know what you are thinking, sir. But now the princes of the world are fighting each other, the people are scattered and the people are living in misery."

"If it's for my own sake, I really can't bear to force you, sir."

"But every time I see the people's families broken up, I feel as if my heart is broken. They are all the people of the Han Dynasty. It is because of the mistakes of the Liu family that they are like this. As a descendant of Emperor Gaozu, I feel very ashamed."

"Now that I have seen your great talent, I know that to conquer the world, I need to recruit many talented people. With such talent, how can you just grow old in the mountains and rivers?"

"I hope you will consider the people of the world and lend a helping hand!"

"Clear the chaos and bring peace to the people of the world!"

Seeing Old Liu’s eyes suddenly turn red, Qin Zhen’s heart also moved.

To be honest, Lao Cao and Lao Liu each have their own styles.

In comparison, Lao Cao is more practical, has more complicated thoughts, and is more straightforward, but unfortunately he is very suspicious.

Liu Bei is the kind of person whose true nature you can't see at all.

This kind of person has always been disliked because you don't know what he really thinks.

But when you get along with them, you will find that under the unclear appearance, there is actually a sincere heart.

No wonder he could say things like "Do not commit any evil, no matter how small it is; do not refrain from any good, no matter how small it is. Only virtue and morality can win the hearts of others."

Thinking of this, Qin Zhen helped Liu Bei up again and said:
"Your Excellency, there is no need to do this. Well, let me think about it for a few days!"

When Liu Bei saw that Qin Zhen did not refuse outright, he immediately turned from sadness to joy and said:
"So I know you are a kind-hearted man with high ideals. I hope you will put the people first."

"But if you really don't want to leave the seclusion, I won't force you. I just hope you can stay by my side so I can listen to your teachings. That will be all I want!"

Qin Zhen heard this but did not reply. Instead, he smiled and said:

"Today is a fine day. I am bringing my family here to enjoy the plum blossoms. I wonder if you and Yuanzhi would like to go with us?"

Liu Bei heard this, not knowing what Qin Zhen meant, and looked at Xu Shu and said:

"Would Yuanzhi like to go and enjoy the plum blossoms?"

When Xu Shu heard this, he shook his head and said:

"Shu has just taken office and is busy with military affairs. How can he have the leisure to appreciate plum blossoms?"

"My lord has also come here to take some time off, so we will return together."

"But my lord, could you please go ahead and let me and Zixuan have a few more words?"

Liu Bei knew that Xu Shu was trying to persuade him, so he bowed to Qin Zhen and said:
"In that case, I will come to greet you and listen to your teachings when I am free in the future."

After saying this, he turned around, led the horse and left.

After Liu Bei left, Xu Shu frowned and said;

"I saw that Zixuan was already interested, why did he take so long to respond?"

Qin Zhen saw this and sneered:

"Xu Yuanzhi, you are so shameless. When I came here, I said that I had to investigate before discussing the matter of entering the government!"

"Why are you so eager to drag me into this?"

Seeing Qin Zhen's expression unchanged, Xu Shu could only smile bitterly and said:
"I have now joined Lord Xuande's army, and I will naturally recommend talents to him!"

"You all know that Zixuan is a genius. The current situation is like this, so I have no choice but to do this. If Zixuan wants to complain, then let him complain!"

"How about I come to your house in person someday and apologize?"

Only after he gave in did Qin Zhen nod and say:
"That's better. You must choose thicker thorns, otherwise it won't hurt!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Shu's expression changed and he said:

"Are you really going to fight?"

Qin Zhen smiled slightly and said:

"Of course, otherwise how can I atone for my sins?"

Xu Shu also knew that Qin Zhen always did what he said, so he gritted his teeth and said:
"Well, I deserve the beating. If Zixuan wants to beat me, then go ahead!"

"But I can't beat you in vain. I need to tell you why you didn't respond just now." Seeing this, Qin Zhen stopped joking and said leisurely:

"Because I have worries in my heart!"

Hearing this, Xu Shu couldn't help but think of the time when he just left Cao's camp, and asked hurriedly:
"Zixuan's concern is due to the weakness of the envoy that I mentioned that day?"

As soon as they left Cao's camp that day, Qin Zhen pointed out that Liu Bei had three major weaknesses, but unfortunately he was interrupted by Xun Yu.

He didn't have a chance to ask along the way, so he just brought up the old matter again:
"But I don't know what the three things are. Zixuan, please tell me and I will tell you."

Qin Zhen couldn't hide it, so he just said:
"If we talk about these three things, Yuanzhi might have felt it too."

"First, Envoy Liu has the ambition but not the heart!"

Hearing this, Xu Shu frowned and said:
"What does it mean to have ambition but no heart?"

Facing his good friend, Qin Zhen did not hide anything and took a step forward to analyze:
"Envoy Liu has great ambitions, but unfortunately he has great ambitions but no intention to accomplish great things."

"If you want to accomplish great things, you must always have the world in mind, but Envoy Liu has no heart for this. He only has ambitions but no goals!"

"Take Cao Mengde as an example. He originally aspired to be the general of the Western Expedition of the Han Dynasty. But when the world became chaotic, he changed his mind and started a war, trying to wipe out the princes."

"Thus, Fang recruited many talented and ambitious people to serve him."

"But Envoy Liu is muddle-headed, with ambitions but no goals, which has led to him wandering around for several years without a place to return to!"

Xu Shu listened, nodded and said:

"It is true, but my lord puts benevolence and righteousness first. If there is a good assistant, just as you just said, Zixuan, this problem can be solved!"

"This problem can be solved. Today, I have seen that you have the ambition and can accomplish great things!"

Qin Zhen did not refute and continued:
"The first point can be solved from the outside, but the second and third matters need to be solved by you, my lord!"

"He started his career with the name of benevolence and righteousness, and what he did was also benevolent and righteous, but because of this he has become a shackle, and he has to consider his reputation for all major matters, and he cannot be free!"

"So the second weakness is that Envoy Liu does not know the greater good and only cares about reputation!"

"My strategy is to take Jing and Yi provinces, where Liu Biao and Liu Zhang are."

"If we care about our reputation at that time, it will ruin everything!"

Hearing this, Xu Shu frowned and said:
"My Lord is a man of virtue and righteousness. How can he only care about his reputation and not know the greater good?"

He came here because of Liu Bei's kindness and righteousness. If he agreed with Qin Zhen now, wouldn't he be denying his own ideas?

"From this it can be seen that Yuan Zhi is far inferior to Envoy Liu!"

Qin Zhen grinned and said:

"You must know that righteousness and reputation are like fish and bear's paw, it is difficult to have both!"

"What is righteousness? It is to put the general situation of the world first and the country first."

"What is the name of benevolence? The Book of Rites says: The love between superiors and subordinates is called benevolence!"

"In today's chaotic world, with all the princes rising up, how can the upper and lower classes get along?"

"It seems that when the envoy gave up Xuzhou three times, his reputation for benevolence spread far and wide. But has Yuan Zhi ever thought about how many wars were caused by these three times of giving up Xuzhou?"

“How many of these people died in the war?”

"So taking over Xuzhou is the righteous cause and is for the greater good."

"Giving up Xuzhou and accepting Lu Bu is just a small act of kindness, but it loses its great righteousness!"

"Just like Emperor Wu's northern expedition against the Xiongnu, it seemed like the Qian soldiers were aggressive, but in fact they stabilized the foundation of the Han Dynasty's prosperity and expanded its territory. This was a sacrifice of small benevolence for the sake of great righteousness, which was a great achievement in the present and will benefit future generations."

"The problem with Envoy Liu is that he knows the importance of the people, but he is constrained by his reputation as a benevolent person and cannot do anything righteous!"

"And your problem, Xu Yuanzhi, is that you are too rigid and inflexible."

When Xu Shu listened, he felt as if his head was hit by a sledgehammer.

In his mind, Liu Bei valued him because he gave him Xuzhou.

But Qin Zhen's statement is contrary to the moral concepts of that era.

But it is undeniable that Qin Zhen’s words make sense.

Is it really benevolent to give up Xuzhou?
Indeed, for the scholar-official class, it is in line with the Confucian impression of benevolence and righteousness.

However, this led to the subsequent chaos in the Central Plains.

Compared with the results, it is indeed true that he only cares about the reputation but not the greater good!
For a moment, Xu Shu was unable to refute and could only say in a deep voice:

"Then what is the reason for this third weakness?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Zhen said:

"Guan Yu, Zhang Fei!"

"Liu Shijun's success was due to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and his failure was also due to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei!"

(End of this chapter)