After Ju Shou left, Li You entered the room again and couldn't help but give Liu Bei a thumbs-up. "Xuande, I can guarantee that this time, Ju Gong will be thoroughly confused by our deception!"
"My good reputation is ruined. I'll be labeled as someone who indulges in women," Liu Bei said with a look of frustration. "Without reputation, how can I attract talented people?"
"Xuande, you need not worry. The ancient Guan Zhong once said that pursuing dominance has nothing to do with indulgence or entertainment," Li You replied with a smile, dismissing the concern that Liu Bei's reputation for indulging in women would cause any real trouble.
Seeing Liu Bei's continued troubled expression, Li You's face grew serious. "Words are often false, and only personal experience can be trusted. Wise people don't comment on things they're not proficient in, nor do they make judgments without solid evidence. If someone believes in baseless rumors, such a person would not and could not cause us any trouble."
"But my reputation, which I've worked so hard to build, is now gone. I'm afraid that no noble families will want to join us anymore. Every noble clan cherishes its reputation, and with this reputation, none of them will look up to me, Liu Xuande," Liu Bei said with a bitter smile. He wasn't just worried about losing his reputation—he feared losing talent.
"It's as if there have been many noble families joining us all along," Li You retorted. "Xuande, let me ask you this: from the time we first established Mount Tai until now, how many noble families have truly joined us?"
"Well, there are a few," Liu Bei replied awkwardly.
"And how many of them are capable of holding down a territory on their own?" Li You pressed on.
"None," Liu Bei hesitated before answering.
"Then what is there to regret? The very best strategists may be hard to cultivate, but with some effort, we can produce batches of those just a step below them. As for noble families, those with true vision won't care about their lord's private virtues," Li You stated firmly, looking directly at Liu Bei.
Liu Bei was silent. His power had grown significantly, yet not a single prominent noble family had come to serve him. This made Liu Bei wonder if there was something wrong with him. Having come from a humble background, Liu Bei had always yearned for the recognition of the powerful families he once admired. Even now, despite surpassing them, he still longed for their acknowledgment.
"Xuande, noble families are nothing more than fair-weather friends. Defeat Yuan Shao, secure the North, and set your sights on the Central Plains. With control over the two major horse-producing regions and the three largest grain-producing areas in the North, our strength will be enough to command respect from the entire world. At that point, reputation and virtue won't matter. Our strength alone will bring all the noble families to their knees before you! Reputation and virtue—others will write those for you!" Li You passionately urged.
"Secure the North, set our sights on the Central Plains, command respect from the world, and make the noble families kneel..." Liu Bei repeated Li You's words, his eyes initially dazed, but gradually growing determined. "This was the strategy Zichuan set out from the very beginning, wasn't it?"
"Yes, it was our initial strategy," Li You confirmed with a nod. "Back then, it might have seemed like a fantasy, but now, the opportunity to implement it has arrived. Zichuan has always thought several steps ahead, guiding the course of history to where we are today. Now, as we draw closer to the final phase of the strategy, we must be more cautious than ever!"
"Can we really defeat Yuan Shao? We haven't fully secured Qingzhou yet, and the eastern part of the province is still desolate. I'm afraid Gongsun Bogui won't hold out for two more years. Can we really build up the strength to fight Yuan Shao in such a short time?" Liu Bei was no fool; he had gradually come to understand Chen Xi's overall strategy.
"We can! We will succeed," Li You said solemnly. "All of us have been preparing for this moment. That's why Chen Xi has been working to subdue the Zhen family. That's why he's been feeding the entire economy of Jizhou to them. When the time comes, as long as we can take Jizhou's capital, the Zhen family will have the strength to suppress any internal dissent within Jizhou!"
"The Zhen family and the Yuan family are already irreconcilable. There's a deep rift between the Zhen family and the other noble families in Jizhou. With the chance to become the top family in Jizhou and secure their legacy as a 'from-dragon' clan, the Zhen family won't pass it up. Internal conflicts, external pressures, and past grievances will force the Zhen family to act. They won't have any other choice," Li You explained. Chen Xi had always planned to play one group against another.
"So that's the plan," Liu Bei finally understood everything. He could now predict Yuan Shao's troop deployments. With Jizhou, Youzhou, and Bingzhou in mind, once Jizhou was taken and the connection between Youzhou and Bingzhou severed, Yuan Benchu would be as good as a fish on a cutting board!
Most importantly, there wouldn't be any need to station troops in occupied territories, and taxes could continue to be collected. The Zhen family's influence would stabilize Jizhou, and most importantly, Zhen Jiang was a woman…
Liu Bei fully grasped the intricate planning behind Chen Xi's actions. The importance of Zhen Jiang's role made sense now. No wonder Chen Xi had been so insistent on subduing the Zhen family, constantly asking Liu Bei if he had feelings for Zhen Jiang, and emphasizing her noble status as a suitable primary wife. The reason was all too clear.
"Even if Zhen Jiang is indeed beautiful, with an elegant and noble bearing, given the responsibilities she'll take on, I suppose I'd have to marry her even if she wasn't, right?" Liu Bei remarked with a wry smile. Only by marrying Zhen Jiang could Liu Bei truly secure control over Jizhou. And only by doing so would all the noble families in the North feel assured enough to submit to him.
"Exactly. At that point, Zichuan will rebuild the Chen family and, as the head of one of the top five noble families in the country, use his position to suppress the others. The status of the main family and the branch families is determined by power. When the time comes, Zichuan will have enough strength to claim the position of the main family head. This will cause hesitation among the noble families, and those with marriage ties will see their future secured under your rule!" Li You no longer cared about the noble families; according to Chen Xi's plan, they would all eventually return to dust. So why rush?
For the first time, Liu Bei heard Chen Xi's strategy in full detail. Even he was struck by its feasibility. Liu Bei sighed, stood up, and bowed deeply to Li You. "You and the others have worked so hard for me. Truly, I am foolish. Please continue to guide me, Wenru. Zichuan has never liked being tied down, yet for my sake, he has taken on the burden of dealing with all these noble families."
"I am unworthy," Li You replied, stunned by Liu Bei's bow, his expression showing slight emotion. "Xuande, as your senior advisor, it is my duty to fill in the gaps. I will continue to do so in the future."
"Thank you," Liu Bei said as he slowly sat back down. "A ruler's private virtue does not affect his ambitions. From today onward, I, Liu Xuande, will follow my ancestor's example: enjoy music by day and the beauty of song and dance by night, until the noble families are brought to their knees!"