Chapter 45: Great Minds Think Alike (Please Continue Reading!)

Liu Bei inquired warmly after Lu Su, concerned about how he was faring in Xuzhou. After some conversation, the two discovered an extraordinary harmony between them. Lu Su was a straightforward and bold man, with the spirit of a wandering knight, strikingly similar to Liu Bei himself.

As a generous figure, Lu Su was not only magnanimous by nature but also understood the peril of possessing great talent in chaotic times. Unexpectedly, Lu Su’s openness had drawn many young men from Dongcheng to join him. Upon inquiry, Liu Bei learned that Lu Su commanded over a thousand private soldiers.

Of course, calling them private soldiers was somewhat inaccurate, as they lacked formal organization. They were more like an underground society, with Lu Su as their gang leader. According to the Records of Wu:

“He gathers young men, provides them with food and clothing, brings them to hunt in the southern mountains, secretly trains them in military arts and tactics.”

These followers of the Dongcheng Assembly were robust street fighters who lived off Lu Su's patronage. Now that Lu Su had come to enlist, these thousand men gained formal recognition.

At this moment, Liu Bei finally understood why Li Yi had recommended Lu Su as his first choice. Regardless of ability, the funds he brought, along with the young men under his command, made Liu Bei smile from ear to ear.

“Come, Zi Jing, let me introduce you,” Liu Bei said, taking the initiative to connect Li Yi and Lu Su.

“This is my army’s strategist, Li Yi, also known as Li Ziyu.”

“Just the other day, it was Mr. Ziyu who recommended you,” Lu Su said, slightly surprised. Though he noted the young man’s impressive bearing, he did not expect someone so young to hold the position of strategist.

Breaking the silence first, Li Yi greeted: “Mr. Zi Jing, I, Li Yi, salute you.”

Lu Su quickly bowed in return: “Thanks to your recommendation, I am but a humble and limited talent, unworthy of your esteem. I shall endeavor to be a loyal and devoted aide.”

Liu Bei was delighted by these words, stepped forward to support Lu Su, his eyes full of admiration.

“Zi Jing, rise quickly. I have little merit, only the trust of the elders of Xuzhou who have entrusted me with the affairs of the province. Since taking up this role, I have worked day and night, fearing I might fail the people.”

“Now that I have your support, I eagerly await the wise counsel of a sage, and I shall heed it willingly.”

Lu Su was moved, his eyes moist. “I have chosen my lord well; in all my years, I have never seen one like you!”

The two were instantly kindred spirits. Liu Bei grasped Lu Su’s arm and began to ask for his strategies. Li Yi sat down beside them, and the three men took their seats.

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“Lord, to defend Xuzhou, I believe one principle must be upheld,” Lu Su said, straightening his posture and beginning his counsel. Liu Bei and Li Yi listened intently. Though there were only three in the room, the atmosphere was grave.

Lu Su spoke as though a new recruit being examined by the chairman and general manager.

Liu Bei said solemnly, “Please, Zi Jing, speak freely.”

Lu Su’s eyes darkened as he spoke earnestly:

“Xuzhou is a battlefield prone to repeated conflict, with no natural defenses.”

“Yuan Shao, a scion of a four-generation noble family, commands loyal retainers across the land and already holds Hebei; he is a force impossible to challenge.”

“Yanzhou is under Cao Cao’s control, though Lü Bu rebels there. But Lü Bu is brave yet reckless—a one-man hero who can be defeated in battle and is no match for Cao Cao.”

“Last year, Cao Cao absorbed a million Yellow Turban refugees from Qingzhou, greatly increasing his strength. This front is also difficult to overcome.”

Hearing this, Li Yi could not help but show admiration. From a modern vantage point, he knew Lü Bu was no match for Cao Cao, but from the perspective of the time, the conflict between Cao Cao and Lü Bu was shrouded in uncertainty.

Cao Cao had been betrayed by close aides, and most counties in Yanzhou had rebelled, leaving only three towns under his control. Early on, Lü Bu had several victories, making Cao Cao’s position precarious.

Yet Cao Cao held an unparalleled advantage that Lü Bu lacked: he was a subordinate of Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao would not abandon Cao Cao; historical records state: “He provided five thousand soldiers to reclaim Yanzhou.”

Yuan Shao generously sent five thousand elite troops to help Cao Cao through this crisis.

This is why Lu Su said Cao Cao was hard to defeat—not merely because Cao Cao was strong, but because attacking him meant confronting Yuan Shao as well.

To oppose either Yuan Shao or Cao Cao was to wage war against both simultaneously, a reckless gamble.

Lu Su continued:

“Yuan Shu in Huainan is brave but lacks decisiveness. He values lineage over talent and favors relatives, despite his high rank. Loyal ministers and capable generals find no place under him.”

“Moreover, as the self-styled Count of Xuzhou and overseer of Yangzhou affairs, he acts arrogantly and instigates conflicts on all sides. His ambition toward Xuzhou is evident.”

“In today’s turbulent world, he is the prime agitator.”

“If Your Grace wishes to aid the people and restore order, this man must be eliminated first!”

Unlike the honest, simple image portrayed in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the historical Lu Su was capable of solitary negotiation and possessed a ruthless, cunning nature akin to a gang leader.

As head of the Dongcheng Assembly, he had to be harsh to maintain control over his followers.

He strongly recommended Liu Bei focus efforts against Yuan Shu, the most ambitious and threatening adversary to Xuzhou.

“To defend Xuzhou, befriend Yuan Shao to the north, appease Cao Cao to the west, and suppress Yuan Shu in the south.”

“If this is achieved, Xuzhou will be secured, and great success attained!”

Liu Bei was amazed and instinctively glanced at Li Yi, who smiled in agreement.

“Oh my, Zi Jing’s plan aligns perfectly with the strategist’s!”

Lu Su stiffened slightly, then smiled: “It seems great minds think alike!”

The three laughed together.

In truth, during the rivalry of the two Yuans, anyone with strategic insight could see how to choose sides.

Yuan Shao’s allies were Cao Cao and Liu Biao.

Yuan Shu’s allies were Gongsun Zan and Tao Qian.

Tao Qian chose poorly by siding with Yuan Shu—a skeletal king and a deranged madman.

Xuzhou was a battleground contested by four forces, facing an ascending Cao Cao and a peak Yuan Shao.

How could they be contenders?

Thus, Li Yi and Lu Su redefined Xuzhou’s external policy: ally with Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, strike hard against Yuan Shu.

Historically, Liu Bei did indeed follow this approach.

Even so, Xuzhou could not be held, proving it to be a hellish campaign.

Liu Bei lacked top-tier advisers, and Li Yi was helping to fill that gap.

With Lu Su’s arrival, and adhering to the principle of “doubt not those employed,” Liu Bei trusted him implicitly.

He confided in Lu Su the strategic plan to manipulate currency by purchasing deer to control Chu, to seize the route through Wei to conquer Guo, to move northward to strip Zang Ba of military power, recover Langya, and unify Xuzhou.

This was a top-secret strategic plan within Xuzhou’s leadership, and Liu Bei shared it with Lu Su upon his arrival.

Lu Su understood the trust implied and, moved, earnestly analyzed the situation for Liu Bei:

“The land is ravaged by war, and all is in ruins.”

“If we can recover Langya and unify Xuzhou without shedding a single drop of blood, it would be ideal.”

Stroking his beard, he added, “Should Xuzhou be unified, what then will Your Grace’s purpose be?”

Lu Su posed this soul-searching question.

…