Premonition? Old Liu's Resolve

Upon hearing the third weakness mentioned by Qin Tian, Xu Shu was instantly rendered speechless.

The issue with Guan and Zhang was something he had sensed himself.

The greatest difference between the forces under Liu Bei and those of other warlords lay in the fact that Guan and Zhang stood above all other officials.

If the two were merely Liu Bei's biological brothers, one could at most accuse Liu Bei of nepotism.

Yet both were warriors capable of taking on ten thousand, peerless fierce generals who had risen through their own merit.

Coupled with their unique relationship with Liu Bei, their influence was immense and their status transcendent.

If someone of a weaker disposition were to work with them, simply yielding to their whims might suffice.

But Qin Tian was a man of strong character; it was easy to foresee that conflict with the two would be inevitable!

Thinking of this, Xu Shu shook his head and smiled:

"So, Zixuan, you fear Guan and Zhang!"

"Yet both are warriors capable of ten thousand; how could our Lord possibly set them aside?"

"That is where you are wrong! It is not that I fear Guan and Zhang!"

Hearing this, Qin Tian smiled leisurely:

"It seems Yuanzhi has misunderstood!"

"Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are both fierce generals; why would I abandon them?"

"I speak as I do because they are valiant warriors, and if the Lord is to achieve a great cause, he cannot do without their aid!"

"However, Guan Yu is arrogant and self-satisfied, while Zhang Fei is violent and lacks benevolence. These are their shortcomings, and if a great cause is to be achieved in the future, they will surely become the seeds of disaster!"

"While our current power is small, the Lord can keep them in check."

"But if our power grows in the future, they will surely be sent to guard different regions."

"Given their relationship with the Lord, if they were to fail due to these flaws, how should the Lord handle it?"

"If he does not assist them, where does that leave their past brotherhood?"

"If he does assist them, the entire situation might be ruined. At that point, the best case is a loss of troops and generals; the worst is the destruction of a thousand-year legacy in a single stroke."

"Such perils must be considered in advance!"

Listening to these words, Xu Shu wore a look of bewilderment. He remained silent, circling Qin Tian several times while eyeing him up and down.

Qin Tian felt a chill under his gaze and could not help but tighten his collar:

"Why does Yuanzhi look at me so? Is there something wrong with my words?"

Xu Shu shook his head, then nodded, and after staring for a long time, he finally spoke:

"Zixuan, your words are golden advice; how could they be wrong!"

"I am merely wondering, Zixuan, are you truly capable of foreseeing the future?"

"How can these suggestions strike the heart of the matter so precisely, as if these things had already come to pass?"

Was there a problem with Qin Tian's words? Of course not.

There was absolutely no problem at all!

Although he had not been under Liu Bei's command for long, he already knew that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were exactly the types of men described.

They had many virtues, but their flaws were equally significant.

It was just that these two flaws—arrogance and a lack of benevolence—were merely trends, not yet having manifested their negative consequences.

Yet, listening to Qin Tian, it sounded as if he had already witnessed the end of both men.

One must realize that Liu Bei's current force was barely ten thousand men, and his territory was nothing more than Xiaopei.

Whether he could achieve a great cause was still uncertain, yet Qin Tian had already brought up these hidden dangers in advance.

Had Qin Tian's insight not always been unique, he would have truly suspected that Qin Tian possessed the ability to foresee the future!

That was why he looked at Qin Tian with such strangeness.

Xu Shu spoke without intention, but Qin Tian heard it with intent, and he could not help but sigh inwardly at how clever the ancients were.

They could deduce that he was "cheating" based on only a few words.

It was a pity that the concept of a "transmigrator" did not exist in this era, otherwise, he would have been the first transmigrator in history to be discovered.

Thinking this, Qin Tian smiled:

"And what if I am capable of foreseeing the future?"

"May I ask, Yuanzhi, if these weaknesses are not corrected, what will happen when that time truly comes?"

Hearing this, Xu Shu thought it over carefully and felt a wave of despair.

If something were to happen to either Guan or Zhang, given Liu Bei's temperament, it would likely lead to the collapse of the entire situation.

Once the trio of Liu, Guan, and Zhang was broken, this faction would lose its very soul.

Even if one were to forcibly extend his life, the outcome would likely be far from ideal.

Considering this, he wore a look of firm resolve and said:

"I finally understand your intent, Zixuan!"

"No wonder you were so hesitant; looking at it now, it was indeed my own lack of foresight."

"But if I had remained ignorant, so be it; now that I know, my Lord is a man who listens to reason, and he will surely change!"

"Zixuan, wait a few days and observe the results!"

Seeing Xu Shu express himself in this manner, Qin Tian took a step forward and said:

"If that is the case, then Yuanzhi, you may go. I must return to my wife and children!"

However, before he could walk away, Xu Shu grabbed him and blocked his path:

"Zixuan, wait a moment. You have already explained a few of the ailments, but this third point remains unclear. I implore you to speak plainly: how should my Lord rectify this?"

Qin Tian stopped in his tracks and let out a dry, mocking laugh:

"Oh, Xu Yuanzhi, Xu Yuanzhi, how can the affairs of the world be so convenient?"

"I have not entered service, and I have no personal ties to him; why should I help him to such an extent?"

Despite saying this, he saw that Xu Shu did not budge an inch. Knowing he would not be able to leave without giving a clear answer, he said with a huff:

"Let me ask you: is there a ban on alcohol in Lord Liu's army?"

Hearing this sudden, seemingly unrelated question, Xu Shu frowned and replied:

"What army does not have a ban on alcohol?"

"Alcohol is the primary prohibition in our ranks!"

He was not boasting; ever since Zhang Fei lost Xuzhou due to his drunkenness, Liu Bei had developed a deep loathing for soldiers drinking in the camp.

Upon hearing this, Qin Tian said leisurely:

"That is exactly the point. I will offer but one hint: since there is a ban on alcohol in the army, why have I heard that Zhang Fei enjoys whipping his soldiers while intoxicated?"

"Yuanzhi, you might as well go back and think carefully about where the problem truly lies!"

"When I was with the Cao army, I never heard of such things!"

Having said this, he brushed past Xu Shu and headed toward his wife and children.

Xu Shu stood frozen in place, lost in thought for a long time. Seeming to have realized something, he led his horse away.

The two had spoken for quite a while, yet Liu Bei was still waiting on the hillside.

Seeing Xu Shu return, he hurried forward to ask:

"Yuanzhi, were you able to persuade the gentleman to assist me?"

Xu Shu shook his head and sighed:

"My Lord, it is not that Zixuan is unwilling to join us, but rather that he harbors concerns in his heart which he cannot speak of directly!"

Liu Bei immediately turned solemn:

"What concerns does the gentleman have? Can you relay them to me, Yuanzhi?"

"Rest assured, Yuanzhi. Whatever his concerns may be, as long as it is within my power, there is no reason for me to refuse!"

Seeing Liu Bei's sincerity, Xu Shu felt a stir in his heart and simply relayed everything Qin Tian had said.

When Liu Bei heard of his first weakness, he sighed with emotion:

"The gentleman's words are truly insightful. I have indeed felt this myself; thanks to his guidance today, I have already made up my mind."

Upon hearing of the second weakness, he shook his head and sighed again:

"This is my fault. In the future, should such a thing occur, I shall bear the infamy myself and never let the gentleman be put in a difficult position!"

But upon hearing the third weakness, Liu Bei fell silent. After a long while, he said with a sorrowful expression:

"Yunchang and Yide are both my brothers. If a brother has faults, the elder brother shares in them."

"The gentleman is truly perceptive, but if he harbors reservations about my brothers, what should be done?"

Seeing Liu Bei like this, Xu Shu shook his head and smiled:

"My Lord, you have misunderstood. Zixuan does not harbor reservations about Generals Guan and Zhang!"

"He is concerned about the lack of strict discipline in our army!"

"My Lord may not know this, but Zixuan is a man who advocates for governing by law, and he most detests those in high positions acting above the law!"

"The current ailment in our army lies entirely in the lax enforcement of the law."

"Come to think of it, I am also at fault. As the Military Aide, I failed to enforce military discipline strictly, so it is no wonder Zixuan is so displeased."

He finally understood: Qin Tian had not been refusing to enter the world; he had been observing the movements of Liu Bei's army all along.

The results, however, were unsatisfactory, which was why Qin Tian was unwilling to serve.

This was also his own failure; he had known there were issues with Guan and Zhang, yet he had failed to resolve them.

However, Liu Bei was not the type to shift blame. Seeing Xu Shu take responsibility, he shook his head and said:

"When all is said and done, it is my fault for being too indulgent with my third brother, to the point that you had to point it out, Sir!"

"But my third brother's temper is like raging fire; how should I go about changing him?"

Mentioning Zhang Fei and Guan Yu actually gave Liu Bei a headache. Guan Yu was fine, at least he understood the bigger picture.

Zhang Fei, however, was the type who would forget the pain once the wound had healed.

Even with the army's ban on alcohol, he would drink in secret. Liu Bei could beat him as he pleased, but once the beating was over, he would go right back to his old ways.

Seeing this, Xu Shu smiled with self-assurance:

"This matter is not difficult. In truth, Zixuan's words today were precisely guiding you, my Lord, on how to make corrections!"

"I have a strategy that can enforce strict discipline within our ranks and eliminate this trouble once and for all."

"However, this plan will require you to suffer a minor grievance, my Lord. I wonder how you feel about that?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei immediately waved his hand:

"Do not speak of grievances. As long as my third brother can change and military discipline can be established, I will certainly do it!"

"Yuanzhi, whatever plan you have, just speak it!"

"The plan is simple. My Lord, please lean in!"

Liu Bei hurriedly leaned toward Xu Shu, and after Xu Shu whispered for a moment, joy instantly appeared on Liu Bei's face:

"Yuanzhi, this plan is excellent! If Yide offends again, I shall act according to your strategy!"

Seeing that the joy on Liu Bei's face was not feigned, Xu Shu nodded to himself and said:

"In that case, we should return, lest the two generals wait too long."

"Indeed, we should!"

Liu Bei nodded, vaulted onto his horse, and added with a smile:

"It is perfect that we are traveling together; you can tell me more about the aspirations of this gentleman!"

He was now filled with curiosity about Qin Tian and urgently wanted to understand the thoughts of this extraordinary man.

Hearing this, Xu Shu did not decline. He mounted his horse and began to speak.

Along the way, he recounted how the two of them had met and become friends, and how he had decided to leave Old Cao.

In the process, he also brought up Qin Tian's desire to reform the system.

Reforming the system was not a matter of a single day, nor was it something Qin Tian could accomplish alone. To do this, he would need Liu Bei's full support.

Therefore, he decided to prepare Liu Bei in advance to avoid any friction in the future.

However, after he had finished speaking, Liu Bei's horse suddenly came to a halt.

Xu Shu could not help but turn back, asking in surprise:

"My Lord, why do you stop?"

Then he saw Liu Bei look up and sigh:

"It is not that I cannot move forward, but that I am sighing at how remarkable Zixuan's talent is. Even Lord Shang of the Qin era was no more than this!"

"If Cao Mengde could use him well, why would our Han Dynasty not flourish!"

Xu Shu shook his head and smiled:

"It is precisely because of such great talent that Zixuan is feared by Cao Cao."

"Cao Cao is no longer the loyal subject of the Han Dynasty he once was. Now that his power is growing, he will surely commit acts of usurpation in the future."

"If he were to use Zixuan well, it would truly be a disaster for the Han Dynasty!"

"But since you now know of his talent, my Lord, you must use it well. In this way, you may yet restore the Han Dynasty, emulate the achievements of Guangwu, and bring about a third revival of the Han!"

Listening to Xu Shu's words, Liu Bei nodded and said with deep emotion:

"If Zixuan's talent cannot be used by Cao Mengde, then he shall be my teacher!"

"If Zixuan is willing to emerge from seclusion once more, the Han Dynasty shall surely rise!"

Having said this, he felt a surge of spirit and spurred his horse forward.

Qin Tian's arrival was a chance granted by the Heavens, and no matter what, he had to seize it!