"Strategist, do I really have to copy all of this?"
"You might as well just beat me with a few dozen army rods and be done with it!"
Once he came to his senses, Zhang Fei immediately began to complain bitterly. Now that everything was out in the open, he wasn't wearing his usual stern expression.
Qin Tian, however, shook his head.
"General, don't complain. I'm doing this for your sake!"
"I'm having you copy the Analects so you'll understand benevolence and learn not to impose on others what you yourself do not desire, so that you'll treat the soldiers well from now on and stop harming them!"
"I'm having you copy the Spring and Autumn Annals so you'll understand righteousness and know that what our army is doing is no ordinary undertaking. It's a legacy for generations to come, and must not be taken lightly."
"I'm having you copy the Art of War because you know what it says, but not why it says it. You must study it over and over, understand the reasons behind its words, and only then will you be able to face major matters with ease!"
"You must know, General, you're no ordinary man. You're the limbs of my lord and a pillar in the achievement of his great cause!"
"Among the warlords in the land today, most have relatives helping them to some degree. But my lord has no kin or brothers at his side. He relies only on you two generals!"
"If my lord wishes to accomplish great things, how can you two generals shirk your duty?"
"You must know, when Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on someone, it first makes them suffer, hardens their resolve, and strengthens their nature, so they can do what they could not before."
"General, you're a match for ten thousand men. You don't fear danger when you charge into battle and slay the enemy, so why fear a mere pen?"
"Going to battle and slaying the enemy is how you earn merit. How is studying hard today any different from earning merit for the future?"
"As the strategist, I have a heavy burden of daily affairs, yet I still read every day."
"You're a great general. How can you spend every day indulging yourself, without striving to improve?"
"Truth be told, even if you don't copy it once, I won't blame you. But you should at least read each book three hundred times. It will surely benefit you!"
From beginning to end, Qin Tian had actually believed that Zhang Fei was the most promising general under Liu Bei.
He was already brave and skilled in battle; it was just that he was too reckless, and had some problems with his conduct as well. As a result, he couldn't bring his full potential to bear.
Historically, it was only after Liu Bei entered Shu and Zhang Fei was given sole command that he showed his talent for leading troops, defeating Zhang He and stabilizing the situation in Bashu.
But they needed capable men now. They couldn't wait for Zhang Fei to grow into his role on his own.
Qin Tian thought that if Sun Quan could urge Lu Meng to study, perhaps he could try the same thing with Zhang Fei and help him mature into a commander who could stand on his own!
Hearing Qin Tian's words, Zhang Fei fell silent.
In truth, he'd already known that Liu Bei's punishment of him in the camp had probably been Qin Tian's idea.
He'd assumed Qin Tian disliked him and had deliberately arranged it that way.
Because of that, he'd been so angry with Qin Tian that his teeth had practically ached.
But now that he'd heard Qin Tian's words, his guilt only grew.
He seemed to understand why Liu Bei had thought of Qin Tian day and night after meeting him just once, and had been so determined to bring him out of seclusion.
It turned out that this strategist was not only exceptionally capable, but a man of the highest character as well.
From beginning to end, Qin Tian hadn't taken his complaints to heart. The only thing he cared about was whether they could achieve their great cause.
Meanwhile, Zhang Fei had spent every day thinking only of indulging himself, never considering the bigger picture.
Thinking over every word Qin Tian had just said, wasn't each one meant for his sake? Wasn't each one meant to further their cause?
And yet he'd been afraid of losing face and hesitated to act!
Compared to Qin Tian's generosity, he'd truly been judging a noble man by the standards of a petty one.
At that thought, Zhang Fei bowed deeply.
"Sir, I understand what you've said!"
"I was so foolish before that I failed to understand your good intentions. Now that I've heard you, I'm ashamed beyond words. From now on, I won't dare make things difficult for you again!"
"I bow to you in gratitude for your guidance!"
As he spoke, he bowed again in a deep salute.
Seeing this, Qin Tian was stunned. He hadn't expected Zhang Fei to react so strongly, and hurried to help him up.
"General Zhang, please don't do this. I merely offered you some advice. How could I deserve such a grand salute?"
Zhang Fei let himself be helped up, then quickly shook his head.
"If it weren't for my sake, why would you have gone out of your way to make that wager?"
"Now that I've lost, I'm thoroughly convinced. I understand your virtue, Strategist!"
"From now on, don't call me General. Just call me Yide!"
Seeing Zhang Fei like this, Qin Tian readily agreed with a smile.
"In that case, I'll presume to call you Yide!"
"Come to think of it, now that you're back, Yide, haven't you gone to see my lord?"
Zhang Fei was taken aback.
"Wasn't my elder brother waiting for you in camp, Strategist?"
As soon as Qin Tian heard that, he knew Zhang Fei didn't know he'd sent Liu Bei to capture Zhang Xun. He smiled.
"No. My lord had another important matter to attend to last night. I don't know whether he's returned yet."
"Oh? What did the Strategist send my elder brother to do last night?"
Before, if Zhang Fei had known Qin Tian had sent Liu Bei to do something while he himself slept soundly in camp, he would surely have been displeased.
But now, although it struck him as a little strange, he didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
Qin Tian shook his head and smiled.
"You'll find out when my lord arrives."
Seeing Qin Tian dodge the question again, Zhang Fei couldn't help thinking that the strategist was good in every way except that he loved to keep people guessing.
But since Qin Tian wouldn't tell him, he didn't ask again. A short while later, he heard that Liu Bei was returning with his troops outside the camp. He hurried out with Qin Tian to meet him.
When Liu Bei came into view, the two went up to him. Zhang Fei asked,
"What did you do last night, elder brother?"
"Why have you only just returned?"
Liu Bei looked at the two of them and paused in surprise.
"Strategist, what's going on here?"
In his eyes, the two had never gotten along. How had they ended up walking out together today?
This was a sight he'd never dared imagine before!
At Liu Bei's question, Qin Tian smiled.
"My lord, you may not know, but Yide just came to give his word. We've made peace now."
Zhang Fei, standing nearby, looked a little embarrassed.
"Strategist, don't tease me. You'll make my elder brother laugh at me!"
Seeing the two of them like this, Liu Bei was delighted. His face broke into a broad smile.
"Excellent! This is truly excellent!"
It seemed Xu Shu's prediction had been right after all. After this battle, hadn't the general and the minister made peace?
Remembering Zhang Fei's question, Liu Bei smiled.
"Yesterday, the Strategist knew you wouldn't be able to capture him, so he specifically sent your elder brother to capture Zhang Xun."
"What? You captured Zhang Xun, elder brother?"
Zhang Fei's expression shifted. He couldn't help looking at Qin Tian.
"How did the Strategist know I definitely wouldn't capture Zhang Xun?"
Before Qin Tian could answer, Liu Bei smiled and recounted Qin Tian's deduction from the day before.
Zhang Fei listened, growing more and more astonished. So, in the end, he'd been the real clown all along?
Thinking of how he'd arrogantly challenged Qin Tian to a wager, he felt a pang of regret.
If he'd known, he never would have gone up against Qin Tian.
Then he asked,
"Where is Zhang Xun now?"
Liu Bei smiled as he replied,
"He's been captured. He's in camp now!"
Hearing this, Zhang Fei sighed and bowed to Qin Tian.
"Sir, you truly are a divine being! Your ability to predict the enemy and win is beyond me!"
Now he was genuinely convinced. His little tricks had only played into Qin Tian's calculations. No wonder the man was a strategist. Zhang Fei had nothing left to say.
Seeing this, Liu Bei was even more pleased. He smiled.
"No need to say more. Let's go inside the camp first!"
Once they were inside, Liu Bei heard that Zhang Fei had captured several thousand prisoners and was overjoyed.
These prisoners were all elite troops under Zhang Xun, equipped with armor and weapons.
With a little training, they'd be ready for the battlefield.
Recruiting and training new soldiers, then making all their equipment, would take a tremendous amount of effort.
But these men were ready to use right away. It was a haul beyond measure!
Later, however, when he heard that Zhang Fei hadn't captured much grain or baggage, Liu Bei turned to Qin Tian with concern.
"Strategist, our army was already low on provisions, and now we have all these prisoners as well. What should we do?"
Qin Tian wasn't worried in the least.
"Why worry, my lord? Didn't Lu Bu promise to provide our army with provisions and equipment?"
"He's hosting a banquet tonight, so we can go and ask him for them!"
Hearing that they would have to ask Lu Bu for provisions, Liu Bei hesitated.
"Though Lu Bu agreed, now that he's won, he may not hand them over."
Zhang Fei's expression darkened.
"Don't worry, elder brother. If he refuses, I'll lead the troops over and demand them!"
Liu Bei furrowed his brow.
"How can you be so reckless, third brother?"
"Our army is allied with Lu Bu's. How can we turn against him?"
Zhang Fei was just about to speak when Qin Tian stepped forward.
"My lord, Yide's suggestion isn't without merit!"
"If we merely ask Lu Bu verbally, he probably won't give us anything. He's always bullied the weak and feared the strong. If he refuses, we can send General Zhang over to demand it!"
Hearing Qin Tian agree with him, Zhang Fei was pleased.
"See, elder brother? Even the Strategist agrees!"
Liu Bei was taken aback. After thinking it over, he voiced his concern.
"If we ask him nicely and Lu Bu still refuses, then what if we take troops there and he refuses again? He'll be inside the city, while we're outside with no provisions coming in. What then?"
"If he refuses, we'll see what happens then!"
Qin Tian's expression remained calm.
"The first time we ask, it's as a friend. The second time, it's out of courtesy. The third time, it's as an enemy!"
"If Lu Bu wants to make an enemy of our army, let him try!"
Zhang Fei nodded quickly.
"The Strategist speaks wisely!"
Liu Bei suddenly recalled what Qin Tian had done before the campaign. A thought crossed his mind, and he smiled.
"I knew the Strategist was always a step ahead of the enemy. I'll follow your plan, then."
"Also, Strategist, you said before that we should take Xiang County only after capturing Zhang Xun."
"Now that Zhang Xun's been captured, can our army seize Xiang County?"
"The time is ripe now. We can take it."
Qin Tian nodded, then asked,
"But is Zhang Xun willing to join our army?"
At the mention of Zhang Xun, Liu Bei shook his head with a sigh.
"Zhang Xun hasn't refused, but his family is all in Shouchun, so it would be difficult to force him."
"I see!"
Qin Tian then turned to Zhang Fei.
"I heard that General Yide captured Qiao Rui this time. Is he willing to surrender?"
Zhang Fei shook his head with a sigh.
"He seems to be a rather unyielding man. I doubt he'll surrender!"
Qin Tian thought for a moment, then smiled.
"Where is he? Take me to see him!"
Liu Bei looked at him in surprise.
"Strategist, are you planning to persuade him to surrender?"
"Exactly. If I can persuade him, it'll save our army a lot of trouble!"
Qin Tian smiled calmly.
"Let's see just how unyielding this man is!"
Seeing that Qin Tian meant to go, Zhang Fei hurried to lead the way. He took Qin Tian and Liu Bei toward the place where Qiao Rui was being held.
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