Chen Gui's Scheme of Discord

After Han Yin was escorted to Xudu, Cao Cao wasted no time. He had him dragged to the execution grounds and beheaded.

Since Lu Bu had shown an inclination to draw close to him, Cao Cao followed the advice of his counselors and manipulated the court into issuing an edict appointing Lu Bu General of the Left. He also personally wrote Lu Bu a letter of deep consolation.

When Emperor Xian of Han had first returned east to Luoyang, Guo Si, Yang Feng, and other generals escorted him along the way. But each had their own designs. While passing through Hedong, the accompanying ministers recommended issuing an edict for Lu Bu to welcome the emperor.

At the time, Lu Bu had just been defeated by Cao Cao and had sought refuge with Liu Bei. With his troops short on provisions in Xiaopei, he was powerless to come to the emperor's aid. So he sent an envoy with a letter of apology. Remembering his achievement in eliminating Dong Zhuo, Emperor Xian granted him the titles General Who Pacifies the East and Marquis of Pingtao.

This military post carried far less weight than General of the Left, one of the Four Directional Generals. It came with the right to establish a government office and appoint staff. Although the Four Directional Generals did not all have the power to establish such offices, it was indeed a position that gave generals real authority during the Eastern Han.

In the seventh month, Yuan Shu learned that Lu Bu had killed his marriage envoy and flew into a rage. He immediately sent his generals Zhang Xun and Qiao Rui to join forces with Han Xian, Yang Feng, and others, leading tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry to attack Xiapi.

When Han Xian and Yang Feng had escorted the Son of Heaven east, they had grown arrogant over their achievements. The emperor's uncle, Dong Cheng, secretly summoned Cao Cao to court to defend the throne. In the end, Cao Cao crushed the various factions with ulterior motives one by one. With nowhere left to turn, Han Xian and Yang Feng fled south and sought refuge with Yuan Shu.

After Cao Cao had massacred the people of Xu Province, it had yet to recover. Lu Bu's forces were nowhere near enough to resist Yuan Shu's army. But the man was still basking in the joy of becoming General of the Left. Only when he heard that Yuan Shu's forces were attacking Xiapi did he summon his generals to discuss a response.

Lu Bu was peerlessly fierce and brave, so he overshadowed his subordinates. Most of the time, they did not offer their opinions, but silently carried out their lord's orders.

Seeing that none of the generals spoke, Lu Bu asked Chen Gong for a plan.

Because of what had happened with Han Yin, Chen Gong was still furious with Lu Bu. He said coolly, "If you had honored your agreement and married Young Lady off to Shouchun, how could this calamity have come upon us?"

"I am a general appointed by the court. How could I collude with a traitor to the state? Besides, what's done is done. Gongtai, you should help me with a plan."

"Chen Gong is now at his wits' end and strength spent. Since our lord listens to Chen Gui's every word, why not ask him for a strategy?"

"Gongtai, why are you acting this way?"

Seeing that Chen Gong still held a grudge, Lu Bu gave a cold snort, swept out of the tent, and left.

When he arrived at the Chen residence in Xiapi, Chen Gui and his son had already prepared a banquet. It seemed they had been waiting for Lu Bu to come. No one was more anxious than the Chen Family about Yuan Shu's movements in Huainan.

"General of the Left, it has been many days since we last met. My son and I have yet to congratulate you. We can make up for it today," Chen Gui said, cupping his hands.

"You're too kind, Hanyu. But with Yuan Shu's army pressing against our borders, I hardly feel like drinking," Lu Bu said, shaking his head.

Chen Gui laughed heartily. "Yuan Shu is nothing but a dried-up skeleton in his grave. General, there is no need to worry. Just relax and drink."

Lu Bu sat down cross-legged, wondering if the man already had a plan. He eagerly asked, "Hanyu, could it be that you already have a strategy?"

"It's hard to say how things will go with Yuan Shu's main army, but that man has also gathered Han Xian, Yang Feng, and their rabble. General, you need only use a scheme of discord to send the enemy packing with ease," Chen Gui said.

A scheme of discord? Lu Bu was utterly baffled.

"What do you mean?" Lu Bu asked earnestly.

"General, you eliminated Dong Zhuo, while Han Xian and Yang Feng escorted the Son of Heaven east. All of you are meritorious servants of the court. How could you join Yuan Shu in betraying the state? They now cling to Huainan like stray dogs. How could they possibly be loyal? You can write them a personal letter, detailing your achievements in service to the state and urging them to switch sides in the middle of battle and rid the realm of a scourge," Chen Gui explained in detail.

Lu Bu pondered for a moment, then asked, "Will a letter from me be enough? I'm afraid Han Xian and Yang Feng won't switch sides so easily."

"A letter alone will not suffice. We must also send a silver-tongued envoy and promise them Yuan Shu's military supplies after we defeat him. The two of them will surely agree," Chen Gui said, stroking his beard.

Lu Bu brightened at first, but then grew concerned. "Hanyu's scheme of discord is brilliant, but Chen Gong has been unwell lately and cannot travel far. As for this silver-tongued envoy..."

"Chen Deng is unworthy, but I am willing to lend the general a hand," Chen Deng said, rising and cupping his hands.

Lu Bu had long heard of Chen Deng's talents. He raised his cup in delight and said, "With Yuanlong's help, our great task is as good as accomplished. Come, come, let me toast you and your father."

Yuan Shu's tens of thousands of troops marched north in a mighty column, and Liu Bei, far away in Xiaopei, received the news as well.

Zhang Fei said excitedly, "Big brother, the wheel of fortune has turned! Now Lu Bu and Yuan Shu are at each other's throats. Shouldn't we get ready, too?"

"Get ready for what?" Liu Bei asked, confused.

"Isn't this a godsend? When we fought Yuan Shu before, Lu Bu snuck in and stole Xiapi from us just like this. Now it's our turn to steal it back," Zhang Fei said through gritted teeth.

"Third brother, you killed Cao Bao and lost the city back then mainly because Xu Dan was helping us from within. If we're going to sneak into Xiapi now, where is our inside man?" Guan Yu said, shaking his head.

"Is that so? Oh, right, where did sister-in-law go? I want to eat her cooking again," Zhang Fei said, scratching his head.

"Third brother..."

Guan Yu was about to reprimand him, but Liu Bei shook his head and said, "The people at Gan Family Village are harvesting the summer crop and sowing seeds. She went back to help."

"Sister-in-law is something else. She's married to big brother and still works so hard. She's not like sister-in-law from the Mi Family," Zhang Fei muttered.

Liu Bei sighed. "Alas, they come from different backgrounds. I used to weave mats and sell shoes. In this chaotic world, just staying alive is hard..."

"Big brother, since we have some free time today, why don't we visit Gan Family Village? I hear Lan Ziyu is an incredible cook. I want to try his food, too," Guan Yu suggested.

"Second brother, now that's something I like the sound of."

Seeing that both his brothers were in agreement, Liu Bei set aside his work and rode out of Xiaopei with them at an easy pace.

As they traveled through the countryside, the busy villagers in the fields stopped what they were doing and stared at the three men.

Zhang Fei saw the farmers spread millet seedlings and green grass evenly across the fields, then turn over the soil and bury them. He asked in bewilderment, "Big brother, what are they doing?"

Liu Bei walked to the edge of the field and greeted an old farmer. "Elder, what are you doing?"

The old farmer cupped his hands and replied, "The autumn sowing is about to begin. I have to bury the millet seedlings and green manure in the ground. That way, the crops will grow better."

"Green manure?" Liu Bei was completely baffled.

"It's a kind of manure. The Young Manor Master taught us to plant it. He said it would make the soil more fertile, add nutrients, and things like that. Anyway, it'll increase the yield," the old farmer said vaguely.

"Big brother, that Lan Ziyu certainly has plenty of tricks up his sleeve," Zhang Fei praised.

Liu Bei knew Lan Tian was good at farming, but he had not known he was this good. So he asked again, "Elder, how was your harvest last season?"

The old farmer's face creased with a smile. "The rain was just right this past half year, and the Young Manor Master often gave us guidance. After paying the rent and repaying the grain we'd borrowed, this old man still has some stored away at home."

Last year, when Lu Bu had captured Xiaopei, these villages had been pillaged, leaving Liu Bei feeling guilty.

Now, seeing that the villagers had hope of making a living, he suddenly found himself even more interested in Lan Tian.

"Big brother, let's hurry to sister-in-law's place. I'm hungry," Zhang Fei urged.

"Third brother." Guan Yu glared at Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei glanced at Guan Yu and said indignantly, "Second brother, don't just scold me. When we get to sister-in-law's place, be careful you don't swallow your tongue."

Guan Yu:.