Watching Liu Bei's humble, sincere expression, Lan Tian thought, I need to find you a strategist. I wonder where that Xu Shu fellow is now, and whether he's come to Jing Province yet. After all, Liu Bei's a year ahead of schedule.
Lan Tian had no intention of personally recommending Zhuge Liang. The journey from first hearing of Kongming to his coming out of seclusion required an elaborate build-up, ending with Liu Bei's three visits to the thatched cottage before he finally won Zhuge Liang over. Lan Tian did not want to spoil the anticipation Liu Bei felt for him.
After pondering Liu Bei's question for a moment, Lan Tian slowly replied, "Yuan Benchu was defeated by Cao Cao at Guandu despite having superior numbers. The reasons, in short, were twofold: first, his officers and strategists couldn't work together; second, their commander was indecisive and lacked resolve.
"As the saying goes, a thousand-mile embankment can be destroyed by an ant's nest. Yuan Benchu made the foolish move of setting his sons up as rivals. For the sake of their own interests, his generals and strategists each backed one of the young masters. In their eagerness to win favor, they constantly undermined one another. It looked as though he was training his sons, but in truth, he was inviting disaster.
"If they keep tearing one another apart while the warlords fight for supremacy, they'll surely plunge the country and its people into peril. Even a proud lion will grow old one day, so I believe Cao Cao has a very good chance of winning this battle.
"But Yuan Benchu has spent years building his strength in Ji Province. The balance of power in Hebei won't change anytime soon. Cao Cao, however, will only grow stronger."
Lan Tian's words struck a chord