When Qiao Yan approached him, Liu Bei was quite surprised.

He was even more surprised when she asked to speak in private, dismissing the attendants.

He had just received his troops today and had been clearing the remaining Yellow Turban remnants north of Quzhou until nightfall.

He should have returned to camp to rest.

However, thinking of Qiao Yan’s prudent actions in the past, even when temporarily taking over Lu Zhi’s duties, she had not made any rash moves, guarding the camp until the two generals returned after capturing Guangzong.

Liu Bei couldn’t help but think that Qiao Yan would not make any unfavorable moves.

He decided to hear what Qiao Yan had to say.

“What does the lady have to instruct?” Liu Bei asked as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei guarded the door.

“Has the commander ever noticed a person named Zuo Feng among the imperial envoys?”

When Qiao Yan mentioned this name, Liu Bei was also stunned.

He really hadn’t noticed this Zuo Feng.

It was because Zhang Rang and the others not only did not bring an imperial edict or rewards for the troops, but also because Guangzong and Quzhou had already surrendered, and there was no need for a military commander.

They seemed like three lucky charms, and he really didn’t need to pay attention to them.

But looking at Qiao Yan’s serious expression, it seemed that this person was of great importance.

“I really didn’t notice this person. Why does the lady mention him?”

“Today, when I asked Mr. Zhongde to return the chessboard to Mr. Lu, I heard some news.” Qiao Yan had to admit that she was really sleepy and someone had sent her a pillow, “He actually went to Mr. Lu to ask for a bribe and was scolded out.”

“He dared to do that?” Liu Bei was shocked and angry.

Zuo Feng really dared.

In the original history, it was not Zhang Rang who came here, but this little Huangmen official, Zuo Feng.

As soon as he arrived in Lu Zhi’s army, he openly demanded a bribe from Lu Zhi and was angrily rejected by him.

After returning, Zuo Feng told Liu Hong that Guangzong was actually easy to attack, but Lu Zhi was entrenched in his camp, waiting for heaven to destroy the Yellow Turbans.

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong was immediately furious and ordered Lu Zhi to be arrested and sent to the capital in a prisoner’s cart.

Only after many people interceded was Lu Zhi’s death sentence commuted to a lesser punishment.

This attitude also showed that Zuo Feng was indeed exceptionally bold.

At this moment, when he mistakenly thought that Zhang Rang was planning to secretly keep the imperial decree and wait until Huang Fusong offered enough benefits before revealing it, his mind became active.

The benefits on Huang Fusong’s side were most likely divided up by Zhang Rang, so on Lu Zhi’s side, he could probably take action.

However, Lu Zhi had given Zhang Rang some face in their previous conversation but was not inclined to give any face to someone who came to extort him, and directly had him brought out.

As for how Zuo Feng held a grudge against Lu Zhi, that’s another matter.

Qiao Yan just used this as a pretext to speak.

She continued, “Regarding the matter of holding Quzhou, it is thanks to Mr. Lu’s high regard for us that we have the opportunity to bear this heavy responsibility.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Mr. Lu has shown me favor. If the eunuchs fail in their extortion, they will surely seek revenge against Mr. Lu.

This matter can be big or small, but at a time when our achievements in suppressing the Yellow Turbans will be rewarded, we should probably think of it in a negative light.”

“Indeed, what the lady says is true,” Liu Bei replied.

Qiao Yan wasn’t just talking about Lu Zhi. She was also talking about him.

Lu Zhi had shown her favor, and Liu Bei also had a relationship with her in jointly dealing with enemies.

If Zuo Feng said anything bad about Lu Zhi at this critical moment of determining military merit, causing Lu Zhi to lose the achievements that were within easy reach, then Liu Bei, as Lu Zhi’s subordinate and disciple, would definitely be affected.

Having lost his father early on, Liu Bei had once made a living weaving mats and selling shoes.

It was only after becoming Lu Zhi’s student that his social standing improved.

He believed that, as a member of the Han imperial family and someone with abilities, he needed the proper recognition and rewards for his battle achievements to advance further.

However, this unknown factor now worried the still young and somewhat inexperienced Liu Bei, causing him to lose his composure.

Qiao Yan continued, “I don’t want to see Lu Zhi harmed by petty people. I want to ask you to do something.”

Seeing Liu Bei’s concerned expression, Qiao Yan quickly added, “Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to kill Zuo Feng to eliminate the problem. I just want you to talk to Chunyu Qiong and see if you can find any dirt on Zuo Feng and Zhang Rang to use against them.”

“A chance to counteract.”

After thinking it over, Liu Bei agreed.

This matter might be related to the interests of the young prodigy, but it was also crucial for the development of Lu Zhi and Liu Bei himself.

Qiao Yan didn’t make things explicit, leaving some room for interpretation in their actions and words, which was quite appropriate.

Liu Bei didn’t need to spell it out either, as he also needed to protect his own interests.

Even if he wanted to serve the country and save it from disaster, he needed the corresponding authority to do so.

Moreover, the first step suggested by Qiao Yan wasn’t something he couldn’t handle.

Chatting with Chunyu Qiong to gather information? He was quite familiar with that.

Liu Bei was well-liked in his place of study, among his hometown friends, and in the military camps.

Chunyu Qiong, though a follower of the Yuan family from Runan, fell within his usual social circle.

As for how to start the conversation? He could say he admired the officials in the capital and wanted to learn about the customs and affairs of the Luoyang garrison.

As it turned out, Qiao Yan’s choice to have Liu Bei gather information was spot on.

Liu Bei’s diplomatic skills, inherited from his Han lineage, were perfectly demonstrated.

Chunyu Qiong didn’t suspect that Liu Bei was there to gather information.

He found Liu Bei’s words pleasant, his appearance somewhat unusual, and considering Liu Bei was Lu Zhi’s disciple, they were technically on the same side.

Chunyu Qiong had been a bit anxious about bringing Zhang Rang and Zuo Feng to this place, thinking that if the Jizhou frontline was still fighting the Yellow Turbans, he might be sent to the battlefield too.

Knowing his own limitations, he couldn’t help but worry about the future.

But now, things had turned around—not only did he not have to fight, but he also had Liu Bei, who had completely charmed him.

Without any suspicion, Chunyu Qiong started talking about the various camps in Luoyang and his dissatisfaction with the two eunuchs.

Liu Bei somehow managed to get hold of a small flask of wine, which he gave entirely to Chunyu Qiong without drinking any himself.

As Chunyu Qiong drank more, his guard dropped even further: “Brother Xuande, I’m going to tell you something, but you must promise not to tell anyone else.”

Liu Bei quickly nodded and promised.

Chunyu Qiong said, “The Minister mentioned that half a month ago, His Majesty visited the residence of Lord Qiao and seemed to have the intention of ennobling Lord Qiao’s grandson.

Zhang Rang holds the imperial decree but falsely claimed there was none. This is probably related to that matter.”

He patted Liu Bei on the shoulder, “But this has nothing to do with us, so just listen and let it go.”

Ennobling?

Liu Bei was shocked.

After some consideration, he decided to take Chunyu Qiong’s words to heart.

Liu Bei passed all the information he had gathered to Qiao Yan.

Qiao Yan was surprised—it was such an important piece of news.

“Ennobling…” she murmured, her mind racing.

This was indeed a message she would regret missing if she hadn’t found out in time!

Previously, she only aimed to place herself in a position of loyalty and filial piety, allowing her to advance or retreat as needed.

Even if the world changed, she would have a solid background to rely on.

But if she had the chance to become a marquis directly due to her merits in the Yellow Turban Rebellion, it would be much better than just having the reputation of “Qiao Yan avenging her father at the age of ten.”

Whether it was due to Huangfu Song’s oversight or deliberate action that caused the emperor’s decree to mention this situation, and now, because of her gender, it was temporarily held back, it at least presented a possibility.

A possibility that might be realized.

Just as Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun, and Lu Zhi wouldn’t have expected someone like her to emerge during the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, creating such a breakthrough—

So why couldn’t the ennobling become a reality?

The system, seeing Qiao Yan sit at her desk in deep thought after sending off Liu Bei, asked:

【Is becoming a marquis really important? After all, in a few years, there will be the chaos of Dong Zhuo, and this title might not be that useful, right?】

Qiao Yan chuckled inwardly at the system’s naivety.

Being a marquis and being a commoner are two entirely different identities.

However, she couldn’t reveal all her thoughts to the other party and only said, “Do you remember when I said before that if the world’s greatest strategist could help the lord feed these refugees, there wouldn’t be such confusion between right and wrong?”

【Of course, I remember.】

“If there is a marquis position, it comes with land grants, control over taxes, and the rights to the produce of the local farmers. Do you know what this means?”

“From the first year of Zhongping to the sixth year of Zhongping when the chaos of Dong Zhuo starts, there are five years. That’s enough time for me to try many things and test feasible methods in times of chaos.”

Before the system could express its opinion, it saw its host slam the table.

Despite still being a child and lacking some authority, her eyes, reflected by the campfire, burned with determination.

“So I must fight for this position!”