The remaining choices were only Bing Province, You Province, or Jiao Province.
Jiao Province was sparsely populated, plagued by miasma, and had numerous ethnic groups and impassable roads, making it suitable for merely surviving as a regional king, but utterly impossible to contend for supremacy over the world.
You Province was a hotbed of powerful factions, with many influential aristocratic families. Even if he could occupy it, he would face Yuan Shao, a man from a family that produced Grand Tutors for four generations, and he wasn't confident he could defeat him.
Although Bing Province had a small population, was relatively remote, and faced threats from foreign tribes,
it had fewer aristocratic families, making it easier for him to control. He could also foster external threats to enhance his own importance, build up a cavalry, accumulate his strength, and then slowly annex the Nine Commanderies of Bing Province as his base.
Furthermore, the Taihang Mountains stretched across its eastern side, the Yellow River flowed through its south, the vast grasslands lay to its north, and the Hetao region to its west, making it a natural strategic stronghold.
Historically, the Li Tang dynasty rose from this very place, sweeping across the entire world.
He might as well follow this path, observe the changing tides, and dispatch troops to contend for the world at any time.
After understanding this, Liu Jin calmed his thoughts.
The most urgent task was to wait for the Yellow Turban Rebellion to end before making any future plans.
Just then, two figures approached from a distance.
One of them was Li Li, who was conversing with a young man beside him. They were talking and laughing, appearing very cheerful.
They soon arrived beside Liu Jin. Li Li, with a respectful expression, slowly said,
“Ming Gong, allow me to introduce you. This is my good friend, Min Chun, courtesy name Bo Dian. He once served as an official in Wei Commandery, but after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he resigned his post and returned to his hometown to avoid the conflict.”
“So, I wrote a letter to Bo Dian, hoping he could join the army to handle miscellaneous affairs for the General.”
“He just arrived today, and I brought Bo Dian to meet the General.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Jin's eyes showed surprise. The person before him was Min Chun, a name that was not unfamiliar in his mind.
Historically, he was an advisor to Han Fu, the Governor of Ji Province, serving as his Chief Clerk, offering strategies, and managing state affairs. He was a rare talent.
He never expected that today, Li Li would recommend him.
Min Chun had a lean face and wore a gray long robe, possessing the demeanor of a scholar.
His eyes kept sizing up Liu Jin. Although he looked young, the aura of elite bravery about him clearly indicated he was a veteran of many battles.
No wonder his reputation had spread far and wide during this period, for slaying Zhang Liang and breaking Guangzong; he truly possessed extraordinary qualities.
Min Chun cupped his hands and respectfully said,
“This humble one greets the General.”
Liu Jin laughed heartily, appearing very forthright, and said loudly,
“Bo Dian, there’s no need to be so polite. Since you are Bo De’s good friend, you are naturally also my, Liu Wenyi’s, good friend.”
“Come, let us talk inside the tent.”
After saying this, Liu Jin led the two men to the main tent of the army.
He then ordered the cooks to prepare a few small dishes and set out several jars of fine wine.
Liu Jin sat at the head of the table, immediately raised his wine cup, and said with a smile,
“Bo Dian, let us drink this cup together.”
Min Chun did not stand on ceremony, picked up his wine cup, and drank it down.
The wine brought a fiery heat to his throat, which lasted for a few seconds before he exhaled a hot breath of wine.
After finishing a cup of wine, Min Chun looked at Liu Jin, stroked his beard, and said with a smile,
“The General’s prestige has been soaring recently. Even in Wei Commandery, I have heard of it. Seeing you today, your reputation is indeed well-deserved. You truly possess the demeanor of a renowned general of this era, which fills me with much emotion.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Jin smiled and humbly replied,
“Ah,”
“Bo Dian, don’t tease me. Although I have some minor fame, it’s not worth mentioning.”
“Moreover, to achieve what I have today, much credit goes to my subordinate generals who bravely fought the enemy. I cannot claim it all for myself, otherwise, I would be undeserving.”
Min Chun heard this and secretly praised him in his heart.
He was neither arrogant nor impetuous, and was humble and polite. If it were an ordinary person who had achieved such world-shaking feats, they would have long been incredibly arrogant.
With a smile still on his face, he asked,
“After the Yellow Turban Rebellion is quelled, does the General intend to enter the court as an official, becoming a close minister to the Emperor, or to guard a region and bring peace to the common people?”
Upon hearing this, Liu Jin let out a slight “oh,” but did not answer. He looked at Min Chun and asked with a smile,
“I wonder what Bo Dian’s opinion is?”
Min Chun drained his wine cup, stroked his beard, and spoke to himself,
“Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion began, the people of the world have suffered, and unrest has plagued various regions.”
“Although the Yellow Turban Rebellion is about to be quelled, there are countless bandits and thieves everywhere, still threatening various places.”
“Precisely because of this, the imperial court, in order to suppress these bandits and thieves, has issued a destructive policy, allowing local governors the right to recruit soldiers. Doesn’t this fuel their ambitions? In the long run, warlords will carve up the land, and the world will surely fall into chaos. This is simply courting disaster.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Jin was startled. He hadn't expected Min Chun to be able to foresee the situation several years in advance.
The disintegration of the Han Dynasty was indeed caused by the Yellow Turban Rebellion, but the policies issued by the imperial court, allowing local governors the right to raise their own troops to suppress bandits, led to inflated ambitions and accelerated the demise of the Han Dynasty.
His brows furrowed slightly, and his tone became a little colder!
“What does Bo Dian mean by that? How can we casually disparage the commands issued by His Majesty and the civil and military officials in the court?”
Li Li heard this, his eyes filled with apprehension. He hadn't expected Min Chun to dare speak such wild words.
One must know that Liu Jin was a member of the Han Dynasty imperial clan; to say that the world would surely fall into chaos was tantamount to saying the Han Dynasty would perish.
Min Chun, however, did not mind the stern words. Instead, he said with a smile,
“General, do not be angry. What I say is not baseless.”
“Within three to five years, the era of chaos will surely arrive. Whether the General believes it or not, you must accept this fact.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Jin stared intently at Min Chun, his heart growing more and more shocked!
The person before him was indeed a wise man, not only capable of foreseeing the coming chaos in the world but also able to predict the timing.
Min Chun lightly stroked his long beard and said with a smile,
“The General just asked me what my opinion was?”
“I believe that if the General remains in the court, he will achieve nothing and will instead be restricted.”
“Although the General comes from the Han Dynasty imperial clan and has a noble status, your lineage no longer has any foundation to support you. Otherwise, there would have been no need for you to rise from a mere Tuncun, experiencing life-and-death struggles, no different from ordinary commoners.”
“Without support, it will be extremely difficult to gain a firm footing in the court. Even with support, you would likely become someone’s pawn, and a slight misstep into the turbulent court politics could lead to eternal damnation.”
“In my opinion, it would be better to guard a region from the outside, command a strong army, and bring peace to a territory. After a few years, you will be able to clearly see the situation in the world, and it will not be too late to make further plans.”
“Does the General agree with what I’ve said?”
After saying this, Min Chun’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Liu Jin, who was seated at the head, smiling casually and appearing very composed.