After venting, Liu Yuan felt refreshed. Seeing his daughter cupping her chin, looking worried, he chuckled and flicked her forehead. "Never mind. You're just a child. When did I ever expect you to have some brilliant plan? Go, ask your Second Uncle to come over!"

Before he finished speaking, he heard Liu Zhen say, "Father, after taking control of Yingchuan Commandery, have you ever issued an edict to display the new Governer's brilliance, might, and benevolence?"

Liu Yuan said, "Of course I have. The day after entering the city, I had your Second Uncle draft a notice and had people post it all over the city. I also issued an order to be sent to all counties, stating that all matters would follow the old regulations without any changes, to put their minds at ease."

Liu Zhen shook her head. "That's not what I mean. In what name did Father issue this notice? Besides following the old regulations, did it say anything else?"

Liu Yuan asked back strangely, "Naturally, in the name of the new Governer of Yingchuan Commandery. Why?"

Liu Zhen sat up straight and said solemnly, "Since Father started his career under the King of Zhangchu, why not act in the name of the King of Zhangchu?"

After a pause, she added, "If the name is not right, the words will not ring true. If Chen She didn't have the title of King of Zhangchu, I'm afraid he wouldn't have been able to gather so many men. Although Father is the de facto Governer of Yingchuan Commandery, in the end, this title was bestowed by the King of Zhangchu. Though righteous armies are rising up all over the world, in the end, the only one who can stand against the Qin court is Chen She's faction. If Father does not submit to the Qin court, then he can only choose the side of the King of Zhangchu."

To put it bluntly, you have to pick a boss and take a side. Even if this boss is just a nominal one, Liu Yuan had relied on Chen Sheng's men to rise up. If he were to cast Chen Sheng aside now, not only would the men under him object, but the people of the world would also think him ungrateful.

Liu Yuan was silent. In fact, he had naturally considered what Liu Zhen said. However, once you put shackles on yourself, it's not so easy to take them off. It was one thing now while he had yet to establish a firm foothold in Yingchuan Commandery. But if in the future, Chen Sheng's side ordered him to attack somewhere, or told him to give up Yingchuan Commandery, and he was unwilling, it would be even more troublesome. It would be better not to use the name of the King of Zhangchu from the start, which would allow for more freedom.

Liu Zhen didn't know her father's thoughts. She just continued to analyze based on her own ideas: Father, your current strength is very weak. You only occupy Yingchuan Commandery. Not only are no righteous armies coming to join you, but you can't even handle the local people of Yingchuan Commandery. If you set yourself up as an independent power, it would be a very foolish act. Other than attracting the attention of the Qin army and making others jealous, it would be utterly useless.

Moreover, Liu Zhen remembered that the location of Yingchuan Commandery was extremely important. To attack Qin in the west, besides the route Chen Sheng and his men were currently taking from Xingyang through Mianchi to Hangu Pass, there was another route. That was from Yingyang in Yingchuan Commandery through Nanyang and into Wu Pass, then directly to Xianyang.

Comparing the two routes, the latter was much farther, like taking a huge detour.

But when Zhou Wen was later blocked and failed on the first route, everyone would naturally turn their eyes to the second route. At that time, the status of Yingchuan Commandery would only become more important, and Liu Yuan would become the target of all.

If Liu Yuan was not confident he could hold this place, then he had to be prepared to be encroached upon.

Since it's good to have a big tree for shade, why must we cast the boss aside?

Of course, that was the meaning, but when saying these words to her father, she would certainly have to be more tactful.

After listening, Liu Yuan was silent for a long time. He was not an arrogant man. Although his vanity and ambition had inflated a little after taking control of Yingchuan Commandery, the setbacks of the past few days had quickly sobered him up.

No matter how great his ambition was now, it wasn't so great that he wanted to declare himself king. The reason he didn't want to raise Chen Sheng's banner was precisely because he didn't want his hands and feet tied. It could be said that this way of thinking was not wrong, but Liu Zhen's words had opened another window for him, giving him another kind of warning.

Weighing the pros and cons, if there were disadvantages no matter what he did, he would of course choose the option with the lesser disadvantages.

Liu Zhen observed her father's expression and knew he had taken her words to heart. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that at least she wasn't reincarnated as Xiang Yu's daughter, otherwise her hair probably would have turned white at a young age.

"Father, there is one more thing," she said.

Liu Yuan turned his gaze to her, this time no longer with a casual expression. At the very least, Liu Zhen had already proven with her actions that she too could be of help.

Liu Zhen said, "Father originally did not plan to change the old regulations, ordering everything in the city to proceed as usual, not to disturb or disrupt the people. This is naturally excellent. However, being too conventional makes it easy for people to forget."

To put it bluntly, he needed to have his own brand.

What kind of brand?

Historically, when Liu Bang entered Guanzhong, he made a three-point law with the elders: those who kill will be put to death, and those who injure or steal will be punished accordingly.

The story is famous and simple. With just a short sentence, Liu Bang established his own brand, because among all the rebel armies at the time, no one had thought to do this, not even the more powerful Xiang Yu.

Everyone felt that this lord was benevolent, and that living under him would surely be very peaceful, free from the suffering of displacement and war. Thus, everyone came to join him, and Liu Bang won the hearts of the people.

Here in Yingchuan Commandery, a three-point law was not feasible.

Because the laws of Qin were far more meticulous than the so-called "three articles." The Qin dynasty hadn't completely collapsed yet, and many people were still straddling the fence, waiting and wavering.

In the original historical context, Liu Bang had already stormed Xianyang, and the Qin dynasty was completely finished, with no chance of revival. Therefore, Liu Bang's three-point law served to pacify the people, like a timely rain after a long drought, making people deeply grateful and yielding great results.

Although the content couldn't be copied, the method could be emulated. As for how to emulate it and what articles to promulgate to win the people's hearts, Liu Zhen said she didn't know. She could only provide her father with a general reference. The specific implementation had to be carried out by professionals. As for whether Liu Yuan would listen, and how much he would listen to, these things were also beyond her control.

Liu Yuan did not angrily rebuke Liu Zhen for talking nonsense, nor did he dismiss it. Instead, he showed a thoughtful expression.

This was Liu Yuan's merit. As long as he felt someone was right, he was willing to accept it, regardless of whether the speaker was his peer or his own daughter.

Liu Zhen spoke again, "Father, since that former Governer understands the times and was willing to yield his position to you, and has been well-behaved without causing trouble, why don't you consult his opinion? Perhaps you can make him serve you?"

Liu Yuan gave a bitter smile. "Do you think I haven't thought of that? It's just that Governer Song is a very strange person. Although he doesn't oppose me and even took the initiative to move his family out and give me the Governer's Mansion, every time I send someone to invite him, he always declines, saying he is old and his mind is failing, and he cannot take on any duties. It's not just him; even the Supervising Censor and the Deputy Governer are the same. I can't just tie them up and bring them here, so I'm helpless."

Liu Zhen asked, "In Father's opinion, is that Governer someone who fishes for fame and compliments?"

Liu Yuan shook his head. "Not at all. In my view, although Governer Song is timid when facing matters, he is truly talented. In the few years he served as Governer of Yingchuan Commandery, his political achievements were outstanding, and his reputation among the people was excellent. Your Second Uncle even pointed to these official documents and told me that Governer Song is a rare talent, no less than the Fan Shu and Li Tonggu of old."

Fan Shu was Fan Ju, and Li Tonggu was Li Si. Both were famous prime ministers of Qin.

Liu Zhen was very surprised. She hadn't expected Second Uncle's evaluation of Governer Song to be so high.

But on second thought, it made sense. No one is perfect. Governer Song didn't fight to the death and chose not to surrender, which might have contained an element of cowardice, but that didn't mean he was without talent.

"In that case, why doesn't Father go in person?" Liu Zhen said. "In the past, King Wen of Zhou sought out the wise, visiting the Grand Duke at the Wei River. The Duke of Zhou, in receiving scholars, would even grasp his hair and spit out his food. If Father truly feels that Governer Song is talented, what's wrong with making seven visits to invite the master?"

Liu Yuan laughed heartily and patted her hair. "What a pity my Ah Zhen is not a boy!"

Seeing that her father's mood seemed to have improved, Liu Zhen felt she should strike while the iron was hot and reveal her true purpose for coming today. "Father, I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?" Looking at Liu Yuan's expression, it seemed that even if Liu Zhen wanted to pluck the stars from the sky right now, he probably wouldn't find it too difficult to arrange.

"It's about Mother," Liu Zhen said.

Seeing Liu Yuan was still clueless, Liu Zhen felt a bit helpless.

Men only ever look at the major matters in front of them, never noticing the area behind them. Why else is it said that behind every successful man is a great woman? If it weren't for Lu Zhi not holding him back and fully assisting him in the early stages, Liu Bang's career would absolutely not have been so smooth. Unfortunately, he never took women seriously, so in the end, he almost lost the Liu family's empire at the hands of his wife. This could be said to be a common failing of all men under heaven.

Just like now, Liu Yuan similarly didn't think Madam Zhang would cause any trouble.

Liu Zhen really wanted to grab her father's collar and shake him: If you don't take some measures, your backyard is about to catch fire!