Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 52 Zhang Fei, the Art Master
After that night, Zhang Fei probably had some thoughts.

The next day, he put on a scholar's robe, brought his tuition fee, and formally became Duan Jiong's disciple.

To be honest, Zhang Fei's current physique is not suitable for a scholar's robe. His broad shoulders and thick waist make the clothes look like they're about to tear. This outfit actually makes him look more like a butcher than when he was shirtless and slaughtering pigs.

What does Fei Lang want to learn?

Duan Jiong asked expressionlessly.

In fact, Duan Jiong really liked Zhang Fei. Perhaps every general would like a fierce man like Zhang Fei. However, Duan Jiong had a stern personality and rarely smiled. He always had a grimace when he met anyone.

"Fei wants to learn the skills of warfare and the camaraderie of comrades-in-arms."

Zhang Fei bowed solemnly: "I am not cut out for studying scriptures. I fall asleep as soon as I see a book... After much thought, I realize that I can only fight on the battlefield in the future. I beg Mr. Ji to teach me some skills to save my life."

"You should ask your elder brother about how to save your life... It was Liu Lang who saved my life."

Duan Jiong shook his head: "I can only teach you the skill of taking lives, or the skill of sacrificing lives... Do you want to learn?"

"Huh? What does 'taking a life' mean? What does 'sacrificing a life' mean?"

Zhang Fei was dumbfounded; this thing wasn't what he expected at all...

"To claim the enemy's head from among ten thousand soldiers is to claim their life. To fight alone in a desperate situation is to sacrifice one's life."

Duan Jiong stood up and looked at Zhang Fei's round eyes: "Your elder brother can do everything else, but these two things can only be done by you brothers."

"Please teach me, Mr. Ji!"

Zhang Fei bowed his head and performed the formal ceremony of becoming an apprentice.

However, Zhang Fei never expected that the first lesson Mr. Ji taught him, which involved risking his life for him, would not be about battlefield combat, but rather...

art.

To be precise, it's painting.

In those days, calligraphy and painting were done on silk or lacquerware, but those things were too expensive. Silk could be used directly as money, so Duan Jiong didn't let Zhang Fei waste it.

He used bamboo slips and did not use pen and ink; he had Zhang Fei carve human figures with a carving knife.

This means that one must be patient and meticulous, and cannot afford to make any mistakes.

If it's engraving characters, a mistake of one or two strokes might not affect the overall reading experience, but if it's engraving a portrait, even a slight deviation of the knife can ruin the entire painting.

Zhang Fei lacked this kind of meticulousness and patience. He couldn't even carve a decent piece in a month, which made him somewhat depressed.

Duan Jiong did indeed love painting, and was quite skilled at it. However, he wasn't particularly adept at the mythological illustrations or scene paintings popular at the time; his strength lay in…

Erotic picture.

Duan Jiong used a carving knife, not pursuing a likeness in form, but only an understanding of the essence, so it lacked a certain feeling.

But at least it's considered elegant, and the military camp does need this...

However, this is something that Zhang Fei really has a hard time learning.

Of course, Zhang Fei has been much quieter over the past month, and he no longer looks like a butcher; his face has even become much fairer.

In the eyes of Liu Bei and Duan Jiong, the effect was quite significant.

Zhang Fei was troubled. He did not doubt Mr. Ji's teachings and could understand that they were meant to help him to be calm and steady, but his volatile temper simply could not withstand them.

At night, I feel like I have a cat scratching at my heart, and I can't help but want to hit someone.

So Zhang Fei went to Liu Bei for help.

Liu Bei, being well-informed, immediately suggested to Zhang Fei a style of painting that focused entirely on resemblance and was utterly devoid of elegance after seeing Duan Jiong's work...

Charcoal comic.

Anime illustration. Although it was just charcoal drawn on a wooden board, and Liu Bei's drawing skills weren't particularly good—he himself didn't feel much of a connection—Zhang Fei had never seen such breathtaking curves before, the way those slender branches hung with abundant fruit…

It truly took a life!
Zhang Fei was so excited watching this that he immediately declared he could definitely learn it!

You have to learn this, even if it costs you your life!

He even volunteered to work night shifts just so he could study art in peace and quiet at night...

Zhang Fei, who was usually loud, carefree, and always bullied soldiers by relying on his strength and status as a cook, was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, he became an artist who focused solely on honing his skills and temperament. His hands gradually became steady, and he no longer needed to hold down a pig when slaughtering it. With a single stab, he could silently take the pig's life.

After seeing Zhang Fei finally carve a painting that could tantalize anyone's heart, Duan Jiong finally began to seriously teach Zhang Fei how to lead troops, how to break through enemy lines, and how to treat soldiers.

He also showed Zhang Fei how he and Liu Bei trained their troops.

……

Zhang Sheng's night raid was actually carried out with a desire to die; only death could release such a suicide soldier.

He left behind two hundred horses, dozens of sets of armor, and a group of comrades who were unable to escape.

These comrades, whose names had been erased by Liu Bei, were organized into a separate unit by Duan Jiong and called "the Underworld Soldiers".

Since he is Ji Mingjun, he must have ghost soldiers under his command.

These underworld soldiers also became the most ruthless instructors.

Because none of the new recruits had spotted Zhang Sheng's cavalry before, and because eight of the new recruits had died in battle despite the certainty of victory, Ji Mingjun was furious.

From then on, the new recruits began to go out and carry out various missions.

New recruits outside may encounter attacks from underworld soldiers at any time—underworld soldiers may suddenly attack from the shadows at any time, and they are ruthless and specialize in attacking the lower body.

Moreover, the underworld soldiers were not faking an attack; it was a real assault. They just didn't draw their swords and tried their best not to kill anyone.

This makes the task extremely difficult.

If the task doesn't go well or goes over time, then you'll have to dig toilets while starving, with no meat or rice.

If someone fails to fulfill the final military order, Duan Jiong will not hesitate to remove them from the ranks of regular soldiers, regardless of the reason.

However, if you want to complete a mission, even a small one like "delivering a message to Shili Pavilion", you will most likely encounter ambushes by underworld soldiers along the way.

If you're planning to use a mission as an excuse to visit brothels in the market, you need to be extra careful. You might encounter a betrayal that could lead to a lifetime of unhappiness while you're on your mission.

Of course, if one can still complete the three military orders on time and in good condition under such circumstances, one can accumulate merits and become a soldier, obtain a set of armor, and be incorporated into Liu Bei's personal guard.

Moreover, the vacation time obtained after completing the task is safe—and only vacation time is safe.

This training method is very taxing; recruits are often injured as a result, and some even die in accidents along the way. Four or five of them are so frightened that they desert.

But Liu Bei did not interfere; he simply went to inspect the camp every day and treated the wounded soldiers.

Liu Bei was not skilled in medicine, but he at least had common sense about cleaning and suturing external injuries, and knew what kind of medicine to use in what situation.

The healers of Taiping Dao were indeed skilled at treating injuries and illnesses, and the wound medicine they provided to Liu Bei was very effective.

As long as we can maintain cleanliness and hygiene, listen to the soldiers' complaints, offer some words of comfort, and send those who are seriously injured to the Shiliting Charity Home for hospitalization, that will suffice.

Liu Bei, who was in charge of the money pouch, was already the most popular person among the soldiers. Now, he was also personally taking care of the wounded every day, and the soldiers gradually began to look at him almost like a brother.

Zhang Fei had been observing the whole process, and by this time he finally understood and began to take care of the wounded with Liu Bei.

He also had the soldiers appreciate his latest paintings along with him...

(End of this chapter)