The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 161 No one can stop Liu Bei from taking his arm in arm and riding in the same carriage (1st update)
The guards at the city gate were all taken aback when they saw Fuyun, the leader of the Black Mountain Army, approaching alone on horseback at the city gate.

Too embarrassing!

At that moment, a horn sounded, and the archers on the city walls all drew their bows and aimed at the floating cloud. Swordsmen and spearmen poured out of the city and quickly surrounded the floating cloud.

The city gate commander rode his horse to the rear of the army formation and shouted sternly, "You traitorous fools! How dare you act so arrogantly in Zhen Ding City? Do you think you can just see the Left General whenever you want?"

Fu Yun glanced at them coldly and sneered, "When two armies are at war, how can there be no envoy? Are you treating the envoy like this because you were instructed by Changshan Chancellor Tao Sheng to deliberately humiliate the Left General?"

This blatant provocation caused the city gate captain's expression to change drastically. If he were to truly humiliate Liu Bei, he could forget about continuing as the city gate captain.

Seeing Fuyun's confident and fearless demeanor, the city gate captain gritted his teeth and waved for his trusted confidant to quickly report the news.

Fu Yun, however, nonchalantly dismounted, tossed his sword toward the city gate captain, and shrugged.

Seeing this, the city gate commander was both angry and helpless. He had no choice but to order the swordsmen and spearmen to retreat, but he did not remove the archers from the crenellations of the city wall.

Fuyun ignored him and sat cross-legged on the ground, closing his eyes to rest.

The Prime Minister's Residence.

Upon hearing that Zhang Yan's envoy, Fuyun, was requesting an audience, Liu Bei was quite surprised: "Gongsun Xu has only been gone a short while, why is Zhang Yan sending another chieftain?"

Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan lightly, and after a moment's thought, he understood: "General, you might as well go to the city gate to greet this envoy yourself."

Seeing the familiar smile on Zhuge Liang's lips, Liu Bei smiled knowingly and said, "Disrespecting Gongsun Xu while treating Fuyun well is a scheme to sow discord. A brilliant strategy from the strategist!"

Zhuge Liang added with a smile: "Besides sowing discord, it is also to demonstrate the general's benevolence and magnanimity to the Black Mountain commanders."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Immediately.

Liu Bei then ordered the carriage to be prepared.

Upon hearing the news, Tao Sheng hurriedly came to inquire about the matter: "Why would a mere bandit leader require General Zuo to go in person? If people see him, they might mistake him for some important figure."

Liu Bei laughed loudly but remained silent.

Tao Sheng was even more bewildered: "General Zuo! Fu Yun is merely a commander under Zhang Yan. Even if Zhang Yan himself came, he wouldn't deserve such formalities!"

Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan and explained to Tao Sheng, "One person like Fuyun is not worthy of such a great gift, but the more than 100,000 soldiers and civilians of Heishan are deserving of it!"

Tao Sheng stared in astonishment at Zhuge Liang, then at Liu Bei with his gentle smile, still completely bewildered.

Liu Bei had already boarded the carriage, smiling gently: "Prime Minister Tao's doubts will become clear in time. I must go to the city gate first; if I arrive late, it will appear that I have lost my manners."

Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou also rode alongside him.

Watching Liu Bei and his men head towards the city gate, Tao Sheng stamped his foot and spurred his horse to follow. Tao Sheng wanted to follow and see what Liu Bei was up to!
Arrived at the city gate.

Yan Liang and Wen Chou rode ahead, parting the crowd to the left and right, then reined in their horses, stood to the side, and bowed to those behind them.

Immediately afterwards, Guan Yu, dragging his sword and stroking his beard, rode out from the center on his red-maned horse, his phoenix eyes glancing sideways at the floating clouds.

With just one glance, Fu Yun felt a chill run down his spine, as if his entire body, from the neck down, was out of his control!

Who is this person? His power and influence are terrifying!
Those two generals are Yan Liang and Wen Chou!

Judging from this, Yan Liang and Wen Chou are actually willing to be subordinate to this man?
Fu Yun's breath hitched, and he subconsciously stood up from his cross-legged position. The veins on his hands under his sleeves bulged, as if he were facing a formidable enemy.

Before he could recover, Guan Yu stepped aside, and a carriage slowly drove out.

On the right side of the carriage, Zhuge Liang, waving a feather fan, rode alongside, also looking at Fuyun. When their eyes met, Fuyun felt a sense of astonishment, as if he had been seen through.

Who is this person? What a sharp eye!

Fuyun felt like she couldn't breathe properly.

Just then, the carriage curtain was lifted.

Liu Bei stepped out from inside, smiled warmly at Fuyun, and bowed respectfully: "I have long heard that there is a swift warrior in the Black Mountain Army, named after Emperor Wen's famous steed 'Fuyun'. Today I have met him, and he is indeed exceptionally brave and valiant. Liu Bei is here, and I pay my respects!"

This scene.

The city gate commander and his guards were stunned.

General Zuo actually came to greet them personally by car!

Could these floating clouds be an old friend of the general?

Fu Yun was also quite surprised: Although I am an envoy sent by the commander-in-chief, there is no need for the left general to personally welcome me.

But when he met Liu Bei's gaze, Fu Yun felt a sense of ease, as if bathed in a spring breeze, a stark contrast to when he had looked at Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang earlier.

Realizing his lapse in decorum, Fuyun hurriedly returned the greeting: "I am but a humble countryman, who has taken the name Fuyun because of my fast pace. I dare not accept such a grand greeting from General Zuo!"

Liu Bei laughed loudly: "Heroes have never been judged by their origins! Fan Kuai was a dog butcher, Zhou Bo played the funeral tune, Guan Ying sold cloth, and Xiahou Ying drove a chariot. These four men were not from noble families, yet they were able to assist Emperor Gaozu in establishing his imperial dynasty. Being of humble origin is not a disgrace; being able to bend and stretch is what makes a true man!"

Fuyun was even more shocked.

Is this the Left General, known for his benevolence and righteousness?

I am but a lowly thief, yet he treats me with such great courtesy!

Secretly pondering the sixteen words, "Being born into poverty is not a disgrace; being able to bend and stretch is what makes a true man!" Fu Yun suddenly felt a pleasant surprise at being recognized.

In contrast to Gongsun Xu's arrogance in looking down on Fuyun and other country bumpkins because of his family's long line of nobles, Fuyun's respect for Liu Bei was even greater.

While Fuyun was still in shock, Liu Bei jumped off the carriage and invited, "My righteous friend, you must be tired from your long journey. Please ride with me into the city."

Upon hearing this, Fu Yun was startled and quickly waved his hand in refusal: "I dare not ride with General Zuo; I came on horseback."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Bei strode towards Fuyun, then took Fuyun's arm and led him to the carriage: "You risked your life to reveal your identity in order to see me. With such an open and honest heart, what's wrong with riding with me?"

The moment Liu Bei took Fuyun's arm, Fuyun was frozen in place, his mind went blank, and his feet moved instinctively with Liu Bei's steps.

Fuyun didn't know how she got onto the carriage; she only knew that when she regained consciousness, she was already inside.

Not only was Fuyun stunned and lost in thought, but the city gate commander and his guards also stood frozen in place.

It was already astonishing that General Zuo personally came to greet them by carriage, but he even invited Fuyun to ride into the city with him!
Could these floating clouds be General Zuo's long-lost brother?
Equally astonished was Changshan Chancellor Tao Sheng, who had followed on horseback.

Watching the carriage head towards the Prime Minister's residence, Tao Sheng turned to Zhuge Liang in a daze: "Military Advisor Zhuge, General Zuo, what's going on?"

Tao Sheng pondered for a long time but couldn't find a suitable word to describe the doubt in his heart. He looked at Zhuge Liang and asked for an explanation.

Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan and, instead of answering, asked, "If Tao Xiang were Zhang Yan, what would he think upon hearing this news?"

After that, Zhuge Liang said no more, lightly flicked the reins, and spurred his horse to follow Liu Bei's carriage, leaving Tao Sheng alone in the same spot, stunned.

After an unknown amount of time, Tao Sheng finally snapped out of his daze, took a long breath, and said in a slightly trembling voice, "If I were Zhang Yan, I would be ashamed to be an enemy of General Zuo."

　Update 1 is here! Here's one picture first, time for bed.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)