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

Chapter 204 The Brothers of Zhuo County Reunite, Liu Bei's Doting on Zhang Fei (5th Update)
Liu Bei's joking remark about finding a good match for Jian Yong and Sun Qian drew laughter from everyone present, making the atmosphere at the banquet even more lively and joyful.

Although Jian Yong and Sun Qian blushed from the teasing, they were not angry. Instead, a warm feeling welled up in their hearts. In this chaotic world, following Liu Bei to this place, they were fortunate to have this peaceful place, a simple meal, and a group of comrades who treated each other with sincerity and joked with each other.

If such casual banter were under Yuan Shao's command, it would likely have already turned into attacks and slander.

The laughter subsided slightly, but the atmosphere remained warm and friendly.

Guan Yu sat upright before the table, his phoenix eyes slightly closed, as if he were resting, but a faint smile lingered at the corner of his mouth.

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan and smiled as he reminisced with Xu Shu.

Mi Zhu, the Agricultural Commissioner in charge of land reclamation, and Cao Xuan, the Finance Commissioner in charge of finances, together discussed agricultural and commercial affairs in Zhuojun with Liu Bei.

After a few more drinks, Jian Yong and Sun Qian got together again. Chen Zhen listened carefully and overheard Jian Yong teaching Sun Qian "how a talented man should win the heart of a beautiful woman." One dared to teach, and the other dared to listen.

As night deepened, the sound of a night watchman's drum drifted in from outside the window.

However, inside the hall, the lights were still on, and the laughter and conversation continued as before.

The weariness from the journey had quietly melted away in the joy of the reunion and the frank and warm laughter at the table, leaving only the harmony and joy of the ruler and his subjects.

Noon the next day.

Liu Bei awoke from his hangover, rubbing his aching temples, and vaguely heard shouts.

"Strange, does that sound like Yide's voice?" Liu Bei then shook his head and chuckled to himself, "I've drunk too much and my head is spinning and my ears are ringing. Yide is far away in Ji County, how could he..."

Before he could finish speaking, the shouts became clearer and more familiar. Liu Bei sat up abruptly, pushed open the window and looked out: standing at the gate was indeed Zhang Fei!
"Yide, when did you arrive in Zhuoxian?"

Liu Bei hurriedly went out of the inner room and saw Chen Dao blocking Zhang Fei outside the courtyard.

Upon seeing Liu Bei, Zhang Fei immediately looked aggrieved: "Brother! I'm so aggrieved! Upon hearing of your return, I rushed here from Ji County overnight, hoping to have a good drink with you, but Liu Deran blocked me at the city gate! He said he wouldn't open the gate until the appointed time, and that my unauthorized entry was already a transgression, but forcibly entering the city was an even greater crime! I pleaded with him, but he wouldn't budge! I only let it go because he had prepared food and a tent for me. I finally entered the city at dawn, only to be stopped at the gate by Chen Shuzhi, who said that you were still hungover and couldn't come in! You've been away for months, and I've become an outsider! Last night's banquet didn't wait for me, and today I'm being blocked again. I'm afraid you've forgotten me and don't care about our brotherhood!"

Having said that, he even imitated the scholar by covering his face with his sleeve, as if wiping away tears...

Liu Bei looked at Chen Dao with a puzzled expression.

Logically speaking, Chen Dao, who was well aware of the relationship between Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, should not have stopped Zhang Fei.

Chen Dao hurriedly reported: "Last night, our lord was very drunk. General Guan was on guard duty first, and this morning I took over. General Guan ordered that no one, except the two ladies, may enter before our lord is awake. General Zhang tried to force his way in, so I stopped him."

Zhang Fei's voice sounded even more aggrieved: "They didn't wait for me to drink! My second brother is bullying me too!"

"Sigh..." Liu Bei sighed and rubbed his forehead.

Yesterday, Liu Bei had no idea that Zhang Fei would rush over from Ji County, nor did he allow Chen Zhen to issue a special approval document to Liu Deran, the city gate officer.

Liu Bei's cousin, Liu Deran, who was then the city gate commander, was extremely stubborn and would not open the city gate until the appointed time, no matter who came.

Zhang Fei didn't really make things difficult for Liu Deran. It was his own fault that he couldn't enter the city before the gates closed, and he couldn't blame the dutiful garrison commander. If a fake Zhang Fei came in the dark, Liu Deran would be held responsible.

Moreover, Liu Deran was also considerate, not only sending down food and military tents in a hanging basket, but also preparing an incense burner to repel insects. Zhang Fei's current aggrieved complaint was merely an exaggeration to gain Liu Bei's concern after seeing him. "Uncle Zhi, go and fetch a jar of good wine, and be quick."

Liu Bei understood Zhang Fei's personality well and knew how to appease him.

really.

Upon hearing "good wine," Zhang Fei's grievances vanished instantly. He even instructed Chen Dao, "Uncle! Find me a big bowl! Drinking from a small vessel isn't satisfying! Get my elder brother a small vessel—remember, it must be small! My elder brother drank all night last night, so he certainly won't drink much today. A small vessel is just right!"

Hearing this instruction, Chen Dao frowned and had no choice but to turn to Liu Bei with a questioning look on his face.

Liu Bei waved his hand helplessly: "Shuzhi, let's do as Yide says."

When Chen Dao brought over a jar of fine wine and several large and small bowls, Zhang Fei chuckled. He first carefully poured a small jar of wine for Liu Bei, and then casually poured a large bowl of wine.

"Brother, you've come a long way and must be tired! I've failed to greet you properly, so I deserve a bowl of wine as punishment! I'll drink it first!" Zhang Fei picked up the wine bowl and drank it down in one gulp, then wiped the wine stains from his mouth: "Wine but no food, my stomach is really empty. Brother."

Before he finished speaking, Liu Bei told Chen Dao to go and find some more food.

It was noon, and the food was ready in the kitchen.

Seeing Zhang Fei drinking from a large bowl and gulping down his wine, Liu Bei showed no displeasure whatsoever. Instead, he thoughtfully poured more wine for Zhang Fei, making Zhang Fei nod repeatedly with delight: "Brother, you're the best to me!"

Liu Bei laughed and scolded, "Just now you said I forgot you and didn't care about our brotherhood, but now you realize how good I am?"

Zhang Fei slapped himself and chuckled, "Brother, I was wrong!"

Liu Bei pointed at Zhang Fei, his tone a mix of laughter and scolding, but mostly one of doting affection.

Zhang Fei was the youngest of the three—Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei—and he started following Liu Bei when he was just a teenager.

Unlike Guan Yu, who sought refuge in Zhuo County, Zhang Fei had ancestral property in Zhuo County. The Zhang family of Zhuo County was a large clan, and Zhang Fei's family was extremely wealthy within the clan.

However, in order to follow Liu Bei, Zhang Fei resolutely gave up his family business and went to war with Liu Bei. At that time, Zhang Fei was still a fourteen-year-old boy who was dancing with a spoon. He even quarreled with his elders when he left.

There were wealthy families who didn't inherit their family businesses. They would drop out of school halfway through and then insist on following a straw sandal seller to make their way in the world. In the end, they would even follow the straw sandal seller on a long journey. It was already a miracle that the Zhang family of Zhuo County didn't remove Zhang Fei from their family genealogy.

This is why Liu Bei doted on Zhang Fei so much.

Even after Zhang Fei lost the city and his family, Liu Bei did not blame Zhang Fei. Instead, he tried his best to comfort Zhang Fei, putting brotherhood above the loss of the city and his family.

Such doting affection is evident.

After a hearty meal, Zhang Fei patted his belly, stretched a bit, and then approached Liu Bei: "Brother, I don't want to stay in Ji County anymore. Can we find someone else?"

Before Liu Bei could speak, Zhang Fei declared, "I want to switch places with Huang Hansheng! I'll command the cavalry too!"

When Zhang Fei thought of how Liu Bei had swiftly transferred Huang Zhong from Dai County when he was in Changshan State, he felt both envious and aggrieved. In Zhang Fei's opinion, although garrisoning troops in Ji County was a great responsibility, it was not as convenient as being able to be dispatched by Liu Bei at any time in Dai County.

　The fifth update is here! More tomorrow!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)