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

Chapter 230 Guan Ping becomes a hot commodity, Pang Tong devises a clever plan to kill with a borrowed knife (2nd update)
Upon hearing Liu Bei's words, "Yun Chang's son is like my adopted son," Guan Ping was flattered and at a loss for words.

In the past, when he heard storytellers sing the tale of "once a fugitive who wandered the world, now a great general upon his return," Guan Ping longed for his father, who had also wandered the world, to return as a great general and then take him away from Guan Family Village. From then on, he would become a second-generation general, wear Shu brocade robes, leisurely command hawks and hounds, wield a white-feathered bow, marry a lady from a prominent family, and reach the pinnacle of life.

However, when his fantasy came true, Guan Ping no longer longed for it.

Or perhaps it was the conflicting feelings of gain and loss that made it difficult for Guan Ping to adjust his mindset.

Before he could adjust his mindset, Liu Bei said, "Yun Chang's son is like my adopted son."

Who is Liu Bei?

The fact that a descendant of the Left General of the Han Dynasty, Marquis of Yicheng, Prefect of Zhuojun, and Prince Jing of Zhongshan would suddenly want to adopt Guan Ping, a peasant's son, as his adopted son is even more absurd than the story of "a fugitive who once wandered the world and returned as a great general".

They were practically saying outright that Guan Ping was the emperor's illegitimate son.

This feeling was probably something only Emperor Xuan of Han, Liu Bingyi, could truly understand.

"Brother, you've frightened your nephew."

While Guan Ping was at a loss, Zhang Fei's loud voice rang in his ears, and then a large hand was placed on Guan Ping's shoulder.

"My dear nephew, go have a drink with your third uncle."

Before he finished speaking, Guan Yu was about to remove Zhang Fei's hand: "Third brother, Tanzhi is not good at drinking."

Zhang Fei secretly tested his strength: "Second brother, you're wrong. How can a real man not be good at drinking? How will he fight bravely on the battlefield?"

He then turned to Guan Ping and tempted him, saying, "Nephew, no matter how hard you try, you can't beat your second brother in terms of military strategy and martial prowess. But if you follow me for a few months, I guarantee you'll be able to drink more than your second brother!"

Guan Yu opened his phoenix eyes wide and increased his strength: "Third brother, this is my son! If you want someone who is good at drinking, then let your elder brother find you a good family."

Not to be outdone, Zhang Fei also increased his strength: "Second brother! We are sworn brothers, closer than blood brothers. Your son is my nephew, no different from my adopted son."

During the argument.

Huang Zhong and Pang Tong also entered the tent.

Upon learning that Guan Yu had brought his son back, and seeing that Guan Yu's son was tall and mighty, Huang Zhong was overjoyed and joined in, saying, "Yun Chang, your son is a good candidate for archery. Why don't you become my student and I will teach him the ultimate skill of hitting a willow leaf from a hundred paces away?"

When Guan Yu saw Huang Zhong also trying to snatch it, he glared at him with his phoenix eyes again: "Hansheng, you have your own son and you don't teach him, why are you looking for Tanzhi? I can teach archery too!"

Huang Zhong ignored Guan Yu's protective gaze and looked at Guan Ping with increasing fondness: "Yun Chang, as you know, my son Xu'er is weak and sickly, and can only become a civil official in the future. I can't let my unparalleled skill of hitting a willow leaf from a hundred paces away be lost. Besides, you can teach riding skills, but you are really not as good as me in archery! You don't want your son to be injured by a stray arrow on the battlefield because of his poor archery skills, do you? You don't want your son to miss a great opportunity because of his poor archery skills when he sees a bandit general escaping, do you? Yun Chang, I'm not taking an adopted son, just a disciple. I'm not taking your son away, so why are you in such a hurry?"

Surrounded by three fierce warriors, Guan Ping felt increasingly dizzy and couldn't hear a word Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were saying.
Inside the tent, Guan Yi and Hu Ashi were also stunned.

One person was asking himself: Could my grandson also possess the qualities to defeat ten thousand men?
One person is asking themselves: Why is my son so popular?
Guan Yi and Hu Ashi did not share Liu Bei's anxiety about the lack of successors, nor could they understand the excitement Liu Bei and his men felt upon seeing Guan Ping. A nearly unpolished rough stone suddenly appeared before them, and everyone wanted to personally carve it into the beautiful jade they envisioned.

And behind Huang Zhong.

Pang Tong, always eager for a good show, suddenly spoke up: "General Guan, does your son enjoy reading? He has a broad knowledge of astronomy, geography, the three religions and nine schools of thought, the ways of Yao and Shun, the virtues of Confucius and Yan Hui, and strategy and planning. I could also write a letter to Kongming and ask him if he accepts disciples."

Guan Yu immediately pulled Guan Ping behind him and raised his voice: "I thank you all for your kindness. Tanzhi is new here and still needs to adapt. As for other matters, we can discuss them when we return to Youzhou."

He then said to Guan Ping, "Tanzhi, you should first join my personal guard battalion for a few months to train and get used to military life. Don't be impatient for quick results."

Guan Ping nodded somewhat blankly.

Zhang Fei laughed heartily: "Second brother is right. I'm new here and need time to adjust. Whether it's drinking, archery, or reading, I can take my time. Do you want to know about what happened to your second brother over the past twenty years? I'm too shy to tell you, so come with me and I'll tell you about the time when I was selling bean flour in Zhuojun."

"Third brother—" Guan Yu's voice trailed off!

If everyone hadn't been there, Guan Yu would have loved to have a more detailed discussion with Zhang Fei about the difference between beans and bean flour; if they couldn't talk it out, they could settle it with a fistfight.

After the playful banter...

Liu Bei had Guan Yi and the other two rest in another camp first. Then he summoned everyone to the main tent and invited Yuan Xi, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Jia Kui and others inside to discuss important matters. He still had Pang Tong take charge of the sword and seal to command the generals.

"According to the latest intelligence from our scouts, Pi Shi has gathered several thousand troops and has even raised the banners of the Commandant of the Capital Region and the Governor of Hedong. Although the banners of the generals in Guanzhong have not yet been seen, Zhong Yao's intention to confront the Left General at Pi Shi is quite clear." Pang Tong slowly revealed the latest military intelligence.

He then asked, "While the generals from Guanzhong have not yet arrived, the Left General intends to send a vanguard across the river to fight Zhong Yao. Who is willing to lead the troops there?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou all stepped forward and shouted in unison, "This humble general is willing to go!"

Pang Tong glanced at the five men and laughed, "Zhong Yao and Wang Yi's troops are not elite, so there's no need for all the generals to come out."

The governors of Bingzhou, Xia Zhao and Deng Sheng, exchanged a glance and stepped forward to volunteer for the battle, saying, "Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? We two are willing to be the vanguard."

Pang Tong immediately gave the order to the two men, saying, "You two can each lead two thousand Bingzhou troops to Pishi first. You can choose any generals you need. I wish you both a triumphant return."

Yan Liang was about to speak, but Pang Tong stopped him with a look.

After the two left in high spirits, Yan Liang couldn't help but advise, "General Pang, the discipline of the Bingzhou army is extremely poor, and many of them are new recruits. It is acceptable for them to stay behind to guard the rear or to pursue the enemy after a victory, but to let them be the vanguard may lead to defeat. Moreover, Generals Xia Zhao and Deng Sheng are not good at fighting. If they are defeated by Zhong Yao, it will dampen our morale."

Pang Tong chuckled lightly: "It's alright. My intention was not to let the two generals seek victory. Although we have seized military power from the Bingzhou army, there are many in the army who are not convinced. If we don't let them suffer a defeat, how will they be convinced of our loyalty?"

Yan Liang looked at Pang Tong in astonishment.

Thinking of Pang Tong's words, "You can choose any generals you need," Yan Liang felt a chill: Xia Zhao and Deng Sheng, having received their orders, would surely select most of the disobedient generals. Pang Tong was using someone else to do his dirty work!
It’s too gloomy!
(End of this chapter)