My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

At the end of the first month, the imperial carriage returned to Ji from Wuji.

In the chilly spring air, Zhen Mi, dressed in a plain blue cloak, rode in the same carriage as Ji Xuanyuan.

She leaned quietly on his shoulder, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Ji Xuanyuan held her other hand and said gently, "After we go back, we should first arrange the wedding of Fengxian and Zhaoji. You are the future sister-in-law, so you will have to help with the arrangements."

Zhen Mi raised her eyes, a hint of shyness flashing in them, but she nodded earnestly: "Mi'er knows that Sister Wen Cai is gentle and kind, and is a good match for General Lü."

Outside the carriage, Dian Wei, on horseback, stood guard, occasionally chuckling, which drew a glance from Zhao Yun: "Er Lai, what are you laughing at?"

Dian Wei scratched his head: "The mistress has arrived. My lord is happy, and so am I."

Xiang Yu, who was listening nearby, couldn't help but smile. He felt more at ease knowing that his elder brother would have someone to take care of him in the future.

On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon raises its head, and Jicheng is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations.

He arranged for Lü Bu, the General of the Xiongnu, to marry Cai Yan, the daughter of Cai Yong, a renowned Confucian scholar of the time.

Such a marriage between a civil and military official was already attracting attention, especially since Lü Bu was the sixth sworn brother of Grand Marshal Ji Xuanyuan and a core general of the Jingnan Army. All the civil and military officials in the court who had some connection with Ji Xuanyuan prepared generous gifts to congratulate him.

The Grand Marshal's residence, which had been temporarily renovated, was bustling with carriages and horses.

Xun Yu, Guo Jia, and Zhou Yu stood in front of the mansion gate to greet guests, attracting frequent glances from passersby.

The chanting of wedding ceremonies rose and fell, and the gift lists piled up like mountains.

Inside the main hall of the mansion, red silk was hung high, and the character for "happiness" was displayed throughout the hall.

Lu Bu was dressed in a bright red wedding robe, his hair tied up with a golden crown, and his face was as handsome as jade. However, the sharpness between his brows, honed by the battlefield, was unusually gentle today.

Beside him stood Cai Yan, adorned in a phoenix coronet and wedding robes, her face veiled in red. Her figure was slender and graceful. Although her face was not visible, her hands, clasped in front of her abdomen, with long, slender, and fair fingers, already revealed the demeanor of a lady from a prominent family.

Xun Yu served as the officiant at the wedding.

He stood before the hall and loudly recited the blessing: "Two families unite in marriage, a covenant is made in this hall, a blessed union is forever bound, a perfect match is bestowed upon us. Behold the peach blossoms in full bloom today, a harmonious and prosperous home. May our descendants flourish and prosper in the years to come. With this vow of lifelong commitment, we write it on fine paper, so that our pledge of love may be recorded in the marriage register!"

After the ceremony, the newlyweds were escorted to their bridal chamber.

The banquet was held in grand style, and the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely.

After several rounds of drinks, a gatekeeper rushed in to report: "Grand Marshal! Two elderly men are requesting an audience outside the mansion. They claim to be from Penglai and Yanmen, and say they are... the masters of General Lü and General Xiang!"

The room fell silent instantly.

Lu Bu abruptly stood up, his eyes flashing with excitement: "Master has arrived?!"

Ji Xuanyuan put down his wine cup, stood up, and straightened his clothes: "Please come in quickly!"

Before long, two figures entered the hall.

The old man on the left was about forty years old, tall and with a resolute face. His steps were as steady as a mountain. He was none other than Tong Yuan, the spear master of Penglai.

He carried no spear today, only a blue cloth robe, yet he possessed an air of profound composure and unwavering strength.

The older man on the right was slightly younger, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and eyes like a hawk. A pair of short halberds hung at his waist, and he was none other than the Halberd God Li Yan.

His gaze swept across the hall, and when he saw Lü Bu, Xiang Yu, and the others, a look of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

"Disciple greets Master!"

Lu Bu, Xiang Yu, Li Cunxiao, Yang Zaixing, and Zhao Yun stepped forward in unison and knelt on one knee.

The guests were all astonished; these five formidable generals of the era actually came from the same school.

Tong Yuan reached out to help them up, saying, "Please rise. Today is Fengxian's joyous occasion; there's no need for such formalities."

Li Yan strode up to Lü Bu and patted him heavily on the shoulder: "Good lad! You've settled down!"

His eyes even welled up with tears: "Your parents died early, so today I, your teacher, will sit in the seat of your elders. Are you willing?"

Lu Bu's eyes reddened slightly as he knelt down again: "A teacher for a day is a father for life; this disciple could not ask for more!"

The banquet has reopened, and honored guests have been added to the table.

Tong Yuan and Li Yan were invited to the main table, where they sat with Ji Xuanyuan, Cai Yong, and others.

As the wine flowed freely, Ji Xuanyuan raised his cup in a toast and said, "I am deeply grateful for your long journey, seniors. I have invited you two down the mountain because there is something I wish to discuss with you."

Tong Yuan put down his wine cup, his expression calm: "I have heard about the things the Grand Marshal has done in the mountains over the years. He has fought against the northern barbarians, pacified the Yellow Turbans in the east, saved the Emperor from danger, and implemented the recruitment order for talents... Each and every one of these things is something that no ordinary person could do. Now the Grand Marshal has many fierce generals and strategists under his command, and with the Emperor by his side and righteousness in his hands, we two are just mountain warriors and I'm afraid we can't be of much help."

This is a polite way of putting it, but it also sounds distant.

Li Yan replied, "That's right."

"We taught our students martial arts so that they could serve the country. Now they follow the Grand Marshal, achieve great deeds, and become famous throughout the world. They have already lived up to their learning. As for us... we are old and just want to live a quiet life in the mountains."

Ji Xuanyuan sensed the reluctance in their words, but he was in no hurry. He poured them wine and slowly said, "I understand what you two seniors have to say, but... I have a question."

Is the world truly at peace now?

There was silence in the hall.

Tong Yuan looked up at him.

Ji Xuanyuan continued, "Although Dong Zhuo retreated to Chang'an, the elite troops of Xiliang were not lost, and Yuwen Chengdu was a rare rival in the world. Among the warlords in Guandong, Yuan Shao occupied Bohai, Yuan Shu occupied Nanyang, Tao Qian and Liu Biao each had their own thoughts, and the remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion were not yet eliminated, and the barbarians were waiting for an opportunity to move... This world is just a brief calm before the storm."

He paused, his voice turning deep: "Xuanyuan was ordered by the Emperor to punish the disobedient, aiming to pacify the four seas and revive the Han Dynasty. However, it is easy to train soldiers, but difficult to find generals. Although the Jingnan Army is brave, it lacks a systematic training method. The tactics of each camp are different and their coordination is unfamiliar. If we can get the two seniors to come out of seclusion, reorganize the Imperial Guard, formulate the training manual, and unify the tactics... then our army's combat strength will surely reach a new level."

Li Yan frowned: "The Grand Marshal already has unparalleled generals like Fengxian, Xiang Yu, and Cunxiao under his command, why would he need the two of us?"

"A fierce general can charge into battle, but he cannot command millions of soldiers," Ji Xuanyuan said solemnly.

"Most of the Northern Army's Tiger Warriors and Feathered Forest Guards, along with other central troops, were taken to Chang'an by Dong Zhuo. Therefore, Xuanyuan wishes to re-establish the Imperial Guards and create two new positions: 'Spear and Staff Instructor' and 'Halberd Instructor,' with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain) and the title of Marquis within the Pass. He requests that you two seniors take on these positions. He does not expect you to personally go to the battlefield, but only that you transform your lifelong learning into military manuals and pass them on to future generations."

A look of surprise flashed in Tong Yuan's eyes.

A salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain measure) is already equivalent to that of a high-ranking official, equivalent to one of the Nine Ministers.

Although the title of Marquis within the Pass does not grant a fief, it is a noble title that cannot be conferred without great merit.

More importantly, Ji Xuanyuan did not intend for them to be generals charging into battle, but rather to be "instructors" teaching and learning, and establishing military law.

This perfectly aligns with their original intention of "teaching students to serve the country," without having to get involved in court disputes.

Li Yan was clearly interested, but still hesitated: "Instructor of the Imperial Guards... how exactly will it be carried out?"

Knowing that the two had relaxed, Ji Xuanyuan explained in detail: "The Imperial Guard is divided into three departments: the Spear and Halberd Department, the Bow and Crossbow Department, and the Cavalry Department. The Spear and Staff Instructor is in charge of training long weapons such as spears, lances, clubs, etc., while the Halberd Instructor specializes in unusual weapons such as halberds, axes, hooks, and forks. You two can select talented soldiers from the army and personally teach them advanced martial arts. You can also set the assessment standards for officers at all levels. Anyone who wants to be promoted must pass the martial arts assessment, and the method of assessment will be determined by you two."

This is quite clear: they not only have the right to set standards, but also the real power to do so.

This means that they will be the ones to shape the martial arts system of the Imperial Guards in the capital in the future.

Tong Yuan and Li Yan exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

This young Grand Marshal's vision and strategic planning far exceeded their expectations.

After a long while, Tong Yuan slowly stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Since the Grand Marshal values ​​you so much, this old man... is willing to do his best."

Li Yan also stood up: "I'm willing to go too!"

Ji Xuanyuan was overjoyed and raised his cup, saying, "With the assistance of these two seniors, our army is now like a tiger with wings! Please drink this cup to the brim!"

The three of them drank together, and the matter was settled.

As the banquet drew to a close, a personal guard suddenly delivered a military report and a package.

"Report! General Ran of Shanggu Commandery has sent someone with congratulatory gifts!"

Lü Bu took the letter and opened it first.

The letter, written in strong, vigorous handwriting, was indeed from Ran Min: "To my sixth brother: I am deeply regretful that I cannot personally come to congratulate you while you are stationed in Shanggu, where the barbarians are watching. I heard that you have married a woman from the Cai family; you are a perfect match, a match made in heaven, which brings me great comfort. I am sending you a golden sword from the barbarians, which I obtained by slaying a Xianbei commander the other day. Its sharpness is unparalleled, and I offer it as a token of my affection. I wish you and your wife a long and happy life together, and that you will soon have a son. Your brother, Min, bows respectfully."

Upon opening the package, it indeed contained a curved sword. The scabbard was inlaid with gold and jade, and the blade was half an inch out of the scabbard, gleaming coldly and carrying a faint smell of blood. It was clearly a spoil of war that had just been through a battle.

Lu Bu stroked his sword, a warm feeling welling up in his eyes: "Fourth Brother is so thoughtful."

As night deepened, the guests gradually dispersed.

Guo Jia, his face flushed from drinking, hooked his arm around Zhang Fei's neck and whispered, "Yide, do you want to... make a ruckus in the wedding night?"

Zhang Fei's eyes lit up: "Strategist, you have an idea?"

Guo Jia chuckled, beckoned Li Cunxiao and Yang Zaixing over, and then pulled Dian Wei along. The five of them sneaked into the backyard.

Zhao Yun saw this, frowned and wanted to stop them, but Xiang Yu held him back: "Zilong, let them make a fuss. Fengxian is usually too quiet, but today is a joyous occasion, so it's good for them to have some fun."

In the east wing of the backyard, red candles were lit.

Lu Bu had already lifted Cai Yan's veil. In the candlelight, the bride's face was beautiful, her eyes were like autumn water, and her cheeks were flushed. She was breathtakingly beautiful.

Lu Bu stared in disbelief, and after a long while, he whispered, "Zhao Ji...you are so beautiful."

Cai Yan lowered her head and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "General... please don't call me Zhaoji anymore. Now that I have married you, I should take your surname... just call me Yan'er."

"Yan'er..." Lu Bu called softly, reaching out to stroke her cheek.

Just then.

"Bang bang bang—!"

Suddenly, a great commotion of gongs and drums erupted outside the door!

Interspersed with Guo Jia's deliberately raised, eerie shouts: "The wedding night is here! Groom, come out now! If you don't, we're storming in!"

Zhang Fei roared in his hoarse voice, "Sixth Brother! Hurry up! Or I'll tear your door down!"

Li Cunxiao laughed heartily: "Sixth Brother! Stop dawdling!"

Cai Yan was startled and instinctively hid in Lü Bu's arms.

Lu Bu's face instantly turned ashen.

He took a deep breath and said gently to Cai Yan, "Yan'er, wait a moment, I'll be right back."

After saying that, he turned around, strode to the door, and suddenly pulled it open.

Outside the door, Guo Jia was holding a gong, Zhang Fei was holding a drum, Li Cunxiao was carrying a wine jar, and Dian Wei was carrying a wooden pillar. The group stood in a row, all grinning from ear to ear.

Lu Bu gritted his teeth: "You..."

Guo Jia interjected, "Sixth Brother! According to the rules, during the wedding night festivities, the bride must offer toasts to everyone! Otherwise, we won't leave!"

Zhang Fei chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes! Let's toast!"

Lu Bu's temples throbbed with veins. He suddenly turned back into the house, and when he came out again, he was holding a halberd.

A flash of cold light appeared at the tip of the halberd.

The five people outside the door fell silent instantly.

"Run!" Guo Jia was the first to throw down the gong and turn to run.

"Sixth Brother is getting serious!" Zhang Fei dropped the drum and darted away faster than a rabbit.

Li Cunxiao, Yang Zaixing, and Dian Wei also dispersed after a quarrel.

Lu Bu chased after them for a few steps, carrying his halberd, but the five men had already disappeared. He was both annoyed and amused, and finally shook his head, sighed, and turned back into the house.

Close the door and bolt it.

Cai Yan chuckled softly, covering her mouth beside the bed: "The general's brothers... are quite a lively bunch."

Lu Bu walked to her side, sat down, took her hand, and said helplessly, "I'll definitely deal with them someday!"

The candlelight flickered, illuminating the two figures nestled together.

Outside the window, Guo Jia and the others hid behind the pillars, peeking at the lamplight inside, winking and chuckling softly.

The moonlight, like water, bathed the city of Ji.

That night, joy filled the air: a military general married a scholar, a master and disciple reunited, and the new system of the Imperial Guards was established.

But the turmoil of a chaotic world is still gathering in the distance.

But at least for this moment, Jicheng is warmly lit, brothers are reunited, and a happy marriage is formed.

Ji Xuanyuan stood in the courtyard, gazing at the silhouette on the east wing window, then looking towards the west wing, where Zhen Mi was sewing new clothes for him by candlelight.

He let out a soft sigh of relief.