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

Let's go back to the seventh year of Guanghe, March.

The country has been suffering from a severe drought for three years. Countless people have resorted to cannibalism, exchanging their own children for food. The Ten Attendants in the court have been corrupting the government, selling official positions and titles. Local powerful families have been seizing land and property, and the people are living in misery.

There was a man named Zhang Jiao from Julu who called himself "Great Teacher of Virtue" and founded the Way of Peace. In more than ten years, his followers spread to eight states. He secretly organized himself into thirty-six districts, with more than 10,000 people in the large districts and six or seven thousand people in the small districts, each with its own leader.

The March wind still carried a biting chill, and besides Ji Xuanyuan, there were six other teenagers on the nameless hill.

Those six men were all handsome and exceptionally brave.

The tallest boy, with double pupils, wielded a jet-black halberd weighing 144 jin (approximately 72 catties), and was none other than Xiang Yu.

The young man on the left has a cold and stern look. He holds a strange weapon in each hand. In his left hand, he holds a double-edged spear that is 1.5 feet long, and in his right hand, he holds a crescent-shaped hook halberd that weighs 88 catties. He is Ran Min.

The young man on the right, with broad shoulders and a burly build, was carrying a 152-pound Yuwang Spear; he was none other than Li Cunxiao.

Following him was a man nine feet tall with a handsome face, wielding a 105-pound halberd; this was Lü Bu.

The youngest was about fourteen years old, but he already had a dignified appearance, and the 120-pound iron spear in his hand gleamed fiercely. He was none other than Yang Zaixing.

There was another person, dressed in white robes and wielding a silver spear, with a face like jade and eyes like bright stars; he was none other than Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong, who had been "tricked" into coming.

Ji Xuanyuan wrote to them a few months later, and the letter contained only the numbers: "Chaos is coming, hurry down the mountain."

There was also a letter addressed separately to Tong Yuan: "Please come with me down the mountain for training, Zilong."

"Brother, it's windy here, you can't stand the cold." Xiang Yu took off his cloak and was about to put it on Ji Xuanyuan.

Ji Xuanyuan waved his hand, coughed twice, and said in a weak but authoritative voice: "It's alright, Zilong. You've had a hard time on this journey, being 'invited' here by these brats."

Zhao Yun smiled wryly and said, "Brother Wenlie, you jest. Master said I should go down the mountain to gain experience, how could I dare not come? I just don't know..."

"I just don't know why I insist that you leave Master Tong and come to Zhuojun with me, is that right?" Ji Xuanyuan smiled slightly, a smile as gentle as spring snow melting in the breeze, which even stunned Lu Bu for a moment.

Zhao Yun blushed slightly and nodded.

Ji Xuanyuan gazed at the distant walls of Zhuojun, his eyes deep and thoughtful: "The Yellow Turban Rebellion is imminent, and the world is on the verge of collapse. Master Tong taught you martial arts to serve your country, and I invited you to come out of seclusion to save the people. Zilong, with your extraordinary skills, are you content to remain a recluse in this chaotic world?"

"But..."

"No buts." Ji Xuanyuan interrupted him, then coughed violently again, and Xiang Yu quickly patted his back to help him catch his breath.

After a while, Ji Xuanyuan caught his breath and said softly, "I know you still have elder brothers at home, but a true man born in chaotic times should wield a three-foot sword and achieve unparalleled feats. Besides... cough cough... my frail body needs the help of you brothers."

These words were spoken with such sincerity that Zhao Yun's eyes reddened slightly.

He studied under Tong Yuan for three years and often heard his two senior brothers mention this "genius of all time." His master also often said that Tong Yuan's talent was extraordinary, but he did not live long enough, and he always sighed.

Seeing Ji Xuanyuan so frail and ill, I couldn't bear it, so I clasped my hands and said, "In that case, Zilong is willing to accompany Brother Wenlie!"

"Good!" A hint of relief flashed in Ji Xuanyuan's eyes.

"We're going into the city now. Remember, once we're in the city, listen to my instructions. Don't act rashly, especially Yongzeng and Fengxian. You two are the most impulsive. Today's matter concerns our brothers' future foundation, so don't be reckless."

Ran Min and Lü Bu exchanged a glance and said in unison, "We will obey our elder brother's orders!"

The seven men rode their horses toward Zhuojun.

Ji Xuanyuan was the worst rider and physically weak, so he rode with Xiang Yu on the same horse, leaning against Xiang Yu's broad back and closing his eyes to rest.

Just as Ji Xuanyuan had predicted, an imperial notice was posted at the city gate of Zhuojun.

A crowd of people gathered around, pointing and whispering.

"Liu Yan, Governor of Youzhou, issues a proclamation..."

"The imperial court lifted the ban on factionalism, allowing each prefecture and county to independently recruit troops to suppress bandits..."

"I heard that Zhang Jiao is going to rebel!"

"This world is unbearable to live in..."

Xiang Yu and his companions were also extremely surprised. They had only heard Ji Xuanyuan say that the world was about to descend into chaos, but they never expected it to actually be as he said.

"Brother, you're truly a genius! You even foresaw that the court was going to lift the ban on political parties," Ran Min said.

"Doesn't that mean it's time for us to make our mark?" Lü Bu was quite excited.

The Lü Bu of today is no longer the Lü Bu of history who was indulging in wine and women and would become a slave to three masters. He was educated by Ji Xuanyuan from a young age, and now he only has a heart full of passion and a desire to serve his country.

Ji Xuanyuan ignored his brothers and scanned the crowd with his eyes.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

A man walked out of the city gate. He was nine feet tall, with a two-foot-long beard, a face like a red date, lips like painted rouge, phoenix eyes, and silkworm eyebrows. He had a dignified appearance and an imposing presence.

The big man was pushing a wheelbarrow filled with red dates and mung beans.

"This must be Guan Yu," Ji Xuanyuan murmured.

Ji Xuanyuan patted Xiang Yu beside him and asked, "Brother Yu, what do you think of this man?"

Xiang Yu looked in the direction Ji Xuanyuan was pointing and saw the burly man.

Guan Yu seemed to sense something as well, and turned around to look at Xiang Yu. Their eyes met, and after a few seconds of eye contact, they nodded to each other, which was their way of greeting each other as martial artists.

"He is a skilled swordsman." That was all Xiang Yu said.

But Ji Xuanyuan knew that this meant Guan Yu was being acknowledged. Xiang Yu was such an arrogant person, it was already quite an achievement for him to give a positive evaluation.

No sooner had he finished speaking than another man emerged from the city gate. He was eight feet tall, with a leopard's head and round eyes, a swallow's chin and a tiger's beard, and his voice was like thunder, his momentum like a galloping horse.

The man was dressed in black brocade robes, and it was clear that he was quite wealthy.

"The seed funding has arrived!"

Ji Xuanyuan continued to look around, and soon he saw a man carrying a straw mat, standing seven and a half feet tall, with earlobes reaching his shoulders, hands reaching past his knees, and dressed in coarse linen clothes walking over.

"This must be Liu Bei, the Imperial Uncle." Ji Xuanyuan stroked his chin and looked at him quietly.

He was thinking about how to abduct Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

First, both of them are fierce generals capable of defeating ten thousand men. Although I already have six such generals, four of whom are historically famous for their ability to kill a hundred men, there is never too much talent.

Secondly, he was too poor. He had already emptied his savings on the money Tong Yuan and Li Yan spent on forging weapons, and he still had several brothers to feed. He needed to find an ATM... oh, I mean an investor.

I am currently a commoner with no official rank, and if I were to seek refuge with a feudal lord, they would certainly look down on me.

If you go to a prestigious family, you'll probably be kicked out.

At first, he fantasized that he was Mr. Shui Jing's prized disciple, and that many powerful forces would come to recruit him.

However, reality cruelly shattered his beautiful dream.

Once his image of being frail and sickly, weak as a candle flickering in the wind, spread, who would dare to easily recruit such a sickly person into their ranks?

Moreover, historically, even his brilliant junior brother Guo Jia had served under Yuan Shao, but ultimately failed to receive the recognition he deserved.

"A true man lives between heaven and earth; how can he remain subservient to others for long?"

Ji Xuanyuan made an important decision.

Go it alone!

With so many brothers who can defeat ten thousand men, how could I not make a name for myself in this chaotic world?

What is the most important thing for someone going solo?

Talented individuals?

No, no, no, what you need most when going it alone is money and supplies.

At this moment, Zhang Fei undoubtedly became the best candidate—he was the easiest person to fool... no, to win over, and also the most ideal and reliable investment partner!

After carefully reading the posted notice, Liu Bei couldn't help but let out a long sigh. He picked up the tattered straw mat and prepared to turn and leave.

Just at that critical moment, Liu Bei's sigh reached Zhang Fei's ears. Zhang Fei turned around abruptly, glaring angrily at Liu Bei, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "As a man of stature, you should be serving your country with utmost loyalty! To be sighing like this is utterly unworthy of being called a man!"

Liu Bei slowly turned around, glanced at Zhang Fei, then sighed heavily. He did not respond to Zhang Fei's rebuke, but instead strode away into the distance.

Seeing this, Zhang Fei's anger burned even more fiercely, and his first impression of Liu Bei instantly plummeted to rock bottom, becoming utterly terrible.

Just then, the sound of drums came from the city gate tower.

"Business is open!"

"Business is open!"