Han Ji

Lu Zhi's face turned ashen, but before the imperial edict, he could only kowtow and say, "Your subject obeys the decree."

The generals bowed in gratitude one after another.

The eunuch Wang closed the imperial edict and handed it to Lu Zhi, his smile forced: "Commander Lu, congratulations on your promotion. His Majesty said that you, Lord Lu, have worked hard and made great contributions. After returning to the capital, you should rest well. The Commandant's office is quiet and suitable for retirement."

That was a harsh remark.

Lu Zhi, however, remained unfazed: "Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty."

The eunuch Wang then looked at Liu Bei: "Liu Commandant, Hanzhong is a wonderful place, with beautiful mountains and clear waters. It's just a bit far, so please be careful on the road."

Liu Bei bowed: "Thank you for the reminder, angel."

After delivering the imperial decree, the eunuch Wang strode away.

The atmosphere inside the tent was oppressive.

Zhang Fei was the first to lose his temper: "Damn it! My brother has fought across thousands of miles, achieving countless merits, and all he gets is the position of Commandant of Hanzhong? That godforsaken place!"

"Yide!" Guan Yu shouted in a low voice.

Lu Zhi raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.

He looked at Liu Bei, his eyes filled with guilt: "Xuande, it is I who have implicated you."

"Why do you say that, teacher?" Liu Bei shook his head. "I am young, and it is only right that I be sent out to gain experience."

"Experience." Lu Zhi smiled wryly. "The governor of Hanzhong is Su Gu, who originally held all military and political power. If you become a commandant, you'll be taking away his military power, and you'll probably suffer."

"Students are not afraid of being bullied," Liu Bei said. "As long as we have soldiers in our hands and land on our feet, we will always have a day to turn things around."

Lu Zhi looked at him for a long time, then nodded: "It's best that you think that way."

He stood up: "Everyone, disperse. Xuande, you stay."

The generals withdrew.

Only the master and his disciple remained in the tent.

"Xuande," Lu Zhi said in a low voice, "this time, the eunuch faction's suppression is intended to eliminate my supporters. You are the first to be affected. Although Hanzhong is far away, staying away from trouble may not be a bad thing. However, your subordinates Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others have not been rewarded by the court, so they can only accompany you as your private subordinates."

"I understand," Liu Bei said. "They are not officials appointed by the court, so they are more comfortable following me."

"Go ahead." Lu Zhi patted his shoulder. "After you return to the capital, get married first. Miss Xun has been waiting for you for two years; don't let her down again."

"Yes."

Liu Bei withdrew from the main tent.

Outside the tent, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others were waiting.

"Big brother..." Jian Yong hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

"Did you hear everything?" Liu Bei asked.

Everyone nodded.

"Very well." Liu Bei smiled. "Hanzhong is peaceful, perfect for training troops. You... would you like to come with me?"

"Nonsense!" Zhang Fei glared. "Wherever Big Brother goes, I go!"

Guan Yu clasped his hands in a fist salute: "I swear to follow you to the death."

Jian Yong, Qian Zhao, and Zhang Wu all said, "We are willing to follow our elder brother!"

Li Shun and his brothers from Zhuojun also gathered around, saying, "General, take us with you! We'll follow you!"

Looking at these faces, Liu Bei's pent-up frustration suddenly dissipated.

What does the rank of an official matter?

With these people around, where can't they find a place to settle down?

"Alright!" he announced loudly. "Pack your bags and return to the capital in three days. Once I've arranged the wedding, we'll... take up our posts!"

"promise!"

The crowd dispersed to prepare.

Liu Bei walked alone to the Yellow River.

The river flows swiftly eastward.

On the opposite bank, the city walls of Luoyang can be vaguely seen.

In that city, there was his betrothed wife, his mother who awaited him, and his enemies who feared him.

Once gone, who knows when I'll be able to return?

"Xuande".

A voice came from behind me.

Liu Bei turned around and saw Cao Cao. He was dressed in plain clothes, leading a horse, and had obviously also come to the river to relax.

"Brother Mengde."

Cao Cao walked to his side and they looked at the river side by side.

"I've heard about it, Commandant of Hanzhong." Cao Cao smiled. "The two of us, one from Jinan and one from Hanzhong, are quite a good match."

Liu Bei laughed and said, "They are all being sent to remote areas, to border regions."

"The border regions are good." Cao Cao picked up a stone and threw it into the river. "In Luoyang, there are people all over us. But in these remote places, the emperor is far away, and we can do whatever we want."

"What are your plans, Brother Mengde?"

"Plans?" Cao Cao narrowed his eyes. "Jinan is a wealthy country, but powerful clans run rampant and officials are corrupt. When I get there, I'll cut off a few heads to establish my authority."

He spoke casually, but there was a ruthless glint in his eyes.

Liu Bei knew that Cao Mengde was no ordinary man.

"And you?" Cao Cao asked.

"Me?" Liu Bei looked across the river. "I'll settle down first, then build my career."

"Xun Cai?" Cao Cao raised an eyebrow. "You're lucky, lad. That girl is both beautiful and talented, and the Xun family is a prestigious one. With this connection, you'll have a better foothold in the scholarly world."

Liu Bei did not respond.

Marriage should not be a bargaining chip, but in this world, it inevitably becomes one.

Only he himself knew that Xun Cai married him because of love, nothing else.

"By the way," Cao Cao suddenly said, "I heard some news before leaving the capital."

"What?"

"His Majesty may establish the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden and select trusted sons to command the troops," Cao Cao said in a low voice. "The eunuch faction will definitely vie for these positions. If you stay in Luoyang, you might have a chance."

Liu Bei shook his head: "I'm not going to join in that fun."

"I reckon my elders will fight for one for me," Cao Cao said, patting him on the shoulder.

The two watched the river in silence.

After a long while, Cao Cao mounted his horse and said, "I'm leaving. If we have the chance to meet again someday, we should have a good drink together."

"must."

Cao Cao whipped his horse and rode away.

Liu Bei stood by the river until the figure disappeared into the twilight.

Chaos is coming.

he knows.

Therefore, he was even more determined to go to Hanzhong.

That was where it all began.

Three days later, the army crossed the river.

Lu Zhi led his personal guards back to the capital first, while Liu Bei led his troops to temporarily stay outside the city, awaiting arrangements from the court.

No sooner had they set up camp than Jian Yong brought news: Lu Zhi was surrounded by eunuchs as soon as he returned to his residence. Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and others took turns coming to offer their congratulations, but in reality, they were there to spy on the army's strengths and weaknesses, especially regarding Zuo Feng.

"After Zuo Feng returned to the capital, he stayed indoors and never went out," Jian Yong said in a low voice. "But I heard that he met with Zhang Rang in private and cried about the humiliation he suffered in the army. The eunuch faction is using this as a pretext to reduce the fiefdom of their teacher."

"How much to cut?"

"Reduce the number of households from eight thousand to three thousand," Jian Yong said through gritted teeth. "The reason given is that it has wasted money and grain, and we have failed to achieve a quick victory."

Liu Bei remained silent.

Lu Zhi fought across thousands of miles, beheaded Zhang Jiao, and pacified Hebei, yet he was only granted a fief of three thousand households. Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun, on the other hand, both received fiefs of three thousand households.

This is unfair.

But that's how the imperial court works.

"Brother, what should we do?" Zhang Fei glared. "How about I take a few men and sneak into those eunuchs' houses tonight, one by one."

"Nonsense!" Guan Yu shouted, stopping them.

"What can we do then? Just watch the teacher get bullied?"

"The teacher is suffering because of us," Liu Bei said slowly. "The eunuch faction is suppressing the teacher, but in reality, they are suppressing us, the Lu faction. As long as we are here, the teacher will never have peace."

Everyone was taken aback.

"What my elder brother means is..."

"Leave the capital as soon as possible." Liu Bei stood up. "I'm going to see my teacher and ask him to officiate at my wedding with Miss Xun. Once the wedding is held, we'll immediately take up our posts."

"So soon?" Jian Yong frowned.

"The sooner the better." Liu Bei looked towards Luoyang. "If we stay in the capital, we are our teacher's weakness. If we leave, our teacher will be safer."