Han Ji

Life at the retreat was like a wound-up clock—precise and regular.

Before dawn, the morning bell tolled deep and resonantly, piercing the thin mist. A rustling sound of people getting up filled the dormitory. Liu Bei deftly donned his robe, fastened his belt, and splashed cold water on his face, instantly dispelling the last trace of sleepiness. He picked up the bamboo slips he had prepared and strode towards the reading area.

Soon, the courtyard and the corridors were filled with disciples reciting scriptures. At first, the voices were sparse and interspersed with yawns, but soon they merged into a humming sound. Liu Bei's voice was not loud, but his pronunciation was clear, and he recited the opening sentence of the Spring and Autumn Annals word by word into his heart: "In the spring of the first year, the king's first month..." The morning light shone on his focused profile.

At the appointed time, everyone straightened their clothes and entered the lecture hall. Lu Zhi was already seated at the head of the hall, with books spread out in front of him. The morning session mainly consisted of lecturing on the classics, with occasional questions and debates between teachers and students.

When Lu Zhi lectured on the classics, he did not engage in empty talk or nitpick over words. He often grasped the essentials, breaking down the obscure and difficult texts in the Book of Documents into the strategies and dilemmas of the former kings in governing the country; and dissecting the complex rules and regulations in the Book of Rites into the rules for maintaining the operation of society and the hearts of the people.

That day, when discussing the story of "Duke Zhuang of Zheng defeating Duan at Yan" from the Spring and Autumn Annals, Lu Zhi did not directly judge, but instead glanced at the audience: "Duke Zhuang of Wusheng indulged his younger brother Gongshu Duan until he became too powerful to control, at which point he resorted to war. Whose fault do you think this disaster was?"

The hall fell silent for a moment. A disciple stood up, quoting scriptures and allusions, always mentioning "the collapse of rites and music," and vehemently denouncing Gongshu Duan for his disloyalty.

Lu Zhi remained noncommittal, turning his gaze to Liu Bei: "Liu Bei, what do you think?"

Liu Bei rose, pondered for a moment, and said, "I believe the root of the problem lies with Duke Zhuang. As a ruler, knowing that your younger brother harbors ambitions, you should have admonished him earlier or drawn a clear line to prevent problems before they arise. Indulging him in his evil deeds and waiting until he has grown strong before taking action may seem like upholding the established order, but in reality, it's gambling with the nation's affairs and causing suffering to the people. This is neither the behavior of a benevolent ruler nor wise."

He didn't cite many classics, but went straight to the point, offering sharp and direct viewpoints.

A barely perceptible hint of approval flashed in Lu Zhi's eyes, but his expression remained calm: "Yes. A ruler must understand the situation and also understand people. Being able to spot hidden dangers and make decisive decisions when necessary is also a skill."

Gongsun Zan, who was sitting not far from Liu Bei, turned his head upon hearing this, winked at Liu Bei, and grinned, clearly agreeing.

At the end of noon, the bell rang again, ending the morning's classes. Everyone was a little tired and got up to stretch. Lunch and a midday rest followed. The meal was simple: millet rice with one or two kinds of seasonal vegetables, with little meat. Liu Deran ate with a gloomy expression, while Liu Bei seemed perfectly content; the austere days he had experienced when he first transmigrated made this seem quite normal.

Gongsun Zan, carrying a food tray, plopped down next to Liu Bei and, without a word, scooped half of the extra meat broth and bread from his bowl into Liu Bei's bowl, saying, "Xuande, you're still growing, eat more!"

Liu Bei was taken aback and was about to decline when Gongsun Zan lowered his voice and chuckled, "Why are you being so polite with me! I think what you said this morning made sense; you're much better than those bookworms!"

He was forthright and had clear likes and dislikes. After observing Liu Bei for a few days, he felt that Liu Bei was to his liking and began to befriend him sincerely.

Thanks to Gongsun Zan, life became much easier. He often shared food, and seeing that Liu Bei's writing materials were meager, he gave him a good set the next day; seeing that Liu Deran's clothes were thin, he found him two thick robes. He was generous, and his reason was straightforward: "I find you all agreeable!"

Liu Bei kept this kindness in his heart. He didn't say much in thanks, but when Gongsun Zan took him to the training ground, he was even more attentive.

During the Shenshi hour (3-5 PM), most disciples chose to rest, take a walk, or, like Gongsun Zan, go to the training ground to stretch their muscles.

That day, around 3 PM, Gongsun Zan again took Liu Bei to the training ground. Weapons were neatly arranged at the edge of the field. Gongsun Zan, skilled with a long spear, wielded it with great skill, drawing cheers from the crowd.

He worked up a sweat, put down his spear, and looked at Liu Bei on the sidelines: "Xuande, don't just watch! Show me what you've got! I've heard the men of Zhuojun are just as brave as those from Liaoxi!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Liu Bei did not refuse. He nodded, walked to the weapon rack, glanced at it briefly, and drew two practice swords. Holding the swords in his hand, his entire demeanor instantly calmed down, making him seem like a completely different person from usual.

He took a deep breath and began to move. His steps were nimble, his figure elusive, and his sword flashed. Unlike Gongsun Zan's fierce and powerful style, Liu Bei's swordsmanship emphasized technique and rhythm. The sword moved with his body, pointing, thrusting, parrying, and slashing, flowing smoothly with a unique rhythm. The longsword whistled through the air, its shadow protecting his body in the sunlight before suddenly thrusting out again, its sharpness concealed.

After completing a set of sword techniques, he sheathed his sword and stood up, slightly out of breath, with sweat on his forehead.

The training ground was silent. Even Gongsun Zan was stunned. He strode forward and patted him hard on the shoulder: "Good heavens! Xuande, your swordsmanship is beautiful! You seem so quiet, but you possess extraordinary skills! This is no ordinary technique!"

Liu Bei smiled and put his sword back: "My family's rudimentary skills are nothing special; please excuse my poor performance, Brother Bogui."

"Don't laugh at me!" Gongsun Zan put his arm around his shoulder. "Come on, I'm in a good mood today, I'll take you to my place to relax! This humble abode is so cramped and the food is terribly bland!"

The "there" he referred to was the courtyard he had built not far from the hermitage. This son-in-law of the governor of Liaoxi could not bear the austerity of the hermitage and had long ago prepared a comfortable place to stay at the foot of the mountain.

Before even reaching the gate, one could faintly hear voices and the snorting of horses from within the courtyard. Pushing open a wooden door that was far more imposing than the simple thatched gate of the hermitage, a bright and spacious view suddenly appeared before one's eyes.

The courtyard was spacious, the ground compacted from a mixture of fine stones and yellow earth, flat and firm. Several sturdy servants in short clothes were efficiently tidying up the weapon rack and the stone locks nearby. Upon seeing Gongsun Zan return, they all stopped what they were doing, bowed respectfully, and greeted him, "Master." A maid in a clean cotton skirt emerged from a side room, carrying a lacquer tray. Upon seeing him, she immediately stepped aside and bowed her head.

The main house has three rooms, with blue bricks and gray tiles, bright windows and clean tables, and several potted common green plants are placed under the porch, which are well taken care of. Compared with the simplicity of the refined study, there is a clear sense of comfort and refinement in living here.

"See that?" Gongsun Zan proudly gestured with his chin to Liu Bei. "Brother, I really can't stand that communal sleeping area anymore. It's much more comfortable here!" He then instructed the maid, "Go and get some hot soup, and also bring some fruit and candied fruit for my brother to try!"

The maidservant responded and left quickly. A slightly older female servant beside her interjected with a smile, "Sir, you barely touched the lunch sent to the residence today. The kitchen has been keeping some meat broth and flatbread warm; would you like some more?"

"No, no," Gongsun Zan waved his hand, "We'll talk about it tonight. Xuande, don't let the unassuming appearance of this place fool you. My two meals a day are mostly prepared by the cook at home and delivered on time. It's ten times better than the bland soup at the mansion!"

Looking at the small, bustling courtyard filled with life and surrounded by servants, and comparing it to the strict rules and regulations of the abbot's residence, he gained a more concrete understanding of Gongsun Zan's family background and temperament. He nodded and smiled, "Brother Bogui, this place is indeed peaceful and comfortable. No wonder you are always so energetic; it is truly a hidden paradise."

"Haha, it'll do for now!" Gongsun Zan was clearly quite pleased with himself. He pulled Liu Bei straight to the stable in the corner of the courtyard. "Come, Xuande, let me show you this treasure of mine!"