Han Ji

The dark-faced man stared at the red-faced man, then suddenly grinned: "Good strength."

The ruddy-faced man narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly: "You're not bad either."

Then the two of them moved at the same time.

The lever swung in a wide arc, the knife still sheathed. The lever slammed into the knife holder with a muffled thud, and both men staggered back half a step. Snow splashed up from beneath their feet.

The second time, the third time.

Each sound grew louder than the last. The windows of the eatery were shaking.

On the fourth lift, the dark-faced man raised the bar to its highest point, his muscles taut. The red-faced man pointed his sword sheath diagonally, a serious look appearing in his phoenix eyes.

The lever came crashing down.

The scabbard met the attack.

Just as they were about to collide.

A hand reached out from the side and grasped the dark-faced man's wrist.

At the same time, he reached out with his other hand and grabbed the red-faced man's hand that was holding the knife.

Two hands, from the same person.

Liu Bei appeared between the two men at some unknown time. He gripped Zhang Fei's wrist with his left hand and held Guan Yu's sword-wielding hand with his right. Snow fell on his mourning clothes, melting and leaving dark stains.

Zhang Fei exerted his strength, but his wrist remained completely still. His eyes widened.

Guan Yu frowned and struggled, but couldn't break free.

"Gentlemen," Liu Bei said, "if we continue fighting, someone will die."

He slowly released his grip.

Zhang Fei sheathed his spear and sized Liu Bei up: "Who are you?"

Guan Yu sheathed his sword, his phoenix eyes fixed on Liu Bei's tiger's mouth, where calluses were thick, the result of years of wielding weapons.

"Liu Bei of Zhuojun is returning home in mourning." Liu Bei cupped his hands in greeting, then turned and walked towards the roadside.

There was an old man lying there, unconscious.

Liu Bei crouched down to examine the wound, then looked up: "His leg bone is broken. Zhang Wu, medicine, splint."

Zhang Wu took something from the car.

Zhang Fei walked over and squatted down on the other side. He looked at the old man's legs, then at the cart shaft, and his expression changed: "Steward Liu!"

A fat man in brocade robes scrambled over, saying, "Master Zhang..."

"Did you hit this person?"

"The wind...the snow was heavy, I didn't notice, I don't know what...when I hit it..."

"Bullshit!" Zhang Fei kicked him. "You hit someone and you didn't say anything? Didn't you tell me it was that red-faced guy who was robbing people on the road?"

The fat man didn't dare to utter a sound.

Guan Yu walked over and said, "Your car hit someone, so you have to pay compensation."

Zhang Fei glared at him: "Do you need to tell me? I'll definitely pay!"

"I saw it, so I can't just ignore it," Guan Yu said, his voice still firm.

Liu Bei had finished bandaging the old man and stood up to look at Zhang Fei: "Brother Zhang, is the caravan from your estate?"

"Yes," Zhang Fei said in a muffled voice, "It was a job from the Prefectural Governor's Office in Fanyang. This Steward Liu often does this kind of work... I didn't expect him to injure someone."

"If you hurt someone, you have to pay compensation."

"Pay up! Of course we'll pay!" Zhang Fei roared. "The compensation will be deducted from your wages!"

The fat man agreed with a long face.

Liu Bei then turned to Guan Yu and asked, "How should I address you, brother?"

"Guan Yu of Hedong, courtesy name Yunchang."

"I am Zhang Fei, courtesy name Yide!" Zhang Fei patted his chest, looking at Guan Yu apologetically, "Sorry, red-faced one. I have a fiery temper, but I'm reasonable."

Guan Yu clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Brother Zhang is a man of great generosity."

Only then did the restaurant owner dare to peek out: "Gentlemen...would you like to come in and talk? It's snowing heavily outside."

The group entered the restaurant, where the charcoal brazier was burning brightly.

The three sat around the stove, and a pot of wine was warmed.

Zhang Fei sat cross-legged, his robes open, staring at Liu Bei with his eyes wide open. "Brother Liu, are you an official? What kind of official?"

"Liu Bei, the Left Attendant."

Zhang Fei's eyes widened: "Liu Bei? That 'Monthly Appraisal'..."

"An empty reputation." Liu Bei waved his hand, then looked at Guan Yu, "Brother Guan, what are you doing here?"

Guan Yu remained silent for a moment.

"I killed a local tyrant in Jieliang," he said simply, "and fled here."

Zhang Fei interjected, "Why kill them?"

"He forcibly seized farmland and beat tenants to death, but the county did nothing." Guan Yu spoke calmly, as if he were talking about someone else's business. "I climbed over the wall at night, cut off his head, and hung it at the entrance of the county government office."

Zhang Fei grinned: "That was great!"

Guan Yu clinked bowls with him, drank the wine in one gulp, and looked at Liu Bei: "Did you, my lord, encounter such powerful and arrogant officials in Luoyang?"

"Of course I've seen it," Liu Bei said. "I read the report in the Imperial Secretariat. Last year, Ji Province suffered from floods. The imperial court allocated 100,000 shi of grain, but only 40,000 shi were delivered to the counties. The remaining 60,000 shi were skimmed off at each level."

"Isn't anyone going to do anything about it?"

"How can we manage it?" Liu Bei shook his head. "Everyone from top to bottom is pulling in. If you touch one person, a whole bunch of people will protect him. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless it's done from above," Liu Bei said, looking at the charcoal fire. "But those at the top are often the ones who take the most."

Zhang Fei slammed the bowl down: "Why be a damn official? I'd rather sell wine and meat with you, that's much more satisfying!"

"Selling wine and meat, how many people can be saved?" Liu Bei asked.

Zhang Fei was speechless.

Liu Bei continued, "When I was in Lujiang, I followed my teacher Lu Ping to fight the barbarians. After the war, my teacher put me in charge of post-war resettlement. I wanted to use the abandoned fields to distribute to the displaced people. At that time, an old official said to me: 'Military Advisor Liu, these fields are abandoned and no one wants them. If you really distribute them, the owners will suddenly appear.'"

"And then?" Guan Yu asked.

"Later, that powerful local magnate interfered, and the land distribution was delayed for a long time," Liu Bei said. "That powerful local magnate even joined forces with barbarians to attack the county town. We defeated the barbarian soldiers, obtained evidence of his treason, killed his people, and confiscated his property. We found that he had seized 3,000 hectares of land. Those 3,000 hectares of land gave 2,000 households of displaced people a way to survive."

Zhang Fei stared at Liu Bei for a long time, then suddenly said, "Brother Liu, tell me the truth, what exactly do you want to do after becoming an official?"

"I want to try," Liu Bei said, emphasizing each word, "to see if I can fix this rotten world."

"What if it can't be fixed?"

"Every little bit helps," Liu Bei said. "Today I investigate a case of corruption, tomorrow I protect an honest official. In ten or twenty years, we can surely fix things a little."

Guan Yu suddenly asked, "How old are you this year, Vice Minister?"

"Twenty-four."

"Twenty," Guan Yu said. "And Brother Zhang?"

"Eighteen!" Zhang Fei said.

Guan Yu looked at the charcoal fire: "In these years of wandering, I have met many people. Some are full of righteous words but are actually thieves and prostitutes behind the scenes; some seem upright but are actually utterly pedantic. Today, you, Minister, stopped your carriage for a strange old man and sat at the same table with a fugitive like me for a few words. At least, you are a true gentleman."

Zhang Fei nodded vigorously: "I also think Brother Liu is not only a true gentleman, but also a good official! Brother Liu, why don't I go to Luoyang with you! With my physique and strength, I'm qualified to be your bodyguard!"

Liu Bei laughed: "Brother Zhang, you jest. With your abilities, you should lead the army."

"Then I'll lead the army!" Zhang Fei slapped his thigh. "You get me an official position, and I'll lead troops for you!"

Guan Yu didn't speak, but simply raised his bowl and looked at Liu Bei: "Brother Liu just mentioned...mourning for the dead?"

"My uncle has passed away," Liu Bei said.

Zhang Fei solemnly said, "Please accept my condolences." He then patted his chest and declared, "When we arrive in Zhuo County, leave the funeral arrangements to me! I know the place well!"

"Then I'll have to trouble you."

The three of them drank several more bowls. Outside the window, the snow fell even more heavily.

As the innkeeper added charcoal, he said, "Gentlemen, this snow is likely to close the road. We can't travel today."

Zhang Fei grinned: "Then let's stay here! Innkeeper, prepare a big room; the three of us can sleep in a shared room!"