Han Ji

The three of them squeezed onto a shared bed. The bedding was old, but it smelled of sunshine.

Zhang Fei fell asleep and immediately started snoring.

Guan Yu and Liu Bei lay side by side.

In the darkness, Guan Yu suddenly spoke: "Brother Liu, do you know why I used a sword?"

Why?

"The sword is straight," Guan Yu said. "Straightforward and without beating around the bush. I'm the same way; right is right, and wrong is wrong. That's why I can't survive in officialdom."

Liu Bei turned his head to the side: "Brother Guan, in this world, sometimes you have to take a detour."

"How long will it take to circle around?"

"When you no longer need to take detours," Liu Bei said. "I also took detours in Luoyang. But I knew why I took them: to stand in a higher position and speak more directly."

Guan Yu remained silent for a long time.

"I understand," he said. "From now on, I will follow Brother Liu's orders."

Zhang Fei rolled over beside him, muttering in his sleep, "Fuck...fuck those corrupt officials..."

They both laughed.

As I laughed, sleepiness crept in.

Liu Bei closed his eyes, never expecting that tonight would come.

We haven't arrived at Taoyuan yet.

But the three hearts are already bound together.

Snow stopped.

The three vehicles set off together. Zhang Fei led the way, his entourage in front, Liu Bei's chariot in the middle, and Guan Yu riding alone behind, his crescent blade wrapped in coarse cloth and resting across his horse's back.

At midday, the city gate of Zhuoxian could be seen.

The white banners have already been hung up. Liu Yuanqi's mourning hall is set up in the old house, and many people have come to pay their respects. As soon as Liu Bei arrived, he knelt down in front of the coffin and kowtowed, his forehead pressed against the cold floor tiles, and he did not get up for a long time.

Guan Yu volunteered to keep vigil. Every night, he stood outside the mourning hall with his sword, motionless from 9 PM to 3 AM. Zhang Fei, on the other hand, mobilized all the servants from his estate to handle the funeral arrangements, from purchasing and decorating to welcoming guests, leaving no detail overlooked.

On the day of the funeral, Qian Zhaojian also rushed back to Zhuojun.

The funeral procession stretched for half a street.

As the coffin was covered with yellow earth, Liu Bei grabbed a handful of soil and crushed it into powder between his fingers. As he rose, Jian Yong hurried over and whispered in his ear:

"The Taiping Dao in Youzhou is making connections, and the Yellow Turban rebels have already secretly appeared in Zhuojun."

Liu Bei felt a chill run down his spine.

That night, in the back room of Zhang Fei's manor, the charcoal fire burned brightly.

Five people sat in a circle: Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Jian Yong, and Qian Zhao.

"The Way of Peace may rise up in February." Liu Bei spread the news on the table, "Eight provinces will rebel together."

Zhang Fei glared: "You really dare to rebel?"

"The arrow is on the bowstring." Liu Bei looked at Guan Yu. "Brother Guan, you have served in the border army. If all eight provinces rebel, how will the court respond?"

Guan Yu pondered, "The five Northern Army divisions, plus the Three Rivers Cavalry, total no more than 50,000. To divide and conquer eight provinces, we'll be stretched thin."

"I have to go back," Liu Bei said.

He looked at his mother, who was sitting in the corner, listening silently.

"Mother, you must come with me." Liu Bei knelt down.

Liu's mother wiped away her tears: "I'm old, I can't walk anymore..."

"Your son will carry you on his back." Liu Bei kowtowed. "Mother, your son already has a foothold in Luoyang. If you stay, your son will not feel at ease."

The old lady finally nodded with tears in her eyes.

Zhang Fei slammed his fist on the table: "Then I'll go too! I'll leave this estate to the steward!"

Guan Yu clasped his hands in a fist salute: "I follow Brother Liu's lead."

Jian Yong and Qian Zhao need no introduction.

That's settled.

On the eve of his departure, Zhang Fei set up a banquet in the peach grove in the backyard.

The peach branches were bare, but Zhang Fei said, "When spring comes, this place will be a sea of ​​red, it will be very beautiful!"

Several people held up bowls.

Zhang Fei spoke first: "I may be a rough man, but I can tell who the heroes are. Brother! I'll call you brother now! You're kind to the common people and tough on the wicked, I admire you!"

Guan Yu raised his bowl: "I, Yun Chang, have wandered half my life without encountering a wise ruler. Now, seeing Brother Liu, his words reveal a heart concerned for the country, and his actions demonstrate courage and responsibility. I am willing to serve him like a dog or a horse."

Liu Bei looked at the two of them.

The snow reflected on their faces. Guan Yu was as resolute as a pine tree covered in snow, while Zhang Fei was as fierce as black iron being tempered.

He raised his bowl and said, "There's no need to talk about serving you. Our meeting today is fate. I am not talented, but I am willing to work with you two to support the Han Dynasty, to live and die together."

The three bowls clinked together.

The wine splashed out and landed on the snow, melting into three dark spots.

There was no incense burning, no sacrificial offerings to the heavens. But some things were settled on this snowy night.

Liu Bei settled his mother in a small courtyard in the south of the city, along with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Qian Zhao, Jian Yong, and Zhang Wu, and the small courtyard in the south of the city suddenly became lively.

Just as things were settled, on February 18th, a messenger from Jizhou arrived in the capital by express courier, traveling 600 li.

Zhang Jiao of the Way of Peace rebelled, calling himself the Heavenly General. He captured Julu, and the Yellow Turbans spread across the land.

The imperial court was shaken.

Emperor Ling urgently summoned him. The next day, an imperial edict was issued: Lu Zhi was appointed General of the Northern Army, leading the five colonels of the Northern Army to attack Zhang Jiao. Liu Bei was promoted to Cavalry Commandant and made Lu Zhi's military advisor, and he immediately joined the expedition.

When he received the imperial edict, Liu Bei was at the training ground of the Imperial Guards.

Guan Yu practiced his swordplay, and the Green Dragon Crescent Blade transformed into a streak of azure light in his hands. The wind from the blade stirred up dust from the ground, and no one dared to approach within three zhang (approximately 10 meters).

Zhang Fei wielded his spear, a newly forged eighteen-foot spear made entirely of fine iron, weighing sixty-three jin. When he wielded it, it created a powerful, whistling sound, like a tiger's roar.

Upon seeing Liu Bei arrive, the two simultaneously withdrew their stances.

"Are we going to fight?" Zhang Fei asked, panting heavily, but his eyes shone with a frightening light.

"Attack." Liu Bei handed over the imperial edict. "I have already requested that you two be transferred to my command as military advisors."

Guan Yu received the imperial edict and stroked the words "punish the rebels" with his fingertip: "When shall we depart?"

"Three days later," Liu Bei said, looking at the two men, "this journey will be perilous. If..."

"My life should have been lost to Jie Liang long ago." Guan Yu handed back the imperial edict, a sharp glint in his phoenix eyes. "Now that I have met a wise ruler, I will follow him through life and death."

Zhang Fei laughed heartily: "I've long wanted to meet that damned Heavenly General!"

That night, Liu Bei went to Xun Yu's residence to say goodbye.

Xun Shuang was in his study, a map of Julu Commandery spread out under the lamp. Seeing Liu Bei arrive, he pointed to a mark on the map: "Zhang Jiao is here. Lu Zigan is skilled at defense; this will likely be a protracted war."

"The student understands."

Xun Shuang took a sword from the shelf and handed it to him: "Take this." He paused, then added, "Cai'er is in the pavilion in the back garden."

The snow in the back garden had not yet melted. Xun Cai, wearing a plain white cloak, stood by the pavilion. Hearing footsteps, he did not turn around.

"Miss Xun."

"I know everything." She turned around, holding a blue sachet in her hand. "Mugwort, realgar, and cinnabar can ward off plagues and wars." She walked closer and tied the sachet around Liu Bei's waist. Her fingertips were icy cold, and she trembled slightly when she touched the back of his hand.

Liu Bei grasped that hand.

Xun Cai did not pull her hand back. She looked up at him, the lamplight reflecting in her eyes like stars falling into a deep pool.

"Wait for me to come back," Liu Bei said hoarsely. "When I return, I will marry you."

Xun Cai nodded slightly.

Liu Bei leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. It was very light, like a snowflake touching a flower petal.

"wait for me."

As he turned, the night wind whipped up the snow piled up beside the pavilion. Xun Cai's voice came from behind him, as soft as a sigh:

"I'm waiting for you."

Three days later, the Northern Army set off.

Liu Bei, clad in black armor and riding a red cloud, stood at the head of the ranks. To his left was Guan Yu, clad in green robes and wielding a long sword; to his right was Zhang Fei, clad in black armor and carrying a serpent spear. Behind them were Jian Yong, Qian Zhao, Zhang Wu, and a thousand elite Northern Army soldiers.

Lu Zhi, whose carriage was in front, lifted the curtain and looked back, nodding to Liu Bei.

As the city gates receded into the distance, Luoyang shrank into a gray shadow on the horizon.