The Three Great Han Dynasties: Awaken Liu Bei with a scolding; you weave mats and sell sandals.

"Ha ha ha ha."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yan first cast an admiring glance at him, then laughed loudly, "I can tell from your voice that you have no fear. In that case, things will be much easier. What's there to be afraid of?"

"The Eight Colonels of the Western Garden are a matter for the royal family. They are imperial guards established in the palace to further consolidate the royal military power."

They, the aristocratic families, may want a share, but ultimately everything must be done according to the rules of my imperial family. Otherwise, wouldn't they simply seize control of the entire empire?

Zongzheng Liu Yan spoke slowly, his words naturally exuding a domineering aura.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was even more eager to try.

Liu Yan then instructed the three of them to prepare themselves, and that they would enter the palace to meet the emperor in the afternoon.

The implication is that the selection of the eight captains of the Western Garden has not yet been finalized, but if the three of them perform well enough, they still have a good chance.

"If one can assume the position of Colonel, one can bring one's family to Luoyang."

Guan Yu immediately spoke, his tone full of joy.

Zhang Fei's eyes were also burning with anticipation. He had already thought of all the advantages involved and looked at Liu Bei with longing, hoping that his elder brother would agree immediately.

Otherwise, with only Zhang Fei and his second brother, they wouldn't even have the qualifications to participate, let alone have any other ideas to draw further conclusions from this.

They can only watch from the sidelines.

Sensing the thoughts of his second and third brothers, Liu Bei naturally decided to go all out.

He nodded emphatically, and then the three brothers began to conserve their energy and prepare for the task, striving to deal with it with the best possible spirit and energy.

That afternoon.

They had already joined up with their personal guards and were all gathered in one place.

Each one of them was full of vigor and spirit; from a distance, one could tell they were rare young men in the world.

Upon entering the palace and arriving at the West Garden, Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong stepped forward to greet them, with Jian Yong accompanying them.

However, this was not the right time for them to get together as old friends, so they simply nodded and smiled in acknowledgment.

"Greetings to the three young generals. You are all outstanding individuals, with remarkable ambitions. You must perform well today, as His Majesty will be arriving later."

The matter of the Western Garden Commandant depends entirely on the abilities of these young generals. If they win, the Western Garden Commandant position will naturally be reserved for these young generals, and no matter how much the aristocratic families try to persuade them, they cannot change the outcome.

Zhang Rang spoke with great confidence.

After hearing his words, Liu Bei and the other two nodded slightly, indicating that they would do their best.

After a friendly exchange and negotiation, Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong left shortly afterward.

The two continued their private conversation, and Zhao Zhong slowly spoke up: "See? The son of Marquis Weining naturally follows in his father's footsteps. He shows no arrogance or pettiness towards people like you and me."

It is clear that once they gain power and influence in the future, they may have the intention to curry favor with you and me, but they will never have any intention to harm us.

In addition, given his clan affiliation, he was essentially on par with us eunuchs, just like that Minister of the Imperial Clan.

Even if things get really bad, at least we'll both have a peaceful end, and that would be quite good already.

Zhang Rang nodded. Zhao Zhong recalled the scene just now, smiled bitterly, and then nodded in agreement: "As for the others, people of our status really dare not think about it anymore. The more we think about it, the more disappointed we become."

Then we'll do our best to help and support them. As for whether it will work out, that's not something we can decide; ultimately, it depends on their own capabilities.

"That's natural."

Zhang Rang chuckled again. Although these eunuchs served the emperor, at least they maintained a respectable facade so they could continue playing this game.

The gentry must abide by the rules.

They naturally need to abide by the rules as well.

Before long, the rest of the figures arrived at the same spot.

Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Zhang Chao, and Xu Huang, along with several other members of the clan, one of whom was He Miao, the younger brother of the Grand General.

It's clear that the competition for the position of one of the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden is quite fierce.

"Today, we will determine the winner through a martial arts examination, witnessed by all. Whoever emerges as the final victor will be appointed as one of the Eight Captains of the Western Garden. Any objections?"

Zhang Rang stepped out of the crowd and began to explain today's competition rules.

There were not just eight people, but nearly thirty, and these were only those who had the right to enter.

Otherwise, relying solely on individual force, even more would come.

The examination did not only assess individual bravery, but also experience in military campaigns and the ability to coordinate the strength of the army. Only those who possessed these qualities could be considered a great general and be qualified for the position of one of the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden.

"Your Majesty, I have no objection."

Dozens of people said in unison.

Hearing their answer, Liu Hong nodded, and then the competition slowly began.

On this journey, everything else can be faked or cheated in secret, but only in this real martial arts competition can a win be a win and a loss be a loss, and no one can cheat.

"I'm sorry."

Guan Yu faced Yuan Shao, Zhang Fei faced He Miao, and Liu Bei faced Cao Cao.

"Brother Xuande, show no mercy. Today, our futures are at stake."

Cao Cao spoke slowly.

Indeed, as Xu You commented, he was a capable minister in times of peace and a ruthless hero in times of chaos.

It is true that he is a loyal Han official since the country is not yet in complete chaos.

"Don't worry, Mengde. It's not a battle between the two of us that will determine life or death. If you lose, you will still have the opportunity to challenge others."

Thank you very much, Mengde.

Cao Cao smiled with pursed lips, and soon the two of them began to compete.

In contrast to the amicable relationship between the two, the others showed no mercy.

Bang bang bang. In no time at all, He Miao was dealt with by Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei only refrained from a full-blown fight because he was mindful of the other party's status. He simply used a counter-grab and then a sweeping leg kick to knock the man to the ground.

Such swift and skillful maneuvering caused Liu Hong's face to flush red, and he exclaimed, "What a valiant warrior! He truly possesses the spirit of the ancient Fan Kuai!"

Liu Hong stared at Zhang Fei with shining eyes, looking him up and down as if he were examining a rare treasure.

If only someone like that could serve as the palace captain.

He will at least not be afraid of war one day, and even if it does, there will be someone who can protect his safety for a time.

"This is Zhang Fei, and this is Guan Yu, Your Majesty."

Zhang Rang carefully explained from the side.

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong was even more delighted and immediately praised him, saying, "Truly worthy of being under the command of Marquis Weining. Although two of them are sworn brothers, they are all brave and skilled in battle. Their courage and spirit are truly rare in the world. I am very pleased."