I, Zhou Cang, am the number one tank in the Three Kingdoms.

"Brother! You really are here!" In the vast and empty ancient town, Pei Yuanshao and a dozen riders hurriedly dismounted and shouted.

After Cao Cao's army slaughtered the county, there was no trace of people. Half of the city wall had collapsed, and the gate was charred black, resembling the gaping mouth of a skull.

The city was filled with charred corpses curled up like roasted shrimp. The air was filled with a sweet, fishy smell mixed with the stench of burning flesh. The heavy rain of the past few days had washed blood all over the town and its surroundings, and every now and then, three or five wild dogs would appear and tear at the remains.

Zhou Cang stood alone on the half-collapsed city wall, barely holding on to his long sword.

Hearing Pei Yuanshao's call, he staggered down the steps.

That damned Cao traitor! I'd be a disgrace if I didn't avenge him!

After the flood swept away Cao Cao's army that day, Zhou Cang pursued the fleeing Cao army all the way, wanting to seize the last opportunity to kill Cao Hong.

Unfortunately, Cao Hong and his men fled on horseback at the first opportunity. Zhou Cang, who was covered in wounds, ran for over a hundred miles but ultimately failed to catch up.

Disappointed and hesitant, he decided to first visit the ancient city to pay respects to the people before returning to Runan.

The shock of the scorched earth city, coupled with two days without food or water and his already injured body—

Upon seeing Pei Yuanshao, Zhou Cang fainted before he could even utter the words "Brother Pei."

Pei Yuanshao and his men hurriedly loaded the black iron tower onto their horses and rushed back to Runan.

When Zhou Cang awoke, he was lying in the residence of the Prefect of Runan. His dozen or so wounds had been bandaged. In his dazed state, someone gently helped him up, protected his head, and poured a bowl of medicine down his throat. Soon, Zhou Cang fell into a deep sleep again.

In my dream, I dreamt once again of life in the ancient city before it was massacred by Cao Cao's army, filled with laughter and joy, all in a hazy, dreamlike state...

As he was leaving, Zhou Cang waved goodbye to the smiling people of the ancient city, as if everything had just happened.

When Zhou Cang opened his eyes for the second time, it was already dark. The room was dimly lit. He got up and slowly stretched his limbs. Suddenly, he faintly heard someone crying in the mansion. Curious, he put on a robe and followed the sound to the central hall.

Families of fallen soldiers... there's no need for them to come here and wail.

Are the people who were flooded coming to seek justice?

It doesn't seem like it either.

The further Zhou Cang walked, the more he felt the sound was off. The crying was so loud and the voice so rough, it sounded somewhat like...

Zhang Fei?

The central hall was brightly lit. Before Zhou Cang even entered the hall, he heard Zhang Fei's thunderous cries, which shook the heavens and the earth!

As soon as he went inside, he found everyone gathered together, and no one paid any attention to him.

Through the gaps in the crowd, Zhou Cang finally saw what was happening inside.

Zhang Fei knelt on the ground and embraced a person dressed in a white brocade robe, wearing a red turban, and with fair skin, and wept bitterly.

I couldn't see his face clearly, but I could see that his earlobes were particularly long.

Zhou Cang raised his head and saw Sun Qian standing to the side.

Mr. Sun Qian didn't go to Hebei... Could the man in the white robe be—

"Big brother! I..." With a loud shout, Zhang Fei cried uncontrollably and became incoherent. Zhou Cang finally confirmed that the person in front of him was indeed his lord, Liu Huangshu.

After going through many hardships, Zhou Cang finally met Liu Bei and became very excited.

However, Zhang Fei's crying wouldn't stop anytime soon. Now, with his injuries, he was suddenly required to meet his lord, and he was somewhat at a loss.

Although he had watched all sorts of Three Kingdoms movies and TV series in his previous life, and had fantasized about meeting Liu Bei many times after transmigrating, at this moment, with Liu Bei within five steps of him, Zhou Cang's heart was pounding uncontrollably, even more nervous than when Cao Cao's army was besieging the city.

Sun Qian, with his sharp eyes, spotted Zhou Cang standing behind the group, looking bewildered. He lowered his head and whispered a few words to Liu Bei, who nodded and then continued to comfort Zhang Fei.

Sun Qian then walked around the crowd, stood in front of Zhou Cang, and made a "please" gesture.

"Mr. Sun Qian, is that our lord?" Zhou Cang asked anxiously as soon as he stepped out of the central hall.

Sun Qian smiled and nodded slightly, saying, "That's right."

"Just now, when Yuanfu was unconscious, the lord visited you and fed you medicine. It was the lord himself who did so," Sun Qian said slowly with a smile.

"Huh...?" Zhou Cang was stunned.

Compared to Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, I am just a nobody. I have not made any contributions to my lord and have no direct personal relationships with him.

The first time I met my lord, he personally fed me his medicine...

No wonder that the imperial uncle, who rose from humble beginnings, was able to win the unwavering loyalty of almost everyone he encountered in a chaotic world where heroes rose up.

As Zhou Cang thought about it, his eyes welled up with tears. After all, he was different from others—

He had read the script in the novel and knew almost everything that happened before and after that timeline.

The shock of knowing the other person's great and heroic ending beforehand and then relating it to one's own insignificant status is truly exhilarating.

That's why something as small as feeding him medicine could be so shocking to him at this moment.

Sun Qian looked at Zhou Cang's expression as if it were expected. After Zhou Cang came to his senses, he continued, "The Third General went out to clean up the battlefield and just returned to the manor. After all, he and the Lord have a deep brotherly bond. Since we parted in Xuzhou, they have poured out their hearts to each other, and it is inevitable that they are very affectionate. Please rest for a while until the Third General has calmed down. When the Lord sees you again, Yuanfu, please do not take offense."

Zhou Cang nodded mechanically. Zhang Fei needed to fully express his longing, and Zhou Cang also needed time to calm the turmoil in his heart. So he turned his back and stood alone in the courtyard, lost in thought.

A moment later, Zhang Fei's crying behind him gradually subsided. While Zhou Cang was still in a daze, a warm and solemn voice came from behind him: "Yuanfu!"

As Zhou Cang turned around, he saw Liu Bei, a tall man with a handsome face and lips like painted rouge, walking quickly toward him with a concerned expression.

Before he could react, Liu Bei had already firmly grasped his hands. Zhou Cang hurriedly tried to kneel down, but Liu Bei steadily supported him halfway down, saying, "Yuanfu, there's no need for such formalities!"

Zhou Cang's emotions, which had just begun to calm down, suddenly became extremely tense again. It was Liu Bei's strength that allowed him to help Zhou Cang up without any further explanation.

"My lord!" Zhou Cang was about to kneel again, but before he could finish speaking, Liu Bei grabbed his hand and led him into the hall, saying as they walked, "Gongyou has already told me everything about Yuanfu. I also know that Yuanfu is a loyal and righteous man. It is a great honor to meet him now!"

Zhou Cang could no longer hold back and decisively knelt down, saying, "Your lord's benevolence is known throughout the land. I, a mere bandit, am honored to serve you now. I am willing to serve you with utmost loyalty!"

After Zhou Cang finished speaking, Liu Bei nodded solemnly and said, "Although I am not talented, I will not fail you, General!" He helped Zhou Cang up again, held his hand tightly, and led everyone back to the hall.

After everyone was seated and had calmed down, Liu Bei slowly began to speak: "Gentlemen, although I am a descendant of the Han dynasty, I am neither virtuous nor talented. Since I started this uprising, my only aim has been to uphold the great cause of the Han dynasty. However, after more than sixteen years, my strength and virtue are still insufficient, and I have achieved nothing."

After pausing and expressing his feelings, Liu Bei continued, "The defeat in Xuzhou caused my brothers to be separated and our foundation to be destroyed. We had no choice but to seek refuge with Yuan Shao, hoping to gradually conquer him. Today, thanks to the assistance of all of you generals, I am truly grateful for the favor of Heaven. Gentlemen, please accept my bow!"

As Liu Bei spoke, he stood up and bowed to everyone in gratitude, and everyone quickly stood up and knelt down in thanks.

"Gentlemen, please drink this cup to the brim!" After saying this, Liu Bei picked up the wine cup and toasted everyone. The emperor and his ministers, with red eyes, drank the wine in the cup in one gulp.

After putting down his wine cup, Liu Bei continued, "Although I have escaped, my second brother Yun Chang is still trapped in Cao Cao's camp." As he spoke, he glanced at Zhang Fei, and then his gaze swept over Zhou Cang. Clearly, Sun Qian had also told Liu Bei about Zhou Cang's special feelings for Guan Yu.

"How could I ever forget the bond between brothers?"

"When I returned from Hebei, I entrusted Xianhe to secretly go to Cao Cao's camp to find Yunchang. Yunchang must know my intentions, but I am still a little worried." Liu Bei finished speaking and then fell silent.

Seeing this, Sun Qian, fearing that the others might not understand, added, "When our lord left Hebei, he was forced by Yuan Shao to write a letter to Yun Chang, the words of which were quite vehement, because Yuan Shao wanted Yun Chang to turn against him in battle."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Cang suddenly realized that the heartfelt words he had spoken to Sun Qian on that rainy night when Sun Qian went to Hebei were not only his own selfish motives but also a reflection of his lord's brotherly affection. His lord's instant affinity with him was also somewhat related to this.

Everyone remained silent, except for Zhang Fei, who muttered a complaint in a low voice: "I don't understand. If Second Brother hadn't betrayed us, why did he attack Yuan Shao for Cao Cao, putting Eldest Brother in danger..."

"Third brother, don't speak nonsense." Liu Bei calmly retorted to Zhang Fei: "Yun Chang must have had no choice in doing this, but we don't know the details. We'll send someone to inquire further."

Zhang Fei pouted and said, "I'll listen to my elder brother."

Looking at the faces of everyone at the table, Liu Bei saw that although Guan Yu had not yet returned, Zhao Yun, Zhou Cang, Liu Pi, and Gong Du had been added, and Runan had become a place of moderate size to settle down. Overwhelmed with emotion, the group drank until late at night before dispersing to rest.

At the Prime Minister's residence in Xuchang, hundreds of miles away, Cao Cao recently suffered a relapse of his headaches. Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, and others visited him day and night, while also handling various official documents and military intelligence.

That day, Cheng Yu and Guo Jia were about to leave after their visit when a servant rushed in. Upon seeing the two men, the servant hesitated for a moment, then decided to go directly to find Cao Cao.

"What is it?" Guo Jia called out to the servant.

"Sir, General Zhang Liao from the front lines at Guandu has sent an urgent letter." The servant said, handing Guo Jia a wooden box.

"Oh?" Guo Jia and Cheng Yu exchanged a glance, both having a bad feeling.

"The Prime Minister has only been resting for a short while..." Guo Jia said, looking at Cheng Yu.

Cheng Yu understood, nodded, took the wooden box, took out the letter, glanced at it quickly, and turned pale.

Guo Jia took the document and frowned, saying, "This matter is not good; we must ask the Prime Minister for a decision."

Cheng Yu muttered to himself, "Yuan Shao actually released Liu Bei... Alas! If only Liu Bei had been killed back then, we wouldn't be in this mess today."

Guo Jia ignored Cheng Yu and was about to turn around to report to Cao Cao when a servant rushed into the mansion in a hurry.

"What is it now?" Guo Jia asked.

"Sir, another letter from Mr. Liu Ye has arrived urgently!"

"What?" Guo Jia asked in disbelief.

It is extremely rare for two urgent letters to arrive in such a short time.

Before Cheng Yu and Guo Jia could react, a third servant rushed in, speaking in a slightly flustered voice to Guo Jia and Cheng Yu, "Gentlemen... the defeat at Runan has been reported!"

"What did you say?!"