Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

Most importantly, although her face was dirty, you could still see that she had excellent facial features and delicate eyebrows and eyes. Even though she was in a sorry state at the moment, she was still a beauty in the making.

"This girl..." Dian Wei frowned.

"They look so pitiful, let's go take a look."

Dian Wei and Zhao Yun dismounted.

The two men walked up to the girl.

Dian Wei was a big guy; when he squatted down, he looked like a small mountain.

He tried to keep his voice down: "Young lady, why are you here alone? Where are your family?"

The girl looked up and saw Dian Wei's fierce and menacing face, and shrank back in fright.

Seeing this, Zhao Yun quickly stepped forward, speaking gently:

"Don't be afraid, girl, we're not bad people."

The girl looked at Dian Wei, then at Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun was handsome and had a gentle demeanor; he certainly didn't seem like a bad person.

She then relaxed a little and whispered:

"Young masters..."

The girl's eyes reddened, and tears fell again.

She sobbed as she said, "My name is Ren Hongchang, and I am from Bingzhou."

Bingzhou is bitterly cold and frequently raided by foreign tribes, which is why my father brought my daughter south to Luoyang to make a living…”

She choked up for a moment before continuing:

"But... my father fell ill on the way and passed away half a month ago because we had no money for treatment... I am all alone and have nowhere to go, so I can only continue to Luoyang as my father had planned..."

She wiped away her tears: "I've been so careful all the way here to get to Luoyang. But once I arrived, I had no money and nowhere to go, so I'm stuck here on the street..."

Before she could finish speaking, she started crying again.

The sound of crying was so heartbreaking that it brought tears to the eyes of anyone who heard it.

Even the rough-and-tumble Dian Wei couldn't help but scratch his head upon hearing this:

"This...this is too tragic."

Zhao Yun also felt pity.

He carefully examined the girl. Although she was disheveled, she spoke politely and had clear eyes, unlike a wicked person.

Dian Wei leaned close to Zhao Yun's ear and whispered:

"Fourth Brother, I think this girl is quite pitiful. And look at her face, although it's dirty, she'll definitely be a beauty after washing it clean! Why don't we take her back?"

It just so happens that my elder brother doesn't have a maid, so having her serve him tea and water is a way to give her a way to survive.

Zhao Yun thought for a moment and nodded.

My elder brother is now a champion marquis and a general of the cavalry, so he really should have a meticulous person serving him.

This girl looks well-behaved and has a pitiful background, so it's good to take her back.

So he asked, "Miss Ren, we feel sorry for you, that you have no one to rely on."

"Why don't you come back with us and become a maid for my two elder brothers? We'll live in the Zhen mansion, where we'll have plenty to eat and wear; it's better than being homeless."

Ren Hongchang looked up at the two of them, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded.

She was truly desperate.

These two people don't seem like bad people, and they say they live in the Zhen family mansion. The Zhen family is a very wealthy and well-known family in Hebei, so they should be reliable.

"Thank you... thank you both, gentlemen," she said softly.

"You're welcome!" Dian Wei grinned. "Come on, get on your horse!"

He gave his horse to Ren Hongchang, and he and Zhao Yun led the horses together.

The three of them then returned to the Zhen residence.

Let's go back to the present.

Dian Wei and Zhao Yun recounted what had happened.

After listening, Liu Ce simply coughed lightly and said calmly:

"I see. You two did a good job. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda."

Seeing this, the two breathed a sigh of relief. Since the elder brother didn't object, the matter was settled.

After a while, Liu Ce asked, "Where is that girl?"

"She's waiting outside," Dian Wei said. "Should I call her in?"

"Um."

Dian Wei went out, and a short while later, he came in with a girl.

Liu Ce looked up and his eyes widened instantly.

Holy crap!!!

so beautiful!

The girl had already washed herself clean and changed into a clean set of clothes, the everyday attire of a maid in the Zhen household.

She wore a light green dress, which, though simple, fit her well, and her hair was neatly combed and tied up with a simple wooden hairpin.

Most importantly, it was her face. After washing it clean, her skin was as white as snow, and her eyebrows and eyes were exquisitely beautiful.

Her eyes were watery and looked at people with a shy timidness, which made her even more charming.

Although she looked a little tired, her elegant and refined temperament was impossible to hide.

Ren Hongchang walked up to Liu Ce, gently raised his head, and looked at Liu Ce.

She was stunned when she saw it.

The man before me was young and handsome, with an extraordinary air about him. His brows and eyes possessed both the heroic spirit of a military general and the refined elegance of a scholar.

Is this the legendary Marquis Liu Ce? He's even more... than she imagined.

Her face flushed, and she quickly bowed gracefully.

"This servant, Ren Hongchang, greets the Marquis of Champion."

Her voice was soft and gentle, like the chirping of a nightingale or the twittering of a swallow.

Liu Ce then came to his senses.

Ren Hongchang? Wait... why does this name sound so familiar?

His mind raced, searching for Ren Hongchang… Hongchang… Diao Chan?!

Name: Ren Hongchang

Gender: Female

Age: 16

[Strength]: 25

Commander: 30

[Politics]: 76 (Third-rate)

Intelligence: 82 (Second-rate)

[Appearance]: 99cm

……

Holy crap!!!

Isn't Diao Chan's real name Ren Hongchang?!

Liu Ce's mind exploded with joy: Dian Wei and Zhao Yun, those two lads, just strolled around town and managed to pick up the most beautiful woman in the Three Kingdoms?! What incredible luck!

He silently gave the two of them a thumbs up in his mind: This is possible? They actually ran into each other like this? That's outrageous!

But... I got lucky, hahaha!

Liu Ce was overjoyed inside, but he had to remain calm on the surface.

He waved his hand: "Get up. From now on, you will serve in the manor. If you need anything, just tell the steward."

"Thank you, Lord Marquis." Ren Hongchang bowed again, stood up, and stood to the side with his hands at his sides.

Seeing that there was nothing more for them to do, Zhao Yun and Dian Wei took their leave.

Liu Ce sat in the hall for a while, then suddenly remembered something and got up to walk to the study.

Ren Hongchang naturally followed behind him; she was now a maid and had to serve him at any time.

In the study, Liu Ce sat down behind his desk.

Diao Chan was quick-witted; she immediately went forward and poured him a cup of tea, then stood quietly to the side.

Liu Ce held his teacup, seemingly sipping tea, but his mind was racing.

He now has fierce generals like Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Dian Wei, Qin Qiong, and Cheng Yaojin under his command, civil officials like Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, as well as Yuwen Chengdu and the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun.

It looks good, but it's not enough.

Youzhou needs more talent.

Governing a region requires civil officials, fighting a war requires military generals, and devising strategies requires strategists...

He suddenly remembered a place—Yingchuan.

That was a treasure trove of talent during the Three Kingdoms period! Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai... a whole host of outstanding people came from there.

Should we make a trip to Yingchuan and recruit some talent?

As he was thinking, Liu Ce suddenly slapped his forehead:

"Holy crap! Am I stupid?!"

Ren Hongchang was startled and almost dropped the teapot in his hand.

"My lord?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Liu Ce waved his hand, but inwardly he was laughing wildly.

He cursed himself inwardly, "What is my status now? Marquis of Champion! General of the Cavalry! Governor of Youzhou! More importantly, I am also the Emperor's personally recognized younger brother!"