Although Zhang Fei's suggestion was tempting, Liu Bei gritted his teeth and refused.
His dream was still alive!
Or rather,
His current persona couldn't crumble, if it did, it would be truly over!
What persona?
Of course, it was his identity as a descendant of Emperor Jing of Han, Liu Sheng, the King of Zhongshan Jing!
If he didn't have this identity, why would Zhang Fei go crazy and support him?
Let alone sworn brothers, even if their own father came, they probably wouldn't be able to support him by selling everything they owned.
Therefore,
Liu Bei forcefully suppressed the hunger in his belly and said through gritted teeth:
"Second brother, third brother, I heard Master Lu is encircling and suppressing the Yellow Turban bandits in Guangzong. Why don't we go and join him?"
"Master Lu?"
Upon hearing Liu Bei mention Lu Zhi, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu fell silent.
They naturally knew of Lu Zhi.
Especially,
This time Lu Zhi was appointed as Zhonglang General, leading the Northern Army's Five Regiments to suppress the Yellow Turbans, his prestige was at its peak.
That was indeed a good destination!
However,
Zhang Fei touched his half-full stomach and said with a tone full of helplessness:
"Jizhou is not close to here, and we don't even have travel expenses. How can we get there?"
"This..."
Liu Bei's eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing.
With their martial prowess, wouldn't it be easy to get some travel expenses?
But he couldn't say it, as it would easily break his persona.
As for Brother Guan Er?
Noticing Liu Bei's gaze, Brother Guan Er stroked his long beard and met his eyes from afar.
The meaning was obvious:
No money!
He had made a little money from selling dates, but it was all lost last time.
He hadn't even paid the suppliers from his hometown yet.
Where would he get money to fund your travel expenses?
So,
Liu Bei, full of disappointment, cast his hopeful gaze back to Zhang Fei.
This man was his great benefactor!
Last time he sold houses and fields, he raised several thousand taels of silver, not to mention that.
It was rumored that he had buried quite a few good things in his cellar.
It was a pity,
Now that Zhuo County had fallen into the hands of that rebel, neither of them dared to go back to retrieve them.
However,
Facing Liu Bei's hopeful little gaze, Butcher Zhang was also unwilling this time.
What did it mean?
I'm already ready to go home, and you still want to skim some off me?
Dream on?
Butcher Zhang had never been one to hide his emotions, and he said it directly when he was unhappy.
"Big brother, I have no money, only my life!"
"How much do you think this body of mine can sell for?"
"Cough cough~!"
Liu Bei, who had been choked back, coughed twice and said with a sheepish smile:
"Third brother, what are you saying? No matter what, your elder brother wouldn't sell you!"
"How about this..."
Liu Bei paused here and gritted his teeth:
"Let's go to the city and borrow some from those wealthy families. We'll repay them a hundredfold after our success!"
"Borrow some?"
Zhang Fei and Guan Yu exchanged glances, their faces expressionless.
Guan Yu was indifferent!
He was neither from a noble family nor would such dirty and tiring work fall on him.
But Zhang Fei was somewhat unhappy.
Why?
Because he was from a noble family!
Although he was just a small noble family in Zhuo County, and not a prominent clan.
Even so,
He habitually looked at the problem from the perspective of the noble families.
You're going to rob the noble families in front of me?
What do you mean?
If I hadn't supported you back then, would you have robbed me too?
Of course!
This was only part of it!
The key was,
Zhang Fei knew that this kind of work would eventually fall on him.
Who made the other two his older brothers?
Although the late Han dynasty emphasized respecting elders, there was no habit of cherishing the young.
Here, the command of father and elder brother was not to be disobeyed!
So,
When Liu Bei finished speaking and waited for his two younger brothers to express their opinions, he found that no one stepped forward.
This made Liu Bei unhappy too!
What's going on?
I've already risked breaking my persona to say this, and you don't even have to show some respect?
Do you still want to achieve great things?
Dream on!
Thus,
The last 'heart-to-heart' talk between the three brothers ended unhappily.
As for this,
Except for Liu Bei and Guan Yu being unhappy, Zhang Fei was not affected at all.
Isn't it just a failed investment?
He was used to it!
Besides, someone from his hometown came two days ago to tell him that someone who seemed to be from the Yellow Turbans had offered a high reward to recruit him.
It was time to go back and take a look!
As for rebellion?
It doesn't matter!
As long as he could achieve great things, what did it matter whether he rebelled or not?
Weren't there many rebels who were granted amnesty in this era?
Although the name was not good, it was better than Butcher Zhang, right?
Thinking of this,
Zhang Fei, who had made up his mind, looked up at his two sulking older brothers.
"Big brother, second brother, are you really not coming back with me?"
"Hmm?"
Seeing Zhang Fei's serious expression, Liu Bei felt a little panicked.
Little brother, you're being a bit unthoughtful!
I'm still angry, and you're planning to ditch me and quit?
What about our promise to live and die together?
Is it gone just like that?
"Big brother~!"
Seemingly sensing Liu Bei's thoughts, Zhang Fei sighed softly.
"Even if we get travel expenses and meet Master Lu, what then?"
"We have no soldiers, no money, and no official positions..."
"Besides being a common soldier, are there any other options?"
"This..."
Listening to Zhang Fei's analysis, Liu Bei's heart became even more panicked.
It seemed to be true?
Then, then I can't let you go even more!
There were only two valuable elite fighters left, and if you leave, what else is there to play with?
Unfortunately,
Before Liu Bei could figure out how to persuade him, he saw Zhang Fei pick up his eight-foot snake spear.
"Big brother, second brother, I'm not interested in being a common soldier anyway. If you want to go, then go!"
"If you are sure you are not coming back with me, then let's part ways here!"
Saying this, Zhang Fei cupped his fists to the two of them without giving Liu Bei and Guan Yu a chance to refuse.
"See you again!"
"Ah?"
"Oh!"
Guan Yu, still a bit stunned, returned the salute as he saw this.
"See, see you again?"
"You..."
Liu Bei's mouth twitched with anger, wishing he could stab both of these idiots to death with his sword.
This was truly one daring to pledge allegiance and the other daring to return?
You've both made your move, what should I, the big brother, do?
Just as Liu Bei was at a loss, Zhang Fei left without looking back.
The heavens were big, the earth was big, and his stomach was the biggest.
He was tired of this life of constant hunger and scrounging for free meals.
As for brothers?
It wasn't like they had severed ties!
It could only be said that life's circumstances forced them to go their separate ways for now!
When he became successful someday, they would eventually meet again!
They become successful?
Then forget it!
If they became successful, he, the rebel, would probably be annihilated.
On the other side,
Watching Zhang Fei's receding figure, Liu Bei let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Second brother, what about you?"
"What?"
"Do you want to go to Guangzong with me, or follow third brother to Zhuo County?"
"I..."
Facing Liu Bei's expectant gaze, Guan Yu was also a little conflicted.
To be honest, he wanted to follow Zhang Fei to Zhuo County!
That day, the soldiers under Qin Feng had given him too much of a shock.
However,
As the second brother, his pride made him unable to follow.
Besides...