Zhou Tai, Zhou Youping.
Jiang Qin, Jiang Gongyi.
According to the records in ancient texts, these two… were Sun Quan’s famous personal bodyguards.
They were from the same commandery and joined together when Sun Ce pacified Jiangdong, following the prevailing trend.
Originally, this time point was after Sun Ce’s campaign in Lujiang, further encroaching on the remnants of Liu Yao, Yan Baihu, Wang Lang, and others.
Alas…
Due to the defeat in Lujiang, the Little Overlord of Jiangdong lost to the Dragon Soaring Camp and fell from grace.
Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin’s planned defection was naturally shelved…
They chose to wait and see, and then select a bright lord when the situation became clearer.
Alas… as they waited, Sun Quan was defeated in Guangling City.
The once invincible Little Overlord Sun Bofu was assassinated, confined to bed, and on the verge of death.
News of Cao’s army marching south arrived, as did the escalating tensions between Sun family old generals and the Four Great Families of Wu Commandery, and the Four Great Families of Kuaiji.
This time…
The situation became even more chaotic.
In the eyes of Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin, the Sun family of Jiangdong seemed to be on the verge of collapse.
For a moment… they felt like defecting to Cao Cao.
At least… Old Cao had no major black marks in his struggle for supremacy in the Central Plains, and he was quite good to the common people and to those of humble origins like them.
Moreover, listening to the village warriors from their hometown recount, their home, “Jiujiang,” was remarkably peaceful and stable under Cao Cao’s governance.
Who wouldn’t want to go home?
But… now…
They had reached the territory of Jiangdong… and wanted to return, but the northward river passage was already blocked, and they couldn’t go back. This was quite awkward! The two could only stay in the wine shops of Wu Commandery, sighing helplessly, and watching the changes of the era!
Of course…
Lu Yu did not know about these things.
All he knew was that Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin were in Jiangdong during this period, and most likely had not yet had the chance to join Sun Ce. Thus, it was the perfect time for the Lu family to seize the initiative.
And whenever he thought of these two…
Lu Yu’s mind would inexplicably recall their popular slogans.
“Not enough, I will never fall!”
“The enemy situation is clear, depart immediately!”
However…
It was now that Lu Xun and Lu Ji, the future stars of the Lu family, should be the ones to “depart immediately.”
…
…
Outside Xiapi City, amidst Yunlong Mountain.
At the summit of this mountain, a legion of less than five hundred men had set up a simple military camp, with many wounded soldiers lying within.
From time to time, sounds of pained howling could be heard.
Yet, this place had long been cut off from its water source, with no food… let alone any rescue medical supplies.
Suffering, every warrior’s heart was filled with immense bitterness.
Hoo…
With a heavy exhale, Guan Yu stood outside the military camp, stroking his beard while… trying his best to maintain an air of calm composure.
His eternally unchanging poker face still showed no joy… making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
“General, look quickly, someone is coming up the mountain!” a shout rang out, and a small soldier pointed at the mountain path.
Instantly, the entire camp’s soldiers became vigilant.
But upon seeing that it was a single person on horseback, their mood relaxed.
“This… this is a general of the Dragon Soaring Camp!”
Someone reminded him…
Guan Yu’s brows furrowed instantly. He squinted, and upon clearly recognizing the face of the approaching person, he took a step forward and shouted, “Brother Wen Yuan? Are you here to take my head, Guan? Or to lend me a hand!”
“Neither!”
Zhang Liao dismounted, removed the two gourds hanging from his horse, raised them and shook them, “I have come to share a drink with Brother Yun Chang! Hahaha…”
“I am indeed thirsty!” Guan Yu replied calmly and walked towards Zhang Liao.
…
Amidst Yunlong Mountain, the valley was misty, and clouds and fog swirled.
Beneath a bare fruit tree, on either side of a stone staircase, Guan Yu and Zhang Liao were drinking heartily.
“Good wine…”
Guan Yu took a large gulp, finding the gourd quite to his liking.
“May I ask Brother Yun Chang? What is good about this wine?” Zhang Liao retorted.
“It is stronger and more mellow than ordinary wine. This is the kind of wine that men should drink. After drinking this wine… all other wines are like a maiden’s tears, lacking flavor.”
“Hahaha…” Hearing Guan Yu’s words, Zhang Liao burst into laughter. When the laughter subsided, Zhang Liao’s voice continued, “Brother Yun Chang doesn’t know yet, do you? This wine was created by Young Master Lu. I heard it involves an extra fermentation process, and this one process alone can make ordinary wine stronger and more mellow! Just like me, Zhang Liao. Previously, I was just a warrior, but after joining the Dragon Soaring Camp, my martial arts did not change, but my perspective did. The way the common people look at me has changed.”
How could Guan Yu not understand the meaning behind Zhang Liao’s words!
It was nothing more than a good bird choosing a tree, a wise minister choosing a lord… but… Guan Yu’s pride would not allow him to defect to Cao’s camp!
“Gulp…”
He took another deep gulp of wine.
Zhang Liao continued, “Yun Chang, while you were trapped on Yunlong Mountain these past few days, Commander Cao has already captured Xiapi City. Your two sisters-in-law…”
“You…” Hearing about his sisters-in-law, Guan Yu’s brows furrowed, and he immediately prepared to stand up.
Zhang Liao, however, pressed him down, “Yun Chang, you need not worry. In all these years, after Cao’s army captured cities and towns, they have committed no offense against the civilians. Even Liu Xuande’s residence remained peaceful and undisturbed. Commander Cao had long issued strict orders that all officers and soldiers were only allowed to guard the Liu mansion from the outside and were forbidden to enter. Anyone who dared to step inside would be beheaded!”
Upon hearing this…
Guan Yu’s mood calmed down a little.
“It is our fault, the three brothers, for falling into Cao Cao’s scheme and losing Xiapi City. Brother Wen Yuan… please, for the sake of our years of friendship, tell me directly, what is the situation of my elder brother and my third brother?”
“Liu Bei has already been badly defeated… Someone saw Liu Bei escaping into Mount Tai alone, his life or death is still unknown,” Zhang Liao continued. “As for your third brother, he broke through and headed towards Mangdang Mountain.”
At this point, Zhang Liao paused. “Brother Yun Chang, perhaps you should consider this: with your current garrison of less than five hundred men, if Commander Cao ordered fifty thousand elite troops to charge down the mountain, could you break through?”
“I cannot!”
“Then what do you plan to do?”
“Haha, Wen Yuan might as well tell Cao Cao that after drinking this pot of wine, I, Guan Yu, will go down the mountain and slay three hundred of his soldiers, and he can then take my head!” Guan Yu’s words were quite heroic, fearless of death!
Zhang Liao, however, shook his head. He stood up and stood with his hands behind his back.
“Your current predicament is something I have also encountered. When Lu Fengxian perished at Baimenlou, weren’t you and I in the same situation as I am with you now?”
Zhang Liao lamented, “It was Young Master Lu who told me that death is often the easiest path, but living is difficult. To live is to carry the visions and dreams of those who have died, and even more so. Yun Chang, have you ever thought… if you were to die now, you would have committed three sins!”
“What three sins?”
“The first sin, in the oath you three brothers took when you swore brotherhood in the peach garden, didn’t you vow to die in the same year, same month, and same day? Now, the lives of your two brothers are uncertain. Imagine, if Liu Bei and Zhang Fei can survive, but you die first, wouldn’t this be a violation of your oath? Wouldn’t this be forcing your two brothers to death!”
“The second sin, now that Liu Bei and Zhang Fei have gone missing, only you, Guan Yun Chang, can protect Liu Bei’s two ladies! If you die with satisfaction, abandoning the two ladies, would you hand them over to the chaos of the army and defile their chastity? Yes, Commander Cao ordered no one to enter the Liu mansion, but for whose sake did Commander Cao do that? Heh, if you, Guan Yun Chang, are dead, would he still ‘restrain’ his ‘brothers’?”
“The third sin, you three brothers aspire to restore the Han Dynasty. But now, the world is not yet settled, and the heroes have not yet been eliminated, yet you die first? How can you face your elder brother? How can you be worthy of the ancestors of the Han Dynasty!”
This…
Guan Yu’s eyes narrowed, and his eternally unchanging poker face began to tremble.
Cannot die…
As Zhang Wen Yuan said, death is easy, but living is difficult.
But…
He, Guan Yu, was also a proud man. How could he live in disgrace?
Zhang Liao saw Guan Yu’s dilemma and continued, “Brother Yun Chang, listen to me first. There are three sins in death, but there are three conveniences in living!”
“The first is to ensure the safety of the two ladies, your sisters-in-law. The second is to not break the peach garden agreement. The third is to preserve your heroic body and aid in the future restoration of the Han Dynasty!”
Having said this, Zhang Liao patted Guan Yu’s shoulder.
This…
Guan Yu’s eyes darted around. He also stood up, standing at the edge of the cliff, thinking in the wind.
Ten breaths, twenty breaths, thirty breaths!
Finally, he spoke.
“I also have three conditions. If Cao Cao agrees, I will immediately lay down my armor. Otherwise… I would rather bear the three sins and die!”
“First, I belong only to the Han Dynasty, not to Cao Cao!”
“Second, I ask Cao Cao to treat my two sisters-in-law kindly…”
“Third, once my elder brother’s whereabouts are known, no matter where he is, I will go to find him. If any of these three conditions are not met, I will absolutely not surrender.”
This…
Upon hearing this, Zhang Liao’s eyes flickered.
It wasn’t that, under normal circumstances, he would care about the third condition, but… at this moment, he subconsciously thought of the second condition – “Please Cao Cao ‘treat kindly’ my two sisters-in-law!”
Are there such special requests?
Zhang Liao blinked his eyes, and his mind raced with associations.
Even to the point where he thought of the letter that Young Master Lu had given to Commander Cao, that line about “keeping Guan Yu and Liu Bei’s two ladies.”
Just these words of “treat kindly.”
Uh…
Commander Cao treats Liu’s two ladies kindly.
Heh heh… Zhang Liao chuckled.
At this moment, he felt… that Young Master Lu’s letter held a hidden meaning!
…
Below Yunlong Mountain, soldiers stood in formation. Cao Cao, in his carriage, narrowed his eyes.
After hearing Zhang Liao’s report, his mood was a mixture of emotions.
“Zhi Cai was right. Once Liu Bei’s whereabouts are known, Guan Yu will still leave me. In this case, having Guan Yu is useless!”
“Has Commander Cao forgotten the words in Young Master Lu’s letter…”
After hearing Cao Cao’s sigh, Zhang Liao added.
Cao Cao paused, “I only asked you to persuade Guan Yu to surrender because I had seen Steward Lu’s letter, but…”
Thinking of this, Cao Cao also recalled that line.
– Try to preserve Guan Yu and Liu Bei’s two ladies, which will be of great use in the future situation!
Since it was specifically emphasized in Yu’er’s letter.
Could it be… that he wanted Cao Cao to influence Guan Yu?
No…
Cao Cao shook his head. It shouldn’t be like this.
Regardless, Cao Cao still couldn’t figure it out…
Never mind, let’s do it this way for now. When we return, we can ask Yu’er in detail.
With this thought…
“Heh heh…”
Cao Cao smiled, “The world only knows Cao Cao’s might, but they don’t know that Cao Cao’s grace is even greater than his might. Regardless of Steward Lu’s intentions, I will agree to these three conditions!”
Having said this, Cao Cao immediately gave an order, “Issue a command to retreat ten li, and let Guan Yu come down the mountain!”
…
Not long after.
“Da da da… da da da…”
The mountain path of Yunlong Mountain echoed with the sound of hooves. A troop of emaciated cavalry was descending…
And the person leading them was none other than Guan Yu, Guan Yun Chang!
At this moment, he rode his horse to Cao Cao, dismounted, and then… bowed with clasped hands.
– “Your subordinate Guan Yu pays respects to the Han Dynasty Commander Cao!”
…
…
Jiangdong, Danyang Commandery.
This Danyang Commandery faced Lujiang and Huainan across the river. Further north was Guangling City in Xuzhou.
Entering the city, pedestrians bustled, and fishermen traded back and forth, making it very prosperous, possessing more of the worldly atmosphere of a riverside town than… Wu Commandery.
As they strolled, they suddenly smelled an aroma.
Lu Xun and Lu Ji stopped in their tracks… This aroma was the smell of cooking fish and simmering fish soup. The two looked up. The wine shop standing on the street had a golden signboard with the words “Songhe Tower” written on it.
In Danyang, “Songhe Tower” was very famous. The signboard, aged by time, was smoked black, but the three golden characters shone brightly. Waves of wine fragrance and meat aroma wafted out from the wine shop, and the sounds of the chef’s knives and ladles mingled with the shouts of the waiters.
“It’s here…”
Lu Xun turned to Lu Ji and said.
Lu Ji nodded. “They say money makes the world go round… this saying is indeed true. As long as there is money, in Jiangdong… it is too easy to obtain someone’s whereabouts.”
Indeed…
In times of chaos, every prefecture and commandery would have a group of people who united to collect and sell information, living by it. And what they sought was nothing more than money and provisions!
The Lu family was not short of money nowadays, so it was not difficult to gather information about Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin.
And… the information obtained for one thousand Wuzhu coins included that the two were staying in this Songhe Tower, their travel expenses were almost exhausted, and they spent their days frowning and drinking, as if their hearts were filled with countless sorrows.
As for what those sorrows were, the intelligence did not specify, but… Lu Xun and Lu Ji knew that the letter their elder brother sent clearly stated.
This was that they… and the entire group of fellow villagers from Jiujiang, were hesitating and wavering, unsure who to defect to, and unaware of their future path!
Lu Xun and Lu Ji went upstairs, and a waiter came to greet them. Lu Xun ordered a pot of wine and two small plates of side dishes. The two leaned against the railing by the window and drank on their own.
The two’s peripheral vision scanned the wine shop, and then they exchanged glances…
On the west side sat two burly men. Their four cold, electric-like gazes… flashed across their faces twice.
Lu Xun’s peripheral vision could see that these two men were robust, in their thirties, all wearing gray cloth robes that were slightly tattered, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, and high noses and broad mouths!
Only one had disheveled hair with a distinct scar running vertically through his eye, while the other wore a headband. According to the description in the intelligence report, the one with disheveled hair and a scar was Zhou Tai, and the one with the headband was Jiang Qin!
As their eyes met, Lu Xun softly murmured.
“It’s them…”
Lu Ji nodded… His peripheral vision glanced at their table again. There was a plate of dried fish, two large pots of wine, and nothing else.
Even their eating and drinking seemed exceptionally bold and unrestrained!
Lu Ji, being quick-witted, immediately called the waiter over, pointed at Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin’s table, and said, “The bill for the wine and dishes for these two gentlemen will be on me!”
Upon hearing this…
It was obvious that Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin were startled. They looked up towards Lu Xun and Lu Ji, nodded, smiled, and then said no more.
Lu Ji had intended to strike up a conversation and befriend them, but… he couldn’t find an opportunity.
After drinking a few more cups of wine, they heard footsteps on the stairs, and soon… two people, also looking very robust, walked up.
The two walked up to Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin and spoke in a flustered manner.
“Brother Zhou, Brother Jiang… something has happened. The brothers were working on Old Kong’s fishing boat, and who would have thought… Wang Wuzi got into an argument with Kong family retainers and a fight broke out, knocking out two of the opponent’s teeth… Now the Kong family has brought people to surround us, and they have captured Wang Wuzi.”
As soon as this person finished speaking, another voice chimed in, “The Kong family is one of the Four Great Families of Kuaiji, with great influence. Wang Wuzi has already been captured by them. This… does he still have a life? Brother Zhou, Brother Jiang, you are the backbone of us fellow villagers from Jiujiang, you must step forward and save them!”
This…
Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin exchanged glances. Zhou Tai intended to slam the table and leap up, and the precious saber named “Youping” at his waist was drawn with a “swish.”
This saber is quite famous in the “Records of Ancient and Modern Sabers” – “Zhou Youping defeated Commander Cao and was appointed General Who Pacifies the Barbarians. He then forged a saber, with ‘Youping’ inscribed on its back.”
A chilling cold light emerged.
But Jiang Qin grabbed him and held him down. Jiang Qin commanded, “The Kong family is powerful. Even if Youping has high martial arts skills, going alone is like throwing himself into a trap, isn’t it? Go and gather all our fellow villagers from Jiujiang. An hour later, we will go to the Kong family’s door to seek justice!”
Upon hearing this, the two bowed in agreement… and turned to go downstairs.
The voices of these four were low, and the patrons upstairs paid no attention, so no one could hear them, but… Lu Xun and Lu Ji were too close, so they naturally heard everything clearly.
Zhou Tai glanced casually at Lu Xun and Lu Ji. Seeing them deep in thought, it was clear they had overheard their conversation.
Zhou Tai was already angry and was looking for an outlet.
His eyes blazed with a sharp light, and he let out a heavy “hmph”…
Lu Ji had never seen such a scene before. His left hand trembled, and with a clatter, the wine cup fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
Zhou Tai was about to lash out, but to his surprise… Jiang Qin stopped him again. His expression was one of extreme calm and composure.
“Why the unnecessary apprehension, two young sirs? How about coming over for a drink?”
Lu Ji was still a bit scared, but Lu Xun smiled and said, “Best, best!”
Immediately… he instructed the waiter to bring over cups and chopsticks, and moved to Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin’s side with Lu Ji.
“Two heroes… may I know why?”
As soon as Lu Xun spoke…
Unexpectedly, Jiang Qin interrupted him.
“Why ask what you already know? Looking at your clothing, you must be from noble families!”
“Let’s not stand on ceremony and have a few bowls, wouldn’t that be a delightful affair? If we must point things out and distinguish between enemy and friend, then there will be no lingering taste.”
Clearly…
Jiang Qin mistook Lu Xun and Lu Ji for noble scions, nobility that were “of the same ilk” as the Kong family!
…
…