A Man Must Serve His Lord Well
I saw quite a spectacle in Xu Province.
Lu Bu, full of ambition yet utterly crude in his behavior.
Chen Gong, who claimed that despite everything, Lu Bu was still better than Cao Cao.
And then there was Lu Ming—Lu Bu’s daughter—who, despite having no official post and being a woman, charged into battle like a fighting cock by relying on her status as the Inspector of Xu Province’s daughter.
Gao Shun, who followed that reckless young lady around and earnestly tried to rein her in, and Diaochan, Lu Bu’s second wife. She was certainly beautiful, but once I learned the truth about her, she held no personal appeal for me.
Xu Province truly was a gathering place for strong personalities.
And after spending just one night there, I immediately prepared to leave.
“General Gao Shun, I must see off the Emperor’s envoy.”
Lu Bu, despite holding the position of Inspector of Xu Province, didn’t show his face once. Instead, Gao Shun personally escorted me until I departed from Xu Province.
Still, among everyone in Xu Province, Gao Shun seemed like the only sane one.
In that single day, he commanded a strict and disciplined security force within the city walls and continuously trained soldiers with impeccable military discipline in the camps.
“If only Zhang Liao were here…”
“How does the envoy know Zhang Wenyuan?”
When I absentmindedly muttered Zhang Liao’s name, Gao Shun asked how I knew his comrade. Once again, I had mentioned someone I had never met.
“I heard that in Bing Province, the renowned warriors are Lu Fengxian, Zhang Wenyuan, and yourself.”
“You flatter me. I am nowhere near those two.”
But I really liked Gao Shun as well.
I still couldn’t understand why a man like him served under someone like Lu Bu. In fact, I wondered why famous generals like Zhang Liao, Chen Gong, Gao Shun, Hou Cheng, and Zhang Ba all followed that bastard.
I had seen Lu Bu twice now, and from what I observed, his martial prowess might be unmatched under heaven, but his character was that of a man drunk on his own power, running wild without restraint.
“As the saying goes, a man must serve his lord well. However, serving the wrong one is also the height of foolishness.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It means there is no need to show excessive loyalty to a foolish ruler—a mediocre lord.”
At that moment, Gao Shun glared at me and gripped his spear tightly.
What? Was he going to strike me down right here? Even if it was Gao Shun, he wouldn’t be able to.
He stared at me, spear in hand, trembling for a moment before slowly lowering it.
“This is as far as you may cross the line. I still have the duty of escorting the envoy to fulfill.”
“So duty comes before personal feelings after all, General Gao. You truly are too valuable a man to remain only in Xu Province.”
“Enough…”
If I ever destroyed Lu Bu’s forces in the future, I would save Gao Shun no matter what. Ideally, I would want both Chen Gong and Gao Shun under Cao Cao’s command, but if I had to choose only one?
I would choose Gao Shun without hesitation.
After leaving Xiapi, we arrived at Xiaopei. Then, just before reaching Qiao County, the time came to part ways at the border between Xu Province and Yan Province.
“My duty ends here. I wish you good fortune on your journey back to the capital.”
“I hope you stay in good health as well, General. We will meet again someday.”
“Next time, it will be on the battlefield!”
Gao Shun drew a clear line with his upright face, declaring that our next meeting would be on the battlefield. That was exactly why I liked him so much.
The desire to bring every noteworthy person I set my eyes on under my command… Was this the same feeling Cao Cao experienced?
Gao Shun and his troops quietly returned to Xiapi.
I stopped and turned toward the people riding in the carriages with me.
“Everyone, please step down from the carriages for a moment.”
At my words, the women and children from the two carriages all climbed out. Among those still filled with anxiety, the one who remained relatively calm was a middle-aged woman with a round, gentle face.
“What is the matter?”
“We have now left Xu Province and entered Yan Province. From here on, I, Cao Ziyue, will personally escort the family of Lord Liu Xuande all the way to the capital.”
“Do you truly mean we will see our family again? Hoo…”
The one who breathed a sigh of relief at the prospect of reuniting with her family after leaving Lu Bu’s side was Lady Gan, Liu Bei’s wife. Beside her, the woman who sat down with a pale face and nodded was Lady Mi.
And the young girl who looked exactly like Lady Gan and was cautiously peeking out from behind her appeared to be Liu Bei’s daughter.
“Is it true that Father and our uncles are in the capital?”
The only male among the group—and still just a young boy—asked me.
“That’s right. You are… what was your name again?”
“I am from Ping in Hedong Commandery of Sili Province. My father is Guan Yunchang.”
“Ah, so you’re Guan Ping. And your younger brother beside you?”
“His name is Xing.”
Guan Ping was about ten years old, while Guan Xing was much younger—barely at the toddler stage, like a kindergarten child just learning to walk.
“We are truly grateful for rescuing us… *cough, cough*.”
“Madam, are you alright?”
“General, please escort Mother inside quickly. She is not well.”
“Ah, yes. Let’s get moving again.”
Lady Hu, who was Guan Yu’s wife, had been brought along in her place. The two children she cared for were said to be Zhang Fei’s daughters. In addition, the servants who usually attended Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were also present, making it quite a large extended family.
“Alright. From now on, we will head straight to the capital at full speed.”
I mounted my horse and took the lead, galloping toward the capital.
“You did exceptionally well again, Ziyue.”
“The fine steed Uncle gave me was incredibly fast. I will continue riding it to carry out your missions in the future.”
“Hahaha, good. Enjoy it to the fullest, just as its name ‘Thousand-Li Horse’ suggests.”
Cao Cao laughed heartily and beckoned me closer before asking.
“Tomorrow, we will hold a drinking party to celebrate Liu Bei’s family reunion. Each side needs two companions. Liu Bei will naturally bring his sworn brothers, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.”
After mentioning that, Cao Cao shared his own thoughts.
“So I intend to have Xiahou Dun and you accompany me. Is a daytime drinking session alright with you?”
Even from Cao Cao’s perspective, it was like finding his own limbs again, and he had chosen me and Xiahou Dun for the occasion.
“If you call for me, I will naturally attend.”
“Good, good. By the way, did anything interesting happen while you were in Xu Province?”
“I saw some truly remarkable people. From Lu Bu’s daughter on the small end to warriors far too talented to be wasted under Lu Bu on the large end.”
“Hahaha, then I must hear about that as well, mustn’t I?”
These days, Cao Cao was overflowing with leisure, and his laughter never seemed to stop.
For now, I had given Liu Bei a debt he could ‘never forget.’
How he would move from here on was something I would have to watch.
The next day.
As promised, Cao Cao prepared a grand feast and created a drinking gathering meant solely for himself and Liu Bei.
Behind them, four separate tables had been set up—two behind Liu Bei and two behind Cao Cao.
Naturally, the seats behind Cao Cao were for me and Xiahou Dun, while behind Liu Bei sat Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.
“Come, let us drink!”
At Cao Cao’s clap, servants filled the cups and brought them forward. I picked up my own cup as well, just in case something unexpected happened.
“Let me be clear—this Cao Mengde hates nothing more than leaving wine in the cup. A real man must empty even the largest bowl of wine in a single gulp!”
Cao Cao used his usual drinking-party humor to pressure everyone into taking a one-shot. I subtly glanced at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei standing behind Liu Bei.
Both were massive in stature and overflowing with personality.
Zhang Fei silently ate his food and drank his wine, not even sparing our side a glance.
On the other hand, Guan Yu drank while constantly watching me, Xiahou Dun, and Cao Cao. His gaze was so intense that if anything went even slightly wrong in this gathering, he looked ready to leap forward and hurl both Xiahou Dun and Cao Cao aside.
Guan Yu truly radiated killing intent. The fiery fighting spirit inside him was immense.
“Ah, before that, there is something I must do before emptying this cup.”
“Hm? What is it?”
Liu Bei suddenly stood up, holding his wine cup.
Then he began walking straight toward me.
What is he trying to do right now… Huh? Wait, what?
Liu Bei placed his cup on my table and immediately prostrated himself in a deep bow.
“!?”
“Elder Brother! Elder Brother!”
Guan Yu immediately sprang up and tried to stop Liu Bei.
“Why are you bowing to Cao Mengde’s nephew instead of to Cao Mengde himself? He is just a child!”
But Liu Bei spoke calmly.
“Yunchang, although Ziyue is young in age, he is the noble man who not only rescued the Emperor who was held captive in Chang’an, but has now also saved all of our families who were in Xu Province. Setting age aside, I am offering my sincere gratitude to Ziyue, who has brought back my wife, children, and even all of your families.”
“Ah, a-ahahaha…”
“In the name of Liu Bei Xuande, I express my heartfelt gratitude to Lord Cao Ziyue.”
Guan Yu looked at Liu Bei with a dazed expression before reluctantly bringing his hands together in respect as well.
“U-uhm! I too express my gratitude for that. You saved my wife and two sons, did you not?”
Anyone could see that Guan Yu’s thanks was at the level of someone forced to bow and receive a kowtow, but watching that prideful man deliberately suppress his killing intent and offer me gratitude was truly precious.
This was supposed to be a private meeting between Cao Cao and Liu Bei, yet I had somehow received Liu Bei’s bow before Cao Cao himself.
Thud—
At that moment, Zhang Fei, who had been drinking alone, stood up.
He then strode forward with an empty cup and thrust it toward Cao Cao.
“The cup is empty.”
“Hoho, as expected of a hero of the world. Someone, quickly fill Yide’s—”
“No. I wish to drink the wine that Minister of Works Cao personally pours for me.”
“Oh?”
“Yide, what are you—”
The moment Xiahou Dun sensed the strange atmosphere and tried to approach Zhang Fei, Cao Cao raised his hand to stop him.
“If you wish to drink wine that I pour myself, then I shall do so. Here, take it.”
The moment I received Liu Bei’s bow, Zhang Fei had immediately gone to Cao Cao, thrust out an empty cup, and demanded that he pour the wine.
“Minister of Works Cao, should you not also express the gratitude you failed to give back then?”
“Uhm?”
“During the pursuit of Dong Zhuo as he fled Luoyang, we were attacked by Lu Bu and Xu Rong. Did we not come to your aid?”
“Ah, that’s right! It feels as fresh as if it happened yesterday.”
“At that time, Minister of Works Cao said he would express his gratitude later.”
“Oh ho, so it was you, Yide, who drove off Xu Rong back then? Very well. I shall express my gratitude here and now.”
“Ah, no, what is this…”
It was no wonder Xiahou Dun looked dumbfounded.
This was a private meeting between Liu Bei and Cao Cao.
So when Liu Bei bowed in gratitude to me—Cao Cao’s nephew—Zhang Fei, Liu Bei’s sworn brother, immediately went to Cao Cao, brought up the past, and demanded gratitude in return.
Was this Zhang Fei’s own way of saving face after Liu Bei had helplessly lowered his head to Cao Cao’s relative?
As expected, to Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were like all-purpose keys capable of solving anything.
This drinking party was going to be extremely interesting.
It definitely wouldn’t end with mere laughter.