———————

In the fourth year of Xingping, if it were the calendar that was well-known to later generations, it would be 196 AD.

During this year, a lot of things happened, and almost everything revolved around the Western Regions.

Dong Qi pacified the Western Regions, established a county and reorganized it, and his troops went out of Hexi and occupied Guanzhong...

For the people living under the sky of the Han Dynasty, this year was undoubtedly a year of pride. Because the territory of the Han Dynasty expanded by nearly one-third, the Huns, who were regarded as a flood, were completely defeated this year.

This is a glory that the Han Dynasty has never had before since General Dou Xian.

However, this glory did not seem to have made the Liu Han country prosperous, but instead showed a declining look.

The most representative incidents among them are the deaths of the former Han army's general, General Cheqi General, and Marquis of Huaili.

If we say that from the beginning of the Yellow Turban Rebellion to the end of the Huns, the entire Han Dynasty court had the highest prestige, the greatest contribution, the most extensive knowledge, and the best reputation among the people, Lu Zhi and Lu Zigan deserved it.

Before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, every era had its representative tasks.

During the reign of Emperor Huan, Li Ying and Chen Fan, and in the early reign of Emperor Ling, he was a famous scholar led by the Three Lords. However, after the Yellow Turban, it was the era of Lu Zhi. The four words "The Unparalleled Man" were used on Lu Zhi, and no one would object.

How high is Lu Zhi’s reputation?

Just after the news of Lu Zhi's death spread, Cao Cao immediately ordered Taishi Ci Zhong Yao to withdraw from Hangu Pass from Xin'an; he had already captured Wuruan Pass and captured Yuan Shao of Dai County, but actually stopped the attack under the good situation.

Sun Ce and Zhou Yu besieged Liyang and were in full swing.

But just as Liyang City was about to be broken, the siege stopped and the three armies were on standby for three days to pay tribute to the heroic spirit of Duke Lu.

The entire Guanzhong, Liangzhou, and the Western Regions were all gone.

Dong Qi also stopped attacking Chang'an, ordered the three armies to be filial to mourn Lu Zhi.

So much so that Cao Cao was in Luoyang and said to Tian Changtian: If he could get half of Duke Lu, he would be satisfied with his concern!

In October, early winter has just arrived. But for the Han Dynasty, it is in the cold winter... Lu Zhi's death represents the end of an era.

What kind of years will be next?

*******

Liu Bei wore mourning clothes and looked haggard.

If you have no resentment towards Lu Zhi, it is just talking lies with your eyes open.

But no matter what, when Liu Bei was not famous for his reputation, Lu Zhi accepted him and taught him his knowledge and skills. Liu Bei could not forget this love. At the most downturn, Lu Zhi did not reach out to pull him.

But after Lu Zhi died, Liu Bei asked himself, but he truly felt the care Lu Zhi had for him.

Outside Xia Pi City, Liu Bei sat in the big tent, his eyes swollen like walnuts.

It is said that Liu Xuande in history is good at shedding tears. Regardless of whether the tears in the past are real, but today, he is really uncomfortable.

Guan Yu was next to him, looking at Liu Bei, feeling very uncomfortable.

Others don’t know how hard he doesn’t know about his brother’s suffering? From his great military achievements, he suddenly became a minor official in the county; from the head of a county, he became a traitor. Since the first year of Guanghe, he has been displaced, his family has been destroyed, and his people have been floating for more than ten years. Guan Yu has seen the sadness and tears in it.

Brother, it's really not easy...

"Brother, don't be sad anymore! Mr. Lu is gone, but our life will continue, right?"

Liu Bei took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

"I once hated Master Lu to the core, hated him for not knowing the current affairs, hated him for being ruthless and righteous... But now I think about it, if Master Lu was really so ruthless, when I surrendered to Bogui, he would make us worse than death with just one word. Even after Yongqiu, Master Lu tried his best to cover up for us, otherwise how could my brother live to this day?"

Guan Yu sighed. Although he might not agree with Liu Bei's words, he had to admit that this was the fact.

Lu Zhi accepted the Dong family as a student, but it was probably a kind of transaction that was concealed for Liu Bei. It must be like this!

Little did he know that after Yongqiu, Lu Zhi really didn't know that Liu Bei was also involved.

However, he did ask Dong Qi for love, and Dong Qi was always covering up the facts for Liu Bei on this point.

If it weren't for Yuan Wei's actions and telling Lu Zhi the facts, Lu Zhi might not have known it in his life.

Of course, if Lu Zhi didn't leave Luoyang, maybe the Han Dynasty might look different.

Guan Yu said: "Brother, my brother must be more careful in planning for the current plan. The Dong family spent several years sweeping across the Western Regions, defeating the Huns, and occupying Guanzhong again, which has become a climate. If we still do this, we are afraid that we will never seek revenge on the Dong family... The family's destruction, and the death of the third brother, we must not fail to avenge it."

Liu Bei was excited when he heard this.

This hero, who was later considered one of the ancestors of the Mao Hei School, had a strong mind that ordinary people could not match after experiencing countless hardships. As soon as Guan Yu said that, he immediately cheered up and became excited from his sadness.

Not bad, you must not fail to revenge!

The most urgent task is to control one's own strength as soon as possible and not to rely on others like this...

"Pei King Liu Xuan is now my father-in-law. Speaking of which, I have a foundation for establishing a foothold. However, Pei State is not enough to resist Cao Cao's troops, and the troops are in chaos, and they are in the four battles. It is really not suitable for our future development."

King Liu Xuan of Pei was a relative of the Han Dynasty.

In history, this person was unknown and did not even appear in historical records.

He has no ambitions and no talent. He only likes beauties and mellow wine. He is a fool-like figure with no ambitions.

When Tao Qian sent Liu Bei to Pei County, he wanted to let Liu Bei be cannon fodder for him.

But unexpectedly, after Liu Bei arrived in Xiaopei, he had a passionate fight with Liu Xuan, and the relationship between the two was very close. Liu Xuan, in his seniority, was the uncle of Emperor Ling of Han, and was over 60 years old, with a large number of concubines, but had no descendants. However, Liu Xuan had a daughter named Liu Yi, who was twenty-four years old. Although she was not very beautiful, she was also virtuous.

And Liu Bei is Liu Yi's husband.

As the saying goes, how can you know that it is a blessing to lose your horse?

Liu Bei lost a Mrs. Gan and left a Mrs. Mi, but unexpectedly got the identity of a royal relative.

It was very strange that Liu Xuan saw that Liu Bei was in his thirties and had no wife.

The old man was an enthusiastic person, and he also knew that if he wanted to continue having fun in Xiaopei, he had to rely on Liu Bei.

Liu Bei lacked fame, but he had troops in his hands.

Liu Xuan had no strength, but he had the title of a Han clan relative.

After asking, Liu Bei did not say that he had been married, but answered Liu Xuan with the words "The country has not yet stabilized, how can a real man marry?" He was so excited that he decided to marry his daughter to Liu Bei.

"Xuande, I have a daughter who has been widowed for many years... Although she was not very beautiful, she is still virtuous and kind. I want to betroth a little girl with Xuande. From now on, you and I will be a family. I wonder if Xuande is willing?"

According to the Han Dynasty, people of the same tribe cannot be married.

Although Liu Bei's surname is Liu, he is not really a relative of the Han Dynasty as mentioned in history. Moreover, even if he is... he can't come up with evidence at this moment, otherwise why should he be like a grandson? Marrying Liu Xuan's daughter can at least wash away the reputation of the thief on his head, and this is exactly the result that Liu Bei needs.

At Liu Bei's age, whether his wife is beautiful or not is no longer important!

The key is to be helpful to your career and be dignified, which is enough. What's more, he is still a royal relative?

Liu Yi was a very kind woman. After marrying Liu Bei, he respected the teachings of "Female Tempering".

Guan Yu also respects this new sister-in-law very much. In his opinion, what Liu Li brought to Liu Bei was a bright future.

“Brother means…”

"I want to take Runan and plan to Shouchun, what do I think?"

Runan was under the rule of Yuzhou. It could pass through the Xifei River and cross the Huai River, occupy Shouchun, and expand its power to Jiujiang.

From a strategic perspective, this is an extremely fertile land, which is extremely beneficial to Liu Bei.

But now the war in Yangzhou is in full swing. Sun Ce seized Kuaiji and his power has increased greatly. If he snatched this piece of fat, he would probably... What's more, although Jiujiang is good, he may not be able to get stability, let alone Liu Biao is eyeing him?

"Brother, why don't we take Xia Pi and occupy Xuzhou?"

Guan Yu said: "The Tao Qian has a reputation, but he is just an incompetent person. He threw us in Pei State, and wasn't we going to work hard for him. Even Ju Hu could see this... why could he occupy the land in Xuzhou?"

Liu Bei was silent for a moment, "Don't I know that Tao Qian is using us? We may not be able to gain a foothold if we occupy Xuzhou. You said that Shouchun is the place of four battles, so is Xuzhou a place of four battles? What's more, we have been displaced for many years and finally gained some reputation. If we steal Xuzhou, we may be verbally slandered by others."

Guan Yu was also silent...

Over the past decade, he has learned the use of this reputation.

Let’s look at the princes of Guandong. Which one of them did not rack their minds, seek fame, occupy the righteousness and develop strength?

Whether it is Yuan Shao from Jizhou or Cao Cao from Yanzhou.

Even their irreconcilable enemy, Dong Qi, had to defend the deposed emperor Liu Bian when he was exiled to the Western Regions.

That is righteousness, that is reputation!

Guan Yu pondered silently, then raised his head and whispered: "Brother, why don't we ask Mr. Ma?"

Mr. Ma, whose name is Lang, and whose courtesy name is Boda.

When Cao Cao raised troops to attack Xia Pi, Guan Yu was attacked by the tiger and leopard cavalry, trying his best to cover Liu Bei and others into the city.

He was seriously injured and fled in panic and ran to a place called Pugupi.

Pugupi is located fifty miles west of Xia Pi. Guan Yu met a man there, Malang Maboda.

After resting in the Ma family for thirty days, he talked to Ma Lang in his spare time and found that this person was knowledgeable and talented.

It is said that Ma Lang has a younger brother who is now studying at Shuijing Villa in Xiangyang, named Ma Yi.

After Guan Yu recovered from his injury, he invited Ma Lang to Liu Bei's tent, but was rejected by Ma Lang. Tao Qian threw Liu Bei to Pei Kingdom. Accompanied by Guan Yu, Liu Bei made a special trip to Pugubei and found Mr. Ma Lang Ma Boda.

But Ma Lang still did not come out of the mountain.

It was not until Liu Bei married Liu Li and became Liu Xuan's son-in-law that Ma Lang agreed again.
To be continued...