Chapter 283: Reviewing the Three Kingdoms Combat Power Ranking, Second Place: Zhao Yun

Three Kingdoms plane.

Before dawn, Liu Bei got up.

He didn't sleep soundly last night.

When the Sky Screen reviewed Dian Wei, although he didn't say anything, there was always a knot in his heart—Zhang Fei fifth, Guan Yu fourth, Dian Wei third.

Then who is the second place?

If the second place is Cao Cao's man, where should I, Liu Bei, put my face?

Zhang Fei was even more anxious than him, squatting in the courtyard before dawn, staring at the sky with round eyes.

Guan Yu sat on the porch, phoenix eyes slightly closed, hand stroking his long beard, not saying a word.

But the hand holding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade was tighter than usual.

Zhuge Liang walked out shaking his feather fan, looked at the sky, and said softly: "It's almost time."

As soon as the words fell, the sky lit up.

This time the golden light was exceptionally gentle, unlike the domineering ones before.

Golden light slowly seeped out from behind the clouds, like someone pouring a cup of hot honey in the sky, slowly flowing over half the sky.

Then, the poem came out.

It didn't pop out line by line, but the whole poem appeared at the same time, every word gilded, floating above the firmament.

【Changshan fierce tiger rises from the cold dust, silver spear and white horse settle the world.】

【Seven entries and exits at Changban to support the young lord, lone courage at the Han River breaks the Cao army.】

【Half a life of war, loyal soul remains, a lifetime of clean name, righteousness exists.】

【Don't say the general is old, still holding an iron sword to guard the Shu gate.】

Zhang Fei didn't recognize a few characters, but he could still read this poem.

Because his big brother taught him.

"Changshan?"

Zhang Fei turned his head abruptly, "Is this talking about Zilong?"

Liu Bei had already stood up, his eyes fixed on the Sky Screen, his lips trembling slightly.

Zhuge Liang stopped shaking his feather fan.

Zhao Yun was not there.

He was on duty guarding the city today, and went to the North Gate before dawn.

Liu Bei wanted to send someone to call him, but held back.

He wanted Zilong to see it himself.

Great Han, Weiyang Palace Side Hall.

Liu Bang finished reading the poem and smacked his lips: "Changshan Zhao Zilong? This name sounds exciting."

Ying Zheng narrowed his eyes and looked at the poem, his gaze stopping on "Seven entries and exits at Changban to support the young lord" for a few seconds.

He didn't understand poetry very well, but he understood the meaning of this sentence—one person, seven entries and exits, saving someone else's child.

This loyalty, he, Ying Zheng, had never seen in the six states.

Liu Che was also pondering.

He remembered Dian Wei yesterday; Dian Wei was Cao Cao's man, and died when he died.

But this Zhao Yun is different, "a lifetime of clean name, righteousness exists"—explaining that this person is not only able to fight, but also has good character.

Sui Wendi Yang Jian's comment popped out.

【Sui Wendi Yang Jian: The words are majestic, fully manifesting the wind and bone of a military general; being able to settle the world and break the enemy army with one's own strength, I think he is a rare general talent, waiting for the Sky Screen to explain in detail.】

Tang Taizong Li Shimin followed closely.

【Tang Taizong Li Shimin: What a good "Seven entries and exits at Changban to support the young lord, a lifetime of clean name, righteousness exists"!

Zhao Zilong's loyalty is known to everyone in later generations; this poem can be called precise, not wasting his eternal fame!】

Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly.

【Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang: Satisfying! This poem is exciting enough, white horse and silver spear, loyal and brave, I admire this kind of capable and backbone military general the most, much stronger than those cowardly people!】

Qianlong shook his folding fan.

【Qianlong Emperor: This poem has a high artistic conception, every word is a pearl, vividly depicting Zhao Zilong's bravery and loyalty, it can be called a top-notch work praising the famous generals of the Three Kingdoms, I am very pleased!

Liu Bang looked at these comments and suddenly blurted out:

"Is this Zhao Zilong the same 'Ever-Victorious General' from the storytelling books?"

Liu Che was stunned: "The High Ancestor has also heard storytelling?"

Liu Bang waved his hand: "How would I have heard it? I guessed. Look at these later emperors, all praising him like crazy; this person must be extraordinary."

The poem on the sky screen slowly faded, replaced by large characters formed by gathering golden light.

【Second Place on the Three Kingdoms Combat Power Ranking: Zhao Yun】

Zhao Yun was no longer at the North Gate.

He was on the street, watching the sky screen.

Originally, he had been standing on the city wall, holding his silver spear, lost in thought while gazing into the distance.

Then the sky lit up, then his name hung in mid-air, and then everyone on the street turned to look at him.

Zhao Yun was stunned.

He was in his early forties and had spent half his life fighting alongside Liu Bei; what great storms and waves hadn't he seen?

But at this moment, he was truly bewildered.

Second place?

Him, Zhao Yun? Second place?

The soldiers nearby were so excited their faces turned red.

"General! General, you've made it onto the Heavenly Dao Golden List! Second place!"

Zhao Yun still hadn't reacted until the sky screen began to display his life.

【Reason for Ranking】

【Martial prowess unrivaled in the Three Kingdoms: His spear technique is divine, he has no record of defeat in single combat, his ability to charge through enemy lines is rare in history; at Changban Slope, he killed his way through the elite Cao army seven times in and out; at the Battle of Hanshui, he defeated the massive Cao army despite being outnumbered; in his later years, he covered the retreat at Jigu and withdrew unscathed. His martial prowess remained at its peak.】

【Loyalty unparalleled through the ages: His original intention never changed; he chose his lord and served him, following Liu Bei his entire life without ever leaving or abandoning him; he rescued the young lord twice, exhausted his loyalty, was never moved by fame or wealth, and firmly upheld his duty as a subject.】

【Possessing both the talents of a general and a commander: He had both courage and strategy, deeply understanding the art of war; his use of 'empty flags and silenced drums' to retreat the enemy at Hanshui fully demonstrated his wisdom, combining command talent with a broad strategic vision.】

【Integrity unwavering until death: Even past sixty, he still donned armor to take the field, fighting for his country; his character was noble, he was not greedy for beauty or attached to power—he can be called the perfect warrior of the Three Kingdoms.】

After reading this, the expression on Zhao Yun's face changed from astonishment to trepidation.

He bowed deeply toward the direction of the sky screen.

"The Immortal praises me too highly. Zhao Yun has merely fulfilled his duty as a subject; how could I deserve such a high position? I am filled with extreme trepidation!"

The onlookers nearby knelt down in a wave.

Someone said: "General Zhao, the Immortal says you are amazing, so stop being so humble!"

Someone said: "General Zhao saved the young lord at Changban Slope; all of us in Chengdu know this!"

Zhao Yun straightened up and shook his head.

He wasn't being humble; he truly felt he didn't deserve it.

In his life, he hadn't fought any earth-shattering major battles, hadn't beheaded famous generals like Yan Liang, and hadn't flooded seven armies.

His greatest merit was just saving a child at Changban Slope.

Now this Huang Zhong was also a subordinate of Liu Bei, and adding what Liu Che said earlier about the "three families dividing the world," one of them was Liu Bei—

This man surnamed Liu doesn't seem like an ordinary person.

"A person of my Liu family?" Liu Bang turned to ask Gu Shanhe.

Gu Shanhe nodded: "Exactly."

"Liu Bei is a member of the Han imperial clan, a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan."

Liu Bang was satisfied and stroked his beard, saying:

"Not bad, not bad. My Liu family descendants still have ability, being able to recruit such fierce generals."

Ying Zheng added expressionlessly from the side:

"If your Liu family descendants had any real ability, they wouldn't have messed up the Han Dynasty into the Three Kingdoms."

Liu Bang was choked, opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing.

The Sky Screen didn't give them time to bicker, and the golden light continued to flow. This time, a long list of battle records appeared.

【Battle Records and Defeated Opponents】

【1. Battle of Jingnan Defense.

Stationed in You County, he repeatedly repelled invasions from Eastern Wu, standing his ground against various Wu generals without falling behind, guarding the territory well.】

【2. Battle of Jingnan's Submission to Shu.

Under the walls of Changsha, he fought Guan Yu for over a hundred rounds, their blade and archery skills evenly matched, earning Guan Yu's heartfelt respect.】 ===== CHAPTER 274 =====

Cao Cao's face grew even darker.

Of course he knew about Changban Slope.

He had personally commanded that battle, with hundreds of thousands of troops chasing Liu Bei; just as he was about to capture Liu Bei, Zhao Yun suddenly appeared, killing his way in and out of the massive army to rescue Liu Shan.

He had watched with his own eyes as that white-robed, silver-speared general charged left and right through the chaotic army as if it were empty space.

At the time, he had asked those around him: "Who is that man?"

Someone told him: "Zhao Zilong of Changshan."

Cao Cao said a line that later spread throughout the world: "A true tiger general! I must capture him alive."

But he didn't capture him; Zhao Yun ran away.

He ran to Liu Bei's side and never came back.

"Zhao Zilong of Changshan..."

Cao Cao gritted his teeth as he recited the name.

"The greatest regret of my life is not being able to recruit you into my ranks!"

Sun Ce's reaction was different from Cao Cao's.

He stood by the Yangtze River, looking at the sky screen, his expression complex.

There was admiration, envy, and a trace of unwillingness to accept it.