Chapter 285

Zhao Yun hurriedly stepped forward to support Liu Bei: "My Lord, please do not do this; your subject cannot bear it."

Liu Bei shook his head, gripping Zhao Yun's hand tightly.

"Brother Zilong, you risked your life to save my son; this favor, Liu Bei will never forget as long as I live!"

Zhao Yun bowed: "My Lord, there is no need for this; this is what Zhao Yun should do."

"Protecting my Lord and protecting the young lord is my duty as a subject."

Zhang Fei wiped his face to the side: "Zilong, you are good at everything, but you are just too humble."

"You killed your way in and out seven times through Cao's army, and you call it duty? Duty my foot!"

Guan Yu rarely didn't scold Zhang Fei for his foul language, but instead looked at Zhao Yun and slowly said: "Zilong, Yunchang is not as good as you."

Zhao Yun was startled and hurriedly said: "General Guan, why do you say that? General Guan beheaded Yan Liang amidst a million troops—"

Guan Yu waved his hand, interrupting him: "Beheading Yan Liang is one thing, charging in and out seven times is another. They are different."

He didn't say how they were different, but everyone present understood.

Beheading Yan Liang was a matter of one strike—fast, accurate, and ruthless, deciding life and death in an instant.

But charging in and out seven times was gambling with one's life; it wasn't just about martial arts, it was about willpower.

Zhao Yun was silent for a while and didn't try to be humble again.

He knew that some things, if you are too humble, become fake.

Cao Cao, in Xuchang, watched Zhao Yun charging in and out seven times on the sky screen, his face as dark as the bottom of a pot.

He looked back at Xu Chu beside him:

"Zhongkang, could you charge in and out seven times amidst a million troops?"

Xu Chu thought for a moment and said honestly: "Reporting to my Lord, this subordinate could charge in, but whether I could come out is hard to say."

Cao Cao looked at Xiahou Dun: "Yuanrang, what about you?"

Xiahou Dun shook his head: "This subordinate cannot either."

Cao Cao took a deep breath and gritted his teeth: "Liu Bei, what virtue or ability do you have to obtain such a fierce general!"

Xun Yu said softly from the side: "My Lord, Zhao Zilong's courage is known to the world. But what is even rarer is his loyalty."

"In that battle at Changban Slope, he could have completely ignored Liu Shan and broken through on his own, but he didn't. He would rather die himself than not save the lady and the young lord."

Cao Cao was silent for a long time, then finally sighed.

"The thing I lack most in this life is this kind of person."

Great Han, Weiyang Palace side hall.

Liu Bang was exhilarated after watching the Battle of Changban Slope.

"Immortal Master! This Zhao Yun is too fierce!"

"If I had such a person, would I have needed to spend four years dragging things out with Xiang Yu?"

"I would have just had him charge into Xiang Yu's camp and drag Xiang Yu out, wouldn't that have been it?"

Gu Shanhe glanced at him: "Do you think fighting a war is like performing in a play? No matter how fierce Zhao Yun is, he is a man, not a god."

"He was able to charge in and out seven times because Cao Cao wanted him alive, not dead. Change the scene, change the tactics, and the result would be different."

Liu Bang was stunned: "Cao Cao wanted him alive? Why?"

Gu Shanhe said: "Because Cao Cao loves talent."

"He saw Zhao Yun was so fierce on the battlefield and felt a love for talent, so he ordered that no arrows be fired, wanting to capture him alive. That is why Zhao Yun was able to kill his way in and out."

"If Cao Cao had simply said to fire arrows, Zhao Yun would have become a hedgehog long ago."

Liu Bang suddenly realized: "So that's it! Then this Cao Cao isn't bad; he cherishes talent!"

Ying Zheng suddenly spoke: "Cherishing talent is one thing, but cherishing talent to the point of letting a tiger return to the mountains is just stupid."

Liu Bang thought about it and felt Ying Zheng was also right.

The sky screen continued, and the next few battles were displayed one by one.

【Battle of Hanshui】

【During the Battle of Hanzhong, Huang Zhong was surrounded while raiding supplies; Zhao Yun led dozens of cavalry to rescue him. After returning to the camp, he opened the gates wide and silenced the drums. The Cao army suspected an ambush and dared not attack. Zhao Yun then led his army to counterattack, heavily defeating the Cao army. Liu Bei praised him as "being all courage," and he was known in the army as the Tiger-Might General.】

Tang Taizong Li Shimin commented.

【Tang Taizong Li Shimin: Having both courage and strategy, deeply understanding the art of war, using deception to retreat the enemy—this is the true talent of a general, not just a fierce warrior!】

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed out loud.

【Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang: "All courage!" This nickname is well-chosen! Liu Bei knows how to praise people!】

【Battle of Jigu】

【During Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition, Zhao Yun led a diversionary force out of Xiegu; due to the disparity in strength, they were defeated. He personally covered the retreat and gathered the remnants, with minimal loss of supplies and soldiers.】

Qianlong commented.

【Qianlong Emperor: Over sixty, still fighting on the battlefield, not panicking in defeat, calmly covering the retreat—this kind of composure is worthy of being a model for warriors!】

Ying Zheng was silent for a while upon seeing the words "over sixty."

He was forty-nine this year and had already begun to feel old.

Yet Zhao Yun was still fighting, still covering retreats, and still charging into battle at over sixty.

"This person is the same as Huang Zhong," Ying Zheng said.

Liu Che nodded: "Both are models of being old but still vigorous."

Li Shimin's comment appeared at the right time.

【Tang Taizong Li Shimin: Zhao Zilong's name has spread through the ages; the title of 'Ever-Victorious General' is well-deserved. Studying under a famous master, combined with talent and diligent study, is the only way to achieve such a legend!】

Finally, the sky screen displayed Zhao Yun's character.

【Noble character, heart for the world】

【Refused the temptation of beauty from Guiyang Prefect Zhao Fan, not greedy for power.】

【After Liu Bei occupied Yizhou, he advised Liu Bei to return fields and houses to the people to settle their hearts.】

【When Liu Bei campaigned against Wu, he risked his life to advise him, advocating for the destruction of Cao Wei first.】

Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang commented.

【Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang: Not greedy for beauty, not attached to money, and still able to think for the people and share the worries of the monarch—this kind of subject is perfect!】

Liu Bang said something very serious after watching this: "This Zhao Yun is better than me."

Liu Che was stunned: "Why does the High Ancestor say that?"

Liu Bang said: "When I entered Xianyang back then, what was the first thing I did? I grabbed gold, silver, and treasures, and I grabbed women."

"What about Zhao Yun? After winning a battle, he didn't want money or women, and he even advised Liu Bei to distribute houses and land to the people. I am not as good as him."

Ying Zheng glanced at Liu Bang without mocking him.

Because he felt Liu Bang was right.

The golden light on the sky screen began to gather.

The image froze on the final scene—a white-haired old general, riding a horse, holding a spear, standing at the mouth of the Xiegu path, watching the army retreat.

Behind him were the gathered remnants and supplies.

In front of him was the dust raised by the pursuing troops.

He had no expression, just standing there quietly.

Only after everyone had left did he pull his horse away.

Zhao Yun looked at his white-haired self on the sky screen and was silent for a long time.

He was in his early forties and not yet old.

But he knew that one day, he would become that old general on the sky screen.

His hair would be white, his spear technique would be slower, but he would still go to the battlefield when needed.

Liu Bei walked over and gripped Zhao Yun's hand tightly.

"Zilong,"

Liu Bei's voice was somewhat choked,

"To have Zilong is like having an arm; it is the fortune of Shu-Han, and the fortune of Liu Bei."

Zhao Yun bowed: "My Lord, you speak too highly. For Zhao Yun to follow my Lord is Zhao Yun's fortune."

Zhang Fei shouted from the side: "Alright, alright, you two stop being so sentimental."

"Zilong, you have to treat us today! The Immortal ranked you second; if you don't treat us, I, Zhang, won't agree!"

Zhao Yun smiled, a rare smile: "Alright, I will treat."

Gu Shanhe stood up and patted his robes: "Alright, that's it for today."

Liu Bang immediately leaned in: "Immortal Master, who are we looking at tomorrow? Who is number one? Is it Lu Bu?"

Gu Shanhe glanced at him and smiled: "You will know tomorrow."

Liu Bang was so anxious he was scratching his head: "I've been guessing all day! Can't you just give me a straight answer?"

Gu Shanhe ignored him and walked into the hall with his hands behind his back.

When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and said without looking back:

"As for Lu Bu, his ability is greater than Zhao Yun's, but his fate is not as good as Zhao Yun's."

After saying this, he went inside.

Liu Bang stood there stunned, turning to look at Ying Zheng: "Brother Zheng, what does the Immortal Master mean by that?"

Ying Zheng said expressionlessly: "It means you will know tomorrow."

Liu Bang: "..."

He decided not to sleep tonight and would just wait here.

ˊᵒ̴̶̷̤ꇴᵒ̴̶̷̤ˋ

(ᐢᴖ·̫ᴖᐢ)