Chapter 337: Sworn Brothers

Wuzhou Port.

Liu Zheng brought Jiang Xuan, Xiao Qi, and other generals out to welcome them. From afar, they could already see several people in a disheveled state. At a single glance, one could distinguish who was the great Shu scholar Yan Lin, and who was the Shu King's eldest son, Xie Zhen.

"Prefect Liu!"

"Young Master Liu!"

Seeing Liu Zheng approach, these few people finally felt their hearts truly relax; they actually sat down directly on the ground. All of them were already streaming with tears. Having been hunted for so long, without a good night's sleep for days and nights, who could endure such a thing?

This Yan Lin even knelt directly on the ground to thank Liu Zheng for his grace in providing aid.

Liu Zheng hurriedly helped them up one by one, his face moved as he said: "Teacher Yan, you must not! Teacher Yan's great name is renowned throughout the world, and your life has been one of loyalty to Shu. Liu Zheng cannot bear such a kowtow!"

Yan Lin seemed very surprised that this world-famous Liu Zheng was actually such a humble person, and he could not help but sigh in his heart.

With such great talent, it was no wonder the Shu King trusted him so much, believing he could save Chuan Shu. He stood up and made a long bow: "Prefect Liu, Crown Prince, I leave him to you."

At this moment, Xie Zhen was also watching Liu Zheng, but he did not know what to say.

Because his age was clearly greater than Liu Zheng's.

Yet now, he was like a stray dog, while Prefect Liu was famous throughout the world and the dream lover of countless young women, which made him feel ashamed beyond measure.

"Hahaha, Teacher Yan, you are too kind... That Xie Yang is plotting treason, and the whole world is outraged; it is not just I, Liu Zheng, alone..."

He steadied Xie Zhen and prepared to take them into the port to rest.

Who would have thought that at this very moment, Teacher Yan walked leisurely to the riverbank, suddenly turned his head, and shouted loudly at Xie Zhen: "Crown Prince, the King has passed away, and this old subject has no regrets in this life! From today on, this Chuan Shu shall have a new structure, to be written by your younger generation!"

Everyone was startled.

Liu Zheng's expression also changed: "Teacher Yan, you must not..."

Who would have thought Yan Lin would laugh heartily: "Bringing the Liangzhou Army into Shu was my own doing; let the world curse me if they wish. Today, Yan Lin dies to atone for his sins. I hope Prefect Liu will not fail my heart, and will not fail my trust!"

Everyone shouted for him not to do it.

However, Yan Lin had long held the determination in his heart; he plunged headfirst into the rolling Jiangshui. Without even a struggle, he disappeared into the water.

"Teacher Yan!"

Xie Zhen fell to his knees with a thud, howling toward the sky in rage.

Liu Zheng and the others also felt great respect for this Yan Lin. This man was absolutely a representative of the character of an ancient scholar. He knew that after the Shu King died, bringing the Liangzhou Army into Shu to welcome Xie Zhen might result in him bearing a bad reputation. Furthermore, after seeing Liu Zheng today, he knew that Liu Zheng could pacify Chuan Shu, so he felt at ease entrusting the orphan to him... Under such circumstances, he believed that an old subject like himself was no longer suitable to remain by Xie Zhen's side.

Chuan Shu should be managed by these young people and developed by this fresh blood.

He did not want to shackle anyone, nor did he want to rely on his seniority to seek any benefits. More importantly, he did not want to make things difficult for Xie Zhen—if Prefect Liu entered Shu, should this Chuan Shu listen to Prefect Liu, or should it listen to him, Yan Lin?

For all these reasons.

He jumped into the river and died.

Instead, he avoided all sorts of complex shifts in the situation—even if Prefect Liu began to occupy Chuan Shu, it would not be his fault. If Prefect Liu could help Xie Zhen lead Chuan Shu toward the light, his act today could also be considered the fulfillment of his lifelong reputation.

But regardless of what was said.

This man's character was worthy of admiration.

Xie Zhen cried until he fainted several times.

Liu Zheng sent people to give Yan Lin the highest funeral rites, which could be considered fulfilling his name of loyalty for this life.

"How is the Crown Prince today?"

The next day.

Liu Zheng came to visit Xie Zhen again.

Xie Zhen clearly had not yet recovered from the deaths of his father, the Shu King, and Yan Lin; his face was somewhat pale. Seeing Liu Zheng, he hurriedly stood up and performed a deep bow.

Liu Zheng was startled and hurriedly held his arm, smiling bitterly: "Crown Prince, you must not! Zheng is but a Prefect; this is absolutely not allowed!"

Just kidding.

No matter what, no matter how down-and-out Xie Zhen was now, he was still the Crown Prince, the future Shu King.

He was merely a mere Prefect; the difference in rank was truly too great.

Xie Zhen also gave a bitter smile: "Prefect Liu, the current situation in Shuzhou is treacherous. The second and third brothers each hold military power, while I, Xie Zhen, can only rely on you. Which is heavy and which is light, Xie Zhen can still tell..."

He even gritted his teeth hard and looked at Liu Zheng solemnly: "Prefect Liu, if Xie Zhen is incompetent, then let Prefect Liu govern Chuan Shu! Xie Zhen only wants the people of Chuan Shu to live and work in peace and contentment, without worries!"

These words made even Liu Zheng pause.

He looked carefully at Xie Zhen's expression; there was not the slightest pretense, and these must be words from the heart.

Liu Zheng held Xie Zhen's arm and laughed heartily: "Crown Prince, you must not! This time, the Southern Barbarians are being driven out, and the Liangzhou Army will absolutely not linger! If the Crown Prince does not trust Liu Zheng, why don't the two of us become sworn brothers today? I wonder if Liu Zheng may climb high to be your brother?"

Once these words were out, even Xie Zhen was stunned.

In normal times, for a mere Prefect like Liu to want to become sworn brothers with him, he would surely be laughed to death and scolded for trying to climb the social ladder. But today's situation was different. It was he, Xie Zhen, who was climbing high.

"This, this, this..."

Xie Zhen was both surprised and delighted.

Liu Zheng laughed heartily; he was not playing any schemes, but rather, Xie Zhen's values truly suited his taste. Doing this could also make Xie Zhen completely let his guard down regarding him.

"Sworn brothers?"

Jiang Xuan and the others were also very surprised when they heard this.

Although their young master's official rank was not high, he was not someone with ordinary pride. The likes of Crown Prince Xie Fang and the Third Prince Xie Ling had not failed to try to win Liu Zheng over, but they had all been rejected by him. Jiang Xuan reckoned that even if the Crown Prince or Xie Ling wanted to become sworn brothers with his young master, Liu Zheng probably wouldn't think much of them.

Unexpectedly.

This Xie Zhen was actually so lucky.

And so.

Next came the ancient procedure of becoming sworn brothers, with one hundred thousand Liangzhou soldiers as witnesses.

Liu Zheng and Xie Zhen knelt in a row on the deck of the Yinzhou warship, with incense burners and yellow paper, kneeling from afar to Guan Erye, and then drank blood to seal the oath. Because Xie Zhen was three years older than Liu Zheng, he called Liu Zheng his younger brother.

Liu Zheng called him elder brother.

Once the oath was taken, Xie Zhen finally became truly spirited. This made Liu Zheng feel it was quite incredible. Don't look at this oath-taking as mostly posturing and hypocrisy in later generations. But in ancient times, under such solemn circumstances and with so many people witnessing, it gave one a different feeling. It seemed that in an instant, the distance between the two had narrowed quite a bit.

It really is an incredible and wondrous reaction...

The two looked at each other and smiled, then returned to the boat.

Only then did Xie Zhen look worried and say, "Brother Zheng, we cannot linger in Wuzhou any longer. The commoners of Jiangzhou are being slaughtered every day. My heart is uneasy. We must drive out the Southern Barbarians as soon as possible, reclaim our lost territory, and relieve the suffering of our people in Chuan Shu!"

Who would have thought.

Liu Zheng, however, smiled slightly: "I do not see it that way."

"Oh?"

At this, not only Xie Zhen, but the others also looked over in confusion.

Could it be that Liu Zheng had other ideas?