Chapter 224

More than ten miles outside Jinyang City.

"Teacher, I have finally been looking forward to your arrival."

Liu Bei bowed deeply.

Lu Zhi stepped off the carriage and helped Liu Bei up.

"Xuande, I am very gratified to hear of your deeds back in my hometown!"

Lu Zhi had not expected that in just over a year, his student would have accomplished so many earth-shattering things.

"Assassinating Dong Zhuo, defeating Lu Bu, saving the people of Luoyang, taking in refugees... Alas, I am not as good as you."

Liu Bei quickly expressed,

"Teacher, it is all because of your good teaching. I have always taken you as my role model."

Lu Zhi felt a bit embarrassed.

"Haha, Brother Bojie, the son-in-law I recommended to you is not bad, right?"

Cai Yong laughed heartily.

"Very good, very good!"

Lu Zhi looked behind him.

"Xuande, look who has come."

Liu Bei looked and saw it was his childhood friend, Jian Yong!

"Xianhe! I am truly overjoyed that you could come!"

Jian Yong bowed.

"Lord Xuande, we have not seen each other for several years, and you have already become famous throughout the world, while I have been wasting my time in Zhuo Commandery. Alas!"

Liu Bei patted Jian Yong on the shoulder.

"Since you have come this time, do not leave. I am currently lacking talent to help me."

Jian Yong was moved inwardly. He had come with the intention of defecting, but Liu Bei had spoken first; he was truly understanding.

Liu Bei thought to himself,

"Although this Jian Yong does not have high strategic intellect, he has a great capacity for liquor and is a dab hand at being a diplomat."

After Lu Zhi finished touring the Taiyuan Academy,

"Xuande, your idea is very good. My health is not what it used to be, so I fear I can no longer lead troops into battle, but teaching and nurturing talent at the Taiyuan Academy is quite good."

Liu Bei looked at the thin Lu Zhi.

"Teacher, that is what I thought as well. I have established a Lecture Hall for Martial Arts at the Taiyuan Academy to cultivate a batch of outstanding commanders. Your experience is very important to those young students."

"I would also like you to give lectures to the generals under my command; they all admire you greatly."

"Good, I will also contribute my remaining strength."

From then on, Lu Zhi also settled down in Jinyang City. Liu Bei wrote out several prescriptions for Lu Zhi to nourish his health.

Lu Zhi's family had a profound scholarly heritage; his young son and grandchildren produced several famous ministers.

His youngest son, Lu Yu, would eventually reach the rank of Minister of Works, though he was only a ten-year-old boy now, and he admired Liu Bei immensely!

Liu Bei ordered the generals under his command—Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Xu Huang, Gao Shun, Ju Yi, and others—to all study at the Lecture Hall for Martial Arts for a period of time.

These people were both students and teachers; in particular, Zhao Yun and the others also had to take time to instruct the students of the Lecture Hall in martial arts.

Liu Bei would also come over when he had time.

Three days later,

Jinyang City was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers.

Today was the joyous day Liu Bei was to take Diao Chan as his wife.

The residents of Jinyang City hung red lanterns at their doors one after another to express their congratulations.

Before Liu Bei arrived, the people of Taiyuan lived under the oppression of the Hu Ren, let alone property—even their lives could not be guaranteed.

After he arrived,

the Hu Ren were driven away, and their lives became better and better.

Even the people from the capital, Luoyang, came here to seek refuge, and the economy was improving as well. Naturally, they were grateful to Liu Bei from the bottom of their hearts.

Except for those away on campaigns like Guan Yu, Xu Shu, Zhang Liao, and others, and those guarding Hedong like Gao Shun, Xu Huang, and others, everyone else was present.

0 ······Seeking flowers······ ·······

The Pei clan of Hedong, the Wuqiu clan, the Wang family of Taiyuan, and the Guo family also came to offer congratulations one after another.

Liu Bei drank with them one by one.

"You don't know, but my eldest brother saved my sister-in-law Diao Chan from Lu Bu's hands back then!"

"My sister-in-law is also a heroine who is not inferior to any..."

Zhang Fei looked at Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun smiled bitterly.

"Manly men..."

"Right, right, manly men. My sister-in-law Diao Chan rode her horse, unafraid of those Xiliang soldiers, and rushed to my eldest brother's side. Later, she refused to cross the river, insisting on advancing and retreating with my eldest brother."

Wuqiu Xing and Pei Mao nodded one after another; they had all gotten the scoop.

"It seems this foster daughter of Wang Yun is also an extraordinary woman!"

"She is also extremely beautiful, and it is a wonderful match with Lord Xuande!"

Liu Bei shook his head; there was truly no escaping this third brother where there was excitement!

Bai Yuekui and Hua Mulan also came to offer a toast.

"Captain, I wish you and Miss Diao Chan happiness."

Liu Bei expressed his gratitude.

......... 0

Zhang Fei saw them instantly and started talking about the past events of Bai Yuekui and the other, um, specifically the matter of those two bags of gold.

Bai Yuekui and Hua Mulan covered their faces and left; they really couldn't handle Zhang Fei's big mouth!

Everyone got another scoop!

Liu Bei??

"Yide, starting tomorrow, you go study with Master Lu. If you don't memorize the Art of War, you are not allowed to return to the military camp!"

Zhang Fei wilted instantly!

"Eldest brother, I won't say anything else, okay?"

Liu Bei glared at him.

"I warn you again: treat the soldiers well. Reward merit, and do not punish without cause!"

Zhang Fei had been lectured by Liu Bei several times and had even been punished by being made a common soldier, so his temper had improved a lot.

Lu Zhi nodded.

"Xuande, loving your soldiers like your own children and being clear in rewards and punishments—no wonder you can win battle after battle!"

Liu Bei went for another round of toasts.

This time he came to the front courtyard, where there were some local gentry and wealthy households who had come from Luoyang.

"Congratulations, Lord Xuande."

"Thank you!"

The live broadcast room's chat exploded with many more comments.

"Hateful, the most beautiful Miss Diao Chan is going to fall into the clutches of the big-eared thief tonight!"

"Put it another way: the big-eared thief's positive energy is going to shine upon Miss Diao Chan!"

"Is it possible to soul-travel into the big-eared thief for one night?"

"It's really lively over there; the big-eared thief's popularity is really booming right now."

"Han Fu is truly miserable; having associated with Liu Bei, he has already given three wedding gifts, haha!"

"Lu Zhi is even more miserable; he went to be a retired professor, and before he even got his first month's salary, he was scammed out of a wedding gift by the big-eared thief again."

"Damn, big-eared thief! At five o'clock, there's a top-tier beauty!"

"Really, I saw it too!"

"Damn, why is the girl holding a dagger?!"