Chapter 30

Just like that,

Guo Jia temporarily mixed into Liu Bei’s team, spending his days drinking or sleeping in the carriage.

Zhang Fei was very dissatisfied with Guo Jia!

Liu Bei, however, didn’t care and instead treated him with good wine and food, chatting with Guo Jia from time to time.

Guo Jia gradually discovered that Liu Bei had a unique vision, and his analysis of many things was far-reaching—even further than his own!

“This Liu Liu Xuande seems pretty good. I’ll stay in his army for now; it’ll be like training, and drinking Fen wine in Hedong won’t be bad either.”

Guo Jia comforted himself this way.

Luoyang,

At Lu Zhi’s residence,

Liu Bei bowed deeply,

“Teacher, thank you for your recommendation. Otherwise, I would have had to return to Zhuojun.” ===== CHAPTER 60 =====

Lu Zhi helped Liu Bei up,

“Liu Xuande, no need for such formalities. I know everything about your affairs.”

“The people of Xiaopei seeing you off in groups shows that you have won the hearts of the people.”

“I know your ability to lead troops; the Baibo Army will not be your match.”

He patted Liu Bei’s hand,

“You feared no power and dealt with those arrogant young masters—I am very pleased!”

“Teacher, I have only learned a fraction of your integrity.”

Liu Bei offered up some flattery!

Lu Zhi stroked his beard and laughed loudly,

“Liu Xuande, you’ve learned to flatter too.”

“Tonight, there is a banquet at Cai Yong’s house. Come with me so you can meet more people.”

Liu Bei nodded,

“I will follow your instructions, Teacher.”

He thought to himself,

“What’s there to see at Cai Yong’s? Cai Yan is the one worth seeing!”

Lu Zhi added,

“The Emperor has assigned you three thousand troops. Go to the Luoyang camp later and take a look.”

“Yes.”

Luoyang camp,

“Commandant Liu, these are the three thousand troops. Please inspect them.”

He Miao, the Chariot and Cavalry General and younger brother of Grand General He Jin, pointed at the three thousand ragtag soldiers on the drill ground.

Zhang Fei was angry,

“What kind of soldiers are these? Even the Yellow Turban soldiers are more elite than them!”

He Miao sneered,

“Whether you want them or not, that’s all there is!”

He pointed to about fifty people over there,

“Those are elite soldiers. See? Look how neatly they stand.”

Liu Bei also noticed that among those three thousand, only those fifty elites looked more professional than the soldiers he had trained in Xiaopei.

He Miao couldn’t be bothered to talk nonsense. This Liu Bei didn’t know how to behave at all and didn’t even send a gift. If it weren’t for the fact that his teacher was Lu Zhi, he would have beaten him out directly!

He Miao left.

Guo Jia said from the side,

“Brother Liu Xuande, those fifty people are silent, and their military discipline is excellent. I’m afraid this squad leader is a talent.”

Liu Bei nodded and asked the squad leader of those fifty men to come over for questioning.

The squad leader walked over. His complexion was pale yellow, he had a dignified air, his figure wasn’t particularly tall, his palms were large and calloused, and his voice was steady,

“Subordinate Gao Shun greets Commandant Liu.”

Liu Bei was stunned,

“You are Gao Shun?!”

He hadn’t expected that one of Lu Bu’s two great generals would appear here.

Liu Bei thought about it and felt relieved. In history, Gao Shun appeared after Lu Bu killed Dong Zhuo; he wasn’t Lu Bu’s original Bingzhou core and was often stripped of his military power.

He didn’t even have a courtesy name, so he probably wasn’t from a noble family.

Gao Shun was somewhat strange,

“Commandant Liu, do you know me?”

Liu Bei waved his hand,

“I don’t. But the troops you lead are in neat formation and have excellent discipline. I imagine you are someone who knows how to lead troops, and I’m afraid you don’t know how to flatter, which is why you offended your superiors.”

These words went straight to Gao Shun’s heart.

He cupped his hands and didn’t say anything.

Liu Bei nodded. Gao Shun was a loyal and righteous man. When Xiapi City fell, even Zhang Zhang Liao surrendered to Cao Cao, but Gao Shun chose to face death with generosity.

One had to know that Lu Bu didn’t treat him very well and only gave him command of the Trapping Battalion during wartime.

“Squad Leader Gao, you are familiar with the situation here. Select 450 men from those 2,900 and combine them with your 50 to form a 500-man unit.”

Liu Bei paused,

“You will be the commander of this 500-man unit. Remember, quality over quantity. If it’s not up to 500, I’ll fill it for you later.”

Gao Shun was somewhat excited. He hadn’t expected to instantly become a commander of 500 men!

This was a two-rank promotion, skipping the rank of platoon leader.

However, his expression remained calm, and he cupped his hands,

“Understood!”

Gao Shun turned and left to strictly screen the men below.

Liu Bei shook his head to himself. This Gao Shun really didn’t know how to handle people; he promoted him, and he didn’t even say thank you. Fortunately, he knew his ability.

A training expert whose Trapping Battalion was invincible—the will to trap the enemy, advancing without retreat!

Guo Jia laughed,

“Brother Liu Xuande, this Gao Shun has pride and is indifferent to favor or humiliation. Congratulations on gaining another good general.”

Liu Bei laughed,

“What I’m happiest about is gaining you as a military advisor. Let’s go, while there’s still time, let’s go to the famous Zuiyue Pavilion in Luoyang for a drink.”

Guo Jia smiled bitterly and shook his head. He didn’t know what Liu Bei saw in him, but he wished he could change it! What a disaster!

However,

With wine to drink, how could Guo Jia refuse? He had to go!

Liu Bei drank Guo Jia under the table,

rested with Lady Gan for a while, and then went to the banquet at Cai Yong’s residence in the evening.

In the livestream,

“The Liu thief is shameless!”

“Picked up a drunkard, and now picked up a squad leader who doesn’t know how to behave?”

“Others are all from great clans with deep family learning, and this guy only finds weird people.”

“To the one above, Liu Liu Daer wants to find people from great clans too, but unfortunately, no one pays him any mind.”

“Exactly. Maybe this Gao Shun is quite good; after all, Liu Liu Daer is best at scratching lottery tickets!”

“I don’t believe he can win the grand prize every time!” ===== CHAPTER 61 =====