Chapter 11

When Liu Bei galloped to the gate of the military camp, a tall and sturdy red horse appeared behind him.

Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun had already each ordered their subordinate commanders to lead troops in drills, while the second brother stood to the side, rolled up his sleeves, and began practicing his sword technique.

The second brother held the Green Dragon Crescent Blade on the drill ground, his powerful muscles constantly displaying his extraordinary strength.

Over these years, the second brother has practiced sword techniques every morning; Guan Yu received guidance from an expert in his youth, and with his innate talent, he based his own learning and insights from books to create a set of twenty-four moves of the Spring and Autumn Sword Technique. This technique is expansive and powerful, and when paired with the second brother's 82‑jin Green Dragon Crescent Blade, its power is doubled.

After finishing a set of the sword technique, the second brother also worked up a sweat, and he casually took the towel handed by a soldier behind him to wipe the sweat.

"Your sword technique keeps getting better, second brother; if you had a fine mount, you would surely be like a tiger gaining wings on the battlefield."

Guan Yu turned his head sharply and saw that the one handing him the towel behind him was his elder brother, Liu Bei.

"How can an elder brother treat me like this? It's killing the younger brother."

Liu Bei grabbed Guan Yu's arm and laughed, saying:

"How can brothers be so polite? Yun Chang, come, I'll give you something."

The second brother followed Liu Bei in a daze to the military camp's stables, where the grooms and soldiers guarding the horses had already formed a circle, all watching something.

Heeheehee

As soon as the second brother heard a loud, high-pitched neigh, he instantly became excited!

The horse's cry was clearly unlike that of an ordinary warhorse; that unyielding sound meant this horse was certainly no inferior to the mounts of Yi De and Zi Long!

Liu Bei waved his hand, had everyone step back, and a steed nine chi tall, its whole body like red flames, appeared before Guan Yu.

"Second brother, I said before that I would surely find you a fine mount like Yi De's horse; look, here it is!"

The second brother grew even more excited, his ruddy face reddening further, his voice trembling as he said to Liu Bei:

"Elder brother, younger brother……"

Liu Bei laughed heartily and put his arm around Guan Yu's shoulders.

"We three brothers are as close as brothers; it's rare for the second brother to take a liking to something, so from now on ride this horse well into battle to slay the enemy. Why not give it a try?"

The second brother nodded heavily, strode forward to take the reins, vaulted onto the horse, and galloped out of the camp toward the city's outskirts.

Along the way, Guan Yu felt a speed unlike anything before, as if an old driver who had always been driving a Santana suddenly switched to a Bugatti; that light feeling filled the second brother's whole body, truly a sensation like basking in spring breeze.

Not long after, the second brother returned from outside the city, seeing Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and the others waiting at the gate; he reined in his warhorse, handed the reins to the attendant who came forward, and bowed his fists to Liu Bei, saying:

"Elder brother, this horse is extremely fast; carrying me back and forth is effortless, it can certainly cover a thousand li a day, a rare fine steed."

Liu Bei smiled and patted his shoulder.

"As long as the second brother likes it, that's fine; I will go with Zi Long to the Mi family to select a good location for our ironworks, and you and Xian He should work out the recruitment plans together."

Guan Yu bowed his fists in acknowledgment, and thus Liu Bei and Zhao Yun set out under the guidance of a servant sent by Mi Fang, leaving the main camp.

The group quickly arrived at a small hill between Xiaopei and Xuzhou; few households lived at its base, and a servant of the Mi family led Liu Bei to a large mountain stronghold. Liu Bei dismounted and entered on foot, with Zhao Yun following closely behind, never leaving his side.

On the stronghold were many retainers in black clothing armed with weapons, keeping watch; upon seeing Liu Bei and his party, someone swiftly left to report.

Mi Zhu and Mi Fang, the two brothers, received the servant's report and hurried out to greet them.

Mi Zhu wore a full smile and was the first to greet them, saying:

"My lord, after several days apart, your bearing remains as splendid as ever."

Liu Bei also smiled and returned the salute, saying:

"Master Mi Zhu, you seem quite at ease; seeing me here, could it be that you intend to become a mountain king?"

They all laughed heartily, then linked arms and entered the stronghold together; inside, people came and went incessantly, and there were constant streams of oxen, horses, and large carts loaded with goods moving in and out, while every person in the stronghold was busy with work.

Mi Zhu led the group on a leisurely walk, explaining the situation of the stronghold as they went.

"Xuan De, this place was originally a gathering place for refugees; earlier, bandits had robbed a convoy of my Mi family, but my younger brother led men to clear the area. In recent years it has served as a workshop for my Mi family; we store grain here and also use it as a transfer point for goods in transit."

"I heard from my younger brother that Xuan De wanted to find a secluded spot for an ironworks, so I thought of this place; if Xuan De takes a liking to it, I will give this place to him."

Liu Bei stopped his steps, looked around the surroundings, and sighed toward the Mi brothers, saying:

"Master Zi Zhong, your kindness is overwhelming; to receive such a precious land makes me feel unworthy, I wish to purchase this place, and I hope Master Zi Zhong will grant my request."

Mi Zhu stroked his beard and smiled.

"Xuan De, no need for excessive courtesy; your idea of the curved‑plow is truly a heavenly inspiration. Last night I already examined the finished curved‑plow sample, and in the future it will bring even greater benefits to our Mi family. Xuan De, just watch—this thing will make our Xu Province prosperous."

Liu Bei bowed to Mi Zhu and laughed, saying:

"If that's the case, then thank you, Master Zi Zhong."

Afterwards, everyone inspected the stronghold from all sides, and Liu Bei increasingly felt that this large stronghold could do too many things; in the future it could serve as the base for his own weapon forging.

After the Mi brothers took their leave, Liu Bei immediately ordered Zhao Yun to mobilize over a thousand troops to enter the stronghold and set up defenses; Zhao Yun arranged dozens of hidden posts and sentry points.

On the stronghold's walls, Zhao Yun also dispatched over a hundred archers and crossbowmen to rotate shifts daily, while Liu Bei had those ironworker households, hired at great expense, relocate en masse to prevent leaks; from then on, the stronghold rang with the constant clatter of metal each day, and Liu Bei's advanced weapons were produced one after another.

The Mi family acted quickly; now is the plowing season, and after they produced the curved‑plow, they began to promote it widely, even allowing customers to try it in various shops. As a result, many people took a liking to the simple, lightweight curved‑plow, which is even more useful on slopes and similar terrain, making farming easier and less labor‑intensive.

From then on, sales of the curved‑plow surged, and Liu Bei also introduced a series of land‑reclamation policies in Xiaopei, supporting the people there to reclaim wasteland and hill land; the first year is tax‑free, thereafter a tithe (one in ten) each year, with officials registering land ownership and the government providing protection.

Half a month later, the Mi family sent over the profit share from the curved‑plow within Xu Province, and both families made huge profits.

Liu Bei then summoned the Mi brothers and Chen Deng of Xu Province, proposing to the two families that they jointly produce and operate a new product—soap.