Countless commoners came all the way to the city gates to see Liu Bei and her party off with tears in their eyes.
“County Commandant, my lady! Please stay safe and well!” “Master Kang! We’ll never forget the kindness you showed us!”
Though their time there had been brief, it seemed Liu Bei’s heartfelt governance and Minjun’s wisdom had left a deep impression on the people of Anyi County.
“Please accept this.”
[You have acquired the item ‘Fortune Pouch Containing the Hopes of the People of Anyi County’!] * Fortune Pouch Containing the Hopes of the People of Anyi County: A special pouch imbued with the people of Anyi County’s heartfelt gratitude and hopes for blessings. It carries a simple but warm energy. While carrying it, you may receive unexpected small help or comfort in difficult situations. Slightly increases Luck while in your possession and grants a positive modifier to morale-related checks.
“Thank you.”
Minjun carefully tucked away the ‘Fortune Pouch Containing the Hopes of the People of Anyi County’ the commoners had given him, silently vowing that one day, he would have the chance to repay them.
Once again, they set out on the road empty-handed, but the mood among the group was different from before. Rather than despair, they were filled with anticipation for a new beginning and a steadfast determination to overcome any hardship together. In particular, the gazes of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei had grown even more resolute.
“So... where should we go now? Should we head to Luoyang?”
As the procession left Anyi County and reached the main road, Liu Bei asked the question. It was a daunting one.
“I’ve heard that Luoyang... is far too dangerous right now.”
Guan Yu spoke carefully. The recent reports from the capital were nothing short of ominous.
“Hmph! So what, you want us to hide somewhere like cowards?”
Zhang Fei grumbled unhappily.
“Ladies, may I share my thoughts for a moment?”
He fiddled with the exquisite jade tally Cao Cao had given him.
‘It’s a slightly different path from the Romance, but maybe this route will turn out better.’
“How about we visit Cao Cao, whom we parted ways with in Yingchuan—the man who is now the Chancellor of Jinan?” “Cao Cao?”
Zhang Fei’s brow furrowed slightly. She still couldn’t bring herself to trust Cao Cao completely.
“Though Lord Cao is ambitious, he recognized our abilities. And in the end, he gave me this token and promised to help us.”
Minjun held up the jade tally as he spoke.
“We have no foundation whatsoever right now. I think the realistic option would be to rely on Lord Cao for the time being, build up our strength while accepting his hospitality, and plan our next move. Jinan is quite a distance away, but there isn’t anywhere else suitable for us to seek shelter at the moment. Entering Lord Cao’s sphere of influence should be safer.”
Minjun’s suggestion was reasonable. Liu Bei considered it for a moment, then decided to trust his judgment.
“Very well. We’ll do as you suggest, Brother Ziming. Let’s head for Jinan first. We can determine Lord Cao’s true intentions, and if things don’t work out, it won’t be too late to find another path.”
Liu Bei and her party chose Jinan as their destination and headed south. But once they left Anyi County, reality became difficult once more. Their travel money quickly ran out, and bandits made up of remnants of the Yellow Turbans began appearing everywhere.
“Damn it! More bandits? Ugh!” “It looks like there are quite a few of them this time.”
Only a few days later, they encountered a band of several dozen bandits on a mountain path. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei took the lead and subdued the bandits in an instant, but several soldiers were wounded in the process, and they lost some of their precious food supplies.
“If things continue like this, we’ll all collapse from exhaustion before we even reach Jinan.”
Another shadow fell over Liu Bei’s face. That evening, they managed to find a small roadside tavern and decided to rest for a while. The tavern was shabby and packed with rough men loudly babbling away in their cups. Liu Bei’s party—especially the three sisters, who possessed striking beauty—drew curious gazes from those around them.
“Well, well, would you look at those pretty young ladies over there!”
Several burly men who had been drinking at the next table approached with lecherous looks in their eyes.
“What are women doing traveling alone on such a dangerous road? Why don’t we escort you safely?”
The men snickered as they offered Liu Bei a cup of wine. Zhang Fei’s eyes turned murderous.
“You bastards!”
Minjun hurriedly stepped in front of Zhang Fei and spoke with a smile.
“Haha, gentlemen. Thank you for taking an interest in our group. But we’d like to rest quietly, so please leave us be.”
Despite Minjun’s gentle tone, agreeable appearance, and Beloved by All trait, the drunken men refused to back down. If anything, seeing Minjun’s seemingly harmless(?) attire only emboldened them further.
“What’s some punk like you butting in for? This is none of your business! Move!”
One of the men roughly shoved Minjun’s shoulder.
—He staggered.
Minjun was pushed backward helplessly. It was the limit of Might 7.
“You bastards!”
Zhang Fei finally exploded and shot to her feet. Guan Yu also fixed the men with a frigid stare and reached for the shaft of her Green Dragon Crescent Blade. The air inside the tavern froze in an instant. The situation was on the verge of erupting. And then, right at that moment!
“What’s going on in here!”
The tavern door was flung open, and a group of well-armed soldiers stormed inside. And at their head... stood, astonishingly, the sisters Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan.
“G-General Xiahou Dun? General Xiahou Yuan?”
Minjun doubted his own eyes.
‘Why are they here?’
When Xiahou Dun fixed the men responsible for the disturbance with her characteristic intimidating stare, the men who had been so bold moments ago grew terrified enough to wet themselves and immediately backed down. Xiahou Yuan spotted Minjun lying on the floor and rushed over in alarm.
“Oh my! Master Kang Ziming! What happened? Are you all right?”
Xiahou Yuan approached him without hesitation and helped him up. The moment her hand touched him, Minjun’s face flushed briefly.
“General Liu! I never expected to see you here!”
Xiahou Dun greeted Liu Bei respectfully. It turned out that, on Cao Cao’s orders, the Xiahou sisters had been on their way back to Jinan with a small number of soldiers after dealing with a group of mountain bandits, and had stopped at the tavern to rest for a while.
“It’s truly astonishing to meet again in a place like this.”
Xiahou Dun sternly reprimanded and drove out the men who had picked the fight, then courteously invited Liu Bei’s party to sit with them.
“General Liu, what brings you here? I heard you had been appointed County Commandant of Anyi.”
Xiahou Dun asked in puzzlement.
“Well...”
Liu Bei gave a bitter smile and briefly explained everything that had happened. The Inspector’s tyranny, and even the unjust dismissal order. After hearing the story, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan were equally outraged.
“The traitors at court finally drove out a loyal subject like you, General Liu! It’s truly heartbreaking!” “But to hear that Master Kang once again displayed his ingenuity and defeated that vicious Inspector... It’s truly remarkable!”
Xiahou Yuan gazed intently at Minjun. Though Minjun found the attention burdensome, he secretly(?) enjoyed it.
“So... where do you plan to go from here?”
Xiahou Dun asked.
“We don’t have any particularly good options... We were just thinking of heading toward Jinan for now.”
Liu Bei answered honestly. At those words, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan’s faces brightened.
“Really? That works out perfectly!”
Xiahou Dun spoke with delight.
“The truth is, our lord, the Chancellor Cao, holds you in very high regard, General Liu, and said he hoped to invite you to Jinan someday. He greatly treasures the bond you formed in Yingchuan.”
Xiahou Yuan added.
“But now that we’ve heard directly that you’re in such difficult circumstances, it would be all the more proper for you to meet our lord. I’m certain he’ll want to help you, General Liu. Please come to Jinan with us.”
Liu Bei asked in surprise.
“What? Lord Cao wants to...?”
Xiahou Yuan replied excitedly.
“Yes! Our lord regrets seeing a hero like you, General Liu, languishing in a lowly post. He’s hoped that someday you would come to Jinan so the two of you could discuss the future together.”
Cao Cao’s unexpected goodwill. Liu Bei hesitated for a moment, but there was no better offer available to her right now. She exchanged a glance with Minjun. After thinking for a moment, Minjun quietly nodded.
“...I understand. Please convey our deepest thanks for Lord Cao’s kindness. We’ll accept your hospitality for the time being.”
Under the protection of the soldiers led by the Xiahou sisters, Liu Bei’s party safely arrived at the temporary government office near Jinan where Cao Cao was staying. The camp was much larger and more organized than the one in Yingchuan, a clear sign that Cao Cao’s power was growing rapidly. Cao Cao herself had come out to the entrance of the government office and was waiting to greet them. She possessed the dignity befitting the Chancellor of Jinan, yet her face was filled with delight at seeing them again.
“General Liu! And Master Kang Ziming! I’m truly overjoyed that we’ve been able to meet again safe and sound!”
Cao Cao took Liu Bei’s and Minjun’s hands one after another, offering them a heartfelt welcome. When she looked at Minjun in particular, she gave him an even more meaningful smile.
“Master Kang, you seem to have become even more dependable since we last met. Miaocai here has told me all about your exploits in Anyi County. Just as I expected, you’re a man who hasn’t disappointed me.”
Cao Cao treated Liu Bei’s party with the utmost hospitality and consoled them for all their hardships. Then, a short while later, she made Liu Bei an extraordinary offer.
“General Liu, your abilities and reputation are far too valuable to waste away as a private citizen.”
Cao Cao spoke with a serious expression.
“I’ll officially appoint you as my Commandant of Separate Forces and provide you with troops and military supplies. What do you say to joining me in pursuing a great undertaking? There are still many Yellow Turban remnants and bandits in the vicinity of Jinan who have yet to be purged. It would be an opportunity for you to build your strength and earn distinction by suppressing them.”
Commandant of Separate Forces. The Commandant of Separate Forces was the commander of an independent unit, a position with independent military authority. It was an extraordinary offer to treat Liu Bei not as a guest commander, but as an equal ally.
Liu Bei wondered what Cao Cao’s true intentions were behind the offer.
‘Is she simply acknowledging my abilities? Or does she intend to use me in the end?’
After much deliberation, Liu Bei decided to accept Cao Cao’s offer. She needed time to build her strength and wait for the right moment.
“I’m deeply grateful for your great consideration, Chancellor Cao. I’ll gladly carry out your command.” “An excellent decision, General Liu! As it happens, I needed someone capable to take charge of Dongping Fort nearby. Perhaps the heavens knew my wishes and sent you to me. Haha.”
Cao Cao smiled with satisfaction. Then she added, turning toward Minjun,
“Master Kang Ziming, continue assisting General Liu as before. But there will surely be times when I’ll need your wisdom as well, so keep that in mind.”
It seemed she still hadn’t given up on Minjun.
“Yes, Chancellor. I’ll do my best to be of help, however limited my abilities may be.”
Minjun smiled and bowed respectfully. Thus, after all their twists and turns, Liu Bei’s party once again came to stay under Cao Cao’s command. But this time, they were not merely guest commanders. They were Commandants of Separate Forces, each leading an independent military unit. At last, they had gained a stable foundation and an opportunity to build their strength. Minjun gazed out the window of their new quarters and thought,
‘So I ended up under Cao Cao again. Is this fate? Or...’
He fiddled with the jade tally in his robes.
‘Right. For now, we’ll build up our strength here. Then we’ll wait for the right moment.’