ATPnovel Chapter 35 Famous Generals to Join
Chapter 35 Famous Generals to Join
Qiao Xuan stayed in Yangle City for the next two days.
He personally visited the streets and alleys of Yangle City, the wards outside the city, and the fortified villages on the border.
He carefully examined every detail of Liu Bei's epidemic prevention efforts, from the isolation of different areas and the disinfection of filth, to the preparation of prescriptions and the resettlement of displaced people; he looked at each one with utmost seriousness.
The more he looked at Liu Bei, the more he admired him.
He said to his subordinates in the prefecture more than once, "Liu Xuande has the talent of a prime minister. His future achievements are limitless."
Before leaving, Qiao Xuan asked Liu Bei to write down all the strategies and details of epidemic prevention into an official document and affix the seal of Liaoxi Prefecture.
Holding the document, he said to Liu Bei, "Xuande, I will send this complete book on epidemic prevention to Luoyang by express courier, and report it to His Majesty so that it can be promulgated to all prefectures and counties throughout the land."
"You saved the people of western Liaoning, and you can save many more people across the world."
He patted Liu Bei on the shoulder again, and said meaningfully, "You don't need to worry about Xia Yu."
"Having made great contributions to the fight against the epidemic, no one in the world can touch you in the slightest because of this."
"Just focus on doing your job well and protecting the people of western Liaoning. I'll take care of the rest."
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei felt a warmth in his heart and bowed deeply to Qiao Xuan, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Qiao!"
"This humble servant will certainly live up to your trust, and will not fail the people of Liaoxi!"
Three days later, Qiao Xuan's carriage set off and left Yangle City.
Hou Chong, along with all the officials of the prefecture, escorted them ten miles outside the city.
Qiao Xuan's carriage kicked up dust and disappeared at the end of the official road.
Hou Chong then led a group of county officials back to the city.
Only Liu Bei, Xu Rong, and Tian Yu remained, along with ten personal guards, standing by the roadside.
Tian Yu looked in the direction the carriage had gone and said with a smile, "My lord, Lord Qiao's return to Luoyang will surely bring you fame."
"His word is worth more than a thousand words from others. Xia Yu will find it difficult to move our lord in the slightest."
Liu Bei nodded, looked away, but felt no pride whatsoever.
Qiao Xuan's praise is both an opportunity and a constraint. Only by doing a more solid job in Liaoxi can we live up to this expectation.
He mounted his horse and was about to call everyone back to the city when he caught a glimpse of two groups of people standing in the woods beside the official road, looking in their direction.
The two groups each consisted of about a hundred people, clearly separated by a clear line.
The group on the left consisted of young men dressed in tight-fitting clothes, with ring-pommel swords at their waists and bows and arrows on their backs. Each of them was agile and their eyes held the arrogance and spirit of youth.
Although they weren't standing perfectly straight, each of them had an upright posture, and it was clear at a glance that they were wandering knights who spent their days riding horses and hunting.
The group on the right, however, was completely different. Their ranks were orderly, and each person held a long halberd and wore cloth armor.
Although they were not regular soldiers, they moved with measured steps and remained silent.
The leader stood at the front of the group, dressed in a blue robe, with a long sword at his waist. He had a square face and a steady gaze, and it was clear at a glance that he was a knowledgeable soldier who knew the rules.
The two groups of people had just seen the governor's carriage and dared not approach to offend him, but stood at a distance in the woods to watch.
Seeing Qiao Xuan walk away and witnessing firsthand the respect and courtesy Qiao Xuan showed Liu Bei, they felt even more awkward, pushing and shoving each other, with no one daring to step forward first.
Upon seeing this, Xu Rong immediately spurred his horse to block Liu Bei's path.
His hand rested on the ring-pommel sword at his waist, his sharp eyes sweeping over the two groups of men, and he shouted in a deep voice, "Who dares to spy on us here?!"
Both groups of people in the woods were startled upon hearing this, but no one retreated.
Liu Bei raised his hand to signal Xu Rong to sheathe his sword, then spurred his horse forward at a slow pace.
He bowed to the two groups from several dozen paces away, speaking in a gentle tone.
"Where do you all come from?"
"Have you encountered any difficulties?"
"If any refugees are short of food or encounter trouble on their journey, just say that I am Liu Bei, the military officer of Liaoxi Commandery, and I will do my best to help."
He initially thought they were refugees from various counties in Youzhou who had come to escape the plague, since there had been a constant stream of refugees pouring into western Liaoning these days.
But as soon as he finished speaking, both groups of people moved at the same time.
The burly, broad-shouldered young man on the left was the first to stride out.
"Thump"
With a single kneel, his voice boomed like a bell: "Han Dang of Lingzhi, courtesy name Yigong, has come to serve under the patronage of Magistrate Liu, leading the brothers of my village!"
"I am willing to follow Magistrate Liu, serving him faithfully and even unto death!"
The hundred or so young swordsmen behind him also knelt on one knee in unison, shouting, "We are willing to follow Lord Liu, even unto death!"
The man in the blue robe on the right also stepped forward and bowed deeply to Liu Bei. His movements were steady and measured, and his voice was clear and deep.
"Cheng Pu, courtesy name Demou, from Youbeiping, received a letter of recruitment from Liu Jun and resigned from his official post in the prefecture, leading his family soldiers and fellow villagers to join him."
"I am willing to assist Lord Liu in protecting the land and ensuring the well-being of the people, and together we will achieve great things!"
The hundred or so men behind him bowed in unison, their ranks perfectly orderly, and chanted in unison, "We are ready to obey Lord Liu's orders!"
Hou Chong and his group, who had not gone far, also heard the commotion and turned around to look.
Dan Jing chuckled and said, "My lord, perhaps the rank of our Prefect Liu is a bit too low!"
Upon hearing this, Hou Chong burst into laughter, and everyone around him echoed his sentiments!
Liu Bei, sitting on his horse, looked at the two kneeling men and was suddenly jolted.
Han Dang! Cheng Pu!
The two recruitment letters he sent out before the Lunar New Year disappeared without a trace for months.
He had assumed that the two men had already found other masters, or that they simply didn't take him, a mere border clerk, seriously.
But to everyone's surprise, today, the two of them came to join us with their followers!
These two are the pillars of Jiangdong's future foundation!
Han Dang was skilled in archery and horsemanship, and his bravery was unparalleled in the army. He followed Sun Jian and his son in their campaigns and repeatedly made outstanding contributions.
Cheng Pu was not only a man of both literary and military talent, but also a man of courage and wisdom. He was a hero of Jiangdong and a commander capable of leading an army independently!
Liu Bei quickly dismounted and stepped forward, helping Han Dang up with one hand and Cheng Pu up with the other, his voice filled with barely concealed excitement and joy.
"Righteous Lord! Virtuous Strategist!"
"I have been waiting for you two for so long!"
"With your assistance today, it's like adding wings to a tiger!"
Han Dang was helped up by him. Looking at the boy in front of him, who was a few years younger than himself, his face was full of sincerity and he had no airs of an official.
His heart surged with excitement. He scratched his head, grinned, and said, "My lord thinks highly of me, Han Dang. From now on, my life belongs to my lord!"
"Whether in water or fire, there will be absolutely no ambiguity!"
It is:
A young man, full of chivalrous spirit, gallops across the land, bow in hand, riding proudly through the clouds.
One day, I met a man of noble character, and together we saved the country and guarded the border.
Cheng Pu bowed to Liu Bei again, speaking solemnly: "I am an official in the prefecture, possessing only meager skills, unable to realize my ambitions."
"Now that I have met a wise ruler, I will do my utmost to live up to his trust."
The way he called out "My Lord" was natural and firm, clearly showing that he had sincerely accepted this lord.
A surge of warmth welled up in Liu Bei's heart. He took the hands of the two men and introduced Xu Rong and Tian Yu to them.
"Demou and Yigong, please allow me to introduce you two."
He pointed to the composed and valiant Xu Rong beside him: "This is Xu Rong from Liaodong, courtesy name Yuanzhao. He is brave and knowledgeable in military affairs, a rare talent among generals!"
He then pointed to Tian Yu, who was tall and had a sharp look in his eyes: "This is Tian Yu from Yuyang, courtesy name Guorang. Although he is young, he has great insight and is both wise and brave."
After speaking, he turned to Xu Rong and Tian Yu and said, "These two men, Cheng Pu of Youbeiping and Han Dang of Liaoxi, are both brave and loyal warriors from the border regions."
Seeing that the two men were tall and imposing, with extraordinary bearing, and that their lord valued them so highly, Xu Rong and Tian Yu immediately dared not be negligent and greeted them with smiles.
Afterwards, the four of them naturally got to know each other better, but that's another story.
On their way back, the two recounted in detail the whole story of receiving the letter.