Liu Jin stepped forward and introduced with a smile!
"Brother Xuande, this is my second sworn brother, Guan Yu, whose courtesy name is Yun Chang. He is a bit blunt, please don't take offense."
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's eyes constantly scrutinized Guan Yu. He was imposing, tall, and mighty; clearly not an ordinary person.
The envy in his heart grew stronger. He hadn't expected such a heroic figure to be recruited by Liu Jin.
Liu Jin saw the envious look and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
With Guan Yu and Zhang Fei assisting him, he would definitely be able to rise swiftly.
Conversely, the Da Erzei Liu Bei, without the help of these two, would find it very difficult to rise.
However, with his ability and his method of persuasion, he could still persuade fierce generals and civil officials to assist him.
After looking at Guan Yu for a few moments, Liu Bei could only avert his gaze, thinking fiercely in his heart!
Isn't he just a burly man? One day, he would definitely recruit ten or eight of them.
His face returned to normal, and he said with a smile!
"Since he is Brother Wenyi's second sworn brother, then he is naturally my brother too."
Liu Jin looked at the restored Liu Bei and couldn't help but praise him. He was neither arrogant nor discouraged, indeed possessing the aura of a hero.
So the two chatted for a moment at the stall. After Liu Jin bought a few pairs of straw sandals, he bid farewell and left.
The group re-entered their carriage and traveled along the street into the distance.
Liu Bei held the bamboo basket, watched Liu Jin leave, a determined look in his eyes, and muttered to himself!
"A true man should be like this."
After saying this, he directly threw the bamboo basket to the ground.
A dignified Han Dynasty imperial clansman selling straw sandals on the street? How outrageous! He must make a name for himself.
After saying this, he returned home, preparing to beg the elders of his clan, hoping they could secure an official position for him.
However, after only two steps, he turned back, picked up the discarded bamboo basket and straw sandals, still grumbling!
"I can't throw this away, otherwise I won't even have dinner."
Inside the moving carriage, Guan Yu seemed somewhat puzzled and asked doubtfully!
"Big Brother,"
"That fellow is merely a mat weaver and sandal seller. Why are you so polite to him, even calling him brother?"
Liu Jin smiled and shook his head!
"Not so. Although this person sells straw sandals by the roadside, no one knows if he will rise to prominence in the future and become a prince, marquis, general, or minister."
"In the past, Yun Chang, you also sold mung beans on the street, and Yide also sold pork on the street. Zhao Ergou and I both sold tiger meat on the street."
"Now, we brothers are all resplendent and have become imperial officials."
"So, one cannot judge a book by its cover, nor measure the sea with a dipper. Never underestimate anyone in the world; you must treat everyone with caution, otherwise, you will suffer losses sooner or later."
Guan Yu's heart trembled upon hearing this. His Big Brother was right.
In the past, they were all street vendors, and now they could rise with the wind. Others might not be able to.
It seemed he was still too arrogant, somewhat underestimating the heroes of the world.
However, he still didn't believe Liu Bei could rise. If a mere straw sandal seller could become a prince, marquis, general, or minister, wouldn't his Big Brother be the ruler of the world?
Liu Jin saw that the arrogance in Guan Yu's eyes had dissipated considerably and nodded with satisfaction.
His second sworn brother was good in every way, except for his somewhat arrogant personality. He looked down on everyone, believing that apart from their few sworn brothers, everyone else was just a commoner.
It seemed he needed to subtly remove Guan Yu's arrogance, otherwise, if he were to govern a region, he would easily make enemies everywhere, and even his allies might not resist attacking him.
There was a historical precedent: Guan Yu, stationed in Jing Province, resisted the Cao Army. Sun Quan originally wanted to form a marriage alliance with him, and even if there were schemes, he should have treated him respectfully.
Instead, he uttered, "How can a tiger's daughter marry a dog's son?"
This caused Sun Quan to completely snap. Since a marriage alliance was impossible and he had been humiliated, he decided to break off relations.
So he resorted to backstabbing his ally, killing Guan Yu, which led to the complete loss of Jing Province, and the Shu Han never recovered thereafter.
Therefore, Liu Jin did not want to follow in the footsteps of Shu Han. He had to completely dispel Guan Yu's arrogant personality before he fully matured.
However, it was perfectly normal for Guan Yu to look down on Liu Bei at this time.
The current Liu Bei was quite down and out, appearing like a vagrant who lived hand-to-mouth, yet still carried a superior attitude, which made Guan Yu somewhat displeased.
But no one had imagined that the historical Liu Bei could carve out a territory and ascend to the throne.
If he weren't a transmigrator who knew the course of history, he wouldn't believe that someone like Liu Bei could rise in this chaotic world.
Because there were countless such people in the world, like carps crossing a river.
Three days later!
Liu Jin was still practicing his blade techniques in the courtyard; the Dragging Blade Art was already taking shape.
Although its power and speed were not as fierce as Guan Yu's, killing a general stronger than himself was still not a problem.
Just then, a loud laugh came from outside the courtyard!
"Big Brother, Second Brother, Fourth Brother, I'm here!"
The voice, like muffled thunder, resonated throughout the entire residence.
Upon hearing this voice, Liu Jin knew who had arrived. He turned around and saw Zhang Fei, grinning broadly, walking in with a hearty laugh!
He quickly put down the large blade in his hand, walked over with a smile, and patted Zhang Fei's shoulder!
"Third Brother!"
Guan Yu and Zhao Ergou also walked out together and greeted him!
"Third Brother, Third Brother!"
Zhang Fei chuckled and embraced each of his sworn brothers.
Seeing this, Liu Jin wasted no words and said directly!
"Since Third Brother has arrived, let's depart for Yi County today, take command of that company of soldiers as soon as possible, and train them well."
Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and Zhao Ergou all nodded, their hearts already eager.
They knew that once they went to Yi County, they would be Tuncun, able to command a hundred soldiers, which was much better than staying in the courtyard every day.
So, everyone set out, leading dozens of soldiers out of the city to rendezvous with the troops Zhang Fei brought. In total, over a hundred men traveled along the official road towards Yi County.
Before leaving, Zhao Ergou was sent to leave some money for his mother, so she could live well at home.
Liu Jin, riding on his black horse, looked back at the tall Zhuo Commandery city.
He probably wouldn't be long before he returned here.
Zhang Fei saw this and asked from the side!
"Big Brother, are you perhaps reluctant to leave?"
Liu Jin cracked his horsewhip and said with a smile!
"It's not that I'm reluctant to leave, but rather that we will return here again before long."
Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and Zhao Ergou were all somewhat puzzled by this.
They knew that to be stationed in Yi County, if they didn't achieve any merits, they would have to stay for at least a few years.
Even with merits, it wasn't something they could return from in a short time.
Liu Jin looked at the puzzled group but didn't explain. They would fully understand this matter after a while longer.
He continued to wield his horsewhip, and his black horse galloped forward, with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and the others following closely.
After several days of marching, Liu Jin led over a hundred soldiers and arrived at the garrison camp, ten-odd li outside Yi County city.
This place was called Xiaoshigou. To the east was a river, and to the south was a valley.
Not only could it solve the water supply problem, but it was also a place easy to defend and difficult to attack. The military camp was perfectly stationed here.
The soldiers at the camp gate quickly spotted the 隊 of soldiers approaching.
Everyone in the military camp had already received orders and knew that the newly appointed Military Marquis Liu Jin was about to arrive.