After Gongsun Zan finished speaking, he looked to the side and saw Liu Bei still standing there in a daze.
He frowned and quickly called out!
"Xuande, what are you still doing there? Let me introduce you."
"This is Liu Jin, Liu Wenyi. He is a Commandant in the army and, like you, comes from the Liu clan of Zhuo Commandery."
"He is forthright and loyal, and is highly respected by us in the army."
Liu Jin stared intently at Liu Bei, a smile playing on his lips.
He had recommended Liu Bei to serve as a minor official in Zhuo Commandery, and although the position was not high, it was enough to support his family. He had thought that Liu Bei's life would be like that.
He never expected Liu Bei to run to Jizhou. It seemed he was still unwilling to be a minor official and wanted to achieve his ambitions.
After a moment of stunned silence, Liu Bei returned to normal, a fawning smile on his face, and respectfully said!
"Brother Wenyi, long time no see. I never expected to meet you here."
Gongsun Zan was startled when he heard this and quickly asked!
"Xuande, you know Wen Yi?"
When Liu Bei heard this, he couldn't help but straighten his back a little, and said with a hint of pride!
"Brother Bo Gui, I and Brother Wenyi already knew each other when we were in Zhuo Commandery."
"We are like brothers, as close as kin."
Gongsun Zan was a little surprised to hear this. He hadn't expected his junior apprentice brother to quietly get to know Liu Jin. He really had some ability.
Even Xu Rong, Cheng Pu, Zhang He, and others showed a hint of respect towards Liu Bei when they heard this.
Liu Jin sneered inwardly. He hadn't expected Liu Bei to use his name to try and curry favor with the Generals in the army. Naturally, he wouldn't let him off easy.
He immediately stepped forward, a look of displeasure on his face, and coldly asked!
"Xuande, why are you here? Back then, you were a mere commoner, and I recommended you to Prefect Wen, making you an official in the army. Now you appear in the military camp without a word, and even I am unaware."
"With your actions, how am I to face Prefect Wen? Wouldn't that make me out to be a heartless and unrighteous person?"
When Liu Bei heard these words, his body trembled slightly, his eyes darted about, and he stammered, unsure of how to reply.
He couldn't possibly say that he looked down on the official position and directly abandoned his post to come to Jizhou, relying on his teacher, hoping to secure a bright future.
If he were to say that, he would be a heartless and unrighteous person.
After all, he had received Liu Jin's recommendation. Even if he wanted to abandon his post, he should have sent someone to inform him, otherwise, he would be considered unrighteous and would be scorned by everyone.
If his reputation spread, it would be completely ruined in the army, and he would have no chance of rising through the ranks.
The Generals around him stared at Liu Bei, secretly cursing him. It seemed this Liu Bei was not a good person after all, to burn his bridges after crossing.
Gongsun Zan looked at his opportunistic junior apprentice brother, stammering, and instantly understood.
Although he came from a humble background, he was very proud at heart, with the ambition to assist the world.
He must have looked down on such a small official position and wanted to come to his teacher to seek a future.
He shook his head, deciding to protect Liu Bei. If a bad reputation were to truly spread, his life might be ruined.
He coldly reprimanded!
"Xuande, why are you not quickly bowing to General Liu and apologizing?"
Liu Bei did not hesitate. He immediately stepped forward, bowed, his head slightly lowered, and a voice filled with remorse came out!
"I am truly ashamed, Brother Wenyi."
Liu Jin snorted, not even looking at Liu Bei, and with a flick of his sleeve, walked towards the main tent.
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stared at Liu Bei with ill intent, secretly cursing him, calling him a villain.
Zhang He, Xu Rong, Cheng Pu, and others, although they only understood a general outline, also knew the intricacies involved.
Liu Bei had already left a bad impression in their hearts, and it was no longer possible for them to associate with him.
They had no intention of talking and followed Liu Jin forward.
Gongsun Zan glanced at Liu Bei, who was bowing his head, and sighed!
"Alas, Xuande, Xuande, you are truly foolish."
"Since you received someone else's recommendation, you have already received a great favor. Even if you want to leave, you must write a letter to inform them. How can you act so recklessly?"
"You should retreat first, and after General Liu calms down, then apologize and beg for forgiveness."
After saying this, Gongsun Zan walked into the military tent without looking back.
After watching everyone leave, Liu Bei slowly straightened his back, his hands tightly clasped together, a look of regret on his face.
If he had known that Liu Jin would recommend him for a minor official, he would never have accepted this favor, which now left him with a huge debt of gratitude.
But that's how officialdom was. Since Liu Jin had become his guide, he was already entangled in karma for this life, and it would be very difficult to eliminate it.
He sighed helplessly, looking very dejected, and walked into the distance.
A few days later!
In the Imperial Palace of Luoyang City, Emperor Liu Hong sat on the dragon throne, looking at the newly arrived battle report, a brilliant smile on his face, and laughed loudly!
"Liu Jin is truly the Qilin Child of the Imperial Clan. With three thousand men, he beheaded the bandit leader Zhang Liang and annihilated thirty thousand Yellow Turbans, upholding the military might of our Han Dynasty."
"Such a military achievement makes me very happy."
The civil and military officials in the court were all shocked when they heard this battle result.
Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Liu Jin had won every battle, never suffering a defeat.
Now that he had beheaded Zhang Liang, one of the three great bandit leaders, his reputation had already soared.
Many people pondered in their hearts, it seemed that Liu Jin was no ordinary person, and they had to find a way to draw him into their own faction.
He Jin, the Grand General and head of the military officials, smiled, his back straight, and full of vigor.
This Liu Jin was a person of the General's Mansion, and the higher his achievements, the more stable his position in the court would become.
Then he would see who would still dare to call him a useless butcher.
Liu Hong looked at the civil and military officials in the court and asked!
"Liu Jin has won every battle since he went on campaign, and now he has beheaded Zhang Liang and annihilated thirty thousand Yellow Turbans. My beloved officials, please tell me how he should be rewarded."
He Jin did not hesitate. He immediately stepped forward and respectfully said!
"Reporting to Your Majesty, with Liu Jin's current military achievements, I believe he should be granted a marquisate to demonstrate the might of our Han Dynasty and boost the morale of the army."
Those in the Grand General's Mansion faction all stood up and expressed their agreement to grant a marquisate.
Liu Hong nodded in satisfaction when he heard this.
Granting Liu Jin a marquisate was not out of the question. After all, he was a Qilin Child of the Imperial Clan, and naturally, he should be nurtured well.
Yuan Wei and Yang Biao, from the aristocratic family faction, frowned when they heard this.
Naturally, they did not want a member of the Imperial Clan to rise and become the Emperor's right-hand man, threatening the position of their aristocratic families. They had to find a way to suppress him.
Otherwise, these aristocratic families would find it difficult to control the court.
Yuan Kui immediately stood up and bowed, saying!
"Your Majesty, I believe it is not yet appropriate. This Liu Jin is still young. Although he has achieved many military merits, it is not yet time to grant him a marquisate. If word gets out, it will harm the prestige of the Han Dynasty."
Those in the aristocratic family faction all stood up and echoed that Liu Jin was too young to be granted a marquisate, otherwise, it would be difficult to convince the public.
