Mythical Three Kingdoms

Zhao Yun’s General’s Legion halted dozens of miles away from Fenggao, bringing only a few hundred cavalrymen and Fa Zheng, Lu Xun, and Jiang Ying to proceed as the first wave.

”Zhao Yun pays his respects to Lord,” Zhao Yun came forward first, dismounted from his horse, and gave salutations to Liu Bei and several others who were waiting for him and Fa Zheng.

”Zilong, your White Horse Righteous Followers seem to be well-trained. You must be aware of the mission this time,” Liu Bei said with a smile as he helped Zhao Yun to his feet.

”Yun will do his utmost,” Zhao Yun said with a calm expression.

”With your word, I am at ease. Please take good care of Zichuan later on, and do not let Zichuan act alone,” Liu Bei said, pointing at Chen Xi.

”Xiaoo Zhi is also here.” Before Zhao Yun could speak, Chen Xi rolled his eyes, indicating that compared to Zhao Yun’s Night Illuminating Jade Lion, Fa Zheng’s carriage was much slower, but he had arrived at that moment, too.

”Xiaoo Zhi,” Liu Bei called out to Fa Zheng with a smile, ”You’ve done well in Qingzhou. I will host a dinner to welcome and cleanse you and Zilong from dust later on.”

Liu Bei was about to lead Fa Zheng and Zhao Yun back to the city when he noticed that Fa Zheng wasn’t following him, causing his steps to falter.

Liu Bei laughed to himself as he saw Fa Zheng helping Jiang Ying down from the carriage; he hadn’t expected Fa Zheng to bring back his wife on such an official occasion, for it would require great courage to introduce someone who was not his legal wife.

”Jiangg Ying pays her respects to Lord Xuande,” Jiang Ying said as she was helped down from the carriage by Fa Zheng, maintaining composure as she greeted Liu Bei.

”Lady Fa, there’s no need for such formalities,” Liu Bei replied, slightly bowing in return, and then turned to Fa Zheng with a congratulatory expression, while Chen Xi and the others wore a teasing look.

”Paying respects to Lord Xuande and my mentor,” Lu Xun said as he jumped down from the carriage.

”Your disciple?” Liu Bei asked curiously.

”Yes, my disciple,” Chen Xi replied with a smile. ”I wonder how well Xiaoo Zhi has taught him in my place.”

”Rest assured, you’ll find out soon enough. The boy is very clever,” Fa Zheng said with a beaming smile.

”There’s no one else, right?” Liu Bei asked with a laugh, as he had almost departed without realizing there were still two more people to account for.

”No more,” Fa Zheng replied with a smile, feeling much more cheerful since Jiang Ying’s arrival.

”Then let’s board the carriage. Lady Fa, please take this one,” Liu Bei said, pointing at a carriage drawn by four horses.

Jiang Ying looked at Fa Zheng, and seeing him nod, she didn’t say anything further and boarded. Xiliang may have had plenty of horses, but a carriage pulled by four horses was purely a symbol of status.

”Xiaoo Zhi, you’re doing pretty well for yourself,” Chen Xi said teasingly, now that there were no concerns with Jiang Ying on board, ”When I left Linzi a while back, you were still pining for your childhood sweetheart. I didn’t expect you to return this time with your inner chamber companion. Planning to marry next June?”

”Congratulations,” Jia Xu said with a hint of a smile. ”I had planned to marry my daughter to you, but it seems that after just one trip to the State of Qi, you’ve already found the one.”

Indeed, Jia Xu and Guo Jia were quite worried about Fa Zheng, after all, they had mentored him together. Although they were not in a master-disciple relationship, they were like both teachers and friends with deep affections for each other. They also harbored much dissatisfaction with the actions that led to the Jiangg Family’s demise.

”Congratulations, Xiaoo Zhi, to think you’d keep such a big matter under wraps without giving us even a hint,” Liu Bei joined in the excitement.

”Stop, stop, stop, who said I found someone new in Qi State? This is my fiancée, the same one I’ve been telling you about. Didn’t you hear the surname Jiangg?” Fa Zheng said indignantly, ”We’re getting married next February. The six-month engagement period has already passed.”

”What?” Chen Xi was startled, ”The Jiangg Family sent her here? Our reputation hasn’t spread that far, has it? Fufeng is quite remote, and the Jiangg Family is not a great clan.”

”First, get on the carriage. We will talk on the way,” Fa Zheng said, abandoning propriety as he swiftly climbed aboard another carriage prepared by Ma Chao. Chen Xi and the others also leaped aboard, followed by Liu Bei who shook his head and joined them, leaving only Zhao Yun riding alone on horseback. This scene was observed by Jiangg Ying and Lu Xun, who gained a clearer understanding of the relationship between Liu Bei, Fa Zheng, and the others, which was not just ruler and subjects but also friends.

”Congratulations, truly a case of lovers finally becoming followers,” Chen Xi said after hearing Fa Zheng’s story, ”She is a good girl. Don’t let her down.”

”Xiaoo Zhi, you are quite lucky,” Liu Bei patted Fa Zheng’s shoulder, ”I’ll provide for your household expenses later. From now on, you need to be more mature, just like you’ve been this time. You are very intelligent, but don’t let pettiness cloud your vision.”

”I’ll keep that in mind,” Fa Zheng nodded, ”but I also ask for Lord Xuande’s permission to act against the Ma Family of Fufeng when the opportunity arises.”

”As long as you’re not blinded by trivialities, why not?” Liu Bei said with a smile.

”Xiaoo Zhi, you have indeed chosen a formidable opponent,” Jia Xu interjected, ”The Ma Family of Fufeng has been quite notorious recently.”

”Notorious?” Fa Zheng raised an eyebrow, ”I don’t recall any family from our area that could be considered notorious in your eyes.”

”Ma Shoucheng, Ma Mengqi’s family – that must ring a bell,” Jia Xu said with a smile, ”They are the Ma Family of Fufeng.”

Fa Zheng was taken aback, then a cold smile spread across his face, ”No wonder the Jiangg Family wants to marry Ying’er off—let me weigh the stature of this family. Located in the Northwest and intertwined with the Xiliang Qiang and Hu, from any perspective, they would not become our allies.”

”Allies?” A cold light flickered in Li Youu’s eyes. ”If we still need allies on the path we’re taking, then it’s better not to take it at all.”

”That’s well said,” Liu Bei agreed nodding. He was increasingly appreciating Chen Xi’s words from before: the powerful need no allies but conquest, especially a ruler!”

”The Ma Family of Fufeng, huh?” Chen Xi stroked his chin, ”What do you think would happen if Cao Mengde reached out to the Ma Clan in Guanzhong?”

”It’ll be difficult,” Li Youu shook his head, ”Ever since the opening of the Zhengguo Canal, Guanzhong hasn’t had a shortage of grain. Moreover, the prestige of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry among the Qiang and Hu isn’t inferior to that of Ma Shoucheng. If Cao Mengde wants to ally with the Ma Clan, there’s a considerable issue—the Qiang and Hu side with the strong.”

”Whether or not Ma Teng allies with others is none of our concern. We’ll just deal with it,” Fa Zheng said with a sneer, ”I refuse to believe that Ma Teng and Han Sui are truly united with the likes of Li Jue and Guo Si. And I most certainly doubt that Li Jue and his faction haven’t thought about devouring the others.”

”A shame some things are beyond our reach,” Chen Xi sighed. Mount Tai was simply too far from the Northwest, ”We don’t have enough scouts in Yongzhou to keep a good grasp of Cao Mengde’s situation, which makes him a persistent trouble.”

”Indeed, he is a nuisance. However, our greatest enemy right now is still Yuan Benchu. As long as we defeat him and establish our capital in the North, the great undertaking of the Han Dynasty is within reach,” Li Youu said, knowing Cao Cao was a problem but considering the already significant threat of Yuan Shao, Cao Cao barely registered. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please give it your vote at . Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users can read at m.qidian.com.)