Chapter 240 - Recruiting Zilong (1/2)
Chapter 240 – Recruiting Zilong
Wei Yan just kneeling there unmoved, while Liu Mang and co gradually disappeared from his sight. Now Liu Mang’s next target is is Zhao Yun Zhao Zilong!!!! n.o.body in their right mind would want to miss this person. This person has unmatched loyalty. No matter in the novel or historical biography, this person is always glorified. Zhao Yun’s most glorified success story are when he charged Cao Cao’s troops 7 times alone in Chang Ban in order to save his lord Liu Bei’s infant son. He is also known as the white-robed general plus bodyguard who always stand behind Liu Bei. Back in You Province, Gongsun Zan (Zhao Yun’s former lord) is the commander-in-chief of Penetrating White Horse Cavalry. Their reputation is similar to Bing Province Heavy Cavalry, they are the terror for those beyond the Great Wall and they’re also known as the Defender of Han. Although Gongsun Zan is defeated by Yuan Shao, his reputation from the early age, still burn strongly for the Han people who lived near the border. And also originally, he and Liu Yu complement each other, but Gongsun Zan had lost his mind and killed Liu Yu.
This Zhao Zilong of Changshan is plays the same role as Zhang Liao in the Bing Province Heavy Cavalry. He is a vice-commander of The Penetrating White Horse Cavalry. But in terms of fighting abilities, Zhao Yun is definitely better than Zhang Liao. Zhao Yun can fight successively against 50 officers of Cao army by himself. Perhaps if Zhang Liao just even saw Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao will immediately stopped his warhorse and let himself. Zhao Yun’s figure is not just praised throughout the old age, even in the modern age, his ability to lead an army, strong prowess and unparalleled loyalty. All of them are qualities of a GaoFuShuai character. Liu Mang then enter Zhao Yun’s tent. Zhao Yun’s body condition is much better compared to Wei Yan. He requested to be hit 40 beatings earnestly and because of that earnest att.i.tude, he was only beaten 20 times by Urban Army and is exempted from another 20 beatings unlike Wei Yan who were beaten 60 times!!! Therefore, when Liu Mang entered Zhao Yun’s tent, he is cleaning his spear, cleaning it carefully.
“Zilong, so nice to see you!!!” Said Liu Mang. Liu Mang wore warm smile when he greeted Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun who saw Liu Mang enter quickly knelt down and cupped his fist “Greetings to you, Your Highness Prince of Shu!!!” Zhao Yun still had a very big respect towards the Han.
Liu Mang then said in a warm tone “Don’t call me Your Highness Prince of Shu. Call me Liu Mang Liu Hanyang, same as them!!!” Really the t.i.tle Prince of Shu is too stiff for befriending a person. Liu Mang want to obtain Zhao Yun’s heart and his men through this treatment!!! If one lord using this kind of friendly approach, who would not be touched? Zhao Yun then raised his face and consequently shook his head while saying “No, it cannot happen!!!” He is but a commoner and Liu Mang is a royalty. The difference between their cla.s.s is too big. (Literal translation: This is Han’s nation. TL note: Dear Mr. Author, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO CONVEY?!)
Liu Mang then smiled and responded “How can it not happen? My friend calls me that!!!” Liu Mang really don’t care of his position. His response made everyone widened their eyes in surprise. Those people who can call Liu Mang, Hanyang besides his honorable father-in-law Lu Bu is only Chen Gong as well as Lu Lingqi. But now, Lu Lingqi had been married with Liu Mang, so she calls him “husband”. The others that call him Hanyang are those who are from older generation. Other people don’t dare to call him Liu Mang Liu Hanyang.
Even Huang Zhong and Xu Sheng called him little lord, and Xu Shu called him Milord!!! Even Yang Hong called him Lord (Literal translation: Head of household. Too much to write). It can be said that Liu Mang really lowered himself for the sake of Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun then shook his head fiercely and said “Be friends with me?! No, this must not happen!!!” A royalty as a friend, a n.o.ble as a friend? That is one of the taboo that commoner avoid. Liu Mang’s treatment made the nearby Huang Zhong, Xu Sheng and Xu Shu envy. Liu Mang gave Zhao Yun, a too high treatment!!! This person is a young warlord and after Lu Bu pa.s.sed, he will be a warlord himself. A future warlord as a friend, only Liu Mang want to do it!!! And remember, Liu Mang has a t.i.tle of Prince of Shu!!! (TL Note: Yes, author. Yes, author. We know already, so chill the f.u.c.k out) So, this is really considered a very high treatment.
When an average person become a warlord, the way they treat their friends would also change. This is because their status has changed. Old Cao’s friend Xu You disregard this fact and also become haughty in front of him, believing that Old Cao will treat him like a friend just like in the past. He forgot that Old Cao of present is not the young vagabond in the past, not the Old Cao who like to peep others while taking baths, he is a warlord and one of three strongest lords of Han!!!! Xu You also forgot that Yuan Shao, one of their playmate, was killed by him. And you know the final result of Xu You being like that? Old Cao ordered Xu Chu to kill him out of grudge.
Now Liu Mang humbled himself to be a friend of a general from commoner background. What the h.e.l.l is he doing? Thought Huang Zhong and Xu Sheng. They both pondered This can’t be just because Zhao Yun’s skill in martial arts is very high. If Xu Sheng alone, he cannot win against Zhao Yun, but Huang Zhong will definitely win. Maybe it is because he used to commandeer 3,000 troops of Gongsun Zan!!! Thought Huang Zhong and Xu Sheng.
But Huang Zhong himself is a general, his presence here is because he owed a debt of grat.i.tude toward Liu Mang and wants to repay it. And Xu Sheng himself, was coerced to join Liu Mang, but now he’s happy. He himself is commanding 3,000 Black Flag heavy armor troops and definitely not losing toward Penetrating White Horse Cavalry. During their recruitment, Liu Mang did not treat them so kind, but toward Zhao Yun only he is so kind. How can they not envy Zhao Yun now?
Liu Mang don’t know what Huang Zhong and Xu Sheng thoughts but Liu Mang knows that he need to recruit Zhao Zilong. This person is not only have high ability, he also have unparalleled loyalty. Once he recognized who his lord is, he will have no complain and is willing to fight for his lord to the very last blood drop.
If Zhao Yun not loyal to the end, he is impossible to do charging Cao Cao’s troops 7 times alone in Chang Ban in order to save the Escapist Liu’s infant son. His act attracted Old Cao very much, so much he wants to capture Zhao Yun alive, so much that he rescinded his order to throw salvo of arrow toward him. Otherwise, when salvo was unleashed, Zhao Yun will be dead by then.
One of most important thing is that Zhao Yun is excellent at cavalry!!! Liu Mang needed that, although the Lu Bu army had Bing Province Heavy Cavalry which unparalleled in this nation, but it is one of Lu Bu’s repertoire and it stayed in Lujiang. When their domain is small like now, Bing Province Heavy Cavalry alone is sufficed but when it is big? Cavalry soldiers is essential because of their high mobility. If a lord don’t have them, it is very uncomfortable. Although in Lu Bu’s army have generals that can command cavalry, such as Zhang Liao, Gao Shun and Lu Bu, but they have their respective unit to take care of and you cannot make Lu Bu to lead cavalry units.
In Liu Mang’s own army there are generals who can command cavalries, such person are Gan Ning and Huang Zhong. Even Cheng Yu also able to lead as he has been positioned among Bing Province Heavy Cavalry before. But Gan Ning have naval units to command and naval units solely depended on him!!! Now if Yang Province want to fight naval battle and no commander to lead them, how can they fight? Huang Zhong, he need to be Liu Mang’s bodyguard. In addition, Liu Mang already prepared a plan for Huang Zhong to become a landlord when he is away from his homebase and will not asked Huang Zhong to command cavalry troops. Being a cavalry commander must be brave enough to fight and to risk their life, but Huang Zhong is too old for that. Cheng Yu is also busy with his Urban Army and did not have any spare time to be cavalry commander. And now, there is a commander-in-chief of Penetrating White Horse Cavalry, Zhao Zilong, suddenly appeared in front of Liu Mang. If not recruit him, then Liu Mang is really throwing pearl to swine!!!
Liu Mang’s face then looked sad as he said to Zhao Yun “So, Zilong really despise me?!” Zhao Yun then responded “No, this….” Zhao Yun is really confused and feeling awkward. Liu Mang is a n.o.ble and he is only commoner, how can they mingle with each other? And now Liu Mang’s face show sadness and asked if Zhao Yun despise him, how can Zhao Yun respond? Liu Mang then patted Zhao Yun’s shoulder and said “Then it is settled!!!” while wearing big smile on his face, he did not care whether Zhao Yun’s feelings toward him is awkward or not!!! He knows that Zhao Yun is a good natured person who did not know how to reject a person. If not, how can he be charmed by the Escapist Liu and following his escapade everywhere? Then Liu Mang continued asking “Zilong, this year, what age are you?!” Strike the iron while it is still hot Thought Liu Mang. Zhao Yun then responded “This year I am 20 years old!!!” Zhao Yun decided to answer this first as he still did not know how to answer Liu Mang’s first question.
Eh, 20 years old? Liu Mang stunned. Only 20 years old, he already had big achievement. Gongsun Zan and Penetrating White Horse Cavalry’s demise should have been 4 – 5 years ago. At that time, Zhao Yun must be around 15 – 16 years old. Such teenager and already commanding 3,000 cavalry soldiers? Zhao Yun really mature too early. Dear readers, I will now explain it to you. 3,000 cavalry soldiers is a quite big scale of a division, and usually that division is further divided among captains, but Zhao Yun a 15 or 16 years old teenager, is already a commander-in-chief. This is really awesome.
And what Liu Mang is doing at the age of 15 – 16? He attended cla.s.s in school, pulling pranks on girls, cheat on test and discuss on how to play games. “This year I am 23!!!” Liu Mang comes to this world is still 22, in just around 8 months, he already 23 years old. Liu Mang then said “Zilong, if you don’t mind. Call me big bro!!!”
Big bro?! Zhao Yun stunned. Liu Mang changed their relations.h.i.+p status in a big way. Zhao Yun and Liu Mang only meet a few times!!! Only 3 days if added 2 days ago and now, their status goes from stranger to friend and to brothers. Zhao Yun really speechless on Liu Mang!!! He respected that Liu Mang is one of Han n.o.ble. But he disagreed greatly on what Liu Mang said. This Prince of Shu’s ambition is really great and want to replace Emperor Xian in Xu Du. This made Zhao Yun disgusted a lot. If were not Xu Shu’s quarantine, Zhao Yun already left. He came to Hefei just to have a look.
Originally, he want to go to Yingshang and then straight to Runan and to Shouchun where Liu Bei is, but he lost his way. The ancient are using sun as compa.s.s, missed only a bit, you will lose your way. So, he goes to Hefei and is treated excessively kind by His Highness Prince of Shu and even did not give him enough time to respond. Liu Mang then said “Did Zilong find this unacceptable?!” Zhao Yun then instinctively said “No, it is not!!!” Liu Mang understand completely, not to bully a person who are not talkative or bullying a pure child.
“Then it is settled. My little brother Zilong!!!” Said Liu Mang who then start to sit down, disregarding his a.s.s wound and patting Zhao Yun’s shoulder again. “Eh!!!” Zhao Yun stunned again and again and speechless!!! His mouth then said these words reflexively “Brother Hanyang!!!” Liu Mang then smiled and said “Good, that is more like it!!!” while patting his thigh.
Brother Hanyang!!! The word brother is not easily spoken as it represents that both recognized themselves as brothers. Same like Chen Lan and Lei Bo, same like Old Cao and Escapist Liu. However, Chen Lan and Lei Bo called themselves brothers only after they robbed Yuan Shu and after that, they were exploiting each other. Liu Bei and Cao Cao also calling themselves brothers out of etiquette and only being polite to each other. (TL note: f.u.c.k AUTHOR, f.u.c.k HIM AND HIS ROUNDABOUT!!!!) However, Zhao Yun is different, dear readers. His loyalty is unparalleled, once he call a person a brother, he did not care about his life in order to complete the mission. So as of now, they can say that Zhao Yun is already become Liu Mang’s front and become Lu Bu army’s battle tank.
After that, Liu Mang spend half day chatting with Liu Mang such as discussing nation’s matter to asking how many family members Zhao Yun had. This kind of friendly chat, really can be seen as family member chatting together to catching up with Liu Mang as an aunt chatting with her nephew Zhao Yun. Our Auntie Liu has been endlessly praising Gongsun Zan and that is not false. Liu Mang indeed admires Gongsun Zan a lot. Gongsun Zan is indeed a n.o.ble, but his status was recognized as only a half-n.o.ble, as his mother come from poor family and because of that, he only given a small post as an official. His appearance is handsome, his voice is loud and clear and he had a quick wit. He wins the favor of Prefect of Zhuo County, Mr. Liu, enough to led him to betroth his daughter to him. He slowly and little by little advanced his military career and become General of the Household and then, he dedicated himself to warring those from beyond the Great Wall, scaring those people to their wits. Gongsun Zan had defeated Wuhuan tribe and Xianbei tribe and if he had yet to die, he might have defeated the Five Barbarians tribes as well. And because he annihilated Xianbei tribe to the last man, Wu Hu tribe quickly surrendered under Gongsun Zan’s foot.
But the final outcome for the great White Horse General, unfortunately is to die early. Alas, if only and if only he did not kill Liu Yu, he can be invincible in the north. Thought Liu Mang. Both of them can become incomparable, one person fought in politics to conciliate other people and other have his military strength. This is the tactics of carrot and stick, similar to the favorite tactics of USA, but ancestors already knew about this tactics and employed it extensively. If only Gongsun Zan did not eat bait on the plot of false accusations and not behave impulsively thus losing his mind in the process. Liu Mang shook his head.