Chapter 297 Unlucky Liu Bei (1/2)
Chapter 298 – Unlucky Liu Bei
February 20th, 185 A.D.
A month of Ji City restoration was completed with the help of Lu Zhi and Tong's donated supplies. In return for this debt, Gongsun Zan and Tong formed an alliance and opened their trade routes.
Gongsun Zan exported workhorses, warhorses, iron ores, and coal, even including the mysterious saltpeter and sulfur that Lu Zhi requested to Zhongshan while Zhongshan traded them with the rare spice, food, and the repeating crossbows, which signified the trust on the other side.
Gongsun Zan and his subordinates were astonished for this generosity and Tong's faith for sharing their technologies.
”Lord, I don't know if this brat is spoiled, stupid, or he is sincere.”
Guan Jing, the strategist of Gongsun Zan, still doubted Tong's motive.
On the other hand, Gongsun Zan laughed, ”You overthink! What's wrong with helping each other in the time of crisis! Heck, he's even my junior of the same master.”
”Lord, we don't know what they can do with all the ores and the things your master demanded. I think we should investigate this.”
”No need. I heard that several Taoist priests use these strange powders in their elixirs. Well, Zhang Tong's father is also a Taoist priest so he might want to brew something similar to that.”
Guan Jing wanted to protest. But thinking back, he recalled that Julu was also prosperous in the medical field with Hua Shi as the leader of all physicians and doctors there. Thus, he swallowed his words.
”If we ally with Zhang Tong, we will become Yuan Shao's enemy.”
”There're already seeing us as their enemies when we sent Liu Bei to Pingyuan. I'm sure Yuan Shao and Tian Feng want to kill me to steal our cities. That's why I agree to send Liu Bei there as our scapegoats. If they want to fight us, first, they will have to deal with Liu Bei and his brothers and ruin their reputation in the process. Without the people's support, they can't draft more militias or volunteers!”
”I see. I didn't understand your intention previously. Please forgive me.”
”Hmm. It seems that politics aren't your forte, Guan Jing.”
”I can't match your stratagems, lord.”
Gongsun Zan smiled, feeling proud of his scheme.
”With this, our borders are secured for now. Once Yuan Shao is done with that greedy Liu Bei, we'll attack Nanpi and uproot the Yuan Clan.”
”He is your junior though …”
”His status and Zhang Tong's status is different! I heard that idiot Liu Bei refused my master's invitation to join Zhang Tong or me. Remember how he reacted when I assigned him to Pingyuan? That giddy look and those greedy eyes can never fool me! He's a disgrace to my master. He has to pay!”
Gongsun Zan's mood became foul as he recalled the face of Liu Bei.
…
…
…
Meanwhile,
Pingyuan City, Qing Province.
Jiang Man was grinning from ear to ear, looking at his sole white tentacle wing. It transformed into a spirit of a gentle-looking young girl. She was his first love in his previous life when he was a child.
[Soul of Kindness]
He succeeded awakening his virtuous soul last month, and he discovered something from the note that Lilim gave him.
Now, he had eight unawakened virtues and one wing. It was possible for him to get nine wings!
”I found a secret! Hahahaha!”
During his cultivation, he assisted Liu Bei in sorting and distributing supplies to the hungry civilians of Pingyuan. After a few months of daily mundane works, a new virtue appeared and added to the original seven virtues that he was cultivating.
Jiang Man's brain was not a bad one. He connected the appearance of this new [Virtue] to the deeds that he had recently been doing repeatedly.
The act of giving food to the people in need gave birth to this [Virtue], and its chance of awakening percentage kept increasing at a rapid rate. It took Jiang Man a total of half a year to complete the 100% chance and got this immortal wing he desired.
”Doing good deeds will increase my chance of getting wings. Well, pretending to be a good guy works.”
On the other side, Liu Bei was also doing well within the city. With Jiang Man and Jian Yong's assistance, he understood the basic job and tasks of a governor.
Liu Bei's outer appearance and elegance gave the impression of a kind man. Thus, many civilians grew attached to this new governor and praised him for his past deeds.
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were also in the middle of learning to command troops efficiently. They still struggled to remember signals and other basic commands as they were still too new to handle a massive army of 10,000 soldiers or above.
Unlike Tong's officers who had the help of elites like Jia Xu or Lu Zhi, they fumbled their ways and learned everything on the job.
.
February 22nd, 185 A.D.
Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Jian Yong, and Jiang Man gathered in the city hall. There was a visitor.
Tian Feng stood in the middle of the city hall with boxes of gifts, boxes of gold, silk clothes, and pottery treasures.
”I've come to reinforce our friendly relationship between neighbors. Lord Liu Bei, I hope you can accept these.”
Liu Bei smiled and laughed. He got out of his governor seat and walked to Tian Feng, grabbing his hands and thanked him.
”No ceremony, no ceremony. We're already friends since the day we're fighting against the rebels. Come! Sit here and talk instead.”
Liu Bei did not have any experience dealing with multi-cities politic or etiquette, which made the traditional scholar like Tian Feng cringed.
'How was this idiot chosen to be a governor!? Why am I feeling like I'm dealing with a drunkard commoner.'