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On a morning in Lousang Village, a thin mist lingered in the air, and the scent of earth filled the heart. In the southeast of the village stood a large mulberry tree, its branches and leaves lush and sprawling, resembling a giant canopy. From afar, it evoked a sense of something extraordinary. This was the hometown of Liu Bei, an unremarkable little place that nurtured a young man with grand ambitions.
Liu Bei, whose courtesy name was Xuan De, had always been a special person since childhood. Born into a poor family, he lost his father at an early age. His mother wove mats and sold straw sandals to support him, yet he always maintained a composed demeanor. He spoke little and concealed his emotions well, making it hard for others to discern his thoughts. Though he was not particularly academically gifted, he harbored dreams of greatness from a young age and often engaged the villagers in discussions about emperors and the world.
His appearance was also striking; he stood an impressive seven feet five inches tall, with ears that hung down to his shoulders and arms long enough to reach his knees. His large eyes could see his own ears, his face was as fair as jade, and his lips were as red as if painted with rouge. The villagers often remarked, "This child must be extraordinary by nature!"
Indeed, Liu Bei came from an illustrious lineage. He was a descendant of Liu Sheng, the Prince of Zhongshan, and could trace his bloodline back to Emperor Jing of Han. However, by his generation, the family had long fallen into decline. His father, Liu Hong, had held a minor official position but passed away early, leaving Liu Bei to rely solely on his mother. They lived in Lousang Village; though their lives were hard, Liu Bei's ambition remained unscathed.
As a child, Liu Bei often played under that great mulberry tree with other village children. One day, looking up at the tree, he suddenly jumped onto a stone and declared loudly, "In the future, I will become emperor and ride in a chariot made from this magnificent tree!" The other children laughed at him for dreaming foolishly, but his uncle Liu Yuanqi frowned and said, "This child is no ordinary person!" From that day on, Liu Yuanqi frequently supported Liu Bei and helped him through difficult times.
At the age of fifteen, his mother made the tough decision to send Liu Bei away for schooling. He studied under renowned teachers like Zheng Xuan and Lu Zhi and met many like-minded friends such as Gongsun Zan. Although he was not exceptionally learned, Liu Bei possessed a charm that inspired trust in others. He loved to associate with heroes from all over the land; he spoke sincerely and never hesitated to help friends in need. Over time, those around him grew fond of his company.
Though Liu Bei's family struggled to make ends meet by selling straw sandals and mats, he never resigned himself to fate. With hands that had woven straw sandals, he dreamed of one day grasping opportunities that could change the world. As he walked along country paths, his heart longed for broader horizons.
Time flowed like water; the boy who once gazed up at the mulberry tree was now a robust man of twenty-eight years. Liu Bei still resided in Lousang Village and outwardly appeared no different from ordinary villagers. He helped his mother weave mats and sell straw sandals daily while occasionally resolving minor disputes among neighbors—seemingly content with his simple life. Yet within him burned an unquenchable fire of ambition. He dreamed of transforming this land but felt crushed under the weight of reality.
His aspirations lay buried like seeds in the soil, waiting for the right moment to break through. Over the years, he had traveled far and wide for knowledge and met many like-minded individuals while hearing teachings from esteemed masters. However, the darkness of society and the shackles of poverty repeatedly thwarted his efforts. Deep down, he felt an undeniable frustration but could only endure.
Until this day outside Zhuo County, where recruitment notices from Youzhou Governor Liu Yan plastered walls everywhere. The notice boldly proclaimed: "The Yellow Turban Army is causing chaos; lives are suffering. Youzhou Governor seeks Righteous Army recruits to quell rebels and protect our homeland." Each word resonated like a clarion call announcing impending crisis. A crowd gathered around the notice—some whispered in hushed tones while others looked on fearfully; many simply shook their heads and walked away. They did not trust the government nor believed their fates could rely on anyone else.
Liu Bei stood among them, scanning the notice repeatedly as emotions surged within him. He sensed that war was encroaching upon his home yet felt powerless to act. This sense of impotence weighed heavily on his chest until he could not help but let out a long sigh.
At that moment, a thunderous voice boomed from behind him: "A true man does not sigh idly when there is work to be done for his country!" The voice was rough yet filled with anger, causing those around to turn their heads in surprise.
Liu Bei turned around and saw a man striding towards him. The man stood eight feet tall, with broad shoulders like a mountain, a head resembling a fierce leopard, and eyes round as copper bells. His tiger-like whiskers fluttered slightly in the wind, making him appear like a tiger that had just broken free from its cage. His steps were steady and powerful, each one seeming to press into the ground, exuding an imposing aura.
Liu Bei was momentarily taken aback, then cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask who you are?"
The man laughed heartily and replied, "My surname is Zhang, my name is Fei, courtesy name Yide, and I hail from Zhuo County. My family owns some farmland; we usually sell wine and butcher pigs, and I love to befriend heroes from all over the world. Just now, I saw you sighing at the notice board, and it troubled me, so I came to inquire."
Seeing his boldness, Liu Bei felt an instant connection and returned the greeting, saying, "I am a relative of the Han Dynasty, my surname is Liu and my name is Bei. Today I saw the notice and learned of the Yellow Turban Army's rampage, causing suffering for the common people. I have aspirations to bring peace to the country and help the people but feel powerless; hence I sighed."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei's eyes lit up. He pounded his chest and declared, "Though I am but a rough man, my heart is generous. I have some silver saved up. If Brother Xuan De does not mind, I am willing to donate funds to recruit local heroes and join you in this great endeavor to eradicate the Yellow Turban Rebels and restore peace to the people!"
His words rang out powerfully. Liu Bei felt as if a spring breeze had swept away his inner turmoil. He grasped Zhang Fei's hand excitedly and said, "If you are willing to help, it would truly be a gift from heaven!"
Zhang Fei laughed heartily in response, "Great! In that case, let us go into the tavern and drink to our hearts' content while we finalize this matter!"
The two exchanged glances and instantly felt as if they had known each other for ages. They walked together into a small tavern in the village. Zhang Fei casually pulled aside the door curtain and strode in, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Bring us two jugs of good wine and slice up some beef!" Liu Bei sat down with a smile, watching Zhang Fei's boisterous actions and couldn't help but reflect: "Indeed there are such heroes in this world; meeting Brother Zhang today may be a turning point in my destiny."
Inside the tavern, the strong aroma of alcohol mixed with the smell of poor-quality meat filled the air. The wooden table bore marks etched by time, while laughter and chatter echoed around them. Liu Bei and Zhang Fei sat in a corner engrossed in conversation. Suddenly, Zhang Fei slammed his hand on the table and laughed loudly, "Brother Xuan De! We are now like-minded companions determined to do something for the people of this world! Let’s start by eliminating these Yellow Turbans!"
Liu Bei raised his cup to clink with Zhang Fei's, feeling an overwhelming surge of passion within him that he could no longer suppress. Just as he was about to respond, he suddenly heard heavy wheel sounds outside accompanied by steady footsteps. The noise in the tavern quieted for a moment as everyone turned their attention towards the sound.
A burly man pushed a cart to a stop in front of the tavern. His silhouette was elongated by the setting sun, casting a shadow on the ground like a moving mountain peak. After pausing briefly to wipe sweat from his brow, he strode into the establishment. He stood nine feet tall with a physique like an iron tower; it seemed as though his presence made the entire tavern feel cramped. Liu Bei's gaze was instantly drawn to him.
This man had a face like a ripe jujube fruit with lips as red as if painted with rouge. His phoenix eyes sparkled with intensity; his eyebrows were beautifully arched like paintings with an air of heroism about him. His beard hung down two feet long, swaying slightly with each step he took. Once inside, he surveyed his surroundings as if everyone else were mere background figures; only his aura remained at the center of attention.
He sat down at an empty table and called out in a deep voice, "Bartender, bring me two jugs of good wine and slice some beef! I need to hurry to the city to enlist!" His voice resonated like a bell, causing the beams of the building to tremble slightly, and even the bartender's hands shook as he served the drinks.
Liu Bei looked at him and couldn't help but whisper to Zhang Fei, "This man has an extraordinary presence; he is likely more than just an ordinary person here to enlist." Zhang Fei grinned widely, setting down his cup. "Brother Xuan De, just wait here; I'll go ask him."
Zhang Fei stood up and strode over to the big man's table, unceremoniously pulling out a chair and sitting down. He spoke directly, "Brother, looking at your build and appearance, you must be someone destined for greatness! Are you planning to enlist in the city?"
His tone carried a hint of provocation but was mostly filled with bravado.
The big man looked up at Zhang Fei with a cold smile but showed no anger. Instead, he replied generously, "Indeed. I heard that the Youzhou Governor is recruiting for the Righteous Army, so I rushed here to Zhuo County. My surname is Guan, my name is Yu, courtesy name Yun Chung. I have come here to avoid enemies and wish to serve the court in eliminating bandits and restoring peace to the world."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei's eyes lit up, and he laughed heartily. "Excellent! What a fine Guan Yunchung! It seems I, Zhang Fei, have truly encountered a hero today." He grabbed Guan Yu's hand and turned to Liu Bei, shouting, "Brother Xuan De, come over quickly! Today we are indeed blessed; this brother will surely join us in great endeavors!"
Liu Bei hurried over at these words, first bowing deeply to Guan Yu before sincerely saying, "Brother Guan, I am Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuan De. I wish to collaborate with like-minded individuals for great causes. It is truly a stroke of luck to meet you today." With that, Liu Bei gestured for Guan Yu to join them for drinks.
Seeing Liu Bei's courteous words and sincere gaze, Guan Yu felt a sense of goodwill arise within him. He stood up in return and said loudly, "Since you both are so earnest, how could I refuse? I am willing to risk my life for the sake of the people!"
The three of them immediately gathered around the table and discussed matters of the world. Zhang Fei was flushed with excitement as he drank heartily, pounding the table and shouting, "Now that we three have met, it must be fate! From this day forward, we shall embark on a grand venture together!"
Liu Bei raised his cup in agreement while Guan Yu nodded slightly. The three of them drank deeply. The flickering lights in the tavern illuminated their determined faces and ignited a flame of alliance that would change the course of their chaotic times.
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