Chapter 58: Lu Zhi's Mansion Encounters Da Er

  Others have already begun to sharpen their knives, preparing to take action against themselves. Zhao Xing, who has always liked to take the initiative, would not wait for his own demise. He wrote several secret letters that night and arranged for four or five clever servants to disguise themselves as merchants. They left Yongmen early the next morning and rushed to Shangdang.

  Zhao Xing himself didn't idle around, early in the morning he brought the best Longhe Daqu and four-color gifts to visit Lu Zhi's mansion near Taixue. Speaking of Lu Zhi, some friends might not remember him at once, but as soon as I mention another person, you'll understand. Lu Zhi was the teacher of Big Ears Beibei! Who is Big Ears Beibei? Please, it's Liu Bei, Liu Xuande!

  According to historical records: Lu Zhi, also known as Zigang, was a native of Zhuo County in Zhuo Prefecture (he and Zhang Fei were fellow townspeople). He was eight feet two inches tall, with a voice like a bell. In his youth, he studied together with Zheng Xuan under Ma Rong, and was well-versed in both ancient and modern knowledge, exceling at profound research but not adhering to chapter and verse. Rong's family was wealthy and influential, often having female entertainers perform music and dance before him. Zhi attended lectures for many years without ever glancing around, which earned Rong's respect. After completing his studies, he returned home and taught the classics. He had a strong and resolute character with great integrity, always harboring ambitions to save the world, disliking flowery language, and able to drink one stone of wine.

  The translation of the text is:

  What this passage means is that Lu Zhi was very tall and had a loud voice. When he was young, he became a student of Ma Rong. His teacher Ma Rong was an old man who didn't behave himself properly, even at his advanced age, he still liked to have a group of singing girls dance in front of his students. Lu Zhi, on the other hand, was completely focused on reading the classics and didn't even bat an eyelid! After Lu Zhi finished his studies, he shut himself indoors and taught his own students.

  Lu Zhi is a man of strong character and integrity, with a desire to save the people from suffering. He doesn't like to indulge in frivolous activities like reciting poetry or pretending to be mysterious. Most importantly, Lu Zhi can drink a huge amount of alcohol, able to down 25 kilograms of wine in one sitting! In Zhao Xing's eyes, as long as someone likes to drink, they are a good comrade worth uniting with.

  All the way, Zhao Xing was muttering to himself: Logically speaking, when the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out next year, at that time, Dian Wei had just run to Zhang Fei's house in Zhuo County to swindle food and drink, and met Guan Yunchang again. As a result, several drunkards with red faces and thick necks became sworn brothers. So now, would Liu Bei be studying at Lü Bu's mansion? It's really possible.

  Arriving at the mansion, Zhao Xing reported his name and title. The gatekeeper heard that the newly appointed General of Pacifying the North had come to pay respects to his master, so he hastily reported it.

  After a while, a man in his twenties with a clean and elegant appearance walked out, bowed to Zhao Xing and said: "My master is practicing martial arts at the back of the hall, please follow me, General Zhao."

  He saw that the newcomer had two striking features: his arms were longer and his ears were bigger and thicker, with very large earlobes. Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart, and asked, "May I ask your honorable surname and given name?"

  "Student of Zhuo County, Liu Bei!"

  "Wah, indeed it's Liu Bei!" Zhao Xing was overjoyed in his heart. "Rank is a heavy burden on people, I'm seven or eight years younger than him, but I have an official position, and when Liu Bei sees me, he has to address me as his superior, haha!"

  Following Liu Bei through the corridors and courtyards, they arrived at the back garden of Lu's mansion. There, a middle-aged man in his fifties was holding a precious sword, swinging it vigorously to left and right, his feet moving in a circular motion with perfect technique, his steps steady and powerful, clearly a master swordsman.

  Zhao Xing knew that Lu Zhi was a master of military strategy, and in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, he was one of the few people who excelled in both literature and martial arts. But what he didn't know was that apart from being well-versed in Confucianism, Lu Zhi had also persisted in practicing martial arts, which made him a skilled swordsman. It's likely that Liu Bei's own martial skills were learned from his teacher as well.

  "The students have seen Master Lu!" Zhao Xing stood aside and bowed respectfully towards Lu Zhi.

  "Enough idle chatter! General Zhao is praised by the current Emperor as 'Zhao Yun of the present day', surely his martial arts skills are not bad, come and exchange a few moves with me!" Lu Zhi didn't buy it at all.

  "What the heck is this old man singing about?" Zhao Xing was very annoyed in his heart. "I reckon it's because he saw me being protected by the eunuch Zhang Rang on the imperial court yesterday, and thought I'm in cahoots with those eunuchs. He must be holding a grudge! Well, let me play along with him for a bit! Fighting Guan Yu and Zhao Yun is no big deal, heh heh, fighting Lu Zhi will be a piece of cake! Just you watch!"

  Zhao Xing picked up a long spear from the weapon rack and rushed forward.

  Lu Zhi's swordsmanship is like his character, upright and majestic, with a sense of rhythm, but lacks the ferocity and adaptability; Zhao Xing's spear technique has both the ferocity of Guan Yu and the lightness of Zhao Yun, and most importantly, it also has the ruthlessness and cunning of a special forces operative. As for the length of the weapon, while there is the saying "one inch short, one inch dangerous", there is also the saying "one inch long, one inch strong".

  Zhao Xing's long spear was aimed at Lu Zhi's face, but in an instant it changed direction and struck downwards, its movement as unpredictable as a ghost. Lu Zhi was caught off guard by Zhao Xing's fierce attack, his own movements becoming frantic and uncontrolled, each strike more ferocious than the last. Liu Bei watched from the side, his eyes wide with amazement.

  "Dingdang" only heard a crisp sound, but it was Lu Zhi's long sword that was knocked to the ground by Zhao Xing. The outcome of this battle is naturally already decided. Wanting Zhao Xing to play fake ball with you? No way! You, Lu Zhi, are now a Shangshu, but your official rank is just about the same as mine. Although I, the Pingbei General, bought my title with money, it was still stamped with the emperor's seal, and I am a genuine official.

  "Good, Guo Chang is indeed exceptional in martial arts!" Lu Zhi, who had been defeated, surprisingly showed a face full of delight, without any realization of having lost to someone.

  "Still yielding to Director Lu!" Zhao Xing chuckled casually.

  "Stop flattering! Your martial arts skills are better than mine, I admit it!" Lu Zhi said with a big smile.

  "Mr. Zi Gan is broad-minded and elegant in demeanor, Guo Chang has learned a lot from him!" Zhao Xing sincerely admired and stepped forward to bow again.

  "May I ask what brings General Zhao, who is as pleased as a spring breeze, to our humble abode today?" asked Lu Zhi.

  "No need for anything else, I've heard that Lu Shangshu can drink a lot. Today Guo Chang brought wine and came here, just to get drunk!" Zhao Xing took on a challenging posture.

  "Good! But did you bring that top-grade Long River Great Curve wine?" Lu Zhi's eyes lit up at the words, not hiding his longing for good wine.

  "That's right, it's more than enough!" Zhao Xing said with a smile.

  At this time, Lu's housekeeper ran to Lu Zhi's ear and whispered a few words, but saw that after hearing the words, Lu Zhi's face changed greatly.

  "General Zhao, this time you've sent such a big gift, but how can Lu repay you?!" Lu Zhi said with some excitement. It turned out that the servant from the Lu household had told Lu Zhi that Zhao Xing had brought a cartload of fine wine to the Lu household.

  "Haha, don't worry, Lu Shangshu! Everyone says 'Zi Gan Shi Jiu', but if Guo Chang doesn't bring some good wine next time, I'm afraid it won't be enough for Director Lu to drink in one go!" Zhao Xing said with a loud laugh.

  "Good! Guo Chang is indeed a generous person! Lu Mou was not polite at all! Yesterday, in the North Palace, while drinking, the Emperor was so petty! Only one table could get one jar, just as Lu Mou's wine worm was about to come out, but there was no follow-up, it's really frustrating! " Lu Zhi dragged Zhao Xing and rushed to the living room.

  Before long, the servant had arranged a table of wine and dishes. Lu Zhi and Zhao Xing drank together, with Liu Bei and several other students keeping them company. When the food was hot and the wine was plentiful, Lu Zhi spoke up: "Guo Chang, do you think wealth can bring joy to people?"

  "No!" Zhao Xing replied with his mouth, but thought in his heart "It seems that the martial arts competition is over, and now it's time for the literary competition."

  "Does beauty bring joy?"

  In his heart, Zhao Xing actually agreed, but he said "Not so!"

  "Can high office and large salary bring happiness?"

  "Not so!"

  "What can bring joy to people?" Lu Zhi threw the ball over.

  "What brings joy to all under heaven is what I have found pleasure in!" Zhao Xing replied calmly.

  "Good! For Guo Chang's words, I should drink a whole tank!" After finishing speaking, Lu Zhi picked up the wine tank and started drinking.

  "For goodness' sake! What we're drinking is 75-degree Langhe Daqu, not some homemade rice wine from your family!" Zhao Xing muttered to himself. What a joke, one jar of wine, several kilograms, and you'll be carried back home after finishing it!

  "What a good wine!" Lu Zhu drank up the whole jar of wine as if it were water. Zhao Xing and Liu Bei exchanged glances, looking at the empty wine jar with worry.

  "Guo Chang, drink......", "Ka Dang", the waiting sound finally rang out, Lu Zhi fell down and lost consciousness.

  At the gate of Lu's mansion, Zhao Xing bid farewell to Liu Bei and got on his carriage, returning to Yonghe Ward.

  In the back hall of Lu's mansion, Lu Zhi, who was originally drunk, sat in front of the hall with a stern expression, and standing in front of him were his own students.

  "Xuande, you are good at observing people, what do you think of this child?" Lu Zhi asked Liu Bei.

  "It will certainly be a great thing in the future!" Liu Bei replied.

  "Indeed! I observe that this young man has a hundred million troops hidden in his chest, with ambitions for the world, both literary and martial talents, and abundant family wealth. His future is boundless!" Lu Zhi said solemnly.

  "Yesterday, Taifu had a private meeting with me and wanted to eliminate this son. What does Xuande think?" Lu Zhi asked again.

  "If you want to take action, you must do it early. If you wait until its wings are fully grown, it will be too late!" Liu Bei replied.

  "Tai Fu Yuan Wei harbors a private grudge, wanting to borrow a knife to kill someone!" Lu Zhi sneered, "That Zhao Xing had never met him before, just an upstart from Shangdang, yet Tai Fu wants to eliminate him and feel at ease. It's because this son has risen too quickly, and in the future may shake the foundations of the Yuan family's enterprise!"

  "What we discussed today must not be leaked out! We just need to sit back and watch the two tigers fight, I'm afraid that Yuan Wei will get a big slap in the face this time!"

  "We obey your orders!" everyone responded in unison.