Chapter Sixty: Rare Leisurely Stroll Encounters

  After selecting the soldiers, Liu Zhang walked down from the school platform. Those soldiers who had been standing upright all collapsed to the ground. Although they were also trained normally, they had never stood for a whole morning before. At first it was okay, during the exercise they could still move around and didn't feel too tired, but the real hardship was the last hour of standing. However, none of them knew that being selected by Liu Zhang meant standing for three or four hours every day was a normal occurrence.

  To be honest, these soldiers do not like Liu Zhang. They don't know what Liu Zhang can bring to them. And they can stand here, completely because they are not convinced. Those who can enter the Imperial Guard are all proud and arrogant. If it weren't for the strict selection process, why would the Feathered Forest Army be called the Emperor's Imperial Guard? But this little kid used his achievements to shut up these arrogant Imperial Guards, and even called them trash.

  It is often said that one cannot have a say in the matter without eating mantou. Those who can persist are the best among soldiers, at least they are the best among their peers. Their persistence is actually a silent protest against Liu Zhang. Little do they know, it is this very spirit of struggle that Liu Zhang values most, not fearing weakness but fearing lack of competitiveness!

  The rest of the matter was much simpler. Registration and organization, these 200,000 people were quickly organized with the assistance of Liu Hong's Xiao Huangmen, and divided under Zhang Ren and others. Grassroots military officers, except for retaining the original ones, were all appointed by Zhang Ren and others according to their abilities. As for how to evaluate the abilities of soldiers, it was very simple in the army: whoever had bigger fists was right. Of course, Zhang Ren and others also used their fists to subdue these imperial guards. However, it would still take time to subdue these arrogant and fierce generals. Liu Zhang needed the emperor's edict to lead this team out of Xiyuan. As a result, Zhang Ren and others were left in Xiyuan, under the pretext of "sharing joys and hardships with soldiers". When leaving Xiyuan, only Shi Ah was left by Liu Zhang's side. If Shi Ah wasn't a chivalrous hero who was good at killing people but not leading troops, he would probably be thrown into the army as well.

  Looking at the sun heading west, Liu Zhang felt it was time to head home. Although he had a good relationship with Liu Hong, he couldn't enter the palace when the gates were about to close. It would be awkward if he could get in but not out later. Walking slowly along Luoyang Street, Liu Zhang headed home, enjoying this leisurely stroll and savoring the tranquility of being alone amidst the bustle, perhaps this was the beauty of solitude.

  Suddenly, a person rushed into Liu Zhang's arms. Liu Zhang subconsciously held him up, but didn't let go of him. Liu Zhang knew that in the bustling city, being suddenly bumped by someone was probably a pickpocket. However, when Liu Zhang took a closer look, he realized he had misunderstood. Because this person was not only a child, but also a child dressed in luxurious clothes.

  "Let me go!" The child cried out: "I have an urgent matter, hurry up and let go of me!"

  Looking at the family slaves rushing over from a distance and the child by his side, Liu Zhang couldn't help but smile. He could tell that this kid was a mischievous imp, so he didn't let go of the child until the child's family slaves rushed over. Among these family slaves, there was one who seemed to be the leader, who said to Liu Zhang: "Thank you, young master, for your help. If we had let the young master run away, I would have been in trouble when we got back!"

  "It's all your fault!" The child shouted: "Why are you blocking me?"

  "It's very dangerous for you to run around outside like this!" Liu Zhang said with a smile as he looked at the child.

  "What business is it of yours?"

  "It's none of my business!" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "But what if something happens to you, your parents will be heartbroken!"

  "The... " The child was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly bowed and said: "Thank you, sir, for your guidance!"

  Liu Zhang was very satisfied, a child who is mischievous, as long as they can take care of their parents' feelings, is a good child. A filial person, no matter how vicious, won't go too far astray. Liu Zhang patted the child's head and said: "Think about what you want to do, just discuss it clearly with your parents, unless it's something wrong, otherwise your parents shouldn't refuse. Go back and discuss it with your parents, don't sneak out again!"

  The child smiled bitterly and said: "I've already discussed it with my parents, but they didn't agree, so I secretly ran out."

  "Oh?" Liu Zhang asked in surprise: "What do you want to do? Is it something bad?"

  The child hastily waved his hand and said: "How could I do something bad! I just wanted to see the champion Marquis, but my parents didn't allow it!"

  "It turned out to be a star chaser!" Liu Zhang smiled and asked: "Why did you want to see Champion Hou?"

  The child twisted and said: "I heard that the champion Hou led two thousand horses into the Wuman King's court, more fierce than the champion Hou of Emperor Wu's time, so I want to see him."

  Liu Zhang asked again: "Then after seeing him, what do you want to do?"

  "Uh..." The child was taken aback, clearly having never thought of this before.

  Liu Zhang smiled and said, "At your age, you should focus on learning well. Maybe one day, you can surpass Crown Prince Hou. At that time, you might be able to stand proudly beside him, or even in front of him!"

  "I understand! Thank you, sir, for your teachings!" The child bowed solemnly to Liu Zhang again and said: "Sir's guidance is a great virtue, I have nothing to repay it with. May I ask for your name?"

  Liu Zhang smiled and said: "Champion Marquis Liu Zhang!"

  The child's eyes widened in an unbelievable expression and asked: "Are you the champion Hou Liu Zhang?"

  "I guarantee it!"

  The child suddenly burst out laughing: "It seems that my luck is really good, every time I want my father to take me to visit you, he is unwilling, and I didn't expect to meet you on the road!"

  "Oh?" Liu Zhang smiled and asked: "It seems your father knows me, I wonder who he is?"

  "My father is Zhou Yi, the governor of Luoyang!" The child seemed very proud and admiring of his own father, and Liu Zhang also had a good impression of Zhou Yi. However, the child's next sentence left Liu Zhang stunned, because he said: "My name is Zhou Yu!"

  "My goodness, how could I have forgotten that Zhou Yu's old man used to be the governor of Luoyang?" Liu Zhang's heart was in a knot. It was rare for him to take a stroll on the street, and yet he ran into one of the most famous strategists of the Three Kingdoms period. Looking at the five or six year-old Zhou Yu, Liu Zhang really wanted to say to Sun Ce: "Sorry!"

  Liu Zhang suddenly looked stunned, then again with a look of extreme joy. Xiao Zhou Yu felt a little nervous, it's normal to feel uneasy when meeting one's idol for the first time. Little did he know, in his past life, Zhou Yu was also Liu Zhang's idol. Who would have thought that the great general Zhou Yu, with his impressive appearance and heroic spirit, would be someone else's servant? The only thing that made Liu Zhang slightly conflicted was that Xiao Qiao was now his maid!

  "Master, you'd better hurry home!" The house slaves were also stunned upon learning of Liu Zhang's identity. However, their duties did not allow them to continue being stunned. Heaven knows, if the Lord of Luoyang returns home and finds his son missing, won't he flay them all?

  Zhou Yu looked at the family slaves, then looked at Liu Zhang, and was very hesitant in his heart. Liu Zhang knew that Zhou Yu wanted to get close to him, and he also wanted to win over Zhou Yu. So Liu Zhang pulled up Zhou Yu's small hand and said to the family slaves: "You first send someone back to inform, just say that Crown Prince Hou Liu Zhang has come to visit, and your young master will go back with me, how about it?"

  When Liu Zhang said so, the family slaves had no opinion. Not to mention Liu Zhang's status, even Zhou Yu would not honestly go home, rather than looking for trouble, it's better to follow Liu Zhang's words. And when Zhou Yu heard that Liu Zhang was going to visit his house, he was excited and didn't know what his surname was.

  The servant of the Zhou family left, and Liu Zhang also let Shi Ah return to send a message, while he slowly walked towards the Luoyang Commandery with Zhou Yu's small hand in his. When the Luoyang Commander learned that Liu Zhang had arrived, he was also somewhat excited. Even if it wasn't for Liu Zhang's identity, he would have been excited about his achievements. In the eyes of aristocratic families, Liu Zhang's bloodline and status were high enough, but in the eyes of humble families, Liu Zhang not only had a noble status, but also great achievements, especially for practical people like Luoyang Commander Zhou Yi.

  Arriving at the Zhou residence, Zhou Yi had already opened the main gate and was waiting at the entrance. Liu Zhang saw Zhou Yi and hastily stepped forward to pay his respects, saying: "Lord Zhou, I have come uninvited; I hope you will forgive me!"

  "Champion Hou, don't be so polite! You're a rare guest who's hard to invite!" Zhou Yi waved his hand and said: "Champion Hou, please come in!"

  "Lord Zhou, please!" After the exchange of pleasantries, Liu Zhang and Zhou Yu entered the Zhou residence hand in hand. Once they were seated, Liu Zhang stated his intention, and Zhou Yu looked at him with some inexplicable surprise. Originally, Zhou Yu had thought that Liu Zhang's visit was an excuse to win him over through Zhou Yu. But he never expected that Liu Zhang had actually come for Zhou Yu's sake. If someone else had said they valued Zhou Yu, Zhou Yu might have had some ideas about it. But Liu Zhang was different; just based on the brothers he employed, Zhou Yu couldn't help but be convinced.

  Since Liu Zhang came to visit, Zhou Yi naturally couldn't be slow, and a family banquet was inevitable. Under Liu Zhang's deliberate efforts, Zhou Yi and Zhou Yu's good feelings towards him rose to a height. And children are the most easily influenced, when Zhou Yu knew that Liu Zhang was only thirteen years old, the admiration and worship in his eyes never dissipated again.

  As Liu Bei was about to leave, he put on a brotherly appearance and patted Zhou Yu's head, telling him to study hard, practice martial arts well, and work together with him in the future to make great achievements and bring peace to the Han Dynasty. Little Zhou Yu saw his idol and was inspired by him, his small fist clenched tightly, and a strong sense of determination burst out from his body, which made Zhou Yi somewhat inexplicably surprised.

  Liu Zhang left the Zhou residence, but he brought about a tremendous change to the Zhou family. Originally playful and mischievous, Zhou Yu surprisingly calmed down and started studying diligently, reading books and practicing martial arts every day without stopping, and often seeking advice from Zhou Yi. This change was something that any parent would be delighted to see, and Zhou Yi was also very grateful to Liu Zhang.

  Under Liu Biao's wining and dining, Zhou Yu and his father gradually got closer to him. Before long, Zhou Yu completely became Liu Biao's younger brother. Zhou Yu also promised that after he finished learning, he would definitely come to help Liu Biao. The ancients valued promises, so when Zhou Yu said this, Liu Biao was overjoyed. However, Liu Biao remembered that Zhou Yu had poor health and died young, so he passed on the Tai Chi Fist to Zhou Yu, hoping it could change his fate of dying young.

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