Chapter 404: Underestimating One's Own Strength
As for the people of the world, Liu Bian specifically searched for Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, and Sun Jian, historical heroes, but found that except for Sun Jian serving as a separate department in Kuaiji, the other three are now in the capital city of Luoyang.
Sun Jian, courtesy name Wentai, is 24 years old this year. He is from Fuchun, Wu County, Yangzhou. Currently, he serves as the Assistant Officer of the Separate Division of Kuaiji Commandery and has made contributions in pacifying the Yellow Turbans.
Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande, 27 years old this year, from Zhuo County, Zhuo Prefecture, Youzhou, a descendant of Emperor Jing of Han and the grandson of Zhongshan Jing Wang, who has made contributions to the suppression of the Yellow Turbans, is currently waiting for his enfeoffment at the capital city post station.
Cao Cao, courtesy name Mengde, is thirty-three years old this year. He is from Qiao County, Pei State, Yan Province and currently serves as the Captain of the Cavalry. He has made contributions in pacifying the Yellow Turbans.
Yuan Shao, styled Benchu, is thirty-two years old this year. He is from Ruyang County, Runan Commandery. He comes from a family that has produced three high-ranking officials for four generations. Currently, he serves as the Central Army Supervisor and has made contributions in pacifying the Yellow Turbans.
As for Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, Liu Bei was aware that they were both serving as officials in the imperial court. However, he had not expected that Liu Bei was still waiting for orders in the capital, which meant that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei should also be with him.
Liu Bian recalled that Liu Bei and his two companions had waited in the capital for over a month, before they intercepted Zhang Jian's carriage on the road to Luoyang, and only then did their situation become known to Emperor Ling. Later, Liu Bei was appointed as the Magistrate of Anxi County in Zhongshan Commandery, Dingzhou.
However, after serving in Anxi County for more than four months, Zhang Fei got drunk and beat the inspector, so he returned his official seal and went home to move his family to escape to Dai Prefecture. He hid in the house of Liu Hui, the governor of Dai Prefecture, until Liu Yu led troops to eliminate the two Zhangs of Yuyang. Liu Bei was then recommended by Liu Hui, and later became the magistrate of Pingyuan County due to his military achievements.
"Unexpectedly, Liu, Guan and Zhang are in Luoyang, the capital city. Should I go see them?"
For many fans of the Three Kingdoms, the Oath of the Peach Garden between Liu, Guan and Zhang is a delightful story. Having traveled back to the late Han Dynasty, Liu Xuan learns that Liu, Guan and Zhang are in the capital city, and he cannot help but feel an overwhelming urge to meet them.
"What a wonderful thing it would be if I could keep the three of them by my side. However, Liu Bei's ambition is not small, and with the help of Zhang Fei and others, if I were to keep them by my side, wouldn't I become their puppet instead? But the biggest problem is, what do I have now? Just a prince's status, can I really keep them?"
Liu Bian's heart was filled with entanglements, but he soon made up his mind as the system suddenly sounded a prompt tone:
"Temporary task: Keep Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei in the capital for a month."
"Quest Reward: Increase combat power by a small level, 300 merit points, 5 faith points, and one set of Heavenly Silkworm Robes."
"Task Penalty: Reduce combat power by two small levels, deduct 600 merit points, and reduce faith by 10 points."
"Task progress, 0."
"It seems that this is a forced move, and now I have no choice but to go see Liu, Guan, and Zhang. But how can I keep them from leaving? If I fail to retain them, they will probably leave the capital within a month."
Liu Bian thought for a moment and decided to act immediately. However, he didn't go to the post station himself to look for Liu Guan Zhang San because he couldn't just go out. The Hu Lin army at the entrance of Shi Fu was both protecting him and restricting his actions, after all, he was only thirteen years old and had an extremely noble status.
"Come on in—"
Liu Bian shouted loudly, and immediately a maid came in from outside, asking respectfully: "What are your orders, Master Hou?"
"Have General Yu Lin send a few men to the capital's relay station and invite Liu Xuande, Guan Yunchang, and Zhang Yide to come to the mansion."
"Master Hou, who are they? These idle people shouldn't be allowed into the mansion, or else Her Ladyship will get angry."
"They are all my friends, whatever the matter is I will take care of it, you just send someone to invite them over, from now on the things I instruct do not need to be repeated, got it?"
Liu Bian immediately displayed his natural talent with a steady and majestic demeanor, and that servant girl was shocked, feeling the oppressive aura emanating from Liu Bian's gaze, and hastily lowered her head.
"Yes, Master Hou."
"Then go down."
"Lord Hou, there are many inns within the capital city, but I don't know which one of them the three people you're looking for are staying at?"
"I'm not quite sure about this either. Why don't you let them send a few more people out to ask around at each post station? Do you need to ask about such a small matter?"
Liu Bian's face was somewhat embarrassed, but soon he let out a cold snort, picked up the frame, and indeed that little girl was so scared that she repeatedly replied "yes", hastily retreating from Liu Bian's room.
However, Liu Bian heard her muttering to herself: "It's strange, after Shi Hou fell and got up, he seems like a different person. Just now his aura was intimidating, but I, your subject, really like this kind of Lord."
Liu Bian shook his head and stopped thinking about the affairs of Liu, Guan, and Zhang. Everything would be said when they came over. No matter what, he had to try, after all, he was a prince. With Liu Bei's temperament, he should be willing to fawn on him.
Calm down, Liu Bian began to sense his own inner strength, Pure Yang Tongzi Gong, because he had to practice this inner strength to a small success, that is, to unblock all twelve regular meridians, so as to ensure that he would not make a fool of himself on his wedding night.
However, Liu Bian secretly shook his head. He was only thirteen years old now and would be fourteen by the end of the year. It was really too early to get married at this age. In later generations, even their bodies were not fully developed yet.
Thinking that the one he was going to marry was also a 13 or 14-year-old little girl, Liu Bian suddenly felt somewhat disheartened. What flavor could a 13 or 14-year-old little girl possibly have? It's simply not something that can arouse any interest.
Forget it, when the time comes, find a reason to comfort her first, and then slowly cultivate it. When they are older and more mature in a few years, it's not too late to pick the forbidden fruit.
Before long, Liu Bian felt the operation route of Neigong Chunyang Tongzi Gong. It was running slowly along the twelve regular meridians inside the body. Gradually, Liu Bian found that his consciousness could control the speed of these internal airs, which would be much faster than their automatic operation speed.
However, the internal energy flow is not smooth because the meridians of the twelve regular channels have not been opened up. When the internal energy flows to these places, it will be extremely slow and can only flow thread by thread. If forced to circulate and impact, it will hurt like a needle prick.
However, according to the explanation of Neigong Pure Yang Tongzi Gong, the initial practice is to open up these twelve regular meridians, so pain is inevitable. Liu Bian gritted his teeth and controlled the internal energy to slowly impact the stagnant meridians one by one. Although it hurt like hell every time he opened up a meridian, after opening it up, it could make the internal energy stronger, making Liu Bian feel that the pain was not in vain.
It is by
