Chapter 6: Discussion on Yellow Turbans

  Guan Yu and the other two had been out for seven days without returning. For the past seven days, Guan Chen had been taking care of Dian Shi and Dian Man's meals, and otherwise practicing alone.

  On the eighth day, Chen arrived in the morning. The weapon he had made for himself was a pair of nunchucks. Chen was very fond of his own weapon and after returning to the hotel, he kept practicing in the backyard. Guan Chen could see that Chen's nunchuck skills were quite formidable: not only was it extremely fast, but also very powerful. When he danced with it, it made a loud humming noise, even blowing up the dust on the windowsill. When the nunchucks hit the ground, they directly smashed out a small pit.

  "Good!"

  Just as Guan Chen was absorbed in his thoughts, he heard a loud shout of admiration from next door. He thought it was Dian Wei returning, but soon realized it wasn't him, since Dian's residence was to his right, and the voice came from the left. Guan Chen looked up to see a middle-aged man with a big beard, who loudly said: "Sir, would you like to come up and have a chat?"

  Chen Dao heard this and shook his head, saying: "My master lives next door to you, if there's anything, go find my master." Chen Dao said that and continued practicing with his sword.

  The big-bearded man looked at Guan Chen and smiled, cupping his fists in greeting: "Sir, may I come over and have a word with you? I have something to say to you."

  Guān Chén smiled and clasped his fists in response: "Big Brother, if you have something on your mind, come over and let's talk it through."

  "Alright, brother wait a moment." Big Beard finished speaking and closed the window. Guan Chen smiled slightly and continued to watch Chen Dao dance with his sword. A moment later, knocking sounds came from Guan Chen's door.

  "Please come in."

  "Good sir, I'm afraid Gong Hai has disturbed your rest. It's just that he has something on his mind that he can't get off his chest. May I ask your honorable surname?" said the big-bearded man with a clasped fist.

  "Please come in and sit down, Brother Guan." Guan Chen smiled as he spoke.

  Guan Hai didn't stand on ceremony and sat down beside the table as soon as he came in, saying: "Young Master, you still haven't told me your honorable surname."

  At this time, Guan Chen was a bit distracted. He thought of the various things about the Yellow Turban Rebellion: although there was Zhang Jiao's deception, but were the peasant uprisings really voluntary? He didn't expect that at this moment, the important leader of the Yellow Turbans, Guan Hai, was sitting right in front of him. Hearing Guan Hai ask again about his origins, he quickly came back to himself and said: "Brother Guan, my name is Guan Chen, style name Cloud Heaven, from Hedong."

  Guan Hai heard this and laughed loudly, saying: "So it's Lord Guan's son. May I ask, sir: who is the person playing with a ball downstairs?"

  "My attendant!" Guan Chen said calmly.

  Guan Hai heard this and stood up, kneeling down to Guan Yu: "Please, young master, take charge for the sake of the common people!"

  Guan Chen pretended to be surprised and said: "Brother Guan, please get up quickly! As for governing the people of the world, that is a matter for the imperial family. What can I, an ordinary citizen, do about it?"

  Guan Hai heard this and stood up, saying: "In today's world, the people are suffering! Corrupt officials are rampant, and evil officials are everywhere! People like us who have knowledge should stand up for the common people. Now there is a great and virtuous teacher, Zhang Jiao, who has received the will of heaven to save the common people from their suffering. Someone as talented as you, sir, should actively respond!"

  Guan Chen thought to himself: How easy is it to persuade a believer not to believe in what he believes! After Guan Hai finished speaking, Guan Chen smiled and said: "Brother Guan, I think you are a reasonable person. I'd like to ask, do you really believe that Zhang Jiao can lead us to save the common people?"

  "Of course! Master Tian can always rescue the sick from the midst of water and fire, and with his extraordinary wisdom, he will surely bring a bright and prosperous world to all the people." Guan Hai made a fist at the sky.

  "Brother Guan, the world is unpredictable! Although people can change reality, it requires all factors to be mature. Your ideal is beautiful, and that's also my ideal, but we're not on the same path now. I hope that one day when you encounter difficulties, you'll remember me, your little brother, and our conversation today. Let's work together towards achieving our goals."

  "Haha... Brother, you're worrying too much. However, if one day you've thought it through and want to come back, there's always a place for you by my side, as well as for that brother downstairs."

  Guan Chen heard this and smiled in response: "Thank you for your kind intentions, Guan big brother! Yun Tian has taken note of it!"

  With a creak, the door was pushed open and Guan Yu walked in, carrying a nine-foot long Qinglong Yanyue knife and wearing a three-foot long sword at his waist.

  "Brother! You're back!" Guan Chen exclaimed with surprise and delight.

  Guan Hai stood up, clasped his fists and said: "Another hero has arrived! Delighted to meet you! Cloud Tian brothers, since your brother is back, I'll take my leave now. Be sure to remember our in-depth conversation today."

  Guan Xuan heard this and clasped his fists in respect: "Please rest assured, elder brother Guan. I will remember it in my heart. Farewell, elder brother Guan!"

  Guan Yu said after he left. After Guan Yu left, Guan Yu casually asked: "Who is this person? It looks like a good hand too, why didn't you think of ways to keep him? You will want to make things happen in the future, and having more helpers is better."

  Guan Chen heard this and smiled bitterly: "Brother, you're right, but for now, I still can't recruit Guan Da Ge, he has his own things to attend to, he's the one who came to recruit us."

  "Who? Invite us? Which side is he on?" Guan Yu asked curiously.

  Guan Yu did not immediately respond to Guan Yu's words, but instead sighed and said: "Guan Da Ge is not a saint, he is a leader of the Yellow Turbans, who joined the Yellow Turbans for the ideal of saving the world's suffering people, they are all poor people!"

  Guan Yu sat down beside Guan Xing and said: "Isn't the Yellow Turbans a religious organization? Those who believe in it are all weak people in life, we don't need to bother with them."

  Guan Yu heard this and smiled bitterly, shaking his head at Yuyu. He didn't say anything else, nor did Guan Yu ask again.

  On the ninth day, Dian Wei returned alone. As soon as he arrived, Guan Yu and his two companions surrounded him to see what kind of weapon he had forged. Dian Wei drew out from behind his back a pair of iron halberds, then opened up his newly purchased outer garment, revealing at his waist a row of small iron halberds the size of palm trees.

  Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Liu Bei and Guan Ping each held a small iron spear with a smile. Liu Bei looked at Guan Yu's large knife and Chen Dao's double halberds, and carefully examined Guan Ding's sword. The four of them were overjoyed.

  "Three brothers, why don't we eat our fill first and then set off? The space here is too small for a competition. We can continue once we arrive at the mountain."

  "Good!" The three of them agreed in unison. After that, Guan Chen and the others had another big meal together, bought some dry rations, and then left Dongjun City.

  Guan Chen arrived at the Taihang Mountains with his entourage, and then he summoned Black Tiger and Wild Ox, which gave Chen Dao a fright. Seeing that the massive Black Tiger and Wild Ox were so obedient to Guan Chen, Chen Dao was even more astonished, using his mouth to bite his fingers in shock.

  Later, several people found a flat grassland to engage in a trial of strength. First were Guan Yu and Di Yan, because Guan Yu's large knife was a long-handled weapon suitable for cavalry battles, while Di Yan's double-headed spear was a short-handled weapon suitable for infantry battles. Even so, after a hundred rounds, neither Guan Yu nor Di Yan could gain the upper hand.

  Guan Chen looked at the messy grass and then admired the two of them after they had exchanged fifty moves. Guan Chen smiled loudly and said, "Two brothers should stop here! After all, it's just a spar, both of you have reservations in your hearts, but even so, both of your skills are still eye-opening for me."

  Guan Yu and Jian Yong stopped what they were doing, then hugged each other and burst out laughing. This laugh was a mutual recognition of each other, this laugh laid the foundation for countless years of friendship to come, this laugh was a heartfelt admiration for each other.