Chapter 3: Time Travel is Also Crazy

  Zhou Yu knew: With his super body and more than 100 years of technological and cultural knowledge in this world, he could do whatever small things he wanted to do without much difficulty.

  However, it's difficult to accomplish great things because one is lacking in foundation and two is lacking in strength and talent.

  Now that I've come all this way, I should probably do something about it, right? The road won't pave itself.

  Is it that Heaven itself must come to save this era, and the majority of China's bewildered and numb masses?

  Alas! It's a headache! Never mind! Let's confirm ourselves first. After confirming that we have indeed crossed through time and space, it's not too late to talk about it then!

  Just as Zhou Yu was lost in thought, the voice of a young man named Tian Ergou shouting his name rang out beside him, interrupting his train of thought.

  Zhou Yu came out from his hiding place and smiled as he greeted Tian Ergou.

  Tian Ergou took out a set of gray robes, trousers, and a pair of cloth shoes with a thousand layers. He handed them over to Zhou Yu, looking embarrassed and awkwardly explaining: "This suit is a bit old, sir, just make do with it."

  Zhou Yu hastily thanked him and put on his clothes and shoes.

  He knew this was Tian Ergou's best clothes.

  Because during this period, the world's clothing was not yet colorful and vibrant, but rather some very dull primary colors. As a member of the lower class, Tian Ergou owning such a set of clothes was extremely rare.

  Zhou Yu felt very awkward wearing the clothes, because Zhou Yu was 188 cm tall, while Tian Ergou was only around 160 cm, so he wore short sleeves, short pants legs, and small shoes that could only be used as slippers.

  The whole thing gives people a feeling like a clown in a later generation of wooden puppet show, super funny and ridiculous.

  Tian Ergou's face turned bright red as he struggled to hold back his laughter, while Zhou Yu couldn't help but burst into loud guffaws of "Hahaha..."

  Affected by Zhou Yu's laughter, Tian Ergou couldn't bear it anymore and also squatted on the ground, hugging his own belly, "puffing" with muffled laughter.

  Zhou Yu felt that he had never been so happy since ancient times. His gratitude to Tian Ergou was even deeper. He secretly decided to repay him well.

  After laughing for a while, Zhou Yu asked Tian Ergou: Are there any other people in your family? How's life now?

  "My family was killed by the French."

  Yuan Tian Ergou's ancestral home was in Guanxian, Shandong Province. He was forced to flee and became a farmer in a small mountain village north of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) in southern Vietnam.

  Later, the village was stormed by French troops, killing many people, including his family. If he hadn't followed Liu Yongfu to cultivate the land, he wouldn't have escaped either.

  Zhou Yu hastily patted Tian Ergou's shoulder in comfort and asked: "Are you willing to follow me?"

  Tian Ergou looked a bit constrained: "I know, sir, you are a great man, but I am following General Liu." The underlying meaning is that one cannot serve two masters at the same time.

  Alas! What a good person! Most people in this era are relatively simple and righteous, unlike those in later generations: even when saving someone, they need others to prove that they are indeed saving someone, lest the rescued person accuses them of having ulterior motives.

  For a little money, people can ignore their morals. Sometimes, the nation's people will lament: where is the moral bottom line of our country? (The author remembers seeing an elderly white-haired old man on a bus and getting up to give him his seat. What makes one think is that the old man actually scolded loudly, "Your eyes are blind! Can't you see I'm standing still? You want me to give up my seat!") Look at how good people are being treated, tears streaming down their faces!

  "Hurry up and say that nothing's wrong, and pretend to be very casual: 'Excuse me, what year and month is it now? Do you know?'"

  "It is now March 2nd of Guangxu year 6." Tian Ergou was very puzzled, but still answered Zhou Yu truthfully.

  Zhou Yu appeared to be casual: "I used the Western calendar in the countries of Taisi, which is March 2nd, 1880 AD." (For convenience, all subsequent times and place names will use modern expressions.)

  "Can you take me to see General Liu Yongfu now?"

  Tian Ergou paused for a moment: "Alright, but you can't do anything to betray General Liu! We all respect him and he takes good care of us. We don't want anyone to harm him!"

  "For this question, Zhou Yu answered very briefly: 'No, I also have great respect for General Liu. I came to him to discuss cooperation.'"

  Tian Ergou believed Zhou Yu: "Alright! Then I'll take you to see him, don't deceive me! Our General Liu doesn't like people bringing outsiders into the camp."

  Zhou Yu smiled and said "No, no!" in succession. In his heart, however, he thought that people of this era were truly pure and simple-minded.

  At the same time, I also made up my mind to make a big difference and change the fate of the Chinese nation, which has suffered from numerous disasters and hardships, so as not to waste this life in this era.

  All the way, Zhou Yu and Tian Ergou chatted casually, mostly with Zhou Yu asking questions and Tian Ergou answering. Time passed quickly, and the two of them turned into a small town behind, where there were some old people and some suspected soldiers who smiled and greeted Tian Ergou, while looking at Zhou Yu with strange and funny eyes.

  "It seems that the people here are quite xenophobic! I don't look like a monkey, do I? You don't have to look at me with those colored glasses! However, the spiritual appearance of these people is still not bad." Someone thought to themselves.

  After passing through the town, I entered a small mountainous area and passed through several checkpoints guarded by sentries. Before me appeared a mountain stronghold that didn't seem too large from the outside.

  Zhou Yu found that the entrance and exit of this stronghold were very small, belonging to the easy-to-defend-and-hard-to-attack type. After a round of inspection, Tian Ergou and Zhou Yu were allowed to enter the village.

  The village is not particularly large, with rows of simple houses built inside, Zhou Yu estimates that it can barely accommodate a few thousand people. In the center of the village, there is a suspected event hall, and on the empty land in front of the hall's entrance, someone has used bamboo poles to raise a black flag with seven stars painted on it.

  Zhou Yu was shot and searched.

  Then a small-headed person dressed him up and took him into the hall, while Tian Ergou was left outside, and he still smiled encouragingly at Zhou Yu.

  Zhou Yu gave him a reassuring and comforting look.

  Entering the hall, Zhou Yu found that the slightly dim hall was already filled with several people sitting on chairs on both sides. There were young and middle-aged men, all with a rather casual posture, whispering to each other as if they were discussing something.

  A man in his 40s with a lean face, dressed neatly and looking majestic, sat on the tiger skin chair in the center of the hall. He looked at Zhou Yu with a faint smile and said, "Sir, do you have something to ask me?"

  "May I ask if you are General Liu, the leader of the Black Flag Army? I am Zhou Yu, a humble scholar from Huaxia who has long heard of your great name. I suddenly came to visit today and hope that you will forgive my impertinence."

  A robust man stepped forward and said: "I dare not, I dare not. My humble name is Liu Yuanting, and this is Mr. Zhou. Please sit down, sir. May I ask what teachings you bring with you? And why are you dressed in such attire?"

  "I, Zhou Yu, have just returned from studying in the Western Regions and encountered a change on the road. This attire is due to the generosity of Tian Ergou and Tian Yishi, please forgive me for my appearance!"

  "This time I came to General's place, first, I want to discuss cooperation with the General, second, there are a few small questions that I am not comfortable asking but want to ask you, General." Zhou Yu said while scanning around with his eyes.

  Liu Yongfu said, "It doesn't matter if I speak frankly, gentlemen. Everyone present is a sworn brother who has gone through life and death together, so there's no need to avoid the subject."

  Zhou Yu's expression turned solemn and serious as he said: "Then I will be presumptuous."

  "I'd like to ask the general something here!"

  "What is your military law? What is the soul of the troops? What are the weapons and equipment of the troops? Does the general have money to develop military supplies? Is the general's food and grass also sufficient?"

  "Does the general have giant warships and cannons to defend against enemies? Does the general have talented people and what kind of technology? Can the general tell us about the Western countries, their national power, science and technology, laws and regulations, industry, how are they? Where does the general want to lead the Black Flag Army?"

  One of the youngest men in his early 20s stood up and loudly scolded:

  "You dare to speak to the general like that? Don't you want your dog life anymore?" As he spoke, he drew his rifle and aimed at Zhou Yu, ready to fire.

  Liu Yongfu hastily stood up and took a step forward to stop him: "Hold on! Cheng Liang, don't be impulsive. I know Mr. Zhou, you already have the answer yourself, right? Why not let's talk it through together?"

  Zhou Yu remained calm and unhurried, as if he hadn't been intimidated by the young man at all.

  In his heart, he secretly admired Liu Yongfu: 'He is indeed a man who can handle big things, with a calm and steady mind, not flustered or busy.'

  "But he said: "Yes, since the general is unwilling to instruct, then I will venture to say a word or two. In my humble opinion!"

  "1: The laws and regulations of the military, the legislative process of the military must be scientific, institutionalized, standardized, improve work efficiency, ensure the quality of laws and regulations, the name of military rules and regulations include general provisions, regulations, rules, methods, training outlines, orders, instructions, etc."

  "Two: The army's soul, a regularized army must make outstanding contributions to consolidating national defense, resisting aggression, defending the motherland, and defending the people's peaceful labor, participating in the state-building enterprise. I know that everyone is eager to serve their country!"

  "For this I wrote a song of a wandering son, 'My Heart Belongs to China'" said Zhou Yu, singing with his magnetic and emotional voice:

  Rivers and mountains exist only in my dreams

  The motherland has been away from me for many years

  But anyway

  It still can't change my Chinese heart.

  Western-style clothes are worn on the body,

  My heart remains a divine state of mind

  My ancestors

  Long ago, I branded everything of mine with the seal of China.

  Yangtze River, Great Wall, Yellow Mountain, Yellow River

  weighs heavily on my mind

  No matter when, no matter where

  In my heart, they are equally dear.

  The blood flowing in one's heart

  Resounding with the voice of China

  Even if you're in a foreign land

  Nor can it change my heart for China (shameless plagiarism)

  The crowd was moved to tears by his simple and easy-to-understand lyrics, and they all stood up, solemnly bowing to Zhou Yu.

  Among them was Liu Chengliang, the sworn son of Liu Yongfu who had just been in a difficult situation. The song expressed the passionate and surging Chinese hearts of these overseas wanderers.

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