Chapter Thirteen Joy and Sorrow Intertwined

  Last time, Li Yu won a great victory! Dong Zhuo's 600,000-strong army was annihilated, and relying on Lü Bu's bravery, they broke through Li Yu's encirclement and escaped back to Chang'an! Liu Bei personally went to Tianshui City to welcome Li Yu's triumphant return. He generously rewarded the officials and gave a grand reward to the soldiers of the three armies.

  After the war, Li Yu led Guo Jia and Chen Gong, Tian Feng, Fa Zheng, Liu Ba, Jian Yong, Huang Quan, and Zhang Song to comprehensively count the military resources and grain within the borders of Yi Province. In the end, they counted that there were enough military resources and grain for five years of use in Yi Province, and if a major disaster or war occurred, it would be sufficient for three years.

  Li Yu continued to lead Guo Jia, Chen Gong, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Xu Huang, and Zhang Liao to count the remaining soldiers within Yi Province and prepare to provide assistance to the martyrs. In the end, they counted that there were 670,000 troops in Yi Province, with an additional tens of thousands who had recently surrendered.

  Li Yu and Guo Jia, Chen Gong, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Xu Huang, and Zhang Liao discussed and decided to deploy troops as follows:

  * Tian Shui City would have 100,000 troops, with 50,000 cavalry and 50,000 infantry led by Zhao Yun.

  * Qi Shan Pass would have 100,000 troops, with 50,000 cavalry and 50,000 infantry led by Zhang Liao.

  * Xia Bian City would have 50,000 troops, with 40,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry led by Xu Huang.

  * Yang Ping Pass would have 50,000 troops, with 30,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry led by Wu An Guo.

  These two armies were mainly responsible for rapid reinforcement. No matter which city or pass was attacked or fought, they could quickly reinforce each other and cooperate flexibly.

  Zi Tong City would have 50,000 troops, all of whom were cavalry, led by Guan Yu, who was in charge of the overall situation on both fronts.

  The three cities and two passes were combined to form the Yi Province First Military District - Zi Tong Military District (Tian Shui City, Xia Bian City, Zi Tong City, Qi Shan Pass, and Yang Ping Pass). A total of 170,000 cavalry and 180,000 infantry were deployed, with a total of 350,000 troops.

  Guan Yu was the commander, Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao were deputy commanders, Xu Huang was the chief of staff, and Tian Feng was the political commissar and military advisor. He worked with Jian Yong to grasp the development situation of all cities and passes within the First Military District. Jian Yong was in charge of the development and recruitment of the three cities and two passes within the First Military District.

  Li You has deployed 100,000 troops in Jiangzhou City, with 50,000 cavalry and 50,000 infantry under the command of Zhang Fei. In Xiamao Pass, he has also deployed 100,000 troops, with 50,000 cavalry and 50,000 infantry under the command of Zhang Ren. The city of Jiangzhou and Xiamao Pass are divided into the Second Military District, with a total deployment of 200,000 troops, including 100,000 infantry and 100,000 cavalry. Zhang Fei is appointed as the commander, Zhang Ren as the deputy commander, and Huang Quan as the political commissar and military advisor. They will work together with Guo You to grasp the development situation in Jiangzhou City, Xiamao Pass, and the Second Military District. All cities and passes within the jurisdiction of the Second Military District are sealed off by Guo You.

  Li Yu again dispatched 1.7 million troops to Chengdu! Among them, 1.2 million infantrymen and 500,000 cavalrymen! Li Yu personally took command, Yan Yan as deputy commander! Guo Jia as political commissar, Chen Gong as chief of staff! The three armies were arranged in a ratio, each preparing to rush to the border area!

  Finally, Li Yu decided to discuss with Liu Bei and decided that Li Yu would be the commander-in-chief of the three armies, hanging the yuan shuai seal! Guo Jia was a military strategist and political commissar! Guan Gong and Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Chen Gong four people were deputy commanders! If the war required Li Yu and Guo Jia, Guan Gong, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Chen Gong six people could jointly mobilize all troops! Moreover, during military meetings to discuss issues, Li Yu had one veto vote! Without Li Yu, the other five people could not mobilize the Jingdi troops, unless Li Yu was on an expedition outside. It can be said that at this time, Li Yu held great power, and his position in Yizhou was second only to Han Xing Wang Liu Bei!

  Liu Bei ordered the three armies to rest and reorganize, rewarding them for ten days! It was decided that each would set out on their own in half a month's time! Meanwhile, Dong Zhuo led his defeated troops back to Chang'an.

  At this time, Li Yu's name was like the sun in the sky, and his reputation spread throughout China! The other lords also heard repeatedly that Li Yu defeated Dong Zhuo's army, several times with a weak enemy strong, defeating Dong Zhuo! Even Cao * launched several attacks on Tongguan from Luoyang, but unfortunately, Dong Zhuo's Tongguan garrison troops were exhausted and fought to the death in resistance! In the end, Cao * returned without success!

  But at this time, the overall situation in the world is also changing!

  Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan have fought several battles, with Gongsun Zan winning less often than losing. Now Gongsun Zan has occupied the entire Ji Province and half of You Province, as well as the whole of Bing Province, with an army of over a million men! He has replaced Dong Zhuo as the number one warlord in the world!

  Cao Cao defeated the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou and Chengdu, and repeatedly defeated Yuan Shu's troops in Yuzhou, capturing the entire territory of Yuzhou! Although not as powerful as Dong Zhuo and Yuan Shao, he was still a regional warlord with considerable strength. Moreover, at this time Cao Cao had captured the former capital city of Luoyang! His military momentum was now at its peak!

  Kong You occupies Runan City and Jiaozhou!

  Taoran occupied the whole territory of Xuzhou!

  Kong Rong, descendant of Confucius, occupies Beihai!

  Zhang Su occupied Wan City and had once taken Chang'an, but was ultimately defeated by Cao *, now hiding in Wan City!

  Dong Zhuo occupies Xiliang and Chang'an!

  Yuan Shu was defeated several times by Cao in Yuzhou and is now hiding in Huainan.

  At this time, Sun Jian occupied the entire Jiangdong region and was not to be underestimated. Moreover, he was busy recruiting soldiers and buying horses, preparing to seize Huainan!

  Liu Biao has no great ambition, and his territory still occupies Jingzhou without any change!

  Zhang Lu has been hiding in Hanzhong since he was defeated by Liu Bei at Bazhi, and no longer dares to challenge the army of Yi Province!

  All other vassals have been eliminated by this chaotic world and have exited the stage of history!

  Li Yu then requested Liu Bei to sincerely invite all the virtuous monks within the borders of Yi Province to hurry to the former battlefield of the two armies, to superintend the departed souls of the fallen soldiers of both armies!

  Li Yu is a Buddhist believer, so he would have such a request! Moreover, Li Yu sincerely offered Buddha, so many enlightened monks came uninvited!

  And it can be said that at this time, Yizhou can be described as a Buddhist Pure Land!

  At this time, Li Yu personally wore a kasaya, holding a rosary among many high-ranking monks! To help the souls of the dead soldiers from both armies transcend to the afterlife!

  Li Yu led the way, opening his mouth to recite: "The generals and soldiers who have fallen in battle, regardless of whose side you were on in the past, please listen to me today. If you take refuge in the Buddha, you will not enter hell, if you take refuge in the Buddha, you will not become an evil spirit! If you take refuge in the Sangha, you will not be reborn as a beast! Today I transmit the sublime and wonderful Dharma of Shakyamuni Buddha, you must listen carefully and truly, do not miss the opportunity to enter paradise!"

  "Many high monks together opened their mouths to recite the sutra, saying: 'We vow that all sentient beings will always pay homage to the supreme Buddha, and forever escape the cycle of birth and death. We vow that all sentient beings will hear the correct Dharma in every lifetime, and never fall into evil views.' Li Yu and many high monks together opened their mouths to recite the Supreme *往生咒 (Rebirth Mantra) saying: 'Namo Amitabha, Namo Amitayus, Mahasattva, Amitabha Buddha, Mahakaruna, Adhomukha, Svaha.'"

  Liu Bei also ordered all civil and military officials to bathe, change clothes for three days. Today, he personally led a large number of civil and military officials to the scene of the Buddhist ceremony. He joined his palms together and recited scriptures.

  The Buddha's voice is like the sea, the Buddha's voice is like the sun!

  Many high monks and Li Yu use great compassion to recite sutras for 49 days, for the transcendence of the soldiers of both armies, wishing them to go to the extreme joy world!

  Liu Bei never left, and for 49 days, Liu Bei ordered that within the borders of Yi Province, no one was allowed to kill or eat meat, and no one was allowed to get married. After the mourning period, everything could return to normal. Those who disobeyed would be expelled from the province. All civil and military officials and citizens of Yi Province prayed with one heart and mouth for the deceased soldiers of both armies, wishing them to be reborn in the Western Paradise. Liu Bei personally set an example, and the officials and people of the world were willing to follow suit.

  After forty-nine days, Liu Bei personally asked the master to write for the deceased generals, and wrote on the monument of heroes, letting history remember the names of their fallen soldiers! The name of Cheng Yuanzhi is in the highest position, because Cheng Yuanzhi is now the highest-ranking and largest official among the fallen soldiers.

  The last to be held was the burial ceremony of Cheng Yuanzhi! All civil and military officials in the entire Yi Province attended, Liu Bei personally read the funeral oration, and then eight people were selected from the three armies to carry Cheng Yuanzhi's coffin.

  Li Yu personally beheaded Dong Wen and offered sacrifices in front of Cheng Yuanzhi's grave! Then he vowed to use Lü Bu's head to sacrifice Cheng Yuanzhi's spirit in heaven!

  The three armies weep together, and the sun and moon lose their light!

  Liu Bei posthumously conferred upon Cheng Yuanzhi the title of Marquis with a fief of ten thousand households, to be hereditarily transmitted forever. All necessities and expenses for his family were provided by the state treasury.

  And allocated special funds for Cheng Yuan Zhi's tomb construction! Four seasons a year, send special personnel to guard and worship!

  After the funeral of Dezhong Yizhi, people from all sides left one after another.

  Liu Bei and Li Yu also led the civil and military officials back to Chengdu Wangfu!

  After several months of fighting, Liu Bei ordered the three armies to take turns resting, with each person getting a 10-day leave to visit their families, except for those on duty! Let the soldiers return home and reunite with their loved ones, sharing the joy of family reunion!

  During this period, Liu Bei and Guo Jia, Chen Gong and others were busy integrating various resources, striving to restore the prosperity of Yi Province within a year.

  But Li Yu was very leisurely, watering flowers and raising fish in his own mansion every day, then reciting scriptures!

  And his wife Wang Xue is also rarely quiet!

  Li Yu asked Wang Xue that day: "Wife! You said when I return safely, what surprise will there be?"

  "Really, husband, you want to know?"

  Li Yu nodded vigorously! Then Wang Xue waved at Li Yu and let him lean in close to her ear!

  Li Yu put his ear close, and Wang Xue crawled beside Li Yu's ear and said: "Husband, I'm pregnant!"

  Li Yu shook his head and said, "What's wrong with you, wife?" Li Yu was a man who, although valiant on the battlefield and resourceful in decisive battles, became extremely dull when it came to matters between him and his wife Wang Xue. Anyone else would have understood by now!

  Wang Xueyi was furious upon hearing this and pouted her mouth as she continued to say: "I have a child now!"

  Li Yu pretended to be confused and looked around before saying "Where?"

  Wang Xue was confused and hastily asked: "What place?"

  Li Yu smiled and said: "Where is the child?"

  Wang Xue suddenly understood that Li Yu was intentionally bullying her, and then grabbed Li Yu's ear with her hand and said: "In my belly! Do you want to ask who this child is now?"

  Li Yuxiu hastily apologized and said: "I know! I know! Wife, there's no need to ask that question, this child is mine!"

  Wang Xue smiled and said: "How do you know this child is yours? I'll tell you it's not yours!"

  "Cut! Whose else's could it be? Only I, with my dashing good looks and elegant demeanor, can make people love me at first sight. I'm the embodiment of beauty and justice! That's why you chose me! Nobody else has my style! Taking down the enemy general in a cavalry of ten thousand is as easy as picking something from my pocket, how heroic!" Li Yu spent 10 minutes describing his narcissism.

  Finally, Wang Xue couldn't take it anymore and let go of Li Yu's earlobe, leaving! Wang Xue was afraid that if she listened any longer, this child would learn from his father's ways, and it's better not to pass on these bad genes. Otherwise, Wang Xue feared that one day, the father-son duo would gang up on her!

  The news of Wang Xue's pregnancy quickly spread throughout Yizhou because Li Yu told Liu Bei and Guan Yu. Zhang Fei and his brothers! Liu Bei let all the officials know, saying that this child was the firstborn of the four brothers and must be taken seriously. He then ordered the imperial physicians from the Hanxing Palace to move to Li Yu's residence, where they would take Wang Xue's pulse three times a day. Even Empress Dowager Liu moved to Li Yu's residence to care for Wang Xue! Li Yu dared not agree, but the empress dowager was his adoptive mother and had always been kind to him. She had even helped him when he was wrongly accused and buried alive. This time, she didn't even tell Liu Bei before moving in. Zhang Fei's big mouth spread the news everywhere, making it known throughout Yizhou that Li Yu's child was about to be born. Guan Yu also sought out doctors and medicine, sending over stacks of prescriptions for Wang Xue. Even Empress Mi visited Wang Xue every day, chatting with her and asking after her well-being. Although there had been the incident with her brother Mi Fang, it was clear that she was a wise and magnanimous empress who didn't hold grudges. Mi Zhu also didn't bear any grudges and had already prepared gifts for Wang Xue's unborn child, including golden locks and bracelets. Liu Bei was even more extreme, having already found teachers for the child before it was born. The four teachers were Guo Jia, Chen Gong, Fa Zheng, and Tian Feng, who would instruct Li Yu's child in literature. As for martial arts, Liu Bei said he would teach the child himself. It was clear that this child held an important position in the eyes of Yizhou's high officials! Later, when Wang Xue mentioned that she wanted to listen to music to educate the fetus, Liu Bei basically invited all the famous musicians from throughout Yizhou to come and play for her. This still wasn't enough, as he also ordered people to go out and find any famous musicians who hadn't been invited yet, saying that if they didn't come willingly, they would be bound and brought back! As a result, a movement to protect musicians began to spread throughout the country, as Liu Bei's actions were seen as too extreme. He had taken away several thousand musicians, leaving few in other regions. This made the various warlords extremely angry at Liu Bei's behavior.