Accident (1)

  On August 7th, Lu Zhi left in a hurry after staying overnight at Xiayang, without leaving a single word behind.

  When the soldiers guarding the city reported this to Gao Fei, Gao Fei was unusually calm. He knew that Lu Zhi, a renowned Confucian scholar, would be too ashamed to stay under the same roof as someone like Zuo Feng, whose ways were different and who did not share his goals. Lu Zhi's actions spoke for themselves.

  Zuo Feng stayed in Xiaoyang for a few more days, and Gao Fei attended to him like he was serving a grand master. He fully understood this kind of person, but for now, he couldn't afford to offend Zuo Feng, as offending him would be equivalent to ruining his own future prospects. On the fifth day, Zuo Feng felt that he had inspected everything and bid farewell to Gao Fei, leaving with a full load towards Luoyang. Before departing, he repeatedly praised Gao Fei's service, patted his chest, and told him to rest assured while waiting for the imperial edict, saying that everything was taken care of by him.

  Gaofei saw him off for over ten miles before stopping, waving his hand to Zuo Feng and turning his horse's head, slowly heading towards Xiayang.

  "Master has been acting like a different person these past few days, serving Left Fung in such a way. What is the reason behind it?" Zhao Yun said on their way back, quite perplexed.

  Only three people knew about Gao Fei's purchase of official position, namely Liao Hua and Lu Heng, in addition to himself. He did a good job of keeping this matter confidential, knowing that if it reached Zhao Yun's ears, it would likely cause dissatisfaction, so he didn't mention it to anyone, including Zhao Yun.

  "This kind of person can't be offended, although Zuo Feng isn't a good person, he's after all a Huangmen Shilang, everything that goes in and out of the imperial palace is handled by them, I can only do this. Now that he's gone, there won't be any more trouble, we'll just quietly wait here, it won't be long before the court rewards us." Gao Fei could only explain it like this, he couldn't possibly tell Zhao Yun about his buying of an official position.

  Zhao Yun didn't say anything else, he believed that his superiors were always right. Since he chose to follow Gao Fei, he would stick to it until the end, because this was his own choice, no one forced him, and it was also the result of his prior secret investigation.

  All the way, Gao Fei was very happy and hummed some popular songs softly in his mouth. This singing method made people around him a little infatuated because it sounded good, and all the people following him listened quietly.

  As they approached the lower Yang, Gao Fei saw from a distance that there were people standing by the city gate. A man wearing a helmet and armor led more than ten light cavalrymen waiting quietly at the city gate. From the clothes and attire of the leader, he was a military commander of the same rank as him.

  He rushed to the city gate and the military officer immediately came forward, with a joyful face and clasped his fists: "General Gao, you're safe and sound!"

  He glanced at the military officer and seemed to be the right military officer under Lu Zhi's account. He turned over and dismounted, politely responding: "It was you, Gao Mou really lost his distant welcome, what wind brought you here?"

  The right army's Sima, with the surname Zhou and name Shen, courtesy name Botong, was once loudly called out by Lu Zhi when he was selecting generals. Gao Fei was suddenly shocked and lost color, thinking that the old rascal from Jin Yong's novel had traveled through time to the Three Kingdoms era. Only after learning that Botong was Zhou Shen's courtesy name did he let out a sigh of relief.

  Zhou Shen was only two years older than Gao Fei, and at the age of twenty, he was also released from the Imperial Guard. He was a native of Liangzhou Wuwei. With a joyful face, he immediately pulled out a document from his bosom and handed it to Gao Fei, saying slowly: "Gao Xian-di, quickly take a look!"

  Gao Fei immediately opened the document, first looking at the seal in the lower left corner, which was unexpectedly issued by the General's Mansion. He hastily browsed through it and roughly understood its meaning. After closing the document, he furrowed his brow and asked Zhou Shen: "Has the Master already departed?"

  Zhou Shen nodded and said, "Yes, the adults have just returned and received the appointment from the General's Mansion. Now they are leading the troops to Yingchuan. They specially instructed me to hand over this appointment letter to you, so that you can lead the troops with me to Yingchuan."

  Gao Fei understood the meaning behind Zhou Shen's words and smiled, saying: "It's not urgent for now. You've come from far away, if we set off today, it would be too hasty. At least let me prepare first. I think you're also quite tired, why don't you go into town to rest first? We can set off together early tomorrow morning?"

  Zhou Shen smiled and said: "Gao Xian thinks that's thorough, then let's just follow orders."

  Gao Fei shouted from behind: "Xia Hou Lan!"

  "Understood!" Xiahou Lan hastily emerged from behind and bowed to Gao Fei.

  Gao Fei said: "Take Lord Zhou... no, it should be General Zhou, take General Zhou to the county government office to rest and serve him well!"

  Xiahou Lan nodded and made a inviting gesture towards Zhou Shen, saying: "General Zhou, please!"

  Zhou Shen exchanged another pleasantry with Gao Fei and then led his men in following Xia Houlan into the city.

  "Sir, are we going to Yunquan to suppress the bandits?" Zhao Yun asked casually, with a hint of joy in his words.

  Gao Fei nodded and said slowly: "The General's Mansion has issued a military order, Lu Zhi has been appointed as the Left General, Zhou Shen has been appointed as the Xuan Yi Colonel, and I have been appointed as the Po Ze Colonel. We will lead this army to jointly march to Yingchuan to suppress the bandits. All matters in Xiayang will be taken over by the Taishou of Julu!"

  Zhao Yun exclaimed with joy: "Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir! Sir has made great merit by beheading the Yellow Turbans. Even if you were to be appointed as a general, it would not be excessive!"

  The rest of the attendants all said in unison: "Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir!"

  Gao Fei sighed twice and ordered everyone to enter the city. After returning to the county government office, Gao Fei had all the military officials summoned to the county government office.

  The news of Gao Fei's promotion spread like wildfire, and all the officials and soldiers in Xiaoyang were overjoyed. For them, their superior's promotion also meant that they could rise through the ranks together. In no time at all, the entire city was immersed in joy, with only two people not sharing in the happiness: Gao Fei, who had just been promoted to Pacification Commissioner, and Liu Bei, who was temporarily serving as a military marquis under Gao Fei's command.

  Gao Fei sat in the county hall, feeling very depressed. He had thought that he could temporarily stop fighting and guard Xiquyang while waiting for the appointment of Liaodong Governor, but he never expected the General's Mansion to suddenly issue such an order. After thinking for a moment, he no longer regretted it. Being promoted was better than not being promoted after all. Since they let him go and suppress the bandits, then he would go, gain some fame, and wait for the new appointment of Liaodong Governor to be issued, and then he could leave for Liaodong to develop his own career.

  When all the military officials had gathered at the county government office, Gao Fei took out the appointment letter from the General's Mansion and let them take a look one by one. After that, he asked loudly: "Have you all seen it?"

  Everyone replied in unison: "We have all seen it, sir!"

  Gao Feng smiled and said, "Now there are 19,531 soldiers in the city, less than 20,000 people. Liao Hua, can you make up for this difference from the original surrendered Yellow Turbans?"

  Liao Hua smiled and said: "No problem, I'll take care of this matter."

  Gao Fei continued: "The Commander of the Declaration, Zhou Shen, has arrived. His goal is to take 10,000 troops from me to command... Lu Heng, this matter will be handed over to you. Allocate 10,000 cavalry and infantry to Zhou Shen."

  Lu Heng clenched his fist and said: "Your subordinate understands!"

  Gao Fei glanced at the crowd and saw a hint of concern in everyone's eyes, fearing that the troops they brought would be allocated to Zhou Shen along with them. He stood up slowly and said: "The troops have been divided, but I won't give him any of my officers. You are all under my command, naturally still in my camp. Although Zhou Shen only brought a dozen or so light cavalry this time, I can see that these dozen or so light cavalry are the Sima and military marquises he is preparing to appoint. He absolutely won't want my men, you don't have to worry."

  Zhang Fei listened and laughed loudly: "Great, I just got along so well with the adults. If it were someone else, old Zhang would still be afraid that this person named Zhou Zhen wouldn't be able to withstand my temper."

  Gao Fei smiled and said, "Don't worry, even if I were to divide myself up, I would never divide you up. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Liao Hua, Lu Xiang, Zhou Cang, Guan Yu, Pei Yuan Shao, Bian Xi, from today on, the nine of you will be the military governors of my army, each leading a thousand men."

  Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Liao Hua, Lu Xiang, Zhou Cang, Guan Yu, Pei Yuan Shao and Bian Xi, nine people stepped forward in unison and said: "The subordinate officials thank the adults for their kindness!"

  Gao Fei continued: "Zhao Yun, Xia Houlan, and Fei An, the three of you can be made into military marquises. Continue to stay in my personal army unit, each leading two hundred men to follow and guard me!"

  Zhaoyun, Xiahoulan and Fei An responded in unison: "Your subordinate obeys the order!"

  After the appointment was over, Gaofei let everyone disperse and go about packing their luggage to prepare for departure the next day.

  By dusk, Liao Hua had selected over 400 robust men from the original Yellow Turban Army and supplemented the imperial army with 20,000 men. Then Lu Xiang divided one thousand of them who were not particularly close to him and left behind one thousand agile and loyal soldiers to Gao Fei. Gao Fei then handed over the command of one thousand of his troops to Zhou Shen, and the news that the imperial army was about to leave also spread throughout the city.

  That night, Gao Fei set up a small wine banquet for Zhou Shen. The two sat at the table with only their attendants present. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhou Shen said to Gao Fei: "Gao Xian-di, I have a few words I'd like to say to you, but I don't know if you can dismiss your attendants?"

  Gao Fei nodded and turned to Zhao Yun and Xia Houlan, who had followed him: "You two wait outside. Without my order, no one is allowed in!"

  Zhoa Yun and Xia Houlan slowly backed out, followed by Zhou Shen also dismissing his attendants, leaving only Zhou Shen and Gao Fei in the room.

  The candles in the room flickered on and off, casting a warm glow that illuminated the entire house brightly.

  "Brother Zhou, it's just the two of us left here now. If you have anything to say, go ahead and speak!" Gao Fei vaguely felt that Zhou Shen might have some unmentionable secret, so he asked first.

  Zhou Shen took a sip of wine and said slowly, "Younger brother, you and I are both from Liangzhou, we were both selected by the imperial court as good sons of noble families in the six counties. We also entered the capital together to become Lang of the Imperial Guard, and belonged to the same jurisdiction under the General of the Imperial Guard. If it weren't for the Yellow Turban Rebellion, we might have spent our whole lives stuck in the palace without ever having a chance to make a name for ourselves. Later, we both served under Lu Zhi as his subordinates, as Military Administrators under him, this bond is indeed not shallow, don't you think?"

  Gao Fei nodded, using his true memories to carefully search for everything about Zhou Shen in his mind. In his memory, he and Zhou Shen were both selected from the six counties of Liangzhou to enter the Wei Linlang's good family as a guard, but he didn't get to know Zhou Shen until they both joined Lu Zhi's camp. Their interactions weren't very close either. He thought about what Zhou Shen would say next, then responded: "Brother Zhou is absolutely right, this kind of fate is indeed rare and precious."

  Zhou Shen continued: "Younger brother, what do you think of Lu Zhi's attitude towards you?"

  "Master Lu is a renowned Confucian scholar in the world, and he has also been very sincere with me..."

  "Sincerity? Haha, younger brother is indeed inexperienced and doesn't understand the ups and downs of officialdom!" Zhou Shen cut off Gao Fei's words and burst out laughing loudly.

  Gao Fei hastily asked: "Zhou brother, what do you mean by this?"