Chapter 6, something is not quite right in this world
The portrayal of Liu Bei in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms is relatively favorable, as it generally progresses towards positive outcomes, whether it is the three heroes battling Lü Bu to demonstrate their prowess or being recognized as the imperial uncle to gain renown
For example, the Changban Slope three years later
Historically, Liu Bei's daughters were all captured by the Cao army, and Liu Bei himself abandoned his wife and children to flee with a dozen riders. If it were not for Zhao Zilong's extraordinary feats, how would the two ladies and A Dou have been involved in this matter
Although he indeed abandoned his wealth and glory to seek refuge with his down-and-out brother Liu Bei, it was not as resolute as crossing five passes and slaying six generals. Therefore... Hmm, now if anyone brings this up, the second master will surely glare at them.
And with this departure, there is no way to escape the battle at Changban Slope.
But now this old official speaks so animatedly, as if this three-to-one match has been blown up into the famous battle of Liu, Guan, and Zhang... Then how did Hua Xiong, who was warming up before Lu Bu's appearance, end up being beheaded by Sun Jian at the Sishui Pass
When Zhang Xi originally went to the recruitment hall for a job interview, he did not think too much about it. He was merely trying to understand his urgent situation and what to do in the future, whether to serve Cao or follow Liu. Zhang Xi did not think that far ahead.
After that, the course of history resumed. Liu Bei lived modestly in Xuchang for several years. Subsequently, Yuan Shu declared himself emperor, prompting Liu Bei to request a mission from Cao Cao. Under the pretext of intercepting and killing Yuan Shu, he left Cao Cao, seized the military power of Zhu Ling, and returned to Xuzhou. He killed the Xuzhou governor Che Zhou and reoccupied Xuzhou. However, due to the outbreak of the "Edict of the Robe" incident, Liu Bei was once again defeated by Cao Cao and had no choice but to flee north to Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao sent Liu Bei to Runan to assist Liu Biao in raising troops, but after failing, Liu Bei left Yuan Shao to seek refuge with Liu Biao. Ultimately, Liu Biao stationed him in Xinye County to resist the threat posed by Cao Cao from the north.
During the Han Dynasty, a dual system of commandery and kingdom was implemented, where the governor of Pingyuan was equivalent to that of a commandery. Liu Bei, due to this, gained an equal status among other warlords, officially becoming one of the warlords at the end of the Han Dynasty.
Although "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" favors Liu and disparages Cao, it must be acknowledged that Cao Cao is indeed a heroic figure... if one does not consider the situation from the perspective of the Han dynasty
Who in the world does not know that Lu Bu, before the Tiger Trap Pass, beheaded several valiant generals of the warlords? The eighteen warlords were at a loss, yet it was still the Second and Third Lords who stepped forward to fight alongside the Lord and valiantly defeated Lu Bu
Calming down and thinking carefully, Zhang Xi realized that there were actually not many options available to him.
At that time, Liu Bei was stationed in Fancheng and was not in Xinye
That Hua Xiong is not Lü Bu; he is merely a mindless brute. It would suffice for Sun Changsha to behead him, why must the Second Master personally intervene
Subsequently, Liu Bei served under Gongsun Zan, starting as the Prefect of Pingyuan and eventually rising to the position of Governor of Pingyuan.
As soon as this was mentioned, the old official's face lit up with excitement.
Moreover, this old official, who is said to have followed Liu Bei since the uprising, holds a rather low opinion of Hua Xiong
However, this matter is truly a fabrication by Luo Guanzhong
However, our Lord Guan Er is in a rather unfortunate situation
Zhang Xi thus had to consider whether, in contemplating future matters, he should follow the thread of history or the thread of legend
Therefore, Zhang Xi's original idea was that if things did not go well, they could stay in Xinye County and ultimately surrender to Cao Cao along with the gentry of Jingzhou when Cao Cao's army arrived, which would not be unacceptable.
Well, this matter was also handled by Liu Bei in this world, and has nothing to do with that drunken scoundrel.
Whether in the historical accounts or in the narratives, the Battle of Changban Slope can be described as a scene of widespread carnage, with the majority of the deceased being ordinary civilians
It cannot be compared to the type of proposal made in books
Zhang Xi continued to exercise patience and conversed with the old official, ultimately uncovering the "true" story of Liu Bei's rise to prominence from the old official's account
Indeed, there really are the Three Heroes battling Lü Bu
Yes, yes, that's it
To be frank, Zhang Xi's loyalty to Liu Bei is quite limited at present, and historically, Liu Bei did not burn down the city of Xinye.
Zhang Fei is the sworn brother of Liu Bei
This world is truly strange; you have no idea when it follows the course of history or when it deviates to follow a narrative line... It all seems quite random.
Just be careful not to say anything like "Hua Xiong was killed by Sun Jian, it has nothing to do with you" in front of the Second Master
Historically, although Liu, Guan, and Zhang had a bond akin to that of brothers, their relationship was fundamentally one of lord and vassal, and they did not form a sworn brotherhood
Well, have you considered the feelings of the young man with the purple beard from Jiangdong?
Liu Bei is indeed a member of the Han royal family, and there is no doubt about this; it is universally acknowledged by the people of his time.
The next day, when Zhang Xi inquired with the old official beside him, the old official provided an answer that completely took Zhang Xi by surprise
If that is the case... well, it is somewhat troublesome
Subsequent events returned to the course of history
Due to the heroic actions of "The Three Heroes Battling Lü Bu," along with the amnesty decree issued by Dong Zhuo through the Emperor's authority to divide the coalition forces of the Gangs of Guandong, Liu Bei not only gained fame throughout the land but also regained his eligibility for official positions
"What kind of archer is this?" The old official glanced at Zhang Xi with a look of considerable dissatisfaction and said, "I wonder where Zhang Zhu Bu heard such rumors from?! The Third General was originally a lieutenant under the command of the Lord... Although he is not a general, he is far superior to those self-proclaimed generals under the various lords!"
After all, this world is not quite right, so we cannot only consider the present; we must think a little further in order to live a bit longer in this world
After experiencing several unsuccessful entrepreneurial ventures, Liu Bei found himself with no options left and could only seek refuge with his good brother Gongsun Zan, becoming a guest official without any official position or title.
This world feels filled with various wonderful oddities
This matter did not deviate from the narrative line at all, so Second Master honestly followed the historical trajectory, being defeated and captured in Xiahicheng, and had no choice but to surrender to Cao.
In that tale, when the super fire-loving Mr. Wolong comes out of the mountains, if he truly returns to Xinye to set a fire as depicted in the story, then Zhang Xie would have no choice but to follow Liu Bei.
One should learn from the oath of brotherhood in the Peach Garden, rather than the fleeting incense of the瓦岗.
Well... as long as you are happy, it doesn't matter since everything is already in complete disarray
Fortunately, the book "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is favorable to Liu, and it often embellishes the characters on Liu Bei's side. Even in instances where it does not align with historical facts, the discrepancies tend to be more about glorifying the generals under Liu Bei's command.
The question is, which of the three should we choose?
As Zhang Xi listened all the way through and compared it with the memories in his mind, he discovered... it seemed that this was a world that combined elements of both history and fiction.
The fierce warrior of this world, Hua Xiong, was indeed killed by Sun Jian
After finishing the conversation with the old official, Zhang Xi became preoccupied with thoughts. Fortunately, as the end of the year approached, everyone was focused on the upcoming New Year, and no one noticed Zhang Xi's unusual demeanor.
Gongsun Zan suddenly joined the coalition against Dong Zhuo, and he formally dispatched troops to participate in the meeting at Suanzao, becoming one of the legendary "Eighteen Lords". Liu Bei also arrived at the front of Hulao Pass.
But now it is not possible, this world, who knows if it will suddenly go haywire
According to reason, the event of the three heroes battling Lü Bu is indeed a fictional creation by Luo Guanzhong. Historically, Liu Bei was with Gongsun Zan at that time, and as for Gongsun Zan... He did participate in the coalition against Dong Zhuo, but he only verbally expressed his intention to ally after the battle at Hulao Pass, without even sending a single soldier.
Well, let's set aside the matter of the purple-bearded child for the moment, as it seems there is another issue at hand
This matter is not at all dramatized; it is based entirely on historical facts
Essentially, it is primarily based on historical facts, but the narrative may occasionally take unexpected turns. The key is that you never know when the narrative will deviate.
The old official specifically pointed this out to Zhang Xi, and as for Zhang Xi, he certainly was not so oblivious.
Liu Bei was indeed regarded as the imperial uncle by the Emperor of the Han Dynasty.
Because at that time, the second master did not act out of concern for his sister-in-law's safety; rather, it was due to the three matters of the earth mound that he chose to submit to Han rather than to Cao
Because in the previous life, Zhang Xi had read various miscellaneous books and frequented forums, he was already aware of the matter concerning Second Master... However, placed in the current environment, it feels somewhat out of place
However, Liu Bei is truly not the emperor's uncle, as the generational rank in the family tree does not match
Moreover, the defeat in Xuzhou is regarded by the Second Master as a lifelong dark chapter in his history
Are you saying that the lord was at Hulao Pass at that time?" Zhang Xi tentatively asked the old official
After Zhang Xi returned to the inn, he began to seriously contemplate his future prospects
In the early stages, it generally aligns with history. Liu Bei initially rose to prominence by joining Zou Jing in the campaign against the Yellow Turbans, and as a result of his contributions, he was appointed to an official position in Weiyu County, Anxi. Later, the court dispatched officials to investigate the phenomenon of false claims of military achievements during the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Our lord Liu Bei, lacking the funds to bribe them, thus became enraged and whipped the inspector, subsequently fleeing with his seal.
However, it is now necessary to begin planning in advance
One cannot be so foolish as to support Liu Biao at this point. Not to mention how many years Liu Biao has left to live, wouldn't it be more effective to head north and ally with Cao Cao directly? This would also spare one the indignity of becoming a subordinate.
Indeed, Hua Xiong was slain by Governor Sun. At that time, the Second Master was far away at Hulao Pass with the Lord, so how could he possibly have split himself to the battlefield at Sishui Pass to slay Hua Xiong
If it truly comes to that situation, even if Zhang Xi wishes to surrender, it is likely that he would only do so after being captured... He might not even last until being captured, and could very well perish on the way to Changban Slope.
Although Luo Guanzhong's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is written this way, the oath of brotherhood in the Peach Garden has also left a lasting legacy for future generations
All along, Zhang Xi thought he had traveled back to the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms... Now it seems, could it be that he has traveled into "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"?!
If we were to arrange the generations according to the family tree in the historical novel, Liu Bei should refer to Liu Xie as his royal uncle
For a modern individual, knowing the developments of later periods, the choices before oneself are only three: Cao, Liu, and Sun
Liu Bei first rescued Kong Rong of Beihai and, together with Tian Kai, the Inspector of Qingzhou, fought against Yuan Shao. After Gongsun Zan's defeat, Liu Bei was brought to Xuzhou by Tao Qian to oppose Cao Cao. After Cao Cao retreated, he was retained by Tao Qian and, following Tao Qian's death, took over as the Governor of Xuzhou. Following the course of history, when Cao Cao defeated Lü Bu, Liu Bei sought refuge with Cao Cao and returned to Xuchang, at which point the narrative began to deviate.
However, at this moment, the narrative took a turn as Liu Xie unexpectedly examined the family tree during the grand assembly, publicly recognizing Liu Bei as his imperial uncle and bestowing upon him the title of Left General and the Marquis of Yicheng Pavilion. Whether Liu Xie had any ulterior motives is not our concern for now, but the title of imperial uncle for Liu Bei has indeed been firmly established
What left the deepest impression on Zhang Xi was Er Ye's "Three Matters of the Earthen Hill"
This matter requires careful consideration before proceeding
Then history suddenly took a turn here
It is said that the allied forces would not really allow an archer to challenge Lü Bu in a one-on-one duel, would they