In the autumn of the sixth year of Jian'an, Jingzhou was mobilizing soldiers and horses everywhere, preparing grain, grass and materials, etc., and was busy up and down.

Preparations for a major war, protracted.

Guandu, Chibi, Yiling, Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and the three of them spent more than half a year just for the early mobilization of soldiers, horses, grain, and grass.

Therefore, Liu Biao said that he was going to go to war, but in fact, he would not necessarily officially enter the army until the spring of next year.

And in this tense atmosphere, only Wancheng seems to be in no hurry, and there is no sense of urgency at all that war is imminent.

Liu Bei's soldiers were too few, and he didn't need to prepare too much.

Nowadays, many counties north of Wancheng are well governed, and Liu Bei often patrols the surrounding counties, keeping company with the people and observing the people's feelings.

There are no top families in Nanyang, and the Nanyang faction has disappeared after the fall of the Deng family.

In the entire late Han Dynasty, almost none of the Nanyang family was involved.

Even those who are from Nanyang are mostly commoners, poor families, strong and small families, and the big family has long been defeated.

Especially since the Yellow Turban, wars and plagues have continued, which have also impacted the survival of the family.

Zhang Zhongjing's family is also a small family in Nanyang Nie County, with a population of more than 300, and under the baptism of the plague, they were wiped out almost overnight.

As a result, the number of Nanyang natives in the Nanyang Basin, especially the entrance to Yuzhou in the Wancheng area in the north, and the Wuguan entrance in the northwest Yucheng area, has decreased sharply, and the foreign population has increased dramatically.

The foreign population is large and the local population is small. It will be like the emerging city of Shenzhen in later generations, and it will be difficult to have conflicts between locals and outsiders.

In this way, Liu Bei only needs to manage public security, distribute land, and achieve basic fairness, so that he can govern the people well.

There is no need to worry about the conflict between locals and outsiders, and there is no need to worry about the family tyrants bullying the low-level civilians.

In the past six months, the people in the surrounding counties of Wancheng have lived a stable life, and a large number of people who migrated from Henan last year have been properly resettled, and Liu Bei's fame has risen steadily and spread all over Jingxiang.

In addition to governing the place, Liu Bei was not idle, recruiting troops and horses, and visiting celebrities all over the world, and Jingzhou heroes were more attached.

At this time in history, he had already been suspicious of Liu Biao, and even Cai Mao and Kuai Yue had assassinations.

But at this time, Liu Biao had just become a prince, with abundant grain and grass, countless generals under his command, more than 200,000 soldiers and horses, and he had the ambition to swallow the world, and he didn't take Liu Bei's people in his eyes at all.

In May, Liu Bei went south to Liu Biao's banquet in Xiangyang, talked with Xu Yan about the world's celebrities, praised Yuanlong's heroism, Shen Chen's talent, and Liu Biao's ambition.

This made Liu Biao very happy, and even gave Liu Bei a large number of grain, grass and weapons to use to expand his troops and horses.

At this time, Liu Bei also visited Deng Hong and Shen Chen, and the two sides talked happily. After all, Liu Biao also knew that Liu Bei and Shen Chen had fought side by side, and if he didn't visit Xiangyang, it would arouse suspicion.

So it is normal for Liu Bei to go to the door.

In June, Liu Bei returned to Wancheng, and after Liu Biao's permission, he began to recruit soldiers and horses, coupled with the financial support of Huangmenting, the army soon had more than 10,000 people, and many people came to defect, such as Wei Yan, Dong Ju and others are currently small soldiers under the account.

Both of these people were from Yiyang, later known as Xinyang City, but belonged to Jingzhou in the Han Dynasty. At that time, it was called Pingchun County, which was changed from Pingchun to Yiyang during the Cao Pi period of Emperor Wen of Wei, so Wei Yan should be regarded as a Pingchun person in Jiangxia at this time.

In history, Wei Yan did not follow Huang Zhong to surrender to Liu Bei in Jingnan at the beginning, but Liu Bei enlisted in the army when he recruited soldiers and horses in Xinye.

At first, he and Dong Ju were just pawns, and after ten years of following Liu Bei, it was not until the seventeenth year of Jian'an, that is, in 212 AD, that he became the incisor general because of his accumulated merits.

Therefore, at this time, even Shen Chen didn't know that Wei Yan was in Liu Bei's army.

Another two months have passed, and it is the Mid-Autumn Festival in August. After two months of recruitment, Liu Bei now has 10,000 soldiers and horses, eliminating the old and weak, all of them are young and strong elite soldiers, practicing and training the team all day long.

This day came to the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15, thinking about this time last year, I was making coarse cakes in Kunyang and missing my hometown, and sighed that a year had passed, and Liu Bei went out of the city to climb the mountain.

The northwest of Wancheng is the sheep mountain, come out from the west city, go all the way to the northwest, see the mountain forest is steep in the distance, and the leaves are withered and yellow.

To the north, there is a maple forest, and the red leaves are as delightful as the sun.

"Big brother, look."

Guan Yu pointed to the maple forest and said, "That maple forest is very beautiful. ”

"Hmm."

Liu Bei saw the bright red color and liked it very much, so he said, "Go there and have a look." ”

The eighth month of the lunar calendar is almost October, which is the season when the maple trees are red.

When the three brothers came to the foot of the mountain, they looked up from the foot of the mountain and saw that the maple leaves were dense, dyeing the mountains all over the field bright red, mixed with the withered yellow of the forest, like the quiet beauty of autumn leaves.

Liu Bei dismounted and led the horses to walk in the forest, the dead branches under his feet were crisp, the leaves were falling overhead, and there were many people in the distance.

In the Mid-Autumn Festival, the people in the surrounding countryside will also come to collect these withered branches and leaves and store them for winter.

The three of them went deep into the forest, and the figures of the people became less and less, and occasionally they could see wild deer passing by, walking up along the mountain forest, and seeing a clear pool surrounded by the surrounding maple leaves.

"Second brother and third brother, come and drink saliva."

Liu Bei beckoned the two to come over, tied the horses to the side, and squatted beside Tan to drink water.

Zhang Fei buried his head in the pool, poured two sips, then raised his head, and said very comfortably: "This clear water is really good, if it is used to make wine, it will be better." ”

"Hahahaha."

Liu Bei and Guan Yu both laughed.

At this time, I suddenly heard someone mourning: "Climb the mountain to watch the sunset, the sunset is the end of the world." Looking at the end of the world, there is no home at the end of the world. The frost is wet, and the white dew is stained with thin horses. The autumn breeze is bleak and seer, only full of maple flowers. ”

"Oh?"

Liu Bei and the three of them looked over and saw that on the mountain road not far away, there was a young scholar in his early thirties, slowly walking down from the mountain.

He seems to have climbed the mountain last night to watch the sunset, slept on the top of the mountain for a night, the sword on his waist was full of dew, leading the wet horses, remembering his hometown, having a home but unable to go back, quite a little depressed down the mountain, seeing the mountain full of maple leaves, the mood is very melancholy.

"This poem is very well written, but a manly man, even if he leaves his hometown and lives elsewhere, he cannot give up on himself and be willing to fall."

Liu Bei saw that he was a young scholar and was afraid that he would be discouraged, so he encouraged him loudly: "If you want to go back to your hometown, then go back to your hometown." Even if there is a reason why you can't go back to your hometown, you must cheer up and not slack off. ”

When the scholar saw the three of them, he forced a smile and said bitterly: "Although this is the case, I have been away from my hometown for ten years, and I can't go back to my home. This poem was originally written by a friend of mine when he accompanied him to climb the Lushan Mountain the year before last, and he also remembered his hometown at that time. ”

"Why can't you go back to your hometown if you don't know what to do?"

Liu Bei asked curiously.

Shizi raised his head and looked at the mountain of maple leaves, his eyes full of memories: "Back in my hometown, a friend of mine was bullied by bullies and was seriously injured on the spot, but he died of his injuries in a month. I avenged him and killed the bully, and since then I have to go incognito and flee to Jingzhou, although my mother has other friends to take care of her, but the government is wanted, and now I can't go back. ”

"The foot is a man of temperament."

Guan Yu also had the same experience, and he immediately had a good impression of Shizi.

The scholar glanced at the three of them, and said with some curiosity: "The three strong men look like northerners with accents, why did they also come to the south?" ”

"Alas, back then, the sky closed its eyes, and the yellow sky was a catastrophe. The Quartet was disturbed, and the Han family was declining. In order to serve the country, the three of us brothers married their lives and died together, and joined the army together, wanting to establish a meritorious career. When Nai's luck was bad, he was displaced, and he came to Jingzhou for many years. ”

Liu Bei sighed, briefly told about their situation, and at the end seemed to be infected by the poetry of the scholar, bowed his head and sighed: "Speaking of which, we have left our hometown for sixteen or seventeen years, when the three of us brothers married together, life and death together, and vowed to support the Han family, but in winter and summer for more than ten years, I am over forty years old, and nothing has been achieved after all." ”

On the night of the full moon on August 15, the southerners sacrificed to the township.

The young scholar mountaineering remembered his home in the north and his old mother in his hometown.

Why wouldn't Liu Bei?

The mountains in the north are full of red leaves, swaying in the wind.

His eyes flashed with tears, and he looked into the distance, remembering the past.

In the twentieth year of that year, his mother died of illness, and he was the only one left to weave mats and sell shoes, and he stayed in the countryside of Zhuo County, sighing and parting.

Later, the towering Yan Han was far away, the court was decaying, the yellow sky was a catastrophe, the wind was surging in an instant, the golden ou was stained with blood, and the years changed.

In the past, the sun was high, the people had cultivated the land, and the Han Dynasty was extended.

Now in winter and summer, more than 100 years ago, the yellow turban is in turmoil, and Dong Zhuo is in power.

At this time, the bright moon night is no longer the day of the Han family.

In a certain year, the green mountains and green waterfronts, the peach blossoms are fluttering. The three of them are righteous, life and death are together, and they swear an unswerving oath.

However, even if the three brothers of Liu Guan and Zhang rose up, raised their swords and soldiers in the countryside, and fought for 3,000 miles in their lives, for 17 years, they also hated that there was no place in the world, and hated the usurpers and traitors who could not be killed in the world.

When the national crisis is headed, there is no ambition and full of sorrow.

Lamentable.

Alas.

Wretched.

Liu Bei's eyes unconsciously shed a tear, and his eyes were already full of tears and affection.

The country is in ruins, and the people are withering. Long night, when can I return my big man Lang sunny day!

He sighed.

"A strong man is also a man of temperament!"

When the scholar saw that he was crying because he was not able to serve the country, he only felt solemn and respected, bowed his hand, and said with emotion: "The three of them have been able to serve the country for many years, although they have no merit, but they must have no regrets in their lives." ”

"Yes, the three of us, no matter how down, we have never regretted leaving our hometown in order to serve the country and the country!"

Liu Bei looked at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and only felt that there were two brothers, and this life was enough, so he turned sadness into joy, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and laughed loudly: "People may have a lot of regrets in this life, but only for the sake of the country, for the people, and for the sake of siblings, even if they die, they still regret it." ”

"Big brother."

Guan Yu Zhang Fei also laughed and said: "Yes, we will never regret it!" ”

"Hahahaha, if you can get a second brother and a third brother, there will be no complaints."

Liu Bei patted the two of them on the shoulder, and they were already smiling, and there was no longer the melancholy just now.

Seeing their deep brotherly affection, the scholar lowered his head and stroked his beard, slightly sad.

He also had such a brother back then.

After the killing, many friends rescued him.

But now that they are in Jingzhou, the brothers have not seen each other for ten years, and there is no news.

I don't know how they are doing in Yingchuan.

Liu Bei looked at the scholar again, stretched out his right hand and pointed to the sword on the soldier's waist, and said with a smile: "Speaking of which, a single person with a sword and a horse dares to walk in the world, which shows that he is also a civil and military talent. ”

The scholar sighed: "After I killed someone, I went to Jingzhou, and devoted myself to studying, although I learned literature and martial arts, but I saw that Jingzhou Mu was not a good master, so I did not want to enter the office." A few days ago, I heard from a friend that there was a master in the north, so he planned to go to defect. ”

"Oh?"

Liu Bei glanced at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and said with some confusion: "I don't know who is the master of the north who is here?" ”

Shizi arched his hand in the direction of Wancheng in the east and said: "Friends say that the uncle of the emperor of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bei, the general of the left, is a man of benevolence and righteousness through the ages, who is obviously heroic and soars into the sky. I also heard his name and wanted to go to Wancheng to meet the emperor's uncle. ”

"Uh......"

Liu Guanzhang and the three looked at each other, slightly hesitating.

"Hahahaha."

Zhang Fei suddenly laughed: "You scholar, since you have heard my eldest brother's name, now that you have seen it, why can't you recognize it?" ”

Shizi looked at the three of them in surprise and said in surprise: "Could it be that the three of them are Xuande Gong, Yun Changgong, and Yide Gong?" ”

Liu Bei introduced: "Down there is Liu Bei, this is my second brother Yunchang, and my third brother Yide." ”

"In Xia Xu Shu, the character is straight, meet General Zuo!"

Xu Shu hurriedly knelt down on one knee and bowed.

"Sir, please."

Liu Bei hurriedly took three steps and made two steps to help Xu Shu up, and asked curiously, "Did Mr. come to me on purpose?" ”

Xu Shu nodded again and again: "Exactly, I heard the name of Uncle Huang and came to defect." ”

"I wonder which friend of my husband said?"

Liu Bei was puzzled.

Although he has been in Jingzhou for more than half a year, he has no friends in the south.

Because he was afraid that he would visit celebrities everywhere and provoke Liu Biao's suspicion, even if he went to Xiangyang, he only went to visit Mr. Xiao in the name of fighting side by side in Yingchuan.

Could it be?

Liu Bei remembered a thought in his heart.

Really.

Xu Shu said: "It's Xuzhou Shen Chen, he said that he fought against Cao Cao with the general in Yingchuan last year, and he knew that the general had great ambitions. ”

"It's Mr. Xiao."

Liu Bei was happy, only when he remembered the steel knife in his hand who had the same ambition as him and wanted to lift the steel knife in his hand and pacify this cannibalistic young man, there was always a trace of tenderness in his eyes.

That boy was the one he grew up watching.

"Little Mister?"

Xu Shu smiled: "The general calls Shen Chen Mr. Xiao? ”

"yes."

Liu Bei recalled that year and said with a smile: "At that time, Mr. Xiao was only eight years old, but he sat in front of Tao Yuanjun, talked eloquently, and planned the affairs of the world. Although he is young, he is ambitious, how can he not be a little gentleman? ”

"Ah Chen is indeed arrogant."

Xu Shu also remembered the young man with a strong personality, but brave and resourceful, and said with a smile in his eyes: "The general and Ah Chen are somewhat similar. What Ah Chen talks about every day is the people of the world. ”

"The people are the foundation of the nation, how can they ignore it?"

Liu Bei pointed to the city in the distance and said: "Mr. is recommended by Mr. Xiao, there must be something outstanding, why don't we go down the mountain and go to the city to talk in detail?" ”

"May I follow the general!"

Xu Shu bowed, he originally wanted to meet Liu Bei to see if Liu Bei was really as Shen Chen said.

But yesterday to Wancheng it was late, accidentally caught a glimpse of the sunset, suddenly remembered the hometown, then climbed the mountain to look far away, sat on the top of the mountain all night.

went down the mountain today, but I didn't expect to meet Liu Bei, the two had a heart-to-heart relationship, and Xu Shu also admired Liu Bei's ambition, so he didn't need to identify whether he was the master.

Because he is the Lord!

Four people descended the mountain.

Out of the maple leaf forest, Liu Bei suddenly turned his head and looked at the mountain full of maple leaves.

He asked, "Yuan Zhi, isn't that a poem too?" ”

"It was written by Ah Chen."

Xu Shu said.

"Oh."

Liu Bei let out an "oh".

Turning his head, he gently clamped the horse's belly and walked forward.

Four horses walked slowly through the road, maple leaves flying in the sky behind them.

Looking at the end of the world, there is no home at the end of the world.

The autumn breeze is bleak and seer, only full of maple flowers.

Thousands of miles away from home.

Little Mister.

I'm homesick too.

He raised his head and looked at the sky in the distance, his gaze long.

Someday.

I, Liu Bei, want to put an end to this troubled world.

Return the people of the world to the people.

When the mountains and rivers are safe, the world is safe.

took the second and third brothers back to Taoyuan in Zhuo County to drink.

Then take Mr. Xiao back to his hometown in Xuzhou.

Let's take a look at the mountain full of maple blossoms!