At the end of 237 A.D., the seventy-two-year-old Minister of War, the general of the Che Cavalry, the Marquis of Xixiang, and Zhang Fei of the Shangzhu State died of cerebral infarction due to perennial drinking.

At this time, the internal restructuring of Jihan had ended, the cabinet had become the political center, and the Military Affairs Yuan had become the national military center.

Politically, the emperor is the head of state, the prime minister of the cabinet is the prime minister, and there are five vice ministers to assist, plus dozens of senior central officials from the three provinces, six ministries and eighteen courts, who are in charge of the world's political affairs.

The military general is the president of the Military Affairs Yuan, and there are hussar generals and chariot cavalry generals as the left and right generals, and then five generals are added to form the Military Affairs Yuan Military Council.

Now there are a total of six cabinet members, Zhuge Liang is the prime minister of the cabinet, and Xu Shu, Pang Tong, Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, and Shen Chen are vice ministers.

There were eight ministers at the meeting of the Military Affairs Yuan, Guan Yu was the general, and Shen Chen and Zhang Fei were the left and right hussars and chariot generals. Below them are Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, Gan Ning, Wei Yan, and Pang De, five generals, known as the Five Tiger Generals.

Shen Chen is also the only one who has entered both the cabinet and the Military Affairs Yuan.

In fact, there are more than five generals, as well as more than ten people such as Lu Chang, Wen Ping, Wu Yi, Wang Ping, Kou Feng, Huang Quan, and Wu Ban, all of whom are founding generals and are replaced by the military academy.

It's just that time flies, and the years change. By 237 AD, several old generals had died, such as Zhao Yun, Gan Ning, Pang De, Wu Yi, Lu Chang, Wen Ping, etc., and even the lieutenant generals and major generals had died a lot, and the founding generals were withering day by day.

Later, the Military Affairs Yuan added several more people, including Wu Ban, Gao Xiang, Dong Ju, etc. Even Deng Ai, Jiang Wei, and Guan Ping are only in their forties, and they are already lieutenant generals, and they will be awarded the rank of general before the age of fifty.

However, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei have a long life, both of them are more than seventy, and they can be called battlefield birthday stars.

It's a pity that Zhang Fei's old problem of alcoholism has not been changed, and when he was young, he was physically strong, but it was nothing. But in his later years, his body declined, and he didn't listen to persuasion all day long, drank and had fun, and finally slept one night and never got up again.

Knowing that Zhang Fei died of illness, Liu Chan was very sad, and on the seventh day of the resignation, he wore linen and filial piety, and personally mourned him. Guan Yu was even more in pain, his body, which was originally quite strong, became sick overnight.

The following year, in the eleventh year of Jianxing, only three months later, the president of the Military Affairs Academy, the generalissimo and the general, the marquis of Hanshou Ting, and Guan Yu of Shangzhu Guo died of illness at the age of seventy-seven.

Liu Chan established the Taoyuan Hall and the Meritorious Forest in the Zhongzu Temple, the Taoyuan Hall is Liu Bei's main temple, and Liu Bei's spiritual seat is enshrined above the temple.

There is a large area of hall under the temple, there are twenty-four pillars on the left and right, each pillar has a white paper portrait, some people, some no, in front of the painting to worship the table, some have tablets, some have no tablets.

After several years of selection of meritorious service, after the founding of the Han Dynasty, the number of meritorious marquis reached 149, including 17 county marquis, 28 township marquis, 43 pavilion marquis, 61 guannei marquis, 24 people were selected into the Taoyuan Palace, and the rest of the people entered the meritorious forest, which was the left and right side courtyards outside the main hall.

Among these twenty-four people, some have already entered the palace, such as Zhang Fei, Mi Zhu, Huang Zhong, Tai Shici, Sun Qian, Zhao Yun, Gan Ning, Pang De, Wu Yi, etc., and now Guan Yu is going to enter the palace, which makes Liu Chan very sad.

On March 9, Liu Chan mourned Guan Yu, carried the body into the Taimiao, directly raised the spirit in the Taimiao, and personally sent the portrait into the temple for worship.

It was also on this night that a meteor seemed to pass through the sky and fell into the temple.

In late spring and early summer, the weather is cool.

Zhongzu temple covers an area quite large, there are nearly 100 acres, most of which area is planted with peach forest, and then is the main hall of Zhongzu temple, the left and right partial halls, the main hall is the peach garden hall, the partial hall is the meritorious palace, the surrounding halls are surrounded by peach forests, it is the peach blossom season, the fragrance is fragrant.

At this moment, the temple is full of white silk, and even the branches of the peach forest have white silk cloth fluttering.

Liu Chan took the civil and military ministers to cry and mourn during the day, and at night many ministers had already returned, leaving only Liu Chan, Zhuge Liang, Shen Chen, Guan Ping, Zhang Bao and more than ten people, still guarding the mourning hall.

It is Guan Yu's last wish to mourn in Taimiao, he said that he can't die with the eldest brother and third brother in life, if there is a spirit after death, he must also go to the place where the eldest brother and the third brother are most likely to stay, in case the soul is out of the body, he can't see the eldest brother and the third brother for the first time or can't find the eldest brother and the third brother, that is his biggest regret.

His body was placed in the main hall of the temple, on the first pillar below the main seat on the right-hand side, Guan Yu's portrait had been hung, no longer a blank portrait as before, and his spiritual seat was also placed on the table below, and the fragrance rose from the incense burner.

At this time, a white phantom slowly rose from Guan Yu's coffin, and the phantom gradually condensed, and finally turned into a human figure. At first, it was a little drifting, but in the burning incense, it took on a concrete appearance.

"Second brother, second brother!"

There was also a white phantom floating back and forth beside the coffin.

Guan Yu slowly regained consciousness in the reflection of the incense, the phantom turned his head, and subconsciously responded: "Third brother? ”

"Second brother!"

The white phantom gradually turned into Zhang Fei's appearance, he was very excited, as if he was crying, and howled: "Second brother, why are you here too!" ”

"Third brother, it's really you, you really have a spirit after death!"

Guan Yu floated to the coffin, he looked around, and the strange thing was that Liu Chan, Zhuge Liang, Shen Chen, Guan Ping, and Zhang Bao, who were guarding the spirits around them, couldn't see themselves at all, and couldn't hear themselves talking.

And the portrait on the offering table fluttered in the wind, as if there was a great attraction to absorb him.

"yes, I didn't think there was a spirit after death."

Zhang Fei shouted: "I was startled at first, and I felt that my soul was about to disperse. Fortunately, there was incense entanglement, and the portrait also sucked me in and preserved my soul. ”

"Do you know if there is a netherworld?"

Guan Yu asked.

The saying of the underworld was in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and Yu Ji's "Taiping Sutra Gengbu No. 10" recorded: There is the Emperor of Xudu under the Nine Shadows, who is in charge of life and death ghosts.

Zhang Fei said: "I don't know, I came here, I'm alone, Zilong Xingba and they are not there, and they are boring to death." ”

"Maybe it's because we mourned in the Taimiao, and the souls were absorbed into the painting."

Guan Yu thought for a moment and said, "Then how can we go to the Netherworld?" The eldest brother is not here, even if there is incense after death, it is better to go to ashes and find the eldest brother. ”

Zhang Fei said solemnly: "Second brother, I have this intention. Originally, I wanted to find the eldest brother, but the soul body was not very stable when I got out of this hall, and I was worried that the second brother would not find me when he came, so I kept waiting here. Now that the second brother is here, even if the ashes are gone, we have to find the eldest brother! ”

"Let's go!"

Guan Yu did not hesitate to go outside the main hall.

Even though the portrait had a huge suction, even if the incense lingered, it seemed to make him extremely comfortable, he didn't care at all, just turned his head and looked at Liu Chan, Zhuge Liang, Shen Chen and Guan Ping with a little reluctance, then he firmed his gaze again, and walked forward with a calm step, going out of the hall.

Zhang Fei followed, and two white phantoms slowly floated out of the hall. It seemed that because the incense was no longer continuing, Guan Yu only felt that there was white smoke rising all over his body, and his consciousness was in pain, but he did not flinch at all, and still strode forward.

The three brothers vowed to live and die together, and they couldn't die with Liu Bei, which was the biggest regret in Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's life, so now, even if they are broken and their souls are scattered, they have to find the eldest brother!

But though a man has a spirit after death, his spirit body is very weak. If the offspring cannot renew the incense in the future, it will dissipate by itself or sink into the netherworld.

For a while, the two of them smoked straight out, and their souls seemed to dissipate.

But at this time, an invisible meteor in the sky fell down and fell into the Zhongzu Palace, but it did not smash the temple, but directly penetrated the house and fell into Liu Bei's spiritual position card on the main seat.

After a while, a gentle and mellow voice sounded from the hall: "Second brother and third brother, where are you going?" ”

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei trembled when they heard this voice, and when they turned around, they had already seen a young man on the table under the main table, looking at them with a smile.

This smile is clearly Liu Bei when he was young.

Just like when outside Zhuoxian County, in the romance of peach blossoms, the three of them raised the wine glasses in their hands and made an oath to the emperor and queen.

"Big brother!"

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei burst into tears in an instant, turned their heads and quickly floated towards the hall, and fell into Liu Bei's arms, crying loudly.

"Second brother and third brother, the three of us brothers finally see each other again."

Liu Bei hugged the two.

"Big brother, where have you been all these years!"

"We miss you so much."

"Big brother, woo woo woo, we will finally see each other again after we die."

"It's okay, it's okay, my brother has been doing well all these years, the emperor God saw that I was benevolent and called me a heavenly official, but I can't see the world anymore."

"Then why is the eldest brother coming to the world again this time?"

"It is God who said that the three of us brothers want to live and die together, and righteousness will follow each other, and move heaven and earth, so that I will come down to answer you."

"Is it any wonder that after I died, I didn't see anyone in the Taoyuan Palace, Zilong Xingba them, and they were also picked up by the eldest brother?"

"No, how easy is it for ordinary people to want to be officials? They may have gone to the Netherworld, but Emperor Xudu has always loved talents, and Jiang Ziwen, the commander of Moling, was named King Qin Guang, and I think they may also be named Yan Jun. ”

The three of them hugged each other and wept bitterly, which was a tear of sorrow and a tear of joy.

After crying, the joy of the reunion diluted everything again, Zhang Fei wiped away his non-existent tears, laughed and said: "So, my second brother and I are also going to heaven to be heavenly officials?" ”

"Yes."

Liu Bei smiled: "But before I go up, I also want to see this world." The mandate of heaven cannot interfere in the world, and I don't know the affairs of the mortal world, so what is happening in the world now, you tell me. ”

"Your Majesty"

Guan Yu wanted to say His Majesty, but suddenly thought of Liu Bei, so he changed his words and said: "Adou is smart, reuses Kong Ming and Xiaoqing, and in the second year after the eldest brother left, he pacified Cao Wei and restored the Han Dynasty. ”

Liu Bei lowered his head and looked at the people who were guarding the spirits below, Zhuge Liang and Shen Chen, Guan Ping, and Zhang Bao all knelt solemnly, silently incense, burned paper, and kowtowed from time to time.

Only Liu Chan, the big fat man, was a little unbearable, drowsy, not kneeling on the seat, but lying down, and was about to fall asleep.

"Adou."

The corners of Liu Bei's mouth twitched slightly, shook his head and said: "Fortunately, Kong Ming Xiaoqing is loyal, and Adou is as good as a stream, otherwise with his temperament, if there is a greedy minister to bewitch him, how can this be done." ”

"Don't worry, big brother."

Zhang Fei said with a smile: "Our heirs are also smart, Shen Yin, the son of Xiaoqing, entered the government as the first champion of the imperial examination the year before last, and will be able to assist the Han Dynasty in the future." ”

"There are also Kong Ming Xiaoqing, they have also promoted a lot of talents, such as what Du Pre, who is only seventeen years old, and is the new champion last year. There is also a person named Yanghu, who has a family history, is Cai Yong's grandson, and is outstanding in learning, and at the age of nineteen, he was on the list of new subjects last year. ”

Guan Yu praised: "Now our Han is full of talents, and last year we also attacked Mo Nan and went on an expedition outside the Saiwai. This year, the imperial court is saying that it will send troops to the Western Regions, completely control the Western Regions in our hands, and restore the majesty of the former Han Dynasty! ”

"Good, good."

Liu Bei was overjoyed when he heard this, and nodded again and again.

He is now an official in the sky, and the gap between the gods and the earth is like a cloud and mud, and he doesn't know what the world is like.

Now that he heard that Dahan was prosperous again, he was also very excited, lowered his head to look at Shen Chen, and sighed: "Fortunately, Dahan can have Xiaoqing, otherwise we can only leave regrets." ”

"Why is that?"

Zhang Fei scratched his head and said: "Although Xiaoqing has unparalleled merits and is the first hero, we have also made great contributions." ”

Liu Bei said: "Now that we are gods after death, there is no need to hide it. Emperor God said that the Mandate of Heaven should have been divided into three kingdoms at the end of the Han Dynasty, Cao Cao occupied the entire north when he occupied the sky, Sun Quan occupied the southeast Yangzhou, I have someone and take Xichuan as the foundation, since then the three kingdoms have been established, attacking each other. ”

"Three Kingdoms?"

Zhang Fei was shocked: "But Sun Quan obviously didn't establish a country." ”

"This is the history of the Mandate of Heaven as it should be!"

Liu Bei said: "After I arrived in Jingzhou, Liu Jingsheng died of illness, Liu Cong surrendered to Cao Cao, I allied with Sun Quan, defeated Cao Jun in Chibi, and then Cao Cao got Nanyang, I got Nanjun, and Sun Quan rowed Hunan water and ruled, and then Yunchang Town Jingxiang, I got Kong Ming's plan, take Xichuan, defeat Cao Cao in Hanzhong, and achieve the emperor's cause. ”

"Sounds good, too."

Guan Yu stroked his beard and said.

"No, it sounds good, but it's actually the last glory of the Great Han."

Liu Bei sighed and shook his head: "God said that soon after the Battle of Hanzhong, Yun Chang sent troops to conquer Xiangfan, flooded the Seventh Army, and shocked China. As a result, his ally Sun Quan suddenly stabbed in the back and attacked Jiangling, Mi Fang and Shiren surrendered, and the second brother was defeated and killed by Ma Zhong, the general of Pan Zhang's army. ”

"What?"

Guan Yu was furious, his soul body was a little turbulent, and he roared angrily: "Jiangdong rats, Sun Quan Xiao'er!" ”

Liu Bei said: "I knew the news of Yunchang's death, I was very angry, and the whole country took revenge, but before I sent troops, Yide whipped the soldiers because of drunkenness, and killed his subordinates Fan Qiang and Zhang Da. ”

"Me"

Zhang Fei was stunned, he never expected that he would die like this in history, and now he was in a cold sweat, glad that Shen Chen had reprimanded him many times, saying that he dared to whip the soldiers again, and he would be dealt with by military law, plus Liu Bei and Guan Yu's repeated persuasion, and finally changed this bad problem.

Liu Bei continued: "I endured the grief and indignation of Yun Changyide's death, sent troops to take revenge, but was blocked by Lu Xun'er in Yiling, and finally because I was too impatient for revenge, I returned from a great defeat in the battle of Yiling, and died of illness in the White Emperor City. ”

"Is this the end of the historical destiny of our three brothers?"

Guan Yu couldn't help but be sad and indignant: "God said that we share life and death, and righteousness follows each other, but why did you let us end up in such a field?" ”

"This is destiny!"

Liu Bei sighed: "After that, Kong Ming covered his sadness, and then negotiated peace with Sun Quan, and governed Shuzhong in a good life, and after several northern expeditions, it was still difficult to resist the number of days, and after all, he died of illness in Wuzhang Plain, and could not return to the old capital." ”

"Is the Han dead?"

Guan Yu looked at Zhuge Liang, but he didn't expect Kong Ming to be the last barrier of the Great Han.

Liu Bei said: "Since Kong Ming's death, Adou can't govern the country, and the situation in Shuzhong is getting worse day by day, and the general Jiang Wei inherited Kong Ming's legacy and attacked Wei many times, but he still can't turn the tide." Wei smuggled Deng Ai across Yinping and took Chengdu directly, Adou went out of the city and surrendered, and Ji Han was destroyed! ”

Jiang Wei?

Deng Ai?

Aren't these two of Xiaoqing's students?

Guan Yu was stunned for a moment, and then said gloomily: "It seems that after all, Cao Cao is the final winner." ”

"Not really."

Liu Bei shook his head and said: "After Cao Heng's death, Cao Shuang was in power, this person was ambitious and talented, and was finally eradicated by Sima Yi in the Gaopingling Change, the Sima family controlled Cao Wei, and then the Sima family replaced Wei as Jin, first destroyed my Ji Han, and then destroyed Eastern Wu, and the three families returned to Jin, and then the rebellion of the Eight Kings, the Five Hu Chaohua, and the catastrophe of the Han people!" ”

"It turns out that there are so many things going on after we die."

Zhang Fei was shocked: "But what does this have to do with Xiaoqing?" ”

Liu Bei pointed below and said, "Look, hasn't the number of days changed?" God said that Xiaoqing is the biggest variable in the destiny of heaven, Xiaoqing should not have appeared in this world, but she didn't know why she came here. I helped him in Xuzhou, and he gave me back a big man! ”

"Xiaoqing!"

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei both looked at Shen Chen.

Shen Chen was burning paper for Guan Yu, and suddenly noticed that the incense in the incense burner on Liu Bei's offering table not far away had been burned, so he walked over and lit three incense sticks to salute them, and then knelt on the futon and bowed to Liu Bei's spiritual seat.

I don't know if it's a coincidence or fate, the three of them are looking at him, and it just so happens that he is bowing to the three of them, as if to tell them, Chen, you have lived up to your original life-saving grace!

"Let's return the salute to Xiaoqing too."

Liu Bei said.

The three of them knelt down solemnly and bowed to Shen Chen in return.

After getting up, Shen Chen had already finished bowing and continued to go back to Guan Yu's coffin to burn paper.

Liu Bei sighed: "Maybe this is God's arrangement." ”

"Big brother, let's go."

Zhang Fei shouted: "I've been here for months, and it's boring. ”

"Don't worry, just go back before dawn."

Liu Bei shrugged his nose and said, "It smells so fragrant." ”

"It's the peach blossoms blooming."

Guan Yu looked outside the hall and sighed: "Adou is full of peach blossoms outside this hall, and now is the season when the peach blossoms are in full bloom. ”

"Check it out."

Liu Bei floated down the altar and slowly walked outside the hall.

It was the middle of the night, cloudless, and the moon hung high, and the silver glow fell down, illuminating the earth as if it were day.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei followed behind Liu Bei, I don't know if it was because of the lingering incense, or because of Liu Bei's divine power, after they walked out of the hall, they were originally just a white phantom, and gradually began to condense their soul bodies in the fog.

In the end, the white mist drifted away, and two sturdy and burly bodies walked out.

Zhang Fei looked at Guan Yu in surprise and said, "Second brother, you." ”

"Third brother, you."

Guan Yu also looked at Zhang Fei in surprise.

Because both of them have now become the appearance of their youth, just like when they met for the first time in the spring breeze of peach and plum that year.

"Second brother and third brother, I can't even remember your face at that time."

Liu Bei sighed: "But you at that time were the best initial appearance in my memory." ”

"Thank you, big brother!"

Guan Zhang saluted Liu Bei in unison.

Liu Bei took their hands, looked at each other, and laughed.

The gentle spring breeze blows, and the peach blossoms in the courtyard are fluttering.

The three brothers enjoy the flowers under the moon.

"It's a pity that there is no wine."

Zhang Fei said regretfully: "I really want the three of us brothers to have another drink." ”

Before the words fell, a table suddenly appeared in front of him, and three mats were arranged, with a few more pots of wine and three glasses on them.

I saw Zhang Bao in the hall hearing his sigh, walked to Zhang Feiling, poured water and wine, and muttered while pouring: "Father, the second uncle also went to look for you today, you like to drink, I'm afraid that the second uncle will find you, but it's not good if you don't have wine to entertain him, I'll pour you a few glasses." ”

"Hahahahaha."

Zhang Fei laughed and said, "My good son! ”

As he spoke, he rushed over and knelt down on the seat, shouting, "Big brother and second brother come quickly!" ”

Liu Bei and Guan Yu glanced at each other, both smiled, walked over and knelt down.

"The three of us brothers are together again, we should drink this cup!"

Zhang Fei raised the wine in his hand and said happily.

"Come, drink!"

Liu Bei Guan Yu also raised his glass.

The three wine glasses collided together, and a silver moon sprinkled on them, illuminating the scarves on their heads fluttering in the wind.

The peach blossoms swayed lightly in the wind, and the faint fragrance lingered in the entire peach orchard, and the three brothers drank under the moon.

I don't know when it passed, the sky gradually brightened, and the figures of the three people gradually became weak.

Zhang Fei fell drunkenly on the desk, and Guan Yu leaned beside him.

Liu Bei patted Zhang Fei's hand, looked at Guan Yu and smiled, and muttered as if he heard Zhang Fei say softly: "Taoyuan is righteous, live and die together!" ”

That's the promise they made.

Liu Bei raised his head and looked at the sky, and also said in a low voice: "Taoyuan is righteous, live and die together!" ”

"Taoyuan is righteous, live and die together!"

Guan Yu also responded softly.

Eventually, the sky grew whiter and whiter, and their figures became fainter and fainter, until the sun rose in the east, and the three rays of light rushed to the sky.

Situ.

All that was left was the peach blossoms flying, and the three wine glasses that fell to the ground.

"Ahh

Zhuge Liang, Shen Chen, Guan Ping, Zhang Bao and others came out yawning.

I kept a night watch, and I'm tired in the morning, so I need to go back and get some rest, eat, and come back tonight.

"Huh? Who threw the glass on the ground. ”

Guan Ping lowered his head and saw that under the peach tree outside the hall, there were three wine glasses.

"Is it a tribute to the first emperor and the two generals?"

Zhuge Liang was suspicious.

Only Shen Chen thought about it and looked back at the hall.

The hall was silent as if there was no sound.

Only the wind gently stirred the portraits of the three brothers, as if there was a rustling sound.

If it is a supernatural event to travel by yourself, perhaps, there is really a dead spirit in this world.

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms TV series, there is a scene where Liu Bei meets the Guanzhang Difu after his death, and this chapter is also the same.