Reborn Liu Bei: I'll lead this Three Kingdoms to victory!

On the ninth day of the third month of the seventh year of Jian'an, in Xiapi, at precisely Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the city gates were already crowded with people. They were not commoners, but officials.

Tian Yu returned from Liaodong and stood at the forefront, his face calm. Pang Tong leaned against the city wall, sipping his wine intermittently. Sima Yi stood beside him, gazing at the official road to the south, saying nothing.

Even Zheng Xuan came. The seventy-four-year-old gentleman, leaning on a cane, stood in the middle of the procession. He insisted on coming, saying that the Xun family was a family of scholars of classical studies, and that he had a past relationship with them, so he should come and greet them.

I wasn't standing in line.

I stood on the city wall.

Looking at the winding official road, at the black dots gradually appearing in the distance, and at the more than one hundred people approaching.

Xun Shi.

The Xun family of Yingchuan.

A distinguished family for centuries, the pinnacle of scholars in the land.

They are coming.

"My lord," Xu Shu walked to my side, "we've investigated thoroughly. There are a total of one hundred and seventeen people. Xun Yu's eldest son, Xun Yun, is leading the group, and the rest are clansmen, both old and young."

I nodded.

"Is anyone injured?"

"A few elderly people and children are sick, but not seriously. The medical school staff are already waiting at the city gate."

I looked at him. "Yuanzhi, tell me, why did they come?"

Xu Shu thought for a moment. "Because of Xun Yu's letter. And also because... they had nowhere else to go."

I remained silent.

Yes, there's nowhere else to go.

Xu Du couldn't accommodate them, Ying Chuan couldn't keep them, and of all the places in the world, only this place still had its doors open.

"Let's go." I turned around. "Let's go down and get them."

At 9:00 AM, at the city gate.

Xun Yun walked at the front of the procession, dressed in white mourning clothes, his face calm.

A little over a hundred paces away was the city gate of Xiapi. A group of people stood at the gate, including officials, scholars, and physicians. Their eyes were all fixed on this weary procession.

Xun Yun took a deep breath and quickened his pace. He stopped as he approached. The crowd parted, and a person stepped out. He wore a plain robe and cloth shoes, and wore a smile.

Liu Xuande.

Xun Yun had only heard of this man through rumors. He started from humble beginnings as a mat weaver and shoe seller, and now he controls four provinces and commands 100,000 armored soldiers.

He had expected to meet a very important and imposing figure.

But the person in front of him was much more ordinary than he had imagined.

We are also much closer.

"Young Master Xun," Liu Bei said gently, "You must be tired from your journey."

Xun Yun was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening and bowed deeply to the ground.

"The criminal Xun Yun has led his clan to seek refuge. We hope that Your Excellency will... take him in."

He didn't say anything other than "take in". He didn't express loyalty, he didn't say he would serve, he just said "take in".

Because he knew they were not in a position to negotiate any terms.

Being alive is already a blessing.

Liu Bei stepped forward, took his arm, and helped him up.

"Young Master Xun." His gaze was gentle. "I received your father's letter."

Xun Yun raised his head.

"Your father said in his letter that he hoped I would treat the Xun family members well," Liu Bei said softly. "Don't worry, from today onwards, you are all one of us."

own people.

Xun Yun's eyes suddenly felt hot.

He lowered his head, not wanting anyone to see him.

At noon, in a side hall of the Governor's Mansion.

One hundred and seventeen people have been settled in.

The sick were sent to the medical school, the old and weak were arranged to rest at the post station, and the young and strong stayed in the side hall to wait for registration.

Tian Yu sat at his desk, a thick book spread out in front of him.

"One at a time." His voice wasn't loud, but it silenced everyone. "Name, age, place of origin, what you've studied, what you can do—tell us everything clearly."

The first person to step forward was a young man in his early twenties named Xun Yi, who was Xun Yu's cousin.

"I have read the Book of Poetry, the Book of History, and the Book of Rites. I spent two years at the Imperial Academy in Xudu and can write documents."

Tian Yu wrote them down one by one. "Where do you want to go?"

Xun Yi paused for a moment. "Where...do you want to go?"

"Yes." Tian Yu looked up at him. "Qingzhou needs a few clerks, Youzhou needs a few county magistrates, and Liaodong needs a few teachers. Where do you want to go?"

Xun Yi was stunned. He thought he was lucky to be alive. He hadn't expected there to be a choice?

"I..." he stammered, "I want to go... to Qingzhou?"

Tian Yu nodded and wrote the two characters "Qingzhou" on the register.

"Next."

One after another, more than a hundred people were registered in less than an hour.

Tian Yu, holding the register, walked up to me. "My lord, everything has been registered."

I took it and looked through it.

"There are 103 people who can read, 87 who can write, 42 who know how to do accounting, and 31 who have practiced martial arts..." I closed the book. "Good. They are all useful people."

Pang Tong grinned from the side. "The Xun family of Yingchuan truly lives up to their reputation."

Shen Shi (3-5 PM), Medical School. Fu Shou is feeding medicine to a sick old man.

The old man was over sixty years old, with completely white hair and a sallow complexion. He was Xun Yu's cousin. He had caught a cold on the way and had a high fever, almost not making it through.

"Old man, drink your medicine." Fu Shou brought the medicine bowl to his lips, her voice gentle. "This is a prescription written by Mr. Hua, specifically for treating colds. You'll feel better after drinking it."

The old man looked at her, a hint of surprise in his cloudy old eyes.

How come such a young girl is already treating patients?

"Young lady, how old are you?"

"Eight years old," Fu Shou answered while feeding him medicine. "He's been studying medicine with Mr. Hua for almost two years now."

The old man was stunned.

Eight years old.

He started treating patients at the age of eight.

He thought of his granddaughters in Yingchuan, who were still catching butterflies in the yard when they were eight years old.

"Young lady... what's your name?"

"My name is Fu Shou." The little girl looked up and smiled. "Take good care of yourself and call me if you need anything."

Fushou.

The old man pondered the name, then suddenly remembered something.

"Fu Shou...who is Fu Wan to you?"

The little girl's smile faltered.

"It's my father."

The old man fell silent.

Fu Wan. The Fu Wan who was killed in the Xu Du massacre. The Fu Wan whose entire family was raided. Now, his daughter is here, feeding medicine to the elderly members of the Xun family.

"Girl..." His voice was hoarse, "Do you...hate?"

Fu Shou looked at him, her gaze clear.

"What is there to hate?"

"I hate...the person who killed your father."

Fu Shou remained silent for a moment.

Then she shook her head.

"Mr. Hua said he regretted not being able to cure illnesses and save lives." She put down the medicine bowl, stood up, and said, "I studied medicine to save lives. I'll save as many as I can."

She turned and walked toward the next patient.

The old man watched her small figure from behind, remaining silent for a long time.

At the hour of You (5-7 PM), at the academy.

Zheng Xuan sat on the platform, with a young man kneeling in front of him.

Xun Yun. "Your name is Xun Yun?" the old man asked, his voice aged yet gentle.

"Yes."

"Xun Wenruo's son?"

"Yes."

Zheng Xuan nodded, a complex emotion in his eyes.

"Your father... was a good man," he said. "It's a pity he was born at the wrong time."

Xun Yun lowered his head and remained silent.

What books have you read?

"I've read parts of the *Book of Poetry*, the *Book of Documents*, the *Book of Rites*, the *Book of Changes*, and the *Spring and Autumn Annals*." "Which school of thought is the *Spring and Autumn Annals* from?" "The *Gongyang Commentary*."

Zheng Xuan nodded slightly.

Have you read the story of "The Great Revenge" told by the Gongyang School?

Xun Yun raised his head. He knew Zheng Xuan was asking about a great revenge—the hatred for one's father, a hatred that can never be reconciled. "I've read it," he said softly. "So, what do you plan to do?"

Xun Yun remained silent. After a long while, he spoke: "Before my father died, he sent someone back with a message: 'There are no cowards in the Xun family.'" Zheng Xuan looked at him.

"so?"

"Therefore, I will not disappoint my father," Xun Yun's voice gradually became firm, "but I also know that now is not the time."

Zheng Xuan smiled slightly.

It was a very faint smile.

"Good," he said. "It's not easy to stay clear-headed amidst hatred."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the sky outside, which was gradually darkening.

"You should stay at the academy," he said. "Study with me for a few years. Once you've thought things through, then you can do what you want to do."

Xun Yun knelt on the ground and kowtowed deeply. "Thank you, Lord Zheng."

At the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), the secret chambers are not closed at night.

Sima Yi and Pang Tong sat facing each other, with the secret report they had just received spread out in front of them.

"News from Xuchang," Sima Yi read aloud. "Cao Cao entered the palace today and 'discussed' with the Emperor for an hour. What they discussed, no one knows. But when the Emperor came out, his face was deathly pale, and his hands were trembling."

Pang Tong took a swig of wine.

"As expected," he said, "Cao Cao has begun to target the emperor."

Why?

"Because Xun Yu is dead, no one is protecting him anymore." Pang Tong's gaze was profound. "If Cao Cao wants to establish his authority, the best target is the emperor. Suppressing the emperor and intimidating the ministers is a win-win situation."

Sima Yi remained silent.

He recalled Xun Yu's letter and the line, "May Your Majesty take care of yourself and await the opportune time."

Will the emperor live to see that day?

"Sir," he finally spoke, "what can we do?" Pang Tong shook his head. "Nothing," he said, "at least not now."

He paused, then took another swig of his drink. "But we can remember."

"Remember what?"

Pang Tong looked at him with sharp eyes.

"Remember everything Cao Cao did today. One day, you will pay him back."

At 9:00 PM, in the rear hall of the Governor's Mansion.

I sat alone, with Xun Yu's letter spread out in front of me.

"Though I cannot reach it, my heart yearns for it." I read it many times. Each time I read it, my feelings became more complex. "My lord." Xun You's voice came from the doorway.

I looked up.

He stood at the doorway, his face calm.

"Gongda, come in and sit down." He came in and sat down opposite me. We sat in silence for a long time. "Gongda," I finally spoke, "are you alright?"

He remained silent for a moment.

"I'm fine," he said. "It's just... a bit sentimental."

"What are you feeling sentimental about?"

He gazed at the plum tree outside the window.

"A sigh..." His voice was soft. "Back in Yingchuan, Wenruo and I often sat facing each other and talked for a whole night. At that time, he always said that the world would get better."

He paused.

"He waited twenty years, but the world did not improve. He died."

I remained silent.

"Gongda, do you blame us?" Xun You turned his head and looked at me.

"Whose fault is it?"

"It's our fault... for writing that letter." Xun You remained silent for a long time.

Then he shook his head.

"I don't blame him," he said. "That was his own choice."

He stood up and walked to the window.

"I just...miss him a little."

At midnight, outside the city of Xiapi.

Xun Yun stood alone on the earthen slope outside the city, gazing south. There lay Xudu. There lay his father, buried. There, he could never return.

"Young Master Xun."

A voice came from behind.

Xun Yun turned around.

A young man stood behind him, about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a handsome face and deep eyes.

Sima Yi.

"Sima Jun Sima," Xun Yun said, bowing.

Sima Yi walked to his side and stood beside him. "What are you thinking about?"

Xun Yun remained silent for a moment.

"I'm thinking..." he said softly, "What was my father thinking before he died?"

Sima Yi remained silent.

"He could have lived." Xun Yun's voice was a little hoarse. "The Prime Minister gave him a chance. If he had just lowered his head and admitted his mistake... he could have lived."

Why wouldn't he agree?

Sima Yi remained silent.

After a long silence, he spoke:

"Because some people would rather die than bow their heads."

Xun Yun turned to look at him.

Sima Yi gazed southwards, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

"Your father was that kind of person. My father... was too."

Xun Yun was stunned.

Sima Yi's father? Sima Fang? Wasn't he in Xuchang...?

"My father is still in Xuchang," Sima Yi said softly, "but I haven't seen him for three years."

Xun Yun looked at him.

The eighteen-year-old boy had no sadness or resentment on his face, only an indescribable calmness.

Aren't you sad?

Sima Yi shook his head.

"What's the use of being sad?" he said. "They chose this path, so they have to bear the consequences. The same goes for us."

He turned around and looked at Xun Yun.

"Your father is dead, and you have come. This was his choice, and this is your path. Just keep going."

Looking at this young man who was even younger than himself, Xun Yun suddenly felt a surge of indescribable emotions.

"Sima Jun, Sima..."

"Just call me Zhongda," Sima Yi smiled. "We'll be seeing each other often from now on."

At dawn.

The sky was beginning to lighten with the first light of dawn.

I stood atop the city wall, gazing at the city awakening. In the distance, the sound of reading aloud drifted from the academy; morning readings were taking place. Further still, the sounds of drills echoed from the military camp. And beyond that, wisps of smoke rose from chimneys; people were cooking breakfast.

The 117 members of the Xun clan have been settled.

The old were sent to recuperate, the young were sent to academies, and the young were assigned to various states.

They will take root here, sprout, and grow into new trees.

This is the world I want.

It's not a world for one person alone.

It belongs to everyone.