Liu Xuande would never be a succubus of the Eastern Han Dynasty!

She was still holding the broadsword tightly in her coma, her figure undulating under the armor, blood and rouge mixed together, giving it a unique wild beauty.

Liu Bei smiled bitterly and shook his head: "The governor is very powerful. I admire him."

Then, he turned his head and looked at the battlefield, his eyes deep: "Although the main force of the Xianbei was defeated, the remaining forces have not been destroyed. We still need to reorganize the army as soon as possible to prepare for any unforeseen events."

Zhang Fei jumped over, clapped his hands and laughed, "Brother, why were you blushing just now? When Sister Dong kissed you, haha, I saw it all!"

Liu Bei glared at her and said, "Third sister, stop messing around."

Zhang Fei stuck out his tongue and hid behind Guan Yu.

Guan Yu put away his sword and stood silent.

Bingzhou: Chapter 8: Night Talk on the City Wall, Flirting with the Prince

As night falls, the sky of Ying County is dotted with stars, and a breeze blows across the city walls, bringing a hint of early spring coolness.

The smoke of the battlefield had cleared. Liu Bei led 300 cavalrymen and the remnants of Dong Zhuo to gather the remaining soldiers and Xianbei captives, and then entered Ying County for rest and recuperation.

Dong Zhuo was still unconscious, his graceful figure under armor lying in the military tent, his rouge-painted cheeks looked even more gentle in his sleep.

Liu Bei, as the newly appointed governor of Shangjun, temporarily took charge of the military power. He stood in front of the parade ground in the city, his green robe fluttering slightly and his eyes steady. Behind him, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Jia Xu stood quietly, each with his own style.

"Comrades, this is a great victory, thanks to the bravery of Lai Er and others!"

Liu Bei's voice was gentle yet dignified. "Record the accounts truthfully according to your merits. Any supplies seized by individuals will remain theirs. Once you enter the city, you are not allowed to disturb the people. Those who disobey this order will be executed! If you have special needs, you can exchange your supplies for money at the Quartermaster General's Office. The price is 10% higher than the market price."

He paused, looking around the room, "In three days, gather here and march north!"

The soldiers responded in unison, then dispersed on the spot and went into the city in groups of three or four to rest.

Zhang Fei jumped up to Liu Bei, clapped his hands and said with a smile, "Brother, this is a great rule! I surrendered several Xianbei horses, and the money I exchanged is just enough to buy some wine!"

Guan Yu nodded slightly, then turned around with his sword in hand: "...Brother, Third Sister, I'll go down and clean it up first, it's dirty."

"Oh... Second sister, wait for me, I want to go too!"

Jia Xu waved his feather fan, smiled charmingly, and even took the opportunity to praise: "Your Excellency's order combines benevolence and justice with rewards and punishments. It is truly the style of a wise ruler."

"..."

Liu Bei was too lazy to respond to her and just kept walking forward.

-

As the night deepened, Liu Bei and Jia Xu climbed up the city wall of Ying County. Holding a pot of warm wine, they leaned against the parapet and chatted.

There were lights twinkling below the city. After entering the city, the soldiers dispersed, some exchanged wine, some bought meat, and the sound of noise could be heard faintly.

Liu Bei poured two cups of wine, handed one to Jia Xu, and said with a smile, "Wenhe, during today's battle, did you know that I was almost kissed by Governor Dong?"

Jia Xu took the wine glass, covered his mouth with his hand and chuckled softly, his purple skirt swaying slightly in the moonlight. "Oh? Your Excellency is very lucky. That Governor Dong, covered in blood, still wanted to tease you, which shows that he is quite charming."

She narrowed her eyes, her feather fan covering half her face, and spoke in a gentle voice, "But I heard that the Lord refused the offer of 'repaying the favor with my body'. Don't you think it's a pity?"

"Look, if you can just outshine Governor Dong in bed, won't you be able to just whisper in his ear and walk around Bingzhou with impunity?"

Hearing this, Liu Bei blushed and waved his hand, saying, "Wenhe, don't make fun of me. Governor Dong was too aggressive in killing the enemy and just fainted."

He took a sip of his wine and changed the subject. "Come to think of it, I heard from my third sister that on the battlefield, a Xianbei soldier was sent flying by her spear, his pants falling off. Everyone burst into laughter. Unfortunately, it was foggy, so I didn't see it."

Jia Xu chuckled, waving his feather fan gently. "General Zhang is truly a true treasure. That Xianbei soldier must have been wondering before he died whether his trousers falling off counted as a military injury."

She paused, narrowed her eyes and looked at Liu Bei, "But my lord, although there are many interesting stories on the battlefield, I think your performance today was more exciting."

Liu Bei was stunned. Just as he was about to be humble, he suddenly asked, "Speaking of which, Wenhe, I just saw on the battlefield that the Xianbei have taller horses and their physiques are superior to ours. But why do they collapse at the first contact and are defeated in the first battle?"

Jia Xu put down her wine glass and leaned against the city wall. Her purple skirt clung to her slender figure, outlining her soft curves.

She whispered, "Your Excellency is right. Weapons, equipment, horsemanship, and tactics are indeed advantages in determining victory or defeat, but they are not the key. What truly determines victory or defeat is the morale and spirit of the army."

She pointed outside the city, her voice soft but profound, "The Xianbei may seem powerful, but their invasion of the south was solely for plunder. While nominally an army, they are in reality a group of high-ranking bandits. It's their nature to bully the weak and fear the strong."

"Furthermore, their commander, Lian Temujin, was arrogant and underestimated the enemy, even attempting to bypass them and march alone deep into Taiyuan. This stretches the battle line too far. Even if we don't intervene, they will suffer a heavy blow. This is a sin of arrogance, and I hope you will take this as a warning."

Liu Bei remained silent, his gaze penetrating. Suddenly, he spoke, "Isn't this just an appearance? It's clear you saw through their deployment long ago, splitting your forces in two just in time, and accurately calculated how the situation would develop. I easily destroyed their detachment in Dingxiang, and you ordered me to assemble three hundred light cavalry and march south, saving the day at the crucial moment. The key to all this was clearly your decision."

Upon hearing this, Jia Xu paused with his feather fan, turned to look at Liu Bei, and smiled charmingly, "Your Excellency, you are too kind. This is simply my duty as a counselor. Moreover, if the Xianbei hadn't underestimated the enemy, how could I have had the opportunity to exploit the loophole?"

She paused, her voice soft, "...It is my job to propose strategies, but the true decision lies with you, my Lord. How many rulers in this world dare not fully trust the words of their counselors, simply because commanding an army is of paramount importance. A single misjudgment can lead to the Xianbei's defeat today. Your Lordship, upon first meeting Xu and having not witnessed my battlefield prowess, has placed such trust in me. This is truly a blessing for Xu."

This is a perfect answer.

He flattered Liu Bei by praising him and putting him down, and at the same time deliberately described his own contribution as worthless, indicating that it was all the former's good decision.

A wise person like Jia Xu can get a very good position no matter in any ancient dynasty or in modern times.

"..."

Liu Bei stared at her in silence.

The moonlight shone down, revealing the figures of the two.

After a long pause, Liu Bei took a sip of wine and suddenly said with emotion, "Actually, I really hate war. All I wish for is for the world to cease wars, for people's livelihoods to recover, for everyone to have enough food to eat, and for us to build a harmonious and prosperous world."

He looked at Jia Xu, his eyes gleaming, "Wenhe, what's your dream?"

Jia Xu narrowed his eyes, his feather fan covering the corners of his lips, and whispered, "As your Excellency can see, I have witnessed the fickleness of the world since I was young. I only wish to assist a wise ruler, change the course of the world, and achieve my own ambitions. It is that simple."

She paused and smiled meaningfully, "Your Excellency's vision of a prosperous and harmonious world does not conflict with Xu's ambitions."

This is what it means to be a minister in troubled times.

It seems that the purpose of living is to change the world's situation and to take pleasure in it. After the task is accomplished, one will wave his hand, disappear behind the scenes, and enjoy his old age.

Liu Bei nodded and was about to ask again when Jia Xu suddenly put down his wine glass and moved closer to him.

Her purple dress was tight-fitting, revealing the curve of her chest, and her soft body was almost leaning on Liu Bei's shoulder.

She reached out her hand, her fingertips lightly sliding across his chest, her voice so charming that it could drip water: "My Lord, it's late, and we've almost finished the wine. Why don't we... talk about something else?"

Liu Bei was stunned: "Wen, Wenhe, this..."

But Jia Xu refused to give in. He threw his feather fan aside and pressed himself against him. He put his arms around his waist, pressed his arms against his soft chest, and smiled like a little fox: "Don't be shy, my lord. You are so majestic on the battlefield, why are you so cowardly here?"

"Wenhe, stop it! We're on the city wall!"

Liu Bei was so anxious that he was sweating all over his forehead. He tried to push her away in a panic, but Jia Xu's body was as soft as water. Not only could he not push her away, but her hand also slid down his waist and almost touched a place he shouldn't have touched.

He felt helpless: "How can this be so shameful?"

Jia Xu chuckled, his eyes flickering, and suddenly he said seriously, "Speaking of which, my lord, you have never seen Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, but you know that they are extremely skilled in martial arts. Before Luoyang, you had never seen me, but you are well aware of my strategies..."

She paused, her fingers resting on his waist. She looked up at him, her voice soft but inquiring, "Lord, are you truly adept at judging people, or... have you known this for a long time?"

Liu Bei was stunned for a moment, then regained his composure.

He coughed lightly, pushed Jia Xu away, picked up the feather fan and handed it to her, saying softly, "Wenhe, it's late, go to bed early."

He turned and walked down the city wall, his back silhouette stretched out in the moonlight, leaving Jia Xu alone leaning against the parapet, smiling meaningfully.

"……really."

Jia Xu muttered to himself, stroking his feather fan with his fingers, a sly glint in his eyes, "Lord, you are truly an interesting person."

The night wind blew, the aroma of wine still lingered on the city wall, and it seemed that this night's heart-to-heart talk had just begun.

Bingzhou: Chapter 9: Night Market Fun, Brotherly Love

The streets of Ying County were ablaze with lights. The soldiers had rested for three days, and the city was a bit more bustling.

Liu Bei returned alone to his temporary residence, a simple wooden house with only a bed and a table. An oil lamp was lit on the table, and the dim light made his figure in a blue shirt look a little tired.

"Big brother!"

He took off his cloak and was about to lie down to rest when the door was slammed open. Zhang Fei's petite figure jumped in, his long hair swinging, a snake spear in his hand, his face full of excitement.

"Brother, you haven't gone to bed yet, why don't you accompany us to have fun?" Zhang Fei stared with his eyes wide open, his tone full of coquettishness.

Behind her, Guan Yu walked in slowly, with a hint of helplessness between his brows, and the long sword in his hand leaning against his shoulder, obviously looking like he was also dragged here by Zhang Fei.

Liu Bei was stunned. Before he could say anything, Zhang Fei rushed over and grabbed his arm. "Let's go! The streets are bustling! I just saw so much food!"

She was incredibly strong, and Liu Bei staggered as he was pulled. He smiled bitterly and said, "Third sister, it's late..."

But before he could finish his words, Guan Yu also stepped forward and said with a smile: "Brother, don't refuse. If the third sister doesn't take you out, she will probably not be able to sleep tonight."

"...So, this isn't a request for my opinion, but a notification, right?"

"Brother is so smart!"

Liu Bei had no choice but to be "escorted" out of the door by the two men, one on the left and one on the right.

The moonlight shone down, and the figures of three people were reflected on the stone road. One was as gentle as jade, one was as cold and arrogant as ice, and one was as lively as a bird, which was quite interesting.

Although Ying County is a small town, the streets are quite lively in early spring.

On both sides of the street, vendors carried lanterns and shouted one after another.

The air was filled with the wheat aroma of roasted pancakes, the grease of roasted lamb, and the sweet smell of candied haws.

They had originally rested a long time ago, but after hearing that the army had won a great victory, they rested in the city for three days and then got up and started business again.

As Zhang Fei entered the market, his eyes lit up and he ran ahead, skipping and jumping. He quickly gathered a bunch of food in his hands - a skewer of roasted mutton, a piece of freshly baked pancake, and a candied haws in his mouth. His mouth was stuffed full, and he shouted incoherently:

"Brother and sister, come and try it, it's delicious!"

Liu Bei followed behind her and looked at her greedy look. He couldn't help but laugh: "Third sister, eat slowly, don't choke."

He took the skewer of mutton handed to him by Zhang Fei and took a bite. The gravy was overflowing with juice. The seasoning was a bit stimulating to the taste buds, but it did have a pure natural flavor.

Guan Yu stood aside, glanced at the stall, but did not touch it. He just said lightly: "Greasy."

Zhang Fei chewed the pancake, puffed his cheeks and retorted: "Second sister, you don't understand, this is called a delicacy!"

She ran to buy a bowl of spicy soup and drank it until she was sweating profusely. She was so spicy that she stuck out her tongue, but she didn't forget to greet Liu Bei: "Brother, this is spicy and refreshing, you should try it!"

Liu Bei smiled and shook his head, but still took the bowl and took a sip. The spiciness made his eyes slightly wet. He smiled and said, "It's really strong."

The three of them talked as they walked. Zhang Fei was like a little sparrow, running around here and there, buying a string of candied haws and then snatching a freshly roasted rabbit leg from the vendor, gnawing on it until his mouth was full of oil. He was as lively as a child.

"Third sister has a childlike temperament. I don't know whether she is good or bad."

"Second sister, you're worrying too much," Liu Bei said with a smile, shaking his head. "Of the three, the wise man who knows the truth, the ordinary man who is half-baked, and the fool who is crude but subtle, the fool must live the most comfortably."

"Have you not heard that the skillful labor, the knowledgeable worry, and the incompetent seek nothing?"

"That makes sense, but Third Sister doesn't fall into the category of incompetent. We still need to be vigilant."

"makes sense."

Liu Bei and Guan Yu walked side by side, looking at Zhang Fei's busy figure, smiled at each other, their eyes full of pampering.

After walking for a while, Guan Yu suddenly stopped, looked at Liu Bei with narrow eyes, and whispered: "...I know that you are kind, brother, but there is something I don't know whether I should say it or not."

Liu Bei was stunned for a moment, then turned around and said with a smile: "Second sister, if there is anything about our relationship, just tell us directly."

Guan Yu nodded, his tone still cold: "Brother, your talent and beauty are unparalleled, rare in the world, but there are so many rogues in the world. Brother, you can choose the good ones and follow them, but never indulge in them. You must know that beauty is harmful to your health."

She paused, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes. "Today, Governor Dong and Jia Wenhe both showed interest in you. I'm afraid you've become soft-hearted and lost your kindness."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei laughed heartily and waved his hand, saying, "Second sister, you're worrying too much. I only have the great cause of the country in my heart, how could I be obsessed with beauty?"

He paused, "But Governor Dong's move did give me a fright. Luckily she fainted."

Guan Yu snorted coldly, "That Jia Wenhe is even worse. I actually saw what she did on the city wall. It was clearly intentional."

???

Where did you start snooping?

Liu Bei's heart skipped a beat and he was a little stunned.

Guan Yu on the side wanted to persuade her again, but a quarrel was heard in front of her, interrupting her.

The three looked over and saw Zhang Fei standing in the street, his lance poked into the ground. He was angrily pointing at several Han soldiers and cursing, "You bastards, you can't control your words. How dare you tease a decent woman? I'll smash you to death!"

Her face flushed red, her twin ponytails trembled with anger, and she brandished the spear in her hand, chasing after the soldiers and smashing them hard.

The Han soldiers were covered in dust and dirt, holding their heads and running around the streets, shouting, "General Zhang, please spare our lives! We were just talking, not doing anything!"

It turned out that they had just passed by and saw a pretty woman, so they flirted with her a few times, but they were caught by Zhang Fei.

As a result, she picked up the spear and smashed it over without saying a word. People on the street gathered around to watch, and some even applauded.