Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chen Xi looked up at the sky dome. If it was Huang Zhong, there really wasn’t any problem; after all, Huang Zhong had taken down the Northern Huns Chanyu Huyan Chu. Just talking about this battle merit alone, it was perfectly reasonable for Huang Zhong to tag along for a lap.

After all, Chidao was something you normally weren’t allowed to use. Besides when the emperor went out and used it, only ministers returning with great merit could take a few steps on it. Although Chen Xi himself didn’t have any particular obsession with walking it, the moment many military generals heard this news, their eyes lit up.

As for being the ones at the head, these military generals didn’t even bother thinking about it. Even though they joked in private that Sunx Ce couldn’t squeeze into the Three Giants while Zhou Yu somehow could, if later Sunx Ce marched side by side with Liu Bei and Cao Cao, they’d have no complaints.

”Meng De, Bofu, you, me, and Gongjin. For the remaining two, Lord Cao picks one, I pick one.” Liu Bei smiled as he spoke, seeing Chen Xi frown.

Cao Cao and Zhou Yu both understood instantly. There was nothing to argue about here: having Sunx Ce appear on stage without Zhou Yu would be a joke. As for Liu Bei taking one more person, that wasn’t an issue either.

”Wen Ruo, then.” Cao Cao didn’t even need to think. He’d seen Xun Yu’s toil and contribution with his own eyes; naturally, given a chance, he would bring Xun Yu along.

”Mm, how about Hansheng?” Liu Bei thought for a moment, then spoke.

”That works too.” Chen Xi nodded. In any case, in the Northern Frontier war Huang Zhong had very cleanly lopped off the Northern Huns Chanyu Huyan Chu.

As for others, like Guan Yu—though his blood ties and official rank were closer, and he’d also taken out two Inner Qi Manifestation experts—compared with the Northern Huns Chanyu, it was a bit flimsy. Just like why they weren’t picking one, three, or five people to lead.

If you picked just one, then it definitely had to be Commander-in-chief Zhou Yu leading the way. After all, whenever you won a great war, the Commander-in-chief took half the credit. If you picked three, and skipped Zhou Yu in favor of Sunx Ce, what would everyone else think? Strictly speaking, this time anyone could be omitted, except Zhou Yu.

By the same logic, five people weren’t enough to split it cleanly, so in the end they could only choose the number seven, which conveniently put Zhou Yu walking in the center.

As for the rites between ruler and minister—what a joke. Never mind that the Son of Heaven of Han wasn’t dead yet; even if the Son of Heaven of Han were personally with the army, after a victory the Commander-in-chief in charge of the troops would still ride abreast with him. And who the hell is Sunx Ce supposed to be!

Back in the day at Changping between Qin and Zhao, King Zhaoxiang of Qin came in person, and it still didn’t mean a thing— the main commander and man of greatest merit was Bai Qi. In matters of war, if you don’t want to die, you let the capable ones go up.

”Those without clothes ready, remember to get them made. Zhou Gongjin, remember to prepare your Coronation Robe, and Sunx Bofu as well.” Liu Bei admonished Zhou Yu. He wasn’t worried Zhou Yu would forget; he was worried this matter didn’t even exist in Sunx Ce’s head. If when the time came everyone else was in official attire and Sunx Ce showed up in full battle armor, he’d get beaten if that didn’t happen it’d be strange.

”In Chang’an and Luoyang, the Zhou Family has old residences. There are Coronation Robes stored at the bottom of the chests there.” Zhou Yu said calmly. Liu Bei nodded when he heard this—so long as they existed, all was well. If Sunx Ce really turned up in armor at that time, it would be disgraceful.

”I wonder how Xuangao’s trip to the Wang Family of Taiyuan is going.” Liu Bei naturally shifted the topic, while Guo Jia and Jia Xu exchanged a glance, both understanding Zhou Yu’s methods.

To Liu Bei, Guo Huai was just a minor official, but Liu Bei’s daily job was to recognize people everywhere. Moreover, Guo Huai had been recommended by Zang Ba, and had life-and-death friendship with Guan Ping, Wei Yan, and Xu Shu. So after learning of that affair, Liu Bei paid him a bit of extra attention.

”He’s probably gone to arrange the future marriage with the Wang Family of Taiyuan’s Legitimate Daughter.” Chen Xi sighed as he spoke. If he remembered correctly, the Wang Family Heir Daughter should only be seven this year, maybe even just six.

”If when the time comes Boji is to marry the Wang Family Heir Daughter, remember to inform me so I can send a gift.” Liu Bei said with a smile. In his eyes, Guo Huai still had a lot of potential.

”Mm, I’ll definitely inform you then.” Chen Xi nodded.

[Heaven knows there are still seven or eight years before the actual wedding. With Guo Huai’s ability, given another seven or eight years, there’ll be no one suppressing him from sitting at a Two Thousand Bushels post. By then, you might very well personally attend his wedding.] Chen Xi thought speechlessly.

On the other side, Zang Ba and Wenn Hong, leading several hundred soldiers and carrying the spoils allocated to Wang Chen, arrived at the Taiyuan region. At this time, in the distance, Guan Ping and Wei Yan were also spurring their horses, lugging a large bundle as they rushed toward this place.

”Boji, we’re not late, are we?” Wei Yan and Guan Ping shouted toward Guo Huai.

”Just in time. I thought you wouldn’t make it.” Guo Huai shouted back toward Wei Yan and Guan Ping with a smile.

”How could we not? We agreed to come with you together to propose the marriage.” Guan Ping and Wei Yan hefted the bundle and galloped over. ”We talked it over with Sunx Bofu, left a day earlier, then pushed our horses as hard as we could to get here. Just barely made it.”

”This is the gift we two picked out for you.” Wei Yan handed the bundle from his back to Guo Huai. Guo Huai didn’t refuse; he opened it directly—a complete piece of qing jade carved into a Jade Cauldron.

”The two of us looked all the way along the road, and in the end only this one caught our eye. As for the rest, I figure you’ve already got things prepared.” Wei Yan laughed heartily.

”Let’s go, to the Wang Family to propose.” Guo Huai swung his arm and urged his horse straight toward the old residence of the Wang Family of Taiyuan, not the least bit bashful. For him, marrying the Wang Family Heir Daughter, the weight of responsibility far outweighed any notion of romance.

Strictly speaking, he had never even seen the Wang Family Heir Daughter Wang Fan, so how could there be any love?

A group of people, carrying copious gifts, headed to the Wang Family’s old residence. Looking at the somewhat mottled surrounding wall, the tightly closed mansion gate, and the scrupulously swept bluestone ground outside the old house, Guo Huai let out a soft sigh. The Wang Family had indeed suffered heavy losses, but their heart had not been tainted.