All the warlords who participated in the coalition's suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion received the title of king.

Most people accepted the title of king directly, especially the minor lords such as Zhang Miao, Zhang Yang, and Gongsun Zan.

Liu Bei, who had been separated from his brothers, was now living under the command of Gongsun Zan.

"I didn't expect that you, Xuande, would also be granted the title of king," Gongsun Zan said with a hint of sarcasm.

Liu Bei was not angry, but simply cupped his hands and said, "Bo Gui is joking. How could I be worthy of being made a king?"

"Oh? Xuande, you're quite modest!" Gongsun Zan laughed heartily.

"Bo Gui, besides thanking you for taking me in, I have another request to make!" Liu Bei said.

"Xuande, just say it, why are we being so polite?" Gongsun Zan said heartily.

"This decree to confer the title of king must not be accepted!" Liu Bei insisted.

Gongsun Zan's face darkened upon hearing this.

"Xuande, don't forget your place. This decree of investiture is personally issued by His Majesty. How can you not accept it?" Gongsun Zan demanded.

"Bo Gui, this matter is far too serious to be accepted!" Liu Bei hurriedly explained.

“Xuande, I don’t understand what you’re saying. His Majesty is wise beyond measure. Can you explain why?” Gongsun Zan said.

"Ah, Bo Gui, you don't know this, although this time it seems like His Majesty issued an edict to confer titles of kings, it was actually all Dong Zhuo's doing!"

“If you accept the decree to be made a king, wouldn’t that be acknowledging Dong Zhuo’s identity?” Liu Bei sighed.

"Xuande, stop talking nonsense!" Gongsun Zan shouted.

"Dong Zhuo is the current emperor's adoptive father, that is a fact. Furthermore, I am loyal to the current emperor, not Dong Zhuo!"

"His Majesty has decreed that I be granted the title of King, and I shall obey!" Gongsun Zan said resolutely.

"Since that's the case, then I suppose I've been too talkative!" Liu Bei sighed.

Liu Bei knew that Gongsun Zan would not listen to advice at all.

"Hmph! I have other matters to attend to, Xuande, you may leave!" Gongsun Zan snorted coldly, issuing an order to dismiss him.

After leaving Gongsun Zan's residence, Liu Bei sighed and shook his head repeatedly.

"This Gongsun Zan is no wise ruler. Rather than this, we should go to Yizhou!"

"Back then, the three of us brothers swore an oath in Taoyuan: we didn't ask to be born on the same day, month, and year, but we asked to die on the same day, month, and year! Even if we die, we will die together!"

After saying this, Liu Bei prepared to leave Youzhou.

But just as he was about to leave Youzhou, he spotted a familiar figure!

"Lu Li, Mr. Lu?"

Liu Bei rubbed his eyes, thinking he had misread it.

He didn't know why Lu Li would appear in Youzhou, but he was certain that he hadn't misread it.

"Mr. Lu!"

Liu Bei called out to Lu Li.

Upon hearing this, Lu Li looked up and saw Liu Bei, his expression showing surprise: "Liu Bei? What are you doing here?"

Liu Bei was immediately embarrassed. He couldn't very well say that he hadn't been able to fight the Yellow Turbans, had lost two brothers, and had fled in panic to seek refuge with Gongsun Zan, could he?

"Sir, we came to seek refuge with Gongsun Zan, but we have discovered that he is not a wise ruler!"

Lu Li raised an eyebrow. In history, Liu Bei did indeed seek refuge with Gongsun Zan and even took Zhao Yun from him.

However, due to his interference, Zhao Yun joined the Yellow Turban Army, and the campaign against Dong Zhuo by the eighteen warlords turned into a campaign against Zhang Jiao by the eighteen warlords.

"Where are Guan Yu and Zhang Fei? Why aren't the three of you brothers together?" Lu Li asked, puzzled.

These three brothers are truly inseparable; they stay together no matter where they go.

Sometimes Lu Li even suspected that the three brothers might have some homosexual relationship, especially since Guan Yu was his beloved disciple.

"this......"

Liu Bei cursed inwardly, thinking to himself, "Lu Li really knows how to bring up the most sensitive topics."

“Mr. Lu, back when we were fighting the Yellow Turban Rebellion, my two brothers and I joined the coalition. As a result, my second and third brothers were captured.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Li suddenly realized why Guan Yu and Zhang Fei weren't together; they had been captured.

But on second thought, Laifu probably wouldn't harm Guan Yu's life.

After all, Guan Yu was Lu Li's apprentice and Lai Fu's junior brother.

Although they wouldn't kill Guan Yu, they would certainly imprison him in a certain place.

As for Liu Bei, Lu Li actually harbored deep prejudice against him.

Anyone who has read Romance of the Three Kingdoms knows that Liu Bei was extremely hypocritical. He famously threw his child to win people's hearts, and claimed that brothers were like limbs and women were like clothes.

Lu Li truly looked down on him for this.

If someone doesn't even value their own children, who can you expect them to value?

Yet it was precisely this hypocritical person who had a group of civil officials and fierce generals who were willing to follow him to the death, especially the two wise men, Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong!

Can't they see that Liu Bei is hypocritical?

You might not even realize it. As the saying goes, if you've been hypocritical your whole life, even if it's fake, it becomes real.

"Oh? So Xuande is leaving Youzhou?" Lu Li asked.

"Mr. Lu, I am preparing to go to Yizhou. Even if we die, my two brothers and I will die together!" Liu Bei said solemnly.

Lu Li narrowed his eyes and carefully examined Liu Bei.

After a moment, he suddenly laughed and said, "Since Xuande has made up his mind, then come with me!"

"Thank you, Mr. Lu!" Liu Bei said, tears streaming down his face.

Although he didn't know if Liu Bei's words were true or false, Lu Li still admired him from the bottom of his heart since he dared to say such a thing.

"Who is this?" Liu Bei asked, looking at the person next to Lu Li.

"His name is Xu Ermao, and he is a hunter."

Liu Bei looked at Xu Ermao, a man with broad shoulders and a rugged face, his body bulging with muscles, exuding a strong sense of power.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!