Night fell.
Inside Liu Bei's residence, the lights were on, and laughter filled the air.
The table was laden with all sorts of dishes, their colors vibrant and their aromas enticing.
Spicy bullfrog, garlic crab sticks, onion squid rolls, pan-fried small silver fish, stir-fried scallops with onions, braised beef brisket with tomatoes, braised saury, braised camel paws, stir-fried crocodile meat, and stewed deer tail with Ganoderma lucidum.
Cold tomato salad, fried peanuts, dry-fried cauliflower, king oyster mushrooms with oyster sauce, eggplant stir-fried with soy sauce, stir-fried carrots and kelp strips, shredded tofu skin with scallion oil, cashew corn, dried bean curd with wood ear mushrooms, and daylily buds with garlic sauce.
These ten meat dishes and ten vegetable dishes were all delicacies that Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Zhao Zilong, and others had never tasted before.
In addition to chilled beer, Li Huan also took out two cases of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) for everyone to taste.
After a few cups of baijiu, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang's complexions became rosy, and they became more talkative.
Liu Bei said, "Following the instructions of Mr. Li Huan and the strategist, I have led my troops south and have already occupied the four commanderies of Changsha. I am about to attack Yizhou!"
Li Huan laughed and said, "After you conquered Yizhou, you successfully entered Sichuan, and then established the Shu Kingdom, forming a tripartite balance of power with Cao Cao and Sun Quan!"
Liu Bei said, "The Three Kingdoms are in a state of chaos and strife! The people of the world are still suffering greatly."
Li Huan understood that Liu Bei dreamed of dominating the world.
"Old Liu, as the saying goes, you can't get fat in one bite!"
"Besides, you don't currently have the strength to annex the territories of Cao Cao and Sun Quan! You might as well be more pragmatic!"
Liu Bei cupped his hands and said, "With Mr. Li Huan's assistance, we will surely defeat Cao Cao and Sun Quan!"
Li Huan shook his head: "Zhuge Liang is your strategist. He will help you establish the Shu Kingdom and fight against Cao Cao and Sun Quan! I came to visit you today to deliver an electric tricycle to Brother Liang."
Liu Bei responded with an "oh," his face showing disappointment.
Huang Zhong picked up a glass of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), his breath reeking of alcohol, and said, "Mr. Li Huan, I was blind to your greatness before and offended you. I hope you will forgive me!"
Li Huan laughed and said, "Ignorance is no excuse! General Huang's swordsmanship is extremely powerful!"
"Hahaha..." Huang Zhong laughed loudly and drank it all in one gulp.
He put down his wine glass and asked admiringly, "Mr. Li Huan, when I tried to strike you with my sword earlier, you swung your palm and knocked the sword away. What kind of magic did you use?"
Li Huan said, "It's not magic, it's the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms!"
The Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms?
Huang Zhong, Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, and others were all curious.
Li Huan said, "The Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms is a powerful martial art; with a forceful swing, it can shatter boulders!"
Huang Zhong was astonished: "It can even shatter boulders, no wonder my hands are cracked at the base... If it were to strike me with one palm, I would surely die on the spot..."
Zhuge Liang asked, "Brother Huan, where have you been since we last parted? Which master have you been following, and which martial arts have you been practicing with?"
Li Huan casually said, "I met the leader of the Beggars' Sect and learned the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms from him!"
"The Beggars' Sect?" Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei exclaimed in unison.
Li Huan said, "The so-called Beggars' Gang is a gang composed of many beggars."
Liu Bei sighed: "Alas... the world is in chaos due to war, and the people are suffering. Even beggars have formed gangs and practiced martial arts for self-defense. This shows that the people are living in dire straits."
Zhao Zilong suddenly asked, "Brother Huan, what martial arts skill did you use to catch the arrow shot by General Huang with two fingers?"
Li Huan deliberately teased, "Two-Finger Divine Skill! A unique martial art of Shaolin monks!"
"Amazing! Amazing!" Zhao Zilong exclaimed in admiration.
"Alas..." Liu Bei sighed deeply again, "The people are suffering, the people are suffering! Even monks who have left home are practicing martial arts for self-defense... When will the world be at peace? When will the people live in peace and prosperity? I am deeply saddened..."
Liu Bei's bitter and resentful appearance affected Li Huan's appetite.
"Brother Liang!" Li Huan finished his drink. "Has Hua Rong distinguished himself in battle?"
At this moment, Hua Rong was sitting at the last seat, munching on the fragrant "Lingzhi Stewed Deer Tail".
Zhuge Liang said, "Hua Rong's archery skills are superb. He has killed enemy generals several times and has won praise from our lord."
"Hua Rong not only fought on the battlefield, but also spared no effort in leading his soldiers to practice archery!"
Liu Bei said, "The strategist has already planned that when we attack Yizhou, we will entrust Hua Rong with important responsibilities, and he will surely make great contributions again!"
Li Huan nodded.
If Hua Rong makes a great contribution during the attack on Yizhou, he will have completed his mission and return to the world of Water Margin.
Li Huan then asked, "After Zhou Yu died, where did Xiao Qiao go?"
Zhuge Liang said, "After Zhou Yu was buried in Lujiang, Xiao Qiao guarded her deceased husband's tomb. Unexpectedly, Cao Cao sent people to kidnap her, and she is now imprisoned in the Bronze Sparrow Terrace!"
Holy crap!
Li Huan slammed his fist on the table and stood up.
Zhuge Liang continued, "Cao Cao not only abducted Xiao Qiao, but also Da Qiao."
"Holy shit, holy shit!"
Li Huan cursed repeatedly, his anger flaring up.
This is so damn unexpected! So damn despicable! So damn greedy!
Cao Cao secretly took action, sending men to Lujiang to capture Xiao Qiao and her sister Da Qiao while Xiao Qiao was guarding Zhou Yu's tomb.
Cao Cao, you traitor, your dream has finally come true.
Zhuge Liang said, "Although Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao are imprisoned in the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, they would rather die than submit, and Cao Cao has not yet succeeded."
Li Huan's eyes lit up.
Damn, I'm not too late.
Cao Cao hadn't even had a chance to taste the fat meat that was right in front of him, but I still have a chance to rescue Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao!
Li Huan said, "I promised Xiao Qiao that I would give her my family's secret recipe! Now that Xiao Qiao has been kidnapped by Cao Cao, I must go to the Bronze Sparrow Terrace to rescue her!"
Liu Bei hurriedly said, "Sir, please calm down! The Bronze Sparrow Terrace is located in Ye City, heavily guarded by Cao Cao's troops. If you go there, your chances of survival are slim!"
Li Huan laughed and said, "What dragon's den or tiger's lair have I not ventured into? What can a mere Ye City do to me?"
Zhuge Liang said, "What Huan-di said is absolutely right. Back then, the two of us led Master Hua Tuo out of Cao Cao's residence and fought our way out of the city gate without breaking a sweat!"
"However, the Bronze Sparrow Terrace is not the same as Cao Cao's residence; it is much more heavily guarded! I believe that Cao Cao might even use Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao as bait to lure Huan Di into his trap!"
These words reminded Li Huan.
Cao Cao was a cunning and treacherous man.
He was surrounded by advisors who came up with all sorts of bad ideas.
Cao Cao hated Li Huan to the core, and it is highly likely that he used Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao as bait to lure Li Huan to the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, so as to capture him alive and avenge himself!
Li Huan frowned, pondering a solution.
Zhuge Liang said, "Brother Huan is determined to go to the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, so I, your foolish brother, will send Zilong to accompany you!"
Zhao Zilong suddenly stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Zilong is willing to lend Brother Huan a hand to rescue Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao!"
Li Huan waved his hand: "Brother Long, you don't need to help me. You stay in the military camp and focus all your efforts on attacking Yizhou."
Zhang Fei chuckled a few times: "I am willing to follow Brother Huan's orders to deal with Cao Cao and retrieve Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao!"
Li Huan shook his head: "This time, I'll infiltrate Tongquetai all by myself and see what kind of tricks Cao Cao is up to!"
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