"But brother, what should we do?" Guan Yu asked.
Liu Bei thought for a moment and said, "Let's return to Yizhou first. We need to build up our own army!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei's eyes lit up, and he said, "Excellent! Brother is wise."
Liu Bei smiled, then turned and walked towards the city gate, with Guan Yu following closely behind.
A year later, Cao Cao launched another war and captured Bingzhou and Xiliang in one fell swoop, completely unifying the north.
Xi Zhicai took this opportunity to join Cao Cao's forces.
At the same time, Liu Bei raised his own army in Yizhou, and Fa Zheng, Huang Zhong and others joined him. At this point, both Jingzhou and Yizhou were under Liu Bei's control, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion was completely annihilated.
Jingzhou, Xiangyang.
"Brother, who exactly is this Mr. Shui Jing? Is he worth us coming all this way to invite?" Zhang Fei asked.
"Third brother, you know what, he really is a capable man," Guan Yu said with a smile.
Zhang Fei, puzzled, asked, "Capable? Is he as capable as Fa Xiaozhi?"
"Yide, stop talking nonsense!" Liu Bei rebuked.
"If you dare to spout nonsense again, you'd better go back!"
Zhang Fei chuckled. Since he was already here, he couldn't just go back now, so he quickly shut his mouth.
"Liu Bei of Yizhou has come to see Master Crystal!" Liu Bei said respectfully as he stood outside the thatched hut.
Just then, a man dressed in flowing white robes slowly emerged from the inner room.
The man was extremely handsome, with skin as white as snow and features so exquisite they seemed to be the work of a master craftsman.
He was dressed in a blue scholar's robe, with a black belt around his waist and black boots on his feet, making him look exceptionally dashing and elegant.
"Liu Xuande pays his respects to Mr. Shui Jing!" Liu Bei said respectfully, bowing and clasping his hands.
"Ah, I am not Mr. Shui Jing. Please come in." With that, the man turned and walked back.
Liu Bei entered the Water Mirror Villa, passed through the courtyard and corridors, and arrived at a pavilion.
Sima Hui sat in the pavilion, leisurely drinking tea.
As Liu Bei approached, he respectfully said, "Liu Xuande of Yizhou greets Master Shui Jing!"
Sima Hui nodded and said, "So it's Lord Xuande. I'm so sorry for not greeting you sooner. Please have a seat!"
After Liu Bei sat down, he looked Sima Hui up and down.
Sima Hui had a very ordinary appearance, but his eyes were very wise. He was tall and sturdy, and wore a gray long robe, which made him look exceptionally refined.
"I wonder what brings Lord Xuande here?" Sima Hui asked casually.
Liu Bei said, "Master Shui Jing is a renowned scholar of Jingzhou. I have come here specifically to pay my respects and also to request that Master Shui Jing come out of seclusion to serve me!"
"Lord Xuande, I am already old and no longer fit for important tasks. If you have come to invite me to help govern the world, I am afraid I cannot help you," Sima Hui said.
"Sir, you are a man of great talent, and I admire you greatly. If you are willing to come out of seclusion to help me, I am willing to treat you with the respect due to a teacher!" Liu Bei said eagerly.
Sima Hui shook his head slightly and said, "Lord Xuande, please return."
Upon seeing this, Liu Bei became so anxious that beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"Sir! This great man has fallen to such a state, and the thought of it keeps me awake at night. I beg you, sir, to come out of seclusion and help me!"
After saying that, Liu Bei immediately knelt down on the ground with a thud!
Sima Hui was taken aback. Good heavens, how could Liu Bei, the ruler of Yizhou and Jingzhou, kneel down so easily?
"Alas, Lord Xuande, your health is truly failing you, but I can introduce you to two people."
Sima Hui helped Liu Bei up and said, "Those two, though young, are both from distinguished families."
"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir." Liu Bei was overjoyed.
"May I ask who these two people are?"
"The Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix, possessing either one would bring peace to the world!" Sima Hui replied.
"Who are these Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix?"
"The Crouching Dragon is Zhuge Liang, and the Young Phoenix is Pang Tong!"
Upon hearing the name Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu's eyes lit up instantly, and he blurted out, "So it's Kongming!"
"I met Yun Chang at Yingchuan Academy back then. He was a man of extraordinary talent," Sima Hui said with a smile, stroking his beard.
Liu Bei looked at Guan Yu, who nodded and replied, "This man is indeed a genius. Back when my master invented chess, this man defeated my senior brother in just three games!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei exclaimed in surprise, "Such a prodigy?!"
"In the first Battle of Red Cliffs, it was Zhuge Liang who borrowed an east wind, which enabled him to defeat the allied forces!"
Liu Bei was increasingly alarmed as he listened; he had no idea about these things.
"May I ask, where can we find Zhuge Liang?" Liu Bei asked eagerly.
"This..." Sima Hui hesitated for a moment, then said, "If Lord Xuande wants to find him, he must go to Nanyang County."
"Good, good, good!" Liu Bei said three times, already impatient.
"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Shui Jing! I shall take my leave now!" With that, Liu Bei prepared to depart.
Just as they were about to leave, they noticed a man slowly walking towards the thatched hut. The man was handsome and had an extraordinary air about him.
"Sir, I'm back." The man bowed to Mr. Shui Jing.
Sima Hui smiled when he saw this person.
"Yuanzhi!" Guan Yu suddenly shouted.
The man looked over at the sound and immediately smiled.
"Yun Chang! What brings you here, sir?" the man said with a smile as he walked over.
This man was none other than Xu Shu, Xu Yuanzhi!
"Brother, this man is named Xu Shu, courtesy name Yuanzhi. He is also a student of Yingchuan Academy. He is no less capable than Fa Zheng!" Guan Yu whispered to Liu Bei.
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