Chapter 27: Meeting Liu, Guan, and Zhang

“Borrow troops?” These two words from Liu Bei instantly extinguished all of Yuan Shao’s enthusiasm, leaving not even a flicker of warmth.

He knew there had to be more to this visit than meets the eye!

Although Yuan Shao’s fervor waned internally, he couldn’t show it outright on his face. Instead, feigning concern, he asked, “What has happened that Xuande needs to borrow my troops? What about your forces in Pei County?”

Liu Bei, filled with shame, replied, “Brother Yuan, you may not be aware, but I was ambushed by that treacherous Lu Bu, known as the thrice-renegade servant. Not only did I lose Pei County, but even my wife and children were captured.”

“Left with no other options, I come seeking Brother Yuan’s assistance.”

“Now that Brother Yuan holds the titles of Great General and Grand Marshal, overseeing military affairs across the land, I humbly request some troops to help me punish the traitorous Lu Bu and reclaim Pei County.” With genuine sincerity, Liu Bei rose and performed a deep bow towards Yuan Shao.

“Hmm…” After hearing Liu Bei’s request, Yuan Shao displayed a hesitant expression.

He neither agreed nor directly refused.

Seeing Yuan Shao’s indecision, Zhang Fei, standing nearby, couldn’t contain himself and blurted out, “It’s just borrowing troops, not taking them permanently! Once we regain Pei County, our brotherhood assures you won’t be left unpaid!”

“Winged Virtue, do not be disrespectful!”

Liu Bei turned to scold Zhang Fei and then apologized to Yuan Shao, “Brother Yuan, please forgive my third brother’s brashness.”

Zhang Fei grumbled but stepped back as instructed.

His crude behavior before Yuan Shao was intentional, allowing Liu Bei to save face. The brothers had employed this tactic numerous times with considerable success.

As expected, Yuan Shao’s demeanor softened slightly, and he waved his hand dismissively. “No worries. It’s not that I refuse outright, but lending troops is no small matter. Xuande, allow me some time to consider it overnight. I’ll provide you with an answer tomorrow, how does that sound?”

Liu Bei smiled and bowed respectfully, “Of course, there’s no rush.”

He hadn’t anticipated an immediate agreement from Yuan Shao; lending troops indeed required careful deliberation, including deciding on troop numbers and provisions. In fact, if Yuan Shao had consented instantly, Liu Bei would have grown suspicious.

After discussing their request, Yuan Shao shifted his gaze towards another figure standing beside Liu Bei, his eyes brightening slightly.

“General Guan, long time no see,” Yuan Shao greeted warmly.

Yuan Shao held a deep impression of Guan Yu, particularly recalling the heroic feat during Dong Zhuo’s campaign when Guan Yu slew Hua Xiong while wine remained warm - a memory still vivid in his mind. None of the generals under his command could match Guan Yu’s prowess.

Guan Yu acknowledged Yuan Shao with a courteous bow but remained steadfastly at Liu Bei’s side, like a guardian deity.

Sensing Guan Yu’s cold demeanor, Yuan Shao couldn’t help but feel a surge of jealousy towards Liu Bei.

Both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were fierce generals capable of defeating thousands single-handedly—a rarity even across the vast realm.

“How did this impoverished descendant of nobility, once merely a straw sandal maker, earn the loyalty of such two exceptional warriors?” Yuan Shao thought resentfully. “Pure dumb luck!”

Deeply envious, Yuan Shao held Liu Bei in contempt yet coveted both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei intensely. Having them under his command would be akin to gaining an army of tens of thousands!

“Brother Yuan, when might we have the opportunity to pay our respects to His Majesty?” Liu Bei inquired. Since they had come to Yecheng, it was imperative to meet with the Emperor; anything less would be deemed inappropriate.

Yuan Shao suppressed his envy and replied with a smile, “I’ve already sent someone to inform His Majesty at the palace. It should be soon… Ah, here he comes.”

As he spoke, Ju Shou entered the grand hall.

“My lord, I have reported your arrival to His Majesty,” Ju Shou announced. “He has granted permission for Envoy Liu and his companions to enter the palace for an audience.”

Nodding, Yuan Shao rose from his seat. “Let’s go, Xuande, I’ll accompany you.”

Unwilling to let Liu Bei and his brothers meet the Emperor alone, Yuan Shao decided it was safer to escort them personally. This way, he could intervene if any unexpected situations arose.

With that, their entourage set off towards the imperial palace.

Meanwhile, inside the imperial palace:

Liu Xie had changed his attire and was now waiting in the Great Hall.

After Ju Shou’s rigorous training, his demeanor closely resembled that of a true Emperor, making it nearly impossible for anyone to discern any discrepancies.

However, as he thought about meeting the trio of Liu, Guan, and Zhang shortly, Liu Xie felt a hint of nervousness.

It wasn’t due to anything else but the realization that he was about to encounter living historical figures—key players in the future tripartite struggle of the Three Kingdoms era.

“Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei…” Liu Xie murmured to himself. These three exemplified brotherly loyalty, influencing countless people in later generations. Without them, the history of the Three Kingdoms would have undoubtedly lacked much of its grandeur and romance.

“Your Majesty, they have arrived.”

As Liu Xie’s thoughts wandered, Guo Jia, standing nearby, gently reminded him, bringing his focus back.

Liu Xie looked towards the entrance of the Great Hall and saw a group approaching. Leading them were familiar faces, Yuan Shao and Ju Shou.

Behind them followed three individuals with distinctive appearances:

One had arms reaching beyond his knees and exceptionally long earlobes; another boasted a leopard-like head with piercing eyes, a hawkish jawline, and tiger-like whiskers; while the third had a face deeply reddened like jujube fruit, exuding an imposing presence.

With just one glance, Liu Xie recognized their identities immediately—it could only be Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei!

“The Romance of the Three Kingdoms truly does not deceive,” Liu Xie marveled inwardly. The appearance of these three brothers closely matched the descriptions from the book, remarkably vivid and unmistakable.

As the group entered the Great Hall, Yuan Shao bowed and announced, “Your Majesty, I present Liu Bei, a descendant of the Han imperial family, here to pay his respects.”

With these words, Liu Bei stepped forward and respectfully greeted Liu Xie.

“Subject Liu Bei, paying homage to Your Majesty!”

Liu Xie looked at Liu Bei curiously and asked, “So you are Liu Bei? We have heard that you are a member of the Han imperial lineage. May we inquire about your ancestral line? Which branch do you descend from?”

Liu Bei responded truthfully, “In response to Your Majesty, my ancestor was Emperor Jingdi’s seventh son, Prince Liu Sheng of Zhongshan. I am the seventeenth-generation descendant of Prince Liu Sheng of Zhongshan.”

“I see, then it seems appropriate for us to address you as Imperial Uncle!” Liu Xie exclaimed with realization.

However, this caught Liu Bei off guard.

Is determining familial ties really that swift? Shouldn’t one consult the genealogy records first? This feels rather hasty…

Little did he know, Liu Xie had considered staging a dramatic scene involving genealogy verification, but all those records were with the real Liu Xie; he didn’t possess any such documents. Thus, simplicity prevailed - acknowledging their kinship directly seemed the best approach.

Although Liu Bei sensed something might be slightly off, he certainly wouldn’t dispute it, given the Emperor’s acknowledgment.

To be honest, there had always been skepticism surrounding his claim as a descendant of Prince Liu Sheng of Zhongshan due to the vast number of descendants, making it hard to discern authenticity.

But now, with the Emperor himself confirming it and addressing him as ‘Imperial Uncle,’ no one could question his status in the future! His identity as a member of the Han imperial family was firmly established.