Liu Bei: My younger brother is a deity.

Chapter 37 Gongsun Zan

Liu Bei ultimately did not accept Mi An's gift of gratitude.

Both parties took their leave.

Liu Bei and his party went to Luoyang, while Mi An and his son went to Xuzhou.

As they approached Luoyang, the scenery along the way became increasingly prosperous, and the security improved significantly.

Liu Bei sighed, "The world seems to present two contrasting scenes: one of poverty and devastation, the other of prosperity and abundance. Which is the true reality?"

Liu Quan said indifferently, "Where is the truth? Everything is the truth! When this world was first established, it was full of vitality everywhere. However, as time goes by, a system that has been in operation for over a hundred years will inevitably have problems. Land annexation, powerful clans becoming too strong, relatives of the empress interfering in politics, eunuchs seizing power... one thing after another, little by little, accumulates, and the world goes from prosperity to decline, from order to chaos."

"What should be the explanation for this?" Liu Bei asked.

Liu Quan smiled and said, "How about joining the court as an official, cleaning up long-standing abuses, assisting the Han dynasty, and revitalizing the empire?"

Liu Bei clapped his hands and laughed: "Excellent!"

Liu Quan's smile faded, and he said, "What's wrong with breaking down the old Han dynasty and starting a new one?"

Liu Bei's smile vanished instantly, and he exclaimed in alarm, "A-Quan, be careful what you say!"

Seeing his nervous expression, Liu Quan's lips curled up slightly, and he teased:

"Ah Bei, have you forgotten your childhood ambition? You once vowed to become the emperor."

"Ah Quan, please don't make fun of me." Liu Bei blushed and laughed awkwardly, "That was just the nonsense I talked when I was young and ignorant."

Liu Quan smiled and said no more.

After passing Yanshi, Mount Goushi comes into view in the distance.

Mount Goushi is not high, but it looks very imposing.

It is not a solitary peak, but a range of green mountains extending from the northern foot of Mount Song, stretching across the eastern edge of the Luoyang Basin.

From a distance, the undulating mountains resemble a crouching dragon, its back covered with dense pine and cypress trees, which remain lush and verdant even in winter.

The mountaintop was covered with a thin layer of snow, which shone brightly in the sunlight.

The mountain's geographical location is of paramount importance.

It is bordered by Mount Song to the south, the Yellow River to the north, Luoyang to the west, and Hulao Pass to the east.

It is situated precisely at the strategic crossroads between the Luoyang Plain and the eastern prefectures.

When traveling from Shandong and Hebei to Luoyang, Mount Goushi is a necessary stop.

There is a canyon in the mountains called Huanyuan Pass, one of the "Eight Passes" in ancient times. It is a strategically important pass, where one man can hold off ten thousand.

When Emperor Gaozu of Han set up passes to defend Luoyang, Huanyuan Pass was the most important one.

Whoever controls Mount Goushi controls the eastern gateway to Luoyang.

For this reason, the area around Goushi Mountain has been a strategic location fought over by military strategists since ancient times.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Jin attacked Zheng and passed through here; during the Warring States Period, the State of Wei and the State of Han fought for hegemony here; and at the end of the Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang also passed through this road when he entered Guanzhong.

Countless armies, merchants, envoys, and scholars have passed through the foot of this mountain.

At the foot of the mountain lies a small town, built against the mountainside, called Goushi County.

The city was not large, with a circumference of only four or five li.

A stone plaque hangs above the city gate, inscribed with the three characters "Gu Gou Shi".

Although Goushi County is small, it has been unusually lively lately—because the school of the great Confucian scholar Lu Zhi is located halfway up Goushi Mountain.

Lu Zhi was a great Confucian scholar of his time. He set up a school on Mount Goushi to teach students, and students from all directions came to him. After selection, there were about a hundred students.

Among these people, some are scions of prominent families, while others are outstanding talents from humble backgrounds. They gather here simply to acquire the prestigious title of "disciple of the Lu family."

Among them, there were especially many students from Youzhou.

Now, many young men from Youzhou, along with their servants and guards, live in Goushi County.

There used to be only three or four inns in the county town, but now they are packed full, and even many private houses have been rented out.

People speaking with the Youzhou accent came and went on the street. There were young masters dressed in brocade robes and furs, as well as their attendants in coarse clothes and short tunics. It was a mixed bag and very lively.

"Haha, A-Bei, A-Quan, De-Ran, oh, and Little Zhang Fei, you've arrived!"

Liu Bei and his party had just rented a courtyard when an acquaintance came looking for them.

Upon hearing the sound, Liu Bei smiled and turned to look.

A man stood at the gate of the courtyard. He was about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, tall and slender, wearing a dark blue brocade robe, a golden crown on his head, and a jade belt around his waist.

That face was exceptionally beautiful, with skin as smooth as jade and handsome features.

It was those eyes that were a bit of a downer; the corners of their eyes were slightly upturned, and their gaze was sharp, like that of a hawk, making them look somewhat fierce.

Liu Bei quickly went to greet him, "Haha, Brother Bogui, you're very well-informed. You knew about us as soon as we settled in."

The two men linked arms and laughed heartily.

The visitor was none other than Gongsun Zan, the senior brother of Liu Bei, Liu Quan, and Liu Deran.

Zhang Fei couldn't help but retort, "Who's Little Zhang Fei? You're the little one!"

Gongsun Zan laughed heartily, "Aren't you the youngest among us? Aren't you just like Little Zhang Fei!"

Zhang Fei opened his mouth, speechless, and let out a heavy "humph" in protest.

Liu Bei laughed and said, "Brother Bo Gui, now that we all have courtesy names, there's no need to call us A Bei or A Quan anymore."

"Oh?" Gongsun Zan's interest was piqued. He crossed his arms and scanned the group of people with his gaze. "What names have you all chosen?"

Liu Bei straightened his clothes and said solemnly, "I am Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande."

Liu Deran then introduced himself: "Liu Deran, courtesy name Mengzhou."

Liu Quan stood to the side and uttered two words in a calm tone: "Yuan Gu".

Zhang Fei was the last to speak, puffing out his chest and deliberately raising his voice: "Zhang Fei, courtesy name Yide!"

Gongsun Zan burst into laughter again after hearing this, then nodded repeatedly, "Not bad, not bad at all! Even Little Zhang Fei has a courtesy name now. Xuande, Mengzhou, Yuangu, Yide—excellent, excellent, excellent names!"

The group chatted and laughed as they entered the main room.

After they sat down, Gongsun Zan first asked a few questions about the journey.

Then they talked about something.

"Xuande, Yuangu, Yide, you've come at the right time. There's a football match tomorrow, and we're short-handed. I've been worried about not finding anyone to fill in."

"Cuju?" Liu Bei's eyes lit up. "With whom?"

Gongsun Zan picked up the teacup, took a sip, put it down, straightened his back, and maintained his kneeling posture.

He then said disdainfully, "A son of a eunuch. His surname is Cao, his given name is Cao Cao, his courtesy name is Mengde, oh, and he also has a nickname, Aman."

Liu Quan raised an eyebrow slightly, then quickly regained his composure.

"This man's father's surname was Cao and his given name was Song. It is said that Cao Song was adopted into the Cao family from the Xiahou family, but it is unknown whether this is true or not. His grandfather was the great eunuch Cao Teng."

"This man, relying on his family's wealth, associates with famous figures everywhere, boasts and exaggerates, and seeks fame and bribes. He recently did something quite significant—"

Gongsun Zan kept everyone in suspense, then picked up his teacup and took another sip.

His gaze swept across everyone's faces.

Seeing everyone staring at him expectantly, he finally put down his teacup with satisfaction and continued:

"He beat Jian Shuo's uncle to death with a stick."

Zhang Fei said "Oh," and asked with interest, "Jian Shuo? Who's that?"

"The current favorite eunuch," Gongsun Zan's disdain deepened, "His uncle, Jian Tu, is a tyrant in the streets of Luoyang, bullying men and women, and no one dares to offend him. Cao Cao, relying on his powerful family background, killed him while serving as the Northern Commandant of Luoyang."

"Well done!" Zhang Fei slapped his thigh. "This kind of person deserves to be beaten!"

Liu Bei secretly thought, "Brother Bo Gui is good in every way, but he is too narrow-minded and dislikes people with good backgrounds. Cao Mengde clearly has the demeanor of a famous minister. I can get to know him tomorrow."