Chapter 284 Liu Bei returns, Zhang Fei scolds Guan Yu
The third year of Chuping (192).

Jiangling County, Nanjun, Jingzhou.

From the two states and fourteen counties, countless food and supplies are gathering here.

The defenders of the four southern passes of Luoyang also withdrew here in large numbers.

In addition to the 10,000 troops left behind at the pass and the 10,000 elite troops stationed in Luyang County, the remaining 40,000 troops marched south. These troops had all experienced the baptism of actual combat and had gradually transformed into a main force with powerful combat capabilities.

The defending generals were Gong Lei as the main general, Cheng Pu as the deputy general, and they were assisted by generals such as Xu Huang and Zhu Zhi.

Military advisor Xun Yu was in charge of government affairs and logistics.

This lineup is sufficient to handle most situations.

After more than a year of hard work, the five southern counties of Jingzhou have been transformed into actual controlled areas, which can provide full support for Jinmao.

The most powerful proof is that in the new round of conscription of 50,000 soldiers, the five southern counties of Jingzhou provided most of the troops.

Yangzhou could no longer recruit soldiers. Including soldiers from counties and prefectures, the 120,000 troops currently in service were almost all from Yangzhou.

For Yangzhou, which has a population of three million, this only means that only 4% of the population has been withdrawn.

In fact, these soldiers are all carefully selected young and strong men. If more soldiers are recruited, the local area will really fall into a situation where women are more numerous than men.

By then, our home would be robbed by a large number of prisoners of war.

Ordinary people don’t care because they don’t have a macro perspective, but Jinmao has to pay attention to this.

The regional concept was very strong in this era, but it did not reach the level of integration in later generations.

If this continues, there will definitely be a big mess.

Furthermore, Yizhou is about to be taken, and by then the three states together will have a population of over 10 million.

Are all the soldiers from Yangzhou stationed there?
This is also unrealistic. The more the soldiers miss their homeland, the less capable they will be in fighting.

On the contrary, they are not as useful as locals. Not only do they have a network of connections, but they also don't have other negative emotions.

Taking all factors into consideration, even though Yangzhou had a strong desire to join the army, Jinmao had no choice but to open the door to Jingzhou.

Of the remaining troops, only 5,000 were from Yangzhou, and they were all elite soldiers.

There are also 5,000 places for prisoners of war who have performed very well in the past two years. These people have participated in wars and are more elite, and they are very good combat forces.

As for Nanyang County and Nan County, Jin Mao really didn't know what to do with them.

Liu Biao still has a lot of soft power and is deeply supported by the nobles and powerful people in the two counties, but this is not the reason for Jin Mao's headache.

It was because Liu Biao was too obedient. Not only did he hand over a large amount of salt and iron to Nanyang County, but he also showed weakness in various ways.

The position of Governor of Jingzhou that Huang Wan brought to Liu Biao did not make Liu Biao arrogant, but made him even more humble and polite, as if he was determined to follow Jin Mao.

Liu Biao even had to hand over his 20,000 troops to the enemy.

Of course Jinmao wouldn't want it.

But this is the most difficult thing to deal with!
Jin Mao had a strong army and was not afraid of Liu Biao's 20,000 troops.

Liu Biao was well aware of this and acted like a complete capitulator, as if he was helping Jin Mao govern Nanyang County.

This also made it difficult for Xun Yu to carry out infiltration work in Nanyang County, and a large gap appeared in the middle of Jin Mao's sphere of influence.

Luyang County seemed to have become an enclave and had to be heavily guarded.

This is what gives Jinmao the biggest headache.

For the south, which lacks salt and iron, Luyang County is not only a guarantee of high production, but also the main workplace for craftsmen recruited from Luoyang. It is a place that can improve the quality of Jinmao's entire army's armaments.

Because people from every place have a strong attachment to their hometown, and Luoyang locals are no exception.

Luyang County is the farthest working place. Even the Luoyang craftsmen recruited earlier have a strong desire to come to Luyang County to work.

Due to various factors, Luyang County is likely to become an industrial center in the future.

Luoyang and Xingyang have larger and more comprehensive industrial bases, but they are centered in Luoyang and not only have to face direct threats from Dong Zhuo, but also from Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Cao Cao and others.

Jinmao doesn't want to make enemies with the whole world so early.

There are also two places in Nanyang County, but one of them is Wancheng, which has been reduced to a wasteland and has no industrial foundation to speak of.

Another place is Xinye, which is where Liu Biao is.

The problem is back to square one.

The reason why Jin Mao was able to kill Liu Yan was because he was worried.

But Liu Biao had never been an open enemy of Jin Mao from the very beginning. Even in the original four-party alliance, Liu Biao was not the mastermind and could claim to have been dragged into it.

Therefore, Jin Mao hated opponents like Liu Biao very much. It was easy to kill him, but he was like a rotten egg, which made him feel uncomfortable after taking a bite.

You know that he has bad intentions, but you can't get rid of him openly.

Even if you do it secretly, others will think it was you who did it.

Jiangling County Wharf.

On a large transport ship, Liu Bei, who was sent to Jiaozhou, looked around and was extremely curious about everything busy going on nearby.

After three years of hard work, Liu Bei and He Qi finally defeated all the forces in Jiaozhou and got the full support of the prominent families and nobles in Jiaozhou, allowing the two to build a city in Panyu.

Liu Bei originally thought that such a huge achievement would be enough to make the two men noble and generals, but he never expected that what he saw and heard along the way completely overturned his imagination.

Although Jiaozhou is called a state, its actual registered population is less than one million, which is smaller than that of a large county with a medium population.

In addition, the territory is vast, and many places are still barren like the mountainous areas of Kuaiji County, requiring a lot of resources and time to develop.

The closer Liu Bei got to Jiangling County, the more uneasy he became, not knowing what kind of reward he would get in the end.

Today, Liu Bei's ideas have changed, but his idea of ​​starting a business has never changed.

On the river bank at the pier, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu had been waiting anxiously. When they saw Liu Bei, they immediately smiled with joy.

"Brother! Here!"

On the dock, there were boats coming and going, and people were bustling about, including boat trackers, laborers, boatmen, and soldiers. It was a very lively scene.

Zhang Fei was wearing a newly dyed black brocade robe and sitting upright on the snow-stepping divine horse. His dark face and beard were all trimmed. He waved his hand to signal Liu Bei.

Standing next to him was Guan Yu, wearing a tube-sleeved robe and saluted Liu Bei from afar with a solemn expression on his face.

It's like a general standing with a soldier.

Even though Liu Bei had been mentally prepared, he still couldn't catch his breath at this moment.

Along the way, Liu Bei knew clearly how Guan Yu fell from the altar to the bottom of the valley. While feeling sorry for Guan Yu, he was also glad to have such a loyal sworn brother.

Before the ship even reached the shore, Liu Bei rushed ashore with a look of ecstasy on his face.

Seeing this, Zhang Fei dismounted and went to meet Guan Yu and the other two.

The three of them held hands, Zhang Fei laughed loudly, Guan Yu had tears in his eyes, and Liu Bei was so excited that he couldn't express it in words.

Zhang Fei pushed Guan Yu away, stepped forward and gave Liu Bei a bear hug: "Brother, I miss you so much!"

Liu Bei's feet were suspended in the air, and he patted Zhang Fei's back with both hands, saying excitedly: "Big brother misses you too!"

When Zhang Fei loosened his grip and let the man go, Liu Bei took two steps around and came to Guan Yu, "Second brother, I have caused you so much trouble over the past few years!"

Tears rolled down his cheeks, Guan Yu raised his arms to hide his ugly appearance, "Brother, your words are enough!"

Zhang Fei stood behind Liu Bei, looking unhappy and said, "Brother, why don't you say that I'm working hard?"

"If I hadn't been here, Guan Lao San would have already disappeared to some remote mountain area!"

Liu Bei knew there must be something hidden, so he calmed down and turned around to say like he was coaxing a child: "Yide is naturally suffering, it's all because of my brother's incompetence."

"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have to suffer this sin."

"Brother, I don't like what you said." Zhang Fei said dissatisfiedly: "Isn't the lord good enough to us three brothers?"

"Where did I suffer?" Liu Bei's heart skipped a beat, thinking that something was not good.

Everyone knows who the lord Zhang Fei is talking about without asking, the key is how did he recognize the lord?

But it is not easy to ask this question. No matter what the reason is, the facts cannot be changed, and asking more questions will hurt feelings.

"What Yide said is right."

Liu Bei held Zhang Fei's hand and said in a smooth manner, "I'm hungry. Yide, go eat first. I haven't tasted the food in Jingzhou yet. Yide must be more familiar with Jingzhou than I am. You must take me to taste it properly."

According to past experience, Zhang Fei is the most greedy person, so talking about food will definitely divert his attention.

Unexpectedly, it didn’t work this time.

Zhang Fei broke free from Liu Bei's arm and said, "Brother, if you don't explain this matter clearly, I won't have an appetite to eat!"

"Zhang Fei!"

Guan Yu couldn't stand it anymore, so he called him by his name and yelled, "Don't go too far!"

"Too much?" Zhang Fei glared at him, "Guan Lao San! When I spoke well of you, why didn't you say I was too much?"

"When you were trying to take credit and were about to be punished, it was me, an overreaching person, who saved you!"

"Ungrateful bastard!"

"You are the one who is overdoing it, not me!"

Guan Yu's ruddy face was described by Zhang Fei as dark red. He turned away awkwardly and refused to face him.

When Liu Bei smelled the sour odor on Guan Yu's body and looked at Zhang Fei, who was dressed in gorgeous clothes and even had the scent of powder on his body, he knew that major changes had taken place in the past few years.

Not only were the two sworn brothers treated very differently, but even their relationship was rifted.

Liu Bei had no choice but to use his status as an elder brother to put pressure on him: "Yide, do you still consider me your elder brother?"

"Of course I deserve it." Zhang Fei said in a muffled voice, "It has nothing to do with this matter."

Liu Bei sighed in his heart, but said sternly: "Since you still recognize me as your elder brother, let him let go of what happened today."

"If you don't recognize me as your big brother, I can't control you no matter what you do!"

Zhang Fei also turned his head away like Guan Yu.

Liu Bei stepped forward, held the other's hand, and said earnestly: "When we became sworn brothers, we were of the same mind. How come we are like enemies after only a few years of not seeing each other?"

"Since you all recognize me as your big brother, then follow me and drink some more!"

"Today, I will only drink, nothing else."

Zhang Fei and Guan Yu then put aside their prejudices and were dragged by Liu Bei to the nearest tavern, where they got drunk.

The next morning, it was just dawn.

Liu Bei hadn't gotten up yet, but Zhang Fei and Guan Yu got up almost at the same time to practice martial arts, as if they had set a biological alarm clock.

But as they practiced, the atmosphere started to become strange. At first, the two of them were just competing with each other to see who could practice faster and harder, but in the end, they started wrestling directly.

"Roar!"

Zhang Fei roared, but instead of throwing Guan Yu away, he woke up the drunk Liu Bei.

"what happened?"

Liu Bei came downstairs in a daze and saw the two men fighting again. This time it was different from what Liu Bei had imagined before.

In the past, the two of them often practiced martial arts, but they would never fight to the death like they did today, as if they were mortal enemies.

"Stop it all!"

Liu Bei came between the two men and wanted to separate them by force, but was shocked to find that the two brothers' strength had increased. They could arm wrestle with each other before, but now it was difficult to shake them.

"You don't even recognize me as your big brother, right?"

Liu Bei shouted angrily: "I will count to three, and then we will let go together!"

"one!"

"two!"

"three!"

Guan Yu gave up, but Zhang Fei did not.

"ah!"

Zhang Fei roared, grabbed Guan Yu and threw him three feet away, hitting the wine jars placed in the store.

For a time, the aroma of wine overflowed.

A shopkeeper with a broken hand rushed out of the tavern. He was short and sturdy, with a long scar on his face. He ran over and pointed at Zhang Fei and cursed him.

"ordinary man!"

"You haven't paid the bill for last month's wine yet, and you dare to come and mess things up today!"

"I will report this to my lord and punish you severely!"

It turned out that this tavern was one of Jin Mao's businesses, and the owner was a disabled retired soldier from the royal guard, who was no less capable than Zhang Fei, the captain of the main battalion.

After all, 99% of all officers in the army have to be trained in the Imperial Guard before they can be sent out, so their network of relationships is not to be underestimated.

Zhang Fei didn't dare to show his teeth to the retired veteran, and said with a smile: "How much?"

"I'll pay for it, why are you doing so much trouble?"

The shopkeeper said disdainfully: "With your meager salary, you can't even pay it back in five years!"

It’s not that Zhang Fei’s salary is really low, but that the wine is really expensive.

At this time, Liu Bei stepped forward, clasped his fists and said, "I am honored to be here."

"I have some money in my hand and am willing to compensate Yide."

The shopkeeper thought Liu Bei looked familiar and it took him a while to realize: "You...you are Liu Da'er!"

Liu Bei has a peculiar appearance and is easy to remember, but his nickname is a bit difficult to stick with.

"Didn't you go to Jiaozhou?" The shopkeeper had a very good memory and asked in surprise, "Has Jiaozhou been taken?"

"That's right." Liu Bei didn't care about the nickname at all, and said, "This time, I came back to report to you, sir."

"Oh my!" The shopkeeper smiled happily and said, "It's good to take Jiaozhou."

"To celebrate the conquest of Jiaozhou, let's forget about this and treat the whole city to a drink!"

"Absolutely not." Liu Bei said hurriedly, "How can I let you spend money? I will compensate you according to the price."

At this time, Zhang Fei stopped Liu Bei and said, "Brother, why are you being so polite to him? Not all the wine here is for sale. There is also a share provided free of charge to those who have made contributions!"

"You have done such a big thing, so you deserve a lot of credit. This dinner is just a small thing."

"You bastard!" the shopkeeper scolded with a smile, "I'm afraid that someone like you will cause trouble."

Zhang Fei said with a smile: "Brother, what are you talking about? Is it wrong for me to tell the truth?"

The shopkeeper shook his head and did not pursue the matter any further, leaving only one sentence: "Clean it up for me!"

"If you dare to run away later, Zhang Yide, you will be beaten even if the lord favors you!"

After saying this, the shopkeeper walked away.

Liu Bei looked at Zhang Fei thoughtfully. It seemed that things were much more complicated than he had imagined.

"Don't be greedy for wealth..."

Then, Liu Bei denied himself and said, "Impossible! If my third brother was that kind of person, I would never become sworn brothers with him!"

(End of this chapter)