Everyone in the hall was quite familiar with command tokens.
Even Huang Yueying now had a copper badge engraved with "Ministry of Works" so she could come and go from the county office freely.
"It seems that over a thousand years, many Han customs and traditions have been lost or corrupted," Liu Bei said with a pang of heartache.
"We simply need to record them when we have the chance,"
Zhuge Liang replied, clearly having already thought this through. "Once the realm is at peace and the rivers run clear, Liang will resign and return home to live in harmony with my wife, following the example of Sima Qian by writing history."
"Once the realm is at peace..." Liu Bei shook his head. 'I really need to stay alive and keep working hard for that'.
The group's eyes moved on and discovered a new blind spot. "What is this Cthulhu? And what is a tentacle monster?"
"Its hands are like tentacles, and its appearance is monstrous?" Jiang Wan imagined it and felt a chill run down his spine. "Why would anyone worship this?"
"Perhaps for the sake of science?" Zhuge Liang speculated. "If craftsmen's hands could be like tentacles, making mechanical devices would surely be far more convenient!"
'Great. Kongming's brain is now completely full of that science nonsense. Zhang Fei shook his head. The one calling himself Heavenly Father and Savior is obviously some kind of depraved cult! Kongming, wake up!'
As for future generations placing all their hopes for literature, martial prowess, and wealth on Guan Yu, everyone could only smile.
Folk worship was always like this.
"Second Brother, why did you not write down that title Emperor Baizong gave you?" Zhang Fei nudged his actual second brother.
Guan Yu went still for a moment, then said leisurely, "As the Yunchang in the light screen said, I am merely a warrior from Xie County. To Big Brother, I am his second brother. To Yide, I am his elder brother."
"The people sacrifice to me and revere me not for my accomplishments, but for the brotherhood between us."
Liu Bei's gaze softened considerably. "Yide, Yunchang, when we reach Chengdu, let us plant a peach garden."
Zhang Fei suddenly remembered some deities he had worshipped back in Zhuo Commandery. He hesitated. "Big Brother, literature, martial arts, and wealth are all things the people pray for. But they also often pray for many children and much fortune. Could it be that there is actually a Fertility Martial Saint, but the light screen was too embarrassed to say it?"
That day, the servants sweeping the grounds all heard a thunderous, full-lunged roar: "YIDE, PREPARE TO DIE!"
Then they watched the Third General run faster than a rabbit, leaping over the county office gate and vanishing in an instant.
"The Third General and Second General really have a great relationship," the servants praised in unison.
After Lei Xu handed over his naval troops to Guan Yu, he recruited a new batch of veterans over 40 from among the Jianghuai refugees. After some basic training, they worked alongside him to maintain daily public order.
That day, Lei Xu was summoned to the Gong'an county office.
Kneeling properly on the mat, Lei Xu heard his new appointment.
"From now on, I am also in charge of Gong'an's public security?"
Lei Xu was surprised. "My lord trusts me so greatly. Xu will repay this with his life!"
But then he felt something was off. "Was General Fu Shiren not in charge of Gong'an's security?"
Fu Shiren was widely recognized as one of Liu Bei's oldest veterans. He had even sought out Lei Xu for drinks before, casually dropping hints about his long history with Zuo General Liu Bei.
Taking over Gong'an's security was no big deal, but if it caused suspicion from that kind of person, it would be troublesome.
"Shiren..." Liu Bei said slowly. "Yunchang thinks he has talent for the navy, so he took him along for naval training."
Navy? Lei Xu was even more confused. Is General Shiren not a standard northerner? Where did this naval talent come from?
But then he thought about how General Guan was also a northerner and it made sense. Perhaps there were shining qualities he could not see.
After receiving his new seals and returning to the west side of the county, Lei Xu inadvertently overheard two peddlers chatting on the roadside.
"Why has that pretty-faced young master from the Mi family not been seen lately?"
"Who knows. Maybe he joined the army or something."
How strange. Lei Xu shook his head. He clearly remembered that Shiren had been inseparable from Young Master Mi Fang before.
My lord really has a lot on his plate, Lei Xu sighed, then promptly tossed the matter to the back of his mind.
That same day, Pan Jun received a reply from his cousin Jiang Wan, stating that the Zuo General Liu Bei was desperate for talent and would soon issue an official recruitment summons.
Pan Jun smiled faintly and said to his father, "I wonder what kind of luck Gongyan stumbled into. A mere clerk actually got promoted to become a trusted aide under the Zuo General Liu Bei."
Pan Jun's father carefully straightened his son's appearance and nodded. "When you serve the Zuo General, never forget who you are truly serving."
"Your son understands," Pan Jun bowed respectfully.
Also around early May, Ancheng in Changsha Commandery unexpectedly welcomed a superior official.
"You are Wu Dang?" Zhao Yun sat on his horse, looking at this composed and dignified scholar.
"Indeed."
Zhao Yun spoke calmly. "Prefect Zhang Yi recommended you to me, saying that Wu Dang upholds the integrity of a Han minister and has the spirit of Su Wu. Are you willing to follow me into battle and show the world that the South Sea also produces heroes?"
Wu Dang's face could barely contain his excitement. "General Zhao knows my origin?"
"Are you coming or not?" Zhao Yun pointed behind him. "I brought a mount for you. Did Shushan want me to lead it here and then lead it back?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Wu Dang ran forward two steps and vaulted onto the horse, laughing loudly. "I am willing to serve as your vanguard and die for the Han!"
"Then let us go!" Zhao Yun pulled the reins and galloped ahead.
They had not gone far when another rider pulled up beside Wu Dang.
The man on the horse had an honest, plain-looking face. "Brother Shushan, we meet again."
"Yuan Long?" Wu Dang was surprised.
They had met once before the new year when he went to Changsha to request supplies. He had not expected to see him again now.
"I was also recruited by General Zhao." Yuan Long smiled shyly, gazing at Zhao Yun ahead with eyes full of admiration. "I actually forgot everything General Zhao said. But as long as General Zhao says we are going to Xiangyang-Fancheng to fight the Cao thief, I, Yuan Long, am willing to die."
Wu Dang's expression turned serious. "General Zhao and the Zuo General Liu are both loyal ministers of the Han! I, Wu Shushan, have long vowed to dedicate my seven-foot body to the Han. I will follow without hesitation!"
Yuan Long burst into laughter. "Then we are comrades from now on! Shushan, let us show that Cao thief what Han ministers are made of!"
Around the same time in May, Fan Zhou in Wuling and the Xi brothers in Lingling both received their transfer orders.
However, Xi Zhen looked at the messenger with complete confusion. He checked the order, then looked at the messenger again, then confirmed the order once more.
"The Zuo General Liu wishes to recruit me, Xi Zhen, and my younger brother Xi Hong?"
The messenger was one of Chen Dao's personal soldiers, who had also learned to never waste words. "Do you refuse?"
"Of course we are willing to serve the Zuo General." Xi Zhen shook his head, then stepped aside to reveal the person behind him. "But my younger brother Xi Hong is only 13 years old. Is he truly being recruited by the Zuo General?"
Behind Xi Zhen stood a boy who was not even as tall as a horse. His unbound hair and youthful face made it abundantly clear he was still a little brat.
The messenger was speechless.
Finally, he could only say in a muffled, defeated tone, "The Zuo General Liu recruited both of you brothers. If you are both willing, then come with me."
The boy who was not even as tall as the horse jumped up in delight. "Of course we are willing!"
Everyone in Gong'an County grew increasingly busy. The paper workshop expanded steadily with the injection of funds, but the paper craftsmen also noticed changes.
Mi Zhu, whose face always used to carry a warm smile, now had a lingering trace of sorrow that would not dissipate.
Lady Huang, who seemed like nothing could stump her, gradually stopped visiting the paper workshop. Rumor had it she was busy researching something called mathematics.
But what reassured the craftsmen was that the rice planted under the strategist's guidance was growing better and better. This year could not be called perfectly blessed with good weather, but a harvest was guaranteed.
A good harvest combined with the paper workshop's punctual monthly pay made the craftsmen feel like life was back on track.
At that moment, in the county office, Liu Bei summoned Kongming.
His first sentence was: "Zhou Gongjin is critically ill. His death may be unavoidable."