After parting ways with Gongsun Zan, Zhang Xin was still simmering with anger. Once he bid farewell to Liu Yu in the city, he rode straight back to Yuyang without stopping.
But the moment he returned to the prefect's residence, his mood lifted.
Standing before him was a broad-shouldered, thick-waisted man, staring with wide eyes.
"You're the Prefect of Yuyang?"
"That's right," Zhang Xin replied with a faint smile. "And you must be Dian Wei?"
"Yes, that's me…" Dian Wei scratched his head, still doubtful. "But are you really the Prefect?"
When Zhang Xin had gone to Ji County earlier, he had been clad in armor rather than official robes. Coupled with his youthful appearance, it was no wonder Dian Wei found it hard to believe.
"What, you don't trust me?" Zhang Xin raised an eyebrow. "Who would dare impersonate a prefect inside the prefect's own residence?"
"That's true…" Dian Wei nodded, then suddenly exclaimed, "You're incredible! You look younger than me, Old Dian, yet you already hold a two-thousand-shi post!"
Smiling, Zhang Xin asked, "Since you've come, does that mean you're willing to serve under me?"
"Of course I am!" Dian Wei answered immediately. "I'm a wanted man, yet you, sir, don't despise me and even issued an order to recruit me. How could I refuse? It's just…"
"Just what?"
Dian Wei hesitated. "I eat a lot… I'm afraid you won't be able to afford to feed me."
Zhang Xin paused—then burst out laughing, patting him on the shoulder.
"That's no problem. Come with me—there's plenty of meat and wine!"
"You don't understand, sir," Dian Wei quickly added. "I can eat as much as five or six men."
Zhang Xin waved it off. "Even if you can eat an entire sheep in one sitting, I can still feed you!"
"Really? That's wonderful!" Dian Wei beamed, immediately bowing. "Dian Wei of Chenliu greets my lord! From this day on, I will serve you with my life!"
Zhang Xin helped him up, inwardly sighing at such straightforward loyalty.
No wonder someone like Cao Cao would later trust him as a personal guard.
"For now, stay by my side as my bodyguard," Zhang Xin said. Then, pointing to another man, he added, "This is Niu Feng, captain of my personal guards. Follow him for now. If you perform well, I'll promote you."
"I'll follow my lord's arrangements," Dian Wei said with a grin, bowing to Niu Feng. "Greetings, Captain."
Niu Feng nodded in acknowledgment, clearly pleased.
With Dian Wei's imposing build, Zhang Xin felt much more at ease about his own safety. At the same time, he began considering sending Niu Feng elsewhere—after all, it was better to place trusted men throughout the army, especially someone who had once saved his life.
In high spirits, Zhang Xin had Dian Wei escorted to rest. He then returned to the inner courtyard, removed his armor, changed into official robes, and headed for the Accounting Office.
Zhen Yu had been there nearly a month, yet aside from their first meeting outside the city, Zhang Xin had not checked in on him.
Now, with the autumn harvest approaching and annual evaluations looming, it was time.
Inside the office, clerks bustled about—some carrying bamboo slips, others buried in calculations. No one noticed Zhang Xin's arrival.
Zhen Yu sat at a desk, working an abacus, cross-checking figures from bamboo records, his brow furrowed.
Zhang Xin quietly stepped behind him and glanced at the figures.
Even now, calculations were written in characters—slow and cumbersome.
"Having trouble?" Zhang Xin asked softly.
Zhen Yu jumped, quickly rising. When he saw who it was, fear flickered in his eyes. The other clerks also stood and saluted.
"I'm just here to take a look," Zhang Xin said, waving them down. "Continue your work."
They obeyed, though their eyes lingered on Zhen Yu.
Zhang Xin chuckled. "What? Do you think I'll eat you?"
Zhen Yu relaxed slightly and bowed again. "Greetings, Your Excellency."
"No need for that. Sit." Zhang Xin pulled him down. "How's progress?"
"We've completed population and land records," Zhen Yu replied. "Now we're counting livestock in each county."
"Can you finish before the autumn harvest?"
Zhen Yu hesitated. "I… will do my best."
"So you're not confident?" Zhang Xin pressed.
Gritting his teeth, Zhen Yu said, "If we don't take any days off, it should be possible."
"Tsk. Working overtime at fifteen—what a crime."
Zhang Xin called for paper.
When it arrived, he picked up a brush and wrote a simple symbol.
"This is one."
From there, he began teaching Zhen Yu Arabic numerals and more efficient calculation methods.
"Have you memorized it?" Zhang Xin asked after a while.
Zhen Yu's eyes were wide with amazement. "Did you create this method, Your Excellency?"
At first, he had doubted—but after testing it himself, the results matched perfectly.
What once took him half a day could now be done in moments.
"Yes," Zhang Xin replied calmly.
"Your Excellency is truly brilliant!" Zhen Yu exclaimed.
"With this method, can you finish before the harvest?"
"If all the clerks learn this, then certainly," Zhen Yu said with confidence.
"Good. Teach them."
Zhang Xin smiled and left.
"Thank you, Your Excellency!" Zhen Yu called out, deeply moved.
He understood—this was more than help. It was an opportunity.
At fifteen, suddenly appointed chief accountant, he had little authority. But by teaching this new method, he would earn the respect and cooperation of the entire office.
That night, Zhang Xin gathered his generals once more.
As usual, he hosted a banquet—rewarding them with money and residences, and introducing Dian Wei.
During the feast, Dian Wei demonstrated his strength. He wielded a pair of iron halberds—one in each hand—each weighing dozens of catties, far beyond what ordinary men could even lift.
Then he showed his throwing skill. Within ten paces, his small halberds struck the target every time, drawing loud cheers.
The generals congratulated Zhang Xin on gaining such a fierce warrior.
From that day on, Dian Wei remained constantly at Zhang Xin's side—standing guard by day, sleeping in a small house nearby at night, even rising occasionally to patrol.
By the end of August, Guan Yu returned.