Silver Fox of the Three Kingdoms

At the end of 237 AD, the 72-year-old Minister of Military Affairs, General Cheqi, Marquis of Xixiang, and Zhang Fei of Shangzhu Kingdom died of cerebral infarction due to years of drinking.

At this time, Ji Han's internal restructuring has ended, the cabinet has become the political center, and the Military Affairs Council has become the national military center.

In politics, the emperor is the head of state, the prime minister is the official prime minister, and there are five deputy ministers to assist, plus dozens of senior central officials from the three provinces, six ministries and eighteen courts, from the third grade to above, in charge of the world's political affairs.

In the military, the general is the head of the Military Affairs Council, and there are Hushi Generals and Car Cavalry Generals as the left and right generals, and then five generals are added to form the Military Council of the Military Affairs Council.

Now there are six cabinet members in total, Zhuge Liang is the prime minister, and Xu Shu, Pang Tong, Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, and Shen Chen are the deputy prime ministers.

There are eight ministers in the Military Council meeting, Guan Yu is the general, Shen Chen and Zhang Fei are the left and right hussars and chariot generals.Below them are five generals, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, Gan Ning, Wei Yan, and Pound, known as the Five Tiger Generals.

Shen Chen was also the only one who was in both the cabinet and the military affairs academy.

In fact, there were more than five generals, and there were more than a dozen other generals including Lu Chang, Wenpin, Wu Yi, Wang Ping, Kou Feng, Huang Quan, and Wu Ban.

It's just that time flies and the years change.By 237 A.D., several old generals had passed away, such as Zhao Yun, Gan Ning, Pang De, Wu Yi, Lu Chang, Wenpin, etc. Even the middle generals and major generals had died, and the founding generals were dying day by day.

After that, the Military Affairs Academy added a few more people, including Wu Ban, Gao Xiang, Dong Jue and so on.Even Deng Ai, Jiang Wei, and Guan Ping were already lieutenant generals when they were only in their 40s, and it is just around the corner to be awarded the rank of general before the age of 50.

On the contrary, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are quite long-lived, both in their seventies, and they can be called battlefield birthday stars.

It's a pity that Zhang Fei's old habit of drinking has never been cured. When he was young, he was physically strong, but it's nothing.But in his later years, his health declined, and he refused to listen to persuasion all day long, drinking and having fun, and finally fell asleep one night and never got up again.

When Liu Chan learned of Zhang Fei's death, he was very sad. He stopped court for seven days, dressed in hemp and mourning, and mourned for him in person.Guan Yu was in so much pain that he didn't want to live anymore. His body, which was considered strong, became sick overnight.

In the following year, in the 11th year of Jianxing, only three months later, the head of the Military Affairs Academy, Grand Marshal and General, Marquis of Han Shouting, and Guan Yu of Shangzhu Kingdom died of illness at the age of 77.

Liu Chan built the Taoyuan Hall and the Hero Forest in the Zhongzu Temple. The Taoyuan Hall is Liu Bei's main temple, and Liu Bei's spiritual tablet is enshrined above the temple.

There is a large hall at the bottom of the temple. There are 24 pillars on the left and right. On each pillar there is a white paper portrait. .

After several years of selection of meritorious service, after the founding of the Han Dynasty, there were 149 feudal marquises, including 17 county marquises, 28 township marquises, 43 Ting marquises, and 61 Guannei marquises. Then enter the forest of heroes, which are the side courtyards on the left and right sides outside the main hall.

Among the 24 people, some have already entered the palace, such as Zhang Fei, Mi Zhu, Huang Zhong, Tai Shici, Sun Qian, Zhao Yun, Gan Ning, Pang De, Wu Yi, etc. Now Guan Yu is going to enter the palace, which makes Liu Chan very sad.

On March [-]th, Liu Chan held a funeral for Guan Yu, carried the body into the Taimiao, raised his spirit directly in the Taimiao, and personally sent the portrait into the temple to worship.

It was also on this night that there seemed to be a shooting star passing by in the sky and falling into the Taimiao.

In late spring and early summer, the weather is cool.

Zhongzu Temple covers a large area, nearly [-] acres, most of which are filled with peach trees, then the main hall of Zhongzu Temple, the left and right side halls, the main hall is Taoyuan Hall, the side hall is the Hall of Meritorious Officials, and the surrounding halls are Yujie is surrounded by peach forests, and it is the season when peach blossoms are in full bloom, and the fragrance is tangy.

At this moment, the temple is covered with white silk, and even the branches of the peach forest are covered with white silk.

Liu Chan led the civil and military ministers to mourn during the day, and at night many ministers had already returned, only Liu Chan, Zhuge Liang, Shen Chen, Guan Ping, Zhang Bao and more than a dozen people were still guarding the mourning hall.

It was Guan Yu's last wish to have a funeral in Taimiao. He said that he could not die with his eldest brother and third brother in life. Seeing the eldest brother or the third brother or not being able to find the eldest brother and the third brother is his greatest regret.

His body is placed in the main hall of the temple. On the first pillar under the main seat on the right hand side, Guan Yu's portrait has been hung on it. It is no longer a blank portrait like before, and his spiritual seat is also placed on the altar table below. Fragrance curls up from the incense burner.

At this moment, a white phantom slowly rose from Guan Yu's coffin. The phantom gradually condensed and finally turned into a human form.It was a little drifting at first, but in the burning incense, it became concrete.

"Second brother, second brother!"

There is also a white phantom floating back and forth beside the coffin.

Guan Yu slowly regained consciousness under the reflection of the incense, and Xu Ying turned his head and subconsciously responded, "Third Brother?"

"Second brother!"

The white phantom gradually turned into Zhang Fei's appearance. He was so excited that he seemed to be crying, wailing: "Second brother, why are you here too!"

"Third brother, it's really you, you really have a soul after death!"

Guan Yu floated onto the coffin, and he looked around. The strange thing was that Liu Chan, Zhuge Liang, Shen Chen, Guan Ping, Zhang Bao, who were guarding the spirit, couldn't see him at all, and couldn't hear him talking.

And the portrait on the altar table fluttered in the wind, as if there was a huge attraction, wanting to absorb him in.

"Yeah, I didn't think there was a soul after death."

Zhang Fei yelled: "I was startled at first, and felt that my soul was about to disperse. Fortunately, the incense was entwined, and the portrait also sucked me in, preserving my soul and body."

"Then do you know if there is a ghost?"

Guan Yu asked.

The theory of ghosts existed in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. The "Taiping Jing·Gengbu No. [-]" written by Yu Ji recorded: Under Jiuyou, there is Emperor Fengdu, who is in charge of life and death ghosts.

Zhang Fei said: "I don't know, I'm here alone, Zilong Xingba and the others are not here, so boring to death."

"Maybe it's because we mourned in the Taimiao, and the souls were absorbed into the painting."

Guan Yu thought for a while and said, "Then how can we go to Netherworld? Eldest brother is not here, even if the incense burns forever after death, it is better to go to find elder brother."

Zhang Fei said solemnly: "Second brother, I have exactly this intention. I originally wanted to find the eldest brother, but the soul body is not stable after leaving this hall, and I am worried that the second brother will not find me when he comes, so I have been waiting here. .Now that the second brother is here, even if the ashes are gone, we still have to find the eldest brother!"

"go!"

Guan Yu did not hesitate to go outside the hall.

Even though the portrait had great attraction, even though the lingering incense seemed to make him extremely comfortable, he didn't care at all. He just turned his head and looked at Liu Chan, Zhuge Liang, Shen Chen and Guan Ping with some reluctance, and then his eyes became firm again. Stepping forward at a leisurely pace, he was about to go outside the hall.

Zhang Fei followed closely behind, and two white phantoms slowly floated out of the hall.It seems that because the incense was not continued, Guan Yu only felt white smoke coming out of his body, and his consciousness was in pain, but he did not flinch at all, and he still strode forward with big strides.

The three brothers vowed to live and die together, not being able to die with Liu Bei was the biggest regret in Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's life, so now, even if their bodies are broken, even if their souls are scattered, they still want to find their eldest brother!

But although a person has a spirit after death, the spirit body is very weak.If the descendants cannot continue to burn incense in the future, they will dissipate by themselves or sink into the nether world.

For a moment, white smoke rose from the two of them, and their souls and bodies seemed to dissipate.

But at this moment, an invisible meteor fell from the sky and fell into the Zhongzu Hall, but it did not destroy the hall, but directly penetrated the house and fell into Liu Bei's spirit tablet on the main seat.

After a while, a gentle and mellow voice sounded from the hall: "Second brother and third brother, where are you going?"

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei trembled when they heard the voice, and when they turned around, they saw a young scholar on the mat under the altar table, looking at them with a smile.

This smile is clearly Liu Bei when he was young.

It was the same as when the three of them raised the wine glasses in their hands and made an oath to the Empress Dowager in the peach blossom romance outside Zhuo County.

"Brother!"

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei burst into tears in an instant, turned their heads and flew towards the palace, and plunged into Liu Bei's arms, crying loudly.

"Second brother and third brother, the three of us finally meet again."

Liu Bei hugged the two of them.

"Brother, where have you been all these years!"

"We miss you so much."

"Brother, woo woo woo, we finally meet again after we die."

"It's all right, I've been living a good life as a brother, the God of Heaven saw me benevolent, and called me to be a heavenly official, but I can no longer see the world."

"Then how did the elder brother come to the world again this time?"

"It is God who said that the three of us should live and die together, and that righteousness will accompany you and move the world. Let me come down to meet you."

"No wonder I didn't see anyone in the Taoyuan Palace after I died. Was Zilong Xingba and them also taken away by the eldest brother?"

"No, it's not easy for ordinary people to go to heaven to be an official. They probably went to the Netherworld, but Emperor Fengdu always loved talent, so Moling Wei Jiang Ziwen was named Qin Guangwang, and they might also be named Yanjun."

The three of them hugged each other and wept bitterly, tears of sadness, but also tears of joy.

After crying, the joy of reunion dilutes everything again. Zhang Fei wiped away the non-existent tears and said with a big smile, "Then, my second brother and I will also go to heaven to be heavenly officials?"

"Yes."

Liu Bei said with a smile: "But before I go up, I also want to see this world. The destiny cannot interfere with the world, and I don't know what is going on in the world. Tell me what's going on in the world now."

"Your Majesty"

Guan Yu wanted to say Your Majesty, but suddenly thought of Liu Bei, so he changed his words and said: "Adou is smart, and he used Kong Ming and Xiaoqing again. In the second year after the elder brother left, he put down Cao Wei and restored the great Han Dynasty."

Liu Bei lowered his head and looked at the people who were guarding the spirit below. Zhuge Liang, Shen Chen, Guan Ping, and Zhang Bao were all sitting on their knees in awe, offering incense, burning paper, and kowtowing from time to time.

Only Liu Chan, a big fat man, was almost overwhelmed and drowsy. Instead of kneeling on the mat, he lay down and almost fell asleep.

"Adou."

The corner of Liu Bei's mouth twitched slightly, he shook his head and said, "Fortunately, Kong Mingxiaoqing and the others are loyal, and Ah Dou is also kind, otherwise, with his temperament, if there are greedy ministers bewitching him, what will happen."

"Don't worry, brother."

Zhang Fei said with a smile: "My descendants are also intelligent. Xiaoqing's son, Shen Yin, was admitted as the number one scholar in the imperial examination the year before last, and he will be able to assist the Han Dynasty in the future."

"There is also Kong Ming and Xiaoqing who have also promoted many talents. For example, Du Yu, who was only 17 years old, was the champion of the new department last year. There is also a man named Yang Hu, who has a long history of family education. He is the grandson of Cai Yong. He is outstanding in learning. He is 19 years old. Ranked second in the new division list last year."

Guan Yu praised: "Now our big Han is full of talents. Last year we attacked Monan and made an expedition beyond the Great Wall. This year, the imperial court is talking about sending troops to the Western Regions, completely controlling the Western Regions in our hands, and restoring the glory of the former Han Dynasty!"

"Good good."

Liu Bei was overjoyed and nodded again and again.

He is now an official in the sky, the gap between god and mortal is like a cloud and mud, and he doesn't know what the world looks like.

Now hearing that the big man is prosperous again, he is also very excited. He lowered his head to look at Shen Chen and sighed: "Fortunately, the big man can have Xiaoqing, otherwise we can only leave regrets."

"Why is this?"

Zhang Fei scratched his head and said, "Although Xiaoqing's meritorious service is unparalleled, she is the number one hero, but we also made great contributions."

Liu Bei said: "Now that we are gods after death, there is no need to hide it. The God of Heaven said that the destiny should be divided into three kingdoms at the end of the Han Dynasty. Cao Cao occupied the whole north when he occupied the sky, and Sun Quan occupied Yangzhou in the southeast. I have people and take Xichuan as my foundation. Since then, the three kingdoms have stood together and attacked each other."

"Three Kingdoms?"

Zhang Fei was shocked and said: "But Sun Quan obviously didn't establish a country."

"This is the history of the destiny that should have been!"

Liu Bei said: "After I arrived in Jingzhou, Liu Jingsheng died of illness, and Liu Cong surrendered to Cao Cao. I allied with Sun Quan and defeated Cao's army at Chibi. Xiang, I got Kong Ming's plan to take Xichuan, defeat Cao Cao in Hanzhong, and become an emperor."

"Sounds good too."

Guan Yu stroked his beard and said.

"No, it sounds good, but it is actually the last glory of the big man."

Liu Bei sighed and shook his head and said, "God said that shortly after the Battle of Hanzhong, Yunchang sent troops to conquer Xiangfan, flooded the seven armies, and shocked China. As a result, his ally Sun Quan suddenly backstabbed and attacked Jiangling, Mi Fang and Shiren surrendered, and the second brother was defeated. The city was killed by Pan Zhang's general Ma Zhong."

"what?"

Guan Yu was furious, his soul and body were a little turbulent, and he roared angrily: "Jiangdong rat, Sun Quan's child!"

Liu Bei said: "I heard the news of Yun Chang's death, and I was very angry. The whole country took revenge, but before sending troops, Yide whipped the soldiers for drunkenness and killed them for his subordinates Fan Qiang and Zhang Da."

"I"

Zhang Fei was stunned. He never thought that he would die like this in history. Now he was in a cold sweat. Fortunately, Shen Chen angrily scolded him many times, saying that if he dared to whip the soldiers, he would be dealt with by military law. In addition, Liu Bei and Guan Yu repeatedly persuaded him. , Finally changed this bad habit.

Liu Bei continued: "I endured the sorrow and indignation of Yunchang Yide's death, and sent troops to take revenge. In the end, I was stopped by Lu Xun's children in Yiling. In the end, because I was too impatient in revenge, I returned from the defeat in the battle of Yiling, and Baidi died of illness. city."

"Is this the end of our three brothers' historical destiny?"

Guan Yu couldn't help but said in grief and indignation: "God said that we live and die together, and righteousness follows, but why did we end up in such a situation?"

"This is destiny!"

Liu Bei sighed and said, "Later, Kong Ming concealed his grief and negotiated a peace with Sun Quan to govern the middle of Shu. After several expeditions to the north, it was still difficult to resist the number of days, and finally died of illness in Wuzhangyuan, unable to return to the old capital."

"Could it be that the big man died here?"

Guan Yu looked at Zhuge Liang, but he didn't expect Kong Ming to be the last bastion of the great man.

Liu Bei said: "Since the death of Kong Ming, Adou has been unable to govern the country. The situation in central Shu has been declining. There is a general Jiang Wei who inherited Kong Ming's legacy and attacked Wei many times, but he was still unable to turn the tide. Wei general Deng Ai sneaked into Yinping and went straight to Chengdu. , Adou went out of the city and surrendered, and Ji Han was destroyed!"

Jiang Wei?

Deng Ai?

Aren't these two students of Xiaoqing?
Guan Yu was stunned for a moment, and then said dejectedly: "It seems that Cao Cao is the final winner after losing to Tian Shu."

"Not at all."

Liu Bei shook his head and said: "After Cao Rui's death, Cao Shuang took over the government. He was a man of great ambition and talent. He was finally eradicated by Sima Yi in the Gaoping Mausoleum Incident. The Sima family controlled Cao Wei. After that, the Sima family replaced Wei as the Jin Dynasty. First we destroyed Ji Han and then Dong Wu , the three families returned to the Jin Dynasty, and then the Eight Kings rebelled, the Five Husbands rebelled, and the Han people suffered a catastrophe!"

"It turns out that there are so many things after we die."

Zhang Fei was shocked and said, "But what does this have to do with Xiaoqing?"

Liu Bei pointed to the bottom and said: "Look, hasn't the number of days changed? God said that Xiaoqing is the biggest variable in destiny. Xiaoqing should not have appeared in this world, but I don't know why he came here. I gave him a gift in Xuzhou. To help, he will return me a Sanxing big man!"

"Xiaoqing!"

Both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei looked at Shen Chen.

Shen Chen was burning paper for Guan Yu, when he suddenly noticed that the incense burner on Liu Bei's altar table not far away had run out of incense, so he walked over and lit three incense sticks to pay homage to, then knelt down on the futon and kowtowed to Liu Bei's spiritual tablet.

I don't know if it's a coincidence or fate, the three of them were looking at him, and he happened to be prostrating to the three of them, as if he was telling them, Chen, I have lived up to your life-saving grace!
"Let's return the gift to Xiaoqing as well."

Liu Bei said.

The three of them also solemnly knelt down and kowtowed to Shen Chen in return.

After getting up, Shen Chen had finished prostrating and went back to Guan Yu's coffin to burn paper.

Liu Bei sighed: "Maybe this is the arrangement of God."

"Brother, let's go."

Zhang Fei yelled: "I've been here for several months, and it's very boring."

"No rush, just go back before dawn."

Liu Bei shrugged his nose and said, "It smells so good."

"It's the peach blossoms."

Guan Yu looked outside the hall, and sighed: "Adou ordered people to plant peach blossoms outside this hall, and now is the season when peach blossoms are in full bloom."

"Go and see."

Liu Bei floated down from the altar and walked slowly outside the hall.

At this time, it was midnight, there was no cloud in the sky, the moon was hanging high, and the silver light was falling down, illuminating the earth like daytime.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei followed behind Liu Bei. I don't know if it was because of the lingering incense or the blessing of Liu Bei's divine power. After they walked out of the temple, they were just white phantoms, and gradually began to condense their souls in the fog.

In the end, the white mist dissipated, and two strong and burly bodies came out.

Zhang Fei looked at Guan Yu in surprise and said, "Second brother, you."

"You, third brother."

Guan Yu also looked at Zhang Fei in surprise.

Because the two of them have now turned into the appearance of their youth, just like the appearance when they met for the first time in the spring breeze of peach and plum that year.

"Second and third brothers, I almost can't remember your faces at that time."

Liu Bei sighed: "But you at that time are the best and original appearance in my memory."

"Thank you bro!"

Guan and Zhang saluted Liu Bei with one voice.

Liu Bei took their hands, looked at each other, and laughed loudly.

The gentle spring breeze blows, and the peach blossoms are all over the courtyard.

The three brothers enjoy the flowers under the moon.

"It's a pity that there is no wine."

Zhang Fei said with regret: "I really want the three of us to have another drink."

Before he finished speaking, a table suddenly appeared in front of him, three mats were set up, and there were several jugs of wine and three cups on it.

Seeing that Zhang Bao in the hall heard his exclamation, he walked up to Zhang Feiling, poured water and wine, and muttered: "Father, the second uncle also came to see you today. You like to drink, and I am afraid that the second uncle will find you." You, it's not good for you to entertain him without wine, I'll pour you a few glasses."

"Hahahahahaha."

Zhang Fei laughed and said, "My big boy!"

As he said that, he rushed over excitedly and knelt down on the mat, shouting: "Elder brother, second brother, come quickly!"

Liu Bei and Guan Yu looked at each other, both smiled, walked over and sat down on their knees.

"The three of us brothers meet again, we should drink this cup!"

Zhang Fei raised the wine in his hand and said cheerfully.

"Come on, have a drink!"

Liu Bei and Guan Yu also raised their wine glasses.

The three wine glasses collided together, and a round of silver moon sprinkled on them, making the scarves on their heads flutter in the wind.

The peach blossoms swayed gently with the wind, and the faint fragrance lingered in the entire Taoyuan. The three brothers had a drink under the moonlight.

I don't know when it passed, the sky gradually brightened, and the figures of the three gradually faded away.

Zhang Fei collapsed on the table drunkenly, and Guan Yu leaned beside him.

Liu Bei patted Zhang Fei's hand, then looked at Guan Yu with a smile, and seemed to hear Zhang Fei whispering softly: "Taoyuan is married, we will live and die together!"

That was the promise they made.

Liu Bei raised his head and looked at the sky, and said in a low voice, "To be sworn in Taoyuan, we will live and die together!"

"To be sworn in Taoyuan, to live and die together!"

Guan Yu also responded softly.

In the end, the sky was getting whiter and their figures were getting lighter and weaker. When the sun rose from the east, three rays of light shot up into the sky.

in situ.

There were only peach blossoms flying and the three wine glasses that fell on the ground.

"what!"

Zhuge Liang, Shen Chen, Guan Ping, Zhang Bao and others came out yawning.

Last night I watched the spirit all night, and I was tired in the morning. I need to go back and have a good rest, eat something, and come back tonight.

"Huh? Who threw the wine glass on the ground."

Guan Ping lowered his head and saw three wine glasses under the peach tree outside the hall.

"Are you paying homage to the late emperor and the two generals?"

Zhuge Liang was suspicious.

Only Shen Chen turned his head to look at the hall thoughtfully.

The hall was so quiet that there was no sound at all.

Only the wind is gently blowing the portraits of the three brothers, rustling like mother-in-law.

If my time travel is a supernatural event, maybe, there is a spirit in this world.

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms TV series, there is a scene where Liu Bei meets Guanzhang Difu after his death, and this chapter is also the same.