The Collection of The End

——A.D. 177——

Luoyang, West Market.

"Xuande, do you want to consider changing to two more ordinary scabbards?"

After leaving Zhang Shiping's blacksmith shop, Gongsun Zan finally couldn't help but suggest to Liu Bei.

"Oh? Why?" Liu Bei smiled lightly and touched the hilt of the sword behind his shoulder.

"You still ask why?" Gongsun Zan pointed to the two swords behind Liu Bei's back: "Such a beautiful, eye-catching black and white double sword, but it is equipped with an almost transparent scabbard, and is crossed behind the back. There is no doubt when facing the enemy. It will make the opponent wary, and some related sword skills that need to be performed covertly will be completely unable to be performed."

It was obvious that Zhang Shiping wanted to use a transparent scabbard to show off his work without considering its effect on the enemy, but Liu Bei was very cooperative, which made Gongsun Zan feel quite strange.

"Sword skills?" Liu Bei slowed down slightly and put his hands on his shoulders.

Zheng - rub rub rub -

The black and white swords were unsheathed at the same time, and they slashed three times in the air at a speed that could hardly be seen. When Liu Bei stopped, there seemed to be sharp sword marks still left in front of him.

"Brother Bogui, do you think the three strikes of mine that are not a move are more powerful, the black sword or the white sword?" Liu Bei did not sheath the sword, but lowered the tip of the sword and asked Gongsun Zan.

"That's... huh?" Gongsun Zan was about to respond, but stopped midway and frowned slightly.

Of these six swords, the white sword was originally bright and upright, and the black sword was strange and unpredictable, but no matter which side he focused his mind on when he recalled it, the other three swords would disappear from his memory.

"Both swords are so exquisite and eye-catching, but the focus itself is completely opposite. The advantage is that unless you have a meticulous mind and a photographic memory, you can only pay attention to one of them at a time." Liu Bei shook the swords again. , but did not use sword skills, just kept turning the sword tip, drawing squares with the black sword, and circles with the white sword: "In this case, it should look more obvious."

Obviously Liu Bei's movements had no subtle changes, but when Gongsun Zan looked at it, if he wanted to see the square clearly, the circle would disappear. If he focused on the circle, the square would be almost invisible.

"Tsk tsk... interesting, but if it weren't for someone like Xuande who has no prioritization of his hands, he shouldn't be able to achieve such an effect." Gongsun Zan finally said.

"I didn't mention this to Brother Zhang, so it must be a coincidence, and the reason why he forged the swords into this shape is probably due to another reason," Liu Bei was saying as several scholars passed by in front. They were all "high-level" disciples under the name of Lu Zhi, so he waved his white sword at them from a distance: "Brothers, what do you think of this newly made sword by Xuande?"

Because Lu Zhi explained the protection against the current "plague", these disciples dared to walk outside, and they usually had a good impression of Liu Bei, his "junior brother". At this time, they all responded: "Very good." "Very beautiful." Made of crystal?" "Don't use it to chop things, it will probably break in one go."

After exchanging greetings and passing each other, Liu Bei said to the stunned Gongsun Zan: "Because it is so exquisite, the first impression is that of decoration - although it can only deceive each enemy once, it is enough."

"Well, those foreign tribes in the north don't care what weapons the enemy has. When they charge forward on horseback, they always slash, cut, and slice. So your approach is ineffective against them..." Gongsun Zan imposed conditions in order to save face.

"That's natural. The people of Youzhou have always been grateful to the Gongsun family for protecting them." Liu Bei changed the subject in a good-natured manner.

"Haha, Xuande, let me tell you, the white horse that I caught this time is rare even in Youzhou. I want to take it back and pair it with hundreds of mares with excellent bloodlines. Finally, Build a beautiful cavalry of pure white horses, and when the enemy thinks they are a guard of honor, rush over and crush them -" Gongsun Zan was obviously influenced by Liu Bei's "so gorgeous that others ignored" his double swords, but because he himself was with a spear,

We can only settle for the next best thing.

"Sounds good, can you think of a name?" Liu Bei agreed.

"Hmm...'White Horse Yi Cong', how about it?"

"Excellent."

————

Luoyang, Taixue.

Although the plague was prevalent, there were many tasks that could not be stopped. In addition to the necessary measures to maintain the normal operation of Luoyang and the imperial court, the carving of the Xiping Stone Classic was also included.

It is said that the carving of this stone scripture began in the first year of Xiping, and it has been six years since then. The emperor once said that if it was not completed for one day, the era name would not be changed. However, due to the impact of this plague, I am afraid that it will have to be changed, so Lu Zhi, Cai Yong, Zheng Xuan and other great sages continued to push forward the matter even when the whole city was under martial law.

Therefore, the great sages had little time to chat with their disciples. After Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan paid their respects, Lu Zhi was only briefly tested on their academic progress before driving them away.

"Hey... I heard that Miss Cai's knowledge is outstanding, and she is good at all kinds of music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but I just didn't have the opportunity to meet her." After walking out of the Imperial Academy, Gongsun Zan sighed.

"I heard that it was because Cao Cao, Cao Mengde, a disciple of Mr. Cai Yong, offended the ten regular servants when he was the northern captain, and was sent out to be a county magistrate. The other two disciples had a good relationship with him. To avoid being affected, they also went together." Liu Bei He responded: "So, even if she wants to get married, Brother Bogui has no chance."

"Am I——" Gongsun Zan glared at Liu Bei, and then lost his battle in the glare: "Okay, I am..."

"It's human nature. Brother Bogui, there's no need to hide it. After all, he's almost the same age." Liu Bei used his long hands to pat the shoulder of Gongsun Zan, who was taller than him.

"Xuande, you don't know. The women introduced to me by my elders are all daughters of the Wu family. They can hold a sword, draw a bow and mount a horse. In a fight, five or six ordinary men can't get close, but there are none who are knowledgeable, sensible, gentle and pleasant. , I thought I could get something out of studying in Luoyang, but people here thought I was a rough guy from Youzhou, and they refused to let my daughter suffer as a frontier fortress." Gongsun Zan complained: "They are all meteorites falling from the sky, and my spiritual energy is revived. It’s your fault!”

"Well..." Liu Bei felt that if he made fun of him again, Gongsun Zan would become angry, so he simply gave him advice: "I am from Zhuojun. Brother Bogui knows it. Liu Yu, the governor of Zhuojun, has served as Guangluxun for a long time." , who has a daughter who is similar in age to Brother Bogui."

"Oh?" Gongsun Zan became slightly interested: "What is her personality like?"

"I've never heard of it," Liu Bei replied. Seeing that Gongsun Zan was disappointed, he added: "However, in Youzhou, where most women like to gallop on horseback and hunt with bows, 'almost no one has ever seen a young lady from a noble family'. This in itself It shows some of her character.”

"Good brother!" Gongsun Zan patted Liu Bei and said, "I have been studying recently and going home to ask the elders who always urge me to get married to talk to the county guard. If this can be done, all the daughters of the Wu family they want to introduce to me can be Introduce you to Xuande."

"This is unnecessary. I hope that my future wife will be well-educated and have complete etiquette. She can also go into battle to kill enemies and be skilled in bow and horse." Liu Bei waved his hands repeatedly.

"This is difficult." Gongsun Zan touched his chin and looked at the sky, seeming to start thinking about the people he knew.

"I'm only sixteen, it's too early to mention this matter - huh?" Liu Bei was mid-sentence when he was suddenly shocked by the large amount of warmth coming from the "Bodhisattva Wooden Statue".

Is it like this just to help Brother Bogui? He was so eager to get married?

For a moment, Liu Bei looked at Gongsun Zan in a strange way.

————

Luoyang, Northern Hospital.

Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan went out this time. In addition to picking up weapons and meeting the teacher, they also had to check the situation of the courtyard where doctors recruited from all over the city, referred to as the "hospital" for short, worked for the teacher. When they came to the north gate of Luoyang When I was at the nearby hospital, I heard noises.

“A certain family requires medical treatment, why are they not allowed in?”

"This place is where doctors from all over the country recruited to deal with the plague live. They do not treat diseases alone."

"Then when a certain family wanted to leave, why did you ask soldiers to block the way?"

"The child you are taking shows signs of infection and must be isolated and treated."

"Epidemic? Have you ever seen an 'epidemic' that lasted for several years? If you hadn't recruited famous doctors from all over the country to come to Luoyang and couldn't diagnose and treat children, why would a certain family come all the way from Nanyang!?"

"I am only acting on the emperor's orders."

Turning the corner, Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan saw a middle-aged man holding a child of about six or seven years old, carrying a bow and arrow on his back, confronting a group of military officials holding five-color sticks. The leader was tall but not burly, with a face. A serious but not very spirited military commander.

"Oh, he is the new Luoyang Northern Lieutenant who replaced Cao Cao, Wei Hai Wei Shiwen," Gongsun Zan said: "This person seems to have been specially selected by the Shi Changshi. He does not belong to any force, refuses any informal orders, and is loyal to the emperor. It’s just a little square and roundabout.”

"Well..." Liu Bei's focus was on the pale, sluggish child.

"Ahem, cough, cough, huh..." The child seemed to be affected by the tense atmosphere, and coughed so violently that it made others feel palpitated.

"A certain family has changed its mind. We must go in today to see if you can stop it!" The middle-aged man gently put down the child in his arms and reached for the long bow behind his back.

Wei Hai did not answer, but just raised his arms. A group of military officers took a step forward with five-color sticks, narrowing the encirclement.

"Your Excellency, are you here to find Zhang Ji and Zhang Zhongjing in Nanyang?" Liu Bei ignored the almost solidified atmosphere and stepped directly into the encirclement: "Doctor Zhang does not live here. I am willing to guide you."

"Humph... Thank you so much, young man." The middle-aged man put down his long bow and glanced sideways at the Luoyang Northern Lieutenant: "But it seems that the military leader is not allowing a certain family to leave."

"I have met Mr. Liu Xiaolang," Wei Hai saluted Liu Bei: "My duty is to isolate all those who have the characteristics of the epidemic. Even if Mr. Lu Zhi comes in person, he cannot release them."

"I won't embarrass the general," Liu Bei replied, then took out a porcelain vase from his arms and walked towards the middle-aged man: "I wonder if you have heard of Taiping Dao? This is the 'Nine Flower Jade Dew Pills' they produce. , From what I can see below, your son’s condition is probably aggravated by the fatigue of the journey. Although this medicine cannot cure him, it can at least make him much better and he will not be considered a sick person.”

"...Thank you." The man had obviously heard of Taipingdao and Jiuhua Yulu Pills. After a simple thank you, he took the porcelain bottle and fed the pills to the child.

After a while, the paleness on the child's face and the trembling in his body disappeared, and even his cough became very mild.

"General, can we let him go now?" Liu Bei said to Wei Hai, and the Beibu Lieutenant retreated without saying a word with a group of five-color stick officers.

"Your Excellency comes from Nanyang, why don't you know Mr. Zhang's personality?" Liu Bei gestured to the man to follow him, and then led the way: "Zhang Zhongjing does not live in the Northern Hospital in the north, which is specially designed for dignitaries, but in the Western Hospital for ordinary people. Diagnosis and treatment for the common people.”

"Those who can treat noble people must have some skills..." The middle-aged man followed the child in his arms, a little surprised.

"At this time, there are three famous doctors in Luoyang. Dong Feng lives in the palace, Zhang Ji is in the west, and Hua Tuo is traveling around with his whereabouts uncertain. Even if you just rushed in, no one would be willing to take the risk of offending the nobleman to diagnose and treat you. "Liu Bei shook his head, "Because in the eyes of those noble people, if a doctor treats common people, he is not qualified to treat him anymore - famous doctors are an exception."

"A certain Huang Zhong from Nanyang, whose courtesy name is Han Sheng, please tell me your young man's name. I will tell you in the future." The middle-aged man handed over his hand.

"I'm just a passing clan member of the Han clan." Liu Bei shook his head and refused to say anything. Although he had been called out by the Northern Lieutenant before, if he used his first name now, it would mean repaying his kindness.

"..." Gongsun Zan continued to look at the sky. Xuande really did good deeds without leaving his name behind.