Three Kingdoms: The Reverse Son of the Guan Family, Dragon Blessing Jingxiang

In the southwest corner of Chang'an City, a simple courtyard is hidden here.

The path paved with green bricks is winding and winding, lined with weather-beaten pines and cypresses. The sun shines through the sparse clouds in the courtyard, adding a touch of gentleness and warmth to this quiet and ancient courtyard. The years have passed. It's like time has frozen here.

In a corner of the courtyard, an ancient plum tree stands quietly, its branches covered with plums that have long since faded.

They sway gently in the breeze, as if they are also waiting for someone...

To be precise... I was waiting for the meeting between two people that lasted twenty years.

A small copper stove is steaming with fine charcoal burning...

He was about to enter his seventies, and the octogenarian old man quietly sat cross-legged next to the copper stove, the firelight reflecting his calm and deep face.

And what cannot be concealed in that indifferent demeanor is the domineering aura that only heroes in this world have.

It’s Cao Cao——

The bronze jug on the stove has already been prepared. The freshness of the green plums and the mellowness of the wine blend together, exuding an intoxicating aroma that permeates the entire courtyard.

Now it seemed that the only thing missing... was someone who could sit across from him and drink with him.

…

"He is in this courtyard...I will lead my eldest brother in with him."

Outside the door, Guan Yu's deliberately lowered voice came out.

Following him was Liu Bei.

We haven't seen each other for several years. We should have talked over the wine before we got drunk...

But because of Cao Cao, all brotherly greetings have to be postponed temporarily.

Along the way, Liu Bei was in a hurry...just to drink this drink face to face with Cao Cao.

At this moment, after hearing Guan Yu's words, Liu Bei gently grabbed him. Under the eyes of great expectation, longing, and longing, he chanted the word "no need" as calmly and calmly as possible.

He rejected Guan Yu's kindness, "Yun Chang, let me see him alone -"

When the eldest brother said this, Guan Yu would not follow him, so he stood guard in front of the courtyard door, "Brother, Yu will stay here. If anything happens, call me at any time..."

I don't know whether it was because of Liu Bei's arrival that the atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly changed, or whether the conversation between Guan Yu and Liu Bei was overheard by Cao Cao by the copper stove.

The moment Guan Yu finished speaking...

A vigorous voice filled with vicissitudes of life and hoarseness came out:

——"Xuande, is that you?"

It's Cao Cao's voice...

On the other hand, Liu Bei, when he heard this voice, his deliberate step stopped.

It seemed that in an instant, the condescending aura he had imagined was completely gone, and was replaced by a hint of nervousness.

After all, he still couldn't condescendingly face Cao Cao, just like Cao Cao never looked down upon him when he was lonely.

However, soon... Liu Bei quickly raised his head again after being stunned for a short time. He replied with the same vigor, vicissitudes, and hoarse voice: "Brother Mengde, it's me..."

At this time, Cao Cao had woken up from his eyes-closed meditation. He turned his head and stared at Liu Bei, staring at Liu Xuande, who had once suffered a complete defeat in his hands but had now grown into a behemoth... and walked towards him step by step. .

Finally, when Liu Bei knelt down in front of him, Cao Cao hesitated for a moment, but still tried hard and choked up and said, "Xuande, you're fine—"

Different intonations, different situations, but the same words...

In an instant, this sentence "Goodbye and be safe" brought Liu Bei and Cao Cao back to June of the third year of Jian'an.

That year Cao Cao attacked Zhang Xiu again;

That year Cao Cao attacked Lu Bu;

In June of that year, the plums were ripe, and many people said that the meeting between Cao Cao and Liu Bei was a discussion of heroes over wine with green plums...

However, plums are never cooked into wine. Only Cao Cao and Liu Bei knew that that year, green plums were not cooked into wine, but served with wine.

Just like the bowl of wine in front of them now, although the plums in the wine are no longer green, they are still green and so refreshing——

…

Memories start from the beginning of all this fateful meeting...

The first time Cao Cao met Liu Bei was when the eighteen princes were fighting against Dong. He recognized this hero from the conversation between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan.

——"Gongsun Prefect, who is behind you?"

——"This is Liu Bei, our brother from childhood, the commander of Pingyuan!" 』

From that moment on, a strong sense of fate quietly emerged.

Start with this scene.

Over time, the scenes they had experienced together quickly began to flash before their eyes.

…

At the place where the eighteen princes met for an alliance, Cao Cao shouted in front of the heroes of the world:

——'Could it be Liu Xuande who broke the Yellow Turban? I’ve heard the name for a long time! 』

…

When Liu Bei was forced by Lu Bu and had no other choice, Cao Cao personally went out of the city to greet him.

——"Mr. Xuande is well and well." 』

——"I am really ashamed that I came here to invest in a desperate situation." 』

——"What did Xuande say?" You and I are brothers, Lu Bu is a dishonest person, it is difficult to achieve great things, I should stand side by side with my virtuous brother and punish him! A special banquet has been prepared today for Xuande to wash away his shock. 』

…

After the curtain fell on Cao's camp, all the counselors advised Liu Bei to be killed!

——"My lord, Liu Bei is the hero of the world. If we don't act early today, we will be in trouble later!" 』

——"Now that we are using heroes, we cannot lose the hearts of the people in the world just by killing one person!" Tomorrow I will go to the Emperor to recommend Liu Bei as the shepherd of Yuzhou! 』

…

On the Baimen Tower, when Lu Bu was being escorted, Cao Cao first asked Liu Bei for his opinion.

——"What does Duke Xuande think?" 』

——"Have you not seen what happened to Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo?" Didn’t you see what happened to Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo? 』

When Zhang Liao was brought in, Cao Cao was about to execute him, but Liu Bei grabbed him.

——"Such loyal and righteous people should be retained for justice!" 』

…

In Xuchang, Cao Cao invited Liu Bei to have a drink.

——"Xuande, I just saw that the plum blossoms on the branches have turned green, and I suddenly felt something. Now that I see these plums, I can't help but appreciate them. They are also worthy of being cooked with wine, so I invite you to Xiaoting for a while!" 』

——"The only heroes in the world today are your envoy and Cao Er!" 』

…

Liu Bei escaped from Xuchang and captured Xuzhou. Cao Cao felt extremely regretful.

——"Liu Bei leaves Xudu!" Sure enough, as Fengxiao said, if you indulge the enemy in one day, you will be in trouble for a lifetime! 』

…

Head south to Jingzhou.

When the counselor chanted "Lord, Liu Bei has led the people into Fancheng, why not recruit Liu Bei first?" 』

Cao Cao was overjoyed and shouted:

——"This plan works!" 』

Even though Cao Cao has been injured by Liu Bei, no matter when, what he looks forward to most is still to subdue Liu Bei——

…

The green plum wine is already warm.

But Cao Cao and Liu Bei, sitting opposite each other, just stared at each other, speechless.

The memories of each other kept coming back, as if both of them enjoyed the scenes from the past that were deeply embedded in their memories.

Finally, Cao Cao was the first to get out of those memories and asked Liu Bei.

"Xuande, why are you speechless?"

It was this sentence that pulled Liu Bei's thoughts out of those beautiful, urgent, tragic, or sinking moods.

He looked solemn and sighed sadly.

"Along the way, I was thinking about the scene when I met you, Meng De, and what I was going to say to you? I even thought about whether I should talk condescendingly to Meng De as a superior. But I thought. Really sitting here, I find that... even when I look into Brother Meng De's eyes, I feel I'm a little smaller... I don't know why now? Haha, as for what to say... I actually forgot what I was thinking about on the way, I don't know anymore. What you said!”

Listening to Liu Bei's words, Cao Cao also looked like he was recalling the past, thinking of those glorious years.

"hehe…"

Finally, Cao Cao smiled and said, "If Xuande doesn't say anything, let Gu come and ask. Xuande might as well guess... This time, what did Gu feel when he saw you on your territory?" !”

this…

Liu Bei thought for a while, then shook his head, stretched out his hand and said: "I can't guess, I'd better ask Brother Meng De for advice..."

"Haha..." Cao Cao smiled, "Then I have to say..."

"Brother Meng De, please——"

Just when Liu Bei said this, Cao Cao stood up, took a deep breath, and then tried to sing out in the sharpest, most serious, and coldest tone...

But in the end...all the words finally become gentle, delicate and gentle!

"Xuande, actually, the moment I saw you again, it was as if... it was as if I saw the self who once served the public wholeheartedly——"

This sentence…

Perhaps this was the gentlest time that Cao Cao had been since he became the King of Wei, but also the hoartest, hoarse, and most uncontrollable time.

That's just this sentence, like a hot current... pouring into Liu Bei's forehead in an instant, like an enlightenment.

His face trembled slightly due to the fluctuation of emotions.

His lips were pursed tightly, as if he was trying to control the throbbing in his heart, but tears were like a broken bead chain, and they had begun to... keep falling from the corners of his eyes.

Seeing Liu Bei's appearance, Cao Cao squinted his eyes... and his voice became more thoughtful:

"You still love to cry so much..."

Liu Bei had already wiped his eyes with his sleeves. Then he met Cao Cao's gaze and replied stumblingly, word for word: "Brother Meng De, do you know... In the past thirty years, every time I have been desperate, What keeps me going?"

"What?"

"Every time I go against Cao Cao... everything happens..." Liu Bei cried, "I have experienced countless desperate situations over the years, but in every desperate situation, the driving force that keeps me going is Brother Meng De... that is Brother Meng De, you agree with this!"

"I am dedicated to serving the public good. Haha, I never want to just be the hero you call me. I want to be the most respectable old enemy among all your opponents——"

The tone of his voice rose every sentence, and by the end he was roaring at the top of his lungs...

That's how this sentence came out...

Cao Cao, who had already stood up, staggered on his legs. He tried hard to hold on to something with his hands to prop up his staggering legs.

After all, it was Liu Bei's arm that he held on to!

And his words, Liu Bei's words... overnight, they have become a brand new character, deeply imprinted on Cao Cao's heart.

——When I see you, I feel like I’m seeing the self who once served the public whole!

——I want to be the most respectable old enemy among all your opponents!

never…

Liu Bei all agrees with Cao Cao!

He forged five-color sticks, he issued ten sins, he destroyed evil temples, he stabbed huge eunuchs alone late at night, he dared to ask for the seven-star sword to assassinate Dong Zhuo, his armies looked at me from the north, and he moved to the north of the Central Plains. In Xinjiang, he wiped out the Wuhuan, suppressed the Xiongnu, pacified the Western Qiang, and surrendered the Xianbei, so that the barbarians from all sides could not take advantage of the opportunity to invade the Central Plains and cause trouble!

These are all things that Liu Bei deeply admires!

These are these deeds... spanning thousands of years, but when Wei Wu whipped his whip, Jieshi in the east will still have its rumors and legacy——

Liu Bei deeply agreed with Cao Cao...

At first, didn't Cao Cao also want to be a capable minister in governing the world?

Who is born willing to be a traitor?

But the times... inevitably pushed him to the opposite side!

This is a pair of desperate eyes——

This is Cao Cao who is contrary to his original intention——

This is also Liu Bei who was forced into a desperate situation——

These three kinds of encounters converge in this troubled world, and art, at this moment... has reached its peak!

…

This is destined to be the afterglow before unification——

Cao Cao and Liu Bei, who had only experienced one round of dialogue, once again fell into a state of silence.

This time Chang'an's green plum wine is destined to be completely different from the last time Xuchangcheng's green plum wine was cooked, and it is destined to go on completely opposite trajectories.

"drink wine--"

"Brother Meng De, please——"

"Drink another bowl——"

"Brother Meng De, please——"

"Come again——"

"good--"

As the green plum wine goes down, the aroma becomes rich.

Even though... the plums in September are no longer green, the mixture of sweet and sour taste and aroma of wine... still lingers in the mouth for a long time, with a long aftertaste.

Liu Bei is wearing white clothes today, while Cao Cao is wearing black clothes.

White looks at black, black looks at white...

Liu Bei in white walked past Cao Cao in black. Cao Cao in black looked deeply at Liu Bei in white...

For a moment, those eyes, that glow, that color... were just like they had been for twenty years, just like that sentence - I look at you and refuse to step back!

That damn thing again, what a strong sense of fate!

"Ha ha ha ha…"

After all, it was a laugh that brought this fateful stare back to the drinking room again——

"The plums are finally ripe..." With a hearty laugh, Cao Cao drank another bowl of green plum wine before speaking, "I think back to that time in Xuchang, when Gu was wearing black clothes and Xuande was wearing white clothes... You were like me at that time, and I was like you at that time... At that time, I dared to say, "The only heroes in the world today are Shi Jun and Cao Er" because I had extremely strong confidence, and I was sure that you, Liu Bei, were mine. Something in the bag, a fish in the pond...but..."

Having said this, Cao Cao raised the wine bowl again. The wine bowl was still empty, so Liu Bei poured it for him personally.

Cao Cao put the wine bowl to his mouth, and then sighed, "I, Cao Cao, have killed so many people, but in the end, even if I spent half my life... I couldn't cross out the last name on the belt edict!"

Having said that, Cao Cao was about to drink it all in one gulp...

But at this moment, Liu Bei held the wine bowl with his hand and asked calmly: "I dare to ask Brother Meng De, is it that you can't cross out the last name on the belt edict? Or do you not want to cross it out?"

The implication is that Liu Bei was asking... a difficult question that has caused countless daydreams and speculations by countless historians for more than a thousand years.

Why did Cao Cao not kill Liu Bei when he was in Xuchang for twenty years?

And with Liu Bei's words...

Cao Cao raised his head in surprise, and finally put down the wine that was on his lips. He slowly stood up again, turned to one side, and looked up at the sky with his eyes like stars.

For a long time, for a long time, he pondered for a long time... and then sighed.

"The high spirits of Gu Gu's youth were all shattered by reality..."

"At that time, if you were alone and you saw your past self and your original appearance, would you kill him? Would you erase your own past and justice?"

Having said this, Cao Cao closed his eyes...

He felt the September wind in Chang'an City. He took a deep breath again, and then when he exhaled, the most heartfelt words came out:

"I doubted your bustling justice, but finally decided to let go of your body that won't fight back!"

"Xuande, let alone that one time twenty years ago, even if you come to me ten, twenty, or a hundred times, I will still let you go...let you go...let me go...you!" "

A grunt sound...

After listening to Cao Cao's words, Liu Bei felt grateful and could not help but solemnly salute.

"I finally know why I am always shorter in front of Brother Meng De..."

"But brother Meng De, don't worry. As you said, you doubted my justice, but finally let me go without fighting back. At this moment, if you and I are reversed, I will not have any problems. There’s no embarrassment...you who won’t fight back..."

Speaking of which…

Liu Bei solemnly raised his wine bowl towards Cao Cao... and drank it all in one gulp.

Cao Cao immediately replied, "Xuande, remember, in the darkness, neither you nor Gu need mercy..."

After that, he also picked up the wine bowl and paid tribute to Liu Bei, to the sky, and to this era.

"Done-"

"Done-"

In fact, Liu Bei knew that Cao Cao had a request when he came.

But at this time, in this atmosphere, Liu Bei didn't ask, and Cao Cao didn't speak, but it seemed that they were connected with each other and already knew...

There is no need to question this so-called request, just follow it——

In such a situation... they still treat it more as memories of each other and the remembrance of those turbulent years...

…

At that time...Cao Cao laughed and rushed to Liu Bei's residence: "Xuande, you have done great things at home!" Planting vegetables and irrigating the garden at home, it is not easy for Xuande to have such leisure! 』

At that time, Liu Bei faced Dong Cheng and others, holding the imperial edict on clothes and belts in his hand, and the blood on his fingertips overflowed. He solemnly said: "I have been ordered to punish thieves, so I dare not fail to use the power of dogs and horses!" 』

…

While the green plums were cooking wine, Cao Cao sighed with emotion: "Hahahaha, dragons are things that can be compared to the bravery of the world. When they are big, they stir up the clouds and spit out mist. When they are small, they hide in their hearts. When they are alive, they soar in the universe. When they are hidden, they lurk in the waves." Inside. 』

Liu Bei: "Who can be worthy of it?" 』

Cao Cao: "The only heroes in the world today are Shijun and Cao Er!" 』

…

At that time, Cao Cao held the Seven-Star Sword in both hands and said, "My ancestors lived in Han Dynasty!" If you don't want to serve your country, what's the point of being an animal? Although I am not talented, I would like to cut off Dong Zhuo's head immediately and hang it by the east gate! 』

Once upon a time, Liu Bei held a sword in both hands and said, "Bei is a clan member of the Han Dynasty!" We should help the Han Dynasty, but how dare we entrust it to destiny? 』

…

In Longzhong, Nanyang, Liu Bei faced Zhuge Liang: "In today's world, only Cao Cao and I are at odds with each other. Cao Cao is eager, I am lenient, Cao Cao is violent, I am benevolent, Cao Cao is deceitful, and I am loyal. I always oppose Cao Cao, It can be done! 』

On the eve of Red Cliff, Cao Cao raised his wine bottle and faced the civil and military officials: "Liu Bei is just a kid weaving mats, why should I be afraid of him?" 』

…

On the battlefield in Hanzhong, Liu Bei pointed his sword at Cao Cao: "I am a clan member of the Han Dynasty, and I have been ordered to fight against thieves!" You killed the queen, established yourself as king, and misused the emperor Luan Yu. You are a true rebel! 』

Cao Cao stood on the high platform where the 18 princes gathered together, pointing his sword at Luoyang, "We will fight against Dong Zhuo together, help the Han Dynasty, go through fire and water, and we will not give up even if we die——"

But more than a month later, Cao Cao, who was chasing the enemy alone, was defeated in Xingyang. When he returned, he angrily denounced the princes who were having a banquet with the Eighteenth Route Army: "It's not enough to make a plan..."

…

Outside Xinye City, beside the Han River, Liu Bei led the people across the river. Liu Bei said sadly: "Although the situation is urgent now, I swear to live and die with the people!" Live and die together! 』

After Cao Cao killed Lu Boshe, he wiped the blood on his hand and chanted: "I would rather teach me to betray the people of the world than let the people of the world betray me!" 』

…

Liu Bei told Zhuge Liang in Nanjun: "Nanjun is the land of Cao Cao, so it is reasonable to choose it!" 』

Cao Cao said impassionedly on Red Cliff: "I even laugh at Liu Bei for trying to shake Mount Tai with the power of an ant. How stupid he is!" 』

…

Someone advised Cao Cao: "Now that the Duke's reputation is rising, why not take advantage of this to act as a king..."

Someone advised Liu Bei: "The emperor's uncle is a clan member of the Han Dynasty. Not to mention occupying prefectures and counties, he is assuming the throne for the sake of orthodoxy..."

——And...why not?

Haha, let me ask, have they ever thought about exchanging their eager hearts for dragon scales?

No?

Haha, maybe... they just want to become respectable enemies of each other in the world of rivals——

…

Green plums go with wine, which is inevitably sour, but sweet and has an endless aftertaste——

Aged plums with wine are no longer sour, but they have also lost their sweetness, right?

…

"Xuande, is that you——"

"Xuande, you're fine—"

…

…(End of chapter)