The next day, Liu Qi bid farewell to Liu Biao, ordered Liu Pan to guard Xiangyang, and rushed to Xinye to attend the funeral.
This time, Xu Shu, Huang Zhong, Wei Yan and Huo Jun were brought with him. Liu Pan and Wen Pin were left in Xiangyang to ensure the safety of the rear.
Finally, he was about to meet Guan and Zhang, and he couldn't help feeling a little nervous. Liu Qi deliberately delayed his visit for two days to give the two of them some buffer time.
Although they were entrusted by Liu Bei to take care of the orphan, they were like the company's paratroopers. They would definitely have psychological resistance and need a process of adjustment and adaptation.
Given Guan and Zhang's personalities, they will definitely react violently. Once the situation gets out of control, all previous efforts will be wasted. It would be better to let Yi Ji and Zhao Yun persuade them first.
Crossing the river and heading north, Liu Qi's heart was like the waves, ups and downs, as he thought about various meeting scenes.
Nanyang was the largest county in the late Han Dynasty, with a population of one million, but most of it had been occupied by Cao Cao. With the Yu River as the boundary, the western part became the territory of Cao's army, leaving only the barren land of Tongbai Mountain east of Xinye.
Huang Zu of Jiangxia had long been a separatist regime and refused to obey orders. Liu Biao had actually lost control of the north of the Yangtze River. Xinye was like chicken ribs, so it was a wise move to give it to Liu Bei to contain Cao's army.
As the water route to Fancheng was blocked, everyone disembarked from Huyang Port and arrived at Xinye, only to see white flags hung all over the city, and even the common people spontaneously wore mourning for Liu Bei.
Xu Shu sighed, "When I passed by this place from Yingchuan, I heard the people singing: 'Xinye pastor, Emperor Liu, has lived a prosperous life since he came here.' Now, looking at this situation, it can be seen that General Liu is deeply loved by the people."
Liu Qi nodded and said, "My uncle is well-known for his benevolence and determination to restore the Han Dynasty. Now that I have inherited his aspirations, I should also set an example. He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world!"
Xu Shu nodded deeply. When they arrived at the government office, they saw the whole yard covered with white cloth and soldiers in mourning. There were two men guarding each side of the coffin, one in black and one in red. They were Guan and Zhang.
Although the two men looked gloomy and looked like dead wood, they were both alive. Liu Qi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Upon hearing the news, Sun Qian hurried out and led Liu Qi to the coffin. After burning incense and offering sacrifices, everyone looked at him blankly.
Liu Qi saw that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had red eyes and there was even blood on Guan Yu's long beard. He knew that they were extremely sad.
He bowed and apologized, "I failed to protect my uncle. Please forgive me, generals."
Guan and Zhang sat there like wooden carvings, turning a deaf ear to everything.
Sun Qian said hurriedly: "The two generals are too sad. Please don't blame me for being rude."
Liu Qi sighed: "I only regret that Cai bullied the master. I was alone and weak, and made a big mistake!"
Guan Yu's expression changed slightly when he heard this, and he finally raised his head. His eyes were swollen like blisters. He glanced around but said nothing.
At this time, the two ladies also walked out from the back hall after hearing the news, holding the babbling little Adou in their arms.
Liu Qi stepped forward to greet him with the courtesy of a junior, took the baby in his hands and held it. The little guy bit his fingers and actually looked at him giggling, not shy at all.
After comforting the two ladies, Zhao Yun and Yi Ji also came. In the past few days, they have been handling the affairs in the city to prevent anyone from taking the opportunity to cause chaos.
Liu Qi ordered Huo Jun to bring a plaque and place it in front of the mourning hall. On it were four big characters written by him: Never forget your original intention.
After the arrangement was completed, Liu Qi said to everyone: "I was ordered by my uncle to protect my wife and children with you and support the Han Dynasty. I know that I am not virtuous enough for my high position, and I am weak but have a heavy responsibility. I still need your help. Always remember my uncle's words, make achievements and establish a career to comfort the heroic spirit in the afterlife."
Sun Qian, Mi Zhu, Jian Yong and others all bowed and accepted the order, but Guan and Zhang remained motionless, staring at the four words on the plaque in a daze.
Liu Qi was not in a hurry, and continued: "In the past, Emperor Gaozu made the White Horse Alliance. Although I am not talented, I want to follow my ancestor's example. Today, I will make the White Horse Alliance again with the three generals. I am willing to do my best to fulfill my uncle's last wish, protect his descendants, stabilize the country, and achieve achievements. What do you think?"
Guan Yu finally turned around and asked in a hoarse voice, "Sir, are you willing to swear an oath?"
"If it weren't for my uncle's reminder, I would be nothing but a walking corpse!"
Liu Qi nodded seriously, drew out the sword given by Liu Bei, and said loudly: "As a relative of the Han Dynasty, I will take up the three-foot sword, kill all the treacherous and disloyal people in the world, and revive the Han Dynasty to establish an unprecedented achievement."
Zhang Fei stared and said in a low voice: "Sir, do you have the ambition of my elder brother?"
Liu Qi nodded again solemnly: "A real man should think about serving his country, otherwise he will decay like grass and trees. My uncle has sacrificed his life for his country, so why should I care about my own life? I should be like my uncle and the other generals, sacrificing my life and blood for the Han Dynasty, and I will not hesitate to die!"
Guan Yu gently tidied up his disheveled beard and said to Guan Ping behind him, "Go find a white horse!"
The bold words that Liu Qi racked his brains to come up with finally worked, and he breathed a sigh of relief. If he continued, he would really be at a loss for words.
After calming down, he said hurriedly, "Di Lu is a ready-made white horse, why should we look for another one?"
Sun Qian was shocked and said, "General, this is a good horse, how can you bear to kill it?"
Liu Qi sighed, "Even if it is a divine dragon, how can it compare to my uncle's life? This horse is a hindrance to its master. It is unlucky to keep it. My uncle's death is also related to it. It is the most suitable horse to be used as an oath."
Guan Yu stroked his long beard gently and narrowed his swollen eyes slightly. Zhang Fei looked deeply at Liu Qi with his big, red and swollen eyes. Such courage also moved the two of them.
Huo Jun immediately led his men to bring Di Lu over and slaughtered him in the government office. He set up an incense table, burned incense and served wine again, with a total of five bowls of blood wine.
Everyone swore an oath before the coffin to eliminate the traitor Cao, punish the treacherous officials, and work together to revive the Han Dynasty.
After the oath was completed, Liu Qi sprinkled the first bowl of blood wine in front of Liu Bei's spirit, and drank the rest with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun.
This oath was comparable to the Peach Garden Oath, but it was not festive at all, but instead full of solemnity and tragedy. After drinking, Guan and Zhang knelt before the coffin and cried bitterly.
Liu Qi also lay on the ground and cried, tears streaming down his face, looking extremely sad.
In fact, he was crying with joy and his nose was full of snot bubbles due to excitement.
If he didn't lie on the ground and howl a few times, he was really afraid that he would laugh out loud.
As he wished, he recruited Guan, Zhang, and Zhao, and with the addition of Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, this lineup is comparable to the Five Tiger Generals, and anyone would laugh to death.
Yi Ji and Sun Qian wiped their tears, helped Liu Qi up, and comforted him with kind words, and were deeply moved by his sincerity.
Liu Qi ordered Xu Shu to temporarily take charge of all affairs in Xinye, and Huang Zhong and Wei Yan were responsible for training the troops. Two days later, Liu Bei was buried on the bank of the Han River, across the river from Xiangyang.
After the burial, the two ladies and A Dou, along with the families of Guan, Zhang, Sun Qian and others, were sent to Xiangyang for resettlement to eliminate any worries.
Everyone bid farewell by the river. Liu Qi calmly said to Xu Shu, "Yingchuan is now controlled by Cao Cao. Military advisor, do you still have family? It would be better to bring them to Jingzhou to avoid being implicated."
Xu Shu said with emotion: "Thank you for your concern, my parents are still alive, but she is old and can hardly endure the hardships of traveling. I have already made proper arrangements for her, so you don't need to worry."
Liu Qi frowned slightly. Xu Shu still called himself Shan Fu and thought he had disguised himself very well. However, he did not expect that there happened to be a Cheng Yu who knew his background. This was a huge hidden danger.
But Xu Shu did not reveal his identity, and Liu Qi was reluctant to point it out. He thought about finding a suitable time to persuade him to bring his mother over to avoid the regret of Xu Shu joining Cao's camp.
After the funeral, everything was finally back on track. Liu Qi appointed Xu Shu as military advisor and ordered Yi Ji to set up a talent recruitment office to recruit talents. The duties of the rest of the people remained unchanged and they followed Liu Bei's orders to pacify the people and train the troops.