Xiapi State, Xiang County.
Just as Lü Bu and Liu Bei were plotting against each other outside Xiapi City, a messenger arrived outside Xiang County and was successfully granted an audience by the defending general, Mei Gan.
The name Mei Gan might sound rather amusing to modern people, since it was homophonous with "no money."
However, ancient pronunciation differed from that of the present day, and during the Han Dynasty, Mei Gan's name did not carry that sound.
He was a native of Lujiang, born to a family of commoners for generations, and originally had no courtesy name.
After joining Yuan Shu's command, he thought of how he lacked a courtesy name and feared others would look down on him. Thus, taking the original meaning of Gan, he selected Xingjian as his courtesy name from the line in the Book of Changes: "Heaven moves with vigor; thus the gentleman strives tirelessly for self-improvement."
Unexpectedly, after choosing that courtesy name, his official career truly began to flourish.
Following Yuan Shu, his rank rose higher and higher, until he had somehow obtained a post as the commander of one region.
Because Yuan Shu feared Liu Bei in Pei County, he reinforced the city several times and supplied it with vast quantities of grain and baggage. Thus, the city was well stocked with elite troops and ample provisions.
Every day, Mei Gan drank a little wine and squeezed the common people dry. His life was quite comfortable.
But ever since Qin Tian took office, Mei Gan's good days had come to an end.
The Liu Bei Army's movements had grown increasingly conspicuous as they recruited troops, bought horses, and drilled their soldiers.
There were even rumors that, in order to enforce military discipline, Liu Bei had personally set an example, winning the wholehearted