Time, Fate, and Fortune

Half a month later, news arrived from Xiapi: Han Xian and Yang Feng's troops had switched sides in the middle of battle. The Yuan Shu army was caught completely off guard, and Zhang Xun suffered a crushing defeat and fled. Later, Lu Bu joined forces with the two men and pursued the enemy by land and water, stopping only at Zhongli, just two hundred li from Shouchun. Fewer than one in ten of the troops Zhang Xun had taken with him survived.

Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were all dumbstruck when they heard the report. Lan Tian's ability to analyze the situation was simply incredible.

"Elder Brother, since Lan Ziyu is so talented, why not go and seek him out in person? We're in dire need of someone to devise plans for us," Guan Yu advised.

Liu Bei shook his head with a wry smile. "I already asked him once, but Lan Tian said he wanted to stay in the countryside and fulfill his filial duties. How could I force him?"

"Elder Brother is right. That fellow was far too rude. Still, he's a dab hand at cooking. When are we going to Gan Family Village again?" Zhang Fei asked.

"My wife has been staying in the city lately. How could we just show up unannounced? But last time, I promised to treat Ziyu to a drink if his prediction about the military situation proved correct," Liu Bei said.

"A gentleman keeps his word. We can't go back on a promise. Elder Brother, I'll bring a few more jars of wine right now." Zhang Fei rushed off in a flurry.

After Zhang Fei left, Guan Yu saw the worry on Liu Bei's face and tried to console him. "Elder Brother, there's no need to fret. Lan Ziyu may not wish to serve us for now, but he and Sister-in-Law are close. If we persuade her to ask him for advice, I doubt he'll refuse."

Liu Bei turned to look at Guan Yu in surprise, then exclaimed with delight, "Second Brother, your words are like clouds parting to reveal the sun! I'll go fetch my wife right now. We'll head to Gan Family Village and invite Ziyu for a drink."

At that moment, the fields at Gan Family Village were being sown. As an agricultural technology consultant, Lan Tian spent long hours out among the fields beneath the blazing sun.

"Husband, look. Ziyu is over there." Gan Qian pointed to Lan Tian in the distance.

The weather was hot, so Lan Tian wore a straw hat and a short-sleeved hemp shirt. His trouser legs were rolled up, and he stood barefoot in the field, pointing things out. He looked no different from an ordinary farmer.

When Gan Qian called him over, the fellow was covered in mud, but didn't seem the least bit uncomfortable.

"Little Brother, is Father home?" Gan Qian asked.

"He's at home keeping cool. Generals, what brings you here?" Lan Tian asked, noticing the wine jar in Zhang Fei's arms.

"Elder Brother said last time he'd treat you to a drink. He's here to keep his promise. When are you coming back?" Zhang Fei said.

Lan Tian looked them up and down, wondering if they'd come to mooch a meal. There wasn't much meat at home right now.

He dusted his hands off and said, "Sister, you and the three generals go back and rest first. I'll wash up by the river and be right there."

"Hey, remember to put your shoes on. Watch out for thorns."

"I know."

Watching Lan Tian walk away, Liu Bei shook his head with a smile. "Your younger brother really is a bit of a free spirit."

"Little Brother is quite fond of farming, and he's even breeding new varieties of grain. I can't imagine what goes on in his head." In Gan Qian's view, Lan Tian was talented enough to make a comfortable living without working so hard. There was no need for him to toil away at such a lowly job.

"Not so. Mencius said, 'The people are of supreme importance; the state comes next; the ruler is of least importance.' Ziyu's passion for farming comes from his desire to make sure the people have enough to eat. That is a great kindness. Few in the world are like him," Liu Bei praised.

Seeing Liu Bei praise Lan Tian, Gan Qian was about to offer a polite response when Zhang Fei cut in. "Elder Brother, Sister-in-Law, the sun's scorching us here by the road. Let's hurry home. Ziyu's waiting for the wine in my arms."

Liu Bei knew exactly what Zhang Fei was getting at, so he shook his head with a smile. "All right, all right. Second Brother, Third Brother, let's go."

Lan Tian washed the mud off his legs by the river, then changed into a cool pair of straw sandals and headed home. The farmhands busy sowing along the way greeted him one after another. These simple farmers respected Lan Tian from the bottom of their hearts.

Because summer sowing came with little rain, the fields had to be irrigated. Lan Tian had used plenty of scientific methods from his old world to make irrigation quicker and easier. Now, the whole family no longer had to turn out to help.

By the time he returned home, Gan Qian was already preparing a meal. The fresh meat sent by the farmhands had all been used up. Anything they couldn't eat in time had been salted and stored in the cool Sanctuary.

Though the Sanctuary was meant as a refuge in times of danger, Gan Ji often went inside to keep cool during the hot summer.

"Adoptive Father, even though it's cool in the Sanctuary, you should put on some clothes before going in. Otherwise, the cold could get into your body," Lan Tian said.

"What you say makes sense, Tian'er. I'll do as you say. Look, Xuande has kept his promise and come to invite you for a drink." As Gan Ji spoke, Zhang Fei had already opened a wine jar.

They had no distillation techniques in this era. Wine was mainly brewed from fruit and coarse grains through primitive fermentation. It was relatively weak and looked cloudy when poured into a bowl. It really was a case of meeting over a pot of turbid wine. That was why Third Master Zhang drank it like fruit juice.

Zhang Fei had brought six jars on horseback and drank three of them himself.

There wasn't much wine, and the meal was simple, so they finished eating quickly.

Lan Tian had thought Liu Bei would ask him about something, given how steady and composed he was. Instead, Liu Bei spent the whole time urging everyone to drink and eat. After resting a little following the meal, he led them all back to Xiaopei, as if they really had only come for a drink.

Seeing Lan Tian's puzzled expression, Gan Ji sighed. "Xuande is simply too benevolent. The common people like him, but in these troubled times, it'll be hard for him to carve out a place for himself."

"Time, fate, and fortune. He'll have his chance," Lan Tian said meaningfully.

Gan Ji shivered. The boy often said startling things. Could Liu Xuande really soar to great heights?

"By the way, Adoptive Father, did Lady Lu say anything before she left last year? I've sent her local products several times over the past six months, but she hasn't sent me a single reply. Even General Gao hasn't sent back a word. It's truly strange," Lan Tian said.

"Ahem, how would I know? She's the daughter of an official family, while you're a farmer's son. There's a great difference in your status. You're not so young anymore, either. Xuande is well-traveled and knowledgeable. I'll ask him to find you a match." Last year, Gan Ji had sent Lu Lingqi away without explaining things clearly to Lan Tian. He'd planned to let time wear away their affection, but now it seemed to have had the opposite effect.

"Adoptive Father, what are you talking about? I'm still young. Please don't trouble General Liu," Lan Tian hurriedly refused.

His ideas about marriage still belonged to his old world. Who got married at barely nineteen?

Because of Gan Ji's words, Lu Lingqi had not only given up on pursuing happiness, but had also actively cut off contact with Xiaopei. The local products Lan Tian had sent through others were all eventually stored in Gao Shun's camp, and she had even ordered Gao Shun not to contact him.

After Lu Bu defeated Yuan Shu, Han Xian and Yang Feng returned to Xu Province with him and stationed their troops outside Xiapi. Xu Province had suffered years of continual warfare, with occasional natural disasters on top of that, and shortages of military provisions had always been one of Lu Bu's weaknesses.

The Chen Family of Xiapi had deep reserves, but they didn't support Lu Bu wholeheartedly the way Mi Zhu supported Liu Bei. Instead, they kept him hungry, like a falcon being raised.

After defeating Yuan Shu, Lu Bu withheld some of the military supplies he had captured and distributed the rest to Han Xian and Yang Feng. But with so many troops stationed in Xu Province, every camp was struggling to get enough to eat. Food shortages could easily lead to mutiny, so Gao Shun was under immense pressure defending the city.

Han Xian and Yang Feng hadn't anticipated the situation. The two entered Xiapi in full armor and went to Lu Bu to demand provisions.

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