A Single Trick Can Conquer the World

Liu Bei had originally intended to name Lan Tian as the primary contributor, a decision to which Guan Yu would undoubtedly have submitted with full conviction, but Lan Tian ultimately declined the honor.

Lan Tian did not crave empty fame, and given Guan Yu's proud nature, he felt it would be wrong to place his own merits above those of Guan Yu simply because he had turned the tide; such an act would be unfair to the soldiers who had bled in battle and would also diminish Guan Yu's prestige.

There were no county marquises in Liu Bei's Kingdom of Hanzhong; the township marquisates held by Lan Tian and Zhang Fei were the only two in existence, yet neither of their fiefs exceeded a thousand households.

Deng Township was located in Linwu County, Guiyang Commandery, and was essentially the New Deng Manor relocated from Xinye. Its master, Li Yang, was a fellow native of Xiaopei like Lan Tian, and it was now the most prosperous township in Linwu County; Liu Bei's decision to enfeoff Lan Tian there carried a special significance.

The generals in the hall had all received promotions, along with generous monetary rewards that would be distributed once Fa Zheng finished the allocations, so everyone's faces were brimming with smiles.

Guan Yu sat in deep thought for a long while before seizing an opportunity to approach Lan Tian. He lowered his head and whispered, "That we can all gather here today is entirely due to Ziyu's secret planning. I have already had quite a bit to drink, but I have a request—I wonder if Ziyu might grant it?"

"Please speak, Yunchang." Lan Tian hurriedly stood up; it was rare to see Guan Yu act with such solemnity.

Guan Yu, his weathered face flushed, leaned into Lan Tian's ear