Liu Xiu brought the brothers willing to follow him to the East of the Passes.
As a group from Nanyang Commandery, they naturally knew neither the people nor the place. This was where the importance of traveling to study and having a reputation became apparent.
Through introductions from his former schoolmates and friends, along with his reputation throughout All Under Heaven for valor in battle, honesty, and benevolence and righteousness, Liu Xiu successfully met the Marquis of Anyang in Anyang, Hebei.
Liu Xiu was no longer the young farmer he had once been. After everything he had experienced, he was now a true hero, and one with almost no flaws. From his personal morals to his civil and military abilities, everything about him commanded admiration.
After speaking with Liu Xiu, the Marquis of Anyang sighed with feeling. "You are a true descendant of the Liu Clan, my lord. Please come with me to meet Marquis Ying. If you can win his approval, your great aspiration will have a smooth path ahead."
Marquis Ying!
Liu Xiu's heart jolted. This was one of his chief objectives in coming to the Five Provinces of the East of the Passes: the only Golden Token high-ranking marquis he could be certain would never stand by and watch the Great Han perish.
Moreover, Marquis Ying had an exceptionally powerful network of connections. In particular, those turtles with their heads tucked into their shells, such as the Lü Clan, would never emerge without Marquis Ying taking the lead.
Liu Xiu had not planned to visit Duke Zhao's State, because he believed Duke Zhao could not possibly intervene. That made Marquis Ying critically important.
Although Marquis Ying's Marquisate was heavily influenced by Duke Zhao's State, it was, after all, a semi-independent marquisate state. As long as Duke Zhao's