Chapter 1: Saved by Liu Bei on the First Day After Traveling Through Time (A New Story—Please Add to Your Favorites!)

Year One of Xingping, 194 AD.

Cao Cao, under the pretext of avenging his father’s death, launched a second campaign against Xuzhou. Wherever his army passed, tens of thousands of men and women were slaughtered, not even chickens and dogs were spared, and the Si River ran red, unable to flow with the bodies.

Tao Qian called upon Liu Bei for aid to resist Cao Cao. Liu Bei, together with Cao Bao, fought side by side in Tan County, yet they were no match and were defeated by Cao Cao’s forces. The tide of battle became dire, and the situation in Xuzhou grew increasingly perilous!

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“…Cough…cough.”

With a fit of violent coughing, Li Yi struggled to crawl out from a heap of corpses. He drew a deep breath.

Before his eyes stretched a sky ablaze with the setting sun, and around him the wind blew, ever-present. Yet the breeze could not dispel the cloying sweetness of blood nor the stench of decaying bodies.

A thousand thoughts raced through Li Yi’s mind. He had once been an executive at a company, leading his staff on a team-building expedition in the mountains. By some twist of fate, he had become separated from the group, and after much effort to find civilization, he stumbled upon a band of savage soldiers, brandishing swords and blades, who, without a word, tried to cut him down.

Li Yi had no choice but to flee for his life. These past two days, he had been either running for his life or on the run. Never had he imagined time could pass so slowly. In those two days, all he heard was the clash of warhorses and all he saw was the dull, relentless spray of blood and flesh.

Were it not for his robust constitution, he would already have become just another corpse among the countless dead. Gazing at the severed limbs strewn across the ground, Li Yi could not help but sigh.

For the first time, he truly understood the saying: “Better to be a dog in peacetime than a man in chaos.” In troubled times, human life was worth less than grass.

Though Li Yi never considered himself a saint, the sight of so many bones filled him with unspeakable sorrow. Perhaps this was the sorrow of the fox for a fellow creature, the empathy of all beings for their kind…

He steadied himself and pressed on. Li Yi was not a sentimental man, nor did he indulge in unnecessary words. The weak complain about their circumstances; the strong change them. In the face of adversity, tears and wailing are not the way of a true man—only by confronting hardship head-on could one survive in this cruel world!

He took off his hiking backpack and checked its contents: binoculars, a lighter, chewing gum, a first aid kit… all the essentials for mountaineering. Even in the direst moments, Li Yi had never abandoned his pack. He knew these items were invaluable and unique in this era.

Li Yi put a wafer biscuit in his mouth—his last one. In recent days, it had been his only source of energy, giving him the strength to evade the marauding soldiers.

“Kill him!”

Suddenly, the neighing of warhorses rang out behind him. A squad of cavalry, waving their long sabres, charged at Li Yi with fierce cries.

Startled, Li Yi leapt to his feet and ran. He had barely gone two steps when he collided headlong with another group of cavalry.

His heart leapt—was this truly the end for him? Though he had suspected these past two days that he might have traveled through time, life had been anything but pleasant.

He had been fleeing for his life, never once able to use the advantages of his new identity.

Was he to die here, without rhyme or reason?

As he was pondering his fate, a middle-aged general ahead suddenly called out to him in a loud voice:

“Young man, come this way, quickly!”

Fortunately, Li Yi had studied classical Chinese and could understand the general’s shout. He hurried over, and the general caught him, drew his sword, and felled an oncoming horseman in one swift motion!

What skill!

In a flash of steel and blood, the bandit was cut down from his horse.

Only by witnessing it firsthand could one feel the awe of such a feat.

With the bandit slain, the remaining enemy soldiers scattered in terror.

Seeing this, another officer stepped forward and volunteered:

“Brother, allow me to give chase!”

But the middle-aged general waved him off and replied,

“No need. Saving lives is more important.”

With that, he dismounted, approached Li Yi, and his fierce expression softened into a gentle smile as he asked kindly,

“Young man, are you unharmed?”

Li Yi was taken aback. Judging from the followers at his side, this man must be of high rank and status. Yet he was willing to lower himself to show concern for an ordinary commoner—a rare thing in ancient times.

Such a man was destined for greatness. Li Yi resolved to cling to this pillar of support.

“I’m unharmed…”

He shook his head and expressed his gratitude to the general.

“Had it not been for your rescue, General, I would have perished at the hands of those bandits. May I know your esteemed name?”

The general replied,

“I am Liu Bei, styled Xuande. By my side is my second brother, Guan Yu. Cao Cao is leading his army to ravage Xuzhou. Entrusted by Governor Tao, I have come to resist him. While patrolling with my men just now, I happened upon you being pursued by the enemy. Thankfully, I arrived in time—otherwise, you would have died at their hands.”

Liu Bei?

Li Yi was startled—this was none other than the legendary Emperor Zhaolie of Han! And the man beside him must be Lord Guan himself, even more imposing than on television.

Liu Bei and Guan Yu were resisting Cao Cao in Tan County—so this must indeed be the year 194.

In that year,

Cao Cao’s second campaign against Xuzhou left countless dead.

Yuan Shao held sway in Hebei, locked in struggle with Gongsun Zan.

Sun Ce was rising in the Southlands, gradually breaking free from Yuan Shu’s control.

And Liu Bei was still wandering, seeking a territory to call his own…

That territory would soon come, and once he had it, Liu Bei would finally have a seat at the table, contending with Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and the other warlords for supremacy over the realm.

No mistake.

Quickly sorting out the timeline, Li Yi calmed himself. Adaptation was his strength, and following the principle of “when in Rome,” he mimicked Liu Bei’s gesture and offered a respectful bow.

“So it is Governor Liu. Your reputation precedes you!”

This was the art of conversation.

Li Yi deliberately addressed Liu Bei as “Governor” rather than “Prefect.” Originally, Liu Bei had been the Chancellor of Pingyuan and should have been addressed as “Prefect.” But when he came to support Tao Qian, Tao, in order to bolster Liu Bei’s prestige, had recommended him as Inspector of Yuzhou. Though this title was in name only, it had been officially granted.

By calling him “Governor,” Li Yi was indirectly acknowledging Liu Bei’s position as Inspector of Yuzhou—a gesture of respect.

Sure enough, Liu Bei felt a flicker of warmth toward him and smiled,

“So, young man, you know of me, Liu Bei?”

What hero does not long for fame? Liu Bei had only recently arrived in Xuzhou; for even a commoner to know his name—how could that not please him?

“…Ha, Governor Liu, your great name is known far and wide, even we mountain folk have heard of you.”

Liu Bei saw that, though Li Yi was currently in dire straits, he carried himself with dignity and poise and felt a growing fondness for him. He asked,

“I see you are eloquent and composed, certainly no ordinary man. This is not the place for conversation. Why not come with me to Tan County?”

Li Yi was delighted—this was the very protection he desired.

“I dare not refuse!”

He answered at once, following Liu Bei back to Tan County.

On the road, Guan Yu, who had been silent, suddenly spoke,

“Elder brother, what do you make of this man?”

Without hesitation, Liu Bei replied,

“His bearing is upright; he does not appear to be a villain. Why do you ask?”

Guan Yu frowned, staring intently at Li Yi walking ahead. He was not one to gossip, but there was something truly odd about Li Yi’s appearance! He was neither bearded nor long-haired, looking for all the world like a criminal who had been shaven as punishment. Yet such men usually bore disfigured features, while this one was fair-skinned and well-formed—a true enigma.

Guan Yu, unwilling to speak ill behind someone’s back yet worried for his brother’s safety, said,

“This man’s appearance is strange, his clothing unusual, and his origins unknown. These are troubled times, you must be wary of evildoers.”

But Liu Bei was unconcerned, shaking his head with a faint smile.

“If he does not speak, how shall we know his story? I shall ask him myself. Besides, I see that he is upright and not a bad man. You yourself saw him pursued by the enemy—have you forgotten?”

Guan Yu fell silent.

Liu Bei smiled, patting him on the shoulder.

“Loyalty and treachery, virtue and vice—one cannot judge by appearances alone. Once we return to Tan County, all will be revealed.”

With that, he spurred his horse forward.