Hearing this, Guan Yu didn't hesitate. He cupped his hands and politely said, "My surname is Guan, my given name is Yu, and my courtesy name is Yun Chang. I am from Jieliang, Hedong."
Seeing this, Zhao Ergou also stood up, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, "My surname is Zhao, my given name is Ergou. I am from Zhuo Commandery, Youzhou. I haven't come of age yet, so I haven't taken a courtesy name. Please forgive me, Jin brother."
The men nodded upon hearing this and looked at Liu Jin.
When Liu Jin saw everyone's gaze on him, he laughed heartily, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Liu Jin, a descendant of Liu Liang, the King of Zhao. I am from Zhuo Commandery and have not yet come of age."
Zhang Fei was a little surprised to hear this. He hadn't expected Liu Jin to be a member of the Han Dynasty imperial clan, and a few more points of respect immediately arose in his heart.
The men reseated themselves, picked up their wine bowls, and drank heartily.
After several cups of wine, Liu Jin looked at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei beside him and softly said, "I see that both of you are extraordinary men. Now that the world is in turmoil, refugees are everywhere, and bandits are rampant. What are your plans for the future?"
Guan Yu hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, then sighed, "Alas."
"Jin brother, to be honest,"
"When I was in my hometown of Jieliang, I couldn't stand the powerful gentry oppressing the common people and imposing heavy taxes. In a fit of rage, I killed him. From then on, I became a fugitive, fleeing to this place."
"To think that I, Guan, have all this skill, yet nowhere to use it. I can only sell mung beans for a living here in Zhuo Commandery, barely surviving until now."
After saying this, Guan Yu picked up the wine cup on the table and drained it in one gulp, appearing utterly dejected.
Zhang Fei heard this and angrily said, "Such a beast deserves to be killed! I, Old Zhang, hate these treacherous villains the most in my life. I wish I could kill all the evildoers in the world."
"I, Old Zhang, fully support everything Yun Chang has done."
Liu Jin heard the two of them speak with righteous indignation, their faces filled with sorrow and anger, and he said loudly, "Since that is the case, are you two willing to join the army with me?"
"To serve on the battlefield with a sword and a spear, even if one's body is wrapped in horsehide, it would not be in vain for a true man."
Zhang Fei's heart leaped with joy upon hearing this. His palm instantly slammed onto the table, and he loudly declared, "Good!"
"A true man should be like this! How can we, dignified seven-chi tall men, be depressed all day? We naturally must serve the country!"
"I, Zhang Fei, am willing to follow Jin brother and join the army!"
Guan Yu was incredibly excited. He had already had such intentions, and he quickly responded, "Good!"
"I, Guan, am also willing to follow Jin brother and join the army!"
Liu Jin's heart was filled with joy upon hearing their responses.
As long as he could recruit these two tiger generals to his command, he would already be in an unbeatable position.
"Good!"
"Since both of you, virtuous brothers, are willing to follow me, Liu, and join the army together, I will certainly not let you down."
He immediately raised his wine cup slightly towards everyone and drank with them.
Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and Zhao Ergou were also very forthright, each raising their wine cups and drinking heartily.
Then they looked at each other and laughed heartily!
Liu Jin looked at the three men in the hall, and his hearty voice continued, "To be honest, the Prefectural Supervisor of the commandery, Liu Chong, is my uncle. Today, I went to his mansion and already secured an official position."
"I just need to wait a few more days, and I will be able to transform from a commoner into an official."
"At that time, I will invite Yun Chang, Yide, and Ergou, the three of you, to join the army together. With the bravery of the three of you, you will be like fish in water in the army, serving the country and saving the common people of the world. It will not be in vain for a true man to have walked this earth."
Zhang Fei and Guan Yu were deeply shocked to hear this.
They looked at Liu Jin, who was dressed in coarse linen, and seemed somewhat disbelieving.
After all, he was dressed simply, yet his uncle was an important figure in the commandery.
Zhao Ergou, however, appeared relatively calm. He had followed Liu Jin into the Prefectural Supervisor's mansion and naturally knew all the circumstances.
Zhang Fei stroked his beard, and his rough voice came, "Jin brother, is this true?"
Liu Jin smiled and nodded, confirming the matter.
To impress Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, he naturally had to 'borrow the tiger's skin' and elevate his status.
It wasn't something that could be achieved with a few words to trick the two into serving him.
After Zhang Fei and Guan Yu received definite confirmation, although they were shocked, they still settled down.
The look in their eyes towards Liu Jin had become a few shades more respectful than before.
No matter the era, lineage and social standing were important. The more noble one's status, the more respect one naturally received from others.
Liu Jin saw the change in their gazes and laughed heartily, knowing that his status had indeed had some effect.
He fell into contemplation, wondering if he should emulate the Oath of the Peach Garden and completely bind Zhang Fei and Guan Yu to himself.
After a moment of thought, he decided to give it a try.
He was still counting on Zhang Fei's family wealth to bribe high-ranking officials in the commandery, hoping to get his official position promoted.
So, Liu Jin discussed the affairs of the world with everyone, bringing out all of Liu Bei's persuasive theories.
Things like 'for the common people of the world' and 'rescuing the populace from suffering' made his entire demeanor appear very grand and elevated.
This instantly made the two look at him with new eyes, both feeling that Liu Jin was extraordinary.
After a few cups of wine, their faces were flushed, and their necks were red, clearly indicating they were slightly tipsy.
Zhao Ergou, in particular, was unconscious from drinking, lying on the table, snoring loudly.
Liu Jin looked at Zhang Fei and Guan Yu and asked, "Brother Yun Chang, Brother Yide,"
"We three met like old friends, and our spirits are in harmony."
"I, Jin, am willing to become sworn brothers with you two. What do you think?"
Zhang Fei immediately cupped his hands and said excitedly, "I've long had this intention!"
"Three men with one heart, yellow earth turns to gold!"
"With you leading us, we will definitely achieve great things!"
Guan Yu was filled with excitement. This Liu Jin was not only talented and virtuous, but also forthright and generous.
He had a thorough understanding of the world's situation and the backing of an influential person in the commandery; his future achievements would definitely be extraordinary.
To be sworn brothers with him, a mere fugitive, was already a great honor.
He immediately stood up and cupped his hands, saying, "Although I, Guan, am but a mere warrior, I understand the words 'loyalty' and 'righteousness'."
"As the saying goes, a good bird chooses its tree to perch, and a wise minister chooses his lord to serve. Jin brother's talent has already made me, Guan, look at him with new eyes."
"From now on, my life, Guan, shall be Jin brother's life; my body, Guan, shall be Jin brother's body. I will obey your commands without a second thought."
Zhang Fei was incredibly excited and quickly cupped his hands, saying, "Me too!"
Guan Yu's excited voice continued, "I, Guan, swear to share hardships with my brother, to be lifelong companions, and to follow him in life and death!"
Zhang Fei quickly cupped his hands and said loudly, "Me too!"
Liu Jin looked at the two men, his heart filled with emotion. He quickly reached out and tightly clasped their hands in his.
His trembling voice came, "To have two brothers assisting me, this is truly the will of Heaven!"
"I only hope that we three, though we may not be born in the same year, same month, and same day, will die in the same year, same month, and same day, sharing blessings and enduring hardships together."
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were now incredibly excited, and their trembling voices came, "Though we may not be born in the same year, same month, and same day, we will die in the same year, same month, and same day, sharing blessings and enduring hardships together!"
Guan Yu's eyes were filled with determination as he slowly stepped forward and said loudly, "Jin brother is learned and talented, skilled in both civil and military arts, understands the great affairs of the world, and is also a descendant of the imperial clan. For him to swear brotherhood with us truly shows how highly he regards us, so we naturally cannot consider age."
"Furthermore, among us who have become acquainted, everything was initiated by Jin brother. I, Guan, hereby respectfully address Jin brother as Eldest Brother."
After saying this, Guan Yu cupped his hands and said loudly, "Eldest Brother!"
Zhang Fei heard this and did not object at all. His eyes filled with determination, and he immediately shouted loudly at Liu Jin, "Eldest Brother!"
Liu Jin's face was filled with excitement as he embraced the two men, saying emotionally, "Thank you, my brothers, for thinking highly of me. I will absolutely not betray your trust and will certainly lead my brothers to prominence in this chaotic world!"
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei quickly nodded, embracing each other, appearing full of passion, like blood brothers.
The three of them began calling out to each other: Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother! Liu Jin was the eldest, Guan Yu the second, and Zhang Fei the third.
