None of them had any objection to this ranking, as Liu Jin's identity was extraordinary, he was generous, had a free-spirited personality, and possessed the demeanor of a leader.
Although Guan Yu was a fugitive, his martial arts were the strongest among them. He competed with Zhang Fei, gained his approval, and no one objected to him being second.
Zhang Fei possessed great strength and considerable family assets, so no one objected to him being third, especially since there were only three of them in total.
Liu Jin looked at Zhao Ergou, who was still sound asleep beside him, and after a moment of contemplation, he slowly spoke to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei!
"Yun Chang, Yide,"
"This is my childhood friend. He grew up with me from a young age, and we are like brothers. Although he is not as brave and strong as you two, I hope you can treat him as your own brother."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu immediately replied without hesitation!
"Since he is Big Brother's brother, then he is naturally our brother too. From now on, we will share good fortune and face difficulties together."
After saying this, Zhang Fei quickly stood up and declared loudly!
"Big Brother, behind my estate, there is a peach orchard. Why don't we swear an oath of brotherhood there?"
Liu Jin nodded with a smile and said!
"If we can swear an oath of brotherhood in a peach orchard, it will be a beautiful story to tell."
So, the several men went to the backyard, where peach trees were already in full bloom, their pink blossoms scattered all around.
The three men knelt on the ground and began to swear their oath, becoming sworn brothers.
History refers to this as the Oath of the Peach Garden.
Soon, the men returned to the main hall and began to drink heartily.
Early the next morning!
In the bedroom of the mansion, Liu Jin slowly awoke from his sleep. His nose twitched slightly, detecting a foul odor.
He saw a dark, large foot pressed against his face—it was Zhang Fei's foot.
Liu Jin's face darkened, and he immediately pushed it away. He looked at the four men sprawled across the bed and couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
Yesterday, after the three of them swore their oath, they drank themselves into a stupor, stumbled back to the room, and then collapsed together.
He got up from the bed, pushed open the door, and a ray of sunlight shone down.
The slight tipsiness he felt vanished completely at this moment.
He was in a very good mood. With Zhang Fei and Guan Yu assisting him, coupled with his knowledge of history, he was confident he could achieve great things.
Even facing the impending Yellow Turban Rebellion, he was confident he could handle it with ease.
As for Da Erzei Liu Bei, without his two brothers, Guan and Zhang, it would be extremely difficult for him to rise.
Just then, footsteps sounded behind him. Guan Yu stroked his beard and walked over, a smile on his face!
"Big Brother, you're up so early."
Liu Jin nodded with a smile and replied, "Second Brother!"
The alcohol of this era was not very strong, comparable to beer, so it was manageable.
So the two of them began to converse in the courtyard.
Liu Jin couldn't help but marvel. Although Guan Yu was merely a fugitive, he understood many principles and could clearly discern the situation of the world. No wonder he read the Spring and Autumn Annals.
Soon, two voices came from behind!
"Big Brother, Second Brother!"
Zhang Fei and Zhao Ergou had already woken up from the bed and were approaching together!
Liu Jin nodded with a smile and greeted them!
After some thought, Zhang Fei's rough voice rang out!
"Big Brother, I have considerable family assets."
"If they remain at home, it would be a waste. Why not gift them to Big Brother to help us advance?"
Liu Jin's heart was filled with joy upon hearing this. He hadn't expected Zhang Fei to be just like in history, willing to donate his family property.
Truly worthy of being my good Third Brother.
He naturally knew Zhang Fei's character; he wasn't one to be indecisive. Since he had spoken, he would not go back on his word.
He immediately said!
"Since that's the case, Big Brother will give you a suggestion: keep this ancestral home, enough for us to live in, and sell all the other residences and land for money."
"After we achieve merit, we can use that money to bribe high-ranking officials in the commandery to secure higher official positions for us."
Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Ergou were all filled with admiration upon hearing this.
Big Brother was truly Big Brother; he saw further than they did, already planning for the future.
Zhang Fei nodded solemnly!
"Good, I will contact buyers immediately and prepare to sell all the excess residences and land in my family for money."
Liu Jin nodded. With Zhang Fei's money and Guan Yu's martial prowess, it was like adding wings to a tiger.
Three days passed quietly!
In the backyard of the Zhang family mansion!
Liu Jin, holding a large saber, was practicing saber techniques with Guan Yu, improving his own martial arts and combat skills.
In chaotic times, the stronger one's martial arts, the greater one's ability to protect oneself.
If one was unarmed, it would be easy to be killed by others.
Although he had practiced martial arts at home and possessed some brute strength, compared to a warrior like Guan Yu, who could face ten thousand men, he was far inferior. Especially Guan Yu's saber techniques—it was certainly good to learn a thing or two.
As for Zhang Fei, he had been busy these past few days selling all his family assets for money.
Just then, Zhao Ergou, with an excited smile on his face, quickly walked in and saw Liu Jin and Guan Yu practicing saber techniques.
He shouted loudly!
"Big Brother, Second Brother Guan!"
"The Prefectural Supervisor has sent a command!"
Liu Jin's heart rejoiced upon hearing this. It seemed the official position Liu Chong had secured for him had arrived.
He and Guan Yu immediately put down their sabers and quickly walked over!
Zhao Ergou pulled out a bamboo slip from his Pregnant and quickly handed it over!
Liu Jin took the bamboo slip and began to examine it.
It was a military appointment that had arrived, appointing him as a Tuncun, commanding a hundred soldiers, with a salary of two hundred shi.
His eyes widened, and he was filled with excitement. He hadn't expected Liu Chong to be so capable, making him a Tuncun, skipping several ranks from a commoner.
After all, the official ranks of the Han Dynasty were General, Zhonglang General, Colonel, Commandant, Sima, Military Marquis, Tuncun, Commander of a Squad, Commander of a Ten, and Commander of a Five.
Official positions above Sima could only be appointed by the imperial court.
As for Military Marquis, Tuncun, Commander of a Squad, Commander of a Ten, and Commander of a Five, the Grand Administrator and Prefect of the commandery could appoint and dismiss them at will.
A Tuncun commanded a hundred men, which was considered a respectable official position within a commandery.
However, the latter part of the message surprised Liu Jin.
He was not to be stationed in the city but rather to go to Liye Township to take up his post and assume command of that troop of soldiers.
From his memory, he knew Liye Township was an unsettled area in Zhuo Commandery. It had many mountains and forests, frequently plagued by bandits who harassed the surrounding populace.
High-ranking officials in the commandery had sent troops several times to suppress them, but they always returned without success, utterly helpless against them.
It wasn't that they couldn't defeat them; it was that these mountain bandits, upon learning of the arrival of government troops, would hide in the mountains and forests.
After the government troops left, they would emerge again to cause trouble and harass the people, causing endless headaches for the Zhuo Commandery government officials, both high and low.
After discussions among the high-ranking officials in the commandery, a troop of soldiers was assigned to be stationed there to prevent these mountain bandits from expanding their influence and disturbing the populace.