RPAGF Chapter 19 Acquiring a Famous General
Chapter 19 Acquiring a Famous General
Yan Gang was completely stunned, his eyes widening as he exclaimed, "Xuande, you're not joking, are you?"
"Xu Rong is a good fighter, but there are plenty of fighters in my battalion who are better than him!"
Liu Bei shook his head, his tone very firm: "Brother Gongji, what I need has never been fierce soldiers who fight alone."
"What I lack around me is not a bodyguard who can fight, but a person who understands military discipline, can lead troops, and knows how to train troops."
"Xu Rong's strict discipline and obedience to orders are exactly what I admire."
"Brother Gongji, rest assured, with him by my side, his talents will never be wasted."
Yan Gang stared at Liu Bei's serious expression for a long time, until he was sure that Liu Bei genuinely appreciated Xu Rong's character and was not using the opportunity to take revenge.
He then burst into laughter: "Excellent! Brother Xuande, you truly have a discerning eye!"
"To be honest, I also think Xu Rong is a promising talent, and I'm planning to promote him to military commander in a while!"
"However, since you've taken a liking to him, that's his good fortune!"
"I'll call him over right now!"
Before long, Xu Rong was summoned.
He remained as aloof and composed as ever, bowing respectfully to Yan Gang and then cupping his hands in greeting to Liu Bei, neither humble nor arrogant, without the slightest hint of flattery.
Yan Gang spoke up: "Xu Rong, this is Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande, a military officer in the prefecture. He was ordered by the prefect to select personal guards to serve under him."
"Brother Xuande has taken a liking to you and specifically wants you to join his ranks. Are you willing?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Rong was slightly taken aback and looked at Liu Bei with surprise in his eyes.
He naturally knew of Liu Bei's great name.
He persuaded the Yang family single-handedly and raised 100,000 shi of grain and 1 million coins.
They repaired beacon towers, trained local militia, and formulated defensive strategies, ensuring the safety of the people in western Liaoning.
Throughout western Liaoning, everyone knows the name of Liu Bei!
Everyone knows his benevolence and righteousness!
Xu Rong certainly didn't think that such a person would retaliate against him just because he blocked his way!
Since it's not retaliation, then it really is about appreciating oneself!
He never expected that this favorite of the prefect would take a liking to him, a mere squad leader, and would even disregard the fact that he had blocked his way earlier.
A surge of emotion welled up in Xu Rong's heart. Having spent two years in the Liaoxi County military camp, he knew all too well that in the current state of the world, it would be incredibly difficult for him to advance any further.
Now, Liu Bei has taken a liking to him at first sight, and he is deeply grateful for this recognition.
More importantly, such an opportunity is extremely rare.
Everyone knows that Liu Bei was a favorite of the prefect.
Not to mention his literary and martial talents, as well as his powerful family background and extensive connections, his potential for future development is limitless.
Yang Kui was unaware that Liu Bei was deceiving him. He praised Liu Bei highly and spread the word about Liu Bei's talents and the unseen network of connections behind him.
Xu Rong immediately knelt on one knee, cupped his hands in greeting to Liu Bei, and said in a firm and resounding voice, "This humble general, Xu Rong, is willing to follow Liu Bei!"
Liu Bei quickly stepped forward, helped him up with both hands, and said sincerely, "Please rise, Commander Xu. Do you still know your courtesy name?"
"This humble general is Xu Rong, courtesy name Yuanzhao!"
"Very well, it is my good fortune to have Yuan Zhao's assistance."
"From now on, my safety is in Yuan Zhao's hands!"
"Thank you for your trust, Sergeant. I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
Liu Bei was genuinely happy to have recruited Xu Rong!
Fortunately, the remaining nine people were also left to Xu Rong to choose.
Xu Rong was once again surprised and grateful!
Subsequently, Xu Rong selected nine skilled and honest veterans from the camp to make up the quota of ten bodyguards.
Yan Gang readily agreed and immediately ordered the preparation of armor for ten men—each equipped with a bow, a quiver of arrows, a long spear, a ring-pommel sword, and a set of fine leather armor.
As for the controlled armored vehicles, they indeed could not be issued according to regulations, and Yan Gang could only helplessly shrug.
After leaving the county garrison, Liu Bei was momentarily at a loss as to where to lead his men.
With Xu Rong under his wing and ten personal guards accompanying him, it would be inconvenient for Liu Bei to stay at the prefectural government office.
The government office was originally a temporary place to house officials, and it was small and cramped. How could more than ten guards possibly live there?
Furthermore, he now frequently needs to discuss matters with Yan Gang, Zou Dan, and others, and occasionally village militia leaders and gentry from the border regions come to visit him. The official residence is ultimately too simple, unsuitable for his status, and lacks proper decorum.
It's time to buy my own house!
But I have no money!
Liu Bei was also filled with worry for a moment!
Even a hero can be brought down by a single penny!
Although Xu Rong had a cold and stern face and was not good with words, he was not stupid and naturally noticed Liu Bei's hesitation!
So he said, "Lord Liu, I heard that in the Battle of Xiping Fort, you captured sixty-four Xianbei warhorses. I wonder if the Prefect has dealt with them yet?"
"Our ten personal guards can't rely on walking for daily protection; we need warhorses."
Xu Rong said in a deep voice, "The Xianbei warhorses are all fine horses from the grasslands, more resilient than the horses in our border counties, and suitable for long-distance raids."
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's eyes lit up.
He was just worrying about how to solve his financial predicament, but now that he has a horse, how can he be afraid of not having money!
Although western Liaoning produces horses, the best warhorses are still quite expensive, though not as much as those in the Central Plains that cost tens or hundreds of taels of gold.
But making ten thousand or so yuan shouldn't be a problem.
He had forgotten about the warhorses captured at Xiping Fort.
"Thanks to Yuan Zhao for reminding me!"
Liu Bei smiled and patted Xu Rong on the shoulder, "Let's go, let's go to Xiping Fort and take over this batch of warhorses."
The group immediately went to Xiping Fort. The people of Xiping Fort had long regarded Liu Bei as their benefactor, so they handed over the sixty-four Xianbei warhorses without saying a word.
Moreover, this was originally Liu Bei's own gain.
Xu Rong personally inspected the horses and found that two of them had broken leg bones and had to be discarded.
"Liu Jun, two horses have injured legs and cannot be kept. The remaining sixty-two are all robust grassland warhorses, full of energy."
Liu Bei nodded and immediately finalized the distribution plan.
The two injured horses had to be slaughtered and left for Xipingbao to eat.
As a native of a border region, Liu Bei naturally knew that once a horse's leg was injured, it could only be slaughtered, and there was absolutely no need to treat it.
The reason is that horses sleep standing up. If a horse's leg is injured, it will be unable to sleep, which will lead to mental exhaustion and eventually death from overwork.
It would be better to just kill it and give it a quick death.
Subsequently, Liu Bei left ten horses for Xiping Fort to supplement the local militia's patrols, slightly enhancing Xiping Fort's combat strength.
The remaining fifty-two horses belonged to him.
On the way back with the cavalry, Liu Bei had other plans in mind.
Gongsun Zan led two hundred new soldiers, all of whom were newly recruited young men. Due to a shortage of warhorses, many of them were still training on foot.
In the previous battle at Xiping Fort, Gongsun Zan fought alongside him, so they could be considered comrades-in-arms.
Furthermore, the Gongsun clan is ultimately a force to be reckoned with in western Liaoning, so it's always good to establish a positive relationship with them.
More importantly, it would be too unseemly to take it all for himself. Liu Bei, who prioritizes benevolence and righteousness, would never do such a thing.