Eighty-four, Second Brother Guan

"Ziqi, you should integrate Taiji boxing into your hammer techniques. If you do so, your martial skills are bound to make great strides," Zhang Fei advised earnestly.

Luan Yi nodded repeatedly. "Blending boxing techniques with the hammer requires much practice. If I encounter confusion during this process, I hope you, my elder brothers, will guide me."

"Naturally," Zhang Fei replied, stroking his beard with a nod. Then, glancing at Guan Yu, he saw at once from Guan Yu's towering stature and steady gait that he was someone who had long practiced martial arts and was highly skilled. Feeling a sense of camaraderie, he asked kindly, "Mighty warrior, may I ask your esteemed name?"

Guan Yu announced himself: "My surname is Guan, given name Yu, with the courtesy name Yunchang, from Xieliang in Hedong. The local gentry here abused their power, and I killed them; I have since fled and wandered the land for five or six years."

"Oh? Brother Yunchang is truly a man of righteousness!" Luan Yi was the first to offer praise. Dian Wei and Zhang Fei, both men of the martial path, naturally respected such acts of defending the weak and punishing the wicked, and their voices joined in approval.

Dian Wei clasped his fists and said, "I am Dian Wei of Chenliu, greetings to you, mighty Guan!"

"I am Zhang Fei, styled Yide, from Yan. A pleasure to meet you," Zhang Fei added.

"It is a blessing beyond compare for Luan Ziqi of Yingchuan to know Brother Guan!" Luan Yi said sincerely, his face aglow with excitement. Inside, waves of exhilaration surged—he longed to shout aloud. His eyes, alight with fervor and anticipation, could not leave Guan Yu. This was none other than the future God of War of the Eastern Han, worshipped as the God of Martial Wealth by later generations, the peerless Guan Er Ye!

While Luan Yi was nearly beside himself, over on the other side, Guan Yu, upon hearing Luan Yi's name, paused mid-stroke as he stroked his magnificent beard, his ever-narrowed phoenix eyes suddenly widening in shock. "Are you, young sir, the famed scholar of the Han, Luan Yi of Yingchuan, known as the 'Divine Talent who will save the world'?"

"I am unworthy of such a title," Luan Yi replied humbly. "That renown is mere exaggeration by others."

Seeing Luan Yi's persistent humility, with not a trace of false modesty in his words or manner, Guan Yu warmed to him and said, "Master Ziqi, do not be so self-effacing. I have often read your 'Chats from the Studio,' and loved it dearly. Your 'Essay on the Origin of Wealth' I have also perused, though its depths eluded me; I could only take in the gist. Yet the truths within are thought-provoking and the work is truly one for the ages. With just these two writings, Master Ziqi will be famed throughout history! The saying 'With the brush, he brings peace to the land' is no empty boast. Earlier, I chanced upon you practicing your boxing; the technique is marvelous. With diligent study, you will one day become a general of tiger-like prowess, making 'With arms, he can secure the empire' just as true. Possessing both civil and martial talents, who, if not you, deserves the title of 'divine talent'?"

Guan Yu's rhetorical question left Luan Yi blushing to the ears. "Brother Guan, you praise me too highly!"

"'Brother Guan'? Why do you call him 'second brother'?" Zhang Fei was surprised. "How did you know Brother Guan is second in his family?"

Guan Yu too was puzzled. "There is only one male in my family. Why do you call me elder brother?"

Luan Yi was mortified. He cursed himself inwardly—how could he, in his excitement, blurt out the title used for Guan Yu by later generations? Now, how should he explain himself? His mind raced as he looked at the confused Dian Wei, the equally baffled Zhang Fei, and then at Guan Yu. Suddenly inspired, he improvised, "Well... I found both Brother Guan and Brother Zhang to be forthright and heroic, worthy men of this age, and I wished to befriend you, to form a brotherhood. I feared my humble station was not enough, but in my heart, I already regard you as elder brothers. Judging by your appearance, Brother Guan, you seem the elder, with Brother Zhang next. Dian Wei, whom I have called brother since I met him at age nine, is thus the eldest, making Brother Guan the second. In my excitement, I spoke my heart aloud and called Brother Guan 'second brother.'"

"So that's how it is!" Dian Wei laughed and nodded.

Zhang Fei was both shocked and elated. Who was he, after all? Though he fancied himself the best painter and warrior in the land, he was, at heart, just a butcher and wine-seller from Zhuo County. But Luan Ziqi—now, he was a prodigy, a famed scholar hailed as a savior by the sage Xu Zi, a figure revered by all. Not to mention the thousands of noble ladies across town who were infatuated, almost madly so, with him. Compared to him, Zhang Fei's status and fame were worlds apart. And yet, today, this boy, praised to the skies, had come to his own humble house to seek a sworn brotherhood? With a trembling voice, he said, "Master Ziqi jests! You are a great scholar of the Han, and would form bonds with humble men like us?"

"Brother Zhang, you are mistaken. What is my name but a mere label? Any bit of repute is but fate and luck. You, my brothers, are all dragons and phoenixes among men, as the saying goes: 'A golden carp is never meant for a pond; with the wind and clouds, it becomes a dragon.' When the time comes, united in heart and effort, we shall achieve great deeds together." As he finished, Luan Yi glanced at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei and saw, on Guan Yu's normally solemn face, a rare smile showing white teeth, while Zhang Fei's eyes crinkled with pride. Luan Yi knew his words had struck a chord. He understood that both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were proud men, each with ambitions of glory and immortal renown. His words had given them face and painted a bright future, satisfying them both.

Guan Yu paused, then said heartily, "In that case, how could we refuse the sincerity of Brother Ziqi? Let us set an altar and swear an oath to Heaven!"

"Just as it should be!" Zhang Fei shouted in excitement, immediately instructing his household to prepare the black ox, white horse, and all the sacrifices in the garden. Unfortunately, it was winter, and the peach trees were bare, so there was little of the famed Peach Garden Oath in the scene.

The four of them knelt before the altar and raised their cups. Luan Yi led the oath, "Before the Holy Mother above..."

He had barely spoken when Zhang Fei interrupted, "Who is this Holy Mother? I've never heard of such a deity!"

Luan Yi gave a gentle smile. "Let us finish the oath; I will explain it to you another day, Third Brother."

"Oh! All right!" Zhang Fei nodded his massive head and knelt reverently again.

Luan Yi continued, "Holy Mother, your humble sons Dian Wei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Luan Yi, though not of the same blood, now form a sworn brotherhood. We pledge to unite our hearts, spread your gospel, help the poor and the distressed; to serve the nation and bring peace to the people; we ask not to be born on the same day, but we seek to die on the same day, same month, same year. If we break this oath, may we fall into perdition forever!" With the oath complete, Dian Wei became the eldest, Guan Yu second, Zhang Fei third, and Luan Yi the youngest. When the ceremony was finished, even though Guan Yu and Zhang Fei did not know who the Holy Mother was, they beamed with joy and embraced Dian Wei and Luan Yi in celebration. A feast followed naturally.

During the banquet, Luan Yi told Guan Yu and Zhang Fei that his father, Luan Miao, and he himself held considerable influence in the Jinan Commandery, and he invited his new brothers to go south to Jinan to seek their fortunes. Guan Yu, a wanderer in Zhuo County, found the prospect of a government post in Jinan most agreeable and immediately agreed. Zhang Fei, ever loyal to his brothers, would go wherever they went. However, he owned land in Zhuo County, and it would take time to sell his property.

Luan Yi did not mind. As long as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were willing to go to Jinan, his goal was achieved—whether it happened next week or next month made little difference. Besides, after his arduous winter journey from Jinan, crossing the Yellow River to Youzhou and Zhuo County, he was already exhausted and in need of rest.

While Zhang Fei was selling his property, Luan Yi cautioned him: the distillery could be sold, but the secret equipment used to brew the peerless wine must not be sold—it had to be destroyed and buried, lest others learn the method. The craftsmen posed another problem.

To prevent them from leaking the secret recipe, Luan Yi summoned the craftsmen and met with them personally, offering generous wages for work in Jinan, along with a free house and land for each family.

Though the ancient Chinese valued their native soil, survival always came first. The cold, harsh land of Youzhou was plagued by hardship, and the threat of Xianbei raids made life dangerous. Many of Zhang Fei's craftsmen had long wanted to move south, but relocating a whole family was no small matter—housing and travel expenses alone were more than most could afford.

Now, with Luan Yi covering all costs and promising riches in Jinan, how could they refuse? They swore loyalty on the spot and went home to pack for the journey south.

Seven days later, Zhang Fei had sold all his property at a low price and bought several carriages for his valuables. The craftsmen and their families followed the convoy. A party of over sixty people had just left the east gate of Zhuo County when the thunder of hooves sounded behind them. A rider galloped forward, calling out, "Master Zhang, wait!"

Zhang Fei signaled for the group to halt and asked the man why he pursued them.

The stranger dismounted respectfully and introduced himself. "I am Zhen Qi, steward of the Zhen family in Jizhou, here to pay my respects."

"Oh?" Zhang Fei recalled there was only one great Zhen clan in Hebei and asked, "Are you of the household of the late Magistrate Zhen Yi of Shangcai?"

Zhen Qi nodded with a smile. "Zhen Yi was indeed my late master. The family is now managed by the second son, Zhen Yan."

"I see! A pleasure to meet you," Zhang Fei said with a bow. "What brings you here, sir?"

Zhen Qi replied, "I heard that Master Zhang owned a winery that produced the famed Immortal Brew and is now selling it. My master is most interested and sent me to Zhuo County to discuss a purchase."

Zhang Fei burst out laughing. "You have come too late, sir! I have already sold it!"

"Ah?" Zhen Qi was taken aback. "May I ask to whom you sold the winery? Perhaps I can negotiate with the new owner."

Zhang Fei answered, "To Master Chen in the east of the city!"

Zhen Qi thanked him with a bow and was about to remount and seek out Master Chen when, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a familiar face in Zhang Fei's party. Looking closer, he saw a young man with a complexion like red jade, strikingly handsome and spirited. The more he looked, the more familiar he seemed, but he could not recall where he had seen him before.