Chapter 123: A Name Bestowed by the Jade Youth

The sentries on the city gate had spotted the approaching party some time ago, and had stood at the ready with spears and halberds. Although the group was small and appeared rather motley, they did not look like ordinary commoners.

Ever since the "Jade Youth" had risen to fame, the social atmosphere in Lunu, and indeed the entire Zhongshan State, had greatly improved. While banditry and theft had not been completely eradicated, they had significantly diminished.

As the leader of the party drew closer, the guards realized it was Zhang Yu, who had set off for Chang'an several weeks prior. They cheered and scrambled about in excitement, abandoning their weapons to rush down from the gatehouse.

He was the treasure of their Zhongshan, the Jade Youth whose fame shook the world. Regardless of whether they were rich or poor, young or old, high-ranking officials or commoners, there was hardly anyone who did not adore this jade-like, graceful young nobleman.

The city gates, which had been closing as evening approached, were flung wide open again as if by fire. Many of the garrison soldiers rushed out to catch a glimpse of the Jade Youth, their fanaticism leaving Wang Yue and the others astonished.

"Hey, Han, what exactly has Zhang Yu done?" Dong Bai pouted. She had been the apple of her family's eye since childhood, and after Dong Zhuo rose to power, she had been even more dazzling than a princess. Yet, ever since she had been with this man, she felt as if she had become a tiny firefly, while this blasted fellow... was the bright moon in the sky.

"The Young Master, he—" Han Long was just about to recount his deeds like a treasure map, but Xiahou Lan interrupted him.

"The Young Master is a legend here."

Zhang Yu did not hear the conversation behind them. Upon reaching the gate, he dismounted and bowed to the dozen or so soldiers, smiling: "You have all been diligent and dedicated, ensuring the people of Lunu live in peace and prosperity without the harassment of thieves. Please, allow me to thank you for your hard work!"

"Jade Youth...!" A soldier dressed as a squad leader turned pale, his eyes blurring with emotion. "You must not! This is our duty; how could we deserve praise from the Jade Youth!"

With that, he knelt deeply before him.

"Oh! Please, rise quickly..." Zhang Yu hurriedly leaned forward to help him up, moved by the simplicity and kindness of the ancients.

"Make way, make way!" A burly, simple-minded man shoved his way forward. "Let me get closer to the Jade Youth, so I can catch some of his literary aura. Who knows, maybe I'll raise a great scholar in the future!"

"Hahahaha!" Everyone burst into laughter. The squad leader stepped forward, chiding him with a playful kick to the backside. The scene reminded Zhang Yu of the good men in the military camps of his past life.

Cell phones and the internet were virtually non-existent to them. Their greatest entertainment was perhaps sitting around a campfire, singing military songs. While such a life might seem incredibly dull to outsiders, in such harsh conditions, their hearts were immensely fulfilled.

Moved, Zhang Yu asked, "May I ask the name of this brave man?"

"Name..." The man froze, startled by a slap from a bystander who urged, "The Jade Youth is asking your name!"

"Ah... me... what was my name again..."

Seeing his awkwardness, the crowd laughed again. The squad leader explained, "Reporting to the Jade Youth, he doesn't really have a name. He was just born with great strength, so we all call him Li Dali (Li Great-Strength)!"

"Right! My name is Li Dali... wait, no, that's not a good name... Dali begs the young master to grant me a name!" The big man knelt again.

Zhang Yu was stunned, while the other soldiers looked at Li Dali with envy and expectation. It was said that the simple-minded were blessed with good fortune, and this brute had certainly chosen the right moment to be clever.

"This is the first time I have ever named someone, but everyone is already used to 'Dali,' so I see no need to change it," Zhang Yu said.

As soon as he finished, Li Dali's face fell, but then Zhang Yu added, "Tell me, Dali, do you have any children?"

"Yes! My boy is three, we call him Gouwa (Doggy)!" Li Dali seemed to sense something. "No, we won't call him Gouwa anymore, he doesn't have a name!"

"Hahaha, good," Zhang Yu said happily. "Then I shall give your son a name."

"Please, Young Master, grant him a name!"

"Since his surname is Li..." Zhang Yu pondered, "Filial piety is the foremost of all virtues. I hope that when he grows up, he will be a man of good character who is filial to his parents and elders."

Outside the city gate, it felt as if a lecture were being held. Dozens of people held their breath, surrounding Zhang Yu and waiting silently for what he would say next.

"Let's call him Li Cunxiao!"

...

This was the twisted humor of a transmigrator. By throwing out the name "Li Cunxiao"—the man of whom it was said, "No king is greater than Xiang Yu, no general is greater than Li Cunxiao"—Zhang Yu wanted to see what kind of person this "Gouwa," burdened with such a famous name, would become.

Of course, it was more likely he would simply become a speck of dust in history.

After this small interlude, the group prepared to depart. Zhang Yu did not doubt his own appeal to the people of Lunu. He had a few soldiers find a closed carriage, and he climbed inside.

If Zhang Yu had dared to ride a horse through the city of Lunu, it would have surely emptied the streets. He would have been stopping every step to wave, unable to move forward.

Only he and Jing Shu were in the carriage. He had initially wanted to invite the young lady Dong Bai to join them, but she was busy bickering with Han Long and insisted on riding, so Zhang Yu let her be.

The carriage moved slowly toward his home. The closer he got, the more peaceful Zhang Yu felt. After all, Chang'an was too vast, and despite its wonders, it only left one's heart in turmoil.

Jing Shu sat beside him, kneading his legs with her jade-like fists. The pressure was just right, and before long, he closed his eyes in comfort.

Meanwhile, at the destination of the party—

The Zhang Estate—

"Uncle, is there any more meat?"

"Yes, of course!" Zhang Shiping said, rubbing his forehead and smiling. He mused that although this young man looked frail and scholarly, he was certainly no slouch when it came to eating meat and drinking wine.

Chunfang served a few more plates of horse meat, and the young man continued to feast. After watching him for a while, Zhang Shiping could not help but ask, "Does Fengxiao truly know my child?"

"Naturally." Who did not know the name of the Jade Youth?

"Are you truly close friends with my son?"

"Naturally." I have read his poems and essays; we have been spiritual companions for a long time.

"Then, Fengxiao... do you know when my child will return?"

"Hmm..." After another bite of food and gulp of wine, he replied, "Reporting to you, Uncle, the last news Jia received was that the Jade Youth was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wuji ten days ago. There are also rumors that he assassinated Dong Zhuo—"

"There is no need to doubt that, Fengxiao. My son's martial arts..." Zhang Shiping thought for a moment, then pointed at Chunfang by the door, "Are about the same as hers."

The young man nearly spat out his wine, but the wine was excellent, and he swallowed it hard to keep it in his mouth.

"If a rumor can reach Hebei, it means it is not entirely baseless. Perhaps the Jade Youth hired an assassin."

"Then my son is in—"

"Do not worry, Uncle. At the same time this rumor spread, the Jade Youth was enfeoffed as a Marquis. What does that tell you? You must remember, the current government is almost entirely controlled by Dong Zhuo."

"What does it tell me?" Zhang Shiping asked hastily.

"It tells me the Jade Youth is in danger."

"Ah!?"

"Oh, I shouldn't have scared you," the young man said, picking up another piece of food. "In any case, the Jade Youth will be safe. If all goes well, he should be returning soon."

"And why is that?" Zhang Shiping had navigated the business world for over a decade and was certainly an old fox, but in his conversation with this young man, he felt completely bewildered.

No, he felt like his brain was mush, being led by the nose at every turn.

"As for that, the secrets of heaven cannot be revealed."