The Three Kingdoms: I asked you to save Guan Yu, not to destroy Sun Quan.

How could there be a metallic sound coming from this dilapidated cave?

Guan Xing, filled with doubt, hurried toward the direction from which the sound came, but was soon blocked by a stone wall.

There was no stone door on the rock wall, only a small opening less than a meter high, blocked by a wooden board.

Guan Xing moved the wooden board aside and looked inside, then froze in shock.

Behind the entrance was another empty stone cave. In the open space inside the cave, there was a furnace, and three men were standing around the furnace. One old man and two young men seemed to be a master and his apprentices. The three of them were shirtless and hammering iron. It turned out to be a blacksmith shop.

Surprisingly, next to the stove was a large bed, where an old man with white hair and beard was lying with his legs crossed, reading a book.

what's the situation?

Could there be a hidden master like a sweeping monk in such a small bandit stronghold?

Guan Xing's doubts deepened.

At the same time, the four people inside also noticed Guan Xing's presence and looked over in this direction.

The two stared at each other across the cave entrance for a moment before the old blacksmith spoke first: "Who are you? I've never seen you before."

Guan Xing explained, "I am Guan Xing, the nephew of the King of Hanzhong and the second son of Guan Yu."

His fame was too small, and no one had heard of him, so he had no choice but to use the names of Liu Bei and Guan Yu for now.

The names of Liu Bei and Guan Yu were indeed effective. Upon hearing this, the four of them were stunned. They looked at each other for a long time before exclaiming in surprise, "Have the King of Hanzhong's troops already reached this place? Where is Yan Zhen?"

This is the heart of Jiangdong! How did Liu Bei manage to reach this place? Is he really going to revive the Han Dynasty for the third time?

"Yan Zhen is dead. I killed him."

Guan Xing asked with a perfunctory question, "And what are you doing here? What are you doing here?"

Upon hearing this, the four men simultaneously displayed a complex expression of both dejection and satisfaction. The old blacksmith continued, "My name is Feng Tiezhu, and these two are my sons. My sons and I are blacksmiths from the foot of the mountain. Two years ago, we were kidnapped by Yan Zhen and brought to the mountain stronghold to forge weapons for the bandits."

"This white-haired old man is named Cheng Li. He is a doctor in the county town. Half a year ago, he was kidnapped by Yan Zhen and brought to the mountain stronghold to treat the wounded bandits."

"Holy crap..." Guan Xing cursed, "So you're saying you were kidnapped and imprisoned by Yan Zhen?"

The old blacksmith shook his head and said, "The kidnapping is true, but it's not really imprisonment. Yan Zhen paid us wages, and every six months one of us, father and son, was allowed to go down the mountain to visit our family. Not only that, Yan Zhen also helped my family buy ten acres of land through Magistrate Zhu's connections. With the money he gave us as a reward, my family's situation is much better than before we went up the mountain."

"Old Zhou is the same. Although he has never left the mountain village, I visited his home when I went down the mountain to visit relatives. His house has been rebuilt with bricks and tiles."

"In short, the four of us are doing quite well here, except for the lack of freedom."

"Uh..." Guan Xing was stunned.

Look at the treatment these four people are receiving, and then look at the girl next door's situation—the difference is quite significant.

Are Yan Zhen, who treats the blacksmith kindly, and Yan Zhen, who abuses the girl, the same person?

Guan Xing was stunned for a long time before sighing, "I didn't realize that Yan Zhen, that bastard, actually respected technical talent. But he's about to die. Are you guys interested in joining me?"

Blacksmiths and doctors are also technical talents needed by the Han army, and they should not be missed if they are found.

When Guan Xing asked them, he had already made up his mind that if they dared to utter even half a word of dissent, he would immediately knock them unconscious with a brick and take the sack away.

The old blacksmith pondered and said, “Yes, I have three sons. I am at ease letting my youngest son take care of the family. But Chief Yan has been kind to me, and before I leave, I would like to offer incense at Chief Yan’s grave.”

what?

You were kidnapped by Yan Zhen and even developed feelings for him?

Guan Xing nodded and said, "Respect for the dead is paramount. Your request is very reasonable. If you have any other requests, please let me know, and I will help you resolve them. By the way, I heard Yan Qing say that there is a passage leading down the mountain. Do you know where it is?"

All four shook their heads in unison. How could they possibly know such a secret?

Guan Xing wasn't annoyed. He turned around and said, "Meng Jun, if I'm not mistaken, the passage should be inside this cave. Have the brothers come in and search. Even if we have to search the ground three feet deep, we must find the passage for me."

This was the escape route Yan Zhen had prepared for himself. Since it was for escape, the fewer people who knew about it, the better. There were thousands of bandits living next door, and if the entrance to the passage was left there, it might be dug out one day, which was not safe.

In comparison, this cave is less crowded, more secluded, and less likely to be discovered.

“Look…” Meng Jun turned and left, and soon arrived with more than two hundred people, who quickly dispersed to begin the search.

After Guan Xing and the other soldiers entered the cave, they crawled into the mountain cave, walked to the blacksmith's shop, picked up the unfinished battle sword and examined it, saying, "Feng Tiezhu, right? Not bad craftsmanship."

Feng Tiezhu revealed a hint of pride and said proudly, "Of course, my family has been blacksmiths since my great-grandfather's time. My father even took me to forge weapons for Liu Yao, the governor of Yangzhou. Later, when Governor Liu was defeated and killed, we returned to our hometown."

"Awesome..." Guan Xing praised, then looked at Cheng Li and asked with a smile, "There are so many doctors in Wushang County, yet Yan Zhen chose to kidnap you. It seems your medical skills are quite superb."

Cheng Li replied with equal pride, "Of course, I have exchanged medical knowledge with the renowned physician Zhang Zhongjing, and I still have a copy of his Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases."

"What the hell?" Guan Xing screamed in surprise, "Say it again, are you sure you have the 'Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases'?"

Guan Xing felt instantly enveloped in immense happiness, and was so excited he almost fainted.

The Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases, that is the Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases, a masterpiece left by the medical sage Zhang Zhongjing, a treasure of Chinese civilization, and a cultural regret lost to later generations.

This old man actually possesses such a treasure; it's truly wonderful.

Cheng Li was quite pleased with Guan Xing's reaction and pointed to the thatched hut next to him, saying, "It's inside. I didn't feel comfortable leaving this at home, so I had Yan Zhen bring it over to me. Is the young general also interested in medicine?"

Guan Xing did not answer, but rushed into the thatched hut at the speed of a hundred meters. He saw a wooden box in the corner, immediately rushed to open it, took out the bamboo slips in the box, and after reading the contents, he could no longer help but laugh out loud like a pig.

Then she returned to the iron furnace, hugged Cheng Li, and exclaimed excitedly, "Divine Doctor, I am so happy to have met you!"

He was planning to build a hospital, and hospitals need doctors, especially expert-level doctors like him.

Even if Cheng Li's medical skills were only one or two tenths of Zhang Zhongjing's, they would be sufficient with the help of the "Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases".

His actions stunned Cheng Li, who asked timidly, "Young General, are you alright?"

Is this guy crazy? He's not even a beauty, why is he getting so worked up?

Guan Xing reluctantly released his grip, and before he could think of a reply, he heard Meng Jun shout through the cave entrance, "Captain, the passage has been found."

"You should rest for a while, we'll talk later." Guan Xing quickly left, crawled into the granary through the hole, and followed Meng Jun to Yan Zhen's bedroom. He found that the bed made of wooden crates had been moved, revealing a small hole about a foot in diameter, just big enough for one person to pass through.

Guan Xing stared at the cave entrance and said, "I thought it was in the old blacksmith's cave, but I didn't expect it to be under Yan Zhen's bed in his bedroom. It's dark under the light, right? Have you gone down to investigate? Where does it lead?"

Meng Jun replied, "I've already sent some brothers to investigate; it'll probably take a while."

After waiting for a full half hour, the scouts returned and called out, "Captain, Battalion Commander Meng, it does indeed lead to the back mountain; we can get out."

Guan Xing was overjoyed and exchanged a glance with Meng Jun, saying impatiently, "Let's go down and take a look."