Chapter 64: Dian Wei vs. Zhang Fei

"What a crowd!"

Today, the Taibai Tavern was exceptionally lively, with more than a thousand people packed into the open space in front, forming a dense throng.

At the center of the square stood two towering, imposing men.

On the left was a man of about twenty-seven or eight, standing eight feet tall, with a leopard-like head, round eyes, a swallow-shaped jaw, and a tiger’s beard. In the depths of winter, he stood bare-chested, revealing muscles like black iron. Anyone who saw him could not help but exclaim at his might.

Surprisingly, the man on the right was even larger and more robust. He appeared to be in his thirties, with a dark face, a thick beard covering his cheeks, broad shoulders and a barrel chest, his muscles bulging. An obvious scar marred his temple, and though he limped slightly on his right leg, he looked as fierce as a wild beast, his presence no less intimidating than his opponent.

These two were none other than Zhang Fei of Yan, styled Yide, and Dian Wei, the Commander of the Langya Army’s Martial Guard.

Dian Wei, dressed in short, coarse clothes, glared at Zhang Fei. "Zhang Yide, you’re outrageously rude! Whether you misremembered or the tavern made a mistake, the proprietor offered to waive your bill, and you still had the nerve to start a fight—are you looking for a beating?"

"Hmph! Just say it’s a mistake and be done? If I hadn’t spoken up, you’d have swindled me out of two bottles of wine for nothing. This is a den of thieves! Even if the gods themselves came, I’d still smash up your black-hearted tavern!"

Zhang Fei bared his chest, thick with hair, his dark skin flushed with drink. His voice was rough and thunderous.

"Hah, someone’s itching for a beating. Come on then, Zhang Yide, let’s spar some more," Dian Wei laughed heartily.

"Kill!"

Zhang Fei wasted no time, swinging his massive fist straight at Dian Wei.

Though Dian Wei had a limp, he was quick. He blocked with one arm, countered with the other, and—thud!—landed a straight punch to Zhang Fei’s chest.

Zhang Fei swept his fist across, striking Dian Wei’s arm.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Blow followed blow, every punch landing with the sound of a drum.

"Good heavens, that’s terrifying!"

The crowd’s hearts pounded and their eyes twitched at the ferocity. Those closest stepped back quickly, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Dust billowed as the two fought, debris flying, the blue bricks of the street shattered beneath their feet.

"These two are monsters,"

Guo Jia shielded his face, hiding behind Xun You to avoid flying stones.

Xun You nudged him with an elbow, looking over at Xu Huang and Xiahou Yuan.

"Gongming, Miaocai, which of the two will win?" he asked.

Xu Huang and Xiahou Yuan considered for a moment. Xu Huang said Dian Wei would win, reasoning that Dian Wei was undefeated in close combat. Xiahou Yuan pointed out that Zhang Fei, drunk as he was, had a wildness about him that few could handle.

"So how many bottles did Zhang Fei actually drink?" Guo Jia asked.

"Master Guo, it was five bottles!"

Gan Jing, the chief manager of the Taibai Tavern, cupped his hands and greeted Xun You, Zhong Yao, Guo Jia, Xu Huang, and Xiahou Yuan. He was Gan Yunian’s elder brother, a man in his thirties, once a minor official in Xiaopei—astute and capable.

After the tavern opened, Gan Jing took over as manager and had run it diligently for over a year.

"General Zhang came in and immediately asked for three bottles of burning-knife liquor. The attendant said that drinking only wine would make him drunk easily and urged him to order some food, but General Zhang refused and even pushed the attendant away. Later, General Zhang drank two more bottles. Business was busy, and the attendant forgot to write out a wine card or get a receipt.

"Afterward, we tried to charge General Zhang for five bottles. He insisted he’d only had three. I tried to explain but he wouldn’t listen, and he started a fight. Sixth General sent word that, for the sake of Lord Liu of Yuzhou, we should waive General Zhang's bill entirely, but General Zhang wouldn’t have it. He accused us of cheating him out of money and threatened to demolish the tavern."

Gan Jing shook his head helplessly.

"That Zhang Fei can really hold his liquor—five bottles of burning-knife and still fighting. Remarkable," Guo Jia exclaimed.

"Master Guo, I hear you like wine too. How many bottles can you handle?" Xiahou Yuan asked curiously.

Guo Jia scratched his face. "Two bottles."

"Tch!"

Xun You couldn’t help but laugh. "Half a bottle of burning-knife and you’re crawling under the table scratching the floor—two bottles, my eye."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Thud!

A loud crash signaled the end of the bout. As the dust settled, Dian Wei had twisted Zhang Fei’s arm behind him, pinning him to the ground with a knee.

"Lame Dian, let go of me! You only beat me because I’m drunk—that’s no way for a real man to win!" Zhang Fei shouted angrily.

"Round-eyed rogue, if it weren’t for your drunkenness, I’d have flattened you with a heavy punch long ago! No need to waste my strength pinning you down," Dian Wei retorted.

"You’re no real man! Let go of me! Brother, come save me!" Zhang Fei bellowed.

Dian Wei frowned, when suddenly the sound of air being sliced reached his ears. Looking up, he saw a flash of green—a flying kick headed straight for him. Dian Wei let go at once, raising his thick arm to block.

"General Guan, stay your hand!"

Xu Huang barked, stepping in to intercept Guan Yu’s kick. Both retreated three paces.

Guan Yu, in his green robe, stroked his long beard, his phoenix eyes narrowed as he looked over the group. With a cold snort he spoke, "So it’s General Xu, General Xiahou, General Dian—pleased to meet you. I wonder what offense my second brother has given you three, for you to gang up on him like this?"

Xiahou Yuan burst out laughing. "You’re unreasonable, Guan Yu! I haven’t moved from this spot. When did we ever bully your younger brother?"

"Second Brother, it was Lame Dian! He beat me while I was drunk—look at these bruises all over me!"

Zhang Fei dusted himself off and stood beside Guan Yu, glaring at Dian Wei.

"Oh?"

Guan Yu looked at Dian Wei, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.

Dian Wei snorted, his muscles tensing so hard that dust shook from his clothes.

"Guan Yunchang, you strike without knowing right from wrong. Next time we meet on the battlefield, I’ll settle this with you once and for all!"

"You think you’re worthy to fight me?" Guan Yu squinted.

"Kill!"

Dian Wei suddenly roared.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Eight fierce Martial Guards leapt into the arena. Each was over eight feet tall, broad and muscular, clad in armor and wielding gleaming broadswords, exuding a menacing aura. Not one of them was weaker than the average second-rate general.

When these ten armed guards appeared, the crowd blanched and the air seemed to grow colder. This was a situation where a single word could unleash a bloodbath.

"Hold! Stay your hands!"

The call came from two men. One was Zhong Yao, the Minister Steward, who helped the Chancellor and the Emperor maintain order in court. If the generals of Pingnan and Lord Liu of Yuzhou’s men came to blows, the aftermath would be troublesome indeed.

He, Xun You, and Guo Jia quickly stepped in to intervene.

The other was a middle-aged man in a gray robe, more than seven feet tall, with earlobes hanging to his shoulders, hands reaching past his knees, a face like polished jade, and a scholarly demeanor. He pushed through the crowd to stand in front of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

"Liu Xuande greets Master Yuanchang, General Xiahou, General Xu, and General Dian!"

Liu Bei cupped his hands respectfully to Zhong Yao and the others.

The crowd returned the salute, addressing him as Lord Liu of Yuzhou.

"Your humble servant greets Lord Xuande!"

Gan Jing stepped forward and recounted the events in the tavern: Zhang Fei drunkenly causing trouble, the tavern offering to waive his bill, but Zhang Fei refusing and turning violent...

"Well..."

Liu Bei listened, at a loss for words.

Guan Yu shot Zhang Fei an angry glare. He and his elder brother toiled daily, forging alliances and raising troops, while Zhang, the third brother, idled about, carousing and stirring up trouble at the Taibai Tavern.

"Yide, how many bottles did you drink?" Liu Bei sighed.

Zhang Fei scratched his head. "Big brother, I forgot—I drank myself senseless."

Guan Yu stroked his beard and gazed up at the sky.

Liu Bei shook out his sleeves and turned to Gan Jing. "Manager Gan, the fault lies with my third brother." He bowed deeply to Dian Wei, apologizing on Zhang Fei’s behalf.

Dian Wei returned the gesture, glanced at Guan Yu, and waved his men away.

Liu Bei then said to Gan Jing, "Manager Gan, please charge us for five bottles, as well as any damaged furniture or injured staff—put it all on my account."

"My lord, there’s no need. Sixth General sent word—he’s an old acquaintance of yours, and says it’s a trivial matter, not worth troubling over," Gan Jing replied.

"Many thanks to Sixth General for his magnanimity. Yet, my third brother drunkenly damaged your property and injured your staff—the fault is ours, and it’s only right that we compensate you. Manager Gan, please calculate the amount and let me know."

"This..."

Gan Jing hesitated. "Roughly six hundred strings of cash."

"How much?!"

Zhang Fei was incensed, grabbing Gan Jing by the lapels. "I only broke a few lousy bowls and plates! You’re trying to fleece my big brother for six hundred strings—think he’s a pushover?"

"Yide, mind your manners! Apologize to Master Gan at once," Liu Bei scolded as he pulled Zhang Fei away.

Since arriving in Xuchang, he had already learned who the important figures in town were.

This Gan Jing, for example, not only managed the immensely profitable Taibai Tavern, but his sister was also the wife of the General of Pingnan. For the general’s sake, everyone showed him respect.

Seeing Liu Bei’s displeasure, Zhang Fei let go and apologized, though he still muttered that the damages weren’t worth the money.

Gan Jing forced a smile and picked up a broken wine cup from the ground.

"My lord, I truly haven’t overcharged. Look at this set—all Celadon and Green-glaze porcelain from the Cizhou kilns, each set costs thirty to forty strings. General Zhang smashed twelve sets. These doors and windows are all made of premium nanmu wood. Each carved piece, including craftsmanship, costs over a hundred strings. General Zhang broke three. I’m only counting the material cost, not the labor or transport, not even medical expenses—it still totals over six hundred strings. Truly, I haven’t asked for too much."

Liu Bei examined the broken cup, feeling the smooth glaze—clearly fine ware.

He’d heard the Taibai Tavern was exquisitely luxurious, its furnishings finer than even those in the imperial palace, far beyond the reach of ordinary nobles.

Liu Bei sighed inwardly. It was all too expensive. He had only a few strings of cash on him, and little savings at home—where would he find six hundred?

"General of Pingnan has arrived!"

Someone in the crowd shouted.

Everyone turned to see a dazzling golden carriage slowly come to a halt in front of the tavern. No one knew how much gold adorned it, but it gleamed so brightly in the sun that it was hard to look at.

"Brother, it’s that villain Cao Xin," Zhang Fei whispered, shielding his eyes with one hand. "Brother, second brother, why don’t we just rob his carriage? There’s enough gold there to buy a mountain of provisions."

...

Once again, everyone on the street stared at Zhang Fei. This round-eyed rogue had the guts to plot a robbery right before General Cao Xin’s eyes.

"Yide, don’t say another word! Not another word!" Liu Bei tugged hard at Zhang Fei, inwardly exasperated. With that braying voice of yours, your ‘whisper’ is louder than most people’s shouts.

Beside them, Guan Yu clenched his fist and kept looking skyward, blushing even redder than the god of war himself.

"Hahaha—Zhang Yide, you want to steal my carriage?"

A hearty laugh rang out from the carriage. Cao Xin lifted the curtain and strode out.