Choose Liu Bei at the start, I am the only one who knows the plot of the Three Kingdoms.

Chapter 487: New Year for Two, Massive Gu Rubing
As the sky grew darker, firecrackers began to be set off in the big cities and military towns. They were called firecrackers, but in fact they were just real bamboos burned with fire, which made crackling sounds.

Also, because bamboo grows so fast that it doesn't even need to be planted by people, it can spread and shimmer on its own. Therefore, no matter whether the family is rich or poor, they will collect some bamboo during the New Year, cut it into pieces, and use it for their children to play with, also in the hope of driving away evil spirits.

In traditional customs, people believe that with the crackling sound of bamboo, the bad luck and misfortunes of the year will be dispelled, and the new year will bring good luck and happiness. Children ran on the street with laughing hands holding the burning bamboo joints, enjoying the short but brilliant light. The adults smiled at the children's smiling faces, their hearts filled with beautiful expectations for the future.

As night fell, the sound of firecrackers rose and fell, as if playing a prelude to the coming New Year. Warm lights shone through the windows of every household, reflecting the laughter outside, and the land of the Han Dynasty was filled with a strong festive atmosphere.

On the border of Yuzhou and Yanzhou, in a forest, a figure sat alone on a tree. It was not yet midnight, but a city not far from here was still brightly lit.

Just when the figure found a larger branch and was about to lie down for a while, he suddenly sat up straight. A slightly heavy footsteps sounded in his ears. The steps were steady and the breathing was light. He didn't even need to look to know that he was an entry-level martial artist.

At this time when families were reuniting, it was too abnormal for such a skilled warrior to suddenly appear at the junction of Yuzhou, Yanzhou and Jingzhou. Sun Ce immediately became alert.

His figure disappeared into the woods in a flash. After less than ten breaths, a man in armor appeared in his sight. After seeing who it was, Sun Ce relaxed and no longer hid his figure. He held his breath and concentrated.

"Why did General Dian come so early?"

Sun Ce jumped down from the tree, his tall figure falling straight to the ground, but there was no sound, not even as loud as a dead leaf falling. Dian Wei walked slowly towards Sun Ce, holding a jar in one hand.

"The Prime Minister is worried that you, General Sun, will be too lonely during the New Year alone, so he specially asked me to accompany you."

Dian Wei said in a muffled voice. Although his intelligence attribute had improved, he was still taciturn in front of people he was not familiar with. Sun Ce smiled slightly when he heard this.

"Then please help me express my gratitude to Prime Minister Cao next time you see him, General Dian."

Dian Wei didn't say anything, but just threw the jar in his left hand to Sun Ce. After Sun Ce took it, he shook it slightly and then smiled.

"You didn't just bring the bar?"

After hearing this, Dian Wei sat down on the ground and put the jar in his right hand on the ground. Then he took out something wrapped in oil paper from his arms. After slowly opening it, he found a big bag of braised beef in soy sauce, which looked to weigh more than ten pounds.

After putting down the braised beef, Dian Wei reached for the cloth bag beside him and took out a much smaller package. After opening it, he found peanuts fried in lard inside.

Sun Ce's smile grew wider as he walked to the opposite side of Dian Wei, also sitting on the ground. He picked up a peanut and threw it into his mouth. The burnt aroma of the peanut instantly burst in Sun Ce's mouth, and the distinct salt grains were evenly distributed on the peanut, adding a bit of flavor to the already burnt peanut.

"What kind of peanut is this? I've never eaten it before."

Sun Ce's eyes lit up. He picked up two more and threw them into his mouth. The fragrance was still there in his mouth.

"This was made by the Prime Minister himself, and later passed on to the imperial chef in the palace. These are all made by the imperial chef."

Dian Wei picked up two slices of braised beef and put them in his mouth, then raised his head and took a big gulp of wine. Sun Ce also picked up a piece of beef and tasted it. It was not much different from ordinary braised beef. If he had to say, Sun Ce felt that this braised beef was not as delicious as peanuts.

After taking another sip of wine, Sun Ce could not help but growl. He had been squatting here for a few days and almost felt sick. It was not that Sun Ce did not want to find a place to have a good meal, but he did not dare to leave easily. What if someone under Liu Bei led troops across the border while he was away, it would be troublesome.

So these few days, Sun Ce not only did not drink a drop of wine, but he didn't even eat much. Now Dian Wei not only brought good wine, but also brought some side dishes to go with the wine, especially the peanuts fried in lard, which was especially to Sun Ce's taste.

"Your Prime Minister is truly an all-rounder, good at everything."

Sun Ce was not stingy with his words of praise. The other party had just asked Dian Wei to spend the New Year with him and also brought him food and wine. If Sun Ce didn't say a few nice words, it would seem that he was a little lacking in magnanimity.

After hearing Sun Ce's praise for Cao Cao, Dian Wei, who had been expressionless since he arrived here, finally smiled and raised the wine jar towards Sun Ce as if it was a clink of glasses. Sun Ce was not vague and also raised the wine jar in the air, and then began to drink heartily.

The two of them chatted casually, drank wine, and ate a large bag of braised beef in soy sauce brought by Dian Wei and the side dishes prepared by Cao Cao. Although it was late and cold at night, the two of them were both legendary generals. With the physique of legendary generals, they were like a stove in this cold winter night. Not only did they not feel cold, but if anyone saw them, they would find that their bodies were incredibly hot.

Even the snow on the ground would melt wherever the two of them walked. Now, within a ten-foot radius of where they were sitting, not to mention the snow, even the moisture after the snow melted was gone.

In stark contrast to the situation of the two drinking in the snow, a grand banquet was being held in Prince Lie's Mansion in Linzi, Qingzhou. Not only that, Gu Rubing also ordered that meat and charcoal for the New Year be sent to the poor peasants in Linzi city so that they could also spend a good and comfortable new year.

It is only because of Gu Rubing that there are basically no poor peasants in Linzi city nowadays. Even those who could not afford to eat before can now more or less find a way to make a living and eat. The things that Gu Rubing gave them are just to make their lives better this year.

Not only in Linzi, but also in all places where his subordinates were stationed, Gu Rubing issued this order that the people must have a good new year. Such a tyrannical move could probably only be done by a local tyrant like Gu Rubing, and only Gu Rubing would think of and do it.

In Prince Lie's Palace, all those who were able to sit here today were prominent figures under Gu Rubing. Even one or two first-rate generals who had just been promoted could not get a seat at the banquet in Prince Lie's Palace.

For this New Year's Eve dinner, if a military general wants to get a seat in the mansion, he not only needs to have good personal strength, but more importantly, he needs to have military merits and seniority in order to get a seat.

Or they are people like Huang Zhong, Ma Chao, Wei Yan, Pang De and Huang Zu. Although they have not been under Gu Rubing for too long, their personal strength is extremely strong.

Both Huang Zhong and Ma Chao proved their strength by conquering the Wuhuan royal court.

During this period, Wei Yan was even given the title of Wolf Head of the military camp, but none of the soldiers trained by him disobeyed him.

Although Pang De had been in Liangzhou, guarding the border while guarding against Cao Cao's troops stationed in Silizhou, he also won several beautiful victories during this period, which made Cao Cao's goal of going north to seize Liangzhou and occupy the pasture fall apart. Not to mention Huang Zu, in the last Jingzhou battle, the final battle started and ended in Jiangxia County. Before the arrival of the army, the old general led the army alone to block the opponent. He had both merits and hard work, as well as skills.

It can be said that every military general who can sit in the palace nowadays is a general with outstanding military achievements.

If a civil official wanted to have a seat in it, it would be even more difficult, because he had to pass the double test of Gu Rubing and Zhuge Liang before he could enter. The level was frighteningly high, with only a few famous officials and first-class counselors.

It is strange to say, although Gu Rubing never advocated emphasizing military over culture, the number of civil officials under his command was far less than that of military generals. If it were not for Zhuge Liang helping him to coordinate the overall situation and make plans, he would really be unable to cope with such a situation.

Especially those daily trivial matters, he was even more powerless. Some of the scholars and retainers he had recruited before were sent by Gu Rubing to the counties under his jurisdiction to serve as county magistrates. If it were not for their help in solving most of the problems in the county, and all matters were left to Zhuge Liang, Zhuge Liang would probably be too busy to handle them all.

At the banquet, everyone raised their glasses high. No one knew who proposed it, but suddenly everyone began to toast Gu Rubing, and Zhuge Liang was the first to stand up.

"My lord, today is New Year's Eve, and all the generals and colleagues are here. This scene really touched me deeply. It is because of your great sense of justice that the residents of Linzi, Qingzhou, and even the nine states under your jurisdiction are living and working in peace and contentment, free from the suffering of war. Today, I am here to offer you a glass of wine on behalf of the people of the world who have been blessed by your blessings."

Zhuge Liang raised his wine glass and faced Gu Rubing. Gu Rubing did not hesitate and immediately raised his own full wine glass. After clinking glasses with Zhuge Liang, they both drank it all in one gulp.

After drinking, Zhuge Liang did not sit down, but refilled his own glass and also filled Gu Rubing's glass.

"My lord, the last cup was a toast to you on behalf of the people of this world. This cup is my own toast to you. Since I was in Longzhong, I have often heard of the reputation of Liu Huangshu's benevolence and righteousness. At that time, my lord did not regard me as humble and indecent, and visited my thatched cottage three times. I am grateful for your appreciation."

Zhuge Liang raised his glass and drank another full glass of wine. Gu Rubing was still smiling and drank the glass in one gulp.

Zhuge Liang usually drank tea and rarely drank alcohol. After two glasses of wine, a blush appeared on Zhuge Liang's cheeks, and he stopped drinking.

However, everyone present immediately understood Zhuge Liang's meaning, filled their glasses one after another, and then took turns walking towards Gu Rubing. After all, Gu Rubing was famous for his huge capacity for drinking. They had wanted to get him drunk several times before but had failed. This time there were more people than ever before, and it was New Year, so everyone had this idea again.

After Zhuge Liang sat down, the first person to come forward was Guan Yu. A rare smile appeared on Guan Yu's serious face.

"Big brother."

"Second brother."

Guan Yu and Gu Rubing looked at each other in silence, then laughed out loud with their heads raised. They were both very straightforward and each drank three cups in a row.

Guan Yu had just sat down after drinking three cups when Zhang Fei stood up again and came to Gu Rubing. He didn't say anything, but just smiled. Gu Rubing was both angry and amused.

"What's wrong, Third Brother?"

"Brother, I can't talk, but I'll toast you a few glasses too."

After Zhang Fei finished speaking, he tilted his head back and drank a glass of wine, and then he drank two more glasses in a row. Gu Rubing was also helpless and could only drink three glasses like Zhang Fei.

After Zhang Fei sat down, Zhao Yun immediately stood up, standing tall and straight.

"My Lord, I have been following you for several years. I am honored to be able to realize my ambitions thanks to your kindness. This glass of wine is for you."

Gu Rubing's heart moved slightly. Ever since Zhao Yun followed him, he had served as Gu Rubing's personal bodyguard. Gu Rubing had seen Zhao Yun's loyalty and bravery.

"Zilong, you and I are like brothers. I understand your heart."

The two looked at each other, smiled, and drank.

"Since the second and third brothers have toasted the lord three times, if I only toast once, it would seem that I am immature."

Gu Rubing nodded slightly and drank three cups in a row with Zhao Yun. Gu Rubing was well aware of Zhao Yun's loyalty and bravery. Zhao Yun made an indelible contribution to his achievements today.

Next, Huang Zhong, Ma Chao, Wei Yan, Pang De, Huang Zu and other generals came forward one after another, some of them were bold and some were reserved, but all of them expressed their respect and loyalty to Gu Rubing. Gu Rubing accepted all the guests and toasted with them one by one, showing his generous nature.

After going around like this, some drank three cups at most, and some drank two cups at least. The key point is that when they really drink, those counselors are no less heroic than the generals.

The atmosphere at the banquet gradually reached a climax, and Gu Rubing's face also showed a slight blush of drunkenness, but he still maintained a calm attitude, communicating with every general and counselor who came to toast him. His eyes were full of gratitude and trust for these followers.

Gu Rubing suddenly stood up and motioned for everyone to be quiet. He cleared his throat in a loud and powerful voice.

"Everyone, today's banquet is not only to celebrate the arrival of the New Year, but also to thank each of you for your hard work. Without you, there would be no Liu Bei today! Here, I would like to toast everyone and thank you for your great help!"

As soon as Gu Rubing finished speaking, the whole audience burst into warm applause and cheers. Everyone raised their glasses and drank together.

After just one round, even Gu Rubing couldn't stand it anymore. Although the alcohol content of the wine was low and he could drink a lot, it was too much. It was just like drinking beer. He would get drunk even if the alcohol content was low.

(End of this chapter)