Inside the Xuzhou Soldiers' main camp, everyone was busy packing their belongings.
Every soldier's face was beaming with smiles.
After two months of verification and statistics, their rewards were finally going to be distributed.
The New Year was approaching soon.
Receiving their rewards today and returning home would allow them to have a prosperous New Year.
Zang Ba, Wu Dun, Yin Li, and others gathered, waiting for Zhang Xin to arrive.
"Where's Zhongtai?"
Zang Ba looked around, not seeing Sun Guan.
"I don't know."
"Didn't see him."
Wu Dun and Yin Li said one after another.
"Why hasn't he arrived yet? Let's go to his tent and see."
Zang Ba felt puzzled and led Wu Dun and Yin Li toward Sun Guan's tent.
"Zhongtai."
Zang Ba lifted the curtain of Sun Guan's large tent, just as he was walking out from inside.
"Zang Shuai?"
Sun Guan was startled, "Why are you all here?"
"The Lord is about to arrive. We didn't see you, so we specifically came to check."
Wu Dun glanced into Sun Guan's tent.
"Huh? Zhongtai, why haven't you packed your things yet?"
"Oh."
Sun Guan smiled, "After much thought, I've decided to stay under the Lord's command and not return to Xu Province, so there's no need to pack."
"Not returning to Xu Province?"
The three were stunned by his words. Yin Li stepped forward, lowering his voice, "Zhongtai, you're confused!"
"The Lord is invincible in attack and unbeatable in battle. Such a Lord is truly hard to find."
Sun Guan retorted, "What's so confusing about me staying under the Lord's command?"
"Well... that's true."
Wu Dun pondered, "Everything about the Lord here is good, except that military discipline is too strict. We're not allowed to plunder civilians, not allowed to drink without permission, not allowed to play with women, and not allowed to gamble."
"What's the meaning of living like this? Isn't our whole life for these things?"
"Yes, yes."
Yin Li echoed, "For more than a year, I've been suffocating. When I return to Xu Province, I must find a few women to vent my frustrations!"
"Zhongtai."
Wu Dun began to persuade him, "Although Zhang Xin is a Lord, under his command, we are all like common soldiers, being ordered around. It's not as enjoyable as being under Tao Qian's command!"
"Tao Qian is weak. Have you forgotten the wonderful life we had in Langya before?"
"Zhongtai."
Zang Ba looked at Sun Guan, "What are you thinking?"
"The chaotic world has arrived..."
Sun Guan sighed, "Although Tao Qian is benevolent, he is not a Lord. Qing Province is adjacent to Xu Province, and in my opinion, Xu Province will fall into the Lord's hands sooner or later."
"Instead of joining the Lord's command then, it's better to stay now."
"Xuandu."
Sun Guan looked at Zang Ba, "Tao Qian is muddled. What achievements can we have under his command, other than being local tyrants?"
"Although the Lord's military discipline is strict, there are also many opportunities to earn merits under his command."
"This time, Yuan Shao and others launched a surprise attack on Qing Province. The Lord cannot just tolerate this."
"After the spring plowing next year, he will surely send troops to attack Ji Province. Beside, given the Lord's relationship with the Son of Heaven, he will definitely have to come to the aid of the Emperor again in the future..."
"Bing Province still has the Yellow Turbans rampaging, and various warlords are fighting throughout the land..."
"So many opportunities!"
Sun Guan's eyes were bright, "As long as we exert ourselves, in the future, if we can be enfeoffed as a Lord, with our wives and children enjoying our prosperity, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Zang Ba and the others fell into contemplation upon hearing this.
A man should be enfeoffed as a Lord!
Sun Guan's words made them a little tempted.
Indeed, staying under Tao Qian's command was more comfortable, but there was no future.
But...
"The Lord doesn't seem to trust us much."
Zang Ba hesitated, "When we first arrived, he found an opportunity to seize our military power and even executed Chang Xi."
"After more than a year of hard fighting, I only managed to be promoted to Military Officer thru accumulated merits, and you are all Qu Hou."
"Even if Zhongtai stays, I'm afraid he won't be highly regarded..."
"Yes, yes."
Wu Dun and Yin Li also reacted, agreeing one after another, "Under Tao Qian's command, we only defeated the Yellow Turbans and became Cavalry Commandant, a position worth more than two thousand piculs of grain."
"But under Zhang Xin's command, after more than a year of bitter fighting, we've only become Qu Hou, worth six hundred piculs."
"Can he even look upon us favorably?"
"Doesn't this just show that the Lord's military discipline is strict, neither over-rewarding nor over-punishing?"
Sun Guan smiled slightly, "In this past year, has the Lord ever withheld any of the military achievements you've made?"
"He hasn't withheld any."
Yin Li said, "But..."
"Alright."
Sun Guan waved his hand, "If you a rare in this world. General is willing to go thru fire and water for the Lord, without hesitation!"