Chapter 83

After Zhang Weixin's proposal for a blood brotherhood was agreed upon by Xu and Li, a general assembly was convened. However, to Wang, Zhang, and others' surprise, the discussion about the blood brotherhood became very intense and lasted for a long time. Of course, all team members had no objections to the "blood brotherhood proposal" itself and expressed support and understanding. There was also no disagreement with Wang Xiaojun's suggestion to include Yuxu Zi in the blood brotherhood. The分歧 focused on Liu Wanbao.

Originally, when the "blood brotherhood proposal" was put to the assembly for discussion, everyone initially had no objections, thinking it was a good thing that should be supported. The committee members were also confident that the proposal would pass. However, just as Wang Xiaojun was about to announce a vote, Tang Chao suddenly suggested that Liu Wanbao should also be included, which led to intense discussions and even arguments among all the attendees.

Supporters believed that since Liu Wanbao had joined the穿越 team, he had worked diligently and contributed significantly to the reorganization of Feilong Fort. Considering his status among the soldiers, he should be included in the blood brotherhood to better control and command the soldiers of Feilong Fort.

Opponents argued that although Liu Wanbao had done a lot for the team, he was still an outsider and had previously been the powerful second-in-command of Feilong Fort. Perhaps he was now forced to submit to the穿越 team, but no one could guarantee that he wouldn't turn against them when the opportunity arose. For the team, if he remained an outsider, they could openly use various means to restrict and constrain his behavior, making it impossible for him to act. If they all became blood brothers with him, these control measures would lose their justification, and if he had ulterior motives, it would cause significant trouble for the team.

Supporters rebutted the opponents' arguments, stating that the opponents' points were based on speculation without actual evidence. Moreover, Yuxu Zi was also an outsider, and since the team could accept Yuxu Zi, why couldn't they accept Liu Wanbao?

Opponents countered that Liu Wanbao and Yuxu Zi could not be compared. Liu Wanbao had only recently joined, while Yuxu Zi had been in contact with the team since they arrived in this era and had even helped the team when they needed it most, making him a benefactor of the team, unlike Liu Wanbao.

Seeing the intense debate between the two sides, the four committee members neither participated nor intervened, as the supporters and opponents had clear factional lines, making it difficult for them to directly get involved. The supporters were mainly from the Xigu Infantry Battalion, while the opponents were mostly from the Dongshan faction. Most members of the Xigu Tank Company and Maintenance Battalion remained neutral. If it were a simple disagreement, a direct vote would suffice, but since it involved factional issues, a simple vote could lead to severe factional conflicts, which the committee members did not want to see. Even Zhang Weixin, who deliberately highlighted factional differences, only wanted to see factional distinctions, not conflicts. Therefore, the four committee members chose to observe and wait for both sides to tire before mediating.

Since the number of opponents far exceeded the supporters, and many opponents were eloquent, the opponents gradually gained the upper hand over time. At this point, Zhang Weixin spoke up, first signaling everyone to calm down and then said, "Everyone, please calm down and listen to me. From everyone's comments, it seems that everyone supports the idea of a blood brotherhood among team members, right?"

No one objected to Zhang Weixin's statement, so they all nodded in agreement.

Zhang Weixin continued, "Good. Since that's the case, I suggest we temporarily set aside the dispute and first vote on the part of the proposal that everyone agrees with, and implement it. As for the part that is being disputed, we can put it aside for now. Before the meeting, I consulted with Yuxu Zi about the rules of blood brotherhood in this era. According to him, a blood brotherhood can be supplemented when needed. This means that even if Liu Wanbao cannot join us this time due to differing opinions, we can still include him in the future if we reach a consensus. What do you think of this approach? Are you willing to accept this step-by-step method?"

Zhang Weixin's suggestion provided a third path, giving both sides hope of victory, and thus was accepted by both. Seeing that everyone accepted his compromise, Zhang Weixin immediately announced a vote on the "blood brotherhood proposal," which passed unanimously.

After the "blood brotherhood proposal" was passed and became a resolution of the general assembly, it entered the implementation phase. Considering that Qian Yuanshan, Zeng Zhilin, and others would soon return to Feilong Fort and had limited time to stay at "Qingyuan," and that Yuxu Zi had already returned to Yuxu Palace and needed time to be invited back, the blood brotherhood ceremony was scheduled for the morning of the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, two days later.

After the discussion, the穿越 team members returned to their respective tasks, while the four committee members went to Fuyaozi's residence to report the decision to their grandmaster. Fuyaozi approved their decision and supported their desire to form a blood brotherhood with Yuxu Zi, promising to send Qingchen to Yuxu Palace to inform Yuxu Zi and ask him to come down to participate in the ceremony. Fuyaozi then instructed the four to help and support each other like real brothers after the blood brotherhood, and not to treat it as a game. The four naturally agreed to their grandmaster's teachings. They chatted with Fuyaozi for a while before leaving the room.

On the afternoon of the 7th day of the 4th lunar month, Yuxu Zi returned to "Qingyuan" with Qingchen and was immediately taken to the small meeting room by the four committee members to discuss the details of the blood brotherhood ceremony.

Although the ancients took the blood brotherhood seriously, there were no strict rules for the ceremony, which could be adapted to the situation. If conditions were good, the ceremony could be more elaborate, with incense, chicken beheading, burning yellow paper, drinking blood wine, and making vows. If conditions were poor or the environment did not allow it, a simple ceremony with a makeshift altar and incense would suffice. The most important part was the commitment of the participants.

Since "Qingyuan" had the conditions, the committee decided to prepare the necessary items. That afternoon, the steward Deng An prepared all the required items according to the list provided by Yuxu Zi, ready for the ceremony the next day.

On the morning of the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, 35穿越 team members and Yuxu Zi, a total of 36 people, dressed neatly, gathered in the courtyard, standing in six rows on the steps of the main house, waiting solemnly for the ceremony to begin.

On the steps, Deng An had already set up a table with an incense burner, candles, and sacrificial offerings. Fuyaozi, Han Qingwen, and Zhong Ziqi also arrived to watch.

At 9:00 AM, Li Junwu, the oldest at 52, lit three incense sticks and respectfully placed them in the incense burner. Then, Deng An brought a jar of good wine, and the 36 people each pricked their fingers to drop their blood into the wine. Each person then poured a bowl of wine, knelt down, and, led by Li Junwu, read the oath together:

"We, 36 people, though of different surnames, have formed a blood brotherhood. We will trust each other with our lives, help each other in times of need, share happiness and misfortune, and support each other in times of hardship. We will work together to achieve greatness. We do not seek to be born on the same day, but we wish to die on the same day. Heaven and Earth, witness our hearts. If we betray this oath, may we be punished by heaven and earth!"

After reading the oath, the 36 people drank the wine in one go, bowed eight times to the north, and then stood up, arranging themselves in order of age. Li Junwu, the oldest, naturally became the eldest brother. Zhou Lei, Yu Wendeng, and Zhang Feiyun (Yuxu Zi's secular name) were all 48 years old and were ranked second to fourth based on their birth months.

The order of the other brothers was: Wang Xiaojun, You Yuan, Zhang Weixin, Xu Shaowan, Liu Wendong, Zhao Dawei, Qian Yuanshan, Huang Hai, Xie Tian, Fan Wucheng, Fu Guangsheng, Yuan Aiguo, Hong Yan, Lin Xiaoyu, Sun Yangyang, He Qiang, Huang Shan, Song Feiyang, Zhu Xiaoyuan, Tang Chao, Yang Xin, Zeng Zhilin, Wang Feng, Liang Ziyue, Cheng Fei, Lu Yue, Wu Peng, Fang Guoqiang, Hu Xueying, Zhong Tao, Mutel, and Gao Jun.

After the order was determined, everyone began to greet each other, calling each other brothers and performing the appropriate rituals. Since those ranked lower had to bow to those ranked higher, the courtyard was lively with activity. Li Junwu, being the eldest, stood there calmly, returning the bows, while the others had to both bow and return bows, making sure not to forget the order.

Among the 36 people, Gao Jun, the youngest, had the hardest time. He had to bow to all his elder brothers and had no chance to return the bows. By the time he finished, he was dizzy and his back was sore.

After the ceremony, it was nearly noon, and everyone was hungry. You Yuan, responsible for the team's daily life, quickly instructed Deng An to prepare a feast and gather all the servants and guards in "Qingyuan." Wang Xiaojun then informed all the servants about the blood brotherhood and required them to remember the order of the masters to avoid confusion in the future. The servants naturally agreed and tried their best to remember the order. From then on, all the managers, servants, shopkeepers, and employees in the穿越 team's residences and properties, as well as all the leaders and soldiers of Feilong Fort, began to address the穿越 team members as "Daddy," "Fifth Daddy," "Seventeenth Grandma," etc. The men were not bothered by these titles, but the women were unhappy about being called "Grandma," thinking it made them sound old. They tried to correct the servants, asking them to call them "Miss" or "Madam," but with little success. Eventually, they had to accept the reality of their new status.

After the blood brotherhood, the brothers celebrated for a few more days at "Qingyuan." On the 12th day of the 4th lunar month, Yuxu Zi came to bid farewell, saying he had to return to Yuxu Palace. Although the brothers were reluctant to let him go, they understood that many matters at Yuxu Palace needed his attention. They only hoped he would visit often. Yuxu Zi promised to visit whenever he had free time, and he encouraged the brothers to visit Yuxu Palace often, which the穿越 team members agreed to do.

The day after Yuxu Zi left, the members of the Feilong Fort留守 group and Liu Wanbao also came to bid farewell to the committee. Although Qian Yuanshan, Zeng Zhilin, and others wanted to stay longer to learn Tai Chi from their grandmaster, they had to return to Feilong Fort for several reasons. First, only a few deputy squad leaders like Liu Xiaoliu were managing the fort, which was not ideal without a leader. Second, the newly selected personal guard squad needed further training to better perform their security duties. Additionally, after Wang Xiaojun's marriage, the housing situation had become more crowded, and the team's plan to live separately was already on the agenda, making the need for new security personnel more urgent. Therefore, the Feilong Fort留守 group had to return as soon as possible.

Among them, Liu Wanbao was the most reluctant to leave. He had come with his wife and daughter but was leaving alone. Seeing the reluctance in his wife's eyes and the sadness in his daughter's eyes, Liu Wanbao felt very conflicted. However, for the future of his family, he had to leave them behind.

The committee approved their request and encouraged them to work hard to complete the training of the personal guard squad so that other functional groups could focus on their tasks. Wang Xiaojun also reminded the留守 group that the one-year anniversary of the team's arrival was approaching, and all team members would gather at Yuxu Palace for a ceremony. The留守 group should ensure that their training schedule did not conflict with this event.

Qian Yuanshan, Zeng Zhilin, and others noted these points and promised to arrange the schedule properly. The留守 group and Liu Wanbao then left "Qingyuan" and returned to Feilong Fort. The other members of the穿越 team saw them off at the gate, waving goodbye.