Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 216 I am Liu Bei Liu Xuande

In late summer of June, Liu Bei led his army back to Qingzhou and rested again in Hulu County of Shanyang County in Yanzhou.

Walking past a vegetable patch, the old house in front of me was in ruins. Through the half-collapsed wall, I could see weeds half a person tall in the yard. The cracked wooden door creaked in the wind.

He stopped Dian Wei who was about to push the door open, and used his eyes to signal Xu Chu not to make a sound. Liu Bei stepped forward and knocked lightly on the wooden door. He heard a cough from inside the room, and asked, "Who is it?"

"My name is Liu Bei, with the courtesy name Xuande. I'm here to deliver food and cloth to the military." Liu Bei said with a bow.

"Ahem, Liu Xuande? I haven't heard of him. Wasn't it Zhang Changli who delivered the corn and wheat before? How come he changed again... Wait a moment, I'll get up and open the door."

There was an old voice in the room, and he couldn't stop coughing while speaking, and there was some doubt in his words.

But Liu Bei was not dissatisfied. He bowed outside the door and said, "Thank you very much, father-in-law."

After waiting outside the door for a long time, the sound of footsteps with a cane was heard in the yard.

A sharp "creak" sound was heard, and the old man with gray hair, bony body and a hunched back opened the wooden door. A strange smell rushed into the noses of Dian Wei and Xu Chu, making them cover their noses and lean back.

Liu Bei remained motionless, and bowed to him and asked, "Excuse me, father-in-law, are you Li Leng's family?"

The old man's eyesight was not good, so he had to squint to look at the people in front of him. He felt that their robes seemed to be better than those of the village officials. He asked curiously, "Ahem, I am Li Leng's grandfather. What good things did my boy capture on the battlefield with Liu Shijun? Can you please mail it back to me?"

While coughing, he bowed and apologized, "Don't be offended, sir. I was born in a poor and humble family and have never seen anything good. Since I was selected to serve as an assistant soldier in the military office, I like to send home any captured items. Look, my back room is almost full."

Although the old man was blaming him, his face couldn't help but wrinkle with smile. He had also fought in the battlefield when he was young. Most people were lucky to survive on the battlefield. The fact that his boy was able to gain some success showed that the spear and stabbing method he had practiced hard at home before was still effective, at least better than others.

It doesn't matter how powerful he is, as long as he is stronger than others, he can survive on the battlefield.

Liu Bei also smiled and replied, "Jin Shi is always determined in the army and is the most diligent during training. It is only natural that he can achieve a lot on the battlefield."

"Is the officer the sergeant or squad leader of Li Leng? Otherwise, how would he know the nickname of that boy?" the old man asked in surprise.

Apart from the sergeant and the squad leader, few people know the soldiers' nicknames.

Only if he often hangs out with his soldiers and has a close relationship with them, would he know.

But looking at Liu Bei's robe and crown, they don't look like those worn by a sergeant or a squad leader, so he should be a higher-level military officer.

As expected, Liu Bei nodded and smiled, "My dear father, you have a good eye. I am the head of the military settlement where Jinshi is."

"I knew you were an honored guest." The old man also said with a smile, and then asked quickly: "Captain Liu, has the army ended the war? Ever since my son followed Envoy Liu to conquer the capital, he hasn't sent any letters home for a long time."

"He didn't write to ask me last winter. If I died in the house, who would he see when he came back? Why hasn't that bastard Liu come back yet? Isn't it his turn to be stationed in a foreign land again?"

The old man asked with a smile, but his heart skipped a beat because it was too abnormal.

The captain has returned, so how could he not come back as a soldier, unless he can never come back.

Among the Han army, only those who died in battle would have their remains collected and sent back to their hometowns. The county would provide them with clothing, quilts, coffins and burial supplies, and then send officials to oversee the burial.

"Captain Liu, please don't scare me. I'm old and I only have my young grandson at home. I'm counting on him to mourn and send off my family."

The old man's legs and feet began to tremble, and he said with a forced smile.

Liu Bei quickly helped the old man steady himself and said in a deep voice, "Don't panic, old man. I came here to tell you good news. Jin Shi is highly regarded by Lord Xuande in the army and has been transferred to the Ruichong Camp as a personal guard. He is now a combat soldier and has an additional fifty acres of farmland." "But he has to return to Pingyuan County with Lord Xuande without stopping, so he asked me to stop by and see his grandfather."

"This is the reward he gave me for his meritorious service in the army. I brought it back."

After Liu Bei finished speaking, he carefully took out the money wrapped in linen from his arms, opened it with joy to show his father-in-law, and gestured with his hands to show Li Leng's bravery on the battlefield. The father-in-law, who was praising him so much, couldn't help laughing.

Finally, Liu Bei gently handed it to the other party and replied, "Jinshi is valued by the envoy and will not return home for the time being. I have already informed the local officials that the fifty acres of land I won from the war can be hired by nearby people to cultivate, and millet can be harvested when the harvest comes."

"Captain Liu really didn't lie to me?"

When Liu Bei turned around to leave, the old man couldn't help but ask again, holding the sackcloth, with hope in his words.

"Of course!" Liu Bei bowed to the east and said with a smile: "Who dares to make fun of Lord Xuande's name in Yanzhou? This is true without a doubt. Please don't worry, old man."

"Lord Xuande is truly a lord of elders. He thinks highly of my humble son. Even if he dies on the battlefield for you, I will not regret it. What more can I ask for when I am valued by a noble man?"

The old man was silent for a while, then he smiled with wrinkles on his face and said.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei stood still, then took a step back and bowed deeply.

"Father, please go back quickly. I'm leaving now."

After saying that, he took Dian Wei and Xu Chu and walked away. After walking dozens of steps, he turned around and looked back. His father-in-law was still standing alone at the door.

Liu Bei raised his sleeve to wipe away the dust, and with Dian Wei and Xu Chu on his back, he looked up at the sky and said, "The sandstorm is really strong today."

Turning back, he saw Xu Chu and Dian Wei also looking up at the sky. Liu Bei did not expose them, so he coughed dryly and said, "Let's go. We still have some miscellaneous matters to deal with."

However, after riding for more than two miles, they saw nearly a hundred officials, their bodies shaved like sieves, waiting in the fields, and the soldiers of the Ruichong Camp were standing solemnly in armor and holding weapons.

Liu Bei pointed and sneered, "I have issued strict orders many times, giving top priority to the financial compensation of comrades who died in battle, and not to accept bribes. Don't say I didn't warn you, but I didn't expect that even with this, it's hard to stop selfish desires."

"Even the military office outside the county government office has allowed a bunch of you thieves and parasites to sneak in and serve as officials. It seems that the governor and the commander are both incompetent. Do you still think it is the time of Emperor Xiaoling?"

"Lord Dian, put all the people in jail. Zijing, you will investigate the military affairs of Hulu County. Whoever is found to be behind this pest will be severely punished."

"Yes!" Dian Wei and Lu Su bowed in unison.

"Immediately send a document to transfer Jiyin Governor Zhao Yun to take over as Shanyang County Governor."

Liu Bei ordered.

"Lord Xuande, I know I was wrong. Please forgive us for the sake of the Li family."

"Lord Xuande, spare my life!"

"Sir, this matter has nothing to do with me. I am completely unaware of it. I hope you will understand."

Many officials knelt on the ground and cried out, and the sound of wailing was endless.

(End of this chapter)