The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 348 What are Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Xu Chu anyway? I'll beat you all together!

Luoyang, Nangong.

This day, early morning court.

Liu Bei sat upright in his seat, his fingertips lightly tapping the register on the table.

Today is the day for Naimao to be tested.

Liu Bei, on a whim today, decided to personally assess the talents under his command.

The scholar in blue robes kneeling below the steps was Cui He, a talented scholar from Zhuojun recommended by Wang Xiong, the governor of Youzhou.

Cui He was about thirty years old and had a fair complexion.

His features revealed a scholarly air, but lacked any hint of competence.

Therefore, among all the strategists, Liu Bei chose him to test.

"Mr. Cui."

Upon hearing Liu Bei's call, Cui He held the scroll with both hands, his voice trembling slightly:
"Your subject Cui He pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Liu Bei nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the strategy he presented, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Cui Sheng, I have read your writing. It is rich in classical allusions and beautifully written."

"However, governing the country and bringing peace to the people is not solely achieved through literary talent."

"Let me ask you—"

He closed the bamboo scroll, his voice deep and slow:
"If you were the magistrate of this county, and there was a spring drought with no rain, causing famine among the people, what would you do?"

Cui He was taken aback, then cupped his hands and replied:

"Your subject shall open the granaries and distribute grain to relieve the disaster victims."

Liu Bei's gaze turned slightly cold:

"How much grain is stored in the granary? How much should be released? How can we ensure it won't be seized by powerful clansmen?"

Sweat beaded on Cui He's forehead as he stammered, "..."

"This...this matter should be handled according to the old regulations of the imperial court, and the county magistrate and the registrar should be responsible for its calculation..."

Snapped!
Liu Bei slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups clatter.

The founding emperor, his face contorted with rage, roared:

"I'm asking what 'you' should do!"

"A county magistrate doesn't even know the number of granaries?"

"You fail to plan for disasters and shirk responsibility in everything. How can I entrust the people to your care?"

The officials below held their breath, and the hall fell silent for a moment.

None of the officials in the court dared to utter a word.

"Who recommended Cui He?"

Liu Bei asked.

The Qi and Han dynasties still use the recommendation system for selecting officials.

This is, after all, an ancestral law that has been in place for four hundred years of the Han Dynasty, and it cannot be changed immediately.

Liu Bei's decision to personally examine his sons was also a way of taking responsibility for his people.

After all, officials selected through the recommendation system enjoyed considerable prestige.

For example, those who were recommended for official positions through the "filial piety and incorruptibility" system were generally appointed as "Langguan," which meant they were candidates for official positions in the central government.

The title of "Maocai" is a higher rank than "Xiaolian," and those who are appointed will be directly assigned to local areas as county magistrates or other similar positions.

Some talented individuals were directly appointed as officials with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain), which is equivalent to the rank of prefect or one of the Nine Ministers.

Therefore, "Maocai" was the most prestigious title in the recommendation system.

Generally, it was a state or county recommendation.

When Liu Bei was the governor of Yu Province, he recommended Yuan Huan and Yuan Tan as outstanding talents.

In addition, each of the three categories of scholars can recommend three people each year.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies can recommend one person, and the Commandant of the Capital Region can recommend one person.

If there is a general whose rank is comparable to the Three Dukes, one person can be recommended.

All told, the number of places for the Maocai program is at most around twenty per year.

This number is less than one-tenth of the number of those who were recommended for the civil service examination.

The principle of scarcity makes things valuable, which made being recommended as a "Maocai" (a high-ranking scholar) an extremely prestigious honor and a distinguished qualification in society at that time.

Liu Bei had also served as the magistrate of Pingyuan, so he knew how much talent was needed to govern a county.

However, Cui He clearly did not meet his minimum standard, which is why he asked who recommended him.

Someone might answer:
"This was recommended by Wang Xiong, the governor of Youzhou."

With this remark,
Ministers in the court who were on good terms with Wang Xiong quickly stepped forward to speak on their friend's behalf:

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Although Cui He is not good at practical matters, he is well-versed in classical studies."

"Given time, he will surely become a man of great talent."

"Give it time?"

Liu Bei sneered, "My people cannot wait for the day when 'given time' will come!"

He stood up and walked over to Cui He, his eyes piercing.

"Since you have read the books of sages and worthies, do you know that 'the people are the foundation of the state'?"

"From the very beginning of my reign, I have always regarded the people as the foundation and the most important thing in my life."

"Even now that I am in the highest position, I dare not forget."

"You are a talented scholar; you will surely become a local official in a county."

"The magistrate of a county is responsible to both the imperial court and the common people; he is not here for you to sit and discuss matters!"

"If we can't even keep track of the grain in the granaries, how can we ensure the people's well-being? How can we govern the county?"

Cui He's face turned ashen, and he lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise his head.

Liu Bei turned away, flicked his sleeves, and announced sternly:
Cui and Maocai were stripped of their qualifications and sent back to their hometowns to rebuild the administration.

Wang Xiong was fined half a year's salary and demoted to Prefect of Dai Commandery.

After dealing with Wang Xiong and Cui He, the atmosphere in the hall became unusually heavy.

All the officials were solemn, fearing that they might get into trouble.

Liu Bei, still furious, swept his gaze across the assembled officials before finally settling on Prime Minister Li Yi.

"Prime Minister Li."

The emperor's voice was deep and resonant: "All the northern provinces are under your jurisdiction."

"But let's see what kind of person Wang Xiong has recommended?"

"Even if I have the keen eye to see the finest details while I am in the court, it is still difficult for me to know the true situation in the local areas."

"If all officials in the land were like this, wouldn't my empire be ruined by these incompetent people?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yi straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and prostrated himself in worship.

"Your Majesty, I have failed in your grace and failed to supervise properly, and I dare not shirk my responsibility."

His voice was calm and steady, without the slightest attempt to defend himself.

“Wang Xiong recommended the wrong person, and as the Prime Minister, I cannot shirk my responsibility.”

"Your Majesty's demotion of him to Prefect of Dai Commandery is already an act of leniency."

"I request to waive my salary for one year as a warning to others."

Liu Bei stared at Li Yi for a moment, and seeing that he looked calm and showed no intention of shirking responsibility, his anger subsided slightly.

"Enough," the emperor sighed, "this matter cannot be entirely blamed on you."

"The nation was newly established, and everything was in need of rebuilding."

"The system for selecting officials is not yet perfect, but you have done your best."

Liu Bei also realized that this was not Li Yi's problem.

The reason for this problem is that Liu Bei's power transformed from a local warlord into a state regime.

In the past, local officials mostly practiced nepotism, appointing trusted confidants to their posts.

This is mainly to strengthen control over local areas.

However, the downside is that these high-ranking officials can easily develop into powerful regional governors.

Now that Liu Bei has become emperor, he will naturally gradually reclaim local power and transfer it to the central government.

Li Yi returned to the court, but nominally remained the leader of the north.

However, he no longer participates in many personnel appointments and removals.

Because prefects also have terms of service and are subject to performance evaluations; they are replaced when their terms expire.

In fact, the North was one of the first regions to reinstate term-based performance evaluations.

This is inseparable from Li Yi's voluntary relinquishment of power.

In contrast, Liu Bei had not yet fully regained control of the south.

Take, for example, Chen Deng, the leader of Huainan.

When rewarding meritorious officials, Liu Bei hinted to Chen Deng that he should remain in the central government.

Its purpose, of course, was to reclaim local power in the south.

Even if Chen Deng returns to the central government, he will still be nominally the leader of Huainan and Jiangnan, just like Li Yi.

After all, he had worked there for so many years, and his network of contacts was there.

It's not like you'll lose everything just because you're transferred away from this place.

However, staying there will indeed allow him to expand his network of contacts.

However, Chen Deng was used to his freedom and did not want to return to the central government to take up a post.

He also preferred to stay by the river and eat raw fish.

Carp from Luoyang are no longer eaten...

Liu Bei had no choice but to grant Chen Deng's request and appointed him as the "Governor-General of Huainan".

After all, he was a founding hero, and he didn't want people to criticize him for treating his meritorious officials poorly.

However, Liu Bei did not feel particularly anxious about this.

You have to eat one bite at a time, and you have to go step by step.

Take your time, there's no rush.

At least for now, the country is functioning well.

"Your Majesty is holy."

"I will thoroughly investigate the performance evaluations of officials in the northern prefectures, rectify official corruption, and absolutely not allow those who hold positions without performing their duties to jeopardize national affairs."

Li Yi bowed again, and the assembled officials followed suit.

Liu Bei then waved his hand, signaling the eunuch to announce the end of the court session.

After the court session ended, Liu Bei kept Li Yi alone in his study.

The air is filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the bamboo shadows sway gently outside the window.

Xuande personally poured a cup of tea and pushed it to the table.

"Minister Li, I have thought about today's matter very carefully."

"Does this system of selecting officials through recommendation have any flaws?"

Li Yi held the teacup in both hands, his eyes lowered.
"Why does Your Majesty say this? Since Emperor Xiaowu created the system of recommendation and selection, the selection of officials and appointment of capable people has followed this system for the past four hundred years."

"Does His Majesty intend to change the laws established by our ancestors?"

Ah.

Liu Bei laughed out loud and tapped the table with his fingers.

"It's just the two of us here, why bother with such bureaucratic talk?"

His gaze was intense. "I do not believe that you, as the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, have painstakingly promoted private schools and improved papermaking, just so that the people can learn a few more characters."

Amidst the rising steam of tea, Li Yi finally raised his eyes.

"Your Majesty is holy."

He took a sip of tea. "But this matter... cannot be rushed."

"Oh?"

"The recommendation system was deeply rooted and involved the interests of the gentry throughout the land."

Li Yi frowned slightly and said seriously:
"If we make hasty changes, it may cause chaos and unrest."

"In recent years, I have established many private schools and published classics, precisely to prepare for the future."

After the recommendation system was implemented in the Han Dynasty for two or three hundred years, various drawbacks began to emerge in the mid-to-late Eastern Han Dynasty.

For example, scholars fabricated reputations, and those who recommended officials engaged in corruption and other malpractices.

To summarize the recommendation system in one sentence, the essence of recommending filial and incorruptible individuals was to recommend relatives and friends.

To put it more bluntly, it can also be called the principal recommendation system.

Therefore, in 132 AD, measures were taken to address the drawbacks of the recommendation system.

Minister Zuo Xiong then proposed a series of new policies to reform the recommendation system.

This includes, but is not limited to, age restrictions for those being nominated.

Those who were recommended for the position of filial and incorruptible officials were all required to come to the central government for an examination.

The examination consisted of the following: "Students must be proficient in classical texts, and clerks must be able to draft memorials."

If you are recommended as a Confucian scholar, you will also be tested on your knowledge of Confucian classics.

Those recommended as officials will be tested on their administrative documents.

This is the historically famous "Yangjia New System".

Before the Yangjia Reforms, those recommended for the positions of filial piety and integrity or outstanding talent were appointed to official positions directly without taking any examinations.

It all depends on how well the Lord knows them.

Therefore, the Yangjia New System was definitely a step forward, but it was still not standardized enough.

For example, in the Cui He incident that Liu Bei encountered this time, if Liu Bei hadn't suddenly decided to personally assess one or two officials...

He also wouldn't realize that there's still a possibility that newly promoted officials might be dismissed.

This shows that these individuals who were recommended still had ways to circumvent the central examination.

Unfortunately, this Mr. Cui was unlucky; he happened to be called upon by Liu Bei.

He's just unlucky.

Faced with this problem, Liu Bei knew that the only solution was to change this ancestral law that had been in place for four hundred years during the Han Dynasty.

Yes, it's been four hundred years.

Four hundred years have allowed the world to clearly see its advantages and disadvantages.

That's enough to let people know how to make it better.

It's just that many people don't dare to do it.

The reason, as Li Yi stated, involves the core interests of the aristocratic class.

When it moves, the world trembles.

We can only proceed gradually.

"How many private schools were opened last year?" Liu Bei asked.

"Three hundred and seventy-two."

Without hesitation, Li Yi said, "Among them, 215 new schools have been added in the north, and most of them use the 'movable type printing' technique that I improved to print teaching materials."

Liu Bei nodded and said:

"The north is the core area of ​​scholars, so we should go north first and then south."

"That's how it should be, that's how it should be..."

He walked to the window; it was midsummer.

Morning dew still clung to the leaves of the sycamore trees in Luoyang's West Garden.

Liu Bei suddenly threw down his brush, turned to Li Yi, and smiled:
"I wish to travel incognito to inspect private schools in the countryside. Would you be willing to accompany me?"

On a whim, Liu Bei wanted to see if the large-scale establishment of private schools would improve the overall quality of the population.

Li Yi cupped his hands and said:

"Your Majesty has given the order, and I will obey."

"But Your Majesty's health is of paramount importance..."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Bei waved his hand and said:
"It's just a routine visit, why be so formal?"

Even if traveling incognito, guards must be readily available.

Li Yi solemnly replied, "I will inform General Zilong."

Liu Bei stroked his beard and chuckled:

"Xu Zhongkang is sufficient to accompany us; why trouble Zilong?"

Xu Chu was Liu Bei's personal bodyguard, while Zhao Yun had a broader scope of authority.

Liu Bei thought there was no need for such trouble; he could simply have Xu Chu accompany him.

"His Majesty."

Li Yi solemnly advised, "Zilong is in charge of the Central Guard, and it is his duty to protect the palace."

Even if you don't go with them, you should still let them know.

The implication is that even if Lao Liu doesn't bring Zilong along, the other party still has the right to know.

After all, people have a duty to protect the safety of the royal family.

As they were talking, they suddenly heard the soft tinkling of jade pendants.

Zhao Yun, dressed in white robes and silver armor, emerged from the corridor, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"Your Majesty, I request to accompany you on your journey."

Liu Bei frowned and sighed:
"The reason I am making this trip is precisely to avoid a large commotion, especially with so many people around..."

"I will not bring any personal guards."

Without hesitation, Zhao Yun replied, "I will accompany you as a commoner."

Seeing that Liu Bei was still hesitant, Li Yi gently advised him:

"Zhongkang and Zilong were both warriors capable of defeating ten thousand men."

"With these two by my side, even if something unexpected happens, we can be completely safe."

Liu Bei then agreed.

……

The morning light was just beginning to break outside the west corner gate of Luoyang Palace.

Liu Bei wore a blue robe and a scholar's cap, while Li Yi wore a plain robe and a scholar's cap.

Zhao Yun wore white robes and carried a sword, while Xu Chu wore coarse cloth and short clothes.

Just as the four were about to ride out of the palace, they suddenly heard a loud shout from behind:
"Brother!"

Liu Bei turned around and saw Guan Yu and Zhang Fei quickly chasing after him.

Guan Yu, still wearing his green robe and golden crown, and though he wasn't carrying the Green Dragon Crescent Blade at his waist, still exuded majesty.

Zhang Fei, on the other hand, took off his general's armor, changed into a set of close-fitting clothes, and had a wine gourd hanging from his waist, his face full of excitement.

"Brother, since you're going out, why didn't you call us?"

Zhang Fei strode forward and put his arm around Liu Bei's shoulder.

"Since you became emperor, how long has it been since we brothers drank and rode horses together?"

Liu Bei chuckled and patted Zhang Fei's hand:

"Third brother, I am traveling incognito this time, not sightseeing."

"Then we should definitely be included!"

Zhang Fei's eyes widened. "Brother, you are now the Emperor. If you encounter any ignorant thieves, watch me, Old Zhang, take them all down with one punch!"

Guan Yu stroked his beard and chuckled:

"Third brother is right."

“Since you are traveling incognito, it would be safer to have more brothers to look after you.”

Liu Bei, feeling helpless, looked at Li Yi:
"Ziyu, look at this..."

Li Yi smiled slightly:
"Your Majesty, General Guan and General Zhang are both warriors capable of defeating ten thousand men."

"It would be safer to travel together."

Zhao Yun nodded in agreement:
"With two generals here, ordinary scoundrels would never dare to approach."

Liu Bei shook his head and chuckled, thinking to himself, "You two really know how to handle people."

"Very well, but Third Brother—"

He looked at Zhang Fei seriously and said, "You must promise me that you will keep a low profile on this trip and not cause any trouble."

Zhang Fei patted his chest:
"Don't worry, brother! I, Old Zhang, will pretend to be mute today and won't make a sound!"

Guan Yu raised an eyebrow:

“It would be a miracle if my third brother could resist drinking.”

Zhang Fei chuckled and patted the wine gourd at his waist:
"Don't worry, Second Brother, I only brought one gourd with me today, and I won't drink too much!"

Everyone laughed.

Looking at his two sworn brothers, Liu Bei's eyes warmed even more.

Even though they are now separated by power and status, this brotherhood has never been estranged because of power and position.

"Let's go." Liu Bei mounted his horse.

"Today, let's be chivalrous knights again."

Zhang Fei laughed heartily and deliberately bumped into Xu Chu as he mounted his horse.

"Zhongkang, don't steal my thunder today!"

Xu Chu said in a muffled voice:
"General Zhang is too kind. This humble general is only responsible for guarding."

Guan Yu stroked his long beard and looked at everyone with a smile.

"Third brother, you just said you wanted to be mute."

Zhang Fei scratched his head:

"Oh dear, I forgot in my excitement!"

Liu Bei shook his head and chuckled, then whipped his horse and spurred it on.

"drive!"

The six riders rode side by side, stepping into the morning light, and galloped towards the outskirts of Luoyang.

"What a prosperous scene!"

Liu Bei reined in his horse, and as soon as he left the palace, he saw the bustling streets before him and couldn't help but sigh.

Shops lined both sides of the street, and colorful fabrics hanging in front of the silk shop fluttered gently in the morning breeze, while the aroma of fine wine wafted from the entrance of the tavern.

Camel caravans from the Western Regions jingled as goods from merchant ships from Jiangnan were continuously arriving at the docks.

Who could imagine that this was once a city burned down by Dong Zhuo?

Zhang Fei couldn't help but sigh:

"Indeed, this is much more lively than the market we saw in Zhuojun back then."

Guan Yu stroked his beard and praised:
"I didn't expect Luoyang to recover so quickly."

"I remember when I accompanied Your Majesty into the city two years ago, there were still many refugees here."

Liu Bei nodded, turned to Li Yi, and praised him:
"Minister Li, Luoyang can be revitalized from the calamities of Dong Zhuo's burning and Cao Cao's relocation of people."

"Such a remarkable achievement in just two years is largely thanks to you."

Li Yi bowed slightly on his horse.

"This is due to His Majesty's great fortune, and all officials are devoted to their duties."

"The cabinet drafted a reconstruction plan, the Ministry of the Imperial Household Department supervised the construction of the palace, and the Ministry of Agriculture allocated funds and grain."

"And countless ordinary people work day and night."

"I merely acted as a mediator."

Li Yi maintained his consistently humble attitude.

Although what he did was just a trivial matter in his political career.

But ultimately, it's because Luoyang has such a good foundation.

Its well-developed transportation network ensured that even a weakened camel is bigger than a horse.

It was not because of its prosperity that it became the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty, but because of its favorable geographical location that it was able to become the capital.

Then, the government's preferential policies led to its prosperity.

Li Yi merely took advantage of Luoyang's superior geographical environment and then carried out some regional planning.

Once resources are properly allocated, recovery will naturally be faster.

"Let's dismount."

Liu Bei and his men tied up their horses and began walking.

Arriving at the intersection of Nanshi Street, one finds a bustling crowd.

Liu Bei and his entourage stopped at a street stall and enjoyed freshly baked flatbread and candied fruit.

Zhang Fei swallowed three flatbreads in one gulp and mumbled a praise:
"This cake is even more fragrant than the ones in the palace!"

Guan Yu slowly broke the flatbread, dipped it in sesame paste, and savored it.

Liu Bei was watching his two sworn brothers bicker with a smile when he suddenly heard a sobbing sound coming from not far away. Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw a little girl, about seven or eight years old, squatting in the corner of the wall.

His clothes were tattered, and he was wiping away tears with his sleeve.

Liu Bei frowned, quickly stepped forward, squatted down, and asked in a gentle voice:

"Little girl, why are you crying?"

The girl looked up, revealing a pretty face streaked with tears.

"My purse was stolen... That was the money my grandmother gave me to buy medicine..."

Upon hearing this, a flash of anger crossed Liu Bei's eyes, and his chivalrous nature immediately surfaced:
Where is the person who robbed you?

He absolutely could not accept that robbery could occur in broad daylight under his jurisdiction.

The girl pointed timidly to the street corner:

"The one in the gray clothes..."

As everyone looked over, they saw a thin young man hurriedly slipping into the crowd.

"Don't be afraid."

Liu Bei took out some candied fruit he had just bought from his pocket and stuffed it into the girl's hand.

"Here, have these first. I'll go get the money back."

The girl took the candied fruit in a daze, then suddenly rushed forward and hugged Liu Bei's arm, tears welling up in her eyes again:

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Liu Bei patted her head and got up to chase after her.

Li Yi suddenly reached out to stop him:
"My lord, there is something fishy about this."

"Hmm?" Liu Bei frowned.

Li Yi whispered:
"The girl's behavior was strange, and the person she pointed to was walking unsteadily, unlike a habitual thief."

"I fear there may be a trap involved, so we should not believe it lightly."

Liu Bei was immediately displeased:

"Ziyu, have you been an official for too long and forgotten your original intentions?"

"You're a good person in every way, except that you always think about things through a political lens."

"You even doubt a three-foot-tall child, a little girl who can't even kill a chicken. Don't you think that's going a bit too far?"

Li Yi hesitated, then remained silent and withdrew.

Zhang Fei, however, could no longer contain himself.

"Brother, I'll go and bring that little thief here!"

Having said that, without waiting for a response, he strode towards the man in gray.

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Fei had grabbed the gray-clad man by the collar, his eyes wide with fury:

"You thief! Hand over your money pouch!"

The man looked bewildered, and the vegetable basket in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud," scattering radishes and greens all over the place.

"W-what money bag? I-I just came to buy groceries..."

He was so frightened by Zhang Fei that he collapsed to the ground, completely at a loss.

Passersby quickly gathered around, pointing and whispering.

Someone recognized the man and called out:
"Isn't this Old Wang from the tofu shop on East Street?"

"He came to buy groceries before dawn, why would he rob us?"

“Yes!” a woman carrying a basket chimed in.

"Old Wang has been selling tofu here for over ten years. He's honest and upright. How could he do something like this?"

Liu Bei frowned, realizing something was wrong, and quickly stepped forward to pull Zhang Fei away:

"Third brother, hold on!"

Zhang Fei was still unconvinced and shouted:

"Brother, that girl clearly pointed him out!"

Old Wang rubbed his neck, which was sore from being pulled, his face full of grievance:
"Gentlemen, I truly have no idea what a money pouch is!"

"I didn't even bring enough copper coins when I went out to buy groceries this morning, so how could I possibly have the money to rob someone?"

A murmur arose around them, and someone whispered:
"These people look unfamiliar. Could they be trying to extort money from us?"

Liu Bei was speechless for a moment, and the scene became awkward.

Xu Chu coldly surveyed the crowd, his hand already resting on the sword at his waist.

Zhao Yun quietly moved aside to protect Liu Bei.

Li Yi suddenly chuckled and stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting.

"I'm really sorry, sir."

He spoke sincerely, took out a string of copper coins from his sleeve, and stuffed it into Old Wang's hand.

"When we first arrived in Luoyang, a young girl was crying and complaining that her purse had been stolen. She pointed to you, brother."

"Now it seems we may have mistaken the person for someone else."

Old Wang was stunned. He looked down at the money in his hand. It was a newly issued Jingyuan Tongbao coin, which was very valuable.

Upon hearing Li Yi say that they were from out of town, his anger subsided slightly.

"I was wondering why your accents didn't sound like those of locals from Luoyang. You must be from the north, right?"

"Yes, we are merchants from Zhuojun."

"Oh my, Zhuojun is the birthplace of the current emperor!"

There were people whispering around.

As Liu Bei's hometown, Zhuojun also benefited.

Thanks to government policy support, a group of wealthy people have emerged.

Therefore, even the governor of Luoyang dared not discriminate against the people of Zhuojun.

"This money..."

Old Wang weighed the Jingyuan coins in his hand and looked at Li Yi blankly.

Li Yi bent down to help him pick up the scattered vegetables and put them back in the basket, saying gently:
"Consider this money as compensation for your food expenses and to calm your nerves."

"We will definitely come to apologize another day and try your tofu."

Seeing his sincere attitude, Old Wang's anger subsided considerably.

"Never mind, since it's a misunderstanding."

"How could Wang be such a petty person?"

Seeing Li Yi's humility, the surrounding chatter gradually subsided.

Some people couldn't help but joke:
"Old Wang, that scare was worth it! This money is enough to buy groceries for half a month!"

"Go! Go! Go!"

Old Wang impatiently rebuked those who were making fun of him, saying, "I was startled by that dark-faced man just now."

“You have no idea how frightening it is; you might even develop some health problems from it.”

"I still have to go to the pharmacy to pick up medicine."

Seeing that Old Wang was acting innocent despite getting a good deal, everyone crowded around him and teased him, insisting that he treat them to a meal.

Old Wang then started joking around with everyone, and no one paid any more attention to Liu Bei and the others.

Li Yi smiled, turned to look at Liu Bei, and said softly:
"My lord, it's time for us to go."

Liu Bei understood, bowed to the old king in apology, and then left with his men.

On the way, Zhang Fei was still indignant, his eyes wide open, and he asked in a gruff voice:

"Brother, this matter is very strange."

"Why would that girl falsely accuse the tofu seller? Could she be his accomplice?"

Liu Bei frowned slightly, stroked his beard, and pondered:
"Bei also found it strange."

"The girl's crying was genuine, not feigned, so why did she disappear into thin air?"

Li Yi's gaze remained calm as he spoke:
"If my lord finds this strange, he may turn back and take a look."

Zhao Yun nodded in agreement:
"Mr. Ziyu is absolutely right."

“That girl’s behavior is unusual; she is probably not an ordinary beggar.”

The group then turned their horses around and returned to their original spot, only to find the corner empty.

Where has the little girl been?
Only the candied fruit that Liu Bei had just given him remained on the ground, lying forlornly on the bluestone slab.

Liu Bei was stunned:

"Could it be... that Bei has truly been deceived?"

He shook his head and smiled wryly, then said to himself, puzzled:

"But what good would it do for that little girl to deceive me?"

"Is it just to toy with us?"

"I doubt it!"

Li Yi's eyes flickered slightly, and he suddenly said:
"Does Your Majesty still remember that little girl who rushed into your arms and clung tightly to your arm?"

Liu Bei was taken aback. "That is indeed true."

Li Yi said softly, "Your Majesty might as well check your personal belongings to see if they are still there?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei instinctively reached into his robes, his expression changing drastically:
"My purse is gone!"

As soon as this statement came out, everyone had different expressions.

Zhang Fei's eyes were wide open in anger, his beard bristled, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

"Damn it! This little thief dares to play tricks on us!"

After speaking, he turned to Liu Bei.

"Brother! How can we tolerate this?"

"I'll go and drag that little girl out right now, and show her what happens when she steals from us brothers!"

Xu Chu also angrily pressed his sword down:

"Your Majesty is the most exalted ruler of the land; how can you allow such a petty person to bully you?"

"This humble general requests permission to search the entire city!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yi couldn't help but shudder.

Even if you are the emperor and have abundant political resources, you can't just waste the whole city searching for a little girl like that.

Sure enough, Liu Bei waved his hand, his expression indifferent:

"Never mind, it's only a few hundred coins anyway."

"If the girl hadn't been driven to desperation, why would she have ended up like this?"

Zhang Fei was so anxious he stamped his feet:
"Brother, you're the emperor now, how can you still be so soft-hearted?"

"Back when you were the county magistrate of Anxi, the newly arrived inspector didn't see you."

"You led your men straight in, tied up that inspector, and whipped him two hundred times!"

Liu Bei chuckled upon hearing this and patted Zhang Fei on the shoulder:

"Third brother, back then we were wandering knights, and it was perfectly fine to act swiftly and decisively."

"But now..."

He looked around the bustling streets and thought, "If I were to make a big fuss over a few hundred coins and compete with the people for profit, wouldn't I chill their hearts?"

Xu Chu, unusually, spoke up:
"Isn't this competing with the people for profit? Can Your Majesty tolerate the common people under your rule stealing chickens and dogs and engaging in such petty theft?"

"In my opinion, we should take people to arrest him and deal with him according to the law."

Liu Bei laughed and said:

"Zhongkang's words are wrong."

"I am not the Emperor of Han today, but merely Lord Liu, traveling incognito."

Li Yi added from the side:

"Liu Gong, whose chivalrous spirit remains unchanged, is still kind-hearted even after being deceived."

"This is why Your Excellency is able to be the ruler of all people."

Guan Yu smiled, stroked his beard, and nodded.

“My elder brother is kind and benevolent, and he is a role model for us to follow.”

"The girl was dressed in thin clothes; she must have had a difficult time."

Zhao Yun also spoke gently:
"Yes, although that girl had done something wrong."

"However, I really cannot bear to make things difficult for her."

"Your Majesty's decision to stop is of utmost gratitude to me."

Guan Yu and Zhao Yun both had a deep-seated sympathy for the weak and the common people.

They never intended to cause trouble for the little girl.

Seeing that Liu Bei did not intend to pursue the matter, the two were very happy.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's expression shifted, and he suddenly took out another brocade pouch from his sleeve.

"In that case..."

He placed a few pieces of silver next to the candied fruit in the corner of the wall.

Zhang Fei's eyes widened:

"Brother! You..."

Xu Chu was also dumbfounded:
"Your Majesty, this...this..."

"If she returns to get food, this money might solve her problem."

Zhang Fei was a typical person who "did not care about petty people" and in his eyes only intellectuals were worthy of respect.

Just now, a despicable thief not only stole their money but also played a trick on them.

It made them lose face in front of everyone.

Old Zhang is very concerned about his reputation. If he catches that girl, he'll definitely whip her dozens of times.

Of course, Zhang Fei thought his personality was pretty good.

If this girl had fallen into Gan Ning's hands, she would have been hung high in the tree and shot to death.

Liu Bei laughed loudly:

"I am dressed incognito today. I am not the emperor, but merely a meddlesome old knight-errant!"

He then mounted his horse and said, "Let's go see how the official school is being built."

Xu Chu and Zhang Fei had no choice but to follow Liu Bei.

Along the way, Liu Bei noticed that Zhang Fei was still sullen, so he smiled and patted him on the shoulder:

"Third brother, why get angry over such a trivial matter?"

"Come on, let your brother buy you a new outfit!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei's anger immediately turned to joy:
"Really? My brother understands me best!"

As the group entered the shop, they saw various silks and satins displayed there, shimmering and sparkling under the candlelight.

Liu Bei glanced around and was immediately drawn to several bolts of Shu brocade.

The brocade surface was adorned with swirling cloud patterns and concealed gold threads, making it incredibly gorgeous and beautiful.

"What a beautiful piece!"

Liu Bei clapped his hands in praise, then turned to his master and said:

"This one, this one, and that blue one, wrap them all up for me... cough, wrap them all up!"

Liu Bei, as always, liked nice clothes.

Based on the principle of "everyone who sees it gets a share," he planned to get one for each of his brothers.

When the host saw that a wealthy guest had arrived, he quickly greeted him with a beaming smile:

"Sir, you have good eyesight!"

"These are all newly arrived Shu brocades this year, and the princes and nobles in the capital are all scrambling to get them!"

Zhang Fei couldn't wait to measure a piece of crimson brocade with floral patterns:

"Brother, I want this horse to make a battle robe!"

Guan Yu shook his head and chuckled:

"Third brother, why does your battle robe have to be so flashy?"

“Second Brother doesn’t understand,” Zhang Fei grinned. “If I don’t wear this battle robe, how will others know that I am a spirited general?”

Liu Bei clapped his hands and laughed:

"Alright, alright, let's all get new clothes for the brothers today!"

"Ziyu, Zilong, Zhongkang, each of you pick one!"

While everyone else was making their selections, Li Yi stood alone in front of a plain-colored Shu brocade, his fingertips lightly tracing the subtle patterns on the brocade.

A moment later, he suddenly asked:

"Master, where did you buy this Shu brocade from?"

The landlord rubbed his hands together and laughed:
"My esteemed guest, these are all fresh goods that arrived from Yizhou this year."

"Although the roads to Shu are difficult, this Shu brocade can sell for three times the price in Luoyang, so this trip is worth it!"

"How are the sales of this Shu brocade lately?"

The landlord beamed with joy:

"Sir, you may not know this, but Shu brocade is currently a hot commodity in Luoyang!"

"Since the Wei Kingdom's Sima Yi issued the Brocade Official Decree last year, the Shu brocade weaving has become increasingly exquisite."

"It first became popular in Sichuan at the end of last year, and then began to be sold to the Central Plains this spring."

"Look at the texture—"

He unfurled a piece of moon-white brocade, saying, "It's much finer and brighter than our local fabrics. High-ranking officials and nobles are all scrambling to get it!"

Li Yi's gaze darkened, and he suddenly closed the brocade in his hand, whispering to Liu Bei:
"Master, it's getting late, we should head back."

Liu Bei was helping Zhang Fei measure a piece of crimson brocade with floral patterns when he heard this and laughed:

"Why did Ziyu suddenly spoil the mood? We agreed to have a great time today..."

“Sima Yi is targeting me,” Li Yi said in a very low voice, “but he is also targeting our Han Dynasty. We must be wary of him.”

Liu Bei paused, glanced at the excited Zhang Fei, then at the solemn Li Yi, and finally sighed softly:
"You..."

He shook his head. "Still as diligent as ever."

"Alright, let's go back."

Li Yi bowed solemnly:
"Your Majesty, I have spoiled your enjoyment. I will make it up to you next time."

"Alright, alright."

Liu Bei waved his hand, saying to the reluctant Zhang Fei:
"Third brother, wrap up all these materials and take them back to the palace."

The group mounted their horses and prepared to return to the palace.

While traveling, we passed a low, earthen house.

The group didn't pay any attention and were about to ride away when they suddenly heard a violent coughing sound coming from inside the house.

Interspersed with the old woman's reproach:

"Girl... this medicine... cough cough... where did it come from?"

"Grandma, take your medicine first..."

It was the same girl's voice from before, but now it was choked with sobs.

"say clearly!"

The old woman's voice suddenly became stern.

"Although my Wu family is down on its luck, we will never take ill-gotten gains! Cough cough cough..."

Zhang Fei's ears twitched, and every strand of his bushy beard stood up:

"It's that little thief!"

"Hmph, what a coincidence, to run into it here."

As he spoke, he was about to kick the door open and enter.

Liu Bei raised his hand to stop him:

"Third brother, wait a minute."

He frowned slightly. "While discipline is necessary, the elderly should not be frightened."

Liu Bei hadn't intended to pursue the matter, but since he'd stumbled upon it, he figured it might be good to teach the young girl a lesson.

So everyone pushed open the door and went inside.

Inside the dimly lit room, an old woman was curled up on a broken bed, her face ashen.

The little girl was kneeling in front of the bed with a bowl of medicine in her hands. When she saw the crowd burst in, she was so frightened that the bowl of medicine fell to the ground with a clatter.

Brown medicine splattered onto the patched hem of her skirt.

The old woman struggled to her feet and shielded her granddaughter behind her:

"Gentlemen...cough cough...what brings you here?"

Her thin fingers gripped the edge of the bed tightly.

Seeing that the room was bare except for a yellowed genealogy book with the character "Wu" hanging on the earthen wall, Liu Bei understood what was going on.

The idea of ​​disciplining the little girl was abandoned at this moment.

Because he couldn't bear to say it in public.

Just as he hesitated over how to begin, Li Yi stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said gently:
"Please don't be alarmed, Madam."

"We heard about the argument while we were passing by and feared there might be a dispute, so we came to help."

After hearing Li Yi's explanation, a look of understanding flashed in the old woman's cloudy eyes.

She turned her head shakily, her withered fingers gripping her granddaughter's arm:
"Girl! How much money did you steal from the nobleman? Return it right now!"

The little girl's tears streamed down her face, yet she stubbornly bit her lip.
"Dr. Sun said that if Grandma doesn't take her medicine, she won't make it through the winter..."

"you!"

The old woman trembled with anger, and suddenly pulled a faded silver hairpin from under her pillow.

"This was my dowry back then..."

She handed it to Liu Bei with trembling hands, saying, "Consider this an apology. If it's not enough, we'll find another way."

"There's no need for the elderly to do that."

Liu Bei quickly declined.

Before the words were finished, the curtain in the inner room was suddenly ripped open roughly.

A burly man with a face full of scars barged out, reeking of alcohol.

"Well, you old codger, you actually had such a good thing hidden away."

"Give it to me right now!"

The old woman quickly put it away and said:
"...Ahem, Dayou, this is the only valuable thing we have left."

"Even if I gave it to you, you would only gamble with it, cough cough."

Da You didn't answer, and reached out to snatch it.

"What nonsense!"

"I'm being driven crazy by these debt collectors, hurry up and give me this to tide me over!"

Zhao Yun frowned and said in a deep voice:
"This old woman has already said she doesn't want to give it to you, are you trying to steal it?"

"I bother!"

"It's only natural for me to ask my own mother for things. What kind of wild brat is this, meddling in my family's business?"

Guan Yu slightly opened his phoenix eyes and shouted:
"Our Han Dynasty governs the world with filial piety, how could there be such an unfilial son?"

Da You laughed after hearing this:

"I think he's gone stupid from reading too much. I can't even afford to eat, who cares about filial piety?"

Having said that, he turned to the old woman and scolded her:
"Give it to me right now, don't force me to do it!"

The little girl quickly shielded the old woman, crying out:
"No! Grandma is already sick, don't hit Grandma anymore."

His expression suddenly changed, and he burst into curses:
"You good-for-nothing, what are you crying for!"

"If you cry again, I'll beat you all up too..."

Zhang Fei, unable to bear it any longer, cursed loudly:

"I can't stand it anymore, you unfilial son, what kind of man are you to bully a few women and children?"

"If you've got the guts, fight me, Old Zhang!"

Zhao Yun also stepped forward and said:
"Zhao Zilong of Changshan, I'd like to learn from your superior skills."

Guan Yu and Xu Chu stepped forward together.

He saw that Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Xu Chu had surrounded him.

Da You was instantly enraged and cursed:

"Damn it!"

Do you really think I'm afraid of you?

"I'm going to beat all four of you together today!"

……

(End of this chapter)