Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 140 Seeing the dragon in the field
"The Lin hexagram corresponds to the number 92."

"Lin represents Zhen, and Zhen represents the dragon. In early spring, the Azure Dragon's seven constellations are just beginning to appear, which perfectly matches this hexagram."

"This is the appearance of a dragon in the field... the benefit lies with the high officials."

Inside the city, Zong Yuan was using divination coins to cast a hexagram: "Today, the Emperor has issued an edict ordering the people of Youzhou and its border regions to resign, and has also issued an edict granting amnesty to those involved in partisan strife. This also corresponds to this hexagram. Governor Guo, there is no need to worry; this is a very auspicious sign!"

This Protector of the Wuhuan was dressed in plain white brocade robes and did not even carry a sword. He was not only a scholar, but also a scholar who liked divination.

"Master Zong's understanding of the Book of Changes is indeed broad-minded, but I don't see any great fortune in it."

Guo Xun shook his head: "Zou Jing's troops are unwilling to be ordered around, Zhang Chun is unwilling to be subordinate to anyone, and Liu Wei is a mediocre and cowardly man, yet he dares to oppose Lord Yuan... Now, Youzhou is full of fierce and unruly people, and no one from any tribe is willing to be conscripted. If the Duke of Zong is not allowed to command troops, how can this benefit the nobles?"

This governor, on the contrary, acted like a military general, and even in the guesthouse he was still wearing scale armor, as if he was on guard at all times.

"Commanding troops? Commanding troops may not be a good thing. Governor Guo now commands troops, yet he cannot lay down his armor day and night... Can he be at peace with himself?"

Zong Yuan looked at Guo Xun with a forced smile: "I will just issue military orders to mobilize the various troops. Whether they disobey the orders or do not receive them, they have already been dismissed from their posts, so it will not affect Lord Yuan's affairs. We just need Lord Yuan to recommend virtuous and capable people to replace those people from the border regions."

"My mission was to defeat the Yellow Turbans. Now, with Governor Guo's assistance, I have already defeated the Yellow Turbans in Guangyang, which is enough to satisfy the Emperor. Why should I take command of troops again and risk offending the Emperor and Lord Yuan?"

"If I were to truly take command of the troops... would you, Governor Guo, feel at ease?"

"Governor Guo's mission is to stabilize Youzhou. Now that each family in Youzhou is guarding its own territory, we can proceed slowly and methodically. Why rush to create unnecessary complications?"

“A disaster that comes out of nowhere may be caused by a cow being tied up; what a traveler gains, a calamity for the villagers.”

"Prefect Guo, you've gone too far... you'll regret it."

This scholar was indeed quite good at studying the Book of Changes, and he deeply understood the principles of advancement and retreat.

"The Zong family's background is far superior to that of Guo. Even if we govern by doing nothing, we will surely benefit from the high-ranking officials sooner or later."

Guo Xun shook his head and said, "But I am of low rank... If I do not wish to be a victim of misfortune, I can only be the one who gets the ox! This is not because I am in a hurry, but because I have no other choice but to seize this opportunity!"

It seems that Guo Xun has mastered the I Ching to an extremely high degree, and can even apply it in reverse order.

The Zong family has lived in Wan County for generations. They were officials, and since the reign of Emperor Guangwu, thirty-four members of the Zong family have held high-ranking positions, making them truly a powerful and influential family.

"Since Governor Guo insists, then please do as you please. I will not hinder Governor Guo from obtaining the oxen of Youzhou. It is actually a good thing that the various tribes should not be conscripted; at least Governor Guo does not need to worry about them getting in the way..."

"Governor Guo can take all the money, provisions, and troops in the city, but since I failed to subdue the Hu cavalry, Governor Guo cannot lead the troops in my name. Liu Wei's seal is already in Governor Guo's hands, so the prefect should be in charge of the county's troops."

Zong Yuan smiled again: "Not only does the Emperor not want me to go to Jizhou, but Lord Yuan also does not want me to go to Jizhou... Governor Guo must understand this as well."

"If Guo leads his troops out, and there are no soldiers here, aren't you afraid of being harmed by the Yellow Turban rebels?"

Guo Xun frowned and thought for a moment, then asked with some doubt.

“Governor Guo, the rebels are either after food or military power.”

Zong Yuan shook his head and said, "But if Governor Guo leads his troops out, we will have no soldiers, horses, money, or provisions here... and the various tribes will not obey my orders to mobilize them, so who would want to harm me? And why would they want to harm me?"

Guo Xun nodded, then shook his head, frowned, and turned to leave.

Zong Yuan watched Guo Xun leave, then glanced at the divination results on the table, and sighed softly: "The dragon appears in the field, it is advantageous to see a great man... but at this time, the world... has no fields..."

Shortly after.

When Guan Yu led two hundred soldiers to scout eastward, they encountered a troop marching westward.

The troops were flying the banner of "Prefect Liu of Guangyang".

Early spring was still cold, and the snow on the ground had not yet melted. The troops were not moving fast, and their numbers did not appear to be large.

The western part of Ji County is relatively open, and if you meet from either side, you can see each other.

Guan Yu was currently flying the banner of Liu Bei's Chief Clerk. When the troops saw the banner from afar, they did not stop, but instead came forward as if welcoming an army.

"Could it be Guan Sima under Chief Clerk Liu? Chief Clerk Liu's troops have been ordered for a long time, why are they so slow to arrive? And why is there only one troop of soldiers?"

This man was dressed in the armor of a county military commander, but he only brought a group of soldiers who looked like county soldiers. Upon seeing Guan Yu, he immediately began to question him.

"Who are you? I have never seen you before... Where is the Prefect?"

Guan Yu glanced at the military officer, his hand already gripping his sword.

This man seemed to recognize Guan Yu, but Guan Yu had never seen him before.

Guan Yu knew all the military commanders in Guangyang. That year, when Liu Bei was cultivating land, he sent several batches of grain to Guangyang, all of which were escorted by Guan Yu. The initial 20,000 bushels were transported in several trips, and several more trips were made during the autumn harvest. All of these were handled by the military commanders of the two units in Guangyang.

Moreover, the person who could fly Liu Wei's banner should not be the military commander of the prefecture, but rather Liu Wei's subordinate commander, and the troops he led should be Liu Wei's own troops, not the prefecture's soldiers.

The county soldiers would not fly under Liu Wei's banner, and the county military commander was not a subject of Liu Wei; they had their own banner.

The two garrison troops from Guangyang were usually stationed at the western camp of Ji County and the southeastern camp of Anci, guarding the key roads on the east and west sides. Each had its own defense zone, and their flags were always clearly distinguished.

Liu Bei is currently in the western camp, but there are no county soldiers there, and the people flying Liu Wei's banner have changed. Guan Yu can certainly tell that something must have happened to Liu Wei.

"I am Wenze, the fake Sima appointed by General Zong. Yesterday, the Yellow Turban rebels caused chaos in the city, and with their help from within and without, they breached the city walls. Unfortunately, the Prefect was killed by the rebels... I was ordered by General Zong and Governor Guo to raise an army and drive the Yellow Turban rebels out of Ji County. We are now waiting to join forces to suppress the Yellow Turban rebels..."

Wen Ze sighed as he spoke, "Alas, if Chief Clerk Liu's troops had arrived two days earlier, this tragedy in Ji County would not have occurred. Commander Guan, please join my army first, so that when General Zong arrives with his main force, we can join forces to suppress the Yellow Turban rebels..."

Guan Yu chuckled: "General Zong's suppression of the rebellion led to the rise of a righteous army by Commander Wen, but Commander Wen led the troops under the banner of Prefect Liu... Ha, then this righteous army should belong to the county troops."

"Since the prefect has unfortunately been murdered, the chief clerk should take over the prefect's command flag... Wen Sima's troops should be incorporated into Guan's army to fight the traitor together."

At this point, Guan Yu squinted at Wen Ze, then turned his gaze to the soldiers behind Wen Ze: "But I have a question, Commander Wen, are you an official or a thief?"

Wen Ze's face stiffened slightly. He secretly glanced at Guan Yu and saw that Guan Yu seemed unprepared. Suddenly, he raised his halberd and thrust.

Guan Yu snorted coldly, swung his sword back and struck the halberd shaft. It seemed like a casual gesture, but it produced a deafening buzzing sound.

Wen Ze's halberd flew out of his hand after being hit. Looking down, he saw that blood had been spurted from his tiger's mouth. His face changed drastically, and he turned his horse and rode away.

(End of this chapter)