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

Chapter 147 To be a thief or an official?

How many soldiers did he bring?

Zhang Chun and Qiu Liju exchanged a glance and asked at the same time.

"He only had five attendants, and he said he had come to visit Lord Boyang... and even presented a visiting card."

The Wuhuan soldier handed the bamboo slips in his hand to Zhang Chun.

"Five...five?"

Zhang Chun took the visiting card and looked at it, his face full of doubt: "Is he here to die? But how would Liu Bei know I was here?"

The visiting card even stated "Please meet with Lord Boyang"...

Liu Bei certainly seemed to be looking for death.

To outsiders, Changping was full of Wuhuan cavalry, with not a single Han soldier in sight.

It's extremely rare to find someone who would dare to send a visiting card under such circumstances.

Moreover, knowing that Zhang Chun was here is almost like having foresight.

Zhang Chun didn't raise any banners, didn't bring any Han soldiers, and didn't even show his face. He didn't even bring any Han followers.

"Could it be that Gongsun Ji betrayed Boyang Gong?"

Qiu Liju shook his head.

Zhang Chun frowned: "Let Liu Bei come in and talk."

……

They specifically brought along a few people familiar with the Wuhuan people who could speak their language, naturally to avoid being killed by the Wuhuan people before even meeting Zhang Chun...

Shi Ren had worked as a traveling merchant and had indeed had many dealings with the Wuhuan people.

Without any troops, just five or six people, there's naturally no need to worry too much.

Liu Bei specified that he had come to see Zhang Chun, so the Wuhuan people naturally wouldn't act rashly and didn't even tie him up.

"It is truly gratifying that Lord Boyang has brought the Wuhuan tribe to our aid. General Zong has long known that Lord Boyang is a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty, and specially sent Bei to welcome him!"

Liu Bei was being watched by a group of Wuhuan people when he arrived, but upon seeing Zhang Chun, he rushed to greet him and even helped Zhang Chun find an excuse to occupy Changping.

"What brings Chief Clerk Liu here? How did you know I was here...?"

To be honest, Zhang Chun had never intended to use this excuse to settle in Changping, but he was even more confused about Liu Bei's intentions...

Shouldn't Liu Bei have been recruiting powerful clans in Ji County?
"Bei came from Anci, and was informed by the Gongsun family that Lord Boyang had led his cavalry here to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion, so he came to inquire about Lord Boyang..."

Liu Bei asked directly, "I wonder if Lord Boyang needs the title of Protector of the Wuhuan General? That would be a legitimate reason... General Zong and I are both worried about not having anyone to lead the army. Lord Boyang's arrival is perfect."

Zhang Chun was taken aback.

Qiu Liju, who was standing next to him, was also stunned.

Isn't the situation in Changping obvious enough? To ignore it like this... the Han Dynasty truly produces a wealth of talent...

Liu Bei's meaning was quite clear—Zhang Chun, do you want to be a thief or an official?
"...Ahem, I was indeed ordered to come here by General Zong, but I was maliciously obstructed by the local soldiers... That general Qu Yi is a villain!"

Zhang Chun's eyes darted around, and he felt that the pretext Liu Bei had given him was quite useful, so he went along with it.

"Being an official is certainly easier than being a thief... Yes, that Qu Yi is an unscrupulous person. He is disobedient and commits atrocities... General Zong sent him to Changping to welcome Duke Boyang, but his troops have been looting in Changping! Now he has even changed his name and become a bandit... He should be wiped out!"

Liu Bei nodded and continued to lie through his teeth: "That Gongsun family also had no good intentions. Their entire family became Yellow Turban rebels, yet they still sent someone to secretly accuse Lord Boyang of plotting a rebellion..."

"But Liu knew that Lord Boyang was loyal and devoted to the Han Dynasty's defense of the borders, and General Zong also knew that Lord Boyang had a feud with the Gongsun family. This must be a false accusation... So he sent Bei to question Lord Boyang..."

"If Lord Boyang wishes to attack the Yellow Turban rebels of the Gongsun clan, General Zong may appoint Lord Boyang as a general, allowing him to lead the allied forces of Guangyang to attack Liaoxi with the Emperor's edict to suppress the rebels..."

Zhang Chun blinked a few times, feeling a bit of toothache, and remained silent for a while.

It seems Liu Bei is even better at framing people than he is.
Zhang Chun's face twitched twice, and he gave an awkward smile: "The Gongsun family does indeed have a deep-seated hatred for me... but... is this truly General Zong's intention?"

"Of course... General Zong has come to Guangyang to suppress the rebels on imperial orders, and he must achieve some success."

Liu Bei put it more directly: "But now the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Guangyang has been quelled, and only the Gongsun family in Liaoxi has become Yellow Turban rebels... Boyang Gongdang also knows that there can be no rebels in Guangyang, but there can be rebels in Liaoxi, Liaodong, Xuantu and other counties... As long as General Zong is still in Guangyang, whoever General Zong says is a rebel must be a rebel!"

Zhang Chun frowned and remained silent for a moment.

"Lord Boyang must have some doubts... Why don't you go to Ji County to personally receive General Zong's orders... Or, you can wait here for two days and prepare to go back to ask General Zong for his insignia and banners to welcome you?"

Liu Bei continued, "Lord Boyang is a loyal and capable general. I'm sure he won't put General Zong or the Emperor in a difficult position..."

"What would happen if I led my troops into Ji County at this moment?"

Zhang Chun stared at Liu Bei and asked.

"Once Ji County is captured, General Zong will naturally be killed by the bandits, and the county town will be burned to the ground."

Liu Bei shrugged: "I have a younger brother named Guan Yu, who can kill and behead with a single stroke. I also have a younger brother named Zhang Fei, who is most skilled at arson. He once burned down Wangdu County by himself and is very experienced... Both of them are by General Zong's side."

If Zong Yuan dies in Guangyang, the emperor will inevitably issue an edict to punish the rebels, and Zhang Chun will have no choice but to formally raise the banner of rebellion.

Zhang Chun gritted his teeth: "What if I were to lead the army to Liaoxi on General Zong's orders?"

"Is there even a question? Such a meritorious general who made the greatest contribution in suppressing the Yellow Turban rebels and pacified Youzhou, if he cannot be ennobled and appointed as a general, wouldn't that be a loss for the emperor?"

Liu Bei curled his lip: "Besides, the Guangyang treasury is already empty, as Lord Boyang knows. The Liaoxi Gongsun's wealth accumulated over a century is far greater than that of Guangyang... If Lord Boyang doesn't take it, then General Zong will have no choice but to ask another powerful family to take it... Lord Boyang should also know which powerful family that is."

Zhang Chun knew, of course, that Xu You, a retainer of the Yuan family, had instructed Li Yizi and others to rob his carriage and horses. This was indeed a divisive act, and it was also the basis for his transformation from hostility to cooperation with the Gongsun family.

Zhang Chun looked at Liu Bei and remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "Could you please invite General Zong to come here and meet me?"

"Lord Boyang, this is going a bit too far... General Zong, holding the imperial insignia, is supervising the army and represents the Emperor. If a general with the imperial insignia were to come here to see you, what would General Zong think?"

Liu Bei sighed and gestured to the Wuhuan people scattered across the land: "How about this, please ask Lord Boyang to stay temporarily at the western camp in Ji County. I will ask General Zong to go to the western camp to meet Lord Boyang. At least we won't leave the prefecture... I also ask Lord Boyang to bring some Han soldiers with him to avoid being misunderstood."

"Alright, you may go back and report... I will go to the West Camp to pay my respects to General Zong in two days."

Seeing that Liu Bei had indeed eliminated all potential threats, Zhang Chun nodded in agreement and ordered someone to escort Liu Bei out of the city.

This is indeed much better than he had planned.

"Lord Boyang, I think Liu Bei is far more capable than Xianyu Fu... What are your thoughts, Lord Boyang? Should we take Liaoxi or Guangyang?"

Qiu Liju said, looking at Liu Bei's back.

"Let's see if we can take Zongyuan... If not, then let's take Liaoxi."

Zhang Chun frowned, watching Liu Bei's retreating figure: "This can be considered as fulfilling the Xiongnu Chanyu's wishes for now..."

(End of this chapter)