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

Chapter 149 Mature Child

Zong Yuan had tried to persuade Guo Xun, but Guo Xun wouldn't listen... or rather, Guo Xun couldn't listen, after all, he was Yuan Kui's protégé.

But Liu Bei listened to advice much more readily and didn't get involved in the struggle in Ji Province at all. He only confiscated the property to "pacify You Province," so the clan members naturally had no objections. He could still afford to offend the Gongsun family.

As for those in Guangyang who disobeyed military orders, their homes should also be confiscated.

Xianyu Fu also arrived in Ji County, but he brought no soldiers with him, only a young wandering knight.

Xianyu Fu had a thick beard on both sides of his face, high cheekbones, and looked like a typical leopard's head. He also had triangular eyes. Just by looking at his appearance, Liu Bei could easily be reminded of Shen Gongbao...

But appearances can be deceiving. Xianyu Fu may look fierce, but he is not a villain. He is one of the few fair-minded people among the gentry who can treat everyone as a human being.

Two years ago, he also moved eight hundred Wuhuan people from Yuyang to the banks of the Lu River near Luxian County, taking people away from Zhang Chun, because the Wuhuan people felt that he was fair and impartial.

Eight hundred Wuhuan tribes may not seem like much, just over four thousand people, but the Wuhuan people were all soldiers, so these four thousand people were actually equivalent to over a thousand Wuhuan cavalrymen—and that depended on how many horses the tribe had.

"How is Chief Clerk Liu any different from Governor Guo in his behavior? He considers anyone who doesn't come to Ji County a Yellow Turban rebel. Isn't Chief Clerk afraid of wrongly killing innocent people?"

Xianyu Fu began questioning Liu Bei as soon as he saw him; he was the only one to question Liu Bei.

In fact, those who questioned Liu Bei were the ones with a sense of morality... those powerful clans who calmly accepted the situation were simply pursuing profit.

“Brother Xianyu, do you know who those who refused to obey military orders and came to Ji County are? The other day, Lord Liu was guarding the city, and no one came to attack, yet he was still killed by the so-called Yellow Turban rebels… Don’t you know who those so-called Yellow Turban rebels are? Are they good people in your eyes?”

Liu Bei took Xianyu Fu to the city wall and showed him the powerful clansmen and their retainers outside the city: "Take a look... Those who dare to come here have nothing to do with the plot to kill the Prefect. Those who dare not come here are all those who joined the rebellion and murdered the Prefect... They are afraid of my retribution, so they dare not come here! I have not wronged anyone, and General Zong is a witness!"

Yes, Liu Bei really didn't wrong anyone; on the contrary, there might have been some who escaped the net.

The governor and the prefect died one after another in Ji County. At this time, the powerful clans that still did not obey military orders and did not come to Ji County must be those who killed Liu Wei.

Zong Yuan was present when Liu Wei was killed. If there was any injustice, Zong Yuan would have reminded him. After all, the banner of suppressing the rebellion belonged to Zong Yuan, the Protector of the Wuhuan, and Zong Yuan would also bear responsibility for wrongly killing an innocent person.

"It was my foolishness and presumption that led to this... Please forgive me, Chief Secretary."

After figuring things out, Xianyu Fu readily admitted his mistake: "I wonder what business the Chief Clerk had with Guan Sima seeking me out?"

"I want you to be a thief."

Liu Bei glanced at Xianyu Fu and felt that Shen Gongbao's appearance was indeed very suitable for being a thief: "Brother Xianyu, Zhang Chun has kidnapped my Han people with the Wuhuan people in Changping. I would like to ask you to lead the Wuhuan cavalry to rescue those kidnapped people again..."

“If Zhang Chun leads his troops to Liaoxi, you should occupy the eastern pass of Yuyang, cutting off Zhang Chun’s retreat. The grain and fodder traded with Zhang Chun can then be used for Xianyu’s military supplies.”

Liu Bei told Xianyu Fu about having Shi Ren and Zhang Chun do grain trading, and asked Xianyu Fu to cooperate.

"Leave this to me... I always thought the Chief Clerk got his position through nepotism, but now I know he is a virtuous and benevolent man. It's just that a virtuous and benevolent man has to make people steal in order to save the people, which is really... alas!"

Xianyu Fu agreed while sighing with emotion.

After descending the city wall, Xianyu Fu led the boy to Liu Bei and said, "I am on my way to Lushui to gather cavalry. This is my friend Tian Yu, who is still young. Please help me take care of him."

The young man glanced at Xianyu Fu, somewhat displeased: "Brother Xianyu, why didn't you bring Yu along? Is it because you think Yu is in the way?"

"Go away, you're only fourteen years old (by Chinese reckoning), not old enough to go into battle, you'd have trouble even mounting a horse... Besides, I'm going to be a thief, don't get involved!"

Xianyu Fu waved his hand and ran off. Liu Bei turned to look at Tian Yu; the boy really hadn't grown tall enough, so it was understandable that Xianyu Fu didn't take him into battle.

Moreover, the job Liu Bei assigned to Xianyu Fu was indeed thievery and robbery, which was not suitable for a child.

“Liu Changshi, I request to accompany you into battle, lest your elder brothers treat me like a child…”

Seeing Liu Bei looking at him, Tian Yu clasped his hands and asked, "Since you are using bandits to control bandits, you must be forcing Zhang Chun to be unable to return home. You should then mobilize troops to quickly take Yuyang... But Yuyang has a complicated geography and many inside stories. I can help you guide the way."

"Oh? You actually noticed?"

When Liu Bei got serious, he hadn't told Tian Yu about his plan, and even Xianyu Fu was unaware that Liu Bei intended to launch a surprise attack on Yuyang, yet Tian Yu had somehow guessed it...

Tian Yu's body hasn't developed yet, but his brain has probably developed first. He doesn't act or speak like a child at all. No wonder he can play with someone like Xianyu Fu, who is over twenty years old, at such a young age.

"The Chief Secretary first agreed to let me join the army..."

Tian Yu stared at Liu Bei, his hand still raised in a gesture of respect.

"Alright, you can join my personal guard first..."

Liu Bei agreed: "But where are your parents? Let's bring your parents to Xihe first, and then we can proceed with this matter."

“My mother is in Yongnu, Yuyang. We can bring her here together. Yuyang has the Guangping Iron Mine and the Rushui Copper Mine... The miners in both places are chained in wooden shackles, suffering torture and mistreatment in the dark. The mines are guarded by the Wuhuan tribe, which is the reason why the Zhang family has the Wuhuan’s service.”

Upon seeing Liu Bei's agreement, Tian Yu immediately explained clearly: "If you want to subdue Zhang Chun, you only need to send an army to destroy his mines and rescue the miners and laborers... Once the mines are destroyed, the Wuhuan people will leave Zhang Chun."

“Yu is familiar with all the passes in Yuyang and is not suspected by the Zhang clan… Being young has its advantages, and no one will be wary of me. But if I, a mere child, achieve merit… will the Chief Secretary consider my merits as equal to those of others?”

After saying that, Tian Yu looked at Liu Bei expectantly.

The child ultimately revealed a bit of his childish nature, which relieved Liu Bei.

“I always only look at merit here. No matter you are fourteen, even if you are four years old, you will be rewarded equally for your merits. But this matter is risky, and my troops are not many, so I may not be able to protect you.”

Liu Bei nodded very seriously.

"Yu knows his physique is not yet fully developed and he will not participate in the battle, Chief Secretary, rest assured..."

Tian Yu nodded seriously.

……

Two days later, Zong Yuan met with Zhang Chun at the Western Camp.

A coalition of powerful clans, accompanied by the ceremonial banners of the clan members, was stationed here.

Qian Zhao also led his troops to the western camp and handed over the military order previously issued by the Protector of the Wuhuan.

Zong Yuan gave Zhang Chun the order to lead the army to suppress the rebels, ordering him to lead the Wuhuan cavalry to attack Anci and to march westward to suppress the rebellion of Lingzhi in Liaoxi.

Meanwhile, the various forces in Guangyang joined together, under the command of Qian Zhao, to first attack the rebels in southern Guangyang, seize their grain and fodder to replenish their military supplies, and then send reinforcements to western Liaoyang.

(End of this chapter)