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

Chapter 153 Ordered to Be a Thief
"Procuring provisions and military supplies has always been the primary task, so how can you say there is no merit in it?"

Lu Zhi stared at Liu Bei expressionlessly: "Luoyang... if we're just waiting for Luoyang to send grain, why would we need you to do anything?"

In fact, Liu Bei knew what Lu Zhi meant.

It's definitely impossible to expect grain and medicinal herbs to be sent from Luoyang.

Lu Zhi asked him to bring back grain and medicine because he knew that Xihe had grain and a medical clinic.

This was actually a ploy to get Liu Bei to hand over his family property...

To be honest, Lu Zhi had a tough time.

As the commander-in-chief in the campaign against the Yellow Turbans, he bore the greatest responsibility and the heaviest task, yet his troops were the weakest, and he could not rely on military supplies.

The five battalions of the Northern Army, along with the cavalry of the Three Rivers region—these truly elite troops—were all entrusted by the Emperor to Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun for the purpose of quelling the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Yingchuan.

General He Jin, who was in charge of logistics, never sent a single grain of food to Ji Province.

The troops that Lu Zhi brought to Ji Province were actually county soldiers from the surrounding prefectures, mostly second-line troops for farming and transportation, with incomplete armor and weapons, and initially numbering less than 10,000.

After arriving in Jizhou, Lu Zhi forced the local tyrants to contribute money and grain, recruited volunteers along the way, and recruited young and strong refugees into his army. He fought and pacified at the same time, and finally managed to gather 20,000 troops.

It was precisely because Lu Zhi had a policy of appeasement and forced the powerful clans to provide provisions that he was able to win battle after battle with this motley crew of greenhorns, advancing all the way to the walls of Guangzong City.

If the attack is relentless and brutal, the Yellow Turbans and other commoners, knowing they have no way out, will all fight to the death. No matter how skilled the commander, the army will dwindle with each battle, and these greenhorns will eventually be swallowed up by the sea of ​​people.

War is never the goal, and victory does not necessarily require swords. If we can appease the enemy, we will not launch a full-scale attack; if we can trade, we will not pay with our lives. This is how Lu Zhi always quelled rebellions.

He was, after all, more than just a general; a great scholar of the nation had his own methods.

However, the pacification campaign required grain, and even the great Confucian scholars in the country couldn't conjure up any. Currently, most of the grain in the various government granaries has been looted, and most of it wasn't looted by the Yellow Turbans, as Lu Zhi could see...

Therefore, Lu Zhi always made the local tyrants contribute money, food, and military supplies.

Since he had already offended many wealthy people in Ji Province, it didn't matter if he offended someone in You Province as well—Liu Bei was clearly also regarded as a wealthy person by Lu Zhi.

This renowned scholar spoke as if he were showing concern, but in reality, it was coercion.

It's roughly the same as Liu Bei issuing an ultimatum to the powerful clans of Guangyang.

If Liu Bei had surplus grain, he could certainly provide some to solve the problem, but Xihe currently has no surplus grain—it was recently 'sold' to Zhang Chun, and then seized by Xianyu Fu to supply the military needs of the Wuhuan troops in Yuyang and to relocate the mining slaves.

The grain reserves in Xihe are currently only enough to last until the autumn harvest.

The Xihe Medical Clinic doesn't have much medicine left—with the world in chaos, few people go to the Taihang Mountains to collect herbs. Most of the Taihang bandits are also staying in the mountains. After all, nobody is stupid; going out now would mean not only failing to seize food but also facing the imperial army.

The bandits will only be able to continue their 'Yellow Turban' cause after the imperial army has retreated.

Liu Bei could not accept Lu Zhi's coercion, and the people of Xiheting also needed to make a living.

Moreover, and more importantly, the task of redeeming Liu Xu, the Prince of Anping, with grain and medicine must not be undertaken—the decision must be made by the Luoyang court.

That's why Liu Bei said that only Luoyang had food and medicine.

"General, I would like to ask... Does Luoyang know that Zhang Jiao asked you to ransom the Prince of Anping? Does the Emperor know about this?"

Liu Bei asked directly, "This matter should be reported to Luoyang immediately so that the court can make a decision. If you, General, have made a deal with Zhang Jiao on your own... I dare not obey your order."

Lu Zhi wasn't unable to obtain food and medicine from the powerful clans of Ji Province...

Liu Bei figured that it was probably the powerful clans of Ji Province who were against it, which was why Lu Zhi had approached him.

"The battlefield is dangerous, and there is a major epidemic in Guangzong City. If we do not redeem him now, are we just going to watch Prince Anping die? How can Luoyang send food and medicine here in such a short time? I have already sent the message to Luoyang, but we can only raise the food and medicine ourselves."

Lu Zhi frowned again, probably thinking that Liu Bei was indeed no good, so he simply spoke more directly: "Could it be that you in Xihe only want to supply the bandits with your grain and medicine, but not the imperial court?"

"General, this isn't about who should be supplied with the grain. Prince Anping should certainly be redeemed, but it cannot be done by you, General... This is not a merit, but a crime!"

Liu Bei shook his head and sighed: "General, have you forgotten the matter of the King of Bohai? Have you forgotten the name of the late Emperor Xiaozhi?"

Emperor Xiaozhi, Liu Zuan, was the little puppet who was selected to the throne by Liang Ji at the age of 8, and was poisoned the following year for saying that Liang Ji was arrogant.

This little puppet's real name is also Liu Xu.

Emperor Zhi, Liu Zuan, and the current Prince Anping, Liu Xu, were born in the same year (138 AD). When they were reported to the Imperial Clan Court, it was discovered that they had the same name, Liu Xu. Liu Zuan reported his birth later, so he changed his name to Liu Zuan. The characters Zuan and Xu are synonymous, both meaning to continue or inherit.

Moreover, Liu Xu, the Prince of Anping, was a cousin of the late Emperor (Emperor Huan).

Liu Kui, the Prince of Bohai who was 'forced to commit suicide' in prison back then, was Emperor Huan's own brother.

In the eyes of the current emperor, Liu Xu, like Liu Kui, the Prince of Bohai, was a threat...

This troublemaker is currently being held captive in Guangzong by Zhang Jiao. Zhang Jiao has no intention of establishing a new emperor, but the question is—does the emperor really want to ransom Liu Xu?
Liu Hong probably couldn't wait for Liu Xu to die in Guangzong...

Unless Liu Hong personally issues an edict to send eunuchs to ransom the people, anyone who makes the decision on their own, and whatever the decision, will be guilty.

This was originally a difficult problem posed to both Zhang Jiao and the emperor by certain powerful figures.

Now Zhang Jiao has passed this difficult problem on to Lu Zhi.

Once Lu Zhi accepted this difficult task, the powerful clans of Ji Province would no longer supply him with grain...

“Xuande, I know what you’re saying, but redeeming the title of king is a crime, but if I don’t rescue Prince Anping… wouldn’t that also be a crime?”

“You need to know that if Prince Anping dies in Guangzong City, no matter what the cause of his death is, it is equivalent to the Yellow Turban rebels killing a prince... Then all the Yellow Turbans will be beyond redemption and must all die!”

Lu Zhi's eyes showed some impatience: "By then, all the Yellow Turbans will know they cannot survive, and hundreds of thousands of them will fight tooth and nail with a death wish. Then the world will be difficult to pacify again!"

This is indeed something to worry about.

Knowing that there was an epidemic in Guangzong County, Lu Zhi did not attack Guangzong City easily. Instead, he dug trenches and built earthen walls outside the city to create a siege.

Firstly, it was to prevent Zhang Jiao from escaping, and secondly, it was to contain the epidemic.

Zhang Jiao didn't actually launch an attack outside the city—Zhang Jiao himself wanted to keep the epidemic under control within Guangzong City; he had already been controlling the epidemic when Liu Bei came before.

Lu Zhi's main approach was to appease and win over the die-hard elements who refused to be appeased.

If the Prince of Anping dies in Guangzong, all the Yellow Turbans will know they cannot be pardoned, and he will have no way to appease them.

With hundreds of thousands of Yellow Turbans fighting to the death, not only could his 20,000-plus greenhorn recruits not hold out, but even all the elite troops of the imperial court combined might not be able to withstand them.

To be honest, Lu Zhi was also helpless – in this great Han Dynasty, from the emperor down to the common people, everyone was passive and helpless.

This is what a chaotic world looks like.

"General, I admire your concern for the world... but you shouldn't have personally made this deal with Zhang Jiao. What about the eunuchs accompanying the army? Didn't the Emperor send eunuchs to monitor you? Why don't you have the Emperor's servants handle the ransom for Prince Anping?" Liu Bei was silent for a moment before sincerely reminding him, "Only by entrusting this matter to the eunuchs and the powerful families of Ji Province will they provide grain to rescue you... Moreover, my family truly has no surplus grain; even if I were to ruin my family, I couldn't afford it."

"The eunuch accompanying the army is still stationed in Hanoi... That eunuch didn't dare to go to the battlefield, and he stayed in Hanoi under the pretext of illness as soon as he left Luoyang."

Lu Zhi gave a wry smile: "Why do you think I was able to break through several major sects in just over a month? It's because there were no eunuchs in my way that I was able to do so smoothly..."

“Xuande, I know what you’re worried about, but right now… although I’ve already gone to Luoyang to inform them of this matter, given the nature of the Emperor and the eunuchs, they are destined not to make any decision regarding the matter of Prince Anping…”

“I know this will be futile, and I know it is taboo, but if I don’t do it, no one else will.”

Lu Zhi spoke much more earnestly this time.

Indeed, this was a difficult problem for the emperor as well.

Liu Hong certainly didn't want to save Prince Anping, but he couldn't leave the royal family unrelieved; otherwise, every prince would have to consider whether he had any chance of becoming emperor.

Given the current emperor's temperament, he will most likely procrastinate and not make a decision—letting Prince Anping die in Guangzong, and then claiming it was an accidental death caused by the war.

Moreover, the emperor probably never wanted to quickly quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

Even the officials could see that this was a struggle between the emperor and the powerful clans; the emperor was waiting for the Yellow Turbans to crush the powerful clans throughout the land.

In any case, the Han Dynasty's elite troops are currently all in Yanzhou. The fate of Lu Zhi's troops, the powerful clans in Jizhou, the Yellow Turban rebels, or other commoners is not within the Emperor's consideration.

but……

Judging from Lu Zhi's arrangements, Liu Bei's life or death was not within Lu Zhi's consideration.

Lu Zhi truly cared for the world, wanted to resolve the chaos as soon as possible, wanted to preserve the Han Dynasty's vitality, and wanted to save as many lives as possible...

But the result will probably be no different.

“General, my family truly has no surplus grain. If you ask me to procure food and medicine, I can only think of another way… You should also know who has a large amount of grain these days…”

Liu Bei looked up at Lu Zhi and asked, "I wonder where the general would like me to obtain it?"

“I don’t care where you get the grain from… as long as you can deliver 10,000 bushels of grain here as soon as possible, it will be considered that you have done your duty to support the army… As for medicine, the more Bupleurum, Pinellia, and Saposhnikovia, the better. You have opened such a large clinic, so you must know what you need.”

Lu Zhi looked at Liu Bei and slowly nodded.

Where can we find large quantities of food and medicine right now?

Of course, it's the major wealthy families.

Since the wealthy family wouldn't give it to him, Lu Zhi had to find a suitable thief to steal it.

Lu Zhi still held some stereotypes about Liu Bei—Liu Bei had been dismissed from his post by Lu Zhi for robbing the Yuan family's merchant caravan. He knew that Liu Bei dared to oppose powerful and influential people, and he also thought that Liu Bei was suited to be a thief...

Most of these Han Dynasty officials are gangsters... The more famous a person is, the more they resemble a gang leader.

Liu Bei breathed a sigh of relief: "Why didn't you say so earlier, General... You just wanted to make me a thief, why couldn't you just say so?"

Lu Zhi's face darkened: "Shut up! I am here to quell the rebellion, when have I ever allowed anyone to become a thief? Those who supply the court with grain and military provisions are all meritorious officials who have followed the cause..."

"Yes, yes, yes... General, you have a good reputation, and there are many meritorious people in Ji Province who have followed the righteous cause... Please be wary of the grudges in Luoyang, and I will go to deal with the bandits myself."

Liu Bei nodded in acceptance and bowed to take his leave.

In fact, Lu Zhi's background is quite unique. He was a student of Ma Rong, whose daughter, Ma Lun, was Yuan Wei's wife. Lu Zhi was also considered to belong to the Guandong gentry faction.

However, Lu Zhi was also a fellow student of many partisans and repeatedly submitted memorials to Liu Hong urging him to lift the ban on partisans, so he could also be considered a member of the partisan faction.

Lu Zhi gained official position after his fame spread among his many disciples. He was then summoned by Empress Dowager Dou (Dou Miao) to serve as a scholar, thus beginning his official career. At that time, Liu Hong had just been selected by Empress Dowager Dou to become emperor, and Dou Miao was the one who truly held power.

In other words, Lu Zhi could be considered a member of the imperial family's maternal relatives, but not the current emperor's maternal relatives; rather, he was a member of the late emperor's maternal relatives...

After Liu Hong came to power, in order to find capable people, he did not regard the famous Lu Zhi as a partisan, but instead won him over and gave him important positions. Even though Lu Zhi resigned from his post twice, he was summoned to the court twice.

Lu Zhi submitted a memorial to lift the ban on political parties and even suggested that Liu Hong not accumulate private wealth. Anyone else would have been imprisoned for this, but Liu Hong did not punish him, he simply did not adopt his advice.

It can be said that Lu Zhi could also be considered a disciple of the emperor.

In fact, Lu Zhi himself did not form factions, or rather, he could not form factions. Every faction would try to win him over, but no faction dared to trust him.

This background means that Lu Zhi will not easily get involved in factional struggles, but if he is not involved in factional struggles, he cannot ask any faction for help—for example, at this time, he cannot get the help of powerful families.

Faced with this situation, Lu Zhi was not pedantic, but he simply couldn't bring himself to do it.

In Lu Zhi's eyes, Liu Bei, a guy who was "experienced," "had been to jail," and "had a triad background," was a very suitable candidate.

……

Since Lu Zhi didn't care where Liu Bei got the food and medicine, the matter was easy to resolve.

This could actually be considered an order to confiscate property...

However, Lu Zhi did not give Liu Bei any official title or any written order that would give others a handle to use against him; he only gave Liu Bei a group of laborers.

These laborers were used as porters, and most of them were local migrants from Julu.

The main reason Lu Zhi handed these laborers over to Liu Bei was because these laborers knew where to find grain.

Long before Zhang Jiao's uprising, Guo Dian, the governor of Julu, had taken a large amount of money and grain south to "return home"... and among these laborers, some had transported grain for Guo Dian.

However, Guo Dian did not go too far. Due to the abundance of supplies, he stayed in Guangping. Subsequently, the laborers who transported the grain were expelled and became refugees.

Guangping County is very close to Julu County, only a few dozen miles away. The reason why Guo Dian did not go south again was that after he fled to Guangping, the Yellow Turbans in Wei County to the south raised an army. They were led by Zhang Liang and their main gathering place was in Ye County.

With Zhang Bao in Xiaquyang to the north, Zhang Jiao in Guangzong to the east, and Zhang Liang in Yexian to the south, Guo Dian could only hold out in Guangping and dared not make any further moves.

Guangping was also a prosperous county with many powerful families and famous scholars.

For example, Ju Shou.

Meanwhile, many powerful families in Wei Commandery also went to Guangping to avoid Zhang Liang, such as the Shen Pei family.

Being with these powerful families naturally makes one feel safer.

Guangping is currently the place with the most abundant food, medicine, and manpower.

If Liu Bei wanted to be a thief, he would have to go here.

(End of this chapter)