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

Chapter 163 Dong Zhuo's Dilemma

A few days later, the young officer who had previously blocked Liu Bei's path at the bridgehead brought a group of boys to look for Liu Bei.

"Guo Tai, on the orders of General Ren Gong, has come to deliver a declaration of war to Lord Xuande. Starting tomorrow, no one will move to Ganling anymore... Please, Lord Xuande, lead your army to fight."

Zhang Liang sent him to issue the challenge.

Guo Tai had already removed his yellow turban, and none of the boys he had brought were wearing yellow turbans either, but each of them had a look of resentment on their faces.

In the past few days, about 30,000 to 40,000 people have come to Ganling to be settled by Liu Bei. Most of them are the elderly, weak, women and children. They have all crossed the boundary bridge and are stationed on the east side of Qinghe River.

Those who did not wish to come to Liu Bei's side went with Zhang Bao to Xiaquyang, or went to Heishan or Taihang Mountain respectively.

Even so, Guangzong still left behind tens of thousands of Yellow Turban rebels.

Those were tens of thousands of people who were determined to die; they would not leave Zhang Jiao.

"The imperial edict I received only ordered the redemption of the Prince of Ganling and the governance of Ganling. I was not ordered to suppress the Yellow Turbans. It was General Lu who was ordered to suppress the rebellion... I wonder what General Ren Gong's intention is in challenging me to battle?"

Liu Bei glanced at the thin, unfriendly-looking boys that Guo Tai had brought with him, and was somewhat puzzled.

"I, Guo, am unaware of this... but General Ren Gong has given the order, and I have no choice but to obey."

Guo Tai looked somewhat unwilling when he said this.

Liu Bei understood that Zhang Jiao and Zhang Liang were deliberately trying to give him a military merit. As long as he led his army across the bridge, Zhang Liang would immediately 'collapse' and retreat into Guangzong City.

Those elderly and weak Yellow Turbans who had previously moved to Ganling naturally became law-abiding citizens "rescued" by Liu Bei.

"Do Brother Guo Tai have a courtesy name? You and these young men seem to harbor resentment; is it because you don't want to leave Guangzong?"

Liu Bei inquired about the several hundred teenagers that Guo Tai had brought.

"Guo has no given name, but Guo now has a sobriquet, which is... Great Sage."

Guo Tai bowed to Liu Bei and said, "Guo and these brothers were actually expelled from the house by the Great Teacher of Virtue."

“Great Sages…it seems you are the seeds left by the Great Sage and Good Teacher for the Way of Peace.”

Liu Bei suddenly realized why all these young men were giving him the cold shoulder.

When Guo Tai bowed, Liu Bei noticed a green bamboo staff on Guo Tai's back. The staff itself was unremarkable, just ordinary spotted bamboo, but Guo Tai carried it on his back like a sword.

That was Zhang Jiao's bamboo staff.

Guo Taineng was given the title of "Great Sage" by Zhang Jiao, which clearly indicates that he was Zhang Jiao's personal disciple.

Moreover, among the boys behind Guo Tai, there was a girl dressed as a man—Zuo Yuan often dressed as a man. In Liu Bei's eyes, a woman dressed as a man was actually more conspicuous than a woman dressed as a normal woman.

All other directions of Guangzong have been besieged, and Liu Bei's side is the only passable route. A few days ago, Zhang Bao also crossed the boundary bridge and detoured through Ganling and Anping to return to Xiaquyang.

Liu Bei thought for a moment and asked Guo Tai, "Would you like to settle down in Xihe?"

“If Lord Xuande takes me in, I will surely be charged with treason… Moreover, my brothers and I are unwilling to live under someone else’s roof. I appreciate Lord Xuande’s kindness.”

Guo Tai bowed to Liu Bei, preparing to take his leave.

"and many more……"

Liu Bei stopped Guo Tai: "I know why you can't live under someone else's roof... but I have to take care of my old friend's son-in-law."

Guo Tai turned around in shock, looking at Liu Bei with some fear. The boys behind him also protected the girl even more tightly.

To become Zhang Jiao's disciple, to guard the vital Jieqiao Bridge under Zhang Liang, and to bring these 'expelled' youths with him, with the youths even protecting a girl dressed as a boy...

Liu Bei could easily guess that the girl was most likely Zhang Jiao's daughter, and Guo Tai was Zhang Jiao's son-in-law, which was why Zhang Jiao had him take the title of Great Sage.

This is actually the expectation that elders have for younger generations.

Zhang Jiao's daughter is named Zhang Ping, and she is only sixteen years old this year.

Guo Tai and Zhang Ping—it's unclear whether Zhang Jiao deliberately chose the characters for "peace and tranquility" or if it was fate.

"General Rengong sent you to bring them here to challenge me. I suppose you don't intend for him to just leave with them like this? He wants me to defeat him and then protect you under the guise of relocating the people. Don't let General Rengong's good intentions go to waste."

Liu Bei glanced at the girl, waved to Guo Tai, and turned to walk towards the military camp.

He did not mention Zhang Jiao's daughter.

Guo Tai looked back, sighed, and followed Liu Bei with the boys.

"Are you from Guangzong? Are you related to the Guo family of Guangzong?"

Liu Bei glanced back at Guo Tai and casually asked a question.

The Guo family of Guangzong is one of the most powerful families in the county. Guo Tai speaks with a Guangzong accent and is most likely from the Guo family.

"No relatives, but enemies."

Guo Tai shook his head and told Liu Bei about the past: "If it weren't for the great and virtuous teacher, I would have taken the blame and died for Guo Yong..."

Guo Tai was indeed from the Guo family of Guangzong, but he was from a collateral branch.

Several years ago, before the Taiping Dao uprising, Guo Yong was a clerk in Julu County, appointed by Guo Dian, and recommended by Guo Dian, the governor of Julu County, as a candidate for the civil service examination.

Although Guo Dian was from Yongzhou, they were both surnamed Guo and could be considered uncle and nephew. When appointing local officials, it was natural to give priority to those of the same surname.

When Guo Yong was summoned by the court to serve as a court official, he got so excited that he got drunk. At the banquet, he complained that the food was not exquisite enough and killed a servant in front of everyone.

Normally, no one would care if a powerful family killed their servants; not even the guests at a banquet would care.

However, he couldn't afford such a stain when he was about to take office, since it was a public murder that couldn't be concealed. So Guo Tai was dragged out to take the blame.

If this crime isn't mentioned, no one will care; but if it is, it's a capital offense.

So Guo Tai ran away and joined the Way of Peace, becoming Zhang Jiao's youngest disciple.

Guo Yong still managed to become an official, and is currently serving as the magistrate of Wu'an County.

Guo Tai became a wanted criminal.

This is nothing new; after all, this kind of thing happens all the time.

“If you don’t want to stay here, I can send you to Wu’an County… However, the young men under your command all know your and your wife’s identities. Young people are hard to keep quiet, and you and your wife will probably be in great danger. What are your plans?”

After Liu Bei brought him into the camp, he turned to ask Guo Tai.

"Guo has important responsibilities to bear and does not intend to go to Wu'an to settle personal scores. Guo is extremely grateful for Lord Xuande's protection, but Guo and his wife trust the brothers under his command."

Once inside the main tent, with no one else around, Guo Tai readily shared his plans: "I intend to go with my wife to live in seclusion in Baibo Valley on the Fen River. If fate allows, we may meet again on the east bank of the river."

"White Wave Valley... that place is dangerous and has many bandits. Given your status, you and your husband will probably be held hostage soon."

Liu Bei thought for a moment and shook his head: "Actually, you and your wife should both have 'died in battle'."

"Death in battle?"

Guo Tai was taken aback: "Why? Not many people know my name, so whether I live or die is not important."

He certainly understood that Liu Bei wanted him to fake his death, but at this time he was unknown, and not many people knew the name Zhang Ping, so he didn't quite understand Liu Bei's intentions.

“Go back and tell General Ren Gong that I will lead troops with General Lu, and then report the news of your and your husband’s death in battle to the court. Since you are both dead, you can preach under the name of Guo Daxian from now on. Even if you are betrayed in the future, it will not cause harm to my old friend’s daughter.”

Liu Bei looked at Guo Tai and sighed, "You have your own future and responsibilities, I won't stop you. But the daughter of the Great Teacher of Virtue cannot live on, nor can she go to Baibo Valley with you. Go to Xihe to fetch her after you have established yourself." "Guo understands... I first thank Lord Xuande for his great kindness, Guo will now return to fight to the death."

Guo Tai bowed deeply, then turned and left the tent.

……

The following day, Liu Bei and Lu Zhi launched an attack on Zhang Liang from two directions.

Zhang Liang offered only a brief resistance before abandoning his camp outside the city and retreating into Guangzong City.

Subsequently, Liu Bei sealed off Jieqiao and claimed that he had killed Guo Tai, Zhang Jiao's son-in-law, and that Zhang Jiao's only daughter, Zhang Ping, had also died in battle.

At the same time, Liu Bei also claimed that he had relocated 40,000 innocent people from the areas occupied by the Yellow Turban rebels.

Lu Zhi knew, of course, where the 40,000 men came from, but he ignored it and did not press his advantage. Instead, he continued to besiege Guangzong City.

Even the camp that Zhang Liang set up next to the boundary bridge was not destroyed, and Lu Zhi himself moved into that camp.

Guangzong was surrounded on all sides, but Lu Zhi could not conquer it—there were tens of thousands of fearless men inside the city, and they could not break through.

However, Lu Zhi's siege cut off Guangzong's supplies. With too many people in the city, food and the environment would become increasingly worse. If the Yellow Turbans did not break out, they would be trapped and die in the city sooner or later.

However, the Yellow Turbans will not break through the siege. Zhang Jiao is too ill to get up, and the Yellow Turbans who are still in Guangzong City will not leave their Great Teacher.

Liu Bei did not participate in the subsequent war. He sent Guo Tai and the young men through the southern part of Guangping, and at the same time, he sent armored cavalry to escort Zhang Ping to Xihe for temporary refuge.

Ten days later, Zuo Feng, the supervising eunuch, impeached Lu Zhi for supporting bandits and plotting rebellion by colluding with the Yellow Turbans. With an imperial edict, Lu Zhi was stripped of his ceremonial staff.

After that, the troops that Lu Zhi had gathered from the powerful families in Ji Province no longer obeyed his orders—this was normal, as only those with the imperial insignia could represent the emperor in summoning troops from various families; without the insignia, they could only rely on their personal connections, and Lu Zhi obviously did not have that much influence in Ji Province.

A few days later, officials from the Court of Justice arrived and, citing Lu Zhi's "failure to advance when encountering the enemy and inability to defeat them," escorted him back to Luoyang. His sentence was reduced by one degree, meaning he was given a suspended death sentence.

The emperor appointed Dong Zhuo, the governor of Hedong, as a general, replacing Lu Zhi in charge of the Jizhou war zone.

After Dong Zhuo arrived, he immediately launched an attack on Guangzong, but was repelled by Zhang Liang just one hour later.

Dong Zhuo then realized the gravity of the situation and had no choice but to continue the siege. He ordered Liu Bei, the Commandant of Ganling, to lead troops to assist in the battle and also requested Liu Yu, the Chancellor of Ganling, to collect grain to supply the army.

This was actually a legitimate request, but Liu Bei, after receiving the military order, turned around and burned it like firewood, pretending not to see it.

As for Liu Yu, he is still spreading proverbs and strange phenomena in Luoyang and other places, and has not returned.

Then... Dong Zhuo personally went to Ganling to find Liu Bei, without giving any prior notice.

However, Liu Bei's side closed the boundary bridge.

When Dong Zhuo led his guards to the bridgehead, Liu Bei was already there to greet him.

Why did Commander Liu disobey my military orders?

Dong Zhuo, of course, came to demand an explanation.

This was a very strong, fat man with a typical potbelly and a rather honest face. He didn't look scary at all; on the contrary, he was both dignified and approachable.

Moreover, with his broad shoulders, thick back, and muscular neck, one look is enough to tell that he must be a true master.

"Military orders? What military orders? To attack Guangzong City?"

Liu Bei smiled rather憨厚ly: "I have just settled tens of thousands of men, but now the army is out of food and needs to procure provisions. However, all the land in Ji Province is abandoned, and food is really hard to find. I have no choice but to send all my soldiers out to collect food... Now I only have three hundred guards at my disposal. How can I attack the city?"

Dong Zhuo glanced at Liu Bei's camp, his face full of displeasure: "Is it really only three hundred men?"

It is true that Liu Bei's camp only had three hundred men left, and all of them had indeed gone to collect grain; he was not lying.

"General, how should we fight this battle?"

Liu Bei spread his hands: "The Art of War says that if there are five enemies, attack them. But there are 40,000 Yellow Turbans in Guangzong City now, and they are all fearless and ruthless... If we really want to attack Guangzong quickly, we will need an army of 200,000."

Dong Zhuo was even more displeased: "I know that Guangzong is difficult to conquer, but the imperial edict is so... Why does Commander Liu have to make such a joke?"

"Is the imperial edict really like this? General Lu has just been escorted back to Luoyang. Who doesn't know the situation in Guangzong? If Guangzong could be captured quickly, why would General Dong be summoned here..."

Liu Bei smiled at Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo felt a chill run down his spine from the laughter, and a hint of anger appeared on his face: "What do you mean, Commandant Liu? Dong Zhongying is a straightforward man and doesn't like to speculate with others."

“I am the military commander of Youzhou, and General Dong is the military general of Liangzhou. We have always been regarded by some people as the barbarians of Youzhou and Liangzhou... The dirty and hard work is naturally assigned to us.”

Since Dong Zhuo wanted to be direct, Liu Bei was equally direct: "The Emperor wants you to win, General, but some want you to lose. If you cause the Emperor's army to perish here, you will be punished; if you do not cause the Emperor's army to perish here, you will be disliked. So you want to drive my army to perish here, so that we can at least have an explanation... Is that what you mean, General?"

Dong Zhuo's eyes changed instantly, becoming like those of a coyote.

After staring at Liu Bei for a long time, he slowly asked, "Since Commandant Liu knows I am in trouble, do you have any brilliant ideas to teach me?"

"That depends on whether the general wants to win or lose."

Liu Bei said solemnly, “If we want to win, then we should be like General Lu, besieging the city and waiting for the enemy to perish on their own. If we want to lose, then we should lead the army to attack the city, and we will soon be defeated... However, even if you bury me here, your predicament will still remain unresolved.”

“I am determined to win… but I know why Minister Lu was convicted. If I follow the same strategy as Minister Lu, I will also be convicted.”

Dong Zhuo turned around and looked towards the Qinghe River to the north: "Commander Liu is a wise man, and I will speak frankly to you. I have heard that Commander Liu defeated Zhang Liang and moved tens of thousands of people to Qinghe to cultivate land... I will use those people to attack the city."

“General Dong, they are now citizens of Ganling. How can the imperial army drive civilians to attack the city? If the imperial court is to suffer such a bad reputation, the emperor may be helpless against the people behind you, but he can certainly execute you.”

Liu Bei shook his head: "General Dong, when Lord Duan committed a dirty deed, no one came to his aid. We are both from the Liangzhou border region, how does General Dong compare himself to Lord Duan?"

Dong Zhuo was taken aback for a moment, then his expression softened, and he said in a low voice, "If that's the case, wouldn't I be doomed to die?"

"Not really..."

Liu Bei shook his head: "If I were General Dong, I would leave Guangzong immediately and take Quyang first. As long as you achieve some success, you won't be punished as long as you don't think about making merit. Just leave Guangzong to those who are not afraid of death, right?"

"Then... Would Commandant Liu be willing to lead troops to Xiaquyang to assist me?"

Dong Zhuo thought about it and agreed. When he looked at Liu Bei again, his eyes were much calmer.

“If I abandon the border bridge and let the traitors from Guangzong enter Ganling, then I, Liu, will surely die… If the general is in trouble, I, Liu, will be in trouble too. Moreover…”

Liu Bei paused here: "Before you came here, did you hear about the two-headed creature and the rare flowers and herbs of Runan?"

Dong Zhuo pondered for a moment, then frowned and nodded to Liu Bei: "I have heard of it... Never mind, I will go to Quyang myself. But my army is short of food. I heard that Commander Liu once raised food for Minister Lu, so he must be skilled in this. I will ask Commander Liu to take care of this matter."

"Please give me a military order, General, and I will go and procure the supplies immediately. However, there is indeed no grain in Ji Province, so we will have to wait a while longer."

Liu Bei knew that Dong Zhuo would not come for nothing, and that supplying provisions and military supplies was indeed something that the various counties of Ji Province should do.

“I, Dong Zhongying, am not an unreasonable person… Commander Liu, just do your best.”

Dong Zhuo nodded to Liu Bei, then turned and left.

Liu Bei breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, Dong Zhuo was actually quite reasonable, even more so than Lu Zhi.

However, Dong Zhongying was not in control of his own destiny.

This big man, there really isn't anyone who can act on impulse.

Guo Tai: also known as Guo Tai or Guo Daxian, the commander of the White Wave Yellow Turbans.

Guo Yong: After Emperor Ling's death, he served as the governor of Nan Commandery. He was the father of Queen Guo, who was born just as the Yellow Turban Rebellion was beginning.

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(End of this chapter)