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

Chapter 181 Abandoned Son
Despite the pain in his left arm, Liu Bei slammed his legs forward with all his might, and with his right hand, he drew his sword and slashed at Wang Yue's chest and abdomen.

His left arm was still braced against Wang Yue's sword. The forward charge was actually a posture of thrusting forward with the sword and shield against the enemy's weapon, except that there was no shield in his left hand.

This is certainly very painful, and it will inevitably worsen the injury.

His arm could very well be pierced, or even be impaled in his chest by Wang Yue's sword.

However, Liu Bei used his arm as a shield to lock Wang Yue's sword. If Wang Yue did not retreat, Liu Bei would also disembowel him.

Trading injury for life is the attitude of fighting on the battlefield, which is completely different from the way Liu Bei usually practiced swordsmanship.

But at this moment, Liu Bei only had this thought in his mind: wearing inner armor, he should rely on the thickness of the armor to fight. Since his arm was not pierced by a sword, his chest, which was even more protected, would naturally not be completely pierced either.

From the moment he heard Wang Yue's name, Liu Bei had no intention of competing with him in swordsmanship.

Instead, it's about who's more ruthless, fighting to the death on the battlefield—even the most skilled swordsman on the battlefield is just a soldier, and superior skills may not be able to defeat a fierce soldier with a death wish.

Wang Yue was somewhat surprised. He clearly did not expect that an official like Liu Bei would risk his life to rush forward after being stabbed. He quickly discarded the sword and withdrew.

The simple longsword, after Wang Yue loosened his grip on the hilt, fell onto the bridge surface with Liu Bei's charge, and became lodged diagonally in the wooden bridge plank, swaying precariously. It was indeed a rare and sharp blade.

Although Wang Yue abandoned his sword, he did not simply dodge. Instead, he turned sideways to meet Liu Bei's sword strike and used his scabbard to block Liu Bei's blade, precisely stopping Liu Bei before he could unleash his full power.

Liu Bei didn't stop walking and bumped into Wang Yue, but his sword was blocked at his side and he couldn't exert any force.

In the rush, Wang Yue was also unable to exert any force. Although he blocked Liu Bei's knife, he could not resist the inertia of Liu Bei's forward charge. He was knocked off balance and took a step back with a muffled groan.

The guards on the side had already rushed over with their swords drawn, and slashed diagonally at Wang Yue's shoulder and neck.

Liu Bei also raised his sword and swung it back, slashing diagonally upwards from under Wang Yue's crotch.

Wang Yue was knocked back and seemed to have no way to dodge, but he suddenly touched the ground with his toes and leaped backward. Using the momentum from being knocked back by Liu Bei, he dodged the two knives with a juggling-like fish-like backflip.

Somersaults are actually the most dangerous way to dodge attacks; once your feet are off the ground, you no longer have room to maneuver.

Taking advantage of the fact that Wang Yue was not yet firmly on his feet and had lost his weapon, Liu Bei continued to stride forward, raising his sword to pursue and stab him.

The guard was also a highly skilled martial artist. After missing his target with his sword, he suddenly pounced on Wang Yue from the side, swung his sword horizontally with a backhand, and coordinated very well with Liu Bei.

This is a military formation attack tactic. When someone advances to pursue, someone else will strike from the side to support them, making it difficult for the enemy to defend against.

The advantage of the horizontal sword lies in this: it can be used for both slashing and thrusting, serving as both a knife and a sword. It can handle chaotic battles and is more suitable for teamwork.

If there were crossbowmen and halberdmen at this time, they would also attack from all sides.

Two fists can't beat four hands. Even the most skilled swordsman can't fight against an army. Even if Liu Bei only had two people on his side, Wang Yue still couldn't withstand them.

But Wang Yue was indeed a master swordsman. He used his scabbard to tap Liu Bei's blade, deflecting the sword.

Then, using the force of Liu Bei's thrust, the recoiled scabbard struck the guard's blade again.

These two quick strikes precisely intercepted Liu Bei and his guards' sword strikes before they could unleash their full power!
Intercepting the opponent's attack with minimal force, making it difficult for the opponent to exert force and thus disrupting the continuity of their attack, is indeed a first-rate skill.

However, Wang Yue was powerless to fight back. Although he managed to intercept Liu Bei and his guards' attack, he could only retreat again and was now pressed against the bridge railing.

The railing was rudimentary, just wooden poles joined together, and it wasn't meant to provide safety for people; it was only there to prevent horses from accidentally falling into the water while crossing the bridge.

Seeing Liu Bei raise his sword again, Wang Yue shouted, "Commander, stop!"

Liu Bei ignored him. He had no intention of holding back until the enemy was rendered incapable of fighting. He drew his sword and slashed straight for Wang Yue's throat.

Wang Yue ducked to avoid the attack, but the guard beside him thrust his knife at Wang Yue's thigh.

"Wang had no intention of killing anyone!"

Wang Yue had no room to dodge. After intercepting the guard's thrust with his sword sheath, he once again used the momentum to leap backward.

He leaped quite far, even performing a somersault in mid-air, before landing in the water—he jumped from the bridge into the Juma River.

"Go get the fishing nets! Catch them alive!"

Liu Bei glanced at the river and quickly gave instructions to his guards.

These few exchanges happened in the blink of an eye; from the moment Wang Yue made his move to the moment he jumped into the river, only a few breaths had passed.

Such assassinations are unlikely to be prolonged engagements.

Wang Yue was indeed highly skilled. If Liu Bei hadn't known his name beforehand and hadn't risked aggravating his injuries to gain an advantage, he probably would have fallen into his trap.

But Wang Yue was clearly not a professional assassin, and his actions were rather hasty...

To announce one's name upon arrival is not the act of an assassin, but rather the style of a swordsman. Clearly, Wang Yue did not intend to assassinate him, but rather acted on a whim.

If he were an assassin, when Liu Bei was struck in the arm and charged forward, he would not have abandoned his sword, but would have continued to stab Liu Bei and fight to the death.

However, Wang Yue's abandonment of his sword does not mean he had no intention of killing; it merely reveals that he was not determined to die.

Wang Yue's attempt to assassinate on the bridge suggests that he intended to escape by jumping into the river if the assassination failed. However, this plan was likely made hastily and on a whim, as the river under the bridge was not suitable for swimming and escaping. If he had planned it in advance, he would have known this.

The bridge was built at the spot where Zhang Shiping's cavalry first got stuck in the river. This area always looks like the water is flowing gently, but it is actually the deepest part of the silt. It was precisely because this area was the most difficult to cross the river that this bridge had to be built.

It was summer, the peak season for the Juma River, and if one entered the river calmly, it was indeed possible to swim.

But Wang Yue leaped off the bridge, performing a backflip with a 180-degree twist and a 120-degree rotation—a feat with an extremely high difficulty level.

The splash after it fell into the water was small, but there was a lot of silt—the silt at the bottom of the river immediately surged to the surface.

Liu Bei was even worried that Wang Yue would suffocate by falling headfirst into the mud.

"How badly are you injured, my lord?"

Bian Ji didn't care whether Wang Yue was dead or alive, and quickly ran to Liu Bei's side to check on his injuries.

"He can still move around, so his bones and muscles should be fine; it's just a skin and flesh injury."

Liu Bei moved his arm and felt that the problem was not serious, so he used a knife to cut open his outer garment and prepared to tighten the inner armor band around his left elbow to stop the bleeding.

The inner armor has many straps at the wrist, elbow, shoulder, and waist, which are both to make it fit more snugly when worn as an inner layer and to quickly bandage and stop bleeding after an injury—there's a reason why the inner armor is so expensive.

Since Liu Bei had difficulty operating with one hand, Bian Ji helped him tighten the sash, tied a knot, and then took off her hairpin, threaded it through the sash, and twisted it once.

This is the safest way to stop bleeding in an emergency, and Bian Ji probably learned it from Xiu Niang.

"Young master, go to the clinic to get your wound bandaged first. Yide will catch the assassin himself."

Bian Ji took Liu Bei's arm and walked with him towards the bridge.

At this moment, one of the guards was staring at the mud and sand struggling in the river, while another guard was looking for a fishing net.

The other guards had already heard the whistle and were running over from the other side of the bridge.

Zhang Fei ran in the lead, only a few dozen steps away from Liu Bei.

As Liu Bei reached the bridgehead, he suddenly sensed something was amiss and abruptly turned to look at the riverbank.

But no other enemies were seen.

Logically, things should have been safe by now, and Liu Bei didn't see any threat, but he still felt something was off.

Wang Yue's assassination attempt was already suspicious, especially since this was in Xihe, right on his own doorstep... Did he think he could escape by hiding in the river?

He'll most likely be met by someone else!
Just then, horns sounded from the outer perimeter of the West River, and bronze bells rang from the south.

That's an alarm bell, a large bell that only rings when the enemy attacks!

"Enemy attack?!"

Liu Bei turned his head to look south, but did not see any smoke signals.

The clinic has always been guarded by a large number of soldiers, so how could there only be alarm bells and no beacon fires?
"Lang Jun!"

Bian Ji didn't look in the direction of the alarm bell; her eyes were only on Liu Bei. Suddenly, she felt something moving behind Liu Bei and abruptly pulled him behind her.

Liu Bei was pulled and stumbled. As he stumbled, he turned around and saw a figure of light flying out of a dark window of a house not far from the bridge, about thirty paces away from him!
Those are crossbow bolts!

The crossbow bolts were not from Wang Yue; someone else had been lying in wait in the house all along.

The house was next to the one where Bian Ji had lived. It was a sunny day, and from the outside, the interior looked completely dark.

The crossbow bolt was obviously aimed at Liu Bei. Bian Ji pulled the trigger, causing Liu Bei to take a step, while she herself remained in the trajectory of the bolt.

Liu Bei saw the crossbow bolts, but he was staggering and could hardly react. He only subconsciously pulled Bian Ji along.

Bian Ji was already pulling Liu Bei, and the two of them pulled each other, falling onto the bridge at the same time.

Liu Bei scrambled to his feet and pulled Bian Ji into his arms, a sudden pang of pain shooting through his heart—an arrow had already pierced Bian Ji's shoulder.

Fortunately, Liu Bei's instinctive pull worked, at least turning Bian Ji, who was originally facing the murderer, to the side. If he hadn't pulled her, the crossbow bolt might have hit Bian Ji's vital chest and neck.

"It's okay... I'm fine."

Bian Ji raised her left hand and saw the crossbow bolt on her shoulder. She didn't pull it out, but just shook her head at Liu Bei to indicate that the injury wasn't serious.

The couple fell to the ground, both wounded. Zhang Fei and his guards, who were rushing towards Liu Bei, saw this and all sorts of alarm whistles sounded.

No one shouted any nonsense like "Catch the assassin," only whistles and Zhang Fei's orders to blockade the area.

Liu Bei did not stay on the bridge. He ordered Zhang Fei to capture the assassin, while he took Bian Ji and half of his guards to the Xihe Medical Clinic.

……

The Xihe Medical Clinic was indeed attacked by the enemy, but the attack was quelled by the time Liu Bei arrived.

After returning to Xihe, Guan Yu stayed by Xiu Niang's side. The troop strength of the Xihe Medical Hall was basically the same as that of Guan Yu's central camp.

The attack on the clinic was carried out by wounded patients who were receiving treatment there.

There were only a few dozen wounded soldiers, who were former mine slaves from Youbeiping. They said they had stolen oxcarts and horse-drawn carts from the mines and joined Liu Bei. They had all obtained military ranks and household registration, so they received free treatment for their injuries and illnesses at the clinic.

But they suddenly launched an attack, attempting to kidnap Xiu Niang.

Fortunately, Guan Yu was present, and most of the attackers were killed on the spot, with only a few left alive for questioning.

The clinic had an 'inpatient department'; Liu Bei originally intended the Xihe Clinic to be a modern Chinese medicine hospital.

However, this was the first time Liu Bei had ever enjoyed a hospital room he had built himself.

The couple were in the same room at the time; one had injured his left arm, and the other his right shoulder.

Actually, none of them were seriously injured, and the wounds weren't large, but the nature of this matter is very serious.

He was assassinated in front of his own home!

Moreover, it involved assassinating an official holding the imperial seal, which is even more serious than treason!

Zuo Yuan, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Jian Yong, and others have all arrived here.

A corpse lay on the ground, a short knife stuck in its jaw.

This is the person who shot the hidden arrow.

"Did this guy commit suicide?"

Liu Bei sat on his sickbed and asked Zhang Fei.

"Yes."

Zhang Fei lowered his head and replied, "This man committed suicide immediately after being surrounded. A short knife pierced his jaw diagonally. There was no time to stop him, and he died on the spot."

Zhang Fei was now filled with guilt and anger. He was Liu Bei's bodyguard captain, and although he wasn't there when Liu Bei was injured, he still felt that he had failed in his duty.

Especially since Bian Ji was also injured, Zhang Fei wished he could devour that assassin alive.

"Another suicide squad..."

Liu Bei gritted his teeth and muttered angrily, his face extremely unfriendly.

It was no big deal for Liu Bei to suffer a minor injury himself, but he was quite upset that Bian Ji was injured as a result.

“My lord, this man is different from the assassin who tried to kill Duke Bo’an before.”

Zuo Yuan added from the side, "I have already inquired, and he is from the Taihang Mountains. He just received a military rank for presenting a horse."

"People from the Taihang Mountains?"

Liu Bei frowned: "Is this a frame-up?"

Zuo Yuan nodded: "Perhaps... I sent a letter to Zuo Zi, asking him to come and identify the body. But we must strengthen our defenses in Xihe; there are too many unfamiliar faces these days..."

"We must be on guard... However, not many people should know that I am injured right now. Just tell the outside world that I am seriously injured and my life is uncertain. Perhaps some people will come forward on their own."

Liu Bei shook his head and looked at Zhang Fei: "Where is Wang Yue?"

Zhang Fei and Guan Yu went out together and dragged Wang Yue, who had been tied up like a dumpling, inside.

After Wang Yue plunged into the river, he did indeed get stuck in the mud and almost drowned. He is still tied up in the fishing net.

“Tiger General Wang Yue…I’ve heard of your name, but I have no grudge against you. Why did you try to assassinate me?”

Liu Bei looked at Wang Yue, who was covered in mud, and his expression had returned to calm.

When he was with his own people, Liu Bei could wear his heart on his sleeve, but in front of his enemies, he would not easily reveal his emotions unless he was putting on an act.

"Commander Liu, someone has accused you of insulting renowned scholars, harboring bandits to enhance your own power, and granting military ranks to barbarian slaves, suggesting collusion with barbarian bandits. I, Wang, have been ordered to investigate!"

Wang Yue looked surprisingly helpless: "I had no intention of assassinating anyone, but the warlord sent men to arrest me, so naturally I had to resist and beg for my life..."

This may indeed be true. If Liu Bei had not sent his guards to summon Wang Yue, Wang Yue might not have rushed to assassinate him.

But the claim of being "ordered to investigate" was rather novel, and Liu Bei was so angry he laughed: "So, you actually think you're a loyal minister and a hero?"

"Hmph... I, Wang, am no match for the loyalty and righteousness of the warlord who keeps tens of thousands of bandits!"

Wang Yue turned his head away from Liu Bei.

"I never expected the renowned Tiger Warrior Swordsman to be so ignorant."

Liu Bei approached Wang Yue expressionlessly: "You'd better stop pretending to be loyal in front of me. If you don't want your entire clan to be wiped out, you'd better hurry up and say something useful... Who sent you here?"

"What? Is Governor Liu going to bring disaster upon his family?"

Wang Yue sneered: "Still calling yourself chivalrous and benevolent? Hmph... You really are just a fame-seeker... Liu Bei, the Emperor sent me! Do you dare to kill me?"

"Does injuring my inner chambers not count as bringing disaster upon my family? Are all swordsmen of Yanshan as shameless as you?"

Liu Bei looked coldly at Wang Yue: "You were once a Tiger Warrior, you should know that assassinating an official with imperial authority is the same as regicide, a heinous crime that should be punished by the extermination of three generations of your family. You are the one who will bring disaster upon your family... The Emperor sent you here? How could the Emperor possibly look favorably upon a fool like you?"

Wang Yue, his face grim, gritted his teeth and glared at Liu Bei: "I have not harmed any innocent people! Nor have I ever intended to murder the warlord! I only acted to escape!"

The person who attacked him in the shadows did so after Wang Yue fell into the water, something Wang Yue genuinely didn't know.

Liu Bei frowned and pointed to the corpse on the ground: "You're not with this assassin?"

"What assassin?"

Wang Yue looked completely bewildered.

"Turns out he was just a fool who got scammed..."

Liu Bei, losing his patience, turned to Zhang Fei and said, "Forget it, kill him. Say he tried to assassinate me, causing me to be seriously injured and on the verge of death. Take his head and hang it outside Xihe Pavilion, and issue a military order to hunt down his family and relatives!"

After saying that, he turned around and left.

Zhang Fei drew his sword and raised it to strike.

Wang Yue finally panicked: "Commander Liu! I truly had no intention of killing anyone. I was only entrusted by someone to investigate your plan to raise thieves... I am the teacher of Marquis Shi, you cannot kill me!"

Even the title has changed.

"Who do you think you are? I hold the imperial insignia and can execute any official below the magistrate level! You are just a commoner, why can't I kill you!"

Liu Bei glanced back and said, "You're nothing but a fool who was tricked into coming here to die. You're neither wise nor brave, and you're good for nothing except swordsmanship. No wonder you can't get ahead... I know you're a guard of Marquis Shi, but if Marquis Shi recognized you, you wouldn't need to come here and take this risk!"

"Commander-in-Chief... Commander-in-Chief! Commander-in-Chief, please wait! I, Wang, am willing to serve you..."

Wang Yue panicked and quickly called out to Liu Bei.

"I don't need an idiot like you."

Liu Bei interrupted Wang Yue: "Zhang Chun sent you to Xihe, right? But why don't you think about why the Emperor would grant me the imperial insignia to oversee the army, instead of Zhang Chun? Do you really think that his title of 'Xianbei Colonel' is an official position? You're nothing but a brainless brute. What use are you to me?"

Wang Yue's face turned pale: "The Commander-in-Chief actually knew?"

"Who else could it be but him?"

Liu Bei shook his head and pointed to the crossbowman's corpse: "Wang Yue, you still don't understand... you're just a pawn! Your only purpose was to give this assassin a chance to shoot me with an arrow... You, a deserter swordsman, really think you're someone important?"

Wang Yue's face grew increasingly pale. He could indeed be considered a deserter—when the emperor ordered the transfer of skilled warriors from the Tiger Guard to the new army, he refused to comply and returned to Yanshan.

At the time, he thought that by not currying favor with eunuchs and not joining Jian Shuo's entourage, he could cultivate his reputation... but he never imagined that no scholar would actually value his reputation as a swordsman.

(End of this chapter)