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

Chapter 202 The Tiger's Scheme
a few days later.

Yuan Shu arrived at Zhang Wen's camp.

At this time, neither Tao Qian nor Sun Jian were in the camp, and only Zhang Wen was in the main tent.

"The highway? That's a rare sight. Do you have important business at my camp?"

Zhang Wen treated Yuan Shu quite well, since he couldn't control Yuan Shu.

“Master Zhang, the army’s clothes are in great condition and there is a shortage of people to sew and wash them. We have come here to ask for some women to wash clothes.”

Yuan Shu casually raised his hand and gave Zhang Wen a perfunctory bow: "Originally, this matter should not have bothered Lord Zhang, but the female camp commander said that Lord Zhang has given an order not to allow anyone to leave the camp... I have no choice but to come and ask for it in person."

"How could the highway lack laundry women? The highway conscripted quite a few 'laborers' a while ago, how come there's no one available?"

Zhang Wen seemed oblivious to Yuan Shu's perfunctory manners and cold expression, and instead felt somewhat uneasy.

“All the men that Shu recruited have been given to his retainers, and there is really no one left to use… Shu does not intend to take the young women from the maid camp; he only wants to use those rough women who work in shackles.”

Yuan Shu glanced sideways at Zhang Wen: "Lord Zhang, you wouldn't be reluctant to part with a few laundry women, would you?"

"Those women are all old and disabled; what use is the highway to them?"

Zhang Wen forced an ugly smile: "If you want maids, I'll have more young and beautiful ones sent to your camp..."

“Zhang Gong… let’s be frank. What I want are the families of Liu Bei’s troops under the command of the Left General of the Central Army.”

Yuan Shu was too lazy to beat around the bush: "This is a trivial matter, it's just a matter of a word from Lord Zhang."

"What family? I've never heard of them! If you're not here for a woman, then please leave."

Zhang Wen shook his head and waved, signaling Yuan Shu to leave quickly.

Yuan Shu gave Zhang Wen a deep look, then stopped pressing the matter, only tentatively asking, "Has the bullying gone too far, resulting in too many deaths and injuries?"

Zhang Wen didn't answer, but instead waved his sleeve, telling Yuan Shu to leave quickly.

Yuan Shu wanted to say something, but seeing Zhang Wen's expression, he ultimately didn't speak, shook his head, and left Zhang Wen's camp.

As soon as he left Zhang Wen's camp, Yuan Shu immediately moved the Changshui Camp to the area between Huaili and Meiyang, where it was stationed with Zou Jing and Bao Hong.

After Yuan Shu left, Zhang Wen immediately began calling for help: "Someone come here!"

"What are your orders, Lord Zhang?"

A clerk in his thirties came running from the back of the camp, wearing a Jinxian hat, but with a blue feather stuck in it, which was the mark of a military clerk.

"Burn down the maids' camp...and kill all the women in the camp, saying they were killed by Tao Qian..."

Zhang Wen gave the instructions.

"What is the meaning of Zhang Gong's actions? Why did he kill a woman without cause?"

The military clerk stood still with his head down.

"This is a military order!"

Zhang Wen was furious: "Cheng Demou, are you going to disobey orders?"

"I dare not disobey orders... but I also dare not accept such a chaotic order!"

The military strategist slowly cupped his hands, turned around, and left.

As soon as he stepped out of the camp gate, he reached out and took off the blue feather from his crown, then threw it into the brazier at the entrance of the camp.

Zhang Wen looked at the camp gate, then turned and called out again, "Sun Wentai!"

……

Soon after, Liu Bei arrived at Yuan Shu's camp.

"The person that Governor Liu is looking for has been found by Shu."

Yuan Shu looked very serious: "Among them is a woman from the Duan family of Wuwei, who seems to be a relative of the late Grand Commandant Duan... Commander Liu must be looking for her, right?"

Since Yuan Shu was able to find out about Duan Jiong's clanswoman, there was no need to hide anything. Liu Bei nodded: "Then that's it. Where are they?"

"They are currently all in Huailidu Township...in the maid camp."

Yuan Shu looked at Liu Bei meaningfully: "Commander Liu said he was looking for relatives of his comrades, but he actually found relatives of Grand Commandant Duan. That's quite unexpected."

"What's the surprise? There are plenty of former subordinates of Lord Duan."

Liu Bei shook his head, not wanting to say more about the matter: "Thank you for your help, Brother Gonglu. I will go and bring the man back right away."

"Commander Liu..."

Yuan Shu stopped Liu Bei, hesitated for a moment, and whispered, "Those people are in a very miserable state... If the commander has any of Duan Gong's former troops under his command, they might mutini upon seeing their plight."

Liu Bei's heart sank: "Were you abused?"

Liu Bei had anticipated that the women's situation would not be good once they entered the maid camp.

"It's not just about being abused... I've investigated, and they were first forced by Dong Chongqiang to repair the mausoleum, and then forcibly conscripted into labor by the head of the mausoleum town, resulting in many deaths. This year, they were conscripted by Zhang Wen, and now only the women are alive, all of whom are working in shackles in Zhang Wen's maid camp."

Yuan Shu murmured, "I've seen them. They're women in their twenties or thirties, but they've suffered so much hard labor and mistreatment that they look like fifty-year-old women... I asked Grand Commandant Zhang for those women, but Zhang Wen refused. If Commander Liu goes to look for them, I'm afraid Zhang Wen won't let anyone see them again..."

It's clear that Yuan Shu was also quite disheartened.

Liu Bei lowered his head, closed his eyes, and remained silent for a while before looking up at Yuan Shu: "Zhang Wen didn't even give Brother Gonglu any face... So what about those women now? Are they dead or alive? Has Zhang Wen already killed them... or is he trying to use them as bait to kill me?"

"I don't know the details... but Zhang Wen certainly didn't want Liu's troops to see the women's miserable state, and he certainly didn't want Liu to use this as a pretext to find fault with him."

Yuan Shu cupped his hands in greeting to Liu Bei: "I have done my best, but I am unable to bring the person out. Please forgive me, Commander Liu."

"I will go find Zhang Wen to ask for the person himself... Brother Gonglu helped me with his chivalrous heart, and I should repay him. Gonglu, do you want to return to Luoyang as soon as possible?"

Liu Bei returned the greeting with a very serious bow.

"Of course I want to, but Shu made a mistake in Nanyang, and now the rebels in Liangzhou are not at peace, so Shu cannot go back..."

Yuan Shu was indeed 'exiled' to Liangzhou to participate in the war. Although the exile was relatively mild, Yuan Shu could not return to Luoyang until Liangzhou was pacified.

"Actually, as long as Zhang Wen doesn't hoard the grain and fodder, the Liangzhou rebels can be quelled in no time... I'm sure Brother Gonglu understands that too."

Liu Bei looked at Yuan Shu very sincerely: "However, Brother Gonglu, have you considered who is the one who least wants you to go back?"

Yuan Shu was taken aback: "...I hadn't thought of that."

"Haven't you thought about it?"

Liu Bei shook his head: "I have heard of the saying about two heads sharing one body... Never mind, I shouldn't have brought this up, please forgive me, Brother Gonglu..."

"...Xuande, please speak frankly."

Yuan Shu frowned and gritted his teeth.

"I am going to seek revenge on Zhang Wen. If he cannot hand over the person, I will naturally find a way to bring him down."

Liu Bei nodded and said, "But if there are people in the court who obstruct us, then no matter how many charges we find, it will be of no use. Therefore, I would like to ask Brother Gonglu to return to Luoyang and present Zhang Wen's crimes. In this way, Zhang Wen will surely be recalled by the court... Moreover, Brother Gonglu can also see for himself in the court who does not want you to return..."

Yuan Shu pondered for a moment, then asked Liu Bei, "What crimes does Xuande wish to accuse Zhang Wen of?"

"They colluded with the Qiang and Hu tribes to seize power on the border, linked up with rebels to support themselves, and forcibly abducted the families of their comrades in an attempt to control the army and plot a rebellion..."

Liu Bei spoke each word carefully.

He did not use the charges that Dong Zhuo had suggested.

Those charges are actually not enough.

"...Are these... truly Zhang Wen's fault?"

A mocking smile suddenly appeared on Yuan Shu's lips.

"Whether it is true or not, as long as these accusations reach the emperor's ears, they must be Zhang Wen's crimes."

Liu Bei once again looked at Yuan Shu with newfound respect, and slowly raised his head to gaze at the sky.

Yuan Shu had clearly realized this...

These crimes are the crimes of the emperor.

……

After bidding farewell to Yuan Shu, Liu Bei hurried along the road and arrived at Huaili County, where it was already night.

At night, it was generally forbidden to meet the commander-in-chief or move around freely within the city. Zhang Wen's main camp was located in the county town.

However, Liu Bei, holding the military supervisor's insignia, was not subject to the curfew.

However, even though he was the military supervisor, he still had to abide by some rules, such as the army not being allowed to enter the city.

Liu Bei ordered his troops to camp outside the west gate, and only took a guard of about a hundred men with him into Huaili County.

"Commander Liu, what brings you to the camp so late at night?" Inside the city gate, a junior officer stopped Liu Bei.

"Since you know that Liu is the military governor, your nighttime patrol here is obviously to supervise illegal activities... Why didn't you introduce yourself when you saw the military governor?"

Liu Bei deliberately put on the airs of a military supervisor and walked up to the man to examine him closely.

This man had a dark complexion and was difficult to see clearly at night, making him quite suitable for guarding the camp...

"Zu Mao, a hundred-man school officer, greets Governor Liu..."

The junior officer bowed respectfully but did not make way.

"Zu Mao...you are a subordinate of Military Advisor Sun, right? Do you know where the maids' camp is?"

Liu Bei put his arm around Zu Mao and asked, "Would you be willing to lead the way for me?"

Zu Mao shook his head and broke free from Liu Bei's hand: "Commander Liu, this city is currently the Grand Commandant's camp. I do not know what a maid's camp is."

Liu Bei smiled, then suddenly put on a stern face and ordered: "The supervising officer will inspect the camp and check the posts. Conscript 100 men under the command of Zu Mao!"

"Wait a minute! ... Commander Liu, why are you deceiving my men?"

A sound came from the city wall.

Sun Jian, wearing a red turban, came down from the city wall. After hesitating for a while, he finally blocked Liu Bei's way.

"Military Advisor Sun is truly dedicated to his duty, even serving as a sentry at night. He is truly admirable."

Liu Bei looked at Sun Jian and smiled: "Sun Wentai works tirelessly day and night, yet he still has no authority to lead troops. He can only serve as a military advisor and offer strategies, but he cannot be appointed as a general and make meritorious contributions... He has a loyal and brave man like Zu Mao under his command, yet he can only be assigned to the position of a centurion. This is truly unfair..."

Sun Jian was rendered speechless by those words.

Liu Bei patted Sun Jian's arm and gently pushed him away: "Sun Wentai, if you block other people's way, of course others will block your way... You have elite men under your command, where can't you go? Why do you have to be someone else's gatekeeper?"

In fact, Liu Bei did not use any force, but Sun Jian was still "pushed" to the side by Liu Bei.

"Zu Mao, where is the maid's camp?"

Liu Bei then waved to Zu Mao.

Zu Mao didn't move, he just looked at Sun Jian.

Sun Jian gave Liu Bei a deep look, then glanced at the hundred or so armored soldiers Liu Bei had brought with him, and nodded to Zu Mao: "Go and oversee the army."

After Liu Bei entered the city with Zu Mao, Sun Jian whispered to someone, "Demou...gather your troops and leave this place."

"Brother Wentai, have you finally made up your mind?"

The person summoned by Sun Jian was Cheng Pu—the military strategist who had previously refused Zhang Wen's orders and discarded the green feather.

Cheng Pu was not Sun Jian's subordinate, but Zhang Wen's official. However, he often interacted with Sun Jian and had a relatively close relationship with him.

"Liu Bei dared to bring over a hundred men into the main camp of the central army, so he must have something to rely on. We'd better not get involved in this mess... De Mou, you didn't obey the order to kill those women this morning, which is already a crime of disobeying orders. How can I let you suffer Zhang Wen's revenge?"

Sun Jian shook his head and said in a low voice, "Liu Bei is right. I shouldn't have blocked other people's way, nor should I have done this job of guarding the gate... Let's go and find another place to stay outside the city and observe the situation."

"Grand Commandant Zhang doesn't think about suppressing the rebellion, but instead orders us to harm women. Such an incompetent and shameless person should have been abandoned long ago!"

Cheng Pu nodded and said, "But if we abandon Grand Commandant Zhang, to whom should we turn?"

"I won't vote for anyone..."

Sun Jian pulled Cheng Pu outside: "While Liu Bei is going to provoke Zhang Wen, let's take all of Zhang Wen's wealth and able-bodied men with us... As long as we have troops, we'll have a future! When the time comes, we'll burn down the main camp, and then it will all be Liu Bei's fault!"

……

They entered the maids' camp without further hindrance, as the guards on duty that night were Sun Jian's troops.

But no one was seen inside the camp.

Liu Bei led his troops inside and ordered the camp's braziers to be lit, only to find a messy, empty camp.

"What happened... Zu Mao, where are the people in the camp?"

Liu Bei slowly drew his sword: "You lured me here, are you trying to become a suicide spy?"

"The woman here has been hidden by Military Advisor Sun."

Zu Mao glanced at Liu Bei's drawn sword, hesitated for a moment, and replied in a low voice, "Grand Commandant Zhang once ordered the execution of all the women in the maid camp, but no one was willing to do it. Military Advisor Sun received the order, but hid them outside the county and lied that they had all been killed..."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei glared angrily at Zu Mao: "Knowing there was no one here, why did you bring us here?!"

"He was just following orders..."

Liu Bei sighed: "So Sun Jian deliberately used me as bait? Zu Mao, what is Sun Jian planning?"

"As the governor said, I was just following orders. I was unaware of Sun Lang's scheme. But Sun Lang asked me to tell the governor that the people he wanted were all outside the city. As long as the governor is magnanimous and doesn't hold a grudge against Sun Lang, all those women will be sent to the governor's camp."

Zu Mao replied respectfully.

“Sun Wentai is quite the scoundrel! He’s trying to wreak havoc on this city and then pin the blame on me… And what about you, Zu Mao?”

Liu Bei looked at Zu Mao: "Sun Wentai sent you here to die with me, and you're here to accompany me too?"

"Yes, if Commander Liu is in trouble, I, Zu, will surely die as well..."

Zu Mao gritted his teeth and nodded: "Whenever Governor Liu leaves the city, I will leave."

"Ha... Such a loyal and fearless man! Yet Sun Jian actually abandoned you?!"

Liu Bei shook his head and took the torch from Zu Mao's hand: "Zu Mao, do you know why I have come?"

"The military supervisor has come to inspect the camp..."

Zu Mao released the torch, but his hands clenched into fists again, clearly showing his extreme nervousness.

"Liu came only to save his comrades and relatives, nothing more."

Liu Bei shook his head and sighed, "But such a small matter has become the way Sun Jian harmed me... I don't quite understand, doesn't Sun Jian have any comrades? Are you, Zu Mao... one of Sun Jian's comrades?"

Zhang Fei let out a mocking snort behind Liu Bei.

Zhao Yun glanced contemptuously at the city gate behind him, without saying a word.

Zu Mao lowered his head, not daring to look at Liu Bei.

"Forget it, just go away..."

Liu Bei waved to Zu Mao: "Let's go. Have Sun Jian send the maids' camp into my camp. Let him know what he's doing..."

"Brother! How can you just let him go like this?!"

Zhang Fei shouted angrily.

"Sun Jian is holding hostages..."

Liu Bei snorted: "Sun Jian may not care about his comrades, but I do."

Zu Mao was a little stunned, probably because he couldn't believe that Liu Bei had let him go so easily.

After taking a few steps and looking back, Liu Bei truly ignored him.

Completely bewildered, Zu Mao turned and ran south, disappearing into the darkness in the blink of an eye.

Just as Zu Mao ran towards the south gate, a commotion arose inside the city.

Fires broke out in the center of the city.

Then, the noise of the disturbance grew louder and louder.

“Sun is holding the west gate, but Zu Mao has run towards the south gate… My lord, should we go to the south gate?”

Zhao Yun was clearly perceptive and immediately realized Liu Bei's intention in letting Zu Mao leave.

"Of course... I am the supervising envoy. The army is currently in turmoil, and it is time to purify the chaotic troops."

Liu Bei turned to look at an old soldier surrounded by his men: "How is Lord Duan's health? Can he still fight?"

That was Duan Jiong.

Accompanying Liu Bei here were Duan Jiong and his men, as well as Zhang Fei and other old brothers who had met Duan Jiong before.

The only greenhorn was Zhao Yun.

"An old soldier may not be able to wield a sword, but he can still handle fire... Sun Jian wants Xuande to take the blame, but with me here, how could Xuande be guilty?"

Upon hearing Liu Bei revert to using the title "Lord Duan," a smile appeared on Duan Jiong's wrinkled face. He extended his trembling hand and pointed to the torch in Liu Bei's hand:
"Come on fire!"

(End of this chapter)