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

Chapter 222 Slave Infant
Tancheng.

Wang Lang felt both relieved and uneasy.

Fortunately, the Yellow Turban rebels who had besieged Tancheng had all retreated.

The siege of Tancheng a while ago was treated as if it had never happened.

The unease stemmed from the fact that his own governor had led his troops in a breakout and never returned, only sending someone back to Tancheng to summon Cao Bao away, while he, as the chief administrator, had no idea what Tao Qian was planning.

But in any case, this is a good thing.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhao Yu released Zhang Zhao from prison.

All three of them were renowned scholars from Xuzhou and had a deep friendship with each other.

"I wish to avoid trouble in Yangzhou. What will become of my two elder brothers?"

Zhang Zhao asked Wang Lang and Zhao Yu.

“Governor Tao threatened my family, so I had no choice but to stay here.”

Zhao Yu shook his head.

“My clan is here, how dare we leave? Zibu, go ahead. We'll just say that the Yellow Turbans entered the city and kidnapped you.”

Wang Lang also shook his head and escorted Zhang Zhao out of the city.

"The Yellow Turbans entered the city? But this city is safe and sound; no one has ever invaded."

Zhang Zhao felt that this explanation probably wouldn't fool Tao Qian.

Wang Lang didn't even look up: "Don't worry, Zibu, I have a plan... Let's go."

After sending Zhang Zhao away, Wang Lang returned home, gathered his household soldiers, and tied yellow turbans around his head...

Tancheng was eventually captured by the Yellow Turbans, supposedly due to collusion from within.

These 'Yellow Turbans' were extremely brutal. They not only looted all the city's reserves, but also stole everyone's food rations, including Tao Qian's family.

Fortunately, the Yellow Turbans didn't kill many people; only some jailers and city gate guards were harmed.

There were over a thousand trucks transporting supplies out of the city.

But what Wang Lang didn't know was that another team was lying in wait behind the hill, watching these vehicles loaded with money and grain.

"I never expected that Wang Lang would actually plunder the village's wealth... By seizing this batch of money and grain, we can recruit the bandits of Mount Tai and respond to Magistrate Tao's call for recruitment."

A burly young man said in a low voice.

"Brother, do you really intend to join Tao Gongzu? Tao Gongzu's subordinates are such plunderers of the local area; how can we stand shoulder to shoulder with them?"

Another tall, burly warrior shook his head: "I think it would be better to join Liu Bei. I've heard he's kind and virtuous, and he has elite troops under his command. Zhang Rao also seems to be willing to help Lord Liu..."

"It is precisely because Liu Shijun has so many powerful generals under his command and is also aided by Zhang Rao that if we were to go and join him, it would only be adding flowers to brocade, and we would hardly be valued by him."

The burly young man shook his head and said, "But Governor Tao is currently facing a shortage of troops and is in dire straits. He has no choice but to rely on us since he cannot get help from the scholars of Xuzhou. If we help Governor Tao, it will be like sending charcoal in snowy weather. He will surely be given important positions and control over a region."

"I see... Shall we attack now?"

The tall, martial man known as Yingzi raised his axe, staring at the caravan with eager anticipation.

"Don't rush... wait until they're further away from the city."

The burly young man pulled his head back from the hill and pointed to the east of the city: "Wang Lang will definitely transport the wealth to Sangong Mountain to hide. Let's set up an ambush in the valley."

……

At the same time, Liu Bei also led his troops to the north of Tancheng.

"Report! There is fighting in Tancheng. It looks like the Yellow Turbans have breached the city. A convoy is heading east, and it looks like there are about three thousand people and over a thousand vehicles."

The scouts are reporting back.

"Three thousand people and over a thousand vehicles?"

Liu Bei was very puzzled. He could understand the Yellow Turbans breaking through the city, but the number of people and vehicles was clearly inconsistent with the Yellow Turbans.

"That's probably not the Yellow Turbans..."

Zhuge Xuan said in a low voice.

"That's what the Yellow Turbans were like..."

Liu Bei immediately gave the order: "Yide, take the cavalry and intercept that caravan. Don't let a single one escape."

...Wang Lang's transport caravan arrived at the foot of Sangong Mountain and was about to enter the valley when the sound of marching drums came from behind, along with a rough voice: "Zhang Yide of Yan is here! Disarm and you will not be killed!"

The group of people lying in ambush in the mountains looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Brother...it seems someone made their move before us? Should we still join the fray?"

Yingzi looked at her companion, who was also somewhat at a loss.

"...Go! We can't let someone else steal the goods we've got our eyes on!"

The burly man raised his long sword and charged out.

"Run away..."

Just as the transport team was preparing to escape Zhang Fei's pursuit, they heard a drumbeat from ahead...

Thousands of fierce bandits blocked their way.

When attacked from both sides, the Wang family's soldiers collapsed. A few tried to fight to the death, while most tried to escape as soon as possible, but they were trapped in the valley and had no way to run away.

Before long, Zhang Fei burst through the transport team and was taken aback to see someone trying to steal his business: "Who goes there! State your name!"

"You bandit from Mount Tai! Who are you?"

The robust young man approached Zhang Fei.

"There are even people calling themselves slave bandits? Are you the bandits of Mount Tai?"

Zhang Fei chuckled: "General of the Left, Sima Zhang Yide, has been ordered to suppress the rebels. If you do not wish to die, lay down your weapons and step aside!"

"The Left General of the Central Army? One of Prefect Liu's men?"

Nu Kou frowned, hesitated for a moment, and instead of lowering his weapon, stepped forward to greet Zhang Fei: "I am Zang Ba, an official under Lord Tao. Since we are both fighting against the Yellow Turbans, how about we split the spoils equally?"

"A disciple of Prefect Tao?"

Zhang Fei glanced at Zang Ba and laughed: "Your lie doesn't sound very convincing... You want the spoils? Defeat me and you can have them!"

Having said that, he thrust his spear forward.

Zang Ba raised his sword to parry, struggling quite a bit, but he managed to take the hit.

Seeing this, the soldiers on both sides were about to rush forward and attack, but were stopped by Zhang Fei and Zang Ba at the same time: "Don't move!" "Go back!"

"Not bad, try another move!"

Zhang Fei deflected Zang Ba's blade and then swung his spear in a counterattack.

Zang Ba raised his sword again to parry, but his body slumped, and the long sword almost slipped from his hand.

He had previously laid an ambush in the mountains and forests without riding a horse, but now he was facing off on foot against cavalry, which was clearly a huge disadvantage.

"Sun Guan is here!"

The infant, wielding an axe, lunged forward with incredible ferocity.

Zhang Fei forced Zang Ba back with his spear, then turned and caught Sun Guan's great axe. Seeing that Zang Ba's other men did not rush forward to beat him up, he laughed and said, "That's fair! Come on, come on!"

The three fought, with Zhang Fei having the advantage of a horse, allowing him to fight two against one, while Zang Ba and Sun Guan cooperated well, making it difficult to determine a winner for a time.

Just as the Wang family's caravan was about to take the opportunity to escape, the troops on both sides started moving at the same time.

Neither side's retainers went to help their own leader; instead, they began vying for ownership of the Wang family's caravan.

When Liu Bei arrived with his main force, all he saw was chaos.

"Stop, Commander Zhang! We are not thieves!"

Upon seeing Liu Bei's banner, Zang Ba stopped and summoned Sun Guan back.

"I see you two are quite skilled. Why don't you come and serve under my elder brother?"

Zhang Fei could tell that the two men were not thieves, but he didn't think they were officials either.

"With a valiant general like Zhang Sima in Commander Liu's household, he probably won't need us..."

Zang Ba glanced at Liu Bei, who was approaching, threw the knife in his hand to Sun Guan, and walked past Zhang Fei to stand in front of Liu Bei: "Zang Xuangao, a resident of Taishan, greets Your Excellency. I was summoned by Your Excellency Tao to raise an army to fight the bandits. I originally intended to take this money and grain to help Your Excellency Tao, and did not want to oppose Your Excellency Liu. Today's events are a misunderstanding."

"Prefect Tao has already gone to Qingzhou."

Liu Bei smiled at Zang Ba: "Zang Xuan Gao... I helped send out all of Tao Shijun's summons, and your name wasn't on them. Let's not talk about empty words. If you are truly interested in punishing the traitors, I can recommend you for an official position."

(End of this chapter)