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

Chapter 299: Soldiers’ deceitful ways
Two days later.

Jia Xu led the emperor's carriage to Yuema Pavilion in western Dunqiu.

Yuemating is under the jurisdiction of Baima County (the same county where Baimadu is located), but it is closer to Dunqiu County to the east.

Most counties along the Yellow River are in this situation, which is actually caused by the frequent changes in the course of the Yellow River. When the Qin Dynasty divided the counties into prefectures and counties, the Yellow River or its tributaries such as the Pu River were the natural boundaries between the prefectures and counties.

Just like Dongjun and Jiyinjun, they used to be divided by an ancient river.

However, the Yellow River later changed its course, and this natural boundary no longer exists. Some sections of the ancient river channel were even converted into Han Dynasty roads, such as the section in Dunqiu, Puyang.

This makes the distance between counties such as Puyang, Dunqiu, and Lihu seem particularly short—in fact, they were separated by a river hundreds of years ago.

Yuema Pavilion was originally an ancient riverbed. It offered a wide view and was suitable for camping, so Jia Xu had his caravan stop there.

No sooner had they set up camp than news came from the Qianjun Qianzhao Department: "Zhang Wenyuan, former Wumeng Congshi of Bingzhou, requests to accompany the emperor and protect him, saying that there are bandits who intend to attack the imperial carriage."

The convoy actually had quite a few guards. Qian Zhao's retainers were at the front, along with the attendants and family soldiers of the officials' sons.

After thinking for a moment, Jia Xu went to Qian Zhao's military camp to see Zhang Liao.

"Thieves attacked the imperial carriage? Who were they?"

Jia Xu didn't suspect Zhang Liao, mainly because he wasn't worried about an attack at all...

After all, the emperor wasn't originally here.

"Zhang Miao's men... Bi Chen, the magistrate of Dunqiu, plans to stage a hijacking tonight to lure Zhang Miao's men out..."

Zhang Liao recounted the situation of Bi Chen, the magistrate of Dunqiu, and Cheng Yu's words, and then requested again to join the imperial guard.

After listening, Jia Xu pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "A fake hijacking? This... Wen Yuan, I think Cheng Yu is probably lying to you..."

"Why? Bi Chen's family was indeed kidnapped by Zhang Miao."

Zhang Liao was puzzled: "If you were lying to me, why did you send me here to protect you?"

"They probably aren't trying to stage a hijacking... I think they're using you to spread false information."

Jia Xu explained, "I deliberately sent you here, both to prevent you from ruining their plans in Dunqiu and to have you spread false information so that we would believe tonight's hijacking was just an act... But in reality, they probably intend to make it real!"

Zhang Liao was stunned.

It is indeed possible... and the possibility is extremely high...

The emperor's entourage was originally under strict guard at all times, but after news of a 'pretended hijacking' emerged, the guard became weaker because the mindset changed.

Pretending, it's all to 'lure the enemy,' and those are friendly forces, so we definitely can't kill them—when the guards accompanying the emperor have this mentality, that's the perfect opportunity to hijack the emperor.

Zhang Liao felt like his brain wasn't working properly.

The scholars of the Central Plains are full of cunning. There weren't so many tricks when they fought the Hu people at Yanmen Pass... Compared to Cheng Yu and others, Lü Bu seems to have become straightforward and lovable.

"Go to Dunqiu quickly, Bi Chen and Cheng Yu may already be gone... They will surely take advantage of your arrival to contact other bandits."

Jia Xu waved his hand, telling Zhang Liao to go and check quickly. Then he turned to Qian Zhao and said, "Zijing, don't remove your armor tonight. Prepare bows and crossbows and send out scouts fifty li away... When Zhang Liao returns, discuss with him how to deal with the night battle."

After arranging military affairs in a hands-off manner, Jia Xu went to "inspect the camp" and then disappeared.

In fact, Jia Xu would 'patrol the camp' and disappear every night—he never stayed at the main camp; he and the underworld soldiers stayed at the entourage camp behind the caravan every night.

The main business, of course, was reserved for the accompanying officials and their children...

Anyway, the emperor isn't here. Jia Xu is the acting Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and the current supreme commander of the imperial court. No one can restrain his actions.

The escort battalion was inconspicuous, with more able-bodied men. Although the tents were a bit cheap, they were definitely safer...

Well, you could also say it's simple and low-key.

As night fell, Zhang Liao returned once again.

He rode quickly to Dunqiu to check—and indeed, as Jia Xu had said, Bi Chen and Cheng Yu were nowhere to be found.

Zhang Liao returned looking somewhat forlorn, his young face bearing the marks of time. Qian Zhao patted Zhang Liao on the shoulder: "Actually, this is a good thing... at least you haven't paid any price yet."

Zhang Liao nodded and bowed in thanks.

Qian Zhao shook her head: "Go thank Mr. Xie Wenhe. If he hadn't thought things through so clearly, you would most likely have become the scapegoat..."

Zhang Liao sighed: "This traitor is treacherous; I must kill him..."

"There's no need to let hatred bother you... Zhang Miao gave the order, and his troops will naturally do everything they can to carry it out... It's possible that Bi Chen's family was kidnapped, and Cheng Yu's scheme to win, though treacherous, was only because you happened to be in Dunqiu."

Qian Zhao advised, "This is a battlefield. It's understandable that the enemy will use any means necessary."

Zhang Liao bowed again in thanks: "Only today do I understand what it means to be a strategist... Very well, let's turn the tables on them. When Bi Chen arrives, I will lure the enemy into a trap and attack."

Qian Zhao nodded in approval.

……

That night, Zhang Liao guarded the main camp.

Bi Chen did indeed bring his troops, and he did so with great fanfare.

The banner they raised was indeed Zhang Liao's banner...

It seems to be just as Cheng Yu said.

But Zhang Liao noticed the torches in the hands of Bi Chen's men—each of them had a torch.

This is definitely not a "fake attack".

Pretend you don't need to bring so many torches.

Zhang Liao stepped forward and asked, "Lord Bi, what should we do?"

Bi Chen probably wanted to say a few more words of deception: "Wen Yuan, all we need to do is shout and move around, there's no need to be nervous..."

He then waved to his men, signaling them to prepare for the charge.

Seeing Bi Chen's men shouting and charging into the enemy lines, Zhang Liao led about twenty armored soldiers to meet them head-on, aiming straight for Bi Chen.

Bi Chen seemed to sense the killing intent in Zhang Liao's eyes and quickly retreated.

Zhang Liao watched as Bi Chen charged forward, killing several people in succession. However, Bi Chen was quick to escape, and by the time Zhang Liao broke through the enemy formation, he was already out of sight.

As for Cheng Yu, Zhang Liao never saw him.

When Bi Chen's troops rushed into the camp, they found Qian Zhao's men lined up in several rows, most of them carrying powerful crossbows...

"Fire arrows!"

……

Just as Bi Chen's men attacked the main camp, another army arrived from the direction of Puyang.

Seeing that a battle was underway, the troops quickly rushed into the main camp.

Jia Xu received a report from a soldier in the entourage: "The main camp has been attacked by another force...it looks like the Yellow Turbans!"

Jia Xu immediately stood up: "They're not coming this way, are they?"

"Uh...no."

The soldier looked towards the main camp and said, "Commander Qian sent me to ask you, sir, that the enemy has a considerable number of troops, and a direct confrontation would likely result in significant casualties. Should we fight or retreat?"

Jia Xu shook his head: "Neither fight nor retreat. Let Zijing advance eastward quickly and leave the emperor's entourage in place."

The underworld soldiers nodded and left. They were already quite familiar with Jia Xu's style; when faced with a situation, he would always choose an option that was hard for others to predict...

(End of this chapter)