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

Chapter 418 Taking Risks for Revenge
a few days later.

In mid-March, Liu Bei and Zhang Liao led their troops rapidly northward and arrived in the southern part of Zhongshan.

Zishui.

The place where Liu Bei and Zuo Yuan first became acquainted.

To the south lies Changshan Zhending.

To the east is Zhongshan Wuji.

Zishui Bridge is the most likely place in this area to block the road. Back then, Zhang Chun destroyed the bridge to block news, and now Zishui Bridge has been destroyed in the same way.

There is a military camp on the other side of the river.

By this time, the Zishui River had thawed. Although the river was not wide, it was still difficult to cross because enemy troops were guarding the riverbank.

Sometimes crossing a river that is forty or fifty feet wide is even more difficult than crossing a large river, because you can see each other across the river, and crossbow bolts can kill people even across the river.

At this moment, there was a small boat in the river, carrying a triangular banner with nine tassels and a dragon in the design.

This was not a ceremonial procession for ordinary people. The emperor used a twelve-tasseled regalia representing the sun, moon, and stars, while feudal lords used a nine-tasseled regalia representing a descending dragon. These were imperial processions used to display majesty.

Within the territory of Zhongshan, only Liu Zhi, the King of Zhongshan, was allowed to use this type of curved banner.

But Liu Bei knew that the King of Zhongshan couldn't possibly be on the small boat.

Those were envoys sent from the other side, carrying the regalia of the King of Zhongshan, simply to avoid being shot by Liu Bei and to ensure they could see him.

Liu Bei's current status is not something that ordinary people can meet.

After the small boat docked, two people got off the boat, one old and one young. The older one was an acquaintance of Liu Bei.

That's the inspector who was beaten up by Liu Bei when he treated him like a junior.

Liu Bei still doesn't know his name... He attacked and left, never really paying attention to him.

"Liu De of Zhongshan, entrusted by the King, has come to ask General Wei to cease hostilities. The King wishes to have the General reconcile with the people of Zhongshan."

The inspector introduced himself as soon as he landed, but seemed somewhat reluctant when he bowed.

Liu Bei didn't speak, but looked at the young man beside him: "Who are you?"

The young man looked familiar, around twenty years old, and I felt like I'd seen him somewhere before.

"Junior Xu Miao pays his respects to General Wei..."

The young man was very polite, referring to himself as a junior from the moment he arrived, unlike Liu De.

Upon hearing the name Xu Miao, Liu Bei remembered him.

This is the son of Xu Mao, a powerful family in Ji County.

Zhao Yun once led troops into Xu Mao's house to arrest people because Xu Mao had given him inferior grain. As a result, Zhao Lin sentenced him to exile.

Liu Bei turned and walked into the camp: "Come in, I remember you and Tian Guorang were classmates..."

"I only regret that I did not follow General Wei earlier like Guo Rang, otherwise I would have suffered this disaster today."

Xu Miao bowed as he entered the tent: "My father has fallen into Liu Hui's hands. Liu Hui said that if General Wei's troops enter Zhongshan, I fear that all of General Wei's acquaintances will be slaughtered..."

Liu De followed behind Xu Miao, looking at him with some confusion upon hearing this.

"Hmph... Shameless scoundrel, all you know is such tricks..."

Liu Bei snorted: "Do you think I would back down?"

"of course not."

Xu Miao looked up and said, "But Liu Hui deeply hates General Wei and once swore to kill all those who know General Wei. His words were not just empty threats."

"So, you two should get rid of Liu Hui, since you two are also acquaintances of mine."

Liu Bei glanced at Xu Miao: "Exterminating the enemy is the right path. If I withdraw my troops, those I know will truly be harmed..."

“General Wei is absolutely right… Liu Hui sent us here to threaten you, in order to delay you. I am here to help you eliminate Liu Hui.” Xu Miao cupped his hands and said, “Zhuo County and Fanyang have not yet been captured by the Hu people. Gao Gan ordered Liu Hui to block you here, preventing Zhuo County from receiving reinforcements, so that he can take Youzhou entirely. If Gao Gan takes Youzhou entirely, it will be even more difficult for you to launch a northern expedition. I am here to help you eliminate Liu Hui.”

The former inspector, Liu De, standing nearby, exclaimed in terror, "Xu Jingshan! Don't you care about the lives of your entire clan? Your parents and teachers are all in Liu Zihui's hands!"

"It is precisely because I am being held hostage that I must save myself, and it is also my father who has ordered me to assist General Wei!"

Xu Miao turned his head, suddenly grabbed Liu De by the neck, and pulled out a dagger from his body: "This scoundrel is a relative of Liu Hui. I, Xu Miao, use this as proof. Please believe me, General Wei!"

After saying that, he plunged the dagger into Liu De's chest.

Liu De died on the spot.

Not all wealthy and powerful families are evil; people are complex.

Some people have a strong sense of righteousness, while others only care about their own interests. Some are willing to do anything for their family's wealth, while others make small mistakes but never commit major ones.

Xu Mao of Ji County did indeed sell inferior goods as superior ones out of greed, and he was particularly active in acquiring land for profit, but he was able to stick to his principles when faced with issues of principle.

Liu Bei's expression also changed: "Jingshan, your parents and teachers are already under someone else's control, why do you still want to take the risk?"

“Though I am wicked, I still know some shame. My father has also regretted his greedy mistakes, and now is the time to make amends. Minor mistakes can be forgiven, but the greater good cannot be defied. Gao Gan Liu Hui and other traitors colluded with the Hu people to betray the Han territory. My father said that even if the whole clan is subject to swords, they must kill these traitors!”

Xu Miao cupped his hands and said, "Liu Hui's army supplies are all stored in Wuji. General, you may wish to send a large army to Wuji. I am willing to lead a contingent to disguise myself as General Wei and use the regalia of General Wei to lure Liu Hui here. Liu Hui is hot-tempered and has a deep grudge against you, General. If he sees that you have few troops, he will most likely lead his troops across the river to surround and kill you."

"If Liu Hui dares not cross the river, we can force him to divide his troops and go to Wuji. Once his troops are divided, they will be vulnerable everywhere. If Liu Hui leads his troops across the river, I will retreat to lure the enemy. When the general leads his elite troops back to attack, we will surely be able to destroy him in one fell swoop."

“Liu Hui deeply hates the general, and this hatred will surely drive him to take risks. As long as he sees the possibility of killing the general, he will definitely try it.”

This strategy sounds like a simple way to lure the enemy, but it is often this kind of simple thinking that is most effective.

Liu Hui stationed his troops at the Zishui Bridgehead, so his military rations would certainly not be stored there.

Wuji is also on the north bank of the Zi River. To get to Wuji, one must first cross the river. However, as long as troops go downstream towards Wuji, it is indeed possible to mobilize Liu Hui's troops and keep his men busy.

Moreover, hatred can indeed drive people to take risks, even with only a 10% chance; those blinded by hatred will gamble.

"If you want to use yourself as bait to lure the enemy..."

Liu Bei thought for a moment and looked at Xu Miao: "Then there is no need for you to take my place. I will lure the enemy here myself. It should be easier to lure Liu Hui... He will only attack frantically when he sees me with his own eyes... You lead the way and let Wen Yuan lead the main force to take a detour in the direction of Wuji."

“Here you are. General, please grant me a weapon. I will cut off Liu De’s head and have the boatman return it. This will surely enrage Liu Hui and throw him into a rage.”

Xu Miao asked for a broadsword and cut off Liu De's head.

……

On that very day, Liu Bei threw Liu De's head onto the small boat with the nine-tasseled curved flag, and Zhang Liao led his army eastward, heading towards Wuji along the Zi River.

Liu Bei left only 800 of his personal guards in the camp.

The boatman left in fear, and not long after, soldiers were indeed sent out from the camp on the other side of the river.

The boatman saw Zhang Liao lead his troops out and also saw that Liu Bei hadn't left many men behind.

In fact, people on the other side could also see Zhang Liao leading a large army eastward.

Liu Bei personally guarded the riverbank, and could see a figure on the watchtower on the opposite bank watching him.

The troops were trying to shoot the guy on the other side with crossbows.

Similarly, it appears that there are crossbowmen on the other side aiming at Liu Bei.

But there was wind in the river, and the first arrow missed its mark. It was too late to adjust. The people on the other side came down from the watchtower, and Liu Bei also retreated to the back.

Perhaps due to Liu Hui's limited military leadership, or perhaps driven by genuine hatred, Liu Hui indeed dispatched a large force to cross the river and attack Liu Bei.

And it came very suddenly.

As Liu Bei retreated, shouts of battle arose from the opposite side, and all sorts of small boats and bamboo rafts were launched into the water. Some even swam across the river by clinging to door panels.

Liu Hui must have confirmed that Liu Bei was right in front of him, so he sent out all 5,000 men.

(End of this chapter)