I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 369 Liu Bei and the Inspector

Guo Tu eventually reached an agreement with Yuan Tan.

They concealed the smuggling activities in Guanzhong until the war with Liu Miao began!
To cover up the events in Guanzhong, it was necessary to expose the smuggling in Liaodong and provide cover for Yuan Tan and others.

Unlike the Guanzhong region, where Yuan Tan and the Hebei aristocratic families took the lion's share, the profits from Liaodong mostly went into Gongsun Du's pocket.

A dead Taoist friend is not a poor Taoist.

In order to protect themselves and weaken Liu Miao, exposing the smuggling in the Liaodong direction is undoubtedly beneficial to everyone!
"Liaodong and Youzhou."

"Gongsun Du, Second Young Master..."

Even so, these people from Liaodong were no pushovers.

Even if Guo Tu really wants to expose this matter, he should find someone easier to target.

"Liu Bei, Liu Xuande?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Youzhou, Ji County.

As the weather gets colder, people begin to go into the mountains to cut down trees and store firewood for the winter after they have finished harvesting their grain.

But in recent years, for some reason, the weather has become increasingly cold. Wild beasts in the mountains are also hunting for the last time to prepare for winter. In addition, there is a high possibility of encountering Xianbei or Wuhuan people deep in the mountains. Therefore, many people still have not saved enough firewood and are increasingly worried about the coming winter.

"Uncle! People are coming from the north!"

"Judging by their appearance, they're all wearing armor!"

As the children playing nearby reported the firsthand information to the village elders, the elders became extremely nervous!

No matter when or which side the soldiers came to, it was never a good thing for them to come to this remote village.

The soldiers of that General Zhang Chun, who once commanded the Mitian Army, were like this.

Such were Liu Yu's soldiers.

Gongsun Zan's soldiers were like this.

The same applies to Yuan Shao's soldiers.

It's nothing more than levying taxes, raising taxes, capturing bandits, and then using the pretext of capturing bandits to freeload off others, and even taking some more when leaving...

"How many years have passed in this world, how many people have come and gone, yet nothing has changed."

The old man was hunched over, his face filled with sorrow.

"Hopefully, they'll order less this time..."

"Uncle! Those soldiers are carrying firewood on their backs!"

"Ok?"

Outside the village, as soon as Liu Bei opened his mouth, white mist rose from it.

He apologized to the soldiers behind him with a hint of remorse.

"The weather is getting colder today, and there is nothing official business, but I have to ask you all to come up the mountain with me to chop firewood. I am really sorry."

Zhang Fei, who had been burying his chin, which was adorned with a ring of steel needles, in the pleated collar protecting his neck, looked up and protested, "Brother, why say such things? I'm just idling at home anyway! I was even thinking of going back to being a butcher! You said you wanted to chop wood, isn't that perfect?"

Guan Yu's long beard covered his neck, unlike Zhang Fei who wore a pleated collar. He strode quickly behind Liu Bei, carrying more than twice the amount of firewood as the other soldiers: "Yes, why are you saying all this, brother?"

"No matter how hard or tiring chopping wood is, isn't it better than the days we had before?"

Upon hearing Guan Yu's words, Liu Bei was not comforted; instead, he felt even more guilty.

"Guan Yu has suffered greatly because of me!"

After Liu Bei was defeated by Cao Cao and fled to Hebei, Guan Yu protected Liu Bei's family and preserved the reputation of Liu Bei's wife and daughters.

However, because he killed Yan Liang and Wen Chou, although Cao Cao and Liu Bei pleaded for Guan Yu's life, Guan Yu was demoted from the former Marquis of Hanshou to a commoner and was never given any official position again.

This was truly an immense humiliation for someone as arrogant as Guan Yu!
But Guan Yu clearly didn't care about this.

"Why do you say that again, brother?"

At this moment, Guan Yu was surrounded by his personal guards who had followed Liu Bei through thick and thin, and he did not hide his thoughts.

But then Guan Yu stroked his magnificent beard, and a cold glint flashed in his phoenix eyes, which had always been slightly narrowed.

"In that case, at least I, Guan Yu, will forever be a subject of the Han!"

Even if Guan Yu were to die now, he would still be the Marquis of Hanshou of the Han Dynasty! A subordinate general of the Han Dynasty!

Seeing Guan Yu's smug expression, Zhang Fei couldn't help but feel a little envious and said, "Brother, you're really smug! Are you trying to belittle me and my elder brother?"

Zhang Fei and Liu Bei accepted official titles and positions from Yuan Shao.

Guan Yu realized he had misspoke and quickly laughed twice, clearly wanting to let the matter drop.

Liu Bei chuckled awkwardly twice, then changed the subject to a general behind Guan Yu and Zhang Fei—

"We are all thick-skinned and tough, but it's Zilong who suffers."

Zhao Yun was handsome and dashing. If he were dressed in casual clothes, people would believe he was a scholar from the Imperial Academy! Even now, wearing armor, if you didn't see the dozens of kilograms of firewood he was carrying on his shoulders, you would probably still think Zhao Yun was just a silver spear with a wax head!
Therefore, Zhao Yun helplessly shook the firewood behind him twice, making a heavy sound.

"Whom does my lord look down upon?"

"Changshan is a place with deep mountains and cold waters, not as warm as Jixian! I've been helping my family since I was a child!"

Zhao Yun deliberately sped up, and was even faster than Guan Yu!
"Besides, what my lord is doing is a benevolent act for the benefit of the people! How could I possibly refuse?"

"Yes!"

"General Zilong is right!"

"..." The other guards also shouted along with Zhao Yun.

Liu Bei's life was full of ups and downs, which can be described as extremely tortuous and bizarre.

Today he might be a governor controlling a state, tomorrow he might be a stragglers wandering the country...

If these guards were truly greedy for money, why would they continue to follow Liu Bei?

Is Cao Cao's not appealing enough, or Yuan Shao's not attractive enough?

People may have had their own reasons for following Liu Bei at first. But after experiencing so many things, everyone has come to believe in Liu Bei!
If Liu Bei didn't do something at this time, that would be something that would puzzle everyone!
Listening to the "excited crowd" around him, Liu Bei felt a warm sensation all over his body, even though he had neither eaten meat nor drunk wine!

"Hold on a little longer, everyone! My salary for this month has just been paid! After we finish delivering this village and return to the city, I'll treat you all to drinks!"

“Here!!!”

"Still drinking?"

Zhao Yun couldn't help but advise, "Our lord's salary never lasts until the end of the month. I heard that even my sister-in-law is doing needlework to supplement the family income."

"What's the matter?"

Liu Bei was clearly carried away: "At worst, I'll just go back to selling mats and weaving shoes! I just wove a little hat a few days ago, Zilong can try it on and see if it fits! My skills haven't declined!"

Zhang Fei laughed loudly, "At worst, I'll just go back to slaughtering pigs!"

Guan Yu also said, "Zilong, haven't you heard of the poem written by Zhongshan? It says: 'Heaven has endowed me with talents, which will surely be put to use; though a thousand pieces of gold are spent, they will return again!'"

“Yun Chang is right! But we need to change our way of addressing him now! We can’t keep calling him Zhongshan.”

"..."

Liu Bei led the group to deliver the firewood to the three elders of the village, who immediately burst into tears.

"Over the years, many people have taken things from the village, but you are the first to bring things here!"

"May I ask, General, who exactly are you?"

Liu Bei naturally wouldn't reveal his name.

"We are soldiers of the Great Han!"

"But I heard that the Han Dynasty has perished, hasn't it?"

"..."

Liu Bei was speechless and lost in thought.

However, Liu Bei quickly rallied and made a firm guarantee to the other party—

"As long as people like us are here, the Han Dynasty will never perish!"

When Liu Bei arrived, he did not carry any flags, and when he left, he did not take away the grain or anything else that the villagers insisted on putting in their hands.

Even though he was exhausted and cold, Liu Bei knew that the people here needed these things more than he did.

When they returned to Jixian city, Mi Zhu and Mi Fang had been waiting for them for a long time.

"Zizhong, Zifang, how is the situation in Liaodong?"

"Rest assured, my lord, everything is normal!"

The purpose of Liu Bei being sent to Youzhou by Yuan Shao was to monitor and intimidate Gongsun Du, prevent Gongsun Du from trading with Liu Miao, and prevent the transport of warhorses to the south.

However, upon arriving in Youzhou, Liu Bei immediately contacted Gongsun Du.

"Transport as many warhorses as you have to the south!"

This approach left Gongsun Du's side somewhat bewildered.

"This...is this really smuggling?"

Regardless, warhorses from Liaodong and Youzhou continued to flow into the south.

Liu Bei entrusted the trade to Mi Zhu and Mi Fang, who came from wealthy families. The two brothers did not disappoint Liu Bei after returning to their old profession, managing everything in an orderly manner without any mistakes.

"but……"

Upon hearing the word "however," Liu Bei's heart tightened.

"Zifang, has something happened in Liaodong?"

"No, it's not Liaodong."

Mi Fang was somewhat worried.

"It is Ye City."

"I heard from some merchants that there are rumors circulating in Ye City that Liaodong is smuggling with the Han Dynasty, but I don't know who is behind it."

gossip……

Liu Bei didn't mind and comforted Mi Fang, saying, "It should be fine!"

But at that moment, Sun Qian ran into the house, his expression grave!

"My lord! The inspector has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei and the others all changed color!

Inspector-in-chief, an official under the prefect, in charge of supervising subordinate officials.

Despite his low rank, he wielded immense power, overseeing everything from conveying imperial edicts and orders to supervising subordinates, investigating criminal cases, and examining illegal activities. He was in charge of everything and investigated everything!

Such a person suddenly showing up at the door is definitely up to no good!
(End of this chapter)