Han Ji

Liu Bei said, "Su Gu will make a move soon."

"Big brother refers to..."

Liu Bei took a sip of wine. "He will definitely find a way to get back the spoils from the bandit suppression."

Before he could finish speaking, a sentry at the camp gate reported: Prefect Chen Lun requests an audience.

"Look," Liu Bei put down his wine cup, "they've arrived."

Chen Lun entered the camp with only two attendants, a broad smile on his face. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes when he saw the spoils piled up on the training ground, but he quickly concealed it.

"Commander! Congratulations on the great victory!" He cupped his hands in greeting. "Prefect Su was very pleased to hear the news of the victory and specially ordered me to send ten jars of wine and two pigs to reward the soldiers."

"Thank you, Prefect." Liu Bei rose to return the greeting. "Please sit down."

Chen Lun sat down, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then changed the subject: "Captain, you've reaped quite a harvest in this battle. According to custom, the spoils of bandit suppression should be handed over to the prefectural government for storage and distribution..."

"Prefect Chen," Liu Bei interrupted him, "our army has suffered more than fifty casualties, and we need money and provisions for their compensation and medical treatment. This batch of spoils will be just what we need."

"This... isn't against the rules?" Chen Lun's smile froze.

"Rules are made by people." Liu Bei looked at him. "How about this: I will keep 70% of the spoils and sell the rest to the prefecture. Chen, the prefect, will go back and report to the governor, saying that I, Liu, am new here and urgently need to appease the soldiers. The governor understands the situation and will surely be accommodating."

Chen Lun opened his mouth, then finally nodded: "This humble official... will do his best to persuade the prefect."

After seeing Chen Lun off, Jian Yong frowned: "Brother, isn't 30% too much?"

"Not much." Liu Bei sat down again. "Give him a little something, and he'll think we're easy to control. If we don't give him anything, he'll turn on us immediately."

"After that..."

"After that," Liu Bei looked towards the prefectural governor's residence and smiled, "it'll be my turn to turn against him."

As night deepened, Liu Bei returned to his tent.

Xun Cai had prepared hot water to remove his armor. The bloodstains on the armor had dried and were dark red. She used a cloth dampened with water to wipe them away little by little.

"My lord," she suddenly said, "when Zhao Lü came to deliver oranges today, I heard him ask the Commandant of the Imperial Guards from behind the curtain: How many men did the Commandant bring up the mountain, and how many were killed or wounded?"

"He is indeed thoughtful." Liu Bei closed his eyes to rest.

"I think Su Gu is testing you," Xun Cai said softly. "Testing your true intentions, testing your character."

"So, what kind of personality do you think I should have?"

Xun Cai stopped what she was doing and thought for a moment: "It should be... appearing tough, but actually soft; appearing hasty, but actually steady. Let them think that my husband is a young man who wants to make a name for himself and is easy to manipulate."

Liu Bei opened his eyes and looked at her.

In the candlelight, her expression was serene, showing no trace of the fragility often associated with young ladies from Luoyang.

"Cai'er," he said, taking her hand, "you're smarter than I thought."

"I am not clever," Xun Cai said, lowering her eyes. "I only know that whatever my husband wants them to see, I will help them see."

The sound of a wooden clapper came from outside the tent.

It's past four in the morning.

Liu Bei blew out the candle and pulled her down to lie down. In the darkness, he whispered, "For the next three months, I will frequently lead troops out to fight bandits, establish our authority, and accumulate funds and provisions. Su Gu will think I'm reckless and will wait until I break my own head."

"and then?"

"Then," he whispered in her ear, "when he reaches out to pick the peach, he'll find the peach is gone, and the tree is gone too."

Xun Cai gave a soft "hmm" and leaned closer to him.

At the same time, at the Prefectural Governor's Office.

After listening to Chen Lun's report, Su Gu tapped his fingers on the table.

"Keep 70%... This kid knows how to bargain."

"Prefect, should we put pressure on them?" Zhao Lu said.

"No rush." ​​Su Gu waved his hand. "Let him fight. There are so many bandits, and even more in Bashan. We'll wait until he's exhausted before we strike, and then we'll get our money back with interest."

He paused, then asked, "What are the casualties in his army?"

"They say there were more than fifty men," Chen Lun said. "But judging from the sight of the captured armor and weapons piled up like mountains, the victory must have been quite significant."

"Then we should let him hit him even more," Su Gu laughed. "The harder he hits, the easier it will be for us to deal with him later."

The candlelight in the back room illuminated the four people's distinct smiles.

Meanwhile, in the western military camp, the candlelight in the central command tent had long since gone out.

Liu Bei was asleep, his wife in his arms. Outside the tent, a sentry stood with his halberd, gazing into the darkness.

In April of the second year of Zhongping, it rained in Nanzheng City.

Inside the prefectural council hall, Su Gu sat at the head of the table, twirling a teacup in his hand. Below him sat Prefectural Assistant Chen Lun, Chief Clerk Zhao Lü, Inspector Wang Mo, and the newly arrived Commandant of Hanzhong, Liu Bei.

"Lieutenant Liu's annihilation of Zhao Heihu has rid the prefecture of a scourge, and his merit is invaluable." Su Gu put down his teacup, beaming. "I have already drafted a report to the court to request commendation for the Lieutenant."

Liu Bei, seated at the head of the right, bowed and said, "Thank you, Prefect."

"However..." Su Gu changed the subject, "The prefecture has not yet collected all the grain taxes for this year, and the treasury is short of money and grain. I'm afraid the military pay and provisions for the Commandant's Office will have to be disbursed some time later."

The hall fell silent.

Jian Yong sat to Liu Bei's left, his hand gripping the bamboo slip tightly.

"How long will it be delayed?" Liu Bei asked.

"It could take as little as one month, or as long as three months," Su Gu sighed. "After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, all the prefectures are in dire straits. Although Hanzhong is wealthy, it is difficult for it to remain unscathed. I hope the Commandant will understand."

Understanding.

Liu Bei looked at Su Gu's round face. The smile lines at the corners of his eyes didn't even move when he spoke, as if he were wearing a mask.

"There are over a thousand men in the army, and they need to eat every day," Liu Bei said slowly. "If there is no food or supplies, I fear something untoward may happen."

"Didn't the Commandant just receive Zhao Heihu's spoils?" Zhao Lu interjected. "I heard the money and provisions are plentiful, enough to supply the army for now, there shouldn't be any problems."

Jian Yong couldn't help but speak up: "The spoils have already been used to compensate the wounded and repair the weapons. There's very little left."

"That's difficult then." Su Gu spread his hands. "The prefectural government really can't afford it. How about... the Commandant raises some money himself first? We can make up for it all at once after the autumn taxes are collected."

Self-funded.

Liu Bei recalled the camp's account books. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, there was still money left from the imperial rewards, plus the gold and silver from Xun Cai's dowry. But he couldn't reveal this.

"Very well." Liu Bei stood up. "I will find a way myself. I only hope that the Prefect will coordinate as soon as possible."

"Certainly, certainly." Su Gu also stood up and personally saw Liu Bei out of the hall.

As they walked down the corridor, Su Gu suddenly said, "By the way, the Commandant's Office is newly established and short-handed. I'll transfer a few men to help. Su Yi is my nephew, and he knows some paperwork. Li Hui is an experienced official in the prefecture, and he's familiar with the laws and regulations. There's also Wang Gang, a nephew from the Wang family, who is young and strong and can serve as a guard."

Liu Bei stopped.

Raindrops drifted into the corridor, dampening the corners of my robe.

"I appreciate the governor's kindness," Liu Bei said, turning to look at him. "However, military affairs are complex and difficult for outsiders to handle."

"We're all on the same side, no need to distinguish between insiders and outsiders." Su Gu patted his shoulder. "It's settled then. Have them report to the Commandant's Office tomorrow."

The hand patted his shoulder, with considerable force.

Liu Bei didn't dodge; he simply nodded.

On the way back to camp, Jian Yong rode alongside him, lowering his voice: "Brother, Su Gu is trying to plant a thorn in our side."

"I know." Liu Bei gazed at the city wall of Nanzheng through the rain. "Let him plant it."

"But those three..."

"Once they arrive, keep an eye on them," Liu Bei tugged at the reins. "Especially Li Hui."

"Li Hui?"

"When Zhao Lü spoke at the banquet, Li Hui kept his head down," Liu Bei recalled the scene in the hall. "His hand was clutching the hem of his robe under the table, his knuckles white. This man had something on his mind."

Jian Yong noted it down.