Han Ji

The next day, the three of them actually arrived.

Su Yi, in his early twenties, with a fair complexion and a light beard, dressed in a brocade robe, bowed as he entered: "I am Su Yi, here to serve at the Commandant's office on my uncle's orders. I will gladly die for any command the Commandant may give me."

He spoke eloquently, but his eyes darted around the camp.

Wang Gang was a burly man with a face full of scars, and the muscles on his arms bulged when he clasped his hands in a fist salute. He didn't speak, he just stood there.

Li Hui was about thirty years old, tall and thin, wearing a worn-out official's uniform. He bowed as he entered, his voice flat: "This humble official, Li Hui, greets the Commandant."

Liu Bei met them in his tent.

Zhang Fei stood behind Liu Bei, his hand on the hilt of his spear. Guan Yu stood at the tent entrance, his phoenix eyes half-closed.

"Since you were sent by the governor, you should familiarize yourself with the affairs in the camp," Liu Bei said to Su Yi. "You should first follow Chief Clerk Jian and learn about money and grain accounts."

Su Yi's smile froze. Managing money and supplies was the most tiring job, and it was also difficult to tamper with things.

"Wang Gang went to Zhang Sima's command to train new soldiers."

Wang Gang responded in a muffled voice.

"Li Hui," Liu Bei said, looking at him, "you are familiar with the laws and regulations, so you will assist in handling official correspondence."

Li Hui bowed: "I will obey the Commandant's order."

After the three men left, Zhang Fei spat, "Pah! What a bunch of trash! Su Yi looks like a spoiled brat, Wang Gang looks like a thug, and Li Hui... he's sinister."

Guan Yu entered the tent: "Brother, are we really going to use them?"

"Of course we should use it." Liu Bei opened the bamboo slips. "If we don't, how will we know what they're up to?"

On the eighth day of the fourth month, Su Gu held a banquet at the prefectural government office.

Ostensibly there to celebrate Liu Bei's success in suppressing bandits, the gathering actually brought together officials and powerful figures from more than twenty counties. Zhao Lü sat to the left of Su Gu, frequently raising his cup in celebration.

Liu Bei, accompanied by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, attended the banquet. Jian Yong remained in the camp.

After a few rounds of drinks, Zhao Lu came over, holding a glass.

"Lieutenant Liu, let me offer you a toast." His cheeks flushed. "You are young and promising; you are destined for great things."

Liu Bei raised his cup and drank.

Zhao Lü, however, did not leave. He moved closer, his breath reeking of alcohol, and said, "Does the Commandant know that there are some rules in Hanzhong... that are different from other places?"

"What are the rules?"

"Take bandit suppression for example," Zhao Lu said in a low voice. "Bandits must be suppressed, but not completely. If they are completely wiped out, the higher-ups will think that everything is peaceful, military pay will be reduced, and the credit will be lost. Leaving some behind, a steady stream of income, is the long-term solution."

Liu Bei looked at him: "Does Zhao Gongcao mean that I should raise a bandit to enhance my own power?"

"Ah, you can't say that," Zhao Lu laughed. "It's about assessing the situation. The Commandant is new here and doesn't understand the local conditions, so he's easily taken advantage of. Prefect Su is only doing this for the Commandant's own good, which is why he asked me to give him some pointers."

Zhang Fei, who was listening nearby, was furious, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

Guan Yu pressed down on his arm.

"Thank you for your advice." Liu Bei put down his wine cup. "However, as the Commandant of Hanzhong, it is my duty to suppress bandits and keep the people at peace. I will not be at ease until the banditry is eliminated."

Zhao Lu's smile faded: "Commander, your ambitions are lofty, I admire you. But I fear... if your ambitions are too high, the fall will be painful."

He swayed back to his seat.

Zhang Fei cursed under his breath: "What the hell is that!"

Liu Bei remained silent, his gaze sweeping across the banquet. Su Gu was chatting and laughing with several powerful figures, while Li Hui sat at the end of the table, head bowed, eating his food without raising a cup once.

The banquet ended close to midnight.

Liu Bei and his two companions left the mansion and rode their horses through the streets. The night market in Nanzheng was still open, with wine flags and lanterns swaying in the wind.

"Brother, Zhao Lu is clearly a threat," Zhang Fei couldn't help but say.

"I know." Liu Bei mounted his horse. "I'll tell you when we get back."

Back at the camp, Jian Yong greeted him: "How did it go?"

"Su Gu is delaying the payment of military funds, and Zhao Lü told me not to be too harsh in the suppression." Liu Bei removed his outer robe. "Where is Li Hui? What is he doing in the camp today?"

"Su Yi kept pestering me about the accounts, and Wang Gang was wandering around the drill ground. Li Hui..." Jian Yong thought for a moment, "He spent the whole day in the document room, looking through old files, without saying a word or wandering around."

"Keep an eye on him."

That night, Liu Bei looked at a map in his tent.

Reports of banditry in the Bashan Mountains have arrived again. The three strongholds are active, robbing caravans and even harassing villages.

Xun Cai brought in tea and placed it on the table.

"Is my husband worried about something?"

"We're worried about money and supplies." Liu Bei rubbed his temples. "Su Gu is withholding military pay. The spoils from before and the money we brought can only last for six months at most."

"My dowry..."

"Don't move," Liu Bei interrupted her. "That's yours, you can't touch it."

Xun Cai sat down beside him and said softly, "Su Gu is delaying the payment of military funds in an attempt to force my husband to beg him. If my husband begs him, he will be in his control from now on."

"I know," Liu Bei said, taking her hand. "That's why I can't ask."

"So how do we break this deadlock?"

"We'll use war to sustain war." Liu Bei pointed to the Bashan Mountains on the map. "Let's fight another battle, seize money and supplies, and expand our forces. Doesn't Su Gu want to see me fail? I'm determined to win, and win spectacularly."

Footsteps could be heard outside the tent.

A guard outside the tent announced, "Commander, Li Hui requests an audience."

Liu Bei and Xun Cai exchanged a glance.

"Let him in."

When Li Hui entered the tent, he was still wearing his old official robes. He first bowed to Liu Bei, then bowed to Xun Cai: "I apologize for disturbing you so late at night, Commandant and Lady."

"What is it?" Liu Bei asked.

Li Hui took out a scroll of silk from his bosom and presented it with both hands.

"This is a summary of old documents that I copied in the document room today," he said calmly. "It concerns matters concerning taxes, granaries, and criminal justice in the prefecture over the past three years. It may be useful to the Commandant."

Liu Bei took it and unfolded it.

The silk scroll was written in neat handwriting and listed various data: in a certain year and month, a certain granary was short a certain amount of grain; a certain case file was missing; a certain tax account did not match.

"These old files were not organized by the prefectural government, so the lower-ranking officials did them on the spur of the moment." Li Hui lowered his eyes. "The Commandant is new here, and if he is not familiar with the past, he may be misled."

Liu Bei stared at him.

In the candlelight, Li Hui had a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead.

"Li Hui," Liu Bei said slowly, "you came tonight for more than just this, didn't you?" Liu Bei looked at this young man who would later persuade Ma Chao to surrender for him, knowing that he had more to say.

Li Hui remained silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt down.

"Your subordinate... reports any matters."

The candlelight in the tent flickered.

Xun Cai got up, went to the tent flap to look inside, and then closed the curtain tightly.

Liu Bei did not let Li Hui get up.

"explain."

Li Hui knelt on the ground, his back ramrod straight: "I have served in the prefectural government for eight years, holding various positions including clerk and official. Su Gu served as prefect for six years, during which time he embezzled grain taxes, privately sold government salt, protected powerful figures, and altered criminal cases. His crimes are numerous."

He took out an even thicker scroll of silk from his bosom.

"This is a copy of a secret ledger, recording the embezzled funds, distribution details, and transaction receipts of Su Gu and his cronies over six years. The original is in the possession of Su Gu's confidant Chen Lun; this copy is a copy secretly made by your subordinates over the years."

Liu Bei took it but didn't look at it immediately.

"Why are you only saying this now?"

"Because there's no one to talk to." Li Hui looked up, his eyes bloodshot. "The former commandant was related to Su Gu by marriage and was complicit in his corruption. The censor came twice and was bribed both times."

He paused for a moment, then said, "The Commandant has been in Hanzhong for over a month. He has acted decisively, suppressing bandits and bringing peace to the people, and has not accepted bribes. I have observed him for many days and have concluded that the Commandant is a wise ruler. I am willing to serve him with utmost loyalty."

The tent was quiet.

The sound of rain came from outside the tent, and it gradually grew louder.

Liu Bei placed the copy of the secret ledger on the table and tapped it with his fingers.

"What do you want from offering this tent?"

"Three things," Li Hui prostrated himself. "First, spare the lives of the lower-ranking officials. If Su Gu finds out about this, he will surely kill my entire family. Second, if the future Commandant brings down Su Gu, please spare the lives of the honest officials in the prefecture; most of them were coerced. Third..."

He lowered his voice: "Third, please, Commandant, truly govern Hanzhong and let the people live."