Han Ji

When the warehouse clerk was brought to the prefectural government, he soiled himself and confessed everything before any torture could be administered.

As expected, they colluded with the steward of Prefect Wang Hong's residence, using methods such as falsifying accounts and exaggerating expenses to jointly smuggle grain from the official granary. Some of the grain was secretly transported out and sold to rice merchants in the city, and may even have... ended up in the hands of barbarian tribes in the mountains, in exchange for gold, silver, and furs. That cellar was where they temporarily hid the stolen grain.

Both witnesses and physical evidence are available.

Lu Zhi immediately ascended the throne.

When Wang Hong was invited, he tried to remain calm and shouted that he was wronged.

It wasn't until the warehouse clerk and the steward of Wang Hong's residence, whom he had identified, were dragged up and confronted in court that Wang Hong collapsed, his face ashen.

"Wang Hong! What else do you have to say!" Lu Zhi slammed his gavel.

Wang Hong, tears streaming down his face, kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "My lord, spare my life! My lord, spare my life! I... I was confused for a moment! It was... it was that Commandant Li! Commandant Li also took a share! He holds military power, and I dared not disobey!"

Lu Zhi's eyes grew even colder: "Where is Commandant Li now?"

A clerk nearby, who knew the situation, replied tremblingly, "Li...Lieutenant Li returned to his residence yesterday, but...but he claimed to be ill and did not come out..."

"What a convenient excuse for feigning illness and refusing to leave the palace!" Lu Zhi ordered, "Go! Bring Commandant Li here! If he dares to resist, kill him without mercy!"

A troop of fierce guards headed straight for the Commandant's residence.

Half an hour later, Li, who had been claiming to be ill for many days, was bound hand and foot and dragged into the hall like a dead dog. He wanted to resist, but his body, weakened by wine and women, was no match for the veteran soldiers by Lu Zhi's side.

Faced with irrefutable evidence and accusations, Lieutenant Li chickened out and confessed to his crimes: embezzling military pay, reselling military equipment, and colluding with Wang Hong and others.

The other officials below the hall were all ashen-faced and trembling like leaves.

Lu Zhi pronounced the verdict in court: Prefect Wang Hong and Commandant Li Ben were found guilty of embezzling military rations and colluding with barbarians. The evidence was irrefutable. They were immediately dismissed from their posts, investigated, and imprisoned to await further instructions. The granary official and all accomplices were executed on the spot. Their property was confiscated and put to public use.

At the order, the guards stepped forward and dragged the ashen-faced Wang Hong and Li Ben away. The clerks were dragged out of the hall on the spot, and after a moment, several shrill screams were heard, then stopped abruptly.

A faint smell of blood wafted through the air.

The hall fell silent. All the officials lowered their heads, not daring to meet Lu Zhi's gaze.

Lu Zhi's gaze swept over the crowd, his voice icy: "Today's events serve as a warning! I tolerate no wrongdoing! From this day forward, thoroughly investigate all accounts of the prefectural government! Those who have committed wrongdoing may have their sentences reduced if they surrender! Those who conceal wrongdoing will be severely punished once discovered!"

He looked at Liu Bei and said, "Liu Bei, you will assist Chief Clerk Liu in overseeing this matter."

"Your student obeys!" Liu Bei bowed, feeling countless gazes instantly focused on him, some awe-inspiring, some fearful, and some inquisitive.

When Wang Hong and Li Ben fell from power, several clerks were beheaded, like a boulder thrown into the stagnant waters of Lujiang.

The atmosphere in the prefecture was immediately rectified.

Previously lazy and shirking officials now treat Lu Zhi and Liu Bei with utmost respect, and their work efficiency has increased considerably. No one dares to be late for roll call anymore.

Lu Zhi seized the opportunity and implemented a series of measures.

The government treasury was thoroughly investigated, and all money, grain, and military equipment were re-registered and recorded.

The county troops were reorganized, the old and weak were eliminated, and they were retrained. The veterans from the north who were brought with them were appointed as junior officers and they were rigorously trained.

They issued a public notice to reassure the people, recruited displaced people to reclaim wasteland, and resumed production.

They dispatched spies deep into the areas inhabited by the barbarians to gather intelligence.

Liu Bei became exceptionally busy. He not only had to assist in organizing the vast amount of accounts and documents, but also had to accompany Lu Zhi on inspections of the military camps, appease the displaced people, and meet with the local gentry who still held some prestige. He was often busy until late at night.

He discovered that Lu Zhi handled government affairs with extreme efficiency and pragmatism, employing shrewd and experienced methods. He knew when to be lenient and when to be firm. Taking advantage of the cases of Wang Hong and Li Ben, he also uncovered several local tyrants who had been entrenched in their territory and had committed numerous evils. He either killed or punished them, severely cracking down on their arrogance. He also confiscated some of the land that had been seized and distributed it to displaced people for cultivation.

Order is slowly returning to normal around Shuxian County.

But Liu Bei also knew that this was only the beginning. The main force of the barbarians had not yet been wiped out, the fighting strength of the county troops could not be improved overnight, and the deeper contradictions—the soil of land annexation and official corruption—still existed.

That day, while he was checking a list of newly confiscated properties belonging to powerful families, an old soldier responsible for patrolling the city's defenses came to see him.

"Mr. Liu," the old soldier lowered his voice, "a few of us brothers were patrolling that abandoned residential area in the south of the city at night, and we always felt that something was wrong."

"What?" Liu Bei put down his pen.

"I can't quite put my finger on it," the old soldier scratched his head, "I just feel... there's someone there. But every time I go over to check, there's no sign of them. Besides, the stray dogs in that area don't bark much."

Liu Bei's heart skipped a beat. The area south of the city was mostly abandoned houses, and the section closest to the most damaged part of the city wall was usually deserted.

"I'll go with you tonight to take a look."

As night fell, Liu Bei changed into dark clothes, took a short sword, and followed the group of old soldiers to the south of the city.

The moonlight was dim, casting eerie shadows on the crumbling walls. The wind howled and wailed through the dilapidated houses.

They hid behind a broken wall and observed quietly.

At first, there was complete silence.

After midnight, a very faint rustling sound came from a half-collapsed courtyard in the distance.

Liu Bei held his breath and gave the old soldier a wink.

The old soldier understood, and with two others, they crouched low and crept over in the shadows.

A moment later, a low shout and short fighting sounds came from over there!

Liu Bei immediately led his men to rush over.

In the courtyard, three men dressed in night clothes were being pinned to the ground by the old soldiers, their mouths stuffed with rags. Scattered on the ground nearby were several packages wrapped in oilcloth, along with ropes, grappling hooks, and other items.

Unwrapping the oilcloth revealed shiny blocks of salt and several packets of medicinal herbs.

Liu Bei crouched down, ripped the cloth from one of the men's mouths, pressed a short sword against his throat, and said in a very low voice, "Speak. Who sent you? What do you want?"

The man had a fierce look in his eyes and remained silent.

Liu Bei tightened his grip slightly, the tip of the sword piercing his skin, and a bead of blood seeped out. "Want to die? Easy. I have plenty of ways to make you talk; let's see how long you can hold out."

The cold blade and the undisguised killing intent in Liu Bei's eyes sent a chill down the man's spine. He glanced at his two equally subdued accomplices beside him, gritted his teeth, and hissed, "...It's...it's the bigwigs from the mountains...sent us to...make contact..."

"A contact? With whom?"

"...The city...the city's...black hand..."

Who is the mastermind?

"No... I don't know... The contact methods are different every time... We're only responsible for placing the items at the designated location..."

Liu Bei's mind raced. The "master in the mountains" must refer to the barbarian leader. The mastermind in the city was probably a new ally the barbarians had cultivated within the city after the downfall of Wang Hong and Li Ben! These salt and medicinal herbs were precisely the supplies the barbarians desperately needed.

"Where is the designated location?"