Han Ji

Three groups of people in one day.

Outside the Northern Commandant's office, a crowd of onlookers gradually gathered. News spread that the newly arrived Commandant Liu had arrested Zhao Changshi's nephew and was refusing to release him.

Some cheered, some worried, and most were watching to see how long the young captain could hold out.

In the evening, Lu Zhi sent someone to invite Liu Bei to his residence.

Liu Bei went.

Lu Zhi waited for him in the study, his expression solemn.

"You're incredibly bold." That was the first thing I said.

"Students act in accordance with the law."

"Law?" Lu Zhi shook his head. "In this city of Luoyang, power trumps law. Zhao Zhong is His Majesty's favorite; if he wants to get rid of you, he has a million ways to do it."

"The students know."

"You knew it, yet you still did it?"

"We can't refrain from doing it." Liu Bei looked up. "Teacher, if I don't even dare to intervene in something like the forced abduction of women, what kind of position am I as the Commandant of the Northern Garrison?"

Lu Zhi looked at him for a long time, then sighed.

"Master Ciming came to see me today and also mentioned this matter," he said slowly. "He said, 'You are a courageous child, but too rigid and easily broken. He asked me to advise you to know when to stop.'"

"What Xunzi meant was..."

"His meaning is that the person can be kept, but the sentence should be lighter. Eighty strokes of the cane should be reduced to thirty, and three years of imprisonment should be reduced to one year, giving Zhao Zhong a way out."

Liu Bei remained silent.

"Xuande, the way of being an official is to balance firmness and flexibility," Lu Zhi said earnestly. "If you don't yield an inch today, Zhao Zhong will make sure you lose your position as Commandant tomorrow. Then, you won't even have the chance to stand up for the people."

"Student...think about it again."

By the time they returned to the Commandant's residence, it was already dark.

Jian Yong stepped forward: "How is it? What did Lord Lu say?"

Liu Bei relayed Lu Zhi's words.

Jian Yong stamped his foot: "Lord Lu is right! Xuande, our foundation is not stable right now, we can't fight head-on. A lighter sentence is fine, at least we can keep our positions and still be able to do things in the future."

Qian Zhao nodded: "As long as the green hills remain."

Zhang Wu, however, stubbornly insisted, "No! Zhao Chusheng has committed numerous evils; a lenient sentence would be unfair to the girl!"

Liu Bei didn't speak and walked to the prison cell.

Zhao Chusheng was locked in a solitary cell, humming a tune with his legs crossed. Seeing Liu Bei enter, he sat up abruptly, grinning.

"Liu, have you come to your senses? Let me out, and I'll put in a good word for you with my uncle, and I'll guarantee you a smooth career."

Liu Bei looked at him and suddenly asked, "So, young lady, how do you plan to compensate me?"

Zhao Chusheng was taken aback, then waved his hand: "Compensation? Just give her family some money. It's her good fortune to be able to associate with our Zhao family, a tofu seller..."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Bei turned and left.

Back in the hall, he picked up his pen and wrote the judgment.

Jian Yong leaned closer to look, then exclaimed anxiously, "Xuande! Why did you write 'eighty strokes of the cane' and 'three years of penal servitude'? Didn't Lord Lu say..."

"I've thought it over." Liu Bei put down his pen. "If I give in today, there will be a second and a third Zhao Chusheng tomorrow. What will the people of the north think? They will think that this Commandant's Office is still the same place that values ​​money and power, not reason."

He looked at the three of them: "I can give up this position. But I can't let this insult go unpunished."

The judgment was written and stamped.

The following day, the court convened and the verdict was announced publicly.

The area outside the Northern Commandery was packed with people. The common folk crowded outside the gate, listening to the sound of the gavel striking the judge inside.

"Zhao Chusheng forcibly abducted a woman, injured others, and destroyed a shop; the evidence is conclusive. According to the Han Dynasty law, he shall be sentenced to eighty strokes of the cane and three years of imprisonment, to be carried out immediately!"

Cheers erupted outside the hall.

As Zhao Chusheng was dragged away, he cursed, "Liu Bei! You wait! My uncle won't let you get away with this!"

The caning was carried out in front of the government building.

Eighty strokes of the cane, a solid blow. Zhao Chusheng initially cursed, but fell silent after thirty strokes, and passed out after fifty.

After beating them, drag them to jail.

As the crowd dispersed, they began to murmur amongst themselves:

"That Commandant Liu is a real man!"

"I'm just afraid I won't last long..."

"I'll just take it one day at a time, at least I'll enjoy myself today!"

Liu Bei stood in front of the hall, looking at the empty streets.

He knew a storm was coming.

Three days later, the impeachment memorial arrived at the Ministry of Personnel.

Zhao Zhong instructed his cronies to jointly impeach Liu Bei for "abusing his power, extracting confessions through torture, and framing innocent people." The memorial was harsh, accusing Liu Bei of "being domineering and arrogant in the north, showing no respect for superiors, and harming the gentry."

Emperor Ling forwarded the memorial to the Three Offices for deliberation.

The Commandant of the Capital Region withstood the pressure and replied, "Upon investigation, the case was handled in accordance with regulations and the evidence is complete." But Zhao Zhong did not give up and mobilized the eunuch clique to launch an attack at the court assembly.

Lu Zhi submitted a memorial in defense, saying that Liu Bei "enforced the law impartially, was not afraid of powerful officials, and was truly a good official." Xun Shuang also privately conveyed this message to several upright officials.

But the eunuchs wielded great power.

Finally, Emperor Ling issued an edict: Liu Bei was fined three months' salary as a warning to others; Zhao Chusheng's sentence of imprisonment was reduced to one year.

Both sides should be punished equally.

When the imperial decree reached the Northern Commandery, Li Gongcao breathed a sigh of relief: "Commander, this is the best possible outcome. At least we've kept our positions."

Liu Bei accepted the imperial decree and expressed his gratitude.

He didn't mind losing three months' salary. He was unwilling to accept Zhao Chusheng's reduced sentence, but he knew it was the limit.

If you can keep your position, you can continue to do your job.

When the news spread, the reaction of the people in the north was unexpected.

They didn't think Liu Bei had lost; on the contrary, they respected him even more. To dare to confront Zhao Zhong head-on and escape unscathed—that's quite an achievement.

The elderly couple who ran the tofu shop came with their daughter to express their gratitude, kneeling in front of the mansion and refusing to leave. Liu Bei helped them up, gave them some money, and told them to find another place to do business to avoid retaliation from the Zhao family.

The elderly couple left, expressing their deepest gratitude.

This incident established the prestige of the Northern Commandery.

Those clerks who were previously outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant now treat Liu Bei with utmost respect. The constables also train harder, feeling more confident following such a captain.

Jian Yong took the opportunity to regulate civil affairs and mediate disputes. He was eloquent and knew how to navigate social situations, so many cases were resolved through mediation in the streets without going to court.

Qian Zhao, along with his constables, cracked down on bandits. The security situation in the north visibly improved.

Liu Bei began to clean up the long-standing problems.

He checked the accounts and discovered that Commandant Guo had embezzled military funds and filled positions without working during his tenure. The investigation led to the implicating of more than a dozen clerks.

Those who should be dismissed from their posts were dismissed, and those who should return the embezzled funds returned them. Part of the recovered money was used to pay back military salaries, and the rest was used to repair government offices and purchase weapons.

This time, Li Gongcao took the initiative to cooperate and told all the inside information he knew.

"Back when Commandant Guo was in charge, this place was a complete mess," he sighed. "I wanted to help, but I was just a nobody. Now it's much better; I can finally do my job properly."

Liu Bei looked at him and said, "Li Gongcao, I will not pursue the past. But from now on, I hope you will serve me sincerely."

"Understood, Your Excellency." Li Gongcao bowed, then paused and said in a low voice, "Captain, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

"explain."

"You've offended Zhao Zhong this time. He can't touch you for now, but he won't give up. I've heard he's trying to get a distant relative of his placed in the position of county magistrate in Luoyang. If that person comes, he'll definitely cause you trouble."

"The county magistrate of Luoyang..." Liu Bei pondered, "He's in charge of criminal investigations and arrests; he could indeed be a hindrance to us."

"So you need to prepare early," said Li Gongcao. "Either get ahead of him and arrange our people, or... find a way to prevent him from coming."