Han Ji

Liu Bei nodded: "I understand, thank you for the reminder."

After Li Gongcao withdrew, Liu Bei summoned Jian Yong.

"Xianhe, I have a task for you."

"you say."

"Go and find out Zhao Zhong's distant relative's name, background, and any dirt on him," Liu Bei said in a low voice. "The sooner the better."

"Understood!" Jian Yong's eyes lit up. "I'm good at this!"

Three days later, Jian Yong brought back the news.

Zhao Zhong's distant relative was named Zhao Bei, a spoiled brat with a long history of misdeeds in his hometown: forcibly seizing farmland and driving people to their deaths, but all of this was suppressed because of Zhao Zhong's connections.

"Where is the evidence?" Liu Bei asked.

"Yes!" Jian Yong pulled out several petitions from his pocket. "I had someone get them from Zhao Bei's hometown. The victims are still alive and willing to testify."

Liu Bei took the petition and read it carefully.

Indeed, they are all tearful accusations.

"Alright." He made the decision. "Send these petitions anonymously to the Sili Commandant's Office. Also, make another copy and send it to the Censorate."

"Brilliant!" Jian Yong gave a thumbs up. "With this approach, both the Commandant of the Capital Region and the Censorate will exert pressure simultaneously, ensuring Zhao Bei's appointment as county magistrate is doomed!"

The petition was sent out, and it worked as expected.

Ten days later, the Ministry of Personnel issued a document stating that Zhao Bei was of questionable character and unfit for office, and rejected Zhao Zhong's recommendation.

Zhao Zhong was so angry that he smashed a cup in the palace, but there was nothing he could do. He dared not protect the person who was being targeted by both the Commandant of the Capital Region and the Censorate.

When the news reached the Northern Commandery, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

But Liu Bei knew that this feud was now completely settled.

But he didn't care.

The things that need to be done still need to be done.

The third year of Guanghe came to an end amidst such open and covert struggles.

On New Year's Eve, Liu Bei set up a banquet at the Commandant's residence and invited all the clerks and runners to eat.

After several rounds of drinks, Li Gongcao stood up, holding his bowl, somewhat excited:

"Captain, I've served in the north for twelve years, and I've never felt so... refreshed! Come, let me offer you a bowl!"

Everyone raised their bowls.

Liu Bei rose and drank with the others.

Snowflakes are falling outside the window.

That year, at the age of twenty-one, he was appointed as the Northern Commandant, offended powerful eunuchs, restored public order, and won the hearts of the people.

In the fourth year of Guanghe, spring arrived.

The memorial archway in front of the Northern Commandery had been repainted, gleaming a dark red in the morning light. The constables were on duty at dawn, their ranks neat and their spirits high.

Liu Bei stood in front of the hall and looked around, feeling a little more at ease.

After six months of rectification, it has finally taken shape.

In the first month of the lunar calendar, he received a letter from Cao Cao in Qiao County, Pei State.

Cao Cao asked, "How are things in the north, Xuande? I heard you captured Zhao Zhong's nephew, quite the audacity! But remember, rigidity cannot last, nor can gentleness be maintained forever. Be firm when necessary, and yielding when appropriate."

Liu Bei replied, recounting the situation in the north and mentioning the Zhao Cup incident. He concluded by writing, "Brother Mengde, take care in Pei. If the opportunity arises in the future, I will visit you there."

After sending the letter, he began planning his official duties for the new year.

There are many things to manage in the north: public security, criminal justice, fire prevention, city appearance... He has to worry about everything. He asked Jian Yong to draft a set of regulations, categorizing all the tasks and assigning responsibilities to specific individuals.

He also instructed Qian Zhao to develop a training plan, which included not only martial arts training but also legal studies, as constables needed to understand the law when handling cases.

Li Gongcao was in charge of the accounts of money and grain, which were made public every month to prevent embezzlement.

Everything is proceeding smoothly and in an orderly manner.

In February, a major case occurred.

An ancient tomb at the foot of Beiman Mountain was robbed. This was no ordinary tomb raiding; it was a gang of dozens of people who robbed the mausoleum of a marquis, whose burial objects were priceless.

The victim's descendants went to the Commandant's Office to complain that their ancestral graves had been dug up.

Liu Bei led his men to inspect the site. The mausoleum had been dug up in disarray, the coffins were open, the remains were scattered, and the burial goods had been looted.

"Outrageous." Qian Zhao gritted his teeth. "These people are no ordinary thieves."

"Investigate," Liu Bei ordered. "Seal off the scene and search for clues."

The officers searched for a day and found several makeshift camps nearby, along with discarded food bags and broken tools. Judging from the traces, the group was well-trained and had a clear division of labor.

Jian Yong went to the black market to inquire and soon got news.

"It was the Pangolin gang that did it." He lowered his voice. "The Pangolin is the largest tomb-robbing gang in the Beiman Mountain area. The leader's surname is Wu. They are elusive and have about a hundred men under their command. I heard... they have people from the palace backing them up."

"In the palace?"

"Yes." Jian Yong nodded. "Most of the stolen items went into the palace. His Majesty loves rare treasures, so the eunuchs catered to his tastes and organized people to rob tombs."

Liu Bei's face darkened.

This is a tricky situation.

How could those eunuchs have so many shady dealings? If we investigate further, we'll just stir up a hornet's nest.

But if we don't investigate, we'll be letting down the person involved and also disgracing our official uniform.

He pondered all night and went to see the Commandant of the Capital the next day.

After listening, the Commandant of the Capital Region pondered for a long time.

"Xuande, this matter... is not easy to handle," he sighed. "If it really was someone from the palace who instigated it, in the end, it will probably all come to nothing."

"So we won't investigate?"

"Investigate, of course we must investigate." The Commandant of the Capital Region looked at him, "But we must be careful with our methods. We can't go straight to the palace; we have to start from below. Arrest the pangolin, interrogate the person behind it. By then, we'll have caught them red-handed, and those people in the palace won't be able to protect us."

"The student understands."

Back at the Commandant's Office, Liu Bei began to make arrangements.

Qian Zhao led a team to investigate the pangolins' hideouts. Jian Yong continued to gather intelligence and figure out their activity patterns. Zhang Wu trained a crack squad in preparation for the capture.

In early March, the time was ripe.

According to intelligence, the pangolin recently looted a batch of treasures and planned to transport them out of Luoyang before the Qingming Festival. The transaction was to take place at an abandoned temple.

Liu Bei decided to close the net.

On the eve of Qingming Festival, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

The night was eerily quiet, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the bare branches. Inside the abandoned temple, a faint light flickered.

Liu Bei, accompanied by Qian Zhao, Zhang Wu, and twenty elite constables, lay in ambush around the temple. Jian Yong provided support from the outside.

At midnight, the sound of horses' hooves could be heard on the mountain road.

A dozen or so carriages slowly approached, each with guards. They stopped in front of the temple.

Several people came out of the temple. The leader was a short, stocky man with a scar on his face. He was none other than Wu Laoda, the leader of the pangolins.

"Did you bring all the money?" Boss Wu asked.

"We've brought it." A man who looked like a manager stepped down from the caravan. "Where's the goods?"

The man who seemed to be in charge clapped his hands, and his men brought out several boxes. They opened them, and inside were gold coins.

Just as the two sides were about to make the deal, Liu Bei gave an order:

"Let's do it!"

The constables rushed out from all directions.

"An ambush!" Boss Wu reacted swiftly, drawing his sword and slashing. His men were also well-trained and immediately formed a defensive formation.

Suddenly, swords flashed and shadows fell before Guan Zi.

Qian Zhao attacked Wu Laoda directly. The two exchanged blows. Wu Laoda's skills were not weak, but Qian Zhao was superior. After more than ten rounds, he cleaved Wu Laoda's weapon away with a single stroke and pinned him to the ground.

Zhang Wu then led his men to surround and annihilate the guards. Although the guards were fierce and brave, they were outnumbered and quickly subdued.

The man who looked like he was in charge tried to run away, but Liu Bei stopped him.