Han Ji

When Liu Bei patrolled the camp to the west wall, Zhang Fei was squatting under the arrow emplacement eating a pancake, while Guan Yu stood to the side, looking into the city.

"There's less smoke coming from the chimneys again," Guan Yu said.

Liu Bei followed his gaze. The banner of the Heavenly General on the city wall of Guangzong was fluttering in the autumn wind, its color faded to white. The wisps of smoke rising from the city were sparse, like the breath of a dying man.

"Zhang Jiao probably won't last more than this month," Liu Bei said.

Zhang Fei swallowed the biscuit and wiped his mouth: "Let's finish this quickly and go home! My mother sent word the other day that the dates in Zhuojun are sweet this year, and she saved two big baskets for me!"

"All you ever think about is eating." Jian Yong strolled over from behind, holding a booklet in his hands. "Brother, three of Li Shun's brothers from Zhuojun have their families fleeing from Youzhou and settled in Yecheng. Should we allocate some money and provisions?"

"Disburse it." Liu Bei nodded. "Have the compensations for the fallen brothers been distributed?"

"It's being distributed." Jian Yong flipped through the booklet. "It's just that the court allocated too little, only 10,000 coins per person, which isn't even enough to buy two simple coffins. We supplemented it with some from the spoils of war, and Lord Lu tacitly approved it."

"We'll replenish if it's not enough," Liu Bei said. "We can't let our brothers set off with their hearts broken."

Guan Yu turned to look at him: "Brother, if this battle is over, the imperial court will surely bestow rewards. You..."

"I can forgo the reward," Liu Bei interrupted him. "I want all the brothers who survived to have a good place to go."

Everyone fell silent.

The wind blew from the north, carrying with it the smell of burning food and faint cries from Guangzong City.

After a three-month siege, the city had become a living hell. At first, there were horses to kill, but later it was rats, tree bark, and grass roots. Last month, a starving civilian surrendered by lowering himself down the city walls; he was emaciated and only skin and bones remained, saying that cannibalism had begun within the city.

Lu Zhi ordered the acceptance of surrendered civilians, but strictly forbade soldiers to give away food privately, for fear of triggering a mutiny in the camp.

It was tragic, but we had no choice but to be ruthless.

"Brother," Qian Zhao said quickly as he climbed the wall, lowering his voice, "people from Luoyang have arrived."

"Who?"

"The eunuch Zuo Feng said he was ordered to inspect the troops and supervise the battle."

Liu Bei's heart sank.

A scene from the history books flashed through my mind: Zuo Feng, unable to extort a bribe, falsely accused Lu Zhi of neglecting his duties, causing Lu Zhi to be escorted back in a prison cart, resulting in the failure of his mission.

Damn it, it's happening again.

Inside the central command tent, Lu Zhi was sitting opposite Zuo Feng.

Zuo Feng was in his early thirties, with a fair complexion and no beard. He wore a brocade robe, held a teacup between his fingers, and slowly blew on the steam.

"Lord Lu, you've worked hard," he said, his voice high-pitched. "His Majesty is concerned about the war in Hebei day and night, and specially sent me to check on things. When will Guangzong City be captured?"

Lu Zhi cupped his hands in greeting: "Even a cornered beast will fight, and a direct assault will result in heavy casualties. Now, with deep trenches and high walls, we have cut off their supply lines. The city is running out of food and reinforcements, and the fall of the city will be within a few months."

"Which month?" Zuo Feng raised an eyebrow. "Lord Lu, His Majesty wants a swift victory. The Yellow Turban Rebellion has been raging for half a year, shaking the entire country. The court cannot afford to wait."

"In military operations, one should exercise caution and prudence..."

"Be cautious, be cautious, but how long?" Zuo Feng put down his teacup, leaned forward, and lowered his voice, "Lord Lu, before I left the capital, Attendant Zhang (Zhang Rang) instructed me that if Lord Lu could achieve complete success soon... hehe."

The tent was quiet.

Lu Zhi's face darkened: "Matters of state and military importance are not to be discussed in private. Left Eunuch, please show some self-respect."

Zuo Feng's smile froze, and a look of annoyance flashed in his eyes.

Liu Bei heard everything clearly outside the tent and gave Guan Yu a wink. Guan Yu nodded and quietly slipped away.

Inside the tent, Zuo Fengqian chuckled twice: "Lord Lu is loyal and upright, I admire him. But the army is hard-working, and the soldiers risk their lives, so they should also receive some... credit."

"The imperial court will bestow rewards."

"When will that be?" Zuo Feng rubbed his fingers. "We left the capital in a hurry and didn't take much money or silk with us. If Lord Lu could... lend us some temporarily, we can help the men who accompanied us and ask them to say a few good words for us when we get back."

See the picture poorly.

Soliciting bribes.

Lu Zhi stared at him, then slowly rose: "Left Yellow Gate, please return. The army's provisions and pay are all for suppressing the rebels; not a single tael or coin should be touched."

Zuo Feng's face turned completely cold.

"Very well, very well." He stood up, flicked his sleeve, and said, "Lord Lu is aloof and proud; I have learned my lesson."

He turned and left the tent, saw Liu Bei standing outside the door, snorted coldly, and strode away.

Liu Bei entered the tent.

Lu Zhi sat behind his desk, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples.

"teacher."

"Did you hear that?"

"I heard you."

"Eunuchs are in power, and they dare to openly solicit bribes." Lu Zhi opened his eyes, his gaze weary.

Liu Bei was silent for a moment, then said, "Teacher, do you remember when Duan Jiong quelled the Qiang rebellion, he was imprisoned after his success because he refused to bribe the eunuchs? This should serve as a warning."

"Does he dare?"

"If Zuo Feng fails to extort a bribe, he will surely secretly gather evidence, and may even correspond with Luoyang to falsely accuse our teacher of cowardice and wasting money and supplies." Liu Bei lowered his voice, "Perhaps... we should let him fall ill in the army."

Lu Zhi looked up: "You're going to detain him?"

"It's not about withholding his health, it's about rest and recuperation," Liu Bei said. "Once Guangzong falls and the news of victory reaches the capital, he can recover and return to court. By then, the die will be cast, and no matter how much slander he may have, it will be difficult to shake his teacher's great achievements."

"The risk is too great." Lu Zhi shook his head. "He is an angel. If something happens to him, neither of us can bear the responsibility."

"I will take responsibility," Liu Bei said, looking directly at him. "Teacher, if this battle is lost because of a villain, the blood of tens of thousands of soldiers who died will have been shed in vain."

The autumn wind howled outside the tent, making the tent flap rustle.

After a long while, Lu Zhi let out a long sigh.

"Go do it," he said. "Make sure it's clean."

"Yes."

Liu Bei turned and left the tent.

As dusk approached, the clouds gathered low and oppressive.

It's going to change.

When Liu Bei returned to the western camp, it was already dusk.

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Jian Yong, Qian Zhao, and Zhang Wu were all waiting in the tent. Li Shun was also there; he was now in charge of the auxiliary troops from the fellow villagers of Zhuojun, so they were practically one of their own.

"Brother, has the eunuch left?" Zhang Fei asked.

"He didn't leave; he's moved into the separate tent that Lord Lu vacated for him." Liu Bei sat down and rubbed his face. "Jian Yong, take a few clever men and start keeping an eye on Zuo Feng tonight. I need to know who he meets, what he receives, and what letters he sends."

Jian Yong nodded: "Understood."

"Yunchang, Yide," Liu Bei said, looking at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, "Raise the alert level in the camp to the highest level, especially the night sentries. If Zuo Feng wants to make any trouble, he'll most likely do so at night."

"Understood."

"Zijing, select twenty reliable brothers to be on standby at any time." Liu Bei paused, "They must be daring and discreet."

Qian Zhao's eyes sharpened: "Big brother wants to..."

"Just in case." Liu Bei didn't say much. "Zhang Wu, you keep a close watch on our headquarters. Don't allow anyone to approach Zuo Feng's camp, and don't discuss it."

"yes!"

The crowd dispersed, leaving only Guan Yu behind.

"Brother," Guan Yu whispered, "detaining an angel is a capital offense. If this gets out..."

"If this happens, I will take full responsibility." Liu Bei looked at the flickering lamplight. "My teacher cannot fall. If he falls, the Yellow Turban Rebellion will reignite in these eight provinces, and who knows how many more people will be harmed."

Guan Yu was silent for a moment: "I will share the burden with my elder brother."

Liu Bei shook his head: "Yun Chang, don't worry, I may not need to take responsibility."

The sound of a watchman's drum came from outside the tent.