Han Ji

It's past midnight.

Liu Bei stood up: "I'll go check on Li Shun and the others."

The auxiliary troops of Zhuojun were stationed in a corner of the western camp. Dozens of men were crammed into three large tents, currently sharing porridge around a fire. Upon seeing Liu Bei arrive, they all rose to their feet.

"General!"

"Sit, everyone, sit." Liu Bei waved his hand and squatted down next to Li Shun. "How was today?"

"We've been digging trenches all day, we're tired, but we've had a good meal." Li Shun grinned, handing over half a pancake. "Would the general like to try some?"

The cake was hard, but it had a wheat aroma.

Liu Bei took it, broke off a small piece, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly.

"How's everything at home?"

"I sent word a while ago that things were alright, except the taxes were heavy," Li Shun sighed. "But I heard that the general won a battle in Hebei, and the government is being more courteous to us people from Zhuojun."

A young man nearby chimed in, "That's right! When I went to collect my rations, the clerk immediately stopped shaking when he heard I was from Zhuojun, and even gave me a little extra!"

Everyone laughed.

Liu Bei looked at these faces. They were dirty and thin, but their eyes shone with light.

In chaotic times, a small act of kindness can save a life.

"After the war is over," he said, "I will take you back to Zhuojun. Those with homes can go home, and those without... I will find you a way to make a living."

"Thank you, General!" everyone said in unison.

Li Shun suddenly lowered his voice: "General, today an official from Luoyang was loitering outside the camp, asking our General Lu how he is treating the soldiers and whether Commandant Liu has been withholding rations."

Liu Bei's heart tightened: "What did you say?"

"I said General Lu is kind and Commandant Liu is benevolent, and we have enough to eat every day," Li Shun said. "When that official heard it, his face turned not good, he threw me a few coins and left."

Liu Bei patted him on the shoulder: "Well done. If anyone asks again, just say that."

"I understand."

After leaving the auxiliary camp, Liu Bei did not return to his tent, but instead climbed the west wall.

In the darkness, Guangzong City resembled a crouching behemoth, deathly still. Occasionally, torches would move across the city walls, their movements as slow as will-o'-the-wisps.

"What are you looking at?" Jian Yong's voice came from behind.

"Let's see how they handle this." Liu Bei didn't turn around.

Jian Yong climbed up and handed over the wine flask: "It's just warmed up, to ward off the cold."

Liu Bei took it and drank a sip. It was spicy, burning from his throat to his stomach.

"Is there any movement from Zuo Feng's side?" he asked.

"Yes." Jian Yong lowered his voice. "After nightfall, three people entered his tent one after another: one was Wang Bi, the quartermaster; one was Zhao Qi, the military advisor under Lord Lu; and the other... was Li, the chief clerk of our camp."

Liu Bei's eyes turned cold.

Wang Bi was in charge of finances, Zhao Qi was in charge of documents, and Li, the registrar, was responsible for recording merits and demerits. If Zuo Feng were to capture these three men, he could indeed fabricate a great deal of evidence against them.

"What did you say?"

"They were too far away to hear clearly," Jian Yong said. "But when Wang Bi came out, he looked somewhat uneasy. Zhao Qi went in empty-handed and came out empty-handed. Li, the registrar... waited for a quarter of an hour and came out pale-faced."

Liu Bei remained silent.

"Big brother, should we..." Jian Yong made a cutting gesture.

"No rush," Liu Bei shook his head. "Let them come out on their own."

"But if we let them send the things out..."

"We can't send it out." Liu Bei looked towards the darkness to the north. "Yide has already gone on night patrol."

Jian Yong was taken aback, then laughed: "Big brother is still the most ruthless."

"It wasn't out of cruelty," Liu Bei said, handing the wine bag back to him. "It was out of necessity."

At midnight, Zhang Fei returned.

He was covered in the dampness of the night dew, and he threw a bundle on the ground.

"Got them." He grinned. "Ten miles north, we intercepted two riders heading towards Luoyang. We found this on them."

The bundle was opened, revealing several silk scrolls and a small bag of gold ingots.

Liu Bei picked up the silk scroll and read it by the lamplight.

The first letter was a secret report from Zuo Feng to Zhang Rang, stating that Lu Zhi was afraid of the enemy and wasted national funds, causing widespread discontent among the soldiers, and suggesting that the commander be replaced immediately.

The second letter was Wang Bi's confession, which included his fingerprint. He stated that Lu Zhi had allowed his troops to plunder and divide the spoils among themselves.

The third letter is Zhao Qi's testimony, stating that Lu Zhi delayed military operations and repeatedly rejected the proposal for a swift battle.

The fourth letter... was written in the handwriting of Li, the chief clerk, detailing Liu Bei's crimes, including killing prisoners of war, taking in surrendered soldiers, and trying to win people's hearts.

The lamp flame crackled and flickered.

Zhang Fei spat, "These ungrateful wretches! That scoundrel Li, he bows and scrapes to us all day, but he's quick to stab us in the back!"

Guan Yu took the silk scroll, glanced at it, and a cold glint flashed in his phoenix eyes: "He should be killed."

"We mustn't kill them." Liu Bei put away the silk scroll. "The eunuchs are powerful. Wang Bi and Zhao Qi are former subordinates of Lord Lu. Killing them would demoralize the people. As for Chief Clerk Li... keeping him alive is still useful."

"What should we do then?" Zhang Fei asked, his eyes wide.

"Let's play along." Liu Bei stood up. "Jian Yong, go and invite Chief Clerk Li. Tell him I have military matters to discuss. Remember to be polite."

"clear."

"Yun Chang, Yi De, take some men to 'invite' Wang Bi and Zhao Qi. Be polite."

"Understood."

"Zijing," Liu Bei said, looking at Qian Zhao, "lock those two messengers up tight, don't let anyone know."

"Yes."

The group split up and took action separately.

Liu Bei sat in his tent and waited.

About fifteen minutes later, Clerk Li arrived. He was a thin, middle-aged man, wearing a faded official robe, and his legs trembled slightly as he entered.

"Commander... what brings you here so late at night?"

"Sit down," Liu Bei said, gesturing to the mat opposite him.

Clerk Li sat down nervously, his eyes darting around.

"How long has Clerk Li been with Lord Lu?" Liu Bei asked.

"Almost...almost a year has passed." Clerk Li wiped his sweat.

"It's been quite a while," Liu Bei said, pouring him a bowl of water. "What did the Left Eunuch say to you today?"

Clerk Li's hand trembled, and half a bowl of water spilled out.

"No, nothing much... just asking about trivial matters in the military."

"Trivial matters?" Liu Bei took out the silk scroll and spread it out on the table. "There are more than just trivial matters written on this."

Clerk Li's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he knelt down with a thud: "Captain, spare my life! It was... it was Zuo Feng who forced me! He said if I didn't write it, he would falsely accuse me of embezzling military rations, which is a capital offense!"

"So you wrote that I killed prisoners of war without authorization and took in surrendered soldiers?" Liu Bei looked at him. "Chief Clerk Li, we've worked together for several months. Have I, Liu Bei, ever mistreated you?"

"No! No!" Clerk Li kowtowed repeatedly, "Commander, you are so kind and righteous, I was bewitched... Please, Commander, grant me a way out!"

Liu Bei remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Get up."

Li, the registrar, stood up shakily, not daring to raise his head.

"What else does Zuo Feng want you to do?"

"He...he told me to gather more information on Lu Gong and the Commandant's faults within three days and write a detailed report," Clerk Li said, his voice trembling. "He also said...he said that if this matter is accomplished, he will guarantee me a position as a county magistrate upon my return to the capital."

"County magistrate," Liu Bei laughed, "what a bright future!"

Li, the registrar, felt his legs go weak and was about to kneel again.

"Stop kneeling." Liu Bei waved his hand. "I'll keep this letter of accusation you wrote. But from today onwards, you must report every move Zuo Feng makes to me without missing a single word. Show me what he asks you to write first."

"Yes! Yes!" Clerk Li replied repeatedly.

"Go back," Liu Bei said. "Remember, you weren't here tonight."

As if granted a pardon, Clerk Li staggered away.