The Three Great Han Dynasties: Awaken Liu Bei with a scolding; you weave mats and sell sandals.

Chapter 189 Liu Bei's Disaster Relief: A Single Sheet Worth Ten Thousand Coins

"Unless you can get the General's influence, if you don't pay today and he doesn't pay tomorrow, how will the people working below make a living?"

These words laid bare the unspoken rules of officialdom in Luoyang.

Liu Bei gave a wry smile and said, "Getting things done is the priority. We'll pay up."

Then, the group followed the official's instructions.

After running back and forth between various government offices in Luoyang for a whole day, he returned to the disaster relief office and only received a receipt.

This note cost a whopping 30,000 coins, giving a glimpse into the exorbitant prices in the officialdom of Luoyang's imperial city.

A day's time is exchanged for just one sheet of paper.

With no progress in the disaster relief efforts, Liu Bei felt a mix of emotions. He finally began to understand why his father had insisted that he handle the disaster relief work.

This wasn't just a business trip; it was a way to let him experience firsthand the corruption and entrenched connections within officialdom.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, standing beside him, had no time to ponder these deeper intentions; their hearts were filled with resentment.

Even the usually composed Guan Yu couldn't help but complain, his voice filled with disappointment: "Under the emperor's nose, is this the state of affairs? Brother, is this the Han Dynasty we should be fighting for with all our might?"

The people were corrupt, the officials were corrupt, and the whole society was rotten to the core. I really can't imagine what we could have accomplished with our courage and determination if it weren't for our adoptive father who cleared the world for us.

In the end, it will probably just be a waste of effort and a pointless sacrifice.

With red eyes and a voice filled with helplessness, Guan Yu's words pierced the heart, inadvertently revealing the possible fate they might have faced.

Faced with these words, Liu Bei remained silent and offered no other response.

After venting his anger, Zhang Fei muttered in a gruff voice, "Then, brother, shall we continue with the disaster relief?"

That's a pointed question, it's obvious.

He was now filled with resentment.

But Liu Bei's answer was resolute, breaking the silence: "Continue."

Zhang Fei sighed, his face full of disappointment, but he still obeyed his elder brother's instructions: "Alright, I'll listen to you, brother."

But on the way back, I felt so stifled that I couldn't help but grumble a bit.

Guan Yu nodded emphatically: "I will also listen to my elder brother."

Night falls in the study of the General's mansion.

Liu Hong was engrossed in his official duties, with a bowl of medicine he had just drunk from on his desk, the pungent smell of medicine filling the study.

He had just finished drinking his medicine, less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, when Liu Bei walked in.

Upon smelling the medicine, Liu Bei subconsciously frowned, but then he thought of the starving and freezing people outside the city, and his discomfort instantly dissipated.

What's a little bit of medicinal smell?

Compared to those ordinary people struggling on the brink of life and death.

His current situation is extremely comfortable.

If one is still not satisfied, then one has lost one's true self.

"My father asked me to handle disaster relief work, and I have benefited greatly from it today."

Liu Bei bowed and said.

Tell me in detail.

Liu Hong didn't even look up, his fingertips still on the official document, his tone carrying an unquestionable scrutiny, not letting anything go easily.

This time, however, Liu Bei choked up, his mind filled with a thousand thoughts, and he didn't know where to begin.

Liu Hong still didn't look up, and said calmly, "It seems that you still haven't grasped the meaning deeply enough."

Tomorrow, we'll continue.

"Yes, Father."

Liu Bei lowered his head and answered in response.

Not long after Liu Bei left, Liu Wen entered the study and saw Liu Hong still engrossed in his official duties. He raised his hand and patted the desk, and all the officials in the mansion responded and entered to take over the official duties on the desk.

In less than half an hour, all the piled-up documents were processed.

"General, it's time to retire. Which lady's courtyard shall we visit today?"

Liu Wen smiled faintly.

At this moment, he was like the steward of the general's mansion, doing everything with care and attention to detail.

Liu Hong looked at him speechlessly, just about to say a few threatening words, but Liu Wen was already prepared and cleverly brought up the names of Madam Wu and several other ladies in the mansion.

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong instantly lost his temper and had no choice but to submit. He then chose the nameplate and went to the inner courtyard.

Seeing Liu Hong's cooperation, Liu Wencai felt a little relieved.

Once everyone was alone, he muttered to himself, "Brother Liu, if things continue like this, there will definitely be offspring in the inner quarters within half a year at most. Only then will my trip to Luoyang have been worthwhile."

"It will also make you owe me a huge favor."

This is Liu Wen's true purpose.

Last time was in Youzhou.

He missed the best opportunity to follow Liu Hong's rise to power. Although he made up for it in time, he was ultimately too late.

Otherwise, Cui Dan's current status would certainly be partly due to him.

Having already missed the opportunity once, he was determined not to miss it a second time. This all-out effort was a belated attempt to mend the situation, and it was not too late.

In the days that followed, Liu Hong continued in this routine, handling important affairs of the court while keeping an eye on the inner quarters and watching Liu Bei struggle and learn through trials and tribulations.

Liu Bei, on the other hand, grew more and more experienced and shrewd in handling affairs of the officialdom each day.

Even Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, during this process, saw a lot of the world, became more composed, and broadened their horizons.

On this day, the General's Mansion welcomed a distinguished guest.

"Ziguang, you are quite something now. Who would have thought that you, who were once just a minor official in Youzhou, would now be a general in charge of all military affairs in the country? Even I am very envious."

Do you know why I have come here today?

The speaker, dressed in the official robes of a governor, possessed an air of composure and was none other than Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou, a member of the Han imperial family.

Liu Biao is an indispensable part of the Liu clan today.

Jingzhou has always been a prosperous region with well-trained soldiers and ample provisions. In addition, Liu Biao had already married the daughter of the powerful Cai family in Jingzhou, and with the Cai family's influence behind him, Jingzhou was firmly under his control.

While it may not be an impenetrable fortress, it is certainly not one that can be easily breached by outsiders.

Even in times of chaos, such was the case; now, in times of peace, no one dared to easily offend this member of the Han imperial family and a powerful regional official.

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong chuckled and joked, "Governor Liu is joking. Your name is second only to the Liu family of Youzhou in the Han imperial clan. Who in the world does not know it?"

Why didn't you go to discuss the marriage between Zilong and your daughter today? Instead, you've come here to flatter me!"

A joke brought the topic to light.

Upon hearing this, Liu Biao didn't mince words and immediately stopped beating around the bush.

The two then sat down and began to discuss in detail the marriage between Zhao Yun and Liu's daughter.

Ultimately, the marriage would have to be finalized in Luoyang, the imperial city, in front of all the powerful families and noble clans of the land, so that the whole world could witness it.

Only in this way can the relationship between Liu Hong and Liu Biao be made closer, and their interests be more tightly bound together.

This is the main reason why Liu Biao came here today.

of course.

He was able to enter Luoyang easily because he received an invitation from Liu Hong.

Otherwise, given his status as a prefect, his easy entry into the capital would inevitably draw criticism from both the court and the public, and the whole country would rise up against him, which would be no small matter.