The imperial cause at the end of the Han Dynasty was not one of partial peace.

Chapter 75: The wicked must be destroyed, and the petty must be punished. The purge of Mount Tai rests on my shoulders alone.

The schemes of the powerful clans of Taishan could not affect the overall situation of Taishan Prefecture.

As May drew to a close, the entire Taishan County finally ushered in its first harvest season.

The "Four Seasons Ordinances for the People" states: "In the fifth month, wheat can be harvested, and both wheat and barley can be obtained."

At this time of year, the wheat fields of Taishan County are golden, the mulberry groves are lush and green, and the bean pods are plump and ready to burst open, creating a scene of abundance on both banks of the Wen River.

At this crucial time, Liu Bei was not idle. He ordered all the officials and clerks of the prefecture and government to go to the fields with their subordinates to supervise the harvest, in order to prevent lazy people from missing the farming season.

He personally inspected the fields and saw that outside Fenggao City, thousands of acres of wheat fields stretched out, and everywhere there were busy figures harvesting.

Ox carts came and went, and wheat grains piled up like small mountains on the threshing grounds. Both public and private granaries were full of rice!

Smoke curls from chimneys in the village pavilions, and the sounds of chickens and dogs can be heard. Children chase and play in the stubble fields after the wheat harvest, and it is common to see old farmers holding heavy ears of wheat, their faces beaming with joy.

Guo Yuan, the clerk in charge of land administration, has already dispatched officials to various counties to supervise the collection of land taxes.

According to Liu Bei's plan, the tax in Taishan County was levied based on the number of mu (a unit of land area), with each mu yielding approximately one dou and five sheng (another unit of land area).

The entire prefecture has over 31,000 hectares of farmland, and it is estimated that the land tax will exceed 500,000 bushels.

In these 31,000 hectares of fertile land, regardless of whether the people rotated farming to allow the land to rest, or whether they planted wheat or mulberry trees, they were all treated equally and taxed only based on the acreage.

This may seem like a heavier tax burden, but it actually greatly alleviates the pressure on ordinary people.

As Xun Yue stated in the "Han Ji": "In ancient times, taxes were levied at one-tenth of the original amount, which was considered the most just and equitable way to govern the world."

"The Han dynasty's tax rate of one-thirtieth was unprecedented in history."

"But the powerful and wealthy occupy land excessively and extravagantly, and they pay most of the taxes."

"The imperial court's favors are better than those of the three ancient dynasties; but the tyranny of the powerful and influential is crueler than that of the Qin dynasty that brought about its downfall."

Therefore, the imperial court's preferential policies did not benefit the common people, but instead allowed powerful and influential people to act tyrannically.

Emperor Wen of Han did not address the root cause of the problem, but instead focused on reducing taxes, which only benefited the powerful and wealthy!

Therefore, "the Han dynasty reduced land rent to one-thirtieth, and there were frequent tax changes, and the infirm were all relieved of their duties. However, powerful people encroached upon the land, dividing it up and robbing it. Although the land was nominally taxed at thirty percent, it was actually five-tenths of the land tax."

Now, Liu Bei has truly set things right at Mount Tai, severely cracking down on powerful clans and suppressing land annexations.

Allowing farmers to own land and levying taxes based on acreage made the common people feel that it was a more benevolent policy than that of the Han Dynasty.

That's why we have the scene today where all three hundred granaries set up by the Tian Cao are filled up one by one, and the rice is plentiful.

The clerks of the granary worked day and night, weighing and registering each cart, resulting in a mountain of accounts.

Tian Cao Yuan, following Liu Bei, watched the scenes of abundant harvest and reported with a smile, "My lord, this year Mount Tai has had a bumper harvest. Every household has full granaries, truly a year of plenty. Each household has more than fifty mu of land, and after paying rent and taxes, there are still more than fifty bushels of grain left over."

"The entire Taishan prefecture produced no less than seven million bushels of grain; truly, a bountiful harvest in one prefecture meant that several prefectures forgot about hunger!"

Seven million bushels of grain?

This figure certainly made Liu Bei very happy, as it meant an absolute bumper harvest. After deducting the daily food needs of the people, there would be at least 500,000 or even over a million bushels of grain left over.

Historically, when Gongsun Zan was stationed in Yijing, he stored three million bushels of grain in preparation for any changes in the world.

This means that if Taishan County continued to enjoy a few more years of good harvests, it could support a warlord like Gongsun Zan at the end of the Han Dynasty.

It can truly be called the foundation of a hegemonic enterprise.

Liu Bei smiled and said, "The abundance of Mount Tai is all thanks to you gentlemen. However, we must remain humble and avoid complacency. Currently, the yield per mu is only slightly more than two shi. From now on, we should focus on developing water conservancy projects to benefit the people and double the yield per mu."

Liu Bei did not have high expectations; he did not aspire to the kind of yield that Zheng Guoqu had, where the yield was one zhong per mu, reaching more than four shi.

With the construction of water conservancy projects in Taishan County, the fields are fertile. After agriculture develops, the yield per mu can reach more than three shi, and the whole county can produce tens of millions of hu of grain.

Even if they later encountered the severe drought in Chongzhou that forced Cao Cao and Lü Bu to cease hostilities, they could still survive the disaster year through water conservancy and storage.

All of this is not difficult, because within the territory of Mount Tai, powerful manors already have fertile fields with irrigation systems, achieving a yield of three shi per mu.

Liu Bei didn't need any groundbreaking feats; simply following the established methods and implementing water conservancy projects was enough to increase crop yields.

This is also why Liu Bei ordered a strict count of the powerful families, their guests, and their retainers.

These powerful families were all old clans and chivalrous figures, with over a thousand guests, yet they did not accept any new retainers.

They did not pay taxes or perform corvée labor, so where did Liu Bei find people to recruit for corvée labor and build water conservancy projects?

Of course, for Liu Bei to enable the people of Mount Tai to accumulate wealth, implement benevolent policies, and build water conservancy projects, someone has to pay the price.

The implementation of so many benevolent policies could not have been achieved simply by Liu Bei waving his hand.

Behind every policy, someone is paying the price.

And on Mount Tai, those who bore the brunt of all this cost were, of course, the old-fashioned heroes.

Liu Bei's policies were a series of blows that struck at the very lifeblood of powerful clans!

Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, with his imperial status and the prestige of the restoration of the dynasty, issued a land survey decree to investigate the land throughout the country. This still provoked the powerful clans of Qing, Xu, You, and Ji provinces to rise up in rebellion, bandits flocked to the prefectures and kingdoms, governors and commanders fled at the mere sight of him, and some powerful clans even gathered to attack and destroy counties, which shook the whole country.

Liu Xiu had no choice but to use an iron fist to suppress the rebellion, sending envoys to various prefectures and kingdoms, beheading thousands of people, before the land survey could be reluctantly implemented.

Liu Bei is now just a prefect, and if he were to infringe upon the interests of powerful clans, how could these powerful clans of Mount Tai tolerate him?

Before he could finish his excitement, a fast horse galloped up from afar.

Zhang Fei spurred his horse and galloped forward, his voice preceding his arrival. His leopard-like eyes were filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Brother! Urgent report from the prefectures and counties: powerful figures in Fei County, Nanwuyang, Gai County, Nancheng, and several other counties have simultaneously raised their banners!"

"Wang Du, Ge Tai, Zhou Tong, Lu Yuan, and others have each gathered several thousand guests and are attacking the prefectures and counties, declaring that they will execute the tyrannical officials and return power to the people!"

"Furthermore, Mengshan Changxi and Yin Li have led two thousand fierce bandits down the mountain and are joining forces with Wang Du to raid the area!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei ended his conversation with Guo Yuan, turned to Zhang Fei, and instead of showing any panic, his face was filled with high spirits, his voice resounding: "Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! We have been waiting for this day for several months! Today, we will wipe out these cunning and treacherous villains and the long-standing bandits of Mount Tai in one fell swoop!"

"What is the defense situation in each county?"

Zhang Fei replied with great pride, "Brother, rest assured! Apart from the magistrate of Gaixian County, who was newly appointed by the court and fled the city upon hearing of the chaos, and has been imprisoned and questioned by the prefectural government, the other counties all have acting magistrates, acting assistant magistrates, and acting county lieutenants, all of whom are heroes under your command."

"Cheng Pu, the magistrate of Nancheng County, Han Dang, the magistrate of Nanwuyang County, and Geng Wu, the assistant magistrate of Fei County, are all loyal to the country and possess great courage and boldness. They led the county soldiers and the village soldiers, and mobilized hundreds of men in blue turbans from the city to climb the city walls and defend them. Although the enemy numbered in the thousands, they were caught off guard and could not be defeated!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei laughed heartily, then turned to Tian Feng, the inspector accompanying him, and said, "You gentlemen have indeed lived up to my expectations! These powerful figures, leading over a thousand households of their retainers in rebellion, seem capable of overturning Mount Tai, yet they are unaware that they have fallen right into the inescapable trap you have laid!"

Tian Feng, as the Inspector, was in charge of various counties outside the capital. He was known for his ruthless and decisive manner. He immediately cupped his hands, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, and said resolutely, "My lord, although the bandits number 20,000, their core forces consist of no more than 2,000 fierce bandits under Chang Xi and Yin Li."

"These men have long occupied Mengshan, and their fierce and courageous nature is the source of the rebels' courage. If we can crush their edge and kill their leader in one battle, the rest of them will be nothing more than guests of powerful figures, a motley crew of ants, and they will surely be pacified under our command and no longer a threat."

Liu Bei, in high spirits, declared generously, "Excellent! Let Guan Yu lead the Jing Sai Iron Cavalry as the vanguard, and strike straight at Chang Xi's central army. I, Yi De, and Zi Long will personally lead two thousand elite infantry and cavalry to follow. This year is a bountiful year; the treasury is full, and the army is well-fed. It is the perfect time to wipe out the bandits in one fell swoop!"

That's right, exactly two thousand infantry and cavalry!

These powerful figures had been plotting a rebellion since the beginning of the year, almost making a big show of it.

How could Liu Bei not have made preparations earlier?

Nearly half a year was enough time for him to gather his clansmen, fellow villagers, and family soldiers from Zhuojun.

He was already struggling to support a large army.

Although he was extremely wealthy, maintaining two thousand elite infantry and cavalry was no easy task.

These two thousand people alone cost a fortune every day in terms of salaries and provisions.

Now that these powerful figures and bandits have come to his doorstep, how could Liu Bei not give his subordinates a chance to reap a bountiful harvest?

The retainers from Guangwu Pavilion and Zhuo County, as well as Liu Bei's fellow villagers, clansmen, and fiefdom members, all arrived one after another and advanced to Fenggao.

Now is the time for them to show their military might!

Guan Yu's phoenix eyes widened, and he immediately clasped his hands in agreement.

Zhang Fei, equally excited, rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming, and laughed loudly, "Ever since I entered Taishan County, I've been either training or patrolling the camps all day long; my bones are practically stiff. Finally, this day has come! Watch as I, with my eighteen-foot spear, slaughter these traitors and rebels, leaving them utterly defeated!"

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei served as separate commanders, each leading various units. Tian Feng was stationed outside the main army, while Zhao Yun, Zhu Ling, Wen Chou, Gao Lan, Qian Zhao, Tian Yu, Yan Rou, and other talented generals served as his henchmen. The army was well-trained and equipped with advanced weaponry.

At Liu Bei's command, more than two thousand elite infantry and cavalry immediately set off.

In this battle, Liu Bei gained several more valiant generals in addition to his existing civil and military talents.

First, there were the brothers Sun Kang and Sun Guan, who joined Liu Bei last year during the process of recruiting and subjugating bandits. They were both exceptionally brave and fierce heroes who were renowned throughout the region. They were ennobled and appointed as generals in history and left their mark on the annals of history.

Besides them, there was also Zang Ba, the top general of Qing and Xu who was invited back by Liu Bei!

Zang Ba and his father fled to Donghai Commandery. Last year, when Liu Bei recruited refugees, the refugees who returned from Donghai Commandery mentioned Zang Ba's name.

When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, Zang Ba gathered a crowd in the East Sea to protect himself and became known in Xu for his bravery and strategy.

Liu Bei sent an envoy to invite him as a candidate for the civil service examination, and he gladly led his troops back north, temporarily residing as a guest in preparation for the selection of a candidate for the civil service examination.

Although, once Zang Ba is recommended as a filial and incorruptible official, he might be appointed to another prefecture by the imperial court.

However, Liu Bei's status as his lord was already established, and as long as Liu Bei's great cause succeeded, Zang Ba would definitely come to serve him.

Moreover, it was destined that Zang Ba would never become a bandit in Mount Tai again.

Where he goes in the future depends on how Liu Bei's mentor, Lu Zhi, arranges things.

At this time, the army marched south to suppress the rebels, and he and Sun Guan served as Guan Yu's deputy generals, heading south under the cover of night.

Both of them were renowned for their bravery and were among the most valiant of the bandits in Mount Tai. People were terrified and feared them at the mere mention of their names.

What terrified the bandits of Mount Tai even more was the incredible speed of their cavalry advance, which was astonishing!

The bandits from Mount Tai descended the mountain the day before yesterday, besieged Nanwuyang yesterday, and today the Han army's iron cavalry has descended like divine soldiers, appearing in Nanwuyang territory!

At this time, under the walls of Nanwuyang City, Chang Xi was joining forces with powerful local lords and their followers to attack the city.

However, arrows rained down from the walls of Nanwuyang. The acting county magistrate, Han Dang, was fully armed and full of courage. He personally led the county soldiers to defend the fortified position. The rebels suffered heavy casualties one after another, and not a single one of them could stand on the walls for even a moment!

It was the wheat harvest season, and the weather was scorching hot.

Chang Xi was already extremely anxious. He personally led a large army to attack the city, but could not make any progress. His troops suffered heavy casualties, with more than a hundred killed in battle and more than three hundred wounded.

In particular, the armored general on the city wall was not only skilled in archery, killing all the bandits who had scaled the city walls, but also had superb archery skills. His arrows and stones flew like lightning, and those who were hit would fall. More than a dozen bandits below the city had already fallen at the sound of his arrows, and their morale was shaken!

Today, he personally went to the front lines to encourage his soldiers, but he was shot in the chest by an arrow from a fiercely armored general. Even though he was wearing iron armor, the arrow still penetrated an inch into his body. His guards were so frightened that they quickly grabbed their shields and dragged him back to the camp.

This infuriated him, but he was utterly helpless against the city.

Time was of the essence, so he could only send his army to swarm the city. But such an undisguised assault on the city walls made them easy targets for the enemy, and they couldn't even get onto the walls.

But if he were to withdraw and build siege engines such as ladders and battering rams, and then gradually build up his forces, he would absolutely not dare to do so.

If this drags on, and Liu Bei personally leads his army to arrive, that will be the time for him to be beheaded!

At this moment, another bandit in the camp, Yin Li, was also filled with unease, saying, "If our siege is going so poorly, Liu Bei will be attacking us soon after he's finished dealing with the powerful clans of Mount Tai!"

"That's Liu Bei! His military strategy is divine, unpredictable even to ghosts and gods. He twice defeated the Yellow Turbans and Black Mountain bandits, each numbering a million, and his power shook the Hebei region, causing all the bandits to tremble in fear."

"Even a million strong army cannot withstand their iron cavalry; if they truly approach Nanwuyang, we will all perish without a burial place!"

Ultimately, he simply didn't approve of this raid down the mountain.

The Taishan bandits were already riddled with internal conflicts. At their peak, as they grew stronger and their wealth increased daily, harmony naturally prevailed.

However, as Liu Bei entered the prefecture, thousands of bandits fled or surrendered!

These stubborn and ruthless bandits could only defend their strongholds, living in poverty and famine. At this point, the conflicts among them suddenly erupted.

Yin Li then suggested that they simply surrender, since they wouldn't dare to raid the countryside as long as Liu Bei remained.

What's the point of being so cautious?

It would be better to serve under Liu Bei. At least the heroes under Liu Bei are truly rewarded and can eat meat and drink wine to their heart's content!

Unlike them, who, despite having mountains of gold and silver, were trapped and died on the mountain, rarely receiving supplies.

Last winter, they almost froze to death in the mountains.

If it weren't for the local strongmen plotting rebellion this year and secretly colluding with them, allowing them to purchase large quantities of grain, silk, wine, and meat, they would have been trapped and died in the mountains.

Ke Chang, confident in his talent and strategy, resolutely refused to bow down to Liu Bei, a mere prefect!

Upon hearing Yin Li's words, he flew into a rage: "Liu Xuande! Liu Xuande! You may be afraid of that Liu Xuande, but I am not!"

"So what if he brings his army? I'll face him!"

"And if we don't come down the mountain, how will we sustain ourselves with food and supplies?! If you don't provoke Liu Bei, will he not come into the mountains to attack us?"

"Have you not heard that even if people have no intention of harming a tiger, the tiger may still have the intention of harming people? Instead of sitting and waiting for death, we should fight back and join forces with the powerful to drive Liu Bei out of Mount Tai!"

As he roared, a scout suddenly tumbled and crawled into the camp, his voice trembling with terror: "General! General! Something terrible has happened! Liu Bei's iron cavalry is attacking, and they're less than five miles away!"

Yin Li was utterly shocked and horrified, exclaiming, "Is Liu Bei's military strategy some kind of supernatural power? We've only just arrived at the walls of Nanwuyang City. Even if his messengers rushed to report, he would have only just received the message. How could his iron cavalry have arrived so suddenly, like divine soldiers descending from the heavens before us?!"

A deathly silence fell over the tent; everyone stared at each other in bewilderment. As their eyes met, they all saw fear in each other's eyes.

It's impossible for anyone not to be afraid!

That's Liu Bei! The Liu Bei who was so powerful in Hebei that he could make bandits tremble with fear when he threw down a cup of wine, and who could terrify bandits when he donned armor!

Even the million-strong Yellow Turbans and Black Mountain tribes could not withstand their military might.

With only two thousand men, and suffering heavy casualties and low morale, how could they possibly withstand the onslaught of his elite cavalry?

Several bandits quickly turned to look at Chang Xi. The commander had just said that if Liu Bei himself came, he would take charge.

The commander must be very confident!

The men immediately said, "General, how can we possibly defeat them?"

"The commander-in-chief appeared so confident just now; he must have a plan to defeat the enemy!"

"Yes, Commander, tell us quickly! We will all obey your orders regarding how to greet them!"

Chang Xi gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, strode to the entrance of the camp, and gazed at the billowing dust in the distance. At this moment, the dust was dark and the earth was trembling, while thousands of elite Han cavalrymen, their red banners covering the sky, shone brightly in the sun.

Chang Xi calmly roared, "Men! Bring me my horse!"

His calm and composed demeanor reassured the bandits in the tent and restored their courage.

"The commander-in-chief is indeed courageous; even with a thousand troops in front of him, he remains unfazed!"

"Brilliant! The commander-in-chief is going to personally lead the charge and break their momentum. If we can decisively defeat the enemy's vanguard, then even Liu Bei will be no match for us!"

"Indeed, with such valor as our commander, what do we have to fear from Liu Bei!"

Amidst the cheers of the bandits, Chang Xi's personal guards led in his magnificent chestnut horse. It could traverse mountains and dangerous terrain as if walking on flat ground, and could travel more than four hundred li a day; it was truly a rare and excellent steed.

Chang Xi was also brave and swift; carrying a long sword, he leaped onto his horse in one bound.

Then he spurred the horse on its belly, and the horse reared up, neighed, and galloped away from the camp!

This scene left the dozens of leaders inside the celestial tent mesmerized, their blood boiling with excitement, and filled with immense admiration.

One of them immediately clapped his hands in praise: "The commander is truly a genius! He didn't even bring his personal guards, charging into the enemy lines alone! He must emulate the ancient generals Xian Zhen and Di Ximi, who broke through the enemy's defenses amidst a sea of ​​soldiers!"

"Indeed, if even the Commander-in-Chief is so fearless, how can we lag behind!"

Only a few men were filled with anxiety and alarm, shouting urgently, "Rebellion! Commander! Rebellion! The direction is wrong! The Han cavalry are in the north, why is the Commander heading south?!"

"General! Quickly turn around, or it will be too late!"

"What should we do? The commander has gone in the wrong direction!"

'

""

As soon as these words were spoken, the tent fell silent, and everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

After a long silence, Yin Li slowly stepped forward: "General—could it be that you've run away?"

One of Chang Xi's confidants immediately shouted angrily, "Impossible! The commander-in-chief just said that if Liu Bei personally led a large army, he would face him head-on! How could he flee at the mere sight of him?"

"Indeed! Commander-in-Chief is exceptionally brave and possesses a heroic spirit. How could he possibly flee alone upon seeing Liu Bei's banner?"

"But—it seems we really can't see the commander-in-chief anymore."

"Forget about the commander for now! The Han cavalry has already stormed into Xianzhong! What should we do?"

Yin Li roared, "If we don't surrender now, are we just waiting to die?"

This shout instantly jolted all the bandits awake.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Our ancestors are one!

That Chang Xi is utterly inhuman! Your mother is a servant!

This fellow was truly terrified and rode away alone.

Liu Bei's military tactics were truly like those of a god or a demon.

These bandits are still dizzy and confused, not knowing what happened or how the Han cavalry could have arrived so quickly!

They didn't even have time to form ranks and fight before they became prisoners of war.

A moment later, Liu Bei rode in, fully armored and wielding a sword. He looked down at the dozens of bandit leaders surrounded by the Han cavalry and asked, "You only think of surrendering when your blades are at your throats? Don't you realize it's too late?"

Before kneeling, Yin Li said, "Your Excellency, we have come to our senses and are willing to atone for our sins by serving as your vanguard and suppressing the rebellious and powerful."

Liu Bei then nodded slightly, looked at the kneeling bandit leader, and asked, "Who are you?"

Yin Li stepped forward, cupped his hands, and replied, "I am Yin Li, styled Lu'er, the leader of the bandits of Mount Tai. I am willing to lead my troops to serve you, my lord."

Yin Li?

Liu Bei's lips curled slightly; he recognized the man's name. He was not only one of the four infamous bandits of Mount Tai in ancient history, but also one of the most important leaders of this rebellion, a powerful figure whom the Taishan strongmen relied on for support.

If he were to surrender and turn his troops to attack those powerful clans, the blow to their morale would likely be devastating.

So Liu Bei said, "In that case, I will give you a chance to redeem yourself. I will lead your troops as the vanguard to help me quell the rebellion!"

Yin Li was overjoyed and immediately cupped his hands in a fist, saying, "I would dare not disobey even unto death!"

With Yin Li leading the vanguard, wherever they went, the land crumbled and collapsed!

When the powerful local lords saw that even the fiercest bandits of Mount Tai had been defeated and surrendered in a single battle by Liu Bei, their morale collapsed.

In particular, this powerful force, which should have been their strong ally, instead helped the county government quell their rebellion, completely extinguishing their courage to resist!

Wherever Liu Bei's army went, it was met with utter chaos, and soon marched to Fei, the source of the rebellion.

By this time, Wang Du and his entourage had already fled in terror, taking only a hundred guests and dozens of carts full of gold and silver treasures with them, intending to escape to Langya.

Liu Bei naturally could not let them get away with it. His iron cavalry galloped swiftly and finally caught up with the fleeing powerful clan just a few miles from the county border.

When hundreds of elite Xuanjia cavalry surrounded them, Wang Du completely broke down. He glared hysterically at Liu Bei, still filled with disbelief, and roared, "Impossible! Impossible! How could you have arrived so quickly? Even if these cavalry set out in the morning and arrived in the evening, they couldn't have been this fast!"

Liu Bei looked at him with pity, then gently raised his right hand, causing the iron cavalry to part, and a middle-aged man slowly rode out.

He was dressed in a dark black robe and wore a scholar's cap. His face was solemn and dignified. He was Ge Tai, the patriarch of the powerful Ge clan in Nanwuyang, and one of the key figures in this rebellion.

He walked up to Liu Bei, bowed respectfully with his hands clasped, and then turned to face Wang Du.

Upon recognizing the newcomer, Wang Du struggled violently to his feet, roaring fiercely, "Ge Tai! It's you! You betrayed us! You treacherous villain! You will die a horrible death! I will become a vengeful ghost and devour your flesh and sleep on your skin!"

Ge Tai stroked his beard with a nonchalant expression and said in a nonchalant tone, "Nephew, you are mistaken. Lord Liu is a member of the imperial clan and a renowned scholar. Since entering the prefecture, he has reduced taxes and levies, encouraged agriculture and sericulture, and provided relief to orphans and widows. The people of Mount Tai are deeply grateful for his kindness."

"For your own selfish gain, you have colluded with mountain bandits, plundered counties, and poisoned the people. This is the behavior of a traitor to the nation. All virtuous people should be punished by Heaven. How can you call this betrayal?"

He turned to Liu Bei, bowed deeply to the ground, and said with emotion, "Your Excellency's benevolence and righteousness are known throughout the world. Although I am foolish and dull, I know the difference between obedience and rebellion."

Wang Du secretly summoned me that day, inviting me to raise an army and rebel. I feigned compliance, but in reality, I had already informed Inspector Tian of everything I knew. Today, you are merely Wang Du bringing about your own destruction.”

Wang Du was about to launch into another tirade, but Ge Taisheng silenced him with a single sentence.

Ge Tai said calmly, "Nephew, there's no need to scold me. When you contacted dozens of powerful clans that day, do you think I was the only one who reported you to the prefectural government? At least ten other powerful clans were under the watchful eye of Lord Liu from the moment you made contact."

"Only you naively believe that with a few thousand guests and bandits, you can successfully instigate a rebellion in front of the prefect Tianhai, who is a master strategist."

Upon hearing this, Wang Du trembled violently, finally despairing completely. His legs gave way, and he knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly: "Lord Qiu! Lord Qiu, spare my life! I was bewitched by that scoundrel Chang Xi and acted foolishly! Lord Qiu, spare my life!"

"I am also willing to provide a list of all the powerful figures involved in the rebellion—not just those in these counties, but also those in Bo County, Juping, and others! I only hope that Your Excellency will be gracious and grant me a chance to atone for my sins!"

Liu Bei looked down at the young man who had just been hysterical but was now weeping uncontrollably, his gaze as calm as still water.

He drew his sword from his waist, its blade gleaming coldly in the blazing sun. He drew the sword halfway through the traitor's blade and declared resolutely, "The wicked must be destroyed, and the petty must be punished. The pacification of Mount Tai rests on my shoulders!"

"You have committed treason and rebellion, a crime deserving no pardon! According to the law, your entire clan will be exterminated!"

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