Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

Lu Bing led dozens of Imperial Guards and rode at full speed to Lu Nu.

Upon arriving in Lunu City, Lu Bing went directly to the Prefectural Assistant of Zhongshan County.

The prefect was an honest man. When he heard that Zhang Chun had been kept behind by Liu Ce to discuss military affairs, he felt a little strange, but he didn't think much of it.

Lu Bing then approached Zhang Ju, who was already uneasy after hearing that Liu Ce had invited Zhang Chun to discuss military affairs. Now, seeing Lu Bing "invite" him, he became even more wary.

"Lord Liu invited me? What is it about?" Zhang Ju asked.

Lu Bing said without changing his expression, "Prefect Zhang and my lord had a very pleasant conversation. They mentioned that you, Mr. Zhang, are exceptionally talented and would like to invite you to come along to discuss important matters."

Zhang Ju hesitated and said, "Well... I haven't been feeling well lately, so I'm afraid it's inconvenient for me to travel far."

Lu Bing smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, my master has prepared a carriage, so the journey will not be tiring. Moreover... Prefect Zhang specifically instructed that you must be invited."

The meaning behind those words is clear: if you don't go, Zhang Chun might be in trouble.

Zhang Ju thought about it and finally agreed. He thought to himself: Liu Ce shouldn't dare to attack both me and Zhang Chun at the same time, right? After all, one of us is the former governor and the other is the current governor. If he really dares to act recklessly, the court will not let him off the hook.

Unfortunately, he was wrong.

Zhang Ju, accompanied by several followers, followed Lu Bing out of the city. Halfway there, Lu Bing waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards swarmed forward, binding Zhang Ju and all his followers.

"What...what are you doing?" Zhang Ju was both shocked and furious.

Lu Bing coldly said, "Zhang Ju, you colluded with the Wuhuan and plotted treason. By order of our lord, you are hereby arrested and brought to justice."

Zhang Ju's face turned deathly pale; he knew something had happened. He tried to scream, but his mouth was already gagged.

Lu Bing then led his men to Zhang Chun's residence and rounded up all the confidants involved in the conspiracy. The whole process was clean and efficient, without causing any disturbance.

A few days later, Lu Bing escorted Zhang Ju and a group of prisoners back to the border camp.

......

Looking at Zhang Ju, who was tied up like a dumpling, Liu Ce laughed and said, "Zhang Ju, now you can reunite with Zhang Chun."

When Zhang Ju saw Liu Ce, his face turned green, and he burst into a tirade: "Liu Ce! You've arrested an official of the imperial court without cause; are you trying to rebel?!"

Liu Ce picked at his ear: "Rebellion? Shouldn't I be asking you that? Zhang Ju, you and Zhang Chun conspired to collude with the Wuhuan, stockpiling grain and weapons, preparing to rise up in the autumn. The evidence is conclusive, and you still dare to deny it?"

Zhang Ju was stunned, then his face turned deathly pale: "You...how did you know?"

Liu Ce laughed and said, "How I know isn't important. What's important is that you're all in my hands now."

He waved his hand and said, "Take them all away and lock them up with Zhang Chun. Let the two brothers catch up."

......

Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju were imprisoned.

Both men were shackled and handcuffed, their hair disheveled, and they looked utterly wretched.

"We're finished..." Zhang Ju leaned against the wall, his eyes vacant.

Zhang Chun gritted his teeth and said, "Liu Ce! You bastard Liu Ce! You're a wolf in sheep's clothing, a treacherous villain!"

He still can't understand how Liu Ce knew so much. He even knew exactly what Liu Ce wrote in his letter to Qiu Liju, and how much grain and cloth he promised.

Could it be that Liu Ce also had spies among the Wuhuan tribe?

Could there be a traitor among his men?

Zhang Chun racked his brains but couldn't figure it out.

Footsteps could be heard outside the prison door.

Surrounded by a group of people, Liu Ce walked into the prison.

He changed into casual clothes and was holding a folding fan in his hand—a novelty that Shen Wansan had brought from Jiangnan. Liu Ce found it quite interesting and used it to make a show of it.

"Zhang Chun, Zhang Ju," Liu Ce greeted them with a smile, "Are you settling in well here?"

Zhang Chun glared at him, her eyes practically spitting fire: "Liu Ce! Kill me or torture me, just give me a quick death! Stop pretending!"

"Kill you?" Liu Ce shook his head. "That's pointless. You're still useful."

He gestured for the jailer to open the cell door, went inside, and knelt down in front of Zhang Chun: "Zhang Chun, I'm giving you a chance. Write down the whole story of your collusion with the Wuhuan, and sign it. Also, confess all the other officials and powerful figures you know who have colluded with the Wuhuan."

Zhang Chun spat, "Don't even think about it! I'd rather die than be your dog!"

Liu Ce wasn't angry. He stood up, brushed off imaginary dust from his clothes, and said, "Fine, you have guts. Then I'll just have to gather up your incriminating evidence and send it to Luoyang. How will His Majesty deal with you then?"

He paused, then added, "Oh, by the way, you have an elderly mother, a wife, and children at home, right? According to Han law, treason is a crime punishable by the extermination of three generations of one's family."

Zhang Chun's face turned pale instantly.

His entire family was exterminated...his elderly mother, his wife and children...

"Liu Ce! Don't let your family suffer the consequences!" he roared.

"Don't let your misfortune extend to your family?" Liu Ce sneered. "When you colluded with the Wuhuan and prepared to raise an army, did you think about the people you would plunder and kill? Did you think about their families?"

He turned and walked out: "I'll give you time to think it over. Write a statement, sign it, and I'll guarantee your family's safety. If you don't, don't blame me for being ruthless."

As he reached the prison gate, he turned back and added, "Zhang Ju, you too."

After speaking, he walked away.

In the prison cell, Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju looked ashen-faced.

...

After defeating Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju, Liu Ce led his troops back to Zhuo County in triumph.

Along the way, Dian Wei and Xu Chu were extremely excited, constantly discussing the "Feast at Hongmen" they had just attended.

"My lord, your signal by smashing the cup was so cool!" Dian Wei gestured, "With a 'smack,' Zhang Chun's face turned pale!"

Xu Chu added, "And what you said, my lord—'Why take your sword to the toilet?'—hahaha, that cracked me up!"

Liu Ce laughed and said, "That's called psychological warfare. First, let him lower his guard, then suddenly launch an attack and catch him off guard."

...

Back in Zhuo County, Liu Ce imprisoned Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju in the deepest part of the governor's mansion prison and assigned heavy guards to protect them—not because he was afraid they would escape, but because he was afraid someone would come to silence them, and he didn't want any accidents to happen.

Then, he called Lu Bing over.

"Wenfu, two things," Liu Ce instructed. "First, compile a list of evidence of Zhang Chun's collusion with the Wuhuan, including the original letters they exchanged, a list of the supplies they hoarded, and accounts of the weapons they purchased. Make sure it's clear and irrefutable."

Lu Bing nodded and said, "It's already being organized."

"Secondly," Liu Ce said with a smile, "we will send our men, disguised as Zhang Chun's men, to deliver a 'deposit' to Qiuliju of the Wuhuan—five thousand shi of grain and one thousand bolts of cloth."

Lu Bing's eyes lit up: "My lord, you mean..."

"Yes," Liu Ce nodded, "Since the show has already started, let's go all the way. Let Qiu Liju think that everything is normal on Zhang Chun's side, and lower his guard. Once we're ready, we'll give him a 'surprise'."

Lu Bing accepted the order and left.

...