Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 101 The Thief
In those days, there were indeed a few clans that were very united, able to pool their resources and do their best to take care of their members, sharing both prosperity and adversity.

But this is a minority.

More often than not, the direct descendants regard themselves as kings and nobles, while treating the collateral branches as cattle and horses. It is common for them to seize the property of the collateral branches and even force them into slavery.

Qian Zhao had also been oppressed by the Qian clan, and Jian Yong had also been bullied by the Geng family. They were both independent households of the Li clan.

In fact, similar things happened in Liu Bei's family, just like with Jian Yong and Qian Zhao.

Liu Bei's grandfather was named Liu Xiong. He was recommended as a filial and incorruptible official and served as the magistrate of Fan County in Dongjun.

While Liu Xiong was alive, Liu Bei's father, Liu Hong, also served as a county official. At that time, his family owned a lot of land and servants, and he often supported members of his clan to take up positions in counties and prefectures, making great contributions to the clan.

However, due to an illness, Liu Xiong and Liu Hong passed away one after another, leaving Liu Bei with only an orphan and a widow. At that time, Liu Bei was still an infant.

From that moment on, the tribe's attitude changed immediately.

The direct descendants of the clan said that in order to give Liu Xiong and Liu Hong a proper burial, their land needed to be used as clan expenses...

As a result, all of Liu Bei's land became so-called "clan property," and Liu Xiong and Liu Hong's original servants all became "clan tenants," leaving not even a single acre of land for the orphans and widows.

Subsequently, the clan, citing "mourning," moved Liu's mother out of the main house and into a thatched hut in Lousangli.

During the mourning period, one can only live in a thatched hut and sleep on a straw mat; this is indeed a matter of filial piety.

Are these things considered wrong?

From the perspective of the clan, it might not be considered wrong... According to the etiquette of that era, Liu's mother had to observe a three-year mourning period with Liu Bei. With an orphan and a widow in mourning, it would be difficult for them to manage their land and mansion. The clan taking over their land would indeed prevent the loss of land or other losses.

However, once they receive it, they won't return it...

Anyway, nobody cares about the widows of the collateral branches.

Liu's mother had to raise Liu Bei, but she was powerless to fight for it and had nowhere to fight for it.

She could only make a living by weaving straw mats.

Fortunately, Liu's mother was resilient and knowledgeable, and had even learned some reading from Liu Hong, which enabled Liu Bei to begin his education in literature.

Otherwise, Liu Bei might have really been stuck selling straw sandals for the rest of his life.

The reason why Jian Yong and Liu Bei became the closest of companions was because the two had similar fates: both lost their fathers at a young age, both were orphans and widows, and both had been bullied by their own clans.

Liu Yuanqi had a kind heart and helped the orphan and widow, giving Liu Bei the opportunity to go to Luoyang to broaden his horizons.

This is a favor, but this favor only applies to Liu Yuanqi as a person.

In fact, Liu Bei did not regard the past incident of being wiped out as a source of hatred. That's just how the world is; it's a dog-eat-dog world. If you hold grudges over everything, you'll only end up with enemies all over the world.

But Liu Bei could no longer have any ties with his clan; they were all strangers, just sharing the same surname.

If any members of the Liu clan are willing to join Liu Bei, Liu Bei will not mind treating them as equals.

But if Liu Bei were to actively try to curry favor with this unfamiliar clan... that would be utterly shameless.

At present, someone in the clan has committed such a heinous crime. Liu Bei knows that this must be the work of the direct line—the collateral branches simply do not have the ability to commit such a big case.

Therefore, this clan must split up.

They were divided into dozens of families, and from then on there were no more legitimate and illegitimate children. Everyone should live by their own abilities, so as to avoid the foolish from harming the innocent and causing them to suffer together.

……

Inside the Wubao.

Liu Boli did seem to give Qian Zhao an explanation, but it was a rather perfunctory one.

The so-called murderers he handed over... turned out to be all elderly, weak, and tenant farmers.

"Liu Boli, are you trying to fool me like a fool?"

Qian Zhao stared coldly at the Liu family patriarch, a murderous glint in his eyes.

“Officer Qian, they have already confessed,” Liu Boli said awkwardly. “I also have a past relationship with Magistrate Shile County, Officer Qian, please don’t be so aggressive…”

"My master's virtue is renowned throughout the land, how could he possibly have any past ties with the traitorous sect?!"

Qian Zhao slowly drew her sword: "Liu Boli, you have insulted my master, I will not forgive you..."

"Please calm down, sir!"

Liu Yuanqi hurried inside, grasped Qian Zhao's hand, and said earnestly, "Please wait a moment, Qian Zhao..."

Then, Liu Yuanqi looked at the clansmen inside the fortress: "If any member of the clan does not wish for their clan to be wiped out and for themselves to die, then come with me to the ancestral hall... to divide the family!"

"Yuan Qi!"

Liu Boli was horrified: "Are you trying to destroy my clan?!"

“It was you, my cousin, who ruined our clan… Why should the entire clan bear the consequences of the evil deeds committed by your unworthy son who was blinded by greed? You held servants’ wives and children hostage, forcing them to confess and die in your place. How is this any different from that of a beast?!”

Liu Yuanqi pointed at the elderly and weak servants kneeling on the ground and angrily cursed at Liu Boli: "Your unfilial son has acted recklessly, but why drag other families into it! Where is your son?!"

"In the ancestral hall! Liu Yuanqi, if you have the guts, go to the ancestral hall and kill the legitimate heir in front of the ancestors! Let's see if you dare!"

Liu Boli stopped pretending and roared quite fiercely.

"Liu Boli, you idiot! This is the work of the Protectorate of the Wuhuan Commandery in pursuing and exterminating criminals! Didn't you see the military flag outside? Your son killed a Han soldier!"

Liu Yuanqi trembled with rage: "The ancestral hall? Who do you think the ancestral hall can stop? There are hundreds of armored soldiers outside the fortress, why didn't you go and stop them?! It's already the best outcome that the Attendant Qian is only pursuing the real culprit and not implicating others!"

"They have no evidence! No evidence!"

Liu Boli gritted his teeth as he glared at Qian Zhao and Liu Yuanqi: "What evidence do you have that my son committed evil? Are there any witnesses? Is there any physical evidence?"

"Outside the fortified village, the money filling the ditches is all physical evidence."

Liu Yuanqi said coldly, "I... am the witness!"

……

after one day.

Liu Boli is dead.

He and his son both committed suicide inside the ancestral hall—no one knows exactly what happened inside, but everyone who came out of the hall said so, so let's just assume it was suicide.

The Liu family was divided into dozens of households, and the land owned by the main branch was also distributed to each household... which made each household wealthy.

Liu Bei was not involved in this matter; everything was handled by Liu Yuanqi.

However, Liu Yuanqi himself did not take any land from the clan; he even distributed some of his own land to poor households within the clan.

Those involved in the murder of Su Shuang were indeed all Liu Boli's servants and henchmen.

However, Liu Boli's son was not the ringleader; the real culprit was the traitor within the Su family.

According to Liu Boli's son's confession, the traitor in Su Shuang's household was Su Shuang's cousin, named Su You.

But when Qian Zhao sent people to the Su family, there was no one left.

In order to track down Su You, Liu Bei sent out a large number of people to inquire everywhere, and the investigation lasted for two or three months.

Finally, news came from the Taihang Mountains that a man named 'Su You' had recently arrived in Wangdu, Zhongshan, and that he was probably the same Su You.

Wangdu is the territory of the Liu family of Zhongshan. Two months ago, the Liu family of Zhongshan recommended Su Youcheng to be the clerk of the bandit gang in Wangdu, and concurrently in charge of horse administration.

Since the imperial court began to requisition horses from various prefectures, the county bandit officials or county magistrates often took on the responsibility of horse administration—which was actually armed tax collection.

The clerk in charge of bandits was a minor official, but even a minor official is still an official. Moreover, the Liu family of Zhongshan was different from the Liu family of Zhuoxian; this was a true powerful family... This was probably the reason why Su You plotted to seize Su Shuang's family property.

It was already the end of July, and August... would be the time when the Taihang bandits would come down from the mountains.

(End of this chapter)