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

Chapter 103 The Ultimate Filial Piety
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei stared intently at Zhang Niujiao from behind Liu Bei, as if trying to memorize this unremarkable man.

"Hahaha... Brother Big Ears, although I am not a good person, I would not betray my friends for money."

Zhang Niujiao saw Zhang Fei's gaze, shook his head and smiled: "That Li Qian is a powerful figure from the Cheng clan, half commoner and half thief, yet he often helps the government apprehend thieves. He is not one of my kind. However... with this notice posted, Brother Da'er should be careful. Among the many migrants in the Taihang Mountains, there are bound to be those who are greedy and ungrateful."

"Thank you for your kind words, Brother Niujiao. I also have a reward to offer, and I would like to ask you to pass it on to the heroes of Taihang..."

Zhang Niujiao meant well, and Liu Bei thanked him with a bow, also offering a reward: "If anyone can capture Su You, the traitor Cao Yuan of Wangdu, alive, I am willing to offer 30 million coins."

"Thirty million? For a mere thief clerk?"

Zhang Niujiao clicked his tongue: "No wonder Brother Big Ears called a million coins a small amount... If a capture alive is worth thirty million, how much is Su You's head worth?"

"His head is worthless."

Liu Bei shook his head, his tone icy: "I spent thirty million to see if I could capture him alive, so I could use him as a sacrifice for his brother Su Shuang... This scoundrel killed his brother and wiped out his entire family for money; he is a wicked and immoral scoundrel. If I give him a quick death, wouldn't that be letting him off easy?"

Zhang Niujiao composed himself, looked at Liu Bei, and nodded: "I understand..."

What he understood was not the bounty on Su You.

Instead, they understood that Liu Bei had plenty of money and was willing to spend it. He was willing to spend 30 million coins to offer a sacrifice in order to avenge his friend—and this sacrifice was only for use when visiting the grave, similar to slaughtering sheep and chickens at the grave.

This handwriting...

Anyone who would be foolish enough to mess with Big Ear Thief for a mere million dollars would be a fool.

"Brother Big Ears is extremely wealthy and has the ability to acquire vast tracts of fertile land. It shouldn't be difficult for him to become an official, and he must have many followers..."

Zhang Niujiao remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Why risk your life to avenge your friend personally?"

"How can one be called a friend if one does not avenge a friend personally?"

Liu Bei gave a calm reply.

Zhang Fei straightened up behind Liu Bei, no longer glaring at Zhang Niujiao, but instead looking at Liu Bei's ears with a somewhat bromantic gaze, as if some stunning beauty was hidden in those large earlobes.

……

Wangdu County.

Wangdu was originally home to many wealthy families, such as the Zhang family of Hebei and the family of Sun Cheng (a eunuch) who was the Marquis of Fuyang during the reign of Emperor Shun.

However, in the last ten years or so, Wangdu has basically been left with only one wealthy family, the Liu family of Zhongshan.

The other families are almost driven to the brink of collapse, and Sun Cheng's family is now reduced to nothing but graves.

In fact, Liu Xian, the Prince of Zhongshan, who was in charge of Lu Nu, had no relation to Liu Bei's ancestor, Prince Jing of Zhongshan. Liu Xian was a descendant of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, belonging to the Nanyang imperial clan, and was of the same clan as Liu Kuan, the Minister of the Imperial Clan.

The Liu family of Zhongshan (Prince Jing) were descendants of Emperor Jing of the Western Han Dynasty. However, due to the Enfeoffment Edict, they lost their titles long ago. Although they can still be called members of the imperial clan, they are actually local powerful families without the privileges of the imperial family.

However, Prince Jing's ability to procreate was truly unparalleled. He single-handedly produced more than 120 descendants, and the imperial edict of grace ensured that his descendants were spread throughout Hebei.

The advantage of having many descendants is that even without royal privileges, the Liu family of Zhongshan can still become powerful clans in various counties based on their population.

Of course, by now, the Liu family in each county has become an independent clan.

The Liu family of Wangdu is a very powerful clan. They are not called Liu Bancheng, but Liu Yicheng—the name of the patriarch of the Liu family of Wangdu, who happens to be called Liu Cheng.

Wangdu is a small county, and it has been shrinking over time.

It gradually transformed from a county with 10,000 households to a county with 5,000 households, and then to a small county with 3,000 households...

Currently, according to county documents, the registered population of Wangdu County is only 20,000 people, comprising 3,000 households.

But in reality... there are still more than 40,000 people in this place. The half that are hidden are all hidden households attached to the Liu family, and the vast majority of them have become household slaves.

At this time, there were no officials in Wangdu, not a single one, only some county clerks—this kind of place didn't need officials anyway, and no one wanted to be an official here.

Like Jian Yong, Liu Cheng was a clerk in Wangdu.

Everyone in the county has to be mindful of Liu Cheng's feelings.

Su You painstakingly dragged the Liu family into a heist, becoming a clerk in Wangdu's bandit gang, but in reality, he was nothing more than a henchman used by Liu Cheng for robbing and plundering.

After all, it wouldn't sound good for the Liu family to go out and rob on their own. They could rob other counties, but robbing their own county was something they had to leave to outsiders...

In fact, Su You herself did not expect it to be like this.

After all, he had heard of the reputation of Cao Jianyong, the bandit leader of Zhuo County. He was a chivalrous man praised by everyone and a high-ranking official known for his filial piety, destined for a bright future.

He also recognized Cao Yanliang, the former bandit leader from Anping. He was a hero of extraordinary courage and strength, a renowned warrior in eastern Hebei, who would soon be ennobled and appointed as a general.

The position of "Zei Cao Yuan" (賊曹掮) has actually been quite sought-after in recent years—since the emperor began selling official positions, most of the county commandant positions in the inland counties have become vacant due to their low cost-effectiveness.

The position of "Zei Cao" (贼曹) is not a regular official position and does not require payment to obtain, yet it can exercise the same authority as a county lieutenant when no county lieutenant is available, making it very cost-effective.

However... once he arrived in Wangdu, Su You realized that there was a difference between the two types of thief officials.

The clerk in charge of thieves was responsible for protecting the territory and its people, apprehending bandits, collecting overdue taxes, and overseeing horse administration.

But the so-called protection of the territory and the safety of the people was actually just guarding the Liu family's house;

The so-called arrest of thieves is actually just framing people with property but no background;
The so-called tax collection is actually just robbery and plunder.
The so-called "handling of horse administration" was actually just about stealing horses...

—This may not be the case in other places, but it is definitely the case in Wangdu.

Su You felt that her choice might have been a little problematic.

Would it be more comfortable to live without doing that?
But that mountain of money...

I really couldn't resist!
If my elder brother hadn't died, how could I have inherited this family fortune?

If it weren't for this family fortune, how could I have gained the favor of the Yuan family?
If I hadn't been able to become a member of the Yuan family and change my name and status, wouldn't I have been stuck as a commoner for the rest of my life?
But now… he is a scholar! A disciple of the Yuan family's school of learning! He is someone who can become an official!
My cousin is good at making money, but he'll only ever be a commoner...

He had become a scholar and a high-ranking official. The Yuan family had also recommended him and sent money to the West Garden. He could soon buy his way into an official position...

He elevated his family's status, giving future generations of the Su family the opportunity to become officials. This must be considered the greatest filial piety!
According to the Classic of Filial Piety, this is to bring honor to one's parents, to revitalize one's family, to glorify one's ancestors, and to be the epitome of filial piety!

This is filial piety... right?

Su You thought to herself, glanced at the Liu family's mansion, shook her head, and thought to herself that she was just staying here to avoid trouble for a while.

Once the Western Garden receives its official honors and I become an official, I will naturally have nothing to do with Liu Cheng of Wangdu anymore.

To be an official...

"Disaster has struck! Disaster has struck!"

As Su You was contemplating a bright future, a county sergeant rushed over in a panic: "Sir Su, the Liu Family Pavilion in the east of the county is on fire!"

"Oh? Let's go, let's hurry and put out the fire!"

Su You looked back and saw that there were indeed lights on in the Liu family settlement on the east side of the county town.

(End of this chapter)