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

Chapter 14 Zhang Fei's Prison Break
Seeing the rumors spreading, Zou Dan felt that if this continued, Gongsun Zan's reputation would be ruined.

So he stopped caring about bandits and instead ordered Jian Yong to arrest a few people who were spreading rumors, as a warning to others.

Jian Yong readily agreed and ordered his men to search the county town. However, when the county officials returned, they all said, "The whole town is talking about it now, and we really don't know who started the rumor..."

This is true; even the kids on the street are talking about it. We can't just arrest everyone we see.

Zou Dan was somewhat flustered, so he led a group of people to patrol the streets of the county, preparing to shut down the taverns where wandering knights gathered to boast, in order to prevent the rumors from spreading further.

The tavern where the most people gathered was Zhang Fei's house.

As soon as Zou Dan finished speaking at the tavern, she was punched hard and fell to the ground on the spot.

The doctors from Taipingdao have come to see me and said I need to stay in bed for at least ten days to half a month.

Zhang Fei is now fourteen years old, and has grown tall and strong. These past two years have been a period of rapid growth, and he's developing very quickly. Boys of this age certainly don't know their own strength when they strike...

But Zhang Fei didn't run away after hitting the man; he was captured by Zou Dan's men.

By the time Liu Bei received the news, Zhang Fei had already been imprisoned in the county jail.

There are only a few people in the county jail now, except for the former gang leaders and Zhang Fei, who has just been brought in.

"Brother, Fei did indeed beat that treacherous official from out of town... who told him to shut down Fei's family's tavern!"

The elder brother Zhang Fei referred to was, of course, Liu Bei.

After Liu Bei returned to Zhuo County, he did not deliberately recruit Zhang Fei, after all, Zhang Fei was still young.

Liu Bei often drank with wandering knights at Zhang's tavern. Zhang Fei, who had practiced martial arts since childhood, admired chivalrous heroes and often came to chat with Liu Bei and others.

As they gradually became familiar with each other, the wandering knights began to address Liu Bei as their elder brother.

"You were too impulsive. Why didn't you wait for me to handle it?"

Liu Bei hadn't expected Zou Dan to suddenly shut down the wine shop. He felt somewhat guilty for causing Zhang Fei to go to jail.

“That corrupt official insisted that my family close down and shut down our business. Fei got angry and started a fight... However, Fei had a good time beating him. At worst, he can stay in jail until the amnesty next year.”

Perhaps because he felt he hadn't killed anyone, Zhang Fei didn't care much about his safety, thinking it was just going to jail. Most teenagers his age only cared about getting their kicks.

“You think you’re beating the magistrate’s retainer? You’re beating the magistrate’s face! Gongsun Bogui is not my teacher, Master Yue… Here’s what we’ll do, while Gongsun Bogui is still away, I’ll get you out of here first. But you mustn’t show your face in Zhuo County for the time being. I’ll send you to Jizhou to study under Master Yue.”

Liu Bei felt that his actions of spreading rumors had harmed Zhang Fei, and he needed to send Zhang Fei away quickly so that he could learn some culture and make amends.

Zhang Fei shook his head vigorously: "If you let me out without my permission, wouldn't you offend the magistrate?"

"I've offended far too many people..."

Liu Bei shook his head and smiled bitterly. Taking advantage of Jian Yong's current management of the county's affairs, he quickly took Zhang Fei out of the prison and sent him out of Zhuo County to study under Yue Yin in Ji Province. He also asked Zhang Fei to bring some money to Qian Zhao.

Afterwards, Liu Bei returned to the prison and destroyed the records of Zhang Fei's imprisonment to prevent Zou Dan or Gongsun Zan from remembering Zhang Fei's name and seeking revenge in the future.

Upon seeing this, the bandit leaders who had been imprisoned began to plead with Liu Bei.

"Since you were able to save Zhang Fei, you can surely save us too. We are willing to serve you as our master and be at your beck and call, begging for your help!"

These bandit leaders weren't stupid. They realized that Liu Bei's decision not to let them out, but to conscript their underlings as executioners, certainly wasn't due to some law that bandit leaders were unpardonable.

After all, Liu Bei's decision to release Zhang Fei without authorization was a serious violation of the law.

They realized that Liu Bei must have other uses for keeping them imprisoned, so they all pleaded for mercy.

“Zhang Fei wasn’t let go by me; he escaped from prison… and so were you.”

Liu Bei threw the prison key into the cell: "And you must come with me to another place and present your pledge of loyalty before I will trust you."

In fact, it was a good thing that Zhang Fei injured Zou Dan, because Zou Dan was bedridden and recuperating, so no one was watching Liu Bei anymore.

Meanwhile, wealthy families in the county also began to approach Liu Bei.

The first person to come looking for them was their cousin, Liu Yuanqi.

"Xuan De is quite different from before, and as a fellow clansman, I am delighted. Now that Xuan De has been appointed as a military officer, he will surely have a bright future..."

Liu Yuanqi's impression of Liu Bei has changed somewhat. Liu Bei's reputation in Zhuo County has been good for the past two years. However, it is a bit awkward for an elder to ask a younger person for help, so he speaks hesitantly.

“Uncle, there’s no need for such formalities. Just tell me what you need.”

When addressing a distant uncle, one should call him "clan father." Liu Bei still respected Liu Yuanqi, and this distant uncle did not ruin Liu Bei's reputation, which was a kindness.

He actually knew why Liu Yuanqi had come to him: to send troops to suppress bandits.

The problem is, the soldiers have all gone out and haven't returned yet...

“Then I will speak frankly. There are many bandits around the world. Merchant caravans within the sect have been robbed, and fine horses have been stolen from my home… Now that Xuande is in charge of the army, he should send troops to quell them.”

Liu Yuanqi didn't stand on ceremony with Liu Bei, after all, he had watched Liu Bei grow up, so the awkwardness only lasted for a few words.

"My paternal uncle may not know that the soldiers who were executed were under the jurisdiction of the county army, and the military officers who were exiled were assistants to the county commandant. They only had the duty of leading troops in battle, but did not have the right to go out and search for the enemy."

Liu Bei cupped his hands and explained, "I need to know the location of the bandits before I have the right to send troops. Do you know where the bandits are, Uncle?"

Indeed, without the prefect's permission, the exiled military officer had no authority to dispatch troops to search for the enemy or to march; he could only carry out combat missions once the location of the bandits was confirmed. This was because the exiled soldiers were a unit composed of bandits, who were prone to causing chaos in the villages, and therefore could not be allowed to march at will.

"The thieves' whereabouts are unpredictable, how can we know where they are now... Alas... Then, could Xuande lead his troops to garrison at my clan's shrine to prevent the thieves from harming our clan?"

Liu Yuanqi no longer brought up the matter of sending troops, but instead asked if some troops could be sent to guard the Liu family's settlement, as long as the safety of the Liu family could be guaranteed.

“Father, my men are all executioners. They used to be bandits. I've had them stationed within the clan…”

Liu Bei shook his head, but then offered another solution: "I could ask the Ming court for help, but the Ming court is not in the county at the moment. Please wait a few days, Father... By the way, Father, how many fine horses have been stolen? And what valuables from the clan have been robbed?"

Liu Yuanqi was taken aback: "The three stolen horses all bear the mark of our clan, and the stolen item is a cartload of white silk... Xuande, are you saying that Gongsun Bogui can recover the lost items?"

"That's not necessarily true, but we should give it a try; maybe we can get it back."

Liu Bei turned around, took out a few bamboo slips, and wrote down the lost items that Liu Yuanqi had mentioned.

Upon seeing this, Liu Yuanqi frowned: "Is this calamity truly the work of Gongsun Bogui, as rumored?"

Liu Bei shook his head, a bitter look on his face: "Father, this was not done by the Ming court, but by me. I am the one who has allowed my troops to become bandits and harm our neighbors."

Liu Yuanqi frowned and sighed deeply: "Why bother defending him..."

In fact, Liu Bei had been telling the truth all along, and this disaster was of course his doing.

But sometimes telling the truth won't be believed. Not only did Liu Yuanqi not believe it, but the other families didn't believe it either...

Two days later, Liu Bei delivered the lost items from the Liu family to Liu Yuanqi. Apart from a little dust on the silk, nothing was missing.

Liu Bei still maintained that the thief was his fault, and that returning the lost items was merely an attempt to make amends.

But nobody believed it anymore.

(End of this chapter)