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

Chapter 3 Cao Cao's Thoughts

He lay on his horse and followed Cao Cao slowly all the way. When they reached the crossroads north of Dunqiu County, several county guards gathered around him.

Seeing Liu Bei lying there helplessly, the county guards all bowed and said, "The Ming court is mighty," probably thinking that Liu Bei had been subdued by Cao Cao.

It seems that it wasn't that these county soldiers couldn't keep up with Cao Cao, but rather that Cao Cao ordered them to guard the crossroads.

Luckily I didn't run away earlier...

Liu Bei glanced at Cao Cao, only to see that Cao Cao was also giving him a look.

Liu Bei returned the look, indicating that he understood. Cao Cao probably didn't trust these county magistrates, so this was to tell him not to mention the robbery of the Li family in Lihu to anyone.

Cao Cao was kind enough not to imprison him, but instead took him to a charitable estate outside the county town.

“This place was originally a charity hut of the Taiping Dao. I wanted to distribute porridge here to relieve famine, but now we are short of people. You will work here to atone for your sins.”

Cao Cao said something to Liu Bei, but it was clearly meant for the other county officials to hear.

He then turned to the county guards and instructed them: "Tomorrow we will be distributing porridge here, so go to the county and bring some rice and grain."

"Your Majesty, the county's grain reserves are limited; they may only last for two or three days at most..."

A county official bowed and replied.

"It's alright, take whatever you can, just do your best and have peace of mind."

Cao Cao waved his hand, telling the county laborers to hurry up and get to work.

Liu Bei knew that this meant sending away the county officials so that he could recruit refugees to commit crimes in Lihu.

After the county constables left, Cao Cao asked Liu Bei, "How long do you need?"

"Three days."

Liu Bei slid off his horse with some difficulty: "One day to eat and rest, one day to recruit refugees, one day to handle affairs... but what happens after the affairs are finished? How does Brother Mengde intend to treat me?"

"Ha... I am an official appointed by the imperial court, so naturally I must wipe out the bandits."

Cao Cao pointed to the horse beside Liu Bei and laughed, "If you run fast, then it's because I, Cao Mengde, failed to pursue and eliminate the bandit leader. I wonder who the bandit leader is..."

Liu Bei nodded: "Then, to ensure that Brother Mengde's pursuit is ineffective, I will not return this horse to Brother Mengde."

Cao Cao's smile faded, but he immediately burst into laughter again: "If you weren't a thief, you would be quite a remarkable person! But I cannot give you this horse, as it bears the mark of the Cao family. I will give you another horse instead."

Liu Bei bowed respectfully, but then shook his head and said, "It wasn't a gift to me; I stole it. Brother Mengde will be exhausted from distributing porridge tomorrow night, and I inadvertently stole his horse and also coerced a group of refugees..."

Cao Cao's smile widened, and he tossed his wine jug to Liu Bei before laughing loudly and leaving.

……

The next day, a little commotion occurred at the mortuary.

In a fight over porridge, a group of refugees got into a brawl, and were subsequently all tied up by Cao Cao.

Liu Bei stepped forward to plead for mercy, but Cao Cao refused and tied the refugees to the stables.

That night, Liu Bei "sneaked" into the stable, released the group of refugees, and took them to Lihu. He also took the refugees' fellow villagers from the mortuary, bringing the total number of people to over three hundred.

With Cao Cao's cooperation, Liu Bei took away these refugees with just one sentence: "There is only enough food for two days here, but the Li family in Lihu has ten thousand bushels of good rice."

Of course, they also 'stole' Cao Cao's horses and let the refugees take away the large carts that had been prepared in advance—the carts that the county officials had used to transport grain the day before.

In fact, Cao Cao was not far behind Liu Bei at this time and was watching Liu Bei do these things.

After all, Cao Cao had said that he would go with Liu Bei.

However, Liu Bei knew that Cao Cao was not afraid that he would run away.

Rather, they feared they didn't have enough manpower to break through the Li family's fortified village; they also feared the displaced people would disobey and scatter after receiving the food.

Therefore, as he led his men away from the mortuary, Cao Cao would certainly have mobilized the county militia and soldiers to begin 'pursuing the rioters'.

Liu Bei knew that Cao Cao would most likely not let him go.

After all, the former Lang Ge had hooked up with Bian Shi.

That was Cao Cao's future wife...

Although she didn't actually cuckold Cao Cao, did Cao Cao really not mind?
Cao Cao was indeed an upright young man when he was young, but he was Cao Cao after all... He didn't turn his back on me when he needed me, but he didn't turn his back on me after he was done with me?
If nothing unexpected happens, Cao Cao will definitely pursue and annihilate me, and he will certainly go all out and not let me go again.

The so-called absolution of past sins—wouldn't the dead be completely absolved of their past sins?
Therefore, Liu Bei did not intend to wait for Cao Cao to let him off the hook.

From the very beginning, Liu Bei never intended to personally rob the Li family of Lihu.

Because it's unnecessary...

All you need to do is bring those refugees to the land and let them go; there's no need for you to stay there and wait for Cao Cao to come and kill you.

……

It's very close to Huli and Dunqiu, only a two-hour walk away.

When they arrived at Lijiawubao with the refugees, it was the dead of night.

A dark and windy night is the perfect time for murder and arson.

"See that? That's the Li family's house. I'll set it on fire in a bit, and you guys can break in while I'm at it!"

Liu Bei rallied the refugees, saying, "I, Liu Bei, am not lying. The Li family is incredibly wealthy, and their granaries contain enough good rice for us to eat for a lifetime!"

He calls himself "Big Ears" because he obviously doesn't want to become famous for this...

"Big Ears, are you going to set a fire?"

A leader of the refugees, dressed in tattered black clothes, said, "Then you should take a couple more people with you, just in case you run into danger."

Because Liu Bei had interceded for them when Cao Cao captured them and even rescued them, these refugees still trusted him and were even actively considering Liu Bei's safety.

But Liu Bei knew that if someone followed him, that would be the real danger.

"When it comes to arson, the fewer people involved, the better; too many people will only raise suspicion."

Liu Bei explained, "Once the fire starts, the Li family will surely come out to put it out. You should then rush in while they open the door and you'll be able to get in smoothly. But remember, never kill anyone unless absolutely necessary, otherwise..."

"We understand, we understand. We'll only take the food, we won't hurt anyone."

The leader of the refugees said he wasn't stupid; he was only gathering to rob grain to survive, and as long as no one was hurt, even if he made a mistake, he wouldn't be sentenced to death.

Even if you get caught and locked up in a cell, it's fine—prison food is still food, and it's better than nothing.

But murder is a different matter.

You don't know anything! I'm just afraid you'll go too far and cause Cao Cao to have to kill me on the spot to appease the Li family...

Liu Bei thought to himself, dismounted, and handed the horse to the tall, strong refugee who was leading the group: "I'm going to set fires, but riding a horse will be too conspicuous. You ride the horse and lead the group to charge over there in a bit."

After saying that, he took off his blue robe and handed it to the other person: "Give me your black clothes so I can sneak over."

He then put on the refugee's tattered clothes and went to the fortified village.

The leader of the refugees put on Liu Bei's blue robe, led his horse with a beaming smile, and said to the people around him, "Brother Big Ears is truly a kind and honest man."

Before long, firelight appeared from the grove of trees behind the fortified village.

A commotion broke out inside the fortress as the main gate and side gate opened together, and a group of people came out carrying buckets of water.

Seeing this opportunity, the refugees swarmed in and successfully stormed into the fortified village.

At this time, Cao Cao led the troops from Dunqiu County into the fortified village from the other side.

Shortly after……

"Big-eared thief! Prepare to die... Hey, where is the big-eared thief? Who are you, and why are you riding this horse?"

Cao Cao had actually been watching his horse from a distance the whole time, but he never expected that it wasn't Liu Bei riding it.

"Where's that big-eared thief? Where did he go?!"

Cao Cao held his short halberd, feeling an unnamed anger simmering inside him, but no one really knew where Liu Bei was.

Liu Bei had already fled far away when the fire broke out, without looking back, and was now in Dunqiu—he had kept his word and stolen another horse from Cao Cao's stable.

It was the horse that Cao Cao took back, the one with the Cao family's mark.

(End of this chapter)