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

Chapter 39 Becoming a Thief with Big Ears Again
East of Luoyang, at Mount Goushi.

Below this mountain is the gate of Lu Zhi, Liu Bei's former teacher.

Liu Bei was at the foot of Mount Goushi at this time.

Logically, if Liu Bei wanted to return to Youzhou, he should have gone 50 li north of Luoyang and crossed Mengjin Ferry, which was the closest ferry to Luoyang. Moreover, after crossing the river, the entire route to Zhuoxian was by imperial road.

However, Liu Bei encountered Cao Jie at the city gate, so he changed his route.

Speaking of Cao Jie, the name easily reminds Liu Bei of Cao Cao's great-grandfather and daughter.

Because in the books he had read, Cao Cao's great-grandfather and daughter both had this name.

But Cao Cao had not yet had that daughter, and his great-grandfather was not named Cao Jie, but Cao Meng.

Cao Jie was from Nanyang and had no relation to Cao Cao's family. He was the current Grand Chamberlain, the highest-ranking eunuch in the palace.

When the chief eunuch saw Wang Fu's remains at the city gate, he felt a pang of sympathy for his kind. He also recognized Duan Jiong, so it seemed there might be pursuers.

So Liu Bei went around halfway, from the north of the city to the east, and then eastward to Goushi.

Big-Eared Thief is now quite experienced in the ways of the world, and he doesn't want to be stuck at the ferry crossing any longer—Cao Jie was watching them head north.

Of course, the more important reason is that the route from east of Luoyang, through Goushi to Dongjun, and then across the river at Baimadu, is one that the big-eared bandit is particularly familiar with.

It was getting late, and Liu Bei and his men settled down at the post station at the foot of Mount Goushi.

There was only one post station at the foot of Goushi Mountain, which also served as a wine shop and canteen. It was quite large, but it was a privately owned property.

Liu Bei did not enter the official post station within Goushi County to avoid Duan Jiong being recognized.

If Duan Jiong reveals his identity, it will bring disaster to his family. From Luoyang to Wuwei in Liangzhou, too many people know Duan Jiong, and it would be too easy for him to be exposed. It is not convenient for him to return to his hometown for the time being.

Moreover, the Duan family is large and powerful with many retainers. Who knows if there are other traitors among them?

After all, even Zhang Sheng, a retainer and nephew-in-law who had saved Duan Jiong's life, had been bribed. Duan Jiong was now unsure who he could trust, and he only dared to believe Liu Bei, the mastermind behind the arson.

In fact, Yang Qiu's close followers were the same; they were accomplices in the arson and only dared to trust Liu Bei, the mastermind.

Therefore, Duan Jiong cannot seek out his old subordinates now, and can only temporarily follow Liu Bei, while also going to Youzhou to clean up his own ranks.

Zhang Sheng betrayed his own side, sleeping with Duan Jiong's niece and then wanting to become an undercover agent. Naturally, Duan Jiong wanted to personally dismember this man.

“Xuande, I feel that Cao Jie might recognize me.”

In the post station, Duan Jiong expressed some concern: "That old thief is extremely meticulous and has a photographic memory. I reckon he can also remember your appearance and send people to track you down."

"What good will it do to remember? He doesn't know my name..."

Liu Bei thought for a moment and felt that it was nothing serious: "Actually, he can't confirm that it's you. Your fate is unknown, but your family can continue to enjoy generous salaries, after all, you are... cough... after all, you are Mr. Ji!"

Duan Jiong's courtesy name was Jiming, but Liu Bei now deliberately calls Duan Jiong "Mr. Ji" to avoid being overheard.

No one can ignore Duan Jiong's reputation as the military god of Liangzhou. If the emperor dares to mistreat Duan Jiong's family, Duan Jiong will surely risk everything to rebel, and Liangzhou and the Eastern and Western Qiang will be thrown into chaos... Therefore, the fact that Duan Jiong's fate is unknown is actually the most intimidating thing.

What I'm worried about are your big ears.

Duan Jiong shook his head: "It's too easy to identify, and it's easy to trace."

"Ahem... Mr. Ji, you may not know this."

Liu Bei pulled out a black cloth and gestured with it on his face: "I already have a bandit nickname... Big-Eared Bandit."

Duan Jiong's eyes widened: "Huh?"

"And I committed the crime in this very area back then."

Liu Bei shrugged: "I came here on purpose, just to wait for them to come after Big Ears."

"you……"

Duan Jiong was somewhat confused: "Why deliberately reveal your whereabouts?"

"It's all so that Cao Jie's men will come looking for me. If Cao Jie really has pursuers coming, I'll use these big ears to lure them to stay here."

Liu Bei explained, "Mr. Ji will leave with his entourage tomorrow. I will stay here so that if any pursuers come after us, I can hold them off for a while."

"Xuande, you are truly righteous!" Duan Jiong bowed respectfully, his eyes filled with emotion. He probably felt that Liu Bei was using himself as bait to help him escape.

"Don't worry, I'm a scholar with merits now, not the thief I used to be. With Mr. Ji not around, I'm actually safe... as long as I don't run into Yuan Benchu ​​or Yuan Gonglu, those two guys have a personal grudge against me."

Liu Bei shook his head and smiled, then mentioned his enemies.

However, Duan Jiong did make a note of it: "The Yuan family of Runan... once I escape, I will definitely avenge Xuande."

……

The next day, Duan Jiong set off first with Yang Qiu's entourage.

Liu Bei and Zuo Yuan stayed at the post station instead of leaving.

Actually, Liu Bei deliberately sent Duan Jiong away not to use himself as bait...

He wanted to pin the blame for Duan Jiong's prison break on someone else.

However, just as Liu Bei and Zuo Yuan were discussing their lines, pursuers actually arrived.

"Northern Army is investigating thieves! Everyone come out!"

At noon, a group of soldiers arrived at the post station and rushed into the main hall to look around.

Upon seeing Liu Bei, he immediately shouted, "You, go stand outside!"

It seems that he is indeed pursuing someone based on his 'big ears' feature.

"What's the matter?"

Liu Bei frowned and turned around, drawing his sword.

"The Northern Army's cavalry is investigating the bandits; bring the passageway here for inspection!"

A squad leader looked Liu Bei up and down, then glanced at Zuo Yuan, seemingly lost in thought.

"I'm afraid you can't afford to investigate."

Liu Bei took out his merit certificate and showed it to Liu Bei, but did not hand it over.

This honorary title is a receipt for paying money to Xiyuan, indicating that this person is a candidate for official appointment. The Five Battalions of the Northern Army are imperial guards, so it's impossible that they didn't know about it.

The squad leader hesitated for a moment, then looked at Zuo Yuan, before thrusting his spear at Liu Bei: "If you are an official, why don't you stay at the official post station? I think you two are thieves!"

Then he waved.

One of the soldiers went out, presumably to call for reinforcements.

The other soldiers stepped forward and surrounded Liu Bei.

Liu Bei felt something was off. How dare this sergeant frame a candidate official?
The sergeant claimed to be from the Yueqi Battalion, one of the five battalions of the Northern Army.

The five battalions of the Northern Army were all elite troops, and the Vietnamese cavalry were originally Vietnamese cavalry that had been incorporated into the army.

But nowadays... most of them are people with connections.

The five battalion commanders were all relatives of the emperor or eunuchs, and the Yue cavalry had all become retainers of those with connections; there wasn't a single Yue person left.

After all, the position of captain of the five battalions was a prestigious and leisurely job, where one did not have to fight on the frontier and received better treatment than the border troops.

But precisely because they have connections, they shouldn't have done this!

Liu Bei's eyes held a hint of hostility: "The soldiers of the five battalions of the Northern Army have actually started robbing travelers?"

The sergeant didn't answer, but just looked at Zuo Yuan again.

Were they here for Zuo Yuan?

Zuo Yuan noticed this as well and asked, "Why are you here if you won't move aside or say anything?"

"You can leave, but she cannot. She is the female thief the Emperor is looking for!"

A greasy voice came from outside the inn.

(End of this chapter)