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

Chapter 6: Be a Thief Like an Official

Now that Jian Yong had become a county official, he could no longer be a wandering knight-errant.

Liu Bei naturally became the new leader of the wandering knights of Zhuo County.

Compared to Jian Yong, Liu Bei was more suited to be a gangster.

After all, although Jian Yong was courageous, his true strengths lay in his eloquence and social skills. He was good at gathering information but not at fighting.

However, Liu Bei now has enough criminal records to make him more convincing to naive young people.

Before Liu Bei went to Luoyang to study, he was a wandering knight-errant in Zhuo County, and now he has returned to his old ways.

However, Liu Bei was scolded by his mother for this.

It is said that he was a dissolute and unrepentant knight-errant who did no good in Luoyang. He was expelled from his master's school by Lu Zhi, and when he returned, he continued to live a dissolute life. What future did he have?
Liu's mother was unaware that Liu Bei had been imprisoned; she only thought that he had gone astray and been expelled from the family by Lu Zhi for seeking pleasure.

This was clearly Liu Yuanqi's statement after returning to his hometown, which was considered a final act of courtesy to Liu Bei, and of course, mainly for the sake of the Liu family's reputation.

Liu Bei, however, did not feel that he had no future.

After all, he knew that chaos was coming.

In this chaotic world, being a thief often offers a better future than being an official.

However, just like nobles, thieves are also divided into different classes.

If you want to be a promising thief, you have to commit crimes like an official.

Liu Bei's strategy was to spend money first.

He spent all the ten thousand coins he had, and had the wandering knights build a beacon tower on a bare, gentle slope near the official road thirty miles north of Zhuo County.

Yes, it's one of those border beacon towers that emit smoke when lit.

Moreover, it was built very well, resembling a small fortress, and could house at least ten or so people.

This was built according to the standards of the Han Dynasty's border outposts.

The fortress was built on a slope, with the official road running below it.

However, after the repairs were completed, Liu Bei did not leave anyone to guard them.

Why is my elder brother like this?

The wandering knights didn't quite understand, feeling that Liu Bei was squandering his wealth.

But they were paid by Liu Bei, and they all received their wages. Although they questioned the work, they did not slack off.

"With this beacon tower, merchants traveling from the north to the south will definitely pass through here... while the real Xianbei troops will be suspicious and dare not invade, in order to protect the borders and the people."

Liu Bei explained.

That's absolutely right. Zhuoxian is located in the heart of Youzhou, and there were originally no early warning facilities like beacon towers around it.

If beacon towers appear around Zhuoxian, outsiders will only think there are two reasons—either the Han army is gathering troops in Zhuoxian, or an important figure is arriving in the area.

Either way, it means the same thing:

Zhuoxian County is safe.

Therefore, merchants and travelers would definitely choose to pass through this area after seeing the beacon tower, and would most likely camp near the beacon tower at night.

Sometimes it's very simple to restrict a merchant's path, and those habitual criminals who have robbed merchants understand this simple method best.

But, but.

Liu Bei did not send his wandering knights to rob merchants; instead, he spent his days drinking and practicing martial arts in Zhuo County.

He's not a bandit, nor does he intend to be one.

……

“Brother, a group of thieves has appeared near the beacon tower you built. Yesterday, some merchants were robbed and they are now complaining to the Ming court.”

On this day, Liu Bei was practicing swordsmanship at home when Jian Yong rushed over, shouting loudly.

"finally come!"

Liu Bei laughed: "Xianhe, your credit has been earned!"

"Ha, brother, your money and provisions have arrived too!"

Jian Yong smiled too.

They built a fortress but left it unguarded, waiting for this very day.

The land of Youzhou is teeming with bandits, and the route where the beacon tower is located has become a must-pass for merchants. Seeing that there are no soldiers at the beacon tower, there will always be some foolish bandits who want to occupy this road and rob people.

That night, Liu Bei led a dozen or so young men to camp next to the beacon tower.

They brought carriages and horses, making them look like a caravan. Merchants usually don't travel at night; they look for places to camp. Seeing a beacon tower along the way naturally makes them feel safer, so they choose to camp nearby.

Beacon towers are usually military facilities, so merchants naturally wouldn't dare to occupy them rashly.

Therefore, Liu Bei was stationed about a hundred paces away from the beacon tower.

Normally, there is no one inside the beacon tower, but at this moment, there are people inside.

Jian Yong, also known as Jian Zeicao, was living inside with a group of county constables.

Yes, Liu Bei was double-crossing Jian Yong; he was in charge of fishing, while Jian Yong was in charge of enforcing the law.

As night fell, a group of bandits indeed arrived.

There were about ten people, some on horseback and some on foot.

Upon seeing Liu Bei's 'caravan,' the men on horseback immediately charged in...

Then the two fastest runners were tripped by the ropes, took off smoothly, and landed in the mud with the ferocity of tigers descending a mountain.

Those who ran a little slower ran headfirst into the large clubs prepared by the wandering knights.

The bandits who weren't on horseback saw something was wrong and were about to retreat when Jian Yong led his soldiers out of the fortress and blocked their way.

"Thank you! Thank you all for the horses... Oh, and these gentlemen also gave me weapons. I'm so sorry, but I'll gladly accept them..."

With a beaming smile, Liu Bei led his wandering knights to tie up the bandits one by one.

This first investment immediately recouped the initial investment, and at least multiplied it several dozen times.

Because horses are more valuable.

There were five horses, three waist knives, seven broken spears, and various other miscellaneous items.

The bandits and their broken weapons were brought back to the county by Jian Yong; this was Jian the Bandit Cao's achievement.

The horses, however, all ended up in Liu Bei's hands—horses weren't considered a merit, so there was no need to take them back to claim credit; naturally, they were divided among the brothers.

The soldiers in the county, who were also the constables of the bandit gang, had no objections, since they had never encountered such an easy reward before.

……

More than half a year has passed.

That year, the Xianbei people raided the borders like madmen, and all parts of Youzhou were preparing for war.

Only Zhuoxian County remained relatively calm.

Zhuo County is located in the southern part of Youzhou, several hundred miles away from the border, so it was indeed not easy for a large number of Hu people to appear there.

However, anyone with a discerning eye knows that the small beacon tower actually played a significant role.

But more importantly, the newly appointed bandit magistrate of Zhuo County, Jian Yong, was courageous and responsible. He led the county's men to chase away the Hu people outside the county every day, as if he couldn't wait for the Hu people to come and deliver his credit.

This situation further demonstrates that Zhuoxian County is safe.

When the Hu people raided the border, bandits would often take the opportunity to cause trouble.

In Shanggu, Yuyang and other counties, a large number of bandits appeared, killing, robbing and plundering merchants and travelers.

Only the area around Zhuoxian County was stable and prosperous, with very few banditry problems.

Some say this is because Cao Jianyong, a notorious bandit in the county, was known for his bravery. Whenever bandits appeared, they would inevitably fall into Jianyong's hands, and the bandits no longer dared to come.

Some say that it was Liu Bei, a chivalrous knight-errant from the county, who not only paid for the construction of the tower out of his own pocket but also led the young men on chivalrous adventures, making the bandits unwilling to commit crimes in the area.

Regardless of whose face it was because of, the Zhuoxian area is indeed relatively safe.

Therefore, Jian Yong was praised and not only secured his position as the chief clerk, but also officially became the disciple of Magistrate Yue Yin, who even arranged his coming-of-age ceremony.

Le Yin also reported Jian Yong's merits to the state, but Jian Yong was not a candidate for the civil service examination and could only serve as a clerk, not an official. He was already considered a high-ranking official, and it would be difficult for him to advance further.

Liu Bei, through constant backstabbing and betrayal, earned a reputation that was neither too good nor too bad.

Because his gang of wandering knights now all own horses and are rolling in money!

The boys from other surrounding counties were naturally envious and eager to befriend Liu Bei.

Many merchants also regarded Liu Bei as a chivalrous hero and were willing to provide him with financial assistance—mainly to ensure the safety of their caravans.

With some money and reputation, Liu Bei's group of wandering knights was growing, now numbering about eighty and with forty horses.

However, it's not all good news.

In September of the first year of the Guanghe era, Liu Bei received some terrible news.

Le Yin will be resigning from his post at the end of the year, and the person who will be appointed as the magistrate of Zhuo County next year is named Gongsun Zan!
(End of this chapter)