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

Chapter 61 A Deal That Could Topple Cities
Outside the abandoned post station stood a white cloth flag with a crookedly drawn bull horn pattern on it.

The white cloth was wrinkled, so it looked newly made.

If nothing unexpected happens, this is the result of occupying Beixincheng.

The presence of flags indicates that the Taihang bandits gathered this time were of a large scale and had a unified command.

When the group is large, it is difficult to determine the leader's location in the wild; having a flag is essential to prevent the group from getting completely separated.

A burly man sat cross-legged under the tent roof of the post station, drawing something on the ground with a wooden stick.

"Leader!"

When the thief who had led the way arrived at the door, he changed to a more formal address.

Seeing someone approaching, the burly man wiped the dirt off the ground, looked up, and asked, "What is it?"

The burly man had a hairy mole on the left side of his lip.

Left mustache, the thief's alias, is indeed all very real.

"Leader, this big-eared brother has brought several hundred soldiers, saying he has some business to discuss..."

The thief walked up to the muscular man, leaned down and whispered a few words in his ear.

"Big ears? Is that the lord who is nine feet and eighteen feet tall?"

Zuo Zi looked up and sized up Liu Bei, his gaze finally settling on his ears and the ox-horn hat: "Ahem... Brother Big Ears, are you here to interrogate me?"

Zuo Zi's expression was somewhat peculiar, somewhat like someone who had bullied another child and was being confronted by the parents.

"Coming to demand answers... Hmph, Brother Zuo Zi occupied my Beixin City and became the leader of the Taihang Alliance by relying on my city, but there has been no news of my people. Of course I have to come and ask..."

Following Zuo Zi's lead, Liu Bei deliberately feigned concern: "Zuo Zi, where are Jiu Chi and Zhang Ba and the others? Are they dead or alive?"

"Don't misunderstand... Zhangba is a cousin of mine, and Jiuchi is an old friend of mine. How could I kill them..."

Zuo Zi stood up and said directly, "I had originally told Jiu Chi and the others to leave first, but I didn't expect them to come back and set fire to the city. I had no choice but to detain them to prevent them from doing anything foolish again... I'm sure Brother Da Er can understand."

Liu Bei could certainly understand.

It wasn't that Zuo Zi was kind and righteous and didn't kill, but rather that the people in the Taihang Mountains were still working outside, and he had to wait until they returned to the mountains before killing them to silence them.

It is indeed very likely that Jiu Chi will be killed, because Jiu Chi and those bandit leaders had lived in the Taihang Mountains for more than two months, were familiar with the mountains and paths, and knew many leaders.

Once Jiu Chi has a grudge against the Taihang bandits, even if Zuo Zi doesn't kill him, the other Taihang bandits won't feel at ease.

But now that the Taihang bandits have just begun their operation, Zuo Zi dares not easily kill the men protecting the Wuhuan Commandant.

Including Zhangba, all the executioners were previously in Beixin City. With so many people, and given that Zhangba is Zuozhi's cousin, it's highly unlikely they could keep quiet.

Once they fall into the hands of the Taihang bandits, the bandits will naturally know that they are regular soldiers from the Protectorate of Wuhuan.

Even if no one utters Liu Bei's name, at least Zuo Zi will know that "Big Ears" can command the main force of the Protectorate of Wuhuan.

In the eyes of the Taihang bandits, "Big Ears" was synonymous with Zou Jing.

The Protector of the Wuhuan Commandant was far more effective at deterring bandits than any prefect.

If they directly kill Jiu Chi and the others, it would be tantamount to making a blood feud with the Protector of Wuhuan. What would the Taihang bandits face then?
Could a large number of Wuhuan cavalry suddenly appear?

The Wuhuan cavalry could not possibly enter the Taihang Mountains, but they certainly had the ability to prevent most of the bandits who had already left the mountains from returning.

Only after most people in the Taihang Mountains have finished their work and returned to the mountains will they consider killing Jiu Chi and his men, so as to prevent them from leading government troops into the Taihang Mountains.

But since a feud had already been formed, they couldn't release the people; otherwise, the consequences would be no different from killing them. So they could only keep Jiu Chi and the others in custody and wait until they encountered "Big Ears" before making any decisions.

If the grudge cannot be resolved, then kill Jiu Chi and the others who are familiar with the Taihang Mountains on the way back to the mountain. The others can be used as hostages to delay the pursuers.

If the grievances can be resolved, then treat it as a misunderstanding, release the person, apologize, and that will be the end of it.

This is how a high-ranking leader like Zuo Zi considers things; it has nothing to do with sentimentality or morality.

That's why Liu Bei dared to come to see Zuo Zi alone.

At this time, the Taihang bandits also hoped to seek cooperation.

"You detained my people and expect me to understand... You make it sound like you're doing a good deed... Ha..."

Upon hearing that Jiu Chi and the others were indeed alive, Liu Bei knew that Zuo Zi was willing to settle the score, but he feigned indignation: "Yan Gang wanted to lure and kill you, so I had my brothers capture Beixin City to help you! I thought it was to make a good relationship, but you occupied my city and detained my men. Is this the code of honor for the heroes of Taihang?!"

"Ahem... I know that Gongsun Zan has ill intentions, and I know that Brother Da'er is helping me, but who told Jiu Chi to set fire to the city..."

Left Beard looked somewhat embarrassed: "I didn't know before that Brother Big Ears was... one of the warlord's men. It was only after I detained them that I found out Zhang Ba had joined the army..."

"If they didn't know, they would already be dead, right?"

Liu Bei, his face full of displeasure, feigned anger: "Set the city on fire... Zuo Zi, you must know that Beixin City is not your Taihang Mountain city!"

"Beixin City was captured by my people, it's my city! I can burn it down if I want, what's it to you?!"

"Letting you into the city to resupply, providing you with food and weapons, is just the courtesy I, Big Ear, show to my friends..."

"But you occupied my Beixin City and drove my people away. Of course, Jiuchi must burn the city down! Are you just going to let it go after you took it for nothing?!"

"You think I'm attacking cities for fun? I need to make a living too!"

"You occupied my North New City area, did you pay me?!"

As Liu Bei spoke, he tapped his bamboo hat: "I won't lie to you, Zhuo County is now in my hands! I originally wanted to do a big business deal with you... but now it seems that your Taihang Mountains don't have that kind of credibility!"

"Brother Big Ears, that's not how it works... Uh? Zhuo County? Brother Big Ears, you're in charge of Zhuo County?!"

After being bombarded with this information, Zuo Zi felt that something was amiss, but upon reflection, it made perfect sense, leaving him somewhat speechless.

Of course, more importantly...

Zhuoxian County!

That's true, the Protector of the Wuhuan Commandant could certainly do that!

"What? You want to take over my Zhuo County? Humph..."

Seeing that Zuo Zi was almost completely entangled, Liu Bei's tone softened a bit: "Hmph, let my men go first! You haven't settled the score in Beixin City yet! You Taihang Mountain people don't know any better, I dare not do business with you again!"

"Release them! I'll release them immediately! But..."

The expression on Zuo Zi's face had changed drastically: "Brother Big Ears, what was that big deal you were talking about earlier...?"

"I'm going to sell Zhuoxian!"

Seeing the change in Zuo Zi's expression, Liu Bei's momentum grew even stronger: "You should be able to imagine that I can't control the county for long, otherwise it would be difficult to explain to the military governor. I originally intended to sell Zhuo County to you, Brother Zuo Zi... but now, I have serious doubts about your credibility in the Taihang Mountains..."

"I'll release your men immediately! Name your price, Zhang Da'er from Beixin City! Name your price too, Zhuo County!"

Left Mustache swallowed hard, his eyes gleaming.

(End of this chapter)