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

Chapter 9: Teaching Your Enemy How to Harm You

As a subordinate official of Zhuo County, Jian Yong was obligated to greet the new magistrate, since escorting the chief official was the duty of the bandit officer, and sending the horse there was also on the way.

In the future, Jian Yong will still have to make a living under Gongsun Zan, so it's necessary for him to become a familiar face first.

In Lingzhi, Liaoxi, Jian Yong met Gongsun Zan, who was preparing to depart for his new post.

"So you are Jian Xianhe, the one who 'rejoiced at being flogged'? I've heard of that name for a long time..."

Gongsun Zan was quite polite to Jian Yong, because the story of Jian Yong being overjoyed that his mother had the strength to beat him had already spread to various counties in Youzhou.

This was, of course, something Liu Bei specifically instructed the wandering knights to spread.

This reputation was Jian Yong's shield; no one would make things difficult for a young man with a reputation for filial piety.

“I know that Ming Ting is the bravest in the land, and he doesn’t need me to escort him. But my elder brother Liu Xuande heard that Ming Ting is going to Zhuo County to take up an official post and is eager to see him. So he asked me to send this fine horse over so that my elder brother can see Ming Ting as soon as possible.”

Jian Yong was quite eloquent, using a combination of flattery and praise to give Gongsun Zan a reason to accept the horse.

If this is truly a friendship between close friends, then the act of gifting a horse to welcome someone will likely become a celebrated story.

In any case, it would definitely become a popular story in Liu Bei's hands. The chivalrous men's drinking and boasting skills were even better than those of double-crossing.

"I have always respected filial sons the most. Xianhe is extremely filial to his mother. This fine horse is rightfully given to Xianhe to commemorate his filial piety!"

Gongsun Zan looked at the mark on the horse's rump, frowned, and handed the reins back.

He then gave the horse back to Jian Yong.

Clearly, Gongsun Zan recognized the Cao family's mark, so he accepted the horse but didn't actually take it; he was a clever man.

But Jian Yong was always quick-witted, and immediately refused, saying, "This is a warhorse, and it should not be driven by us lowly officials. Moreover, I am incompetent, and this horse is too fast for me to ride. If the Ming court does not love this horse, then return it to its former owner to avoid wasting such a precious thing."

Actually, the horse was very obedient, and Jian Yong could ride it, but his horsemanship was only average, so he didn't dare to run too fast.

However, what Jian Yong meant was—if you, Gongsun Zan, don't like this gift, then return it to Liu Bei yourself. I know you're giving it away to sow discord.

"In that case, please let Xianhe be my guide and lead me to Zhuo County."

Gongsun Zan was somewhat embarrassed by being cornered, and a hint of apprehension appeared in his eyes.

The reason for sending Jian Yong to deliver the horses was that Jian Yong was the most trustworthy person.

Jian Yong was quite famous, yet he defended Liu Bei so strongly, so Gongsun Zan naturally had to be even more reasonable with Liu Bei.

……

Early in the second year of Guanghe (179 AD).

Gongsun Zan arrived at the territory of Zhuo County.

Liu Bei greeted them thirty li north of the county.

Thirty miles outside the city, this is a grand ceremony to welcome distinguished guests and friends.

But actually, Liu Bei shouldn't have greeted him north of Zhuo County...

Gongsun Zan came from Liaoxi, so logically, he should have been welcomed in the east of the city.

However, Jian Yong deliberately led Gongsun Zan on a half-circle route, taking the road north of the city.

This was, of course, at Liu Bei's behest, specifically to target that fake beacon tower.

The beacon tower was built thirty li north of the city.

In fact, Gongsun Zan really liked that fine horse, and he rode it all the way here.

However, upon seeing Liu Bei, Gongsun Zan dismounted and returned him.

“My worthy brother gifted me a fine horse, but I have been unworthy to repay it. I feel ashamed to accept it and must return it… I have heard that you have a reputation for chivalry in the county, but I did not expect you to be so extravagant. This horse is magnificent and must have cost a lot of money, right?”

Gongsun Zan smiled broadly and was extremely polite, but he didn't mention a word about the past. Instead, he was testing Liu Bei.

The implication is that this horse is very valuable, and you've acquired it from somewhere. Is it stolen? "My family is destitute, and this horse cost me nothing; it was a gift from Cao Mengde of Pei. I've long heard of Brother Bogui's illustrious military achievements in Liaodong, and I regret that I cannot serve as your horseman. Now that the Xianbei are rampant, it is fitting that a renowned general like Brother Bogui is stationed in this county..."

Liu Bei declared that he was still poor, his face beaming with smiles, his attitude as enthusiastic as if he were entertaining relatives during Chinese New Year, and his flattery was free.

That horse was originally Cao Cao's mount, so it wouldn't normally fall into the hands of others so easily.

Although the horse was stolen, and was indeed considered stolen goods, no one else knew this except Cao Cao.

Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan had no relationship, and Cao Cao would not mention this to anyone—otherwise, wouldn't his conspiracy with Liu Bei to rob the Li family of Lihu's grain be exposed?
Cao Cao still has some sense of shame. The world is not yet in great chaos, and he cannot bear the stigma of plundering the gentry.

Since Cao Cao failed to kill the "Big-Eared Bandit" on the spot at Lihu, he naturally could not pursue Liu Bei any further. Therefore, this horse was actually a gift from Cao Cao to Liu Bei.

Even Cao Cao himself could only say that.

Liu Bei took the reins and tied the horse to the beacon tower: "This is a warhorse, which should be driven by a famous general like Brother Bo Gui. Since Brother Bo Gui is honest and does not accept private gifts, let it be my contribution to the county for military supplies to protect the borders and drive out the barbarians!"

This wasn't a show; it was a way of manipulating Gongsun Zan's mind.

What does it mean to use warhorses as military supplies?
Of course, it's cavalry.

Moreover, it is not very reasonable for a border watchtower to appear within the territory of Zhuoxian County.

“Since you have such a wish, then let this horse be the reward for your outstanding contribution.”

Gongsun Zan still didn't take the horse back, and turned his gaze to the beacon tower that Liu Bei had built: "However, I originally thought that Zhuo County, located in the heart of this prefecture, should be considered stable, but I didn't expect that there would be a sentry tower to guard against bandits... Do the Xianbei often invade this county and wreak havoc?"

In fact, many people in the county knew that the beacon tower was built by Liu Bei, but apart from Liu Bei and Jian Yong, no one knew that it was used to designate coordinates for merchants and bandits, making it easier for them to double-cross each other.

In the eyes of someone like Gongsun Zan, who had fought on the border for several years, the purpose of the watchtower was naturally to prevent the Hu people from invading.

Gongsun Zan was promoted to magistrate of Zhuo County, which actually meant he was stripped of his military power in Liaodong. Naturally, he would pay attention to ways to gain military merit.

However, under normal circumstances, county magistrates cannot arbitrarily command troops or recruit local militias into an army, so Liu Bei naturally had to find a pretext for him.

Sending warhorses, welcoming them at the beacon tower, and using warhorses as military supplies were all intended to give Gongsun Zan a psychological boost.

Seeing that Gongsun Zan had indeed brought up military matters as he had expected, Liu Bei felt greatly relieved. He nodded and sighed, "The Xianbei are rampant and have repeatedly invaded and plundered. I once suggested that we conscript criminals in the county as exonerated soldiers to guard against the Xianbei, but my master refused to agree..."

The proposal to form a commutation squad is true.

Because Liu Bei and Jian Yong had been working together to double-cross each other, they had captured so many bandits that the county jail was overflowing...

When Liu Bei saw that the prison was full, he proposed to organize the criminals into an army and force them to serve as labor reform.

These prisoner soldiers were called "exemption soldiers," a tradition that had been in place since the Han Dynasty. When the Xianbei invaded, this practice was quite reasonable and legal.

The main reason why Le Yin refused was that no Xianbei people had entered Zhuo County at all.

Therefore, Yueyin made the prisoners raise money and pay silk to atone for their sins, and the little girl that Jian Yong bought was the prisoner's daughter.

In fact, when Liu Bei sent warhorses and mentioned the cavalrymen, it was to make Gongsun Zan realize that it was possible to rebuild cavalry in Zhuo County.

At the same time, it was also to give Gongsun Zan a way to harm him, since he was a criminal with a criminal record in Gongsun Zan's eyes.

Liu Bei knew that Gongsun Zan would definitely suspect the cause of Gongsun Yue's death, but he wasn't sure yet—if he were, given Gongsun Zan's temper, he would have already killed him.

Of course, even if it weren't confirmed, Gongsun Zan certainly wouldn't want to live.

Because he knew about Gongsun Zan's dark history of ordering his men to rob merchants, especially the rob of Yuan Shao's caravan.

However, since he was currently Yue Yin's disciple, Gongsun Zan couldn't directly kill him, but he would harm him sooner or later.

As the county's chief official, it would be far too easy for Gongsun Zan to harm a commoner.

So, rather than waiting to be framed by a conspiracy, it's better to teach him how to harm himself in a legitimate and legal way...

For example, he could be made to be cannon fodder and sent to the battlefield.

(End of this chapter)