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

Chapter 93: Convincing people with virtue
"Ah Bing?"

When Cao Cao recognized Bian Bing at Su Shuang's place, Bian Bing was helping Su Shuang count money—the money Cao Cao had brought to purchase goods.

"Oh my, it's Lord Cao himself who has come!"

Bian Bing exclaimed in surprise, stumbling and bowing respectfully as he approached Cao Cao, his eyes gleaming with dark circles.

"Whose servant have you become...?"

Cao Cao looked at Bian Bing and asked with a touch of sadness—Bian Bing was already helping others count money. In Cao Cao's view, those who could manage the household finances must be his wives, concubines, and relatives…

It seems that Bian Ji has fallen into the hands of thieves!
That big-eared thief acted too quickly! They were still in mourning, yet they dared to hold a wedding!
As expected of people from the remote border region of Youzhou, they have no manners!

“Bing is a retainer of Liu Lang… Since Lord Cao has come in person, there’s no need to count these coins and silks anymore. Lord Cao is a true gentleman…”

Bian Bing was indeed very sensible. He was usually quiet and reserved, and a very honest person. But people who had worked as musicians were very sweet-talking whenever they needed to speak.

Besides, he feels like vomiting whenever he sees money now... he's really had enough of it.

"Liu Lang's retainer... Where is your master? Bring him to me."

Cao Cao didn't ask about Bian Ji, nor did he intend to make things difficult for Bian Bing. He just wanted to find Liu Bei and give this unfilial son a good scolding for doing such a thing during the mourning period!

Use the sword in your hand to subdue people with virtue!

Cao Cao's sword was indeed engraved with the character "德" (De). His courtesy name was Mengde. Characters used in order of seniority, such as Bo, Meng, Zhong, Shu, and Ji, are generally not engraved on objects. His weapons were all engraved with the character "德".

"The head of the household is in mourning and it is inconvenient for him to receive guests at home... I will go back and ask the head of the household to come and welcome him. Please wait a moment, Mr. Cao."

Bian Bing did not keep Cao Cao waiting for long. In just a few hours, Liu Bei arrived at the Juma River market with his troops.

Liu Bei certainly wouldn't let Cao Cao enter Xihe Pavilion. He met with Cao Cao next to Qian Zhao's military camp—Zou Jing's main army was all there, making it relatively safe...

The Juma River market was already quite large, with most of the shops owned by the Lu family, but Liu Bei also had some business there.

Liu Bei ran all sorts of unremarkable small businesses here, such as pharmacies, taverns, gambling dens, and brothels—featuring singers, dancers, and acrobats, as well as proper traditional art performances…

In fact, these businesses are not profitable, since the customer base is small, mainly targeting the Han soldiers of Zou Jing's own army, as well as visiting merchants or officials.

This is used to obtain intelligence information.

In Xinting, Juma River area, the vast majority of people are tenant farmers who were originally migrants, and they really don't have much money for entertainment and consumption.

When Liu Bei arrived, Cao Cao was in a tavern in the market.

At this time, the tavern had little business, and Cao Cao's troops crowded outside the tavern like troublemaking gangsters.

There were about two hundred people, but only Cao Cao was sitting in the room, and there wasn't even any wine or water on the table.

The shopkeeper here was a wounded veteran, a retired executioner, and a seasoned old hand. Naturally, he dared not greet him in this situation and kept his distance.

Liu Bei led Guan Yu into the tavern and was somewhat dazed by the scene before him.

It feels like Brother Mengde has brought his henchmen to sabotage my business...

Cao Cao was now somewhat dazed, because the men Liu Bei had brought were far more formidable than he had imagined.

When Cao Cao came to Zhuojun, he brought over a thousand servants to transport goods, but they were all his household staff. The stewards were at Su Shuang's horse farm doing official business, so Cao Cao did not bring them with him.

He had fewer than two hundred private troops, after all, he was a government official in the capital and could not keep a private army at will. He did plan to recruit a large number of private troops outside the capital recently because he had money, but the outbreak had only been a little over a month and he had not yet had time to carry it out on a large scale.

Liu Bei brought two hundred personal guards, a fairly large number, but each one was strong and fierce—Liu Bei's troops were full-time professional soldiers.

The other sergeants were doing their jobs with Su Shuang, transporting money...

Of course, neither side carried armor or crossbows—things considered taboo—and both were dressed in their respective family's uniform robes, making it look like two gangs negotiating... "Brother Mengde! Oh dear, Brother Mengde has come from afar, and you haven't even offered him fine wine and delicacies? How rude! Brother Mengde, please don't be offended; we country folk don't know the proper etiquette..."

Liu Bei immediately began to reprimand the innkeeper who was hiding in the corner, intending to ease the tense atmosphere by using drinking etiquette.

"I heard that Xuande is observing mourning, so let's skip the wine..."

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes, scanning Liu Bei's troops with a blank expression, his eyes twitching.

He had a sharp eye; he immediately noticed that the ruddy-faced, bearded man behind Liu Bei looked quite formidable.

Looking at Liu Bei's troops again, they all seemed quite fierce, each one looking spirited and energetic...

Cao Cao felt a little uneasy. This big-eared thief was no longer the little thief he used to be.

Indeed, back then, this thief was able to lead the refugees to rob the Li family of Lihu in just a few days, so it's normal that he's become a big thief now.

"You all go out... Xuande, please have your men leave for a moment. I have a business to discuss with you privately."

Cao Cao didn't want any of his followers to interfere with his strategy of winning people over with virtue, so he directly ordered all his followers to leave the tavern—he felt that the troops he brought might not be able to defeat them...

"This is Liu's dear brother... Well, it seems Brother Mengde's business is secretive. Yunchang, please wait for me outside."

Liu Bei originally did not intend to let Guan Yu leave, but seeing that Cao Cao had driven away all his men, Liu Bei felt it was inappropriate to keep him.

Guan Yu glanced at Cao Cao, then led his men out of the tavern and closed the door behind them.

In the open space outside the tavern, two gangs of thugs stood facing each other.

Inside the tavern, the two men stared at each other, their faces expressionless.

"You big-eared thief, weren't you observing mourning?! Why are you stealing my concubine?!"

With no one else in the tavern, Cao Cao, his face grim, pressed him in a low voice, his hand already gripping the hilt of his sword.

"Hey... Brother Mengde, don't talk nonsense! When did I steal your concubine? Your home is in Pei State, which is so far away. I've never been there!"

Liu Bei, of course, denied it, saying that the accusation of stealing concubines made him sound like Tian Boguang...

Seeing Cao Cao holding the hilt of his sword, Liu Bei also gripped the long sword at his waist.

"You despicable man, you dare to do it but not admit it... Where is Bian Ji now? Is she not at your home?!"

Cao Cao drew his sword two inches, the character "德" (virtue) on the hilt gleaming coldly.

"Bian Ji is in my home! What? Brother Mengde, do you intend to resort to violence?"

Upon seeing the inscription on Cao Cao's sword, Liu Bei raised an eyebrow and drew his own sword three inches out: "I, Liu, am currently cultivating virtue, and I am most skilled at winning people over with virtue!"

Unfortunately, Liu Bei's sword also had the character "德" (de) engraved on it. His courtesy name was Xuande, and he was cultivating virtue at the time. Most of his personal items also had the character "德" on them, which were engraved with the help of Zhang Fei and Zuo Yuan.

Bian Ji is indeed working at Liu Bei's house now. Liu Bei is observing mourning for his parents and does not intend to lie.

"Ah... I'm furious! You unfilial lecher, you stole my concubine! And you dare to talk about cultivating virtue?!"

Cao Cao's veins were bulging on his forehead. If he didn't vent his anger, he would definitely suffer a stroke. He drew his sword and slashed at Liu Bei, saying, "I'll teach you to win people over with virtue!"

"Ding!"

Liu Bei raised his sword one notch, using the hilt of his sword to block Cao Cao's sword hilt, the two characters for "virtue" side by side reflecting each other.

(End of this chapter)