The imperial cause at the end of the Han Dynasty was not one of partial peace.

The gate of the village was wide open, and smoke and dust gradually approached. More than ten county officials dressed in black official robes and wearing ceremonial hats or military caps surrounded a carriage pulled by a single horse and stopped outside the village gate.

The carriage was painted black, without a canopy or curtain, and was drawn by a yellow horse.

Seated in the carriage was a man of about forty years old, with a sallow complexion, two neatly trimmed short mustaches, a military cap, and a black silk robe with black edging and collar, and a ring-pommel sword at his waist. He was Chen An, a patrol officer under the command of the county magistrate of Zhuo County.

The patrol officer was an official under the county commandant, responsible for patrolling and suppressing thieves, investigating crimes and wrongdoings, and was paid a salary of 100 shi (a unit of grain).

Below them were "thieves" and "village heads," who worked together to maintain the security of the village.

Behind him followed more than ten county soldiers, all dressed in coarse hemp official robes, wearing red turbans, carrying long halberds, and with short swords at their waists. Although they tried to straighten their backs, they all looked fearful.

Chen An alighted from the carriage, straightened his crown and sash which had been slightly askew from the bumpy ride, dusted off the hem of his robe, took a deep breath, and led two minor officials carrying wooden tablets and writing brushes into the manor gate.

His gaze swept over the burly, strong men, each wielding various weapons and coldly watching them. His eyelids twitched involuntarily, especially at the two-piece armor and three-armored crossbow casually placed at the storeroom entrance.

Finally, his gaze settled on Liu Bei, who stood on the steps with his hands behind his back, dressed in coarse cloth and wearing a wooden hairpin, yet exuding a calm and composed demeanor, and on the left and right sides behind Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who stood solemnly like two door gods.

Guan Yu was nine feet tall, with a two-foot-long beard, a face like a red date, phoenix eyes slightly closed, and a hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He exuded a chilling and imposing aura of killing intent.

Zhang Fei, with his leopard-like head, bulging eyes, swallow-like chin, and tiger-like beard, held a gleaming eighteen-foot spear and glared at the newcomer, as if he might suddenly launch an attack at any moment.

Locked onto by those two gazes, Chen An felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, and cold sweat instantly seeped from his palms.

Having served in the government for a long time, he had seen many local tyrants and outlaws, but such a courageous and valiant man was truly rare.

The little bit of confidence he had in relying on the authority of the government vanished in an instant.

"Ahem," Chen An cleared his dry throat, trying to make his voice sound steady. He stepped forward a few paces toward Liu Bei, who was slowly walking down the steps, and bowed deeply to the ground, his posture extremely humble: "Chen An, a patrolman from Zhuo County, pays his respects to Lord Liu. I apologize for disturbing you, and beg your forgiveness."

According to the etiquette of the Han Dynasty, when a subordinate met a superior, or when a person of low status met a person of high status, they had to "walk quickly" (take small steps to show respect) before bowing.

Chen An, a minor official, was not required to meet Liu Bei, who was a commoner without official rank, but circumstances forced him to perform the proper courtesies.

Liu Bei returned the greeting with a cupped hand, his demeanor composed. He was by nature kind and generous, and could humbly serve those of lower status; he did not take Chen An's respectful gesture seriously.

"Chen Youjiao, there's no need for such formalities. You've come a long way and must be tired. What can I do for you?"

Chen An felt somewhat relieved; it seemed that this Liu Xuande was not simply an arrogant person.

He straightened up, carefully choosing his words, and replied cautiously, "I dare not accept the title 'respectfully requesting instruction.' However... around noon today, a bloody incident occurred in front of the west warehouse of the city, with three people lying dead in the street. I have been ordered by the county magistrate to come and inquire about the matter. I wonder if, Mr. Liu... you have heard of this?"

He asked the question with great skill, not saying "apprehend the murderer" or "arrest the person," but only "inquire," and he put himself in a humble position.

This was not because he was inherently timid, but because he was well aware of the terror posed by local powerful figures at the end of the Han Dynasty.

In the present court, imperial power has waned, eunuchs, relatives of the empress, and scholars are constantly vying for power, the central government's control over local areas has greatly diminished, and the power of local magnates has expanded rapidly.

Through land consolidation, they established self-sufficient manors and fortified villages, sheltering their followers and guests, keeping their own retinues, and hiding fugitives, essentially creating a state within a state.

Many powerful clans that "rule the local government" often disregarded the local officials appointed by the imperial court. At best, they would resist and undermine the officials, preventing their orders from leaving their offices; at worst, they would openly expel, beat, and humiliate the officials, and even send assassins to kill them—historical records are numerous.

During the reign of Emperor Huan, the powerful Ji family in Qinghe County had deep-rooted influence, and the county magistrate "feared their guests and dared not punish them." In Pingyuan County, the guests of the Liu family openly murdered county officials, and the government was "unable to capture and punish them."

As for the flourishing of the "chivalrous spirit," it was common for desperate assassins to carry swords.

Therefore, when Chen An saw the scene of such a gathering in the manor, especially with fierce warriors like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei who were clearly "enemies of ten thousand men" by his side, he knew very well that if Liu Bei really intended to resist, let alone capture anyone, it was uncertain whether his dozen or so men could even escape unscathed.

His vague wording was also to give Liu Bei a way out—by describing "shooting in the street" as the more neutral "three people died," if Liu Bei went along with it and said that it was done by his subordinates or that there were other hidden reasons, he could immediately turn the tables and even close the case on the spot, without implicating Liu Bei himself.

Liu Bei, however, seemed not to understand the implication, and nodded calmly, his voice clear: "That's right, I killed him."

Chen An froze, his forced smile almost crumbling. The two clerks behind him trembled, nearly spilling ink onto the wooden tablet.

"Mr. Liu!" Chen An stepped forward hastily, his voice lowered so much it was practically squeezed out between clenched teeth, "This matter is of utmost importance, involving three lives, it is no small matter! I urge... I urge you to reconsider your words!"

As he spoke, he quickly gestured with his eyes to the fierce followers behind Liu Bei. This was the most "appropriate" solution he could think of, given his own authority and his fear of powerful figures.

Liu Bei shook his head, looked at Chen An, and suddenly asked, "Chen Youjiao, have you heard the nursery rhyme that children in the streets have been singing lately?"

"Nursery rhymes?" Chen An was taken aback, not understanding.

"The peach blossoms are in full bloom, the red talisman flutters in the wind. The year of Jiazi has arrived, and the heavens tremble." Liu Bei read the prophecy aloud clearly, word by word: "This is no ordinary childish jest, but a monstrous and false prophecy, foreshadowing the Taiping Dao's impending rebellion and the shaking of the Han Dynasty!"

"'Jiazi' refers to the seventh year of Guanghe! 'Peach blossoms' alludes to the flowering season in March! 'Red talisman' is that demonic talisman written in cinnabar! 'The heavens are shaking,' what does that refer to? Does Chen Youjiao not understand? Great chaos is imminent!"

The study of prophecies and apocryphal texts flourished during the Han Dynasty, especially the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Using cryptic language, auspicious omens, and prophecies, they interpreted calamities and auspicious signs by associating them with Confucian classics, and predicted the rise and fall of dynasties. They were highly valued by rulers, yet also deeply feared.

Zhang Jiao of the Way of Peace was also well-versed in this principle, and his rallying cry of "The Azure Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise; in the year of Jiazi, great fortune will come to the world" is a prime example of this.

Liu Bei's use of and interpretation of the nursery rhyme at this time was also highly persuasive.

Everyone, not only the knights under Liu Bei's command, but also the county soldiers and officials, were immediately struck by a thought and their minds were shaken.

Liu Bei then pointed to the pile of weapons in front of the storeroom: "Hiding armor and crossbows in secret, their disloyal intentions are blatantly obvious!"

"As a descendant of Emperor Gaozu and a great-grandson of Emperor Jing, a member of the Han imperial family, how could I stand idly by while these rebels were inciting unrest in my hometown, misleading the common people, and secretly amassing an army? To execute their leader in the street was to rid the country of traitors, to relieve Your Majesty's worries, and to quell the rebellion in Zhuo County! This is to uphold the principles of punishing traitors as outlined in the Spring and Autumn Annals. What crime have I committed?"

He stepped forward, his imposing aura overwhelming: "Chen Youjiao, tell me, did I kill a traitorous minister or an innocent civilian? Can this Han dynasty tolerate such a wicked man who hoards weapons and plots rebellion, or can it tolerate a loyal member of the imperial family like myself who quells rebellion before it even begins?"

Forced to retreat step by step by his repeated, righteous and stern questioning, Chen An stammered, "This... even if they are suspected of wrongdoing, but... human life is at stake, and the court has its own laws. Even if Deng and Li are guilty, they must be handed over to the government for investigation. Only after the truth is known under the three-stage interrogation can a verdict be reached."

"It is feared that Liu Jun has acted without authorization, which may be illegal. Perhaps... perhaps you would like to come with me to the county court so that I may speak with the county magistrate in person and explain the situation. This is my duty, and it will also allow me to report back to my superiors."

These words have replaced "apprehend" with "please" and "bring back to justice" with "plea for help," almost begging Liu Bei to give him face and go through the motions so that he can go back and report.

Liu Bei shook his head slightly, his attitude resolute: "Go with you to the county temple? Chen Youjiao, I'm afraid you can't take me with you."

He took a step forward, and although he was alone, his imposing presence made the dozen or so people opposite him feel suffocated.

"I, Liu Xuande, though my family has fallen on hard times, am still a member of the Han imperial family and a respected figure in my hometown. Now I have slain the rebels in the marketplace and protected the people in this time of crisis. I believe I have rendered meritorious service to the state and brought honor to my hometown."

"You, a mere border patrol officer of a hundred bushels of grain, intend to hand me over to the county court like a common soldier? What face do I have left? What face do the heroes of Zhuo County have left? What face do the descendants of Prince Jing of Zhongshan have left?"

"You intend to take me away?" Liu Bei withdrew his gaze and looked directly at Chen An. "Very well! Have the county magistrate of Zhuo County, with his seal and insignia, gather all the county's officers and clerks, and bring them to my manor in a grand and honorable manner!"

"If he can clearly demonstrate that the person I, Liu Xuande, killed was an innocent man, and that his actions violated the law and constituted an unforgivable crime, then I, Liu Bei, will certainly open the door to welcome him and accompany him to the county court to await the imperial court's judgment!"

Upon hearing this, Chen An's face drained of color, and the county soldiers behind him lowered their heads, not daring to meet Liu Bei's gaze.

An awkward, deathly silence fell over the room.

After a long pause, Chen An lowered his head, his voice filled with embarrassment: "The county magistrate heard today that Taiping Dao had gathered a crowd to besiege the market, and fearing a major upheaval, he took his entourage and went out of the city to 'patrol the border' two hours ago... He is probably no longer in the county."

Upon hearing this, not only did Zhang Fei and the others reveal their undisguised contempt, but even the county sergeant behind Chen Shi looked ashamed.

Liu Bei had foreseen this, as this scene was a true reflection of the plight of many local officials during the Yellow Turban Rebellion at the end of the Han Dynasty. Historical records state that when the Yellow Turbans broke out, "the soldiers collapsed and the prefectures and counties lost their footing, and many officials fled." "Countless county and prefectural officials abandoned their cities and hid in the wilderness."

On the contrary, many responsible local magnates, scholars, and even lower-ranking officials stepped forward to gather people to protect themselves, or were elected as temporary leaders to lead the people in resisting the bandits.

For example, Cheng Yu of Dongjun, when the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, the county magistrate Wang Du responded by burning the granaries, and the county magistrate fled over the city wall. Yu then "led the officials and people to take refuge on the city wall." Later, it was said that the county magistrate returned to defend the city.

Liu Bei is now trying to build momentum for himself, hoping that during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he can be as renowned as Cheng Yu in the prefecture and county, and win the hearts of the people of Zhuojun.