Liu Xuande would never be a succubus of the Eastern Han Dynasty!

"Well, you guys from aristocratic families are so idle on weekdays. Don't you have anything to do?"

Cao Bin was stunned for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "But I'm afraid that for children from aristocratic families like us, having some free time is actually a good thing, right?"

“…” Liu Bei was silent.

People say that eunuchs are a threat to the government and bring chaos to the court, but isn’t it the same for aristocratic families?

To put it nicely, they are aristocratic families; to put it bluntly, they are a group of unruly insects.

Aren’t problems like land annexation, the possession of military forces, and the enslavement of the people the result of the insects gnawing at them?

If these children of aristocratic families really stand up and take action, controlling all the court officials from top to bottom, then even if they are all honest officials, what can they do? When the emperor goes to court and finds that all the ministers under him are from aristocratic families, it will be difficult for him to issue any decrees.

Although this is almost the case now.

It would be fine if it was closer to Luoyang, but the local border is really difficult to control.

The reason why the current emperor supports eunuchs is to check and balance the aristocratic families. However, he did not expect that these eunuchs are useless and are causing chaos everywhere... No, could it be that the emperor tacitly approves?

In short, the current situation presents an unusual balance.

After repeated suppression, the aristocratic families were briefly silenced, while the foreign relatives were completely silenced by the previous Dou family. Now the eunuchs control the court.

This also led to many children from aristocratic families being idle at home with nothing to do. After completing their studies, they did not enter the court to serve as officials, but instead retired to seek fame.

Of course, this balance is extremely fragile. The recent movements of the major families are no less than those in Luoyang, but many of them are hidden in the shadows.

For the time being, Liu Bei could only accept this situation. His military strength and influence had not reached the point where he could kill all the people in the world, so he needed to endure it for now.

However, the appearance of Chi Xiao and the fragments of Tian Dao can bring him one step closer to his dream.

Imagine that in the future you have collected all the Chi Xiaos and can shock the world with one sword. At that time, you can employ talented people and realize all the ideas in your mind.

I just don’t know how much time this will take... and if we are destined to become enemies with the aristocratic families in the future, then Cao Cao and others... and Master Lu.

Ah.

Forget it, at worst I can just gag them.

"I'll drop it off here."

In front of the city gate, Cao Bin helped Liu Bei get off the horse and waved with a smile.

"Thank you for taking care of me these past few days...see you in the future."

"See you later."

The two bowed to each other and then turned and left.

Master Lu and Jia Xu were standing by the city gate. When they saw him, they nodded slightly, and then they walked together towards the military camp outside the city.

Master Lu showed the seal of Jiujiang County, and hundreds of elite soldiers came out to escort them away.

After getting on the carriage, the vast Luoyang City behind me gradually moved away... until it was completely out of sight.

Jiujiang County: Chapter 3: Fighting Bandits on the Road

Master Lu, Liu Bei and Jia Xu rode in the same carriage, while other officials appointed by the court rode in other carriages. Master Lu told Liu Bei about the general situation along the way.

The Jiujiang barbarians were the Dong'ou and Minyue people who migrated to the area between the Yangtze River and the Huai River during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. This group of people continued to live and multiply, and although they lived in the territory of the Han Dynasty, they often rebelled.

However, this rebellion was massive, with the entire clan rising up in arms. It was said that during this period they also recruited many refugees, openly plundered property, and repelled government troops on many occasions.

In fact, local officials had long noticed the barbarians' disloyalty and wrote to the court to warn them many times.

It’s a pity that memorials submitted by local governments usually have to go through many complicated procedures, and even end up being passed to the homes of major aristocratic families.

When the current emperor learned of this matter and just took action, urgent news came that the barbarians had rebelled.

The current emperor was naturally very angry, but he was helpless about it. He ignored the candidates proposed by the Yuan, Cao, Yang and other families and ordered Lu Zhi to go.

Although Lu Zhi was a doctor of the imperial court, he had no obvious "political inclination" in Luoyang, and his upright and powerful character would not be easily bribed by the aristocratic families, so he became a suitable candidate.

Liu Bei couldn't help but complain: "...Master, you are being used as a knife by someone."

"Xuan De, remember to be quiet." Master Lu glanced at him and warned: "Be careful, or I'll beat you up."

Liu Bei looked at the Master's small, delicate hands and said with a smile, "Master's hands are more suitable for holding scriptures and reciting Confucianism, rather than being rough with others."

"..."

Master Lu sighed and said, "Everyone says I am a master of both civil and military skills, but only Xuande understands my ambition as a teacher."

"After all, we've been together day and night..." Liu Bei also sighed, "Even someone as noble as the Master has been dragged into this struggle. I really don't know what the world is like."

"Be careful what you say."

Master Lu put one finger in front of Liu Bei's lips, intending to make a hushing sound, but the latter was so bewildered that he licked it quite boldly.

"Woo..."

Mrs. Lu's delicate body trembled slightly, and she immediately withdrew her fingers, neither expressing anger nor showing any indecent gesture.

It was as if he didn't realize what had just happened.

Jia Xu looked left and right, and thought this master and disciple pair was very interesting, so he asked, "What is the meaning of being a knife?"

There was just the right amount of confusion on his face, and at first glance it seemed as if he really knew nothing.

Liu Bei turned his head to look at her and almost couldn't help but pin her to the ground and beat her up. Damn, if you really don't know, then who in the world doesn't know?

Isn't this just an attempt to show off in front of Master Lu?

Master Lu looked the beauty straight in the eye and said calmly, "It's easy to put down a rebellion, but it's hard to put down the complicated relationships behind it."

Liu Bei knew that the Master was too proud to continue, so he swallowed his anger and continued, "The barbarians are making such a big noise this time. It seems someone is behind this, and it's very likely that the same people are behind this."

What is the purpose of such repeated actions? No one knows.

Perhaps he was aware of Master Lu's military prowess, so he deliberately set up a plan to transfer her away so that the capital would lack high-end combat power?

That's why Liu Bei said that Master Lu was being used as a knife by others.

But there are three people present in total. The combined wisdom of him and Master Lu is probably not as great as that of you, Jia Xu and Jia Wenhe.

What's the point of saying that? She's still making those "ah" sounds... The old woman's pretentiousness is disgusting.

"So that's how it is," Jia Xu said with sudden realization, "Brother, you know best."

"..." Liu Bei covered his forehead helplessly, having forgotten that this guy had such a disguise.

But Lady Lu was not like Cao Cao, who saw through everything but kept silent. She was a straightforward person and mercilessly exposed the truth: "Why do you call Xuande your brother? Aren't you the daughter of Jia Gong?"

Jia Gong currently serves as the General of Light Cavalry, which is roughly a lower-middle-level officer rank, neither too high nor too low.

But Lu Zhi had a very wide social circle and had met Jia Gong before, so when he saw Jia Xu for the first time, he knew her background from her appearance, but he just pretended to know nothing.

Just to expose it at this moment.

Jia Xu looked embarrassed, but he bowed frankly and said, "...My name is Xu, and my courtesy name is Wenhe. I used to live under a false name, so I dare not hide anything from you, Mr. Lu."

You still don't dare to hide it? It's because you've been discovered.

Liu Bei gloated over this misfortune: "Wen Hesu is very intelligent. He should have already made a judgment on what just happened. Why are you asking this question?"

"..."

Jia Xu sighed, as if immersed in a play: "It's all my fault that I'm not capable enough to see the whole situation from a single glimpse. I only know Wuwei County but not the affairs of the world."

Liu Bei was too lazy to respond to this liar's words. He turned to Master Lu and said, "Master, the journey is long. Would you like to rest for a while?"

"Ah."

Master Lu nodded slightly, and then saw Liu Bei reach out and move her head to his shoulder, and his other hand skillfully supported her chin.

Liu Bei said respectfully, "This is a gift from my hometown. It will allow you to sleep more comfortably without suffering the pain of the carriage."

Master Lu looked at the serious expression on his face and suddenly wanted to tear the mouth of this bad disciple apart.

"...I am from the same hometown as you, but I didn't know there was such a ritual."

Liu Bei suddenly stopped talking and blinked at her.

Those peach blossom eyes really had a kind of magic, as if just by looking at them, she would willingly satisfy all his requests.

Master Lu silently looked away, closed his eyes, and began to enter a state of rest.

I really don't know whether it is helpless pampering or extreme shameful avoidance.

Jia Xu did not say anything either. He looked at Liu Bei and Master Lu with a smile, and there seemed to be a subtle look in his eyes.

The scene fell into a strange silence for a while.

But this obsession did not last long, and an accident happened.

"Enemy attack!"

"Shhhhh-"

At the same time, Master Lu suddenly opened his eyes, with murderous intent in his eyes, and was about to stand up.

"Master, please be quiet," Liu Bei's gentle voice sounded beside his ear. "Let me go down and take a look first."

"Well, take my warrant and go ahead."

Master Lu took the token from his waist and said in a cold tone, "Anyone who dares to kill an official appointed by the imperial court will be killed, no matter who they are."

Lu Zhi was not a pedantic scholar who was absorbed in building cars, nor was she a coward who would panic at the sudden ambush. On the contrary, she was more courageous than the average person.

But on weekdays he either wore an official hat or stayed in school studying, which was why he never showed his bravery to the world.

"only."

After Liu Bei took the token, he immediately opened the car door and jumped out.

Immediately, an officer came forward to report: "Sir, there is a group of bandits ahead, it seems they have been lying in ambush for a long time..."

Liu Bei immediately frowned and asked, "How dare the bandits ambush the official carriage?"

The officer then explained, "The surrounding area has been quite unstable recently. Perhaps they mistakenly thought we were from aristocratic families and intended to blackmail us?"

The Jian family was a disaster to the area, and those who were harmed by them naturally became bandits after losing their land and houses. It was possible that they felt revengeful when they saw the official car.

But the problem was that this was too coincidental. They had just left Luoyang when they were attacked...

Liu Bei nodded slightly and said, "I understand. You guys organize the counterattack first. I'll go talk to the Master first."

"only."

After the soldier left his sight, Liu Bei's expression gradually became serious.

This is definitely not a simple ambush by bandits. I'm afraid some of these officers and soldiers have ulterior motives.

Jiujiang County: Chapter 4: Suppressing Bandits and Rebels

They dared to ambush a carriage guarded by hundreds of officers and soldiers. If someone said that they were really just a group of bandits, Liu Bei would not believe it at all.

But now was not a good time to fall out, so Liu Bei quietly borrowed the token and came all the way to the battlefield.

At this time, officers and soldiers stood on all sides, protecting several carriages in the center. There were many woods around, and arrows were suddenly shot out from them from time to time.

At the front was a group of rough men in cloth clothes, about dozens of them, all with fleshy faces and holding big knives, looking like the typical "bad guys".

Logically speaking, hundreds of soldiers could easily deal with a group of poorly equipped bandits without much effort.

But this group of bandits won't play games with you. Some part of the ground beneath your feet has been hollowed out. If you walk around casually, you'll probably fall to your death, and hidden arrows are waiting to be fired from all around... What's more important is that there's a faint smell of burning in the air.

Looking back, I could see that the direction I came from was already a sea of fire.

"Prepare to hold your ground..."

The officers and soldiers all agreed that this place was not far from Luoyang. When the military camp there saw the smoke from the fire, they would naturally send people to investigate, and then they could catch them all in one fell swoop.

In fact, if they were not worried about hurting the adults in the carriage during the fight, this group of half-naked bandits would be completely no match for them.

"Wait a minute."

Liu Bei squeezed out of the crowd, holding the token, and said, "Master, you are the governor of Jiujiang, and you are anxious to quell the barbarian rebellion. How can you just stand there? What if you delay the military operation? What will you do then?"

"..."

Some of the commanders noticed his young age and immediately shouted, "How can a Confucian scholar understand military affairs?"

"Really?" Liu Bei sneered, "Confucianism is the foundation of the Han Dynasty. It is the study of classics that helps the world. Who are you to dare to speak so brazenly?"