Brother, stop curling up! You're curling up like the founder of the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 100 Liu Bei Shows Off His Power, the Western Garden Soldiers Are Too Eager to Advance (Seeking Follow-Up and Monthly Tickets)
Outside Mei County.

The local gentry returned.

"Brother Fa, the three-day period has come to an end, and you must give us a definite answer." The hero Lu Fang shouted loudly, and more than ten heroes behind him echoed his words.

Although these powerful men each had their own businesses and private armies, they lacked a reputation. If they could not be led by an unnamed leader, they would be considered to be rebelling with their own troops.

But with Fa Yan taking the lead, things were different. Fa Yan could represent the powerful figures of Fufeng to negotiate with Liu Bei in order to maintain the interests of the powerful figures in Fufeng.

Even if Liu Bei were to get angry, he would only execute Fa Yan, the ringleader, as a warning to others.

At this time, the local gentry had a reason to "punish the treacherous officials." In the past, when Bian Zhang, Han Sui and others rebelled, they also used the banner of "punishing the eunuchs."

As long as there is a legitimate reason for the attack, it is possible to win over or coerce more powerful figures and ordinary people.

Fa Yan is very indignant now.

Fa Zheng left a note and ran away; there has been no news of him since.

Now the local strongmen want him to lead the opposition against Liu Bei.

Can this end be led?

If I take the lead, not only will I lose my life, but my son Fazheng may also lose his.

Why should my son and I lose our lives for your own benefit?
However, unlike Fazheng, who was young and impetuous, Fayan was older, with more constraints and concerns.

Having studied Confucianism for many years, Fa Yan was also taught that one should be patient when necessary, for a small lack of patience can ruin a great plan.

Looking at the cheering crowd, Fa Yan forced a smile: "Gentlemen, this matter needs further consideration."

“Brother Fa, you are mistaken! Liu Bei is fond of killing and greedy for money. The virtuous officials and clerks of Fufeng County were not only arbitrarily killed by Liu Bei, but their family property was also seized. Such evil deeds are intolerable to Heaven!”

“When your father, Master Fa, was alive, he was extremely righteous and hated evil. We all admired him greatly. Brother Fa has inherited Master Fa’s family tradition and should follow his example to seek justice for us.”

"Liu Bei is just a military man who became the governor of Yongzhou by sheer luck, yet he dares to humiliate us. How despicable! It is only natural for so many officials in Fufeng County to occasionally receive gifts. Does Liu Bei want to maintain a reputation for integrity and honesty so that everyone has to suffer?"

“Liu Bei is a mere charlatan who seeks fame and fortune. Brother Fa, do not be afraid. As long as you nod, we will do whatever you say, whether it is money, provisions, or troops.”

"."

The crowd grew increasingly excited, almost to the point of urging Fa Yan to declare himself general and lead troops to attack Liu Bei.

Fa Yan became increasingly frustrated as he listened.

If you want me dead, just say so. I'll just slit my throat.

Just as Fa Yan was wondering how to deal with the situation, a servant came to Lu Fang in surprise and exclaimed, "Master, something terrible has happened! A lot of cavalry have come to the village entrance!"

Lu Fang and the others all changed their expressions drastically.

Before anyone could react, a cavalryman carrying a large banner with the character "Liu" had already galloped over.

This man had an extremely fierce appearance, resembling the ancient evil spirit, and was none other than Dian Wei, Liu Bei's scribe in the central army.

Dian Wei was a fierce and powerful general, and the Ferghana horse he rode was a fine horse from the Western Regions, exceptionally strong and powerful. Facing more than ten heroes alone, he was like a tree seeing an ant.

"Lord Liu of Yongzhou has come to pay homage to Master Xuande. All unauthorized persons, please leave immediately. Anyone who disturbs Lord Liu will be sentenced to death!"

How terrifying could the roar of a fierce man who could chase a tiger across a ravine be?
Lu Fang and the others felt as if their eardrums were being pricked with needles.

What a scoundrel!

These are the fierce warriors under Liu Bei's command?
This was the first time anyone had encountered a warrior of Dian Wei's caliber. They instinctively compared him to their own private soldiers, retainers, and chivalrous followers, and a chill ran down their spines.

Once again, Lu Fang and the others were terrified by Dian Wei's fierce gaze and hurriedly retreated to the side, leaving only Fa Yan behind.

Seeing that Fa Yan had not left, Dian Wei had a guess in mind and asked, "Are you, sir, the son of Master Xuande?"

Fa Yan was also terrified by Dian Wei's ferocity and hurriedly replied, "My name is Fa Yan, and I am here to observe mourning for my late father. May I ask how you are addressed, brave warrior?"

Dian Wei laughed and said, "I am Dian Wei from Chenliu. Lord Liu gave me the courtesy name Wenwei. I am currently a clerk in the central army under Lord Liu."

Book, clerk?

Whether it was Fa Yan or Lu Fang and other heroes, they all looked at Dian Wei in astonishment.

This fierce warrior, more ferocious than a bear or tiger, was actually a clerk.
Upon considering the characters in Wenwei's courtesy name, everyone found it even more unbelievable.

Fa Yan suppressed his astonishment and asked, "May I ask the clerk, do you know why Lord Liu has come to pay respects to my late father? I have never met Lord Liu before."

What Fa Yan asked was also what Lu Fang and the others wanted to know.

Or perhaps, Fa Yan's last statement about not knowing Liu Bei was deliberately meant for Lu Fang and the others to hear.

Dian Wei glanced at Lu Fang and the others, then raised his head and said, "Sir, are you unaware that your son is now a disciple of Lord Liu?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the whole place was in an uproar.

"How is that possible? When did that brat Fazheng become Liu Bei's disciple?"

"This is a serious matter. Fa Zheng has become Liu Bei's disciple. How can we still use Fa Zhen's name under our guise?"

"Damn it! Why would Liu Bei suddenly accept Fa Zheng as his disciple?"

"I know now, it must have been Fa Yan who instigated this! What a cunning Fa Yan! He deliberately claimed he needed three days to consider it, but secretly sent Fa Zheng to seek out Liu Bei as his disciple. Now he's pretending not to know anything—he's truly treacherous!"

"."

Lu Fang stared grimly at Fa Yan, who looked completely bewildered, his fingernails digging into his palms in anger.

That bastard Fa Yan, how dare he deceive me!
Do you really think I wouldn't dare touch you just because you're Fazhen's son?

Killing you is as easy as crushing an insect for me!
Lu Fang and the others were filled with resentment, while Fa Yan was truly bewildered at this moment.

My son went out for a while and came back as Liu Yongzhou's disciple?
"Was the clerk just joking?" Fa Yan asked cautiously.

Dian Wei laughed and said, "Whether it's a joke or not, we'll find out soon enough."

As they were talking...

More than ten riders arrived from behind.

The leader was Liu Bei, and Fa Zheng rode with him.

Seeing Fa Zheng riding alongside Liu Bei, Fa Yan was even more alarmed.

“Teacher, it’s that group of people who came to block the door at my grandfather’s grave three days ago. They are truly hateful.” Fa Zheng’s eyes were red.

With a personality that clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment and is vengeful, Fa Zheng naturally refused to let the matter rest after being humiliated by a group of powerful bandits who blocked his door.

"Since you're here, don't leave. Leave them here." Liu Bei waved his hand, and more than ten cavalrymen rode out to surround Lu Fang and his men.

Dian Wei also spurred his horse and shouted, "Lord Liu has ordered that you all remain where you are and not move rashly. Anyone who disobeys will be considered an accomplice of the Liangzhou rebels and will be executed without mercy!" A strong chill rose from the feet of Lu Fang and the others. Looking at the fierce cavalrymen, no one dared to make a move.

Lu Fang and the others couldn't help but feel annoyed. They should have run away when Dian Wei cleared the area earlier, otherwise they wouldn't have been surrounded here.

However, while the idea is good, it is impractical.

Liu Bei's cavalry had long been stationed on the outskirts, and without Liu Bei's permission, none of Lu Fang and the others could leave!

"My son, what exactly is going on?" Fa Yan called over Fa Zheng and asked in a low voice.

Fa Zheng laughed, “Father said before that since he had never met Magistrate Liu and was not a famous scholar from Fufeng, Magistrate Liu would not trust him or employ him. He also said that he was in mourning and could not leave easily, and Magistrate Liu would not come to Mei County in person. But now that Magistrate Liu has come in person, what doubts does Father still have?”

Fa Yan asked anxiously, "I didn't ask that. I meant, how did you become Lord Liu's disciple?"

Fa Zheng bowed to Fa Zhen's tombstone and said, "Thanks to my late grandfather's good fortune, Magistrate Liu admired my late grandfather's virtuous reputation and pitied me for losing my grandfather at a young age, so he recognized me as his disciple."

Fa Yan's expression became complicated, and he was speechless for a moment.

Seeing this, Fazheng said again, "Father, I said it long ago. This is to use 'Xuande' to respond to 'Xuande,' and to continue the family's reputation with prophecies! Father, to help him is to carry on Grandfather's will and to act in accordance with Heaven and the people! What is there to hesitate about now?"

Fa Yan sighed.

Now that things have come to this, regardless of whether Fa Yan agrees or not, he can no longer shake off the label of being part of Liu Bei's faction.

Now that Fa Zheng has become Liu Bei's disciple, who in Fufeng County would still believe that Fa Yan has no connection with Liu Bei?
“Fu Feng Fa Yan pays his respects to Prefect Liu.”

far away.

Seeing Lu Fang and the others chatting happily with Liu Bei, he was both angry and helpless.

Having terrorized Fufeng for years, he is now being treated like a dog, which is incredibly frustrating.

It wasn't until Liu Bei had paid homage to Fa Zhen that he came to see Lu Fang and the others.

"Are you the ones who have humiliated my students?"

Liu Bei rode up on his horse, looking down at the scene, and immediately defined the nature of the matter.

Lu Fang's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly said, "Reporting to Governor Liu, we did not insult the Dharma Lord. It was a misunderstanding. Please, Governor Liu, understand."

"Hmph!" Liu Bei snorted coldly: "If I don't trust my disciples, do you think I would trust you? You know you're wrong but don't admit it, and you even dare to use clever words to argue. I now suspect that you are colluding with the Liangzhou rebels, intending to kidnap the descendants of famous scholars and do something unethical. Guards, take them all back to the county town."

All the heroes were horrified.

It's true that we wanted to coerce the descendants of famous scholars and carry out wicked deeds, but how did that make us collude with the Liangzhou rebels?

"If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext! Liu Yongzhou is framing us like this, isn't he afraid that the people of the prefecture will all resent him?" Lu Fang shouted angrily.

Liu Bei stared coldly at Lu Fang: "It seems you are very dissatisfied. You are confident that I have no evidence to convict you, but as a powerful bandit in Mei County, you have committed many illegal and disorderly acts over the years, including seizing land and houses, forcibly taking slaves and farmers, and oppressing the good people. A few of these acts alone would be enough to sentence you to death."

"We're all sensible people, so let's not play these meaningless tricks. I don't have the time or energy to investigate every single crime you've committed. I am the Governor of Yongzhou, holding supreme military and political power over the province. With the special permission of the Emperor, I can execute first and report later."

“Conviction requires evidence, but suppression only requires location.”

Lu Fang looked terrified, having never seen someone so righteously utter the phrase "if you want to find fault, you can always find a reason."

It was only then that Lu Fang realized that Liu Bei had no intention of following the normal procedures at all.

For Liu Bei, the fields and houses that Lu Fang and others had seized over the years, as well as the slaves they had forcibly taken, were far more valuable than Lu Fang and his men themselves.

"Lord Liu, everything is negotiable. I am willing to donate my entire fortune, I only ask for my life!"

“Lord Liu, we were all forced by Lu Fang. We did not collude with the Liangzhou rebels.”

"Yes, we were forced by Lu Fang, Lord Liu, you are wise!"

“Lord Liu, just state your conditions, and we are willing to comply.”

"."

Feeling threatened with death, the heroes begged for mercy while shifting blame, and Lu Fang, who was in the lead, was so angry at the blame-shifting by those behind him that he was dizzy.

We agreed to stand together through thick and thin, and this is how you treat me?

"A disorganized mess," Liu Bei scoffed.

Compared to the notorious bandits of Runan, the bandits of Fufeng were far inferior.

"Since you all believe you were forced by Lu Fang, once you arrive in the county town, sign and affix your fingerprints to identify Lu Fang, so that no one will object."

This simple sentence once again prompted the powerful figures behind Lu Fang to begin accusing him, wishing they could pin all the blame on him.

Lu Fang, who had been subjected to much criticism, was so angry that he couldn't speak.

however.

Just when the assembled heroes thought the matter was over, Liu Bei, who was halfway there, suddenly changed his mind: "I have thought about it carefully just now. If we really use fabricated charges, it would be unfair. I have always advocated the rule of law, and I cannot arbitrarily judge people based on my personal likes and dislikes. You may all leave now."

go?
The assembled heroes looked at each other in bewilderment.

Lu Fang clenched his fists, his face darkening as he looked at Liu Bei.

With just a small divisive tactic, more than ten people on our side turned against each other.

Forget about banding together to negotiate with Liu Bei; they'll probably have to secretly try to curry favor with him from now on.

Seeing the undisguised hatred in Lu Fang's eyes, Liu Bei lashed out with his whip and mocked, "You're not convinced? I can't even be bothered to lay a hand on a stupid thief like you. Do you really think you're worthy of my sending troops to quell the rebellion?"

Then, Liu Bei turned to the bewildered and uncertain heroes and said, "The reason I only dealt with the officials of the counties and not you is not because I was unaware of your lawlessness and disorder, but because Heaven cherishes life and I am willing to give you a chance to correct your mistakes and start anew."

"After you return, return all the fields and houses that you have seized over the years, as well as the slaves and farmers that you have forcibly taken, to the county. Then disband your private army, retainers, and knights-errant, and I will forgive and forget your past misdeeds."

"Anyone who does not comply will be considered a traitor. When I speak reason, you all had better listen to me; if you refuse to listen, well, my two thousand Xiyuan soldiers are too eager for advancement and are already itching to kill the enemy and make merits."

Liu Bei's tone was not loud, and his speech was not fast, but to Lu Fang and the others, it was like a cold blade held to their necks.

Watching Liu Bei ride away, Lu Fang and the others remained speechless for a long time.

Only after all the figures had disappeared did someone collapse to the ground, gasping for breath.

"A bunch of good-for-nothings! You think you can shift all the blame to me and then Liu Bei won't touch you? If you return all the fields and houses you've seized over the years, and the slaves you've forcibly taken, to the county, and disband your private armies, retainers, and knights-errant, you'll all be left to till the land yourselves and rely on the heavens for your livelihood. Not only that, those you used to oppress will think they have Liu Bei backing them up and turn around and oppress you. Liu Bei hasn't left you any way out at all." Lu Fang coldly mocked the crowd.

After being ridiculed by Lu Fang, one of the heroes angrily said, "Lu Fang, stop with your sarcastic remarks. If you have a good plan, just say so; if you don't, then leave. What do you care if we live or die?"

The other heroes also spoke up, some expressing concern, others criticizing, creating a chaotic scene.

Looking at the crowd who had completely lost their trust, Lu Fang took a deep breath and said, "Since Liu Bei says that we are colluding with the Liangzhou rebels, wouldn't we be letting down this accusation if we didn't collude?"

"Although the rebel leader Wang Guo is dead, Han Sui and others have elected Yan Zhong, the former magistrate of Xindu County and a renowned scholar from Liangzhou, as their leader to command the various forces. If we act as inside agents to lure Han Sui and his men into Chang'an, we can capture and kill Liu Bei!"

(End of this chapter)