Three Kingdoms: Rebirth of Liu Bei, the Zhaolie

Two halberd-wielding soldiers lifted Zhao Laoqi, who was covered in knife wounds, from the pile of corpses.

Another halberd-shield soldier immediately slapped Zhao Laoqi across the face.

Zhao Laoqi's face was now covered in blood, but he laughed loudly, "After I die, millions of people will rise from the ashes and slaughter you corrupt officials! Hahaha!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was startled.

He knew in his heart that what Zhao Laoqi said was true. Ten years later, the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, and indeed tens of thousands of people rose up, burned government offices, and killed officials.

Could it be that this Zhao Laoqi is a follower of the Way of Peace?

However, Liu Bei reconsidered and completely rejected his idea.

Even if Zhang Jiao, the "Great Teacher of Virtue," had the idea of ​​rebellion in his heart, he would not talk about it to anyone when the time was not right.

At this time, Zhang Jiao had just founded the Way of Great Peace and was spreading his teachings far and wide with talismanic water. He would not have revealed his inner secrets to anyone.

This bandit named Zhao Laoqi from Baishi Mountain was merely an informant and spy sent to Youzhou by the bandit leader. He was probably just a wanderer in the martial world who knew the hardships of the common people and had already foreseen that the world was about to descend into chaos.

Thinking of this, Liu Bei felt relieved.

At this moment, Yang Tai, the commander of the Iron Wall Fortress, sternly addressed Zhao Laoqi:

"Zhao Laoqi, it's not too late to surrender now. If you can atone for your crimes by assisting the government troops in wiping out Baishi Mountain Stronghold, wealth and honor are within your reach. I, Yang Taiding, will not deceive you!"

"Pooh!"

Zhao Laoqi spat in disgust, then turned to the man in the blue turban beside Yang Tai and angrily said, "Fifth Guang, I have never wronged you. I have treated you like a brother. Why did you leak our whereabouts to the government troops? Are high positions and generous salaries really that important?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei looked at the man in the blue turban and learned that his name was Wu Guang.

Fifth is a compound surname.

Like Dongfang, Sima, Dongye, Xinyuan, Wulu, and Xuanyuan, these are common compound surnames in the Han Dynasty.

At the time, it didn't seem strange.

It was just that Liu Bei, coming from modern society, found it somewhat novel.

Fifth Light said in a deep voice:

"I serve the country by eliminating you bandits who treat human life like dirt; this is to rid the people of a scourge. Such an act for the country and the people is certainly not for high office or personal gain. Brother Zhao, you have misunderstood me."

Zhao Laoqi laughed heartily, but his laughter was filled with sorrow:

"Our brotherhood was nothing but a facade. I was too caught up in the act, and now this calamity is hardly a misfortune. You henchmen of the court, why don't you quickly execute me?"

Fifth Light sighed and said:

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If I hadn't colluded with you and called you brothers, how could I have gained your trust, infiltrated your ranks, and wiped you all out here?"

"Okay, okay, okay."

Zhao Laoqi smiled bitterly, "But I also saw through your weakness, so I didn't invite the leaders from the mountain to today's gathering. Although I, Zhao Laoqi, am dead today, the brothers of White Stone Mountain will avenge me. Fifth Light, let's meet in hell. I'll take my leave now."

After saying this, he bit off his tongue and committed suicide.

Fifth Light coldly stared at Zhao Laoqi's limp corpse on the ground, pondered for a moment, and then said to Yang Tai, the commander of Iron Wall Fortress:

"Commander Yangbao, it was my oversight. The intelligence was wrong, and we were unable to kill all the bandit leaders of Baishi Mountain today. I'm afraid the government troops will have to go to Baishi Mountain to suppress the bandits themselves."

"This matter requires further consideration."

Yang Tai pondered for a moment and said.

Liu Bei knew that government troops generally wouldn't enter the Taihang Mountains to suppress bandits. This was because bandits in the Taihang Mountains often held strategic positions, making them virtually impregnable. They also had fortifications that were very difficult to breach. Even if they managed to break through with great effort, the bandits would scatter like birds and beasts and flee far away. They were not worth the government troops' long and arduous expedition.

The costs and benefits are completely mismatched.

Moreover, for the Han Empire at this time, small groups of bandits gathering in the mountains and forests were nothing more than a minor problem, while the Xianbei in the north were a major threat to the Celestial Empire.

At this time, the large bandit groups such as the Black Mountain Army and the White Wave Army, which were active in the Taihang Mountains, had not yet taken shape. The scattered bandits in the mountains were just a few mountain thieves who specialized in murder and robbery.

It wasn't until after the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out that hundreds of thousands of Black Mountain Army and White Wave Army soldiers appeared in the Taihang Mountains, becoming a formidable military force.

During the encirclement and capture operation at Wu Family Inn, the government troops suffered heavy losses due to the fierce resistance from Zhao Laoqi and his men.

The crossbowmen who entered the hotel lobby suffered the most casualties, with more than a dozen being cut down.

Crossbowmen primarily focus on crossbow shooting, with relatively little training in swordsmanship and martial arts. Consequently, they are often caught off guard and unable to react in close combat, sometimes not even knowing how to react.

Typically, swordsmen and shieldmen or halberdiers and shieldmen will lead and protect the archers and crossbowmen, mitigating most of the enemy's attacks. Only when both sides form a tight, seamless formation can they unleash their maximum offensive power.

Therefore, Yang Tai, the commander of the Iron Wall Fortress who was injured in the left leg, immediately and without hesitation reflected to Liang Wu, the subordinate official of the commander, after the battle:

"I was careless in this operation. I thought they were just a few low-level spies and informants, but I didn't expect them to be so fierce. I was caught off guard and they slashed my left calf."

"The Sheepburg general is suffering."

Gongliang Wu comforted him, saying, "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. Commander Yangbao is a man who has returned from a fierce battle on the border, so it's understandable that he looks down on these mountain bandits. Even I look down on these White Stone Mountain bandits. They were just fighting to the death here because they didn't want to be captured. Fortunately, they fulfilled their mission and have killed them all. — It's all thanks to this young man who stepped in at the crucial moment and killed the fiercest bandit with a single blow."

As he spoke, he steered the conversation toward Liu Bei, thereby easing Yang Tai's embarrassment.

At this moment, Cheng Xiao, the eastern border guard of Zhuo County, Liu Bao, the southern border guard, Liu Ping, the head of Lousangting Pavilion, and Liu Buyi, who had been watching the battle for a long time, all gathered around.

"Report to the clerk that this young man is the most outstanding member of the Liu family of Zhuo County. His surname is Liu, his given name is Bei, and his courtesy name is Xuande."

Cheng Xiao had a big smile on his face.

"The Liu family of Zhuoxian..."

Liang Wu, a clerk in the Commandant's Office, pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Could it be the Liu family of Zhuo County, who claim to be descendants of Prince Jing of Zhongshan and great-great-grandsons of Emperor Xiaojing?"

"This is the house," Cheng Xiao said, bowing.

Gongliang Wu couldn't help but look at Liu Bei with new respect:

"As expected of a descendant of royalty, your swordsmanship is truly superb! I will remember you. Today, you helped the government troops to quell the bandits of Baishi Mountain. In addition to rewarding you handsomely with money and silk, if you ever need my help in the future, just come to the Fangcheng County Commandant's Office and find me, Gongliang Wu."

Liu Bei immediately bowed in respect:

"Thank you, clerk. Liu Bei was only doing his best to rid the people of harm and serve the country."

Fortress Commander Yang Tai also greatly admired Liu Bei, and was secretly delighted, saying in a carefree manner:

"Liu Xuande, your martial arts are so superb. If you wish to join the army and continue serving the country, you can come to Tiebiwu in Shiwulipu to find me. Currently, the Xianbei are frequently harassing the border, and the troops stationed in Tiebiwu may be conscripted at any time and sent to Yuyang to defend against the enemy. At that time, there will be plenty of opportunities to make meritorious contributions."

Liu Bei pondered for a moment and said:

"Commander Rong Xuande considered the matter carefully before making a decision."

……

During the reign of Emperor Ling, the border prefectures of You, Bing, and Liang provinces were raided by the Xianbei every year, resulting in countless deaths and atrocities. Xia Yu, the Protector of the Wuhuan, petitioned to mobilize troops from the prefectures of You province to march beyond the border and attack the Xianbei.

—From the "Biography of the Wuhuan and Xianbei" in the Book of the Later Han Dynasty