Three Kingdoms: Rebirth of Liu Bei, the Zhaolie

Deep in the dense forest.

Amidst the sharp "whoosh whoosh whoosh" sound, there were also loud "slap! slap! slap..." sounds.

Immediately following was a man's scream.

It was absolutely heartbreaking.

"Spare me..."

"Just kill me already..."

From afar, Liu Bei could hear these strange noises coming from the depths of the dense forest ahead.

Gradually, we got closer.

Only then did Liu Bei see the source of the sound.

On a large tree at the foot of the mountain.

Wen Xuan, the steward of Qingxi Manor, and his trusted confidant, Wu Guang, were hanging from a thick tree trunk.

Both of them were already covered in blood.

Fresh blood dripped continuously from their drooping toes into the soil.

A tall man wearing a cow-horned hat was wielding a cowhide whip, relentlessly lashing Wen Xuan and Wu Guang.

Upon seeing the ox-horn hat, Liu Bei immediately realized that this person must be the "Ox-Horn General"—Zhang Niujiao—the leader of the White Stone Mountain stronghold mentioned by Wutulu.

This person is indeed Zhang Niujiao.

Around Zhang Niujiao stood four or five men of varying builds. On the outer perimeter, there were more than a dozen young men dressed in tight-fitting clothes, carrying ring-pommel swords, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings, observing the movements around them.

"Brother Sun, Brother Wang!"

Upon seeing Sun Qing and Wang Dang arrive with a large group of people, the young men dressed in tight-fitting clothes greeted them and reported to Zhang Niujiao, "General, they've all arrived."

Zhang Niujiao's nickname is "General Niujiao," but he is usually simply referred to as "General" by the heroes of Baishi Mountain.

Zhang Niujiao, who was whipping Wen Xuan and Wu Guang, turned around.

Liu Bei finally saw with his own eyes Zhang Niujiao, the legendary leader of Baishi Mountain Stronghold and the future commander of the Black Mountain Army.

Zhang Niujiao had thick eyebrows and large eyes, a broad forehead, and a resolute gaze that subtly revealed a fierce and bandit-like air. He had a wide face, a big nose, a wide mouth, and a thick, black beard, exuding a wild aura from head to toe.

He was tall, about eight feet high, with big hands and feet, and well-developed limbs. He wore short clothes, cloth trousers, and straw sandals, looking like a farmer who had been doing manual labor for many years.

Of course, the most eye-catching thing was the so-called "horned hat" he was wearing.

Liu Bei immediately recognized that the hat Zhang Niujiao was wearing did indeed look like a bull's horn hat, but in fact, its scientific name was "Xiezhi crown".

The Xiezhi crown, also known as the legal crown, was a type of crown typically worn by judicial officials in the Han Dynasty, such as censors and court officials.

Because of its single-horn decoration, which resembles a cow's horn, it is also known as the "cow horn hat" among the people.

The Xie Zhi is actually a mythical beast that resembles a Qilin. Its entire body is covered in thick, black fur, but it has a terrifying horn on its forehead.

In ancient myths and legends, the Xie Zhi would usually use its single horn to touch the person who was in the wrong.

Therefore, the Xie Zhi became a symbol of justice, fairness, and uprightness.

During the Han Dynasty, law enforcement officials such as the Court of Justice and the Imperial Censor wore the Xie Zhi crown, which symbolized justice and fierceness, and was used to demonstrate the majesty and integrity of the judiciary.

Liu Bei speculated: The reason why "General Zhang Niujiao" wore the Xie Zhi crown was probably because he saw the injustice in the world and wanted to be a mighty and righteous general to distinguish right from wrong for the people of the world.

As he was lost in thought, he heard Zhang Niujiao's rough voice say:

"Sun Qing, have all the retainers and servants from Qingxi Manor who followed us been dealt with?"

"These bastards who aided and abetted the tyrant have all been killed."

Sun said in a low voice.

Zhang Niujiao nodded, but still asked:

"Why did it take so long? Wasn't it easy to kill?"

Sun Qing hurriedly said:

"There was a swordsman with extremely high martial arts skills; it took some time to kill him."

Zhang Niujiao nodded.

Liu Bei, who was standing nearby, listened to their conversation and felt as if they were discussing slaughtering livestock.

He also felt in his heart that these bandits were indeed somewhat vicious.

As General Zhang Niujiao looked up, he saw Chu Yan and Luo Shi, and said:

"You two have finally decided to rebel. You've delayed for so long. If you hadn't rebelled soon, you would have been conscripted to the border to fight the Xianbei."

Chu Yan sighed and said:

"Yesterday, we received a message from General Niujiao while we were in Ironwall Fortress. We know that you want to plunder the caravan of Qingxi Manor. It's not that we don't want to join the outlaws as soon as possible, but we thought that staying in Ironwall Fortress might be of some use to White Stone Stronghold."

"It is indeed somewhat useful."

Zhang Niujiao murmured, "If it weren't for the intelligence you sent from the military camp, which stopped several of our leaders who had already descended the mountain from heading to Wu's Inn outside the east gate of Zhuo County, we would have been the ones ambushed and annihilated. It's just a pity about Zhao Laoqi, Da Hu, and the dozen or so others. The messenger I sent hadn't even arrived yet, and they were already dead at the inn's entrance. Too late... Alas..."

"Fate is fickle, General, there's no need to be too sad. Since we've become bandits, we've long been prepared to die at any moment. Besides, we've enjoyed ourselves to the fullest before we die. It's not a loss."

Chu Yan thought for a moment, then said, "Now that we've captured Wen Xuan and Wu Guang, and killed more than a dozen retainers and dozens of followers of Qingxi Manor, we've essentially paid the price for Zhao Laoqi and Da Hu's deaths. Next, as long as we kill Wen Xuan and Wu Guang, we'll have avenged Zhao Laoqi and the others. It won't be in vain that we brothers have fought."

Seeing that Luo Shi was injured, Zhang Niujiao hurriedly said:

"Mayor Luo, who slashed your hand?"

"It's nothing, just a minor injury, you won't die."

Luo Shi smiled. "The person who injured me was the swordsman from Qingxi Manor, but he's dead now. My brothers stabbed him more than a dozen times with transparent holes in his body."

"That's good."

Zhang Niujiao said magnanimously, "I really have to thank you two for today's ambush. If it weren't for you two, today's ambush wouldn't have succeeded."

"General, there's no need for such formalities. We've known each other for more than just a day or two. We've been friends for seven or eight years. There's no need for such formalities."

As Chu Yan spoke, she thought for a moment and then said, "I only received the message you secretly sent me yesterday evening."

"It was indeed a bit too rushed."

Zhang Niujiao said somewhat apologetically.

"It's alright. Mayor Luo and I still have time to make arrangements. This morning at breakfast, we even went to Shiwulipu to meet the newly appointed leader, Fifth Guang."

Chu Yan said quietly, "This Fifth Light is indeed very insidious. On the surface, he appears righteous and awe-inspiring, but in reality, he's full of evil intentions. Mayor Luo even suggested that I find a secluded alley and just kill Fifth Light. I was afraid of disrupting your ambush plan, so I didn't agree."

Zhang Niujiao said in a deep voice:

"We should have been the ones to do it. — How did you guys even get here?"

Chu Yan pondered for a moment and said:

"If you were to take action against Wen Xuan and Wu Guang of Qingxi Manor, it would inevitably alert the commander of Tiebiwu Fortress. Zhao Xiang, the head of Qingxi Manor, had already bribed Gongsun Hao, the Commandant of Zhuojun, and Yang Tai, the commander of Tiebiwu Fortress, with Wen Xuan. They are all in cahoots. An hour ago, a retainer from Qingxi Manor indeed arrived at Tiebiwu, reporting that Wen Xuan had been kidnapped by two bandits from Baishi Mountain. So, I went directly to Commander Yang and requested to carry out this pursuit mission. Commander Yang usually admires me, so he agreed. But he also made our squad leader Hu Yong lead the way. Hu Yong usually hates you, so we had no choice but to kill him at the edge of the dense forest to settle things."

"Well done."

Zhang Niujiao shouted, "Those who hate us are either wealthy merchants or powerful landlords. Ordinary common people don't hate us. Because what we do is rob the rich to help the poor."

Chu Yan nodded and said:

"Hu Yong was indeed the son of a powerful family."

Zhang Niujiao then looked at the group of rebel soldiers from Ironwall Dock standing behind Chu Yan and Luo Shi, and asked:

"Chu Yan, are these soldiers who came with you reliable?"

"Of course it's reliable."

Chu Yan glanced back at the dozens of light cavalrymen behind him and said, "These squad leaders are all good friends that Luo Shi and I made in the army. We are willing to share life and death with them. Most of the soldiers under our command have also received our kindness, and some are even willing to die for us. Those who disobeyed us have long been killed by Luo Shi and me. General, you can rest assured."

From the conversation between Zhang Niujiao, Chu Yan, and others, Liu Bei, who was standing to the side, knew that they had known each other for many years.

After Zhang Niujiao joined the bandits on Baishi Mountain, he repeatedly tried to persuade Chu Yan, Luo Shi, and others to join him.

Whether it was the ambush at the Wu family hotel last time or this ambush in the dense forest this time, Chu Yan, Luo Shi and others were secretly involved behind the scenes.

It can be said that Chu Yan and Luo Shi were spies planted by the bandits of Baishi Mountain in the Iron Wall Dock army.

The reason they had to join Baishi Mountain stronghold this time was because they killed their leader, Hu Yong.

Soon, Zhang Niujiao noticed Liu Bei, who had an unusual appearance, in the crowd and asked Sun Qing:

"How come this boy's ears are so big? He's truly an extraordinary person!"

Liu Bei thought to himself: Not only are my ears big, but my arms are also incredibly long.

Sun Qing hurriedly said:

"He is Liu Bei, Liu Xuande, the swordsman who just killed Cuan Heizi of Qingxi Manor with a single sword strike."

"oh."

Zhang Niujiao looked at Liu Bei with great interest, a venomous glint suddenly flashing in his eyes. "Liu Bei... Liu Xuande... so young, yet his swordsmanship is so superb! — He's the one who killed Da Hu, isn't he..."

……

The legendary sheep Jie Zhi could distinguish right from wrong. The King of Chu once captured it and used it as a hat.

—From the Book of the Later Han Dynasty, Treatise on Carriages and Clothing (Part II)