Three Kingdoms: Rebirth of Liu Bei, the Zhaolie

Watching the fierce figures of Zhang Niujiao, Chu Yan, and the other bandits from Baishi Mountain disappear into the dense forest ahead.

Liu Bei immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Before leaving, Zhang Niujiao specifically reminded Liu Bei: If anyone asks, just blame it on the heroes of Baishi Mountain Stronghold; they are not afraid.

Thinking of this, he sighed inwardly.

The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance.

Until it disappeared without a sound.

Liu Bei suddenly felt that the surrounding mountains and forests were extremely quiet.

The owl's cry sounded like a lament.

Standing in the dense forest filled with the stench of blood, everyone looked around and couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spines.

Looking at the corpses scattered in the dense forest, Liu Bei felt as if he had been transported to another world.

A vibrant life, in the blink of an eye, has lost its vitality and will soon become food for insects and ants in the soil.

Geng Yong's voice trembled slightly:

"Xuande, let's get out of here quickly."

This was the first time he had ever seen so many corpses in his entire life.

Liu Bei knew his childhood friend very well.

He glanced at Geng Yong, Qian Zhao, Zhang Fei, and Wutulu, and pondered for a moment before saying:

"Before we leave, we need to agree on our story. After all, many people at Qingxi Manor saw the five of us and followed us into this dense forest."

Qian Zhao nodded and said:

"Yes, all the retainers and servants who came with Qingxi Manor died in the dense forest, while we are perfectly fine. What should we say when the county magistrate or the patrolmen ask?"

Zhang Fei, like a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger, seemed completely unfazed. Upon hearing this, he immediately replied:

"That's easy to say. This has nothing to do with us. It was the bandits from White Stone Mountain and the retainers of Qingxi Manor who clashed in this dense forest. Although the five of us came along, we didn't help either side."

Wutulu also nodded and said:

"Yes, we're just here to watch the fun."

Geng Yong frowned and said:

"You're oversimplifying things... Sun Qing and Wang Dang, those two bandits from White Stone Mountain, went to Qingxi Manor with us! How do you explain that?"

With a serious expression, Liu Bei exhaled two breaths from his nostrils.

He looked up at the sky, thought for a moment, and then said:

"If I said I met Sun Qing and Wang Dang this morning on Wild Wolf Ridge near Dashulou Sangli, would the county magistrate or the patrol officers believe me?"

"Ugh."

Geng Yong sighed, "Xuande, Xuande, haven't you gotten yourself into another bloody mess? Even if you tell the truth, the county magistrate might believe you. But the retainers at Qingxi Manor probably won't. Wen Xuan and Wu Guang are dead, and Zhao Xiang will send a new steward..."

"good."

Qian Zhao also said worriedly, "Brother Xuande, I'm afraid you'll run into new trouble. The county magistrate or the patrol officer might let you off the hook, but the new steward of Qingxi Manor, instigated by those retainers, certainly won't let you off easily."

"I had already thought of that."

Liu Bei sneered and scoffed, "I'm not even afraid of Zhao Zhong, the eunuch in the deep palace of Luoyang, so why would I be afraid of these Tom, Dick, and Harry who are attached to him? Let them make their moves!"

Zhang Fei puffed out his chest:

"Xuande, from this day forward, the Zhang family of Zhuo County will stand by your side."

"Thank you! — Yide..."

Knowing that Zhang Fei was young and might speak recklessly, Liu Bei asked him, "When you return to Peach Blossom Village, how will you tell your people about what happened today?"

Zhang Fei immediately said:

"That was all done by the bandits of White Stone Mountain. None of the five of us participated; we just came to watch the show."

Liu Bei asked:

"Since you came to watch the spectacle, what did you see? What did you hear?"

Zhang Fei hesitated for a moment, then immediately said:

"The two groups were fighting fiercely, with swords, bows, and crossbows all at once. We could only watch from a distance and couldn't hear their conversation at all."

"And what about the light cavalry that came from Ironwall Fortress?"

Liu Bei asked.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei frowned slightly:

"After the light cavalry from Ironwall Fortress arrived, they joined the melee. As the fighting progressed, the various groups chased each other and disappeared from sight. We didn't continue the pursuit either. Besides, we couldn't catch up with the galloping horses anyway."

Liu Bei then asked:

"Then why did the bandits from White Stone Mountain kill all the retainers and servants of Qingxi Manor, but not the five of us?"

Zhang Fei thought for a moment, then pondered and said:

"We revealed our civilian identities to the bandits of White Stone Mountain. They rob the rich to help the poor and won't harm ordinary people. Besides, the only grudge between the bandits of White Stone Mountain and Qingxi Manor is that of us. We have never provoked them."

Liu Bei then said:

"The people of Qingxi Manor will say that Liu Bei colluded with bandits, conspired with the bandits of Baishi Mountain, and set up a vicious plan to ambush the retainers of Qingxi Manor in this dense forest. His crime is unforgivable."

Zhang Fei countered:

"What evidence do the people from Qingxi Manor have? If they have no evidence, then they are just making baseless accusations!"

Liu Bei said in a deep voice:

"Everyone at Qingxi Manor saw that Sun Qing and Wang Dang came with me."

Zhang Fei then said:

"That's right. But you didn't know Sun Qing and Wang Dang's identities at first; you just thought they were ordinary wandering knights. You were deceived by them. They used you."

"it is good."

Liu Bei nodded. "Everyone, let's stick to the same line we just discussed and stick to the same story. Don't worry about whether they believe us or not. Let's just say this for now. Anyway, they can't get any concrete evidence to prove we're colluding with the bandits."

"Alright. That's the only way."

After some discussion, the five people finally reached a consensus.

Liu Bei first had Wutulu lead Zhang Fei out of the dense forest, and then try to take a secluded path back to Peach Blossom Village.

He and Geng Yong escorted Qian Zhao, deliberately acting as if they were in a hurry, and took the main road back to Shiwulipu.

Along the way, they told everyone they met, "There was a murder in the woods."

Passersby were terrified and dared not move into the dense forest.

After Liu Bei, Geng Yong, and Qian Zhao returned to Shiwulipu, they first went back to the tavern where they had breakfast that morning and found Qian Zhao's white horse in the stable.

Then, he told Qian Zhao to ride back to his own silk shop, Ruijinfang, in Zhuoxian County to rest properly.

After seeing Qian Zhao off.

It was already afternoon.

Liu Bei and Geng Yong then went around the main street of Shiwulipu, asking everyone they met about the whereabouts of Mao Wei, the northern border guard of Zhuo County, and Cheng Xiao, the eastern border guard.

Zhuo County Magistrate Xue You ordered Mao Wei and Cheng Xiao to go on patrol to investigate the death of Zhang Hun.

Before Zhang Hun was killed, his main area of ​​activity was Shiwulipu.

Liu Bei guessed that the two patrolmen, Mao Wei and Cheng Xiao, would definitely come to Shiwulipu to investigate and question everyone who knew Zhang Hun, just as he had suggested yesterday.

soon.

Someone then informed Liu Bei that two patrolmen, Mao Wei and Cheng Xiao, were investigating at the Chang Le Inn in Shiwulipu.

So Liu Bei and Geng Yong quickly found the Chang Le Inn.

Mao Wei, the northern patrol officer, and Cheng Xiao, the eastern patrol officer, were leading a dozen or so officials and soldiers, carefully questioning the occupants of each guest room.

"Cheng Youjiao, Mao Youjiao, something terrible has happened!"

As soon as Liu Bei and Geng Yong entered the Chang Le Inn, they shouted loudly.

Everyone in the inn couldn't help but look at the two of them.

Cheng Youjiao turned around and saw that it was Liu Bei. He quickly asked:

"Xuande!? What happened?"

Liu Bei said in a panic:

"In a dense forest several dozen miles southeast of Shiwulipu, the bandits of Baishi Mountain and the retainers of Qingxi Manor have just clashed, and many people have died on both sides. You two patrolmen should quickly take your men to take a look."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiao was shocked and his eyes widened as he looked at Mao Wei beside him.

Mao Wei also looked very serious, clearly surprised.

"How did those two groups end up fighting?"

Mao Wei looked puzzled.

Cheng Xiao quickly replied:

"In that case, Xuande, please take us there to have a look."

"it is good."

So Liu Bei and Geng Yong led the way, leading Cheng Xiao, Mao Wei and others, and quickly headed towards the dense forest where the battle had just taken place.

At this moment, the dense forest was still filled with a strong stench of blood.

As the wind blows and the grass and trees sway, it seems as if ghostly figures flash by, giving one a chilling feeling.

Sensing the chilling murderous intent in the wind, Cheng Xiao and Mao Wei both drew their ring-pommel swords from their waists to bolster their courage.

While examining the corpses on the ground, Cheng Xiao asked Liu Bei:

"What exactly happened?"

Liu Bei then quickly repeated what he and the other five had discussed in the dense forest.

"Xuande, Xuande, so it seems... you're still involved in this matter... As the patrol officer of the east, I still have to bring you back to the county office!"

Cheng Xiao looked sharply at Liu Bei.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei sighed silently to himself.

At this moment, he felt as if he were sinking into a quagmire filled with sewage and sand, getting deeper and deeper, unable to extricate himself.

……

Rivers and lakes harbor filth, mountains and forests conceal disease, and even the finest gems hide their flaws.

—Zuo Zhuan, Duke Xuan, Year 18