Three Kingdoms: Rebirth of Liu Bei, the Zhaolie

Would you be willing to help us?

Liu Bei asked tentatively.

Yang Feng pondered:

"That depends on what kind of help it is."

Liu Bei said in a deep voice:

"We want these gossipy retainers of Qingxi Manor to leave. To be honest, we don't want to make enemies with Qingxi Manor."

Yang Feng said quietly:

"It won't be easy for you gentlemen to persuade these guests to leave Qingxi Manor willingly. Their food and clothing are all provided by the head of the family, Lord Zhao. To be honest, Lord Zhao has treated us very well."

Liu Bei countered with a question:

"Lord Zhao has treated you well, yet you keep causing him trouble?"

Yang Feng hurriedly said:

"Zhang Hun provoked us first. Originally, Wen Xuan also wanted to get along peacefully with Zhang Hun. But he kept targeting us. Qingxi Manor was forced to retaliate."

Liu Bei said coldly:

"You've all seen the results of Qingxi Manor's counterattack."

Yang Feng also said coldly:

"Lord Zhao will absolutely not let the bandits of Baishi Mountain go."

Liu Bei nodded and said:

"I do believe that. Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. You can go and seek revenge on the bandits of White Stone Mountain. But to keep targeting us... that's something I don't quite understand."

Yang Fengdao:

"They have always suspected that you guys are spies for the bandits of Baishi Mountain."

Liu Bei smiled helplessly:

"Produce concrete evidence before you say we are informants for the bandits of Baishi Mountain."

Yang Feng nodded:

"Right now, they don't have any concrete evidence. But they definitely won't let you off the hook. If you want to get rid of them, just tell me what you need me to do. I really feel bad for Zuo Zi."

Zuo Zi also looked apologetic:

"If that's what you're saying, then I do feel somewhat sorry for Zhang Hun."

Liu Bei silently observed the expression on Yang Feng's face, trying to determine the truth of her feelings.

Through careful observation, he discovered that Yang Feng did indeed feel apologetic towards Zuo Zi and wanted to make amends by doing something.

Furthermore, there was no hostility in Yang Feng's eyes when she looked at them. It was very sincere.

Liu Bei still had considerable faith in his ability to judge people.

Even in his previous life, he could see that Ma Su was "more talk than action and not worthy of important positions," and before his death, he specifically reminded Zhuge Liang, "You should observe him carefully."

Unfortunately, Zhuge Liang did not heed Liu Bei's advice.

Now, having been reborn and infused with the soul of a modern person, he has become far more adept at recognizing and understanding people.

After talking with Yang Feng, Liu Bei was able to conclude that this man could be trusted.

This ability to judge people is like a golden finger that God gave him after his rebirth.

But it is also the sharp insight he gained after a lifetime of conquering the world and seeing countless people.

After pondering for a while...

Liu Bei just said:

"From now on, we don't want to have any further involvement with Qingxi Manor. However, we are still very wary of the remaining few retainers. So, we want to force them to leave."

"Now, what we want your help with is to place five bloody dog ​​heads in their beds while these five retainers are fast asleep."

"We will write on hemp cloth with dog blood the words 'You must leave Zhuojun within two days and Youji within ten days, or we will take your dog's life.'"

"Then, place the linen cloth with the words written in blood beside their bed. And stick a dagger in it."

This is a Mafia intimidation tactic he learned from the movie "The Godfather".

Liu Bei couldn't think of a good way to force these retainers to leave You and Ji provinces, so he could only try these underworld methods first.

After listening, Yang Feng pondered for a moment and said:

"Placing a dog's head, a dagger, and threatening letters in their most private bedroom can indeed intimidate them. Imagine if I woke up early in the morning and saw these things, I would also touch my neck for no reason to see if my head was still there."

Liu Bei said in a deep voice:

"It would be best if we could frighten them. I just want those few retainers to leave You and Ji provinces as soon as possible before the new steward of Qingxi Manor arrives."

I thought about it.

Liu Bei then said:

"Of course, in order to prevent you from being exposed, you should also place dog heads, daggers, and threatening letters in your bed."

"And when you wake up the next morning, you can pretend to be panicked and tell them that it was an assassin sent by the bandits of White Stone Mountain. And advise everyone to do as they say and leave immediately. Otherwise, they might be killed in their sleep."

"That is one method."

Yang Feng pondered, "But what if they don't leave, but instead strengthen their defenses and prepare to fight to the end? Would you really infiltrate Qingxi Manor and kill them?"

"To be merciful to the enemy is to be cruel to oneself."

Liu Bei said in a deep voice, "If they don't leave and continue to target us, then we have no choice but to strike first, infiltrate Qingxi Manor, and kill them to end the matter once and for all."

Yang Feng reminds:

"Qingxi Manor is built on Fuluo Hill, with towering walls and tight gates, making it difficult to sneak in."

Liu Bei looked at Yang Feng and smiled, saying:

"Isn't that what we need? We can disguise ourselves as servants of Qingxi Manor, follow behind you, infiltrate the fortified village, and then assassinate these retainers in the middle of the night."

"You...I..."

Yang Feng hesitated.

"What, you're not willing to help us?"

Liu Bei asked.

Yang Feng sighed:

"I can help you, but only if it means helping you kill someone..."

Liu Bei reminded him:

"...Think about how Zuo Zi helped you out of friendship. Think about Zhang Hun, who trusted Zuo Zi implicitly but died tragically in the Wild Boar Forest. Think about how ashamed Zuo Zi felt because of Zhang Hun's death..."

"Alright! You don't need to say anything more. I'll help you out when the time comes."

Yang Feng couldn't take it anymore.

He was also suffering internally.

Indeed, it was he who caused Zuo Zi to betray his friend's trust, feel ashamed to face people, and even find it difficult to live a decent life.

So, who will trust Zuo Zi in the future and entrust him with confidential matters?

Zuo Zi was willing to do anything for Yang Feng's safety.

Seeing Yang Feng's pained expression, Liu Bei knew that he had touched a nerve.

At that moment, he remained outwardly calm and addressed the crowd:

"Alright. Next, we'll immediately prepare six bloody dog ​​heads, six daggers, and six pieces of burlap. Be quick! Everything must be ready before sunset."

He immediately assigned tasks.

Tell Zhangba to take the money Qianzhao gave him to the blacksmith shop and get six daggers.

Send Wutulu to the dog meat shop to buy six dog heads.

Have Zuo Zhi find the linen.

Everyone went about their own business.

soon.

They were all ready before sunset.

He wrapped all the prepared items tightly in black cloth and handed them to Yang Feng to take back to Qingxi Manor.

Before Yang Feng left, Liu Bei gave him some detailed instructions, telling him to get the other five servants drunk as discreetly as possible to make things easier at night.

After seeing Yang Feng off, it was already sunset.

Whether in Zhuoxian town or Lousangli, they all close before dark.

So the group decided to spend the night at Zuo Zi's house.

Zuo Zi's family was relatively poor.

Liu Bei then had him set up a large communal bed with wooden planks and stones, and everyone slept together in it.

The blacksmith Zhangba was inexplicably attracted by Liu Bei's aura, and instead of returning to his blacksmith shop, he stayed overnight at Zuo Zi's house.

Geng Yong and Wutulu did not mind the simple accommodations.

Qian Zhao and Zhang Fei came from wealthy families and were naturally not used to staying there, but they could manage to make do for one night.

After nightfall.

None of them could sleep.

They chatted idly together in the dark.

Zhang Ba was very interested in Liu Bei and kept asking him questions:

"While I was busy this afternoon, Yang Feng told me that your swordsmanship is superb. Could you teach me?"

Liu Bei laughed and said:

"Of course. If you're willing to learn, I'll start teaching you tomorrow. The koto field in the Zuo Zi family's backyard is so big, we'll practice our martial arts there. By the way, why do you want to learn swordsmanship?"

Zhang Ba gave a light snort and said:

"There was a sixteen-year-old boy who came to me every day to wrestle sumo. Every time, I was thrown to the ground, which made everyone laugh."

Liu Bei laughed and said:

"Then I can teach you some martial arts first, so you can defeat this boy. But then again, you're nine feet tall, how come you can't even beat a boy in a fight?"

Zhangba said irritably:

"Because that boy was also nearly nine feet tall, only a little shorter than me, and not as strong as me."

"oh."

Liu Bei's interest was piqued. "Which village does this nine-foot-tall boy belong to? I've never heard of him before."

Zhangba Road:

"He's not from Zhuo County. I heard he came from Jie County in Hedong Commandery under the jurisdiction of the Sili Commandant."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei sat up in a start, thinking to himself: Could it be Guan Yu...?

……

Don't try to judge whether what you're doing is reasonable. They can't judge. Just do your thing.

—A line from the movie "The Godfather"