Chapter 84: Liu Bei, Your Wives Have Been Given Away

Han, the land of a hundred counties.

As the sun sets, the sound of firecrackers can be heard from time to time. Countless impoverished people hope their hardships will soon pass, longing for a life of peace and prosperity.

The firecrackers, too, are a way to usher out the old and welcome the new.

According to legend, their sound drives away evil beasts, blessing the people with better days to come.

The passing of New Year's Eve heralds the arrival of spring. For the common folk, spring is a season of heavy labor, yet also one filled with hope.

Every household is diligently preparing for the upcoming spring plowing, the key to whether they will go hungry or not. All they hope for is timely wind and rain.

—

Shouchun, the Governor’s mansion.

At this moment, civil and military officials are gathered.

Chu Feng slowly laid down the official documents and asked, “How did the people fare this New Year’s Eve across the land?”

“Master’s benevolence has blessed the people. How could they not fare well? Yet this generosity has left the treasury empty and depleted our wealth,” Liu Ye replied.

“Take from the people, use for the people!” Chu Feng waved his hand. He used his own money to stabilize prices, naturally incurring losses. While other lords merely refrain from draining their subjects, he bleeds for them.

“Master, to take from the people and use for the people is well and good, but after Dong Zhuo minted small coins and the wars across the land, currency has collapsed. Most people now barter for their needs,”

“This current aid is but a temporary remedy, not a lasting cure. The people still struggle day by day!” Lu Su sighed. Though today the people are faring well, what of tomorrow?

Only by stabilizing prices can the people's peace be assured.

Chu Feng pondered. The value of the five-zhu coin has plummeted for all to see. To stabilize the market is easier said than done; he could only proceed step by step.

“There will be measures for the currency in the future. Zijing, with spring approaching, how are preparations for the spring plowing across the regions?” Chu Feng asked solemnly, for food is the foundation of the people.

“All is ready, Master. However, we now lack iron ore. Cao Cao in the Central Plains and Sun Ce in Jiangdong have allied to sanction us. Merchants are forbidden to sell iron ore to us,”

Lu Su’s expression was grave.

Jiujiang does not produce much iron. Now, with farming tools and weapons in high demand, the supply of iron ore is utterly insufficient.

“Isn’t Shicheng on the southern bank of Niuzhu rich in iron ore? If Sun Ce refuses to give it, then we’ll take it by force. Drive him out of Danyang and seize Shicheng!” Chu Feng declared firmly.

—

The third year of Jian’an, early spring.

The air remained cold, but after the start of spring, the earth would awaken with vitality. Countless buds struggled up from the soil, eager for abundant sunlight.

People everywhere began their busy labors, striving to fill their bellies.

…

Yuzhou, Xiaopei.

In the fields, Liu Bei wore coarse hemp robes, personally tilling the land with a spade. He was gentle and approachable, treating the peasants as equals, and all enjoyed themselves together.

The people held him in great respect.

At this moment, Sun Qian rode over at full speed, calling urgently to Liu Bei in the fields, “Master, disaster has struck!”

Liu Bei frowned, his expression dark. He climbed to the field ridge and asked in a deep voice, “What is it?”

“Master, Lü Bu is attacking! He leads his generals Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, and others, and has reached Pengcheng, Liuxian, less than a hundred li from Xiaopei,” Sun Qian said urgently.

Liu Bei’s brow tightened. Lü Bu was truly a troublesome foe. “Come, gather the troops—I will lead them out to face Lü Bu!”

“Master, you mustn’t! Lü Bu’s forces may be few, but all are battle-hardened veterans, especially Gao Shun’s Formation Camp. Wherever they strike, they win; wherever they attack, they break through. No one can withstand them!”

“And our soldiers are mostly new recruits. How could we fight them? It’s better to hold Xiaopei and seek aid from Cao Cao,” Sun Qian advised gravely.

Liu Bei’s gaze deepened. He rebuked, “I am a descendant of the imperial line. If I let Lü Bu cross our borders, the people of these counties will miss the spring plowing and starve to death. How could I bear it?”

“But, Master…”

“Enough, my mind is made up. I will fight Lü Bu! Besides, Lü Bu is fickle and suspicious by nature; he cannot command men. A battle with him may not be unwinnable!” Liu Bei declared confidently.

He had his own reasons, too. He had finally gathered several thousand troops. If he only defended and sought aid from Cao Cao, Cao Cao would surely covet Xuzhou when he arrived.

Liu Bei was no longer young. If he won this battle, with his reputation in Xuzhou, seizing Xuzhou would not be difficult. Then he would be master of Xuzhou and no longer at anyone’s mercy.

Sun Qian, hearing Liu Bei’s words, felt a little moved and thought to himself, “Since Master raised his army, it seems… he hasn’t won a single battle yet?”

Of course, it was mostly a matter of bad luck!

—

The third year of Jian’an, early spring!

Liu Bei ordered Guan Yu to defend Xiaopei. He personally led his generals Zhang Fei, Mi Fang, and others—more than ten in all. He appointed Mi Zhu and Jian Yong as advisers, led five thousand foot soldiers, claiming thirty thousand elite troops, and marched out to confront Lü Bu.

—

On the road from Liuxian to Xiaopei!

A somewhat dilapidated official road was filled with ten thousand troops heading north. The Lü banner led the march, followed by banners of Gao and Zhang—Lü Bu’s army.

Heeding Chen Gong’s advice, Lü Bu launched a sudden attack on Xiaopei as the snow melted.

“Report! Master, Liu Bei has camped twenty li ahead, seeking a decisive battle!” A scout galloped in.

“Heh, Big-Eared Liu actually abandoned Xiaopei to fight my army in the open? He truly overestimates himself!” Lü Bu laughed heartily, raising his halberd in mockery.

“Order the troops to make camp here. Tomorrow at dawn, we will attack and break the enemy camp.”

“Yes!” The generals responded in unison.

Only Gao Shun frowned slightly. Lü Bu’s approach to warfare was too reckless, ignoring all military strategy and caring little for the lives of his soldiers.

“Master, perhaps we should scout the enemy camp with cavalry before making any decisions,” Gao Shun suggested.

“Very well. Gao Shun, Zhang Liao, Wei Xu… you come with me to scout the camp and see how Big-Eared Liu has been living lately!” Lü Bu called out, gathering his men.

Soon, over a thousand wolf cavalry swept forward, their iron hooves thundering—these were all elite, bloodthirsty warriors. The foot soldiers in Liu Bei’s camp grew anxious and fearful.

“Whoa—”

Lü Bu reined in his horse, holding his halberd. He dismounted from the Red Hare, his burly frame intimidating the ordinary soldiers.

“You little soldiers, hurry and let Liu Bei come meet me!”

“Villain, our master is not someone you can see at will!” a general shouted fiercely.

“Seeking death!” Lü Bu’s gaze turned cold.

He thrust his halberd into the sand, took up his precious eagle-bow, drew and loosed an arrow in one swift motion. A feathered shaft whistled through the air, striking the general in the throat before he could react.

Lü Bu grinned, raising the eagle-bow high. Behind him, a thousand wolf cavalry howled in celebration, their cries and the death of the general chilling the camp’s defenders.

At that moment, Liu Bei climbed the ramparts to observe.

Beside him, Zhang Fei’s gaze was fierce as a tiger or leopard; the slain general was his subordinate.

“Lü Bu, why do you trespass upon my borders?” Liu Bei demanded.

“Trespass your borders? Hah, Liu Xuande, I should be asking you! You conspire with Cao Cao against my Xuzhou and march on my Xiaopei, yet shamelessly accuse me?” Lü Bu raised his halberd, furious.

“All beneath heaven belongs to the emperor. All who dwell within are his subjects. I am the governor of Yuzhou, acting under imperial decree to garrison Xiaopei. How does that concern you?” Liu Bei challenged.

“Humph. Big-Eared Liu, if your soldiers were as sharp as your tongue, you wouldn’t be so down-and-out. Alas, they’re less than a tenth as clever as you!” Lü Bu, unable to win the argument, switched tactics and loudly mocked him. The wolf cavalry behind him laughed as well.

“Oh right, I forgot to tell you. Chu Feng covets your two beautiful wives. To do him a favor, I sent them off to Shouchun!”

“By now, they should be arriving!”