Chapter 31: The Cruel Official Yang Fangzheng

Could Liu Bei, at this time merely a minor official, afford to beat a six-hundred-dan official like the Northern Commandant of Luoyang?

He could. After all, he had military achievements to his name. However, to strike a man was to forfeit those very achievements. His anger was genuine, but Liu Bei’s actions were not born of mere impulse. He had never particularly valued these fabricated military achievements to begin with.

Liu Bei’s primary objective was to meet Yang Qiu, the Colonel-Director of Retainers. If he could reach Yang Qiu, and if Yang Qiu were as upright as Zou Jing had claimed, then once Zou Jing’s predicament was resolved, a trifle like assaulting a Northern Commandant would be of no consequence, and the forfeited military merits would soon be restored. Furthermore, those fabricated merits might even be tempered into ironclad, genuine ones in the process.

What was the fastest way to meet a high-ranking official like the Colonel-Director of Retainers? Naturally, by causing a public disturbance through an altercation between officials. The greater the commotion, the sooner he would be seen. Especially if the disturbance involved a dispute over official duties, and hinted at something as grave as "collusion with the Xianbei." The Colonel-Director of Retainers was responsible for overseeing all officials; if officials were fighting at the city gate, he would surely come to make arrests immediately—after all, this was Luoyang, and the dignity of the Imperial Court had to be maintained.

Liu Bei was not worried about his own safety. The Northern Commandant was still beneath his feet, taking a beating, and the city gate guards, fearing for their commander, dared not intervene; they merely surrounded Liu Bei with heavy staves. In truth, they hadn't really surrounded him at all, for the crowd of onlookers was so dense—layer upon layer—that the squad of guards looked as if they were merely part of the inner circle of spectators themselves.

Liu Bei was beating a man in front of a massive crowd, and he was the only one throwing punches. It was a mere brawl, not a murder, nor was it an armed assault on the city gates; there was no danger of a death sentence. Moreover, the onlookers were already buzzing with speculation.

"What is happening?"
"I reckon that soldier from the borderlands earned military merits, only to be blocked and shaken down for bribes by the Northern Commandant. Look how furious he is; that must be it."
"Must be. Didn't he say he'd forsake his rank and honors just to beat him?"
"What a waste of military merit."
"Sigh... things weren't like this back when Commandant Cao was in charge..."

The effect seemed excellent. Liu Bei, feeling tired from the exertion, simply kicked the Northern Commandant aside and turned to face the squad of city guards.

"Come! Come and kill me! Let me see if you have the guts to slaughter a meritorious official!"

As he walked, he pulled open his collar, pointing at his own throat. "Come!"

"Everyone, stop!"

Finally, someone in authority arrived.

Several dozen guards in black, wielding waist-swords, parted the crowd to escort a middle-aged official to the center. The official had a hawk-like nose and tiger-like eyes, looking quite fierce. He stared at Liu Bei, his brows locked in a deep furrow. "Seize this ruffian!"

"Colonel Yang..." "Master Fangzheng..."

Among the onlookers were many officials who, upon seeing him, bowed hurriedly and retreated to the sidelines, falling silent. The city gate guards also stepped back. In an instant, the rowdy area outside the gate became deathly silent. It seemed that both the officials and the soldiers feared him greatly.

Is this Yang Qiu? Liu Bei looked at that face, which faintly revealed a sinister air, and the word "tyrant" subconsciously came to his mind.

Two black-clad guards walked toward Liu Bei with expressionless faces. Liu Bei did not resist, allowing them to seize him.

"Take them all into custody!" Yang Qiu pointed at the Northern Commandant on the ground, then toward the shrinking guards nearby. "This is the Northern Gate of the Son of Heaven, a place of utmost importance! You are stationed here, yet you allow yourselves to be held hostage by one man... You incompetent vermin! You are fit only to be slaves!"

After the black-clad guards had apprehended the Northern Commandant and his squad, Yang Qiu turned to ask Liu Bei, "Who are you? Why do you cause trouble here?!"

His voice was not loud, but it felt like a blade, sharp and murderous. *This Master Fangzheng... he must have thousands of lives on his hands!* Liu Bei thought, though his expression remained one of indignation. "I am Liu Xuande of Zhuo Commandery. This was not of my doing; it was this thief who started it! I come under the orders of Commandant Zou, the Colonel Protector of the Wuhuan, yet this thief blocked me outside the city for an entire day! This concerns vital military intelligence regarding the Xianbei—how could I allow this thief to delay me!"

Liu Bei usually referred to himself as "I," but here he used "mou," a humble self-reference to lower his status. One must show anger, but one must also be polite; Yang Qiu clearly appeared to be a stern official, and Liu Bei felt it best to be on his best behavior when facing such a man.

"...The curfew in Luoyang has begun. All unrelated persons, leave this place at once!" Yang Qiu squinted at Liu Bei and waved a hand at the crowd behind him.

The black-clad guards used their swords to disperse the crowd. Before long, the area outside the city gate was cleared. Only Zuo Yuan remained standing in place. She had been watching Liu Bei’s every move but had not said a word, quietly holding the two horses to one side.

"She..." "Silence!"

Seeing the guards preparing to drive Zuo Yuan away, Liu Bei intended to explain she was his attendant, but the guard beside him instantly pressed his sword against Liu Bei’s throat.

"I am a tribute musician escorted to the capital by Military Official Liu, and I am also a witness to his military merits. I am not an unrelated person." Zuo Yuan bowed her head, completely ignoring the guards who demanded she leave.

Yang Qiu looked at Zuo Yuan, walked into the Northern Commandant’s office, and glanced back at Liu Bei. "You have military merits?"

"I do, commended by Colonel Protector of the Wuhuan, Commandant Zou." Liu Bei said, looking left and right. "Commandant Zou was ambushed in Shanggu. Someone is colluding with the Xianbei!"

Yang Qiu’s brow furrowed even deeper. He waved his hand at the two guards. "You two, get out... and guard this place strictly!"

...

"Commandant Zou ambushed... Shanggu... Zhang Sheng... Hmph, this matter must be investigated; there is no time to lose."

After hearing Liu Bei’s account, Yang Qiu tucked the silk letter written by Zou Jing into his robes and said sternly to Liu Bei, "Saving Commandant Zou is indeed a great merit. But regardless of your achievements, the crime of brawling and insulting an official at the city gate cannot be waived. The merits do not cancel the crime. According to the law, you shall be committed to the Luoyang prison."

Yang Qiu spoke with a tone of absolute finality, allowing no room for objection.

"Understood." Liu Bei bowed, showing no concern for the imprisonment. "Thank you for your protection, Colonel Yang... Once I am in prison, what further orders do you have?"

Liu Bei knew that Yang Qiu sending him to prison was a means of protecting him. After all, all the messengers sent by Zou Jing had disappeared; Luoyang was surely dangerous for Liu Bei, and the prison was, ironically, the safest place to be. Of course, according to the law, assaulting an official was a jailable offense. Furthermore, Yang Qiu was handling this with the utmost severity; the "Luoyang prison" he spoke of had another name: the Imperial Prison.

However, this way, Liu Bei’s military merits would be preserved—since the merits did not cancel the crime, and the crime had been punished, the merits would still be rewarded.

Yang Qiu squinted his eyes. "You are a clever lad. I do have a task for you. I already suspect the mastermind, but that person is a favorite of the Son of Heaven. I cannot extract evidence from him; it must be done by you while in prison."

"A favorite of the Son of Heaven? Colonel Yang, you hold me in too high regard. I am timid and fear I am not up to the task..." Liu Bei felt that his slight frame might not survive Yang Qiu’s machinations. Was the man suggesting he become an undercover agent in prison?

"Ha, timid? You dared to single-handedly attack the Northern Commandant to draw me out. I don't think anyone else could take on this task but you." Yang Qiu sneered. "If that man does not die, you will never leave the Imperial Prison."

"...Who is that man?" Liu Bei felt that Yang Qiu’s methods were like those of the underworld. Could this man truly be called upright?

"Regular Palace Attendant, Marquis of Guanjun, Wang Fu."

Yang Qiu’s expression was blank, his tone chilling, and he looked even more menacing. "Two years ago, it was he who persuaded His Majesty to go to war with the Xianbei. After that war ended in a disastrous defeat, everyone involved was condemned as a criminal, yet only Wang Fu’s power grew greater by the day..."