Chapter 39: Playing the Big-Eared Scoundrel Again

East of Luoyang lies Mount Goushi. At the foot of this mountain stands the mountain gate of Lu Zhi, Liu Bei’s former teacher. Liu Bei was currently stationed at the foot of Mount Goushi.

Under normal circumstances, if Liu Bei were to return to Youzhou, he should have traveled fifty miles north from Luoyang to cross the Mengjin Ferry. It was the closest crossing to Luoyang, and once across the river, the entire route to Zhuo County consisted of imperial post roads. However, having encountered Cao Jie at the city gate, Liu Bei changed his route.

Speaking of which, the name Cao Jie easily reminded Liu Bei of Cao Cao’s great-grandfather and his daughter. In the books he had read, both of them bore that name. But at the moment, Cao Cao had not yet sired that daughter, and his great-grandfather was not named Cao Jie, but Cao Meng. This Cao Jie was a native of Nanyang and had no relation to Cao Cao’s clan. He was the current Grand Changqiu—the Superintendent of the Inner Palace—the highest-ranking eunuch in the palace.

When this chief eunuch saw Wang Fu’s remains at the city gate, he felt a sense of pity for one of his own kind. Moreover, he recognized Duan Jiong, which suggested that pursuers might be dispatched. Consequently, Liu Bei took a circuitous route, bypassing the city from the north to the east, eventually reaching Goushi.

The "Big-Eared Bandit" was now quite experienced in the ways of the world; he did not want to be trapped at a ferry again, especially since Cao Jie had seen them heading north. Of course, a more important reason was that Liu Bei was exceptionally familiar with the route east of Luoyang, from Goushi to Dong Commandery, and then across the river at the Baima Ferry.

As dusk had fallen, Liu Bei and his companions settled into a post-house at the foot of Mount Goushi. This was the only such facility at the base of the mountain, serving also as a tavern and eatery. It was quite large but operated as a private business. Liu Bei avoided the official government post-house within Goushi County to ensure Duan Jiong would not be recognized. If Duan Jiong’s identity were revealed, it would bring disaster upon his clan. Between Luoyang and Wuwei in Liangzhou, too many people knew him; his whereabouts were too easily exposed, making a return to his ancestral home inconvenient for the time being. Furthermore, the Duan clan was large and influential with many retainers, and who could say if there were other turncoats among them? After all, even Zhang Sheng, a retainer and nephew-in-law who had once saved Duan Jiong’s life, had been bought off. Duan Jiong dared not trust anyone now, save for Liu Bei, the mastermind behind the arson.

In fact, the few personal attendants of Yang Qiu were in the same position; as accomplices to the fire, they too dared only trust Liu Bei. Thus, Duan Jiong could not seek out his old subordinates and had to remain with Liu Bei for the time being, taking the opportunity to return to Youzhou to purge his own ranks. Zhang Sheng had betrayed him, slept with his niece, and even acted as a mole—Duan Jiong naturally intended to carve the man up with his own hands.

"Xuande, I fear Cao Jie may have recognized me," Duan Jiong said, looking concerned within the post-house. "That old thief is as meticulous as a hair, with a memory that never fails. I suspect he will remember your appearance and send men to hunt us down."

"Even if he remembers, he does not know my name..." Liu Bei pondered, feeling it was of no great consequence. "In truth, he cannot confirm it is you. As long as your life or death remains unknown, your family will continue to enjoy their high stipends. After all, you are... ahem... after all, you are Mr. Ji!"

Duan Jiong’s courtesy name was Jiming, and Liu Bei was intentionally calling him Mr. Ji to avoid being overheard.

Duan Jiong’s reputation as the "War God of Liangzhou" was something no one could ignore. If the Emperor dared to mistreat his family, Duan Jiong would undoubtedly risk everything to rebel, and Liangzhou along with the Eastern and Western Qiang would surely descend into chaos. Thus, his uncertain fate was the best deterrent.

"It is those large ears of yours that I worry about," Duan Jiong shook his head. "They are too easy to identify; you will be easily tracked."

"Ahem... Mr. Ji, perhaps you do not know," Liu Bei produced a black cloth and held it against his face. "I have long had a nickname... the Big-Eared Bandit."

Duan Jiong’s eyes widened: "Ah?"

"And I committed my crimes in this very region," Liu Bei shrugged. "I came here intentionally, specifically waiting for them to hunt for the Big-Eared Bandit."

"You..." Duan Jiong was puzzled. "Why would you deliberately expose yourself?"

"To draw all of Cao Jie’s men to me. If Cao Jie truly sends pursuers, I will use these large ears of mine to lure them and keep them occupied here," Liu Bei explained. "Mr. Ji, you and your attendants should leave first tomorrow. I will remain here, and if pursuers do come, I will be able to delay them for a while."

"Xuande is truly righteous!" Duan Jiong cupped his hands in salute, his eyes filled with emotion. He likely believed Liu Bei was using his own body as bait to help him escape.

"Do not worry. I am a scholar with merit to my name now, not the bandit I once was. With you not by my side, I am actually safer... so long as I do not run into Yuan Benchu or Yuan Gonglu. Those two hold personal grudges against me," Liu Bei said with a shake of his head, mentioning his enemies.

Duan Jiong, however, took note: "The Yuan clan of Runan... once I am free, I shall certainly resolve this grievance for you, Xuande."

...

The next day, Duan Jiong departed with Yang Qiu’s attendants. Liu Bei and Zuo Yuan remained at the post-house. In truth, Liu Bei had intentionally sent Duan Jiong away, not to serve as bait, but because he wanted to pin the blame for Duan Jiong’s prison break on someone else.

However, just as Liu Bei and Zuo Yuan were discussing their cover story, pursuers actually arrived.

"Northern Army, searching for fugitives! Everyone out!"

At noon, a squad of soldiers arrived at the post-house, storming into the main hall to inspect the premises. Upon seeing Liu Bei, they shouted, "You, get out and stand there!"

It appeared they were indeed searching based on the "big ears" description.

"What is the meaning of this?" Liu Bei frowned as he turned, his sword revealed.

"The Yueqi Battalion of the Northern Army is searching for fugitives! Hand over your travel permits for inspection!" A corporal looked Liu Bei up and down, then glanced at Zuo Yuan, deep in thought.

"I am afraid you cannot afford to inspect my documents," Liu Bei took out his certificate of merit and held it up, but did not hand it over. This certificate was a receipt for the payment made to the Western Garden, signifying he was a candidate awaiting an official appointment. As the Northern Army’s Five Battalions were the imperial guards, they could not possibly be ignorant of this.

The corporal hesitated, looked at Zuo Yuan again, and then poked his spear toward Liu Bei’s chest: "If you are an official, why do you not stay at the government post-house? I suspect the two of you are the fugitives!"

He waved his hand. A soldier left the building, presumably to summon reinforcements. The other soldiers stepped forward, surrounding Liu Bei.

Liu Bei found this rather strange. How could a mere corporal dare to frame a candidate for officialdom? This corporal claimed to be from the Yueqi Battalion, one of the Northern Army’s Five Battalions. In the past, the Five Battalions were elite forces, and the Yueqi was originally composed of Yue cavalry who had submitted to the empire.

But now... most of them were there through nepotism. The commanders of the Five Battalions were all imperial relatives or eunuchs’ kin, and the Yueqi soldiers were all retainers of these influential figures; there wasn’t a single person of Yue descent left. After all, being a commander in the Five Battalions was a prestigious and leisurely job; one did not have to go to the frontier to fight, and the pay was better than that of the frontier troops. But precisely because they were well-connected, they shouldn't be acting like this!

Liu Bei’s gaze turned cold: "The soldiers of the Northern Army’s Five Battalions have now started to act as highwaymen?"

The corporal did not answer, but looked at Zuo Yuan again.

Was he coming for Zuo Yuan? Zuo Yuan noticed this as well and asked, "You neither give way nor speak, what is your purpose?"

"You may go, but she cannot. She is the female fugitive the Emperor is hunting!" A greasy voice came from outside the post-house door.