Chapter 6: Stealing Like an Official

Jian Yong had become a county official and naturally could no longer roam as a wandering vigilante.

Liu Bei, therefore, smoothly rose to become the new leader of the wandering youths in Zhuo County.

Compared to Jian Yong, Liu Bei was more suited to leading a gang.

After all, Jian Yong, though courageous, excelled in eloquence and social skills—ideal for gathering information, but not for fighting recklessly.

Liu Bei, on the other hand, had a longer history of misdeeds, making it easier for naive youths to trust him.

In truth, before Liu Bei went to Luoyang to study, he was already a wandering youth in Zhuo County and was now returning to his old ways.

However, his mother scolded him harshly for it.

She said he was a reckless vagabond who showed no remorse, had done nothing good in Luoyang, was expelled from Lu Zhi’s tutelage, and now wasted his days wandering again—what future could he possibly have?

Liu Bei’s mother did not know he had been imprisoned; she only assumed that he was expelled from Lu Zhi’s school for misbehavior involving women.

This version of events was clearly crafted by Liu Yuanqi upon returning home, to save Liu Bei some dignity—though primarily to protect the family’s reputation.

Liu Bei himself did not believe his future was over.

He knew that a chaotic era was coming.

And in such times, being an outlaw often offered greater prospects than being an official.

Yet, like nobles, outlaws were divided into ranks.

To be an outlaw with a future, one had to operate like an official.

Liu Bei’s method was to spend money first.

He spent all of his ten thousand coins to build a beacon tower on a bare gentle slope about thirty li north of Zhuo County along the official road.

Yes, the kind of beacon tower that would smoke when lit, a border warning post.

Moreover, it was built very properly, resembling a small fortress, capable of housing at least ten people.

It was constructed to the standards of Han border outposts.

The fort sat on the slope, with the official road running below.

But after completion, Liu Bei did not station anyone to guard it.

“Big brother, why do this?” the wandering youths asked, puzzled. They felt Liu Bei was wasting money.

But since it was his money and they had been paid, they voiced their doubts but did not slack off.

“With this beacon tower, merchants traveling south from the north will have to pass here... but the real Xianbei troops will hesitate to invade because they will be suspicious. This is to protect the border and the people,” Liu Bei explained.

Indeed, Zhuo County was in the heart of Youzhou, where there had been no early warning beacon towers nearby.

If a beacon tower appeared around Zhuo County, outsiders would suspect only one of two things: either the Han military was assembling troops here, or a significant figure was visiting.

Either way, it meant the same thing:

Zhuo County was safe.

Thus, merchants seeing the beacon tower would choose to pass through here and likely camp nearby at night.

Sometimes, controlling the route of merchants was simple, and seasoned robbers understood this best.

However, Liu Bei did not have the youths rob merchants; instead, he spent his days drinking and practicing martial arts in Zhuo County.

He was no bandit and did not intend to become one.

...

One day, while Liu Bei was practicing swordsmanship at home, Jian Yong rushed in shouting excitedly.

“They’ve finally come!”

Liu Bei smiled. “Xianhe, your credit has arrived!”

“Haha, big brother, so has your money and supplies!” Jian Yong laughed.

They had built a fortress but left it unguarded, waiting for this moment.

Youzhou was rife with bandits, and this route near the beacon tower had become a must-pass for merchants; seeing no soldiers guarding the tower, some bold bandits would inevitably try to hold this road for robbery.

That very night, Liu Bei led a group of about a dozen youths to camp near the beacon tower.

They brought carts and horses, appearing as a merchant caravan.

Merchants seldom traveled at night but sought places to camp, and seeing the beacon tower, they naturally felt safer and chose to camp nearby.

As beacon towers were typically military installations, merchants would not dare occupy them recklessly.

So Liu Bei’s group camped about a hundred steps from the tower.

Though usually empty, that night the beacon tower was manned.

Jian Yong, the county’s bandit suppression officer, led a troop of county constables inside.

Yes, Liu Bei was playing a game of predatory justice—he fished, Jian Yong enforced the law.

Late at night, a gang of bandits appeared.

About ten in number, some on horseback, others on foot.

Seeing the "merchant caravan," the horse riders charged in recklessly...

Two of the fastest were caught by a lasso and thrown off their mounts, tumbling headlong into the dirt like tigers descending a mountain.

The slower ones crashed into large sticks prepared by the youths.

The remaining foot bandits, sensing trouble, tried to retreat but were blocked by Jian Yong and the constables rushing out from the fortress.

“Thanks! Thanks for the horses, brothers... Oh, and for the weapons too—sorry, but I’ll gladly accept them!” Liu Bei said with a charming smile as he and the youths bound the bandits one by one.

This first haul more than recouped their investment, earning them several times over.

...

Because horses were valuable.

They captured five horses, three waist swords, seven broken spears, and various odds and ends.

The bandits and their weapons were taken back to the county by Jian Yong—that was his credit.

The horses all ended up with Liu Bei—since they were not official achievements, there was no need to claim glory; naturally, they were shared among the brothers.

The county constables, Jian Yong’s men, had no objections. After all, such easy achievements were unheard of.

...

More than half a year passed.

That year, the Xianbei raided the borders frantically, and all of Youzhou prepared for war.

Only Zhuo County remained relatively peaceful.

Situated in southern Youzhou, several hundred li from the frontier, large-scale raids by northern tribes were less likely.

But discerning eyes knew the small beacon tower played a crucial role.

More importantly, the newly appointed bandit suppression officer Jian Yong was brave and diligent, leading constables beyond the county to chase the Xianbei, almost eager for them to come and bring glory.

This only reinforced the impression that Zhuo County was safe.

When the northern tribes raided, bandits usually took the opportunity to cause chaos.

Counties like Shanggu and Yuyang were rife with bandits, killing, looting, and robbing merchants.

Only Zhuo County remained stable and prosperous, with very few bandit problems.

Some said it was because Jian Yong’s fearless reputation ensured that bandits caught their hands in his grasp, deterring them from coming.

Others credited Liu Bei’s chivalrous spirit—he funded the beacon tower himself and led youths to patrol, making bandits unwilling to operate there.

Regardless of whose reputation it was, Zhuo County was indeed relatively secure.

Jian Yong received praise, firmly securing his position as bandit suppression officer and officially becoming a disciple of the county magistrate Le Yin, who even arranged his coming-of-age ceremony.

Le Yin also reported Jian Yong’s merits to the prefecture, but as Jian Yong was not a filial and incorrupt candidate, his chances of official promotion were limited; bandit suppression officer was a high position already, advancement was difficult.

Meanwhile, Liu Bei gained a modest reputation through his black-market dealings.

His band of wandering youths now each had horses, wealthy beyond measure.

Youngsters from neighboring counties envied and sought friendship with Liu Bei.

Many merchants regarded him as a gallant hero and were willing to provide support—mainly to ensure their caravans passed safely.

With some money and fame, Liu Bei’s gang was growing, now numbering about eighty with forty horses.

However, not all news was good.

In September of the first year of Guanghe, Liu Bei received devastating news.

Le Yin was to resign by year’s end, and next year, the new magistrate of Zhuo County would be none other than Gongsun Zan!