Han Ji

Chapter 132 Li Shun Becomes an Official

"This bandit provoked the Han and Qiang peoples; he deserves to die!" he roared. "Anyone who dares to commit this offense again will suffer the same fate!"

The remaining Qiang cavalry lowered their heads, carried the salt and tea, helped the wounded, and silently headed north.

Before mounting his horse, Ehe glanced back at Liu Bei.

"Aren't you... afraid I'll change my mind?"

"Are you afraid I'll go back on my word?" Liu Bei laughed. "If you go back on your word, the loss will be thousands of shi of salt, hundreds of baskets of tea, countless bolts of cloth, and the lives of so many Bai Ma Qiang people every year. The chieftain is a smart man; he knows how to do the math."

Ehe also laughed, but his laughter was somewhat bitter.

He turned his horse around and led his men away.

On the way back, Zhang Fei muttered, "Brother, you gave me so much salt and tea for free!"

"Give them away for free?" Liu Bei shook his head. "Three hundred Qiang cavalry are not scary. What's scary are their horses. Now, exchanging salt and tea for horses is a good deal."

Guan Yu asked, "Will he keep his promise?"

"Keeping our word for a short time will suffice," Liu Bei said. "For the long term, we need to rely on trade. Once he tastes the benefits, he will naturally keep his word. If one day we run out of salt and tea, or if we become weak, he will come back."

"That..."

"After I've dealt with Su Gu," Liu Bei said, gazing at the mountains and rivers of Hanzhong ahead. "I'll eliminate any worries about his rear, make him so strong that he won't want to provoke me, make the trade routes his lifeline. Only then will I truly be at peace."

That night, Oho returned to his tribe.

The elders gathered in the tent and looked at each other in bewilderment when they saw him bring back salt and tea.

"That Han official," the oldest elder asked, "did he really release us?"

"Release them." Oho sat down, took a swig of mare's milk wine, and said, "Reaffirm the oath and open the trade market."

"Can we trust the border trade?"

He put down his wine bag and remained silent for a long time.

"That Liu Bei," he said slowly, "had no fear or greed in his eyes. He was a hero. You either kill him once and for all, or don't mess with him."

He looked out of the tent, towards the south, towards the Han territory.

"I can't kill him," he muttered. "Then... I'd better not mess with him."

The news reached Nanzheng.

After listening to Chen Lun's report, Su Gu remained silent for a long time.

He opened the window, and the spring breeze blew in, carrying willow catkins.

"A lone rider meets the chieftain, salt and tea bring peace..." He laughed, a bitter laugh. "Chen Lun, tell me, shouldn't I, the prefect, write my resignation?"

Chen Lun bowed his head: "Prefect, Liu Bei's actions are overstepping his authority! Is it the duty of a Commandant to make an oath with the Qiang people? I must submit a memorial impeaching him!"

"Impeach him?" Su Gu turned around, staring at him. "Impeach him for what? Protecting the borders and ensuring the safety of the people? Suppressing border troubles? Or... being too capable?"

Chen Lun choked.

Su Gu walked back to his desk, sat down, picked up his pen, and then put it down again.

"Write a letter," he said. "To Xi Jian. Say... the border troubles in Hanzhong have been quelled, and Commandant Liu Bei has made great contributions. We should submit a memorial to the court to commend him."

Chen Lun's eyes widened: "Prefect, this..."

"Write," Su Gu said, closing his eyes. "The sooner the better."

Chen Lun gritted his teeth, laid out paper, and ground ink.

Su Gu listened to the scratching sound of the pen tip and silently calculated in his mind.

Liu Bei's achievements, Xi Jian's commendation, the court's attention... one link after another.

"Liu Xuande," he murmured, "you want fame, don't you? I'll give it to you. The bigger the fame, the more people will be watching you. I'd like to see just how high you can jump."

Outside the window, willow catkins drifted like snowflakes over the high walls of the prefect's mansion.

In the distant military camp, Liu Bei was discussing matters with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

A newly drawn map of the Qiang region lay open on the table, the ink still wet.

"The market will be located thirty li north of the Ju River," Liu Bei pointed. "Yide, you take three hundred men and build an earthen enclosure there, and set up a market pavilion. Yunchang, the market guards are your responsibility; they are to investigate smuggling and oppression."

"Yes, sir!"

"Furthermore," Liu Bei said, looking at Jian Yong, "spread the news of the opening of the border market. In particular, let the powerful families in the county know that from now on, when trading horses and furs, they will use the official market and pay a 10% tax. Smugglers will be severely punished."

Jian Yong noted it down.

Liu Bei got up, walked to the edge of the tent, and looked at the sunset in the west.

The sunset glow was like blood, staining half the sky red.

"The Qiang people are temporarily safe," he said softly. "Next, it's time to clean up our homes."

Zhang Fei grinned: "Brother, that old bastard Su Gu..."

Outside the tent, the evening drum sounded.

Boom, boom, boom.

Calm and steady, like stepping on people's hearts.

In early May, a strange thing happened in the prefectural government.

The position of Gongcao Yuan (a minor official) had been vacant for two months when Su Gu suddenly submitted a memorial recommending Li Shun to fill the vacancy. On the day the official document arrived, Li Shun was helping Jian Yong with accounts in the backyard of the Commandant's mansion when he heard the news. His hand trembled, and a drop of ink stained half a sheet of hemp paper.

He stood there blankly until Jian Yong nudged him: "What are you standing there for? Go take up your post."

Li Shun went to the prefectural government office as if in a dream, received the official seal, listened to the instructions, and then returned to the military camp in the west of the city as if in a dream. As dusk fell, he knelt before Liu Bing's records, his head pounding loudly.

"Captain, should I take this position?"

Liu Bei put down the map in his hand and helped him up. In the candlelight, Li Shun's face was frighteningly pale, and his lips trembled.

"Yes," Liu Bei said, "and we must do it well."

Li Shun's legs went weak: "But...but I'm your man, how could Su Gu..."

"He only uses you because you are one of my men." Liu Bei pulled him down to sit and poured him a bowl of water. "The clerk in charge of a prefecture is in charge of apprehending thieves and handling criminal cases. It's a lucrative position, but there's also a lot of leverage over him. He uses you for two reasons: first, to curry favor and show that he's using your man; and second, to lure you into monitoring him so he can control him."

Li Shun's hand trembled, and he spilled half a bowl of water.

Liu Bei pressed down on his shoulder: "Li Shun, you shielded me from an arrow in Guangzong and helped me manage the accounts in Hanzhong. I trust you. From today onwards, you are officially the clerk in charge of the county's anti-traitor duties. Just enforce the law impartially. Whatever the county government asks you to investigate, investigate it, and report back to me first."

He paused for a moment: "Su Gu gives you money, you accept it. He gives you women, you accept them. He promises you a bright future, you agree. But remember, every penny you accept, every person you meet, every word you say, you must let me know."

Li Shun looked up, his eyes reddening: "Captain, I... I'm afraid I won't do a good job..."

"Well done." Liu Bei looked at him. "You dared to shield me from a hail of arrows at Guangzong. Now, with just a few pieces of paper and a few mouths, what is there to fear?"

Li Shun gripped the printed book tightly and nodded emphatically.

The day after Li Shun took office, Su Gu summoned him.

In the back hall of the prefectural government, the windows and doors were tightly shut. Su Gu sat in the shadows, a list spread out on the table beside him, the ink still fresh.

"Li the traitor," he said gently, "sit down."

Li Shun bowed and sat on the lower seat, occupying half of his buttocks.

Su Gu pushed the list forward: "These people are suspected of embezzling military rations and illegally selling military equipment. You are the newly appointed Chief Clerk, so you must establish your authority. Investigate carefully, and do not let anyone go unpunished or guilty."

Li Shun took the list. There were five names on it. The first one was Liu Ping, the granary clerk of the Commandant's Office, and Zhang Yong, a squad leader under Guan Yu, was also on the list. They were all veterans who had followed him from Zhuojun.

His palms were sweating, but his face remained steady: "Your subordinate obeys."

"Go," Su Gu waved his hand. "Ten days are up."

Li Shun left without returning to the office of the Chief Clerk, heading straight for the military camp in the west of the city. Liu Bei was watching Zhang Wu train his troops at the drill ground when he heard the report, and glanced at the list.

"Liu Ping is in charge of the warehouse, and Zhang Yong and Guangzong have followed me." He rolled up the list. "Su Gu is trying to cut off my arm."

Jian Yong leaned closer: "I'll redo the accounts overnight. The grain and money they're involved in are actually the portion seized during the bandit suppression that hadn't entered the public accounts; it's already been used for compensation and rewards. Redo it, and there will be evidence."