184 AD,
The first year of Zhongping,
Early June,
Two days after the fall of Zhuo County, a piece of gossip began to spread.
"Did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"The rebel troops that just arrived in Zhuo County have looted all the families in the entire county."
"What?"
"It's true!"
"Where did you hear that?"
"My wife's second aunt is the cousin of the maid of the Liu family's patriarch's concubine. She saw it with her own eyes!"
"???"
If it started as mere gossip,
Then,
When cartloads of goods were moved from the Liu family manor into the Prefectural Governor's mansion,
This rumor among the common people seemed to have been confirmed.
Thus,
With the deliberate spreading by merchants, hawkers, and some interested parties, this news spread throughout Zhuo Commandery.
Even,
Within some of the tribes beyond the frontier, this rumor began to circulate.
And the reason rumors are called rumors is mostly due to exaggeration.
Starting from Zhuo County, it was just looting aristocratic families, then in Zhuo Commandery it became looting the entire Zhuo County,
And by the time it reached beyond the frontier, the content had become looting the entire Zhuo Commandery.
Therefore,
When those restless tribal leaders heard this news, their breathing immediately became heavy.
"Li, Brother Li, is what you said true?"
"What?"
The Han merchant, who was drinking and boasting, was startled for a moment, then nodded affirmatively.
"Of course!"
"Chakkel, Chief, this is what my wife's third uncle's sister-in-law's younger brother told me personally!"
"Who, who said that?"
"My wife's third uncle's sister-in-law's younger brother!"
"..."
Chakkel listened, utterly bewildered, yet too embarrassed to ask further.
But he understood one word.
True!
A group of fierce bandits entrenched in Zhuo County, taking advantage of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, had plundered the wealth of the entire Zhuo Commandery.
It was said to have filled the entire Zhuo County, and those bandits slept on piles of gold every day.
Although it sounded a bit exaggerated, Chakkel believed it without hesitation.
Because he also liked sleeping with piles of looted gold and silver next to his bed!
Thinking of this,
Chakkel lost his appetite for drinking. After hastily dismissing the Han merchant, whose expression was odd, he summoned the elders of the tribe for a council.
And after Chakkel's embellished description, the elders of Chakkel's tribe also became excited.
Wasn't it just about robbing the Han?
They hadn't done it before!
Although they had been more peaceful after being appeased in recent years, it didn't mean they could no longer wield their swords.
Moreover,
Wasn't robbing faster than honestly herding livestock and farming for money?
Furthermore, with the rampant banditry within the Han territory, the Han court was struggling to protect itself, so how could they have time to deal with them?
Thus,
After a pleasant discussion, the elders of Chakkel's tribe reached a consensus.
Let's go rob them!
If even some petty bandits could rob so much, surely they, the veterans, wouldn't get less?
That's right!
They not only wanted to rob those bandits, but they also wanted to further plunder the Han.
Either they don't rob at all, or they rob until they've had enough, and then wait to be appeased.
They were already used to it.
However,
When they heard that the bandits had over ten thousand men, the elders were still a little worried.
"Chief, if the bandits hold the city, our manpower might be insufficient!"
"After all, we only have so many young men, and losing one means losing one. We still need to think of a solution."
"What's so difficult about that?"
Hearing the elders' worries, Chakkel said with a confident smile:
"Don't we still have the vassal tribes? We've protected them for so long, it's time for them to contribute."
"Send word to them, each family must send a thousand able-bodied men. Anyone who dares not to send will be annexed!"
"Oh?"
The elders exchanged glances, their eyes lit up.
Yes!
They still had them!
A thousand from each family wasn't too much or too little, it was within their capacity.
And after these people were gathered, plus the ten thousand able-bodied men of their own tribe... nearly twenty thousand troops!
We can do it!
The elders, completely relieved of their worries, acted swiftly.
At the same time,
Qin Feng and his companions, at the center of the storm, had no inkling of the turbulence they had stirred.
Every day, apart from eating and sleeping, they went shopping with Liu Qi and others.
The excuse was: to understand the people's sentiments!
Of course!
After the show was over and they returned to the Prefectural Governor's mansion, the situation was quite different.
"My Lord Prefect, what's the situation outside now?"
"This..."
Thinking of the reports he had received in the past two days, Liu Qi said with a bitter expression:
"My Lord, according to the scouts, there's no reaction from the Xianbei, but a few Wuhuan tribes have shown some movement."
"Wuhuan?"
Qin Feng raised an eyebrow at the mention of Wuhuan, and said with some surprise:
"Haven't these Wuhuan tribes submitted to the Han?"
"Submitted?"
Liu Qi scoffed, his tone full of disdain,
"My Lord, you don't know that barbarians never truly submit!"
"When our Han was powerful, the four seas were at peace!"
"But now that the Han is weak, these fellows are naturally restless."
"That's true!"
Thinking of the historical ins and outs of foreign tribes, Qin Feng also felt a headache.
When you are strong, they are the most obedient enforcers.
The Han court had also repeatedly conscripted Wuhuan cavalry to suppress the Qiang and Hu.
But once you show signs of weakness, they become the ones who bite you the hardest.
Since this is the case...
Thinking of Cai Wenji, who was historically captured by the Xiongnu, Qin Feng made a decision in his heart.
Those not of our kind... kill!
...
Zhuo Commandery, You Province,
Fan County,
Just as the winds of change were sweeping through Zhuo Commandery, in a wine shop on Fan County's streets, three unfortunate brothers were sighing.
"Big Brother, where do you think we should go next?"
"How should I know?"
Liu Bei thought to himself, but didn't dare to say it out loud.
He was also worried.
Ever since he lost his fortune in Zhuo County, he had been planning to rise again.
But the problem was,
Without Zhang Fei's financial support, he hadn't managed to recruit anyone yet.
Nowadays, who would care about your ambitions when joining the army?
What people cared about was one thing... could they eat their fill?
Really!
The common people joining the army now didn't even care about military pay, as long as they could be fed.
But even this simple request, Liu Bei couldn't guarantee.
The three brothers were still struggling to eat one meal and go hungry for the next.
Where would they have the extra money to support an army?
Let alone support an army,
Even,
They didn't even have the money for this meal of wine they were having!
"Stop!"
"Don't run!"
"It's them!"
"They've been eating for free in the city these past two days, quickly stop them!"
"..."
After a chaotic chase, the three brothers fled Fan County in a sorry state.
How could Zhang the Butcher, who always drank heartily and ate meat generously, endure such humiliation?
After taking a few deep breaths, he plunged his Zhangba Snake Spear into the ground.
"Big Brother, I can't take it anymore!"
"I'm going back to Zhuo County to join my distant relatives, at least I won't starve!"
"Do you want to come with me?"
"This..."
Liu Bei and Guan Yu exchanged glances, and instinctively reached for their stomachs.
They didn't seem to have eaten their fill just now...