Chương 9: Shopping Trip, First Encounter with Liu Bei

the other side.

Prefect Zhao Peng, Commandant Wang Xiu, and Chief Clerk Zhou Yi strolled to a spot, and after confirming that no one was around, Wang Xiu immediately took off his official hat, sat down heavily, and started panting.

"What kind of nonsense is this! Bringing two brutes into the army, they clearly don't trust us old folks!"

Wang Xiu clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth.

"Bah! You brat, just because you're a member of the Han imperial family and have those two menacing guards, you think you can act tough in Zhuojun? You think you can just take away military power like that? Do you think we're made of clay?"

"What else?" Zhao Peng gave him a half-smile and nudged him with his elbow.

"He's a proper prefect, with the imperial seal in his hand. His buddy Dian Wei is so strong he could kill a bull with one punch. Zhao Yun looks handsome, but his eyes are as sharp as knives."

"You're something else, Lao Wang! Why don't you rush in and fight him right now?"

Wang Xiu choked so badly that his neck was stuck, and he couldn't utter a sound for a long time.

Zhou Yi, the chief secretary, stepped in to smooth things over, his small eyes narrowed into slits.

"If you ask me, they're like a powerful dragon crossing the river, while we're like local snakes that have been entrenched for years."

"As long as he doesn't smash all the pots and pans we use for eating, it's acceptable."

"Let's just keep to ourselves and avoid getting into trouble. He can implement his new policies, and we can make our own money peacefully. Let's keep to ourselves."

"Standing still?" Wang Xiu raised his voice.

"If he changes taxes tomorrow and clears out farmland the day after, should we just stand by and do the same?"

"What's the rush?" Zhao Peng squinted.

"When powerful officials want political achievements, they always rely on local bullies. As long as they don't touch our core interests and just cooperate on the surface, life goes on as usual."

He lowered his voice, "When he checks the accounts, we cry poverty; when he wants to train troops, we complain about insufficient pay. Even members of the Han imperial family have to play by the rules, don't they?"

The three exchanged glances and suddenly laughed. Wang Xiu stood up.

"Alright! Let's see how brightly his 'new broom sweeps clean' works!"

Old Zhao looked up at the sky and waved his hand lazily.

"Come on, gentlemen, it's on me at the restaurant. Let's go have a couple of drinks. Whether he's a dragon or a snake, we'll see. As long as he doesn't go too far, we'll just play along and see how this 'Prefect's New Policies' play goes on."

……

The next morning, just as the sun was rising over the mountains, the streets of Zhuojun City were bustling with activity, filled with shouts and calls.

Liu Ce had Dian Wei, who was yawning constantly, standing on his left arm, and Zhao Yun, whose eyes were like a scanner, standing on his right arm. The trio swaggered along.

Dian Wei, this big guy, had a voice louder than a vendor's gong. When he saw a candy stall, he would shout, "Is this thing sweet?" When he encountered a troupe of acrobats, he would exclaim, "Their fire-breathing ability is amazing!"

Liu Ce thought to himself, "This is not as good as the shamanistic rituals back in my hometown!"

Zhao Yun, on the other hand, remained quiet, his eyes darting around, glancing at the corners of alleys and observing the expressions of passersby. This guy's professional instincts kicked in; after all, he was a professional bodyguard.

These two are such a contrast!

Liu Ce was getting a headache from Dian Wei's nagging and was about to curse him when Dian Wei suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs.

"My lord, look at that straw sandal seller! His ears are almost down to his shoulders, and his arms are as long as a gibbon's!"

Liu Ce looked at the figure. The person had drooping ears and hands that reached past his knees, and was busy fiddling with a pile of straw sandals on the ground.

Liu Ce's heart skipped a beat.

Good heavens! Isn't this Liu Bei himself? Historical records say he had "hands that reached past his knees and large, protruding ears," which is no exaggeration at all!

"System check..."

[Ding, in progress...] Name: Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande Gender: Male Age: 23 [Strength]: 87 (Second-rate) [Commander]: 86 (Second-rate) [Politics]: 90 (Top-tier) Intelligence: 87 (Second-rate) 【Charm】: 98 [Appearance]: 76 Special skills: 【Golden Cicada】: An ancestral skill, the Golden Cicada sheds its shell, adept at escaping, with an extremely high success rate.

[The Thousand-Faced Actor]: He possesses extremely high acting skills, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and fiction, and is adept at winning people's hearts.

[Succubus]: Can accurately identify high-potential talents and easily influence them to join their ranks.

[Benevolence and Virtue]: It can greatly enhance the people's sense of belonging and the loyalty of talented individuals.

Liu Ce walked over and looked at the straw sandals. They were woven very densely. It was a pity that such skill was a waste of talent in such a chaotic world.

"Boss, how much are these straw sandals?" Liu Ce squatted down, picked up a pair, and weighed them in his hands.

Liu Bei looked up, his face beaming with genuine joy.

"Fifteen coins a pair, sir, feel them! They're made with the finest straw; the soles won't wear out even after three years!"

Liu Ce pretended to pick them out, then turned and winked at Dian Wei: "Er Lai, try them on to see if they fit?"

Dian Wei stuffed his big foot into the straw sandal, stretching it into a slipper, and chuckled.

"My lord, these shoes are breathable! They'll make you feel like you're running in the wind!"

Zhao Yun sighed and silently moved half a step to the side, too embarrassed to admit it.

Liu Ce, suppressing a laugh, said to Liu Bei.

"Five pairs to start! But I see your craftsmanship is quite good. I have about a hundred people in my household, and each person needs a pair as work shoes, so let's start with a hundred pairs!"

Liu Bei's eyes lit up instantly, but his face quickly fell again.

"Sir, this is a small business of mine, and I only have about twenty pairs available..."

"No rush, no rush!" Liu Ce took out a small bag of money and stuffed it into his hand.

"Pay me the wages first! I'll send a servant with you home to fetch the goods. Take your time with the fabrication, and make sure it's detailed!"

After saying that, he waved to one of his clever servants and whispered instructions to him.

"Keep an eye on him. He should come back and report after he's finished knitting a hundred pairs. Don't let him slip away on the way."

Watching Liu Bei gratefully shoulder the straw sandals and disappear into the crowd with his servant, Liu Ce finally burst out laughing.

Dian Wei leaned closer: "My lord, what are you laughing at? What's so special about this straw sandal guy?"

Liu Ce hooked his arm around his neck.

"Oh dear, some people are born to be emperors, while others—are better suited to be craftsmen!"

Liu Ce secretly rejoiced: Liu Bei, didn't you want to "restore the Han Dynasty"? Fine! Then you should focus on restoring these hundred pairs of straw sandals first! After you finish weaving them, I'll place an order for a thousand pairs, over and over again. You should thank me for elevating you from a "mat weaver and sandal seller" to a "wholesaler of straw sandals in the Eastern Han Dynasty," let's see if you'll have the time to engage in any more of the Oath of the Peach Garden!

Zhao Yun suddenly interrupted softly.

"My lord, this man's arms are unusual, and his gait is steady; he seems to be no ordinary merchant."

Liu Ce's heart skipped a beat: Damn, Zilong really has a sharp eye! He quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Maybe it's because they've had a family tradition of weaving straw sandals, which is how they developed their biceps?"

After saying that, he quickly pulled the two military officers toward the prefect's mansion.

"Let's go, let's go to work first, I'll treat you two to hot pot after get off work!"

"No one is allowed to tell anyone about what happened today, especially not E Lai, that big mouth of his!"

……

Liu Ce, filled with the excitement of taking office as a new official, strolled towards the prefect's residence with Zhao Yun and Dian Wei.

As Dian Wei walked, he craned his neck to look at the pancake stalls on the street, muttering to himself.

"My lord, does our prefect ever provide breakfast? I haven't had enough to eat yet!"

Zhao Yun maintained a standard bodyguard's expression, but his eyes secretly scanned the street corners and alleys. His professional instincts kicked in, and he automatically switched into security mode.

When they arrived at the entrance of the prefect's residence, a group of officials were indeed waiting.

The leader, Prefect Zhao Peng, quickly stepped forward and showered him with compliments.

"The Prefect is truly diligent and loves his people. He's arrived so early; it's a blessing for the people of Zhuojun!"

Liu Ce knew perfectly well that these polite words were just for show, and he smiled as he spoke.

"My colleagues have worked hard. We'll be working together in the future, so there's no need for such formalities."

The group entered the main hall, and Liu Ce sat down in the main seat, with Dian Wei and Zhao Yun standing on either side, like two door gods. The officials below exchanged glances furtively, their minds racing with calculations.

Upon entering the main hall, Liu Ce plopped down in the main seat, his scalp tingling at the sight of the mountain of bamboo slips.

Liu Ce cleared his throat and got down to business: "Let's begin."

……

The officials nodded and gave their reports...

Dian Wei was snoring away when Liu Ce kicked him awake, and then he suddenly slammed his hand on the table.

"I understand! It's just poverty! Don't worry, my lord, I'll lead the troops into the mountains to wipe out some bandits, and then we'll have the money!"

……

Zhao Yun remained silent throughout, until Commandant Wang Xiu boasted about his achievements in leading troops to suppress bandits, at which point he suddenly interrupted in a low voice.

"Lord Wang, last month you led troops to suppress bandits, beheading forty. However, the military report states that you seized thirty spears and forty-five knives. Could you please tell me if the extra five knives were forged by the bandits?"

Wang Xiu was speechless on the spot, while Liu Ce suppressed his laughter so hard he suffered internal injuries.

……

After get off work.

Liu Ce stretched and said to Zhao Yun and Dian Wei, "Let's go! Let's have hot pot!"