xymnovel Chapter 21 Lei Heng
Chapter 21 Lei Heng
Liu Bei and Wu Yong returned to Dongxi Village.
As the mule cart entered the manor, Liu Bei jumped off the cart and tossed the reins to the manor servants who came to greet him.
"Go and call all the people you've taken in at the manor to the training ground in the backyard."
Wu Yong followed behind him and asked in a low voice, "Brother, shall we tell you now?"
Liu Bei nodded: "There's no time to lose. When people are idle, their minds tend to wander."
Half an hour later, the training ground was filled with people.
More than a hundred refugees, including men, women, and children.
They wore the linen clothes issued by the village. Although they were still thin, their faces showed less numbness and more composure.
The children hid behind the adults, curiously observing Liu Bei standing on the platform.
Liu Bei's gaze swept over them one by one.
He didn't speak.
The scene was very quiet.
The refugees were somewhat uneasy, wondering why the manor owner who had taken them in had suddenly summoned them.
Only after everyone had quieted down did Liu Bei slowly begin to speak.
"Fellow villagers."
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
"I, Chao Gai, took you in not to accumulate merit or do good deeds, nor to seek a good reputation."
The refugees stirred, their composure turning into panic.
Liu Bei raised his hand, and the commotion immediately subsided.
"I took you in because I want to ask you to do something for me."
He looked at everyone.
"I've taken over an abandoned government granary in Yuncheng County. I need manpower to repair and maintain it."
"Starting tomorrow, anyone who wants to work can go."
"The work is easy, and you'll be provided with three full meals a day."
A low cheer erupted from the crowd.
For them, having food to eat is an immense favor.
After Liu Bei and the others' cheers subsided slightly, he uttered his second statement.
"Besides providing meals, I also give you half a string of cash in wages every month."
The training ground fell silent instantly.
Everyone thought they had misheard.
An old man with gray hair walked forward shakily.
"Master...Master...you mean...you'll give us the money back?"
Liu Bei nodded: "Give me the money."
With a "thump".
The old man knelt down straight and kowtowed heavily to Liu Bei.
"Master...you are a living bodhisattva!"
With a loud "boom," the crowd all knelt down.
"The Lord of the Manor is immensely kind and benevolent!"
"We are willing to serve the master like cattle and horses!"
Cries and kowtows filled the air.
They were homeless and treated like pigs and dogs. They never imagined that they would not only have food to eat, but also be able to earn money with their own strength.
Liu Bei did not help him up.
He quietly accepted their bow.
He knew this was the first step in winning people's hearts.
"Get up, everyone."
As everyone stood up, their eyes were filled with awe and respect when they looked at Liu Bei.
"I don't support idlers or useless people here."
Liu Bei continued.
"Among you, is there any accountant who knows how to do the math?"
From the crowd, a middle-aged man wearing an old felt hat hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.
"This humble one...this humble one worked as an accountant at a rice shop in town for several years in my younger days."
Liu Bei glanced at him. Although the man was dressed in rags, his hands were clean and his nails were neatly trimmed.
"What's your name?"
"Reporting to the Master, my surname is Zhang, and my given name is Shi."
Liu Bei nodded: "Alright. Zhang Shi, from now on you will follow Wu Xuejiu and be in charge of the warehouse accounts."
Zhang Shi was stunned, then overjoyed, and bowed repeatedly.
"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"
Liu Bei then asked, "Are there any carpenters or bricklayers who know how to repair and build houses?"
A few more people emerged from the crowd.
A stocky man said in a deep voice, "Master, I used to be a carpenter, and I made beams and pillars for wealthy families."
Another tall, thin man chimed in, "I can build walls and plaster."
Liu Bei asked them their names one by one and remembered them.
"Very good. You lot will go to the city tomorrow. You'll be in charge of repairing the granary."
The group excitedly agreed.
Liu Bei's gaze then fell on the women holding children.
"Among you, how many are quick and efficient, and know how to cook in a large pot?"
Several middle-aged women looked at each other and then came out as well.
"Master, we all know how to do it."
Liu Bei said, "From now on, you will be responsible for the meals of everyone on the construction site. Your children can stay in the manor, and I will have the wives of the farmhands help take care of them. They will never go hungry or cold."
That last sentence completely put everyone's minds at ease.
They have families to support, and their biggest worry is their children.
Now that the manor lord has even resolved their worries, what reason do they have not to fight desperately?
"We thank the Master for saving our lives!"
The crowd knelt down again, willingly and prostrating themselves on the ground.
Wu Yong stood behind Liu Bei, gently waving his fan, his eyes full of admiration.
There is a clear division of labor, and everyone performs their duties.
First grant favors, then establish rules.
This solved the manpower problem and won over the hearts of the people.
My brother's methods are nothing like those of a rural village head; they're more like those of a founding monarch.
Just as Liu Bei was about to say a few more words, a servant hurriedly ran over from the front yard.
"Brother! Chief Lei from the county is here!"
Liu Bei's brow twitched slightly.
Lei Heng?
What is he here for?
"Please ask him to sit in the main hall for a moment, I'll be there shortly."
"yes!"
Liu Bei turned to Wu Yong and said, "Scholar, I'm leaving this to you. Register all the men and prepare to depart early tomorrow morning."
Wu Yong cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother, rest assured."
Liu Bei straightened his robes and walked towards the front yard.
Inside the main hall, a burly man with a purplish-black complexion was sitting and drinking tea with an air of nonchalance.
He was dressed in official robes, with a broadsword at his waist; he was none other than Lei Heng, the Infantry Commander of Yuncheng County, also known as the Winged Tiger.
"Commander Lei, your presence is an honor. I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you sooner," Liu Bei said with a smile as he entered the room.
Lei Heng laughed heartily, stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Brother Chao Gai, what are you saying!"
"I was inspecting the county today when I heard that you, brother, have acquired the government granary in the west of the city and are preparing to open a rice shop. In times of natural disasters or man-made calamities, you can provide relief to the victims. This is truly wonderful news! As your brother, I've come to congratulate you!"
Liu Bei also laughed.
"Brother Lei, you're really well-informed. It's just a small business, barely enough to make a living. You don't deserve such praise."
He took out a ten-tael silver ingot from his sleeve and quietly stuffed it into Lei Heng's hand.
"Brothers, you've worked hard on patrol. Here's some money for you. Take it and have a drink. Don't be offended."
Lei Heng weighed the silver in his hand, his smile widening.
"Brother, you're too kind! Your act of kindness is something we should do even if we run ourselves ragged!"
Liu Bei stood up abruptly: "Tell the backyard to slaughter a pig and prepare a feast. Today I want to drink with Commander Lei and all the brothers!"
……
Early the next morning.
On the official road, a group of people rode along.
Lei Heng, accompanied by a dozen soldiers, escorted Liu Bei's mule cart and set off in a grand procession towards Yuncheng County.
With the officials escorting them, the emaciated refugees on the road kept their distance and dared not approach.
Lei Heng and Liu Bei rode side by side, chatting and laughing.
"Brother, you've taken in refugees and opened your granaries to distribute grain; you truly have the heart of a bodhisattva. Unlike those bandits of Liangshan Marsh, who only know how to rob and plunder, harming the people."
Liu Bei drove the carriage, his face showing just the right amount of surprise.
"Liangshan Marsh? I heard from the servants of the manor the other day that government troops went to besiege it? Brother, do you know why?"
Lei Heng lowered his voice, a hint of smugness on his face.
"Brother, you are unaware of this. This matter arose precisely because of the 'Birthday Tribute'!"
He embellished the story of the Huangnigang robbery, and how Yang Zhi returned to Daming Prefecture to report the news, which enraged Liang Zhongshu, who then sent troops to suppress the rebellion.
"...That Blue-Faced Beast Yang Zhi was a useless piece of trash. Three thousand government troops and dozens of warships of various sizes, and all they managed to kill was that pedantic scholar Wang Lun. The bandit leader Lin Chong was nowhere to be seen. And the 100,000 strings of birthday tribute were nowhere to be found."
Liu Bei listened, understanding in his heart, but on the surface he appeared to have just realized something.
"I see. No wonder I saw dust and warships flying everywhere over Jeju Island that day. It turns out something terrible happened."
Lei Heng sighed, "That's right."
"Now, Daming Prefecture has issued a warrant for his arrest, with his image and likeness, and is searching the whole world for that Leopard Head Lin Chong. Grand Tutor Cai is furious and has given a death order: he must be found alive or dead."
As he spoke, he suddenly changed the subject and looked at Liu Bei with great interest.
"It's quite a coincidence. Besides Lin Chong, the arrest warrant also included drawings of several accomplices."
"One of them, judging from the description, was also a burly man who wielded a pair of swords and was as brave as ten thousand men."
Lei Heng's gaze swept across Liu Bei's face, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Brother, I think you look somewhat like me."