Chapter 71: Zuo Feng Demands a Bribe

“Master, since this Liu Bei is such a dangerous person, should we deal with him as Gongsun Zan did?” Shi A spoke up from the side. In Shi A’s eyes, anyone who posed a threat to Liu Yao needed to be eliminated without hesitation.

“There’s no need. Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei are different. Liu Bei has Guan Yu at his side; it would not be easy to assassinate him as we did before. If we move against him openly, tongues will wag. Besides, he is nothing but a commoner right now—how much could he possibly achieve? Should the time come, I can destroy him with a mere flick of my hand,” Liu Yao declared with confidence and authority.

Even in history, Liu Bei only began to rise with the status of imperial kin after the year 200. Now, stripped of even that status, by the time Liu Yao reached that point, who knew how powerful he would have become? There was simply no need to fear someone as insignificant as Liu Bei.

The others, seeing Liu Yao’s self-assured and commanding demeanor, were inwardly stirred. The aura of a leader was becoming ever more pronounced in him, and they felt certain they had chosen the right person to follow.

In the days that followed, Liu Yao and his men spent their time idly within the Han army’s camp, enjoying a rare period of leisure.

After all, the commander of the Han forces was still Lu Zhi; it was up to him to trouble himself with Zhang Jue. There was no need for Liu Yao to meddle. He recalled that Zhang Jue would fall ill and die in October, at which point Guangzong would collapse without a fight. There was no sense in exhausting oneself over a thankless task.

As for Lu Zhi, he had no way to command Liu Yao. With only fifty thousand men under his own command, how could he possibly breach the ironclad defenses of Guangzong? Inside the city, the Yellow Turbans numbered no less than 150,000, with the three Zhang brothers presiding—their morale was high, incomparable to the likes of Bo Cai or Peng Tuo’s men. Lu Zhi merely managing to contain Zhang Jue was already commendable.

But one day, the arrival of a certain person brought a ripple to this tranquil camp.

“Master, an imperial envoy has arrived.” Just as Liu Yao was dozing off, Shi A entered the tent.

The interruption did not improve Liu Yao’s mood. He shot Shi A a glare and snapped, “An envoy? I’m no birdman.”

“Uh…” Shi A was caught off guard. “Master, if I may ask, what is a birdman?”

Only then did Liu Yao realize that Shi A’s ‘envoy’ was not the angel with wings he had imagined, but a messenger from the emperor. Liu Yao cleared his throat twice to mask his embarrassment. “Shi A, you said an envoy has arrived—would that be Zuo Feng?”

If someone came at this time as an imperial envoy, it could only be Zuo Feng, that eunuch.

“Master, your foresight is unmatched. The envoy’s name is indeed Zuo Feng.” Shi A was startled, surprised that Liu Yao could guess the visitor’s identity. He then asked cautiously, “Shall we go out to receive him?”

“No need! Lu Zhi is still the commander—let him be the one to receive Zuo Feng.” Liu Yao refused without hesitation.

What a joke—why should he meet that eunuch Zuo Feng? Zuo Feng was nothing more than Zhang Rang’s lapdog. Even Zhang Rang had to curry favor with Liu Yao, let alone Zuo Feng.

Besides, Zuo Feng’s visit was nothing more than a bid for bribes; if Liu Yao went, would Zuo Feng dare solicit one from him? But if Zuo Feng did not accept bribes, how else could Lu Zhi be framed? Liu Yao would be happy to see Lu Zhi recalled to the capital—right now, with Lu Zhi present, dealing with Liu Bei was difficult.

“Yes, sir,” Shi A replied, bowing out of the tent without further disturbance.

Meanwhile, the arrival of the imperial envoy was a major event for both Cao Cao and Lu Zhi. They hurriedly arranged a banquet to warmly receive Zuo Feng.

The next day, Zuo Feng went straight to Liu Yao’s tent to pay his respects. Liu Yao glanced at Zuo Feng and said curtly, “You may do as you like here, so long as you do not disturb me.” He looked at Zuo Feng with deeper meaning, then had him shown out.

Zuo Feng was thrilled by these words—Liu Yao was clearly giving his tacit approval for Zuo Feng to collect bribes. And so, Zuo Feng began making his rounds through the camp, extorting those of rank for gifts.

But for the others, it was a miserable time. Whether rich or poor, all were fleeced by Zuo Feng. Not even Cao Cao was spared—knowing Zuo Feng was under Zhang Rang, one of the Ten Attendants, whose power was immense, Cao Cao dared not offend him. In the end, he reluctantly parted with three hundred gold pieces to send Zuo Feng on his way.

As the commander of the Han forces, Lu Zhi was the real prize, and Zuo Feng left him for last. But when Zuo Feng tried to extort money from Lu Zhi, he was met with an indignant refusal and a scathing rebuke.

This instantly earned Lu Zhi Zuo Feng’s enmity.

Liu Bei, standing nearby, tried to persuade Lu Zhi to pay a bribe and avoid greater trouble, but Lu Zhi only glared at him and retorted, “The army barely has enough provisions—where would we find extra money to give that eunuch?”

With that, Lu Zhi had thoroughly offended Zuo Feng. That very day, Zuo Feng set out for Luoyang, leaving with a parting threat: “Lu Zhi, you scoundrel, we shall see what becomes of you.”

Luoyang.

Seething with anger, Zuo Feng hurried back to Luoyang and went straight to Zhang Rang’s residence, recounting everything that had happened.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Rang flew into a rage. “Well, Lu Zhi, if you will not show me due respect, then do not blame me for what comes next!” With that, he took Zuo Feng with him to the palace.

When Liu Hong heard that Zuo Feng had returned, he immediately summoned all the court officials to convene.

In the imperial court, Liu Hong sat high upon his throne, looking down upon the assembled civil and military officials.

“Zuo Feng, what results did you achieve on your mission as overseer?” Liu Hong asked with interest.

At that moment, Zuo Feng caught Zhang Rang’s meaningful look and promptly knelt, sobbing, “Your Majesty, you must see justice done for your humble servant!”

Liu Hong, annoyed by Zuo Feng’s sniveling, pressed, “What has happened?”

“Your Majesty, I was sent to Guangzong as your overseer. At first, Lu Zhi did win a great victory over the Yellow Turbans, slaying over ten thousand and forcing the rebels to cower within the city. Yet after that, Lu Zhi made every excuse to avoid battle. When I asked him why, he told me that as a eunuch I knew nothing of warfare, and drove me out! I beg Your Majesty to redress this injustice!”

Liu Hong was furious. “Outrageous! You were my representative—an envoy from the throne. For Lu Zhi to insult you is to insult me! A crime worthy of death!”

Then, as if recalling something, Liu Hong asked, “Zuo Feng, did you see my son, the Crown Prince, when you were at Guangzong?”

Zuo Feng’s eyes darted as he replied, “Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince was indeed present in the camp. I went to pay my respects, but he told me that Lu Zhi, wielding his authority as commander, was suppressing him and forbade him from taking the field.”

Zhang Rang interjected, “Your Majesty, Lu Zhi is clearly harboring bandits to increase his own power, letting slip the chance to destroy the rebels. His intentions are treasonous. He should be executed on the spot!”

“I decree: execute Lu Zhi immediately!” Liu Hong ordered loudly. In his mind, even the Crown Prince had said Lu Zhi refused to fight—Lu Zhi must have ulterior motives. Little did he know that Liu Yao had never said any such thing; it was merely Zuo Feng’s fabrication.