Chapter 2: The Arrogant Eastern Province Troops

Captain Xu Meng now felt that the crow’s cry he heard just as he left the camp gate that morning was indeed an ill omen.

Today, as usual, during the army’s rest day, he wandered through the bustling market of Chengdu, hoping to buy some goods and find a bit of amusement.

Recent events weighed heavily on his heart. Being a native of Guanzhong, he had initially intended to follow Liu Yan, the former Governor of Yizhou, a shrewd and capable man with grand ambitions, hoping that through him, he might one day return home to Guanzhong.

But Liu Yan had suddenly fallen ill and died. The new Governor of Yizhou was his fourth son, Liu Zhang, rumored to be weak and incompetent. Now Xu Meng feared he might never return to Guanzhong in his lifetime.

By chance, he ran into two delicate young women in the market. Thinking to seize an opportunity for a little fun, he tried to make an advance. Unexpectedly, a sturdy man in blue robes jumped out first, followed by a finely dressed young nobleman, both coming to spoil his mischief.

Though Xu Meng was rugged in appearance, he was careful by nature. He paid little mind to the blue-robed man, who, judging by his official attire, was likely an assistant magistrate or a clerk from the Shu Prefecture’s governor’s office. Since Xu Meng was a captain, such minor officials had no authority over him, so he need not worry.

However, the elegant young nobleman in rich brocade was likely from a powerful family, perhaps holding the rank of two thousand dan or a military officer. His accent was not from Shu, and he was accompanied by a small servant and four fierce-looking attendants, not to be trifled with. Entangling with them would be troublesome.

Xu Meng addressed the nobleman cautiously: “Young sir, judging by your accent, you are not from Yizhou. Why take the side of these worm-infested Shu people?”

Hearing this, Liu Zhang felt a mixture of amusement and disbelief. His predecessor had indeed been overly gentle and weak, a man who kept to himself in the governor’s mansion and rarely appeared in public. No one in the marketplace recognized his identity, and even this captain before him had no clue who he was. This anonymity was precisely why he dared to roam incognito.

Moreover, Liu Zhang was taken aback by Xu Meng’s insult calling the Shu people “infested with worms,” a regional slur typical of the Han era’s deep-seated prejudices. Collecting his thoughts, he responded loudly: “The Han family unites all under heaven; under heaven, we are all one family. There are no Shu people, only Han people. I do not speak for Shu, but for the Han.”

“Well said, young sir,” praised the sturdy man in blue, who then turned to Xu Meng with a scolding tone: “You Eastern Prefecture folks fled to our Yizhou as refugees. We took you in with kindness, providing you with food and clothing. Yet you dare to bully the women and children of Yizhou? Truly, you are unfilial.”

Xu Meng felt a headache coming on. The nobleman was stubborn, determined to defend the Yizhou locals, and the blue-robed official was merely making trouble. Since the nobleman was difficult to confront, Xu Meng decided to deal first with the blue-robed man—he could not allow the Yizhou people to get the upper hand; it would be a loss of face.

“We Eastern Prefecture folk were not taken in by you Yizhou people, but by the late Governor Liu Yan himself. The food and clothing came from Governor Liu’s treasury, not yours. I owe no debt of gratitude to you Yizhou people, only to Governor Liu. You, assistant magistrate, should not take advantage of me.”

After speaking, Xu Meng glanced at the growing crowd of onlookers. There were quite a few, and the situation was becoming difficult to resolve. Now was not the time to back down, or he would lose face forever.

The blue-robed assistant magistrate was momentarily silenced by Xu Meng’s retort. According to the Confucian ideal of serving one’s lord faithfully, these Eastern Prefecture refugees did, indeed, owe much to Liu Yan.

Still, words were not his strong suit. His fists clenched involuntarily. Had he not promised his elderly mother to behave as a proper official and not resort to violence, he would have long ago drawn his ring-headed sword to settle matters.

“The food and clothing came from Governor Liu?” Liu Zhang interrupted. Seeing the assistant magistrate’s poor debating skills, he stepped forward and spoke loudly:

“Could Liu Yan alone till so much land, or weave so much cloth to supply you?”

Xu Meng was left speechless. On one hand, he dared not confront the elegant nobleman directly; on the other, as a warrior, he was at a disadvantage in verbal disputes.

Liu Zhang pressed his advantage, cutting off any chance for Xu Meng to reply: “Your food and clothing come from the government treasury. The treasury is replenished by the taxes paid by the people of Shu.”

“In other words, the people of Shu are your providers.”

Liu Zhang’s tone grew stern as he thundered, “Do you know what crime it is to mistreat your own parents?”

He laid bare a grave accusation: unfilial behavior, known in the Han legal code as “parricide,” a crime punished by death, sometimes by beheading, boiling, or exile.

The Han law also enforced the “Three Exclusions” rule, whereby if someone committed unfilial acts within three generations, the entire family could be punished.

This was an extremely serious charge.

The assistant magistrate’s eyes lit up at the mention of this crime, and he eagerly added, “Mistreating one’s parents is the gravest of unfilial offenses.”

At this, the crowd erupted in cheers. They, too, had suffered under the rule of the Eastern Prefecture refugees, and though usually silent, they now found courage to voice their anger alongside those standing up for them.

“Well said!”

“Good words, young sir!”

“Excellent, assistant magistrate!”

Liu Zhang remained composed, while the assistant magistrate basked in the adulation, enjoying the limelight.

Across from them, Xu Meng’s face darkened, a mix of shame and defiance. He felt the nobleman’s words held some truth; his own actions were indeed shameful by the standards of propriety and honor he had been taught. Yet with so many witnesses, he could not afford to bow out gracefully.

Stiffening his neck, he muttered in a gruff voice, “Nonsense, all rubbish.”

Having spoken, Xu Meng decided to leave. In this situation, violence was unwise and arguing futile; retreat was the best option.

Before departing, he asked, “If you are heroes and men of valor, at least leave your names.”

He wanted to learn their identities, to gather information for future dealings. There would be time enough later to settle accounts properly.

The assistant magistrate, still basking in the crowd’s cheers, brightened at this favorite moment—leaving a mark. Clearing his throat, raising his voice, he took the lead: “I am from Ba Commandery, surname Gan, given name Ning...”

“Gan Xingba.”

Before Gan Ning could finish, Liu Zhang interrupted, a bit stunned. This blue-robed official was none other than Gan Xingba—the Tiger Minister of the Jiangdong region; Gan Xingba who once raided Cao Cao’s camp with a hundred riders; Gan Xingba, praised by Sun Quan as “Zhang Liao of Mengde, I have Xingba, worthy to match him.”

Liu Zhang had only been in this era for about ten days, but had yet to meet any famous figures of the Three Kingdoms.

Gan Ning’s joy deepened. He was well-known in Ba Commandery, but seldom recognized beyond it. Hearing Liu Zhang speak his name brought him great satisfaction.

He looked at Liu Zhang, this nobleman radiating unparalleled courage, eloquence, and, most importantly, knowing his name. Gan Ning felt they had met too late in life and wished they could have sworn brotherhood on the spot.

“I have long heard the name Xingba, but fate denied us a meeting,” Liu Zhang said genuinely. This was truly Gan Ning, the foremost warrior of Jiangdong, standing before him.

As their cordial exchange unfolded, a disdainful voice cut through the air: “Who did I think you were? Just a barbarian from Ba.”

Xu Meng sneered, dripping with contempt and regional prejudice. Having never heard of a prominent Gan family in Ba Commandery, he disregarded Gan Ning and turned to Liu Zhang: “May I ask your name, young sir?”

Gan Ning’s face flushed with anger but he restrained himself, silently vowing to deal with this Eastern Prefecture troublemaker when the opportunity arose.

Liu Zhang smiled slightly, cupped his hands respectfully, and replied, “I am Liu Zhang of Jiangxia, courtesy name Jiyu.”

“Liu Jiyu, huh? Remember that name...” Xu Meng jotted it down, intending to casually remark that he had it noted before leaving this den of disputes. But midway through his sentence, he hesitated, as if recalling something.

A dark thought rose in Xu Meng’s mind, shared by those around him who exchanged uneasy glances. Suppressing their unease, Xu Meng asked with a slight tremor in his voice:

“Which Liu?”

He still harbored a faint hope it was not the Liu with the Golden Saber.