Volume 1: Kyoto Wind and Cloud Chapter 22: Fighting and Brawling, Encountering a Hero

  Yuan Shao's words were not only shirking responsibility, but also threatening Liu Zhang. However, how could Liu Zhang be swayed by Yuan Shao's few words? He had made up his mind to find trouble with the Yuan family from the start, and he also knew that only by opposing the Yuan family could he stand firm in the court later. Although Liu Hong valued Liu Zhang highly now, once Liu Hong gradually grasped power, he would definitely play a balancing game in the court. In history, Liu Hong supported He Jin, intending to let him become a third force to restrain eunuchs and aristocratic families. However, He Jin unexpectedly joined forces with the aristocratic families and swung between them and the eunuch faction, leading Liu Hong to abandon him, as well as He Miao and Liu Bian. Now, Liu Zhang planned to be that third force, restraining the aristocratic families and eunuchs for Liu Hong, and profiting from it.

  "Master Yuan, you have a big reputation, I don't know what position you currently hold?" Liu Zhang said disdainfully: "I am now five years old, although not talented, but holding the position of Lang of the Feathered Forest. And you are just relying on your father's official position and meritorious deeds to bully and dominate, a spoiled rich kid. Compared to you, I am much more noble! If Yuan Feng and Yuan Wei, those two old thieves, were to meet with disaster, what would you and that little fatty by your side be? When the time comes, the tree falls and the monkeys scatter, it will be a luxury for you to gather so many people to drink and feast again!"

  "Yuan Shu, although weak and timid, cannot be denied as a filial son. Liu Zhang cursed Yuan Yi and Yuan Feng, which instantly made him furious. Only to see Yuan Shu's eyes turned red with rage, he picked up a long bench and said viciously: "I'll fight you to the death!"

  "Prince!" Shi Ah suddenly stood in front of Liu Zhang, and Yuan Shu's momentum instantly dropped!

  "Don't stand behind the guardian!" Yuan Shu hesitated, holding up his long bench, wondering whether to charge over.

  "Shua retreat!" Liu Zhang drew out his treasured sword and said: "As a member of the Liu family, how can I let people look down on me? Yuan Gongluo, don't blame me for not warning you, as long as you dare to come forward, I'll dare to kill you! Don't forget, I'm only five years old this year!"

  "Liu Gongzi, you'd better leave!" A short but sturdy young man couldn't bear it anymore and stepped out to say: "You just want to humiliate Yuan Gongzi a bit, no need to make things big, otherwise you won't be able to escape punishment either! Moreover, Yuan Gongzi's guards have already gone to call for people, in a little while, you won't be able to leave even if you want to!"

  "Cao Cao... you..." Yuan Shu's idea was to delay time, waiting for reinforcements to arrive. With Liu Zhang's men being only three, he would surely be able to avenge himself. However, Cao Cao reminded Liu Zhang to leave, which made Yuan Shu somewhat displeased.

  Liu Zhang sized up Cao Cao and saw that he was well-intentioned. But this time, Liu Zhang had planned to deal with the Yuan family, how could he retreat? Liu Zhang smiled and said: "So you're the grandson of Cao Teng, the Imperial Palace Eunuch! Brother Mengde, thank you for your good intentions, but listen to my advice, don't get together with the pig-headed Yuan family, hurry up and leave this place of trouble!"

  Cao Cao was not a fool, he saw Liu Zhang's confidence and knew there must be a plot. He looked at Liu Zhang again and then at Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, it was really hard to make a decision. Yuan Shu was already on the verge of madness, seeing Cao Cao's hesitant expression, he angrily said: "Cao Cao, you are just a eunuch's descendant, since you don't want to advance or retreat with us, then leave!"

  "General! How can you talk like that!" Yuan Shao, who had a good relationship with Cao Cao, hastily apologized to him: "Mengde, the General has been driven mad by anger, don't take it to heart, I'll have him apologize to you later!"

  "Yuan Benchu! That Cao Cao is nothing but a eunuch, and it's already an honor for him to sit with us. You want me to apologize? Unless Cao can grow his thing back!"

  Cao Cao was furious, thinking to himself: "I helped the Yuan family, but you, Governor Yuan, still humiliate me like this. Since that's how it is, I'm not a lowly person either, why should I use my hot face to kiss your cold butt!" Cao Cao cupped his hands and said: "In that case, Cao bids farewell!"

  "I'll go with you!" Cao Cao's close friends Zhang Miao and Wei Zi also stood up from their seats.

  "Hmph!" Cao Cao snorted coldly at Yuan Shu, then pulled Zhang Miao and Wei Zi's hands and left!

  "Meng De! Meng Zhuo! Zi Xu!" Yuan Shao saw Cao Cao and the other two leave without looking back, and suddenly became enraged: "Liu Zhang you little boy, I will take your life today! Come here!"

  As soon as Yuan Shao gave the order, a large group of people rushed into the wine house. Liu Zhang smiled and said: "Yuan Gongzi, this Mengyuelou is someone else's property after all, why don't we go out and compete?"

  "Since you're looking for death, I'll fulfill your wish!" Yuan Shao sneered: "Let's go! We're leaving!"

  As soon as the two parties left the wine tower, 50 or 60 imperial guards rushed out from around the corner and surrounded Liu Zhang in the middle. Yuan Shao took a look and suddenly became anxious, these imperial guards were the emperor's personal bodyguards, their combat strength was not ordinary. Think back to when Liu Zhang had only a dozen men under his command, he had managed to withstand an attack of over 100 people, now with 50 or 60 men, wouldn't it take nearly a thousand people to take down Liu Zhang? To mobilize nearly a thousand people in Luoyang, was this not an attempt to rebel? Yuan Shao felt a sense of being unable to get off the tiger's back, but Yuan Shu loudly shouted: "Those who are on my side, let your slaves follow my slaves and attack, I'll take responsibility for killing Liu Zhang!" Who among those who could drink with Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu didn't have over a dozen slaves? Upon hearing Yuan Shu's words, the crowd immediately let their slaves join in, and this time they managed to gather nearly 200 people.

  They were all desperately trying to get Liu Zhang's attention, but he was too busy sitting on a chair that had appeared out of nowhere, calmly drinking wine with Shi A. Meanwhile, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu looked at Liu Zhang with the same furious gaze as a bull provoked by a red cloth, their heavy breathing audible.

  "Up!" Yuan Su really couldn't bear it anymore, directing his family slaves to pounce on Liu Zhang. But the Imperial Guards were not to be trifled with! After a flurry of punches and kicks, those wailing on the ground were almost all the family slaves of these aristocratic young masters.

  "Come on, kill him!" The enraged Yuan Shu had already forgotten Liu Zhang's identity, and Yuan Shao was also infuriated by Liu Zhang, completely forgetting to stop Yuan Shu.

  "Halt! Whoever dares to move, this official will beat you to death!" Just as a bloody incident was about to occur, Zhou Yi, the prefect of Luoyang, finally appeared with his men. In fact, this was also Liu Hong's intention, to let Liu Zhang have a good beating. Unfortunately, Yuan Shu had learned from his mistakes and did not take action himself. Otherwise, this time it would not have been just a matter of a pig's head!

  Yuan Shu had always been arrogant, let alone the governor of Luoyang, even if the Imperial Chancellor or the Commandant of the Capital came, he wouldn't take them seriously. With a proud face, Yuan Shu heard the order from the governor of Luoyang and immediately jumped out saying: "Dare to hit me? Do you know who I am?"

  With two slaps, Yuan Shu was actually pinned down by two bailiffs. Zhou Yi sneered: "I don't care who you are! This is the imperial capital of Luoyang, you dare to fight and insult in public, threaten and intimidate court officials, do you still have any sense of justice?"

  "To hell with the king's law, I am... uh..." Yuan Shu didn't even finish speaking when his mouth was covered by Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao dared to make a bet, fighting and cursing in the street, insulting and threatening government officials were all trivial matters. If Yuan Shu dared to say the second half of the sentence, even if Yuan Feng and Yuan Wei were honored as three dukes, they would have to take responsibility for not teaching their son properly.

  Liu Zhang saw Yuan Shu being blocked by Yuan Shao, and his heart was filled with endless regret. If only Yuan Shu had said that sentence, Liu Hong would have been able to extort more from the Yuan family. However, even so, it still achieved his goal.

  "Take them all away!" Zhou Yi glanced at Liu Zhang, ordered the bailiffs to come forward and take everyone into custody. Liu Zhang was taken away quietly by the bailiffs.

  "Governor of Luoyang, I am the son of Grand Minister Yuan Feng and the nephew of General-in-Chief Yuan Wei. May I ask..." Yuan Shao was more astute than Yuan Pu; he brought up Yuan Wei's and Yuan Feng's official positions, but spoke in a tone of inquiry. To be sure, the real threat lies not in speaking harshly, but in stating facts!

  Zhou Yi was not as timid as the former prefect of Luoyang, and with the emperor's backing, he coldly snorted: "This is the imperial capital, not your Yuan family's backyard! The Son of Heaven who breaks the law is punished the same as commoners, it has always been so! Now you are fighting in the streets, which falls under the jurisdiction of the prefect of Luoyang. I don't care if you're nobles or aristocrats, today you'll all have to come with me!"

  "Yuan Shao hadn't even spoken, when Yuan Shu angrily said: 'A minor official like the Governor of Luoyang dares to speak so boldly. I won't go, and I'll see what you can do to me! Let's leave!' "

  Yuan Shu broke free from the bailiffs and was about to lead the way out. Zhou Yi angrily shouted, "Seize him! Anyone who dares to resist will be beheaded without discussion!"

  Hiss... Hiss... Hiss... Hiss

  The soldiers brought by the Lord of Luoyang all drew their swords, and Yuan Shao took a look, this is not a joke, if they resist, the Lord of Luoyang might really dare to kill people. As the saying goes: A good man does not take advantage of others in front of him. Suddenly, Liu Zhang on the side became honest! Yuan Shao whispered a few words to Yuan Shu, and Yuan Shu was not stupid, how could he not see the Lord of Luoyang's toughness? Seeing that Yuan Shu and others had surrendered, Zhou Yi ordered someone to tie up all the people present with iron chains. Of course, the Imperial Guards and family slaves were released, it's useless to catch them, and they also occupy prison cells. However, what made Yuan Shu quite unhappy was that everyone was locked in iron chains, only Liu Zhang was symbolically tied up.

  Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao have grown up to be so big, when have they ever been in jail? But now they are locked up in the great prison of Luoyang because of a fight! Since ancient times, prisons have always been dark places. Although Yuan Shu and others received special treatment, it's still not as comfortable as being outside. Yuan Shu vowed that once he gets out, he will make the prefect of Luoyang pay for this. But now he can only sit in that dark, damp, and moldy prison cell with a group of rich young masters staring at each other. When the jailer brought their dinner, Yuan Shu and others almost went crazy. Since they were young, they had always worn fine clothes and eaten delicious food, when have they ever eaten such disgusting things that even pigs and dogs wouldn't eat? In a fit of rage, Yuan Shu knocked over the food. But because of this, Yuan Shu and others went hungry for an entire night. However, Yuan Shu was relieved to know that Liu Zhang had also been arrested, his treatment must be similar to theirs, maybe even worse, after all, Liu Zhang was only five years old. But if he knew where Liu Zhang was and what he was doing, he would definitely be even more furious!

  Actually, Liu Zhang was not locked in a prison cell, but lived in the guest room of the Luoyang prefecture, where he was treated to good wine and food. All this was under the orders of Emperor Liu Hong, and Zhou Yi dared not slack off in front of the emperor's favorite. Unfortunately, Yuan Shu couldn't see Liu Zhang's carefree life, otherwise he would have been driven mad with anger!