The morning sun barely crested over the rooftops when Zhao Ming was dragged into the town square, bound and flanked by guards. The air was thick with murmurs from the gathered crowd, a mix of disbelief and anger.


    Zhao Liang, seated comfortably on an elevated wooden platform, fanned himself lazily. "Let this be a lesson to all who think they are above the law," he declared, his voice filled with false righteousness.


    Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei stood to the side, their hands clenched into fists.


    Zhang Fei spat on the ground. "This is an outrage! They dare accuse our brother falsely? I’ll break that inspector’s bones with my own hands!"


    Liu Bei placed a firm hand on Zhang Fei’s shoulder. "We must be patient. Acting rashly will only play into their hands."


    Guan Yu, his brows furrowed, kept his eyes on the inspector. "Zhao Liang is no fool. He has soldiers at his command. If we act without strategy, we will all fall."


    Despite their words, Zhang Fei could barely restrain himself.


    As the guards raised their whips, Zhang Fei could no longer stand by. He lunged forward, grabbing a coiled rope and a whip from one of the executioners.


    The guard stumbled back, startled. "What—?"


    Before anyone could react, Zhang Fei charged toward Zhao Liang. With a single powerful motion, he threw the rope around the inspector’s middle and yanked hard, pulling him off his seat.


    "W-what is the meaning of this?!" Zhao Liang sputtered as he hit the ground, his silk robes dirtied.


    The crowd gasped, some cheering, some backing away in fear.


    Zhang Fei ignored them. In a flash, he dragged Zhao Liang toward a sturdy tree in the square’s center and lashed him to the trunk. The inspector struggled, but Zhang Fei’s strength was overwhelming.


    "You like whipping innocent men?" Zhang Fei bellowed, his voice like thunder. "Then let’s see how you like it!"


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    He raised the whip high and brought it down with a resounding crack across Zhao Liang’s back.


    The inspector screamed. "A-Ah! You brute! Stop this at once! Guards!"


    But none of the soldiers moved. The crowd, emboldened by Zhang Fei’s defiance, was beginning to turn against the inspector.


    An elderly shopkeeper stepped forward, his voice shaking. "This man… this man has done nothing but extort us since he arrived! He deserves worse!"


    A blacksmith shouted, "Zhang Fei is right! If Liu Bei and his brothers hadn''t protected us all this time, we’d still be living in fear of bandits!"


    The crowd surged forward, no longer spectators but participants. Some threw rotten vegetables, others jeered and shouted for Zhao Liang’s removal.


    Liu Wen and Sun Yichen, standing at the edge of the square, exchanged nervous glances.


    "This is getting out of hand," Sun Yichen muttered. "If we don’t act now, we’ll lose control of Anxi."


    Liu Wen sneered. "Then we must call for reinforcements."


    Just as the crowd’s anger reached its peak, a trumpet sounded from the distance. A column of soldiers marched into the square, their armor gleaming under the sun.


    A middle-aged general led them, his expression unreadable. "Enough! Cease this madness at once!"


    Liu Bei stepped forward, his stance calm but firm. "Governor Wang, I see you have come in person."


    Governor Wang’s gaze swept over the scene, lingering on the bound and bloodied Zhao Liang. "Explain yourselves."


    Zhao Liang, gasping for breath, weakly raised a hand. "These men… they have attacked an imperial official! They must be arrested!"


    The governor frowned. "I have received troubling reports of corruption. Zhao Liang, you will be placed under investigation."


    The inspector’s face twisted in horror. "You can’t—!"


    Governor Wang raised a hand. "Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, your actions were reckless. But I understand your frustrations. You will stand trial to explain your case."


    A makeshift court was set up in the yamen. Witnesses were called—citizens who testified against Zhao Liang, and officials bribed by Liu Wen who tried to defend him.


    Guan Yu’s voice rang clear. "The people’s voices speak truth. This man has robbed and oppressed them. We acted because no one else would."


    Sun Yichen smirked. "And yet, you took matters into your own hands like mere bandits."


    Zhao Ming, now free, stood beside Liu Bei. "And if we had not? Would you have allowed this corruption to fester?"


    The trial stretched long into the night.


    In the end, Governor Wang made his ruling.


    "Zhao Liang is stripped of his rank and will face punishment for his crimes. Liu Wen and Sun Yichen will be placed under scrutiny. As for Liu Bei and his men…"


    He paused. "Your actions were outside the law, but not without reason. I hereby grant you official command over Anxi’s defenses. See to it that order is maintained."


    The people erupted into cheers.


    As the meeting ended, Liu Bei turned to his sworn brothers. "This was only one battle. The real war is yet to come."


    Guan Yu nodded. "Then we must be ready."


    Zhang Fei cracked his knuckles. "Let them come. I’ll be waiting."


    End of Chapter 15