Disciplining Emperor Gaozu of Han

Chapter 18 gives me the feeling of having a powerful backer...

Liu Bang knelt behind the long table, smiling as he watched Liu Ying rush over, assuming Liu Ying was going to get close to Lü Ze. Little did he expect Liu Ying to make a fuss. His face changed drastically, and he jumped up and ran outside, shouting, "You unfilial son!"

"Who? How dare they kick the Prince of Han's children off the carriage? Aren't they afraid the Prince of Han will kill them?" Lü Ze was furious, his murderous aura palpable, his right hand on the hilt of his sword.

"That's him." Liu Ying pointed with his right hand at Liu Bang, who was fleeing.

"The Prince of Han?" Lü Ze was completely incredulous: "Impossible! What kind of person is the Prince of Han? How could he kick his own flesh and blood off the carriage? Ying'er, don't talk nonsense."

"He found my sister and me by the roadside and gave us a ride to escape. However, Zhongli Mo was chasing us too fast, and the horses were exhausted. To save his own life, he kicked us off the carriage and sent us to our deaths." Liu Ying's eyes were red, and tears streamed down her cheeks. She looked aggrieved and said, "Uncle, you must stand up for us."

"Ying'er, don't talk nonsense." Lu Ze couldn't believe that Liu Bang would do such a vicious thing.

"Uncle, if you don't believe me, you can ask Uncle Shi." Liu Ying looked at Xiahou Ying, who was kneeling behind the short table, listening intently and watching the show with wide eyes.

Lü Ze was Empress Lü's elder brother and treated Liu Ying and her brother very well. If he knew that Liu Bang had cruelly kicked Liu Ying and her brother off the carriage to their deaths, he would definitely not forgive Liu Bang. There will be a good show to watch.

"Ying'er, how could that be? Don't talk nonsense." Lü Ze stroked Liu Ying's cheek.

"Liu Ying did not lie," Xiahou Ying confirmed.

"Shut up!" Liu Bang, who was fleeing, turned around and shouted at Xiahou Ying.

"King of Han, can't I say what you've done?" Xiahou Ying asked expectantly.

"Liu Bang, stop!" Xiahou Ying's character was impeccable, so his words were definitely true. Lü Ze dared not disbelieve him, his expression changed drastically, and he roared at Liu Bang. His voice boomed like thunder, exploding in his ears, displaying extraordinary power.

"I have important business to attend to." Liu Bang wasn't about to stop; he ran even faster.

"You still dare to run? I'll break your legs!" Lu Ze rushed over, running as fast as the wind.

Liu Ying's eyes widened as she watched Lü Ze chase after her, feeling extremely smug: "You old rogue Liu, how dare you kick me out of the car! I'll remember this grudge. I'm just too young to beat you, but I have powerful backers."

Liu Bang ran even faster, but he was already an old man in his fifties, and no match for Lü Ze, who was in his prime. Before he even reached the door, Lü Ze caught up with him.

Lu Ze kicked Liu Bang hard in the back of his right knee. Liu Bang screamed in pain, his right leg buckled, and he fell to the ground.

Like a tiger descending a mountain, Lü Ze pounced on Liu Bang, straddling his back. He grabbed Liu Bang's hair with his left hand and slammed his right fist into Liu Bang's back, cursing, "Liu Bang, you are so cruel! You don't even care about the life or death of your own flesh and blood! I'll beat you to death!"

Fists rained down on Liu Bang's back, each punch powerful and heavy, causing Liu Bang to scream in agony.

Xiahou Ying stood up, strode over, closed the door, and stood in front of Liu Bang, arms crossed, eyes wide, and smiled admiringly: "King of Han, if you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?"

"Quickly, save the emperor!" Liu Bang roared at Xiahou Ying.

"King Han, this is your family matter, and I shouldn't get involved." Xiahou Ying only wanted to watch the show and had no intention of stopping it.

Liu Bang said to Liu Ying, "Ying'er, quickly tell your uncle to stop, okay?"

Liu Ying's tears rolled down her cheeks like they were free: "Uncle only beat you up, but you almost killed us."

"You..." Liu Bang said helplessly, then turned to Liu Le and said, "Le'er, tell your uncle to stop."

"Uncle, please don't hit Father, okay?" Liu Le was completely charmed by Liu Bang and his heart was with Liu Bang.

"Le'er, he almost killed you, and you're still speaking up for him?" Lu Ze asked Liu Le as he beat Liu Bang.

"But... he is my father." Liu Le was in a dilemma. She still minded that Liu Bang had kicked her out of the carriage, but Liu Bang was also her biological father, and she couldn't bring herself to deal with him.

"What an innocent little brat," Liu Ying quickly said. "Sister, Uncle beat him up for his own good. He wants him to know that he'll treat us better in the future."

"Oh, I see." Liu Le was a little confused.

When his pleas for help were useless, Liu Bang flew into a rage and roared, "Lü Ze, how dare you disrespect me? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

吕泽狠揍不停：「刘邦，要不是阿父年老昏瞶，妹妹能嫁给你？我妹妹，那可是如花似玉，知书识礼，沛令还想娶她呢，阿父偏偏就逼她嫁给你了。这些年，要不是妹妹种地养家，你都给饿死了。你不感恩不说，还要害死她的孩儿，我打死你！」

Empress Lü's marriage to Liu Bang was the pinnacle of arranged marriages.

Lu Gong was from Shanfu. Having offended someone, he sought refuge with his friend, the magistrate of Pei, and thus moved to Pei County. His family needed money after moving to Pei County, so the magistrate devised a plan: Lu Gong would have to treat the family to a meal. If he refused, he would offend the magistrate; he had to go. And if he went, out of respect for the magistrate, he would have to give him money.

This matter will be handled by Xiao He.

Xiao He understood the magistrate's meaning and decided to determine seating arrangements based on the amount of money given: those giving a thousand coins would sit inside, while those giving less than a thousand coins would sit outside. In this way, wouldn't everyone be more inclined to give gifts to save face?

Liu Bang was a village head at the time. He heard that Lü Gong was having a big banquet, so he went to freeload. He said he would give 10,000 coins, but in reality, he was penniless.

When Lord Lü heard this, he was greatly surprised and came to greet him personally.

Xiao He exposed Liu Bang's past, revealing that Liu Bang loved to boast and talk big, and had accomplished nothing, so he must not have given money.

Lu Gong was skilled in physiognomy. Seeing that Liu Bang had an excellent appearance and a very appealing look, he disregarded the matter and invited Liu Bang into the house to sit at the head of the table. During the meal, Liu Bang treated everyone with disrespect and insulted anyone he disliked.

After the guests had eaten and drunk their fill, it was time to take their leave. Lü Gong winked at Liu Bang, signaling him to stay. Once all the guests had left, Lü Gong inquired again whether Liu Bang was married. Although Liu Bang was not yet married, he already had a son, Liu Fei, with Cao Shi. Lü Gong still didn't mind and insisted on marrying Empress Lü to Liu Bang, which naturally met with opposition from Empress Lü's family.

Lu Gong said that he was skilled in physiognomy and had examined countless people in his life, but none of them had such a unique appearance as Liu Bang. He believed that this man would be extraordinary in the future, and so he really forced Empress Lü to marry Liu Bang.

Although many years have passed, Lü Ze is still furious when the matter is mentioned, resenting that Lü Gong's old eyesight has failed him and caused Lü Hou great suffering.

"Grandpa must be blind to force Mother to marry him," Liu Ying added fuel to the fire.

"Ahem." Lu Ze coughed lightly, "It's not that bad, Father is just old and his eyesight is failing."

"My father-in-law has a discerning eye; he knew I was born extraordinary, which is why he allowed her to marry me. In truth, you all got the better deal." Liu Bang was extremely pleased with himself. "Look at me, I am now the King of Han. Once I defeat that scoundrel Xiang Yu and take control of the empire, I will be the Emperor."

By tricking people into eating and drinking for free, and even luring Empress Lü home, Liu Bang must have accomplished one of the most triumphant things in his life.

"You still dare to talk back." Lu Ze punched him again.

Liu Bang, his hands covering his face, said smugly, "Brother, I'm not just arguing, it's the truth. Think about it, who are you people from the Lü clan? Does anyone dare to dream of becoming king? Does anyone dare to dream of becoming emperor? And I did it! Once I become emperor, she can be the empress. Don't you think the Lü clan has struck gold?"

Lü Ze: "..."

Liu Bang was poor but bold, daring to think what others dared not. He dared to take on the post of magistrate of Pei, a position that even Xiao He and Cao Shen dared not accept, leading a group of peasants to contend for the world. If he had succeeded, the Lü family would have enjoyed endless wealth and honor because of Empress Lü.

Such a wonderful thing was something that even the members of the Lü family dared not dream of.

"Your army is now completely wiped out, and Xiang Yu could destroy it in the blink of an eye. How dare you boast that you will take over the world?" Liu Ying rebuked Liu Bang.

Liu Bang: "..."

Lü Ze gave Liu Bang a severe beating, and only let him go after he had vented his anger.

Liu Bang, his body aching from the beating, groaned as he got up and charged straight at Liu Ying, as fast as the wind.

"What are you going to do?" Liu Ying turned and ran.

Unfortunately, the short legs couldn't escape, and Liu Bang quickly caught him.

"Uncle, help me!" Liu Ying cried out in agony as she looked at Lü Ze.

Smack.

Liu Bang kissed Liu Ying on the forehead and laughed heartily, "Good Ying'er! You know how to tattle! You're truly my son!"

Liu Ying felt as if she had been struck by lightning: "..."