In the second year of Zhongping, the Yellow Turban Rebellion had been quelled, but many refugees displaced by famine, cold, and plague had gathered in the mountains and forests, becoming bandits who disrupted towns already stricken by poverty.
In Anxi County, Zhongshan Commandery, Dingzhou Prefecture, Liu Bei had been appointed county commandant for his achievements in suppressing the Yellow Turbans. Yet a postal inspector gave him a hard time. This was the darkness of officialdom in the late Eastern Han: so-called inspections were merely an excuse to extort money. If you were willing to pay, everything could be settled. If you weren't, you could pack your things and leave.
Zhang Fei said, "Big brother, that postal inspector is despicable. Why don't we teach him a lesson and show him what we're made of?"
Liu Bei shook his head. "Those who achieve great things must learn to endure. The three of us were humble peddlers and laborers. We risked our lives to earn this fame and status. Why lower ourselves to the likes of petty men?"
Zhang Fei said, "Big brother, there are limits to what a man can endure! That man even claimed you were pretending to be descended from the imperial house. He deserves to die."
Liu Bei asked, "Has your second brother arrived?"
Zhang Fei said, "It's only a band of bandits. Why make such a fuss? I could cut them all down by myself. We don't need to wait for second brother to gather troops."
Liu Bei said, "Third brother, don't be rash. Your second brother's master gave him instructions to wipe out these bandits. There must be some deeper significance to it."
Zhang Fei said, "It was only a dream. What master could there be?"
Liu Bei said angrily, "Third brother, don't be disrespectful! Second brother's