My name is Huang Tian, ​​what the hell is this "Heaven is dead" nonsense?

Chapter 31 Sharing the World with You
After the banquet, He Jin changed his clothes with the help of his maids, washed his face with warm water, and then headed towards the palace under the protection of hundreds of armored soldiers.

He used to not bring so many armored soldiers when he went out. A dozen or so people were enough to protect him. After all, Luoyang was the capital of the country. It was an exaggeration to say that no one would pick up lost items on the road or leave their doors unlocked at night, but it was true that very few people dared to commit crimes.

Now, Emperor Liu Hong has ordered the mobilization of elite troops from all over the country to guard Luoyang. After tens of thousands of troops entered Luoyang, the soldiers were dazzled by the city's dazzling world. In addition, due to lax military discipline, many soldiers formed gangs to plunder the wealth of the rich. If anyone dared to resist, they would be killed and their heads piled up into a small mound to intimidate others.

In particular, the mixed-race soldiers from the border regions acted with extreme recklessness, committing murders and robberies in the streets and abducting women frequently.

Some ministers couldn't stand it and petitioned the emperor to take good care of the situation. Liu Hong asked He Jin and Deng Sheng to handle it, but the two of them didn't have any good solutions. At this time, they were relying on the many guest troops. If they suppressed the rebel soldiers on a large scale and caused unrest among the troops, how could they work together to defend the city?

After some discussion, He Jin and Deng Sheng could only arrest and behead dozens of the most rampant miscellaneous barbarian soldiers, hanging their bloody heads in front of the various military camps. This at least brought order to the troops and deterred them from further reckless behavior.

However, some soldiers dared not act openly, but instead resorted to covert methods. Some soldiers broke into civilian homes at night, killing and maiming civilians, causing widespread panic.

He Jin was helpless in this situation. First, he couldn't catch the criminal soldiers at all. Second, rumors were spreading in the city that He Jin wanted to kill all the guest troops. He suggested that the guest troops should be integrated and that He Jin and other high-ranking officials should be killed first. Then Luoyang would be prosperous and all the troops could share in the prosperity.

This rumor terrified He Jin. He immediately abandoned his plan to continue to enforce military discipline and stopped going out casually, fearing that he would be killed in the street. Even when he went out, he had to bring hundreds of fully armed soldiers with him.

Sitting in the carriage, He Jin looked around at the streets on both sides. There were very few pedestrians and all businesses were in a state of desolation. It was clear that the people in the city were frightened by the chaotic army and were hiding at home, afraid to go out.

He Jin sighed softly, sat in the carriage and entered the palace. Guided by a eunuch, he arrived at a side hall.

Inside the hall, Liu Hong was drinking wine with a worried expression, while Liu Yan, the Minister of the Imperial Clan, and a handsome young man with long, slender arms sat on either side of him.

"He Qing is here, please have a seat," Liu Hong said, raising his eyes.

He entered the seat and then said, "Your Majesty, I have come here to request permission to fight. Sima Sun Jian is willing to lead 5,000 troops out of the city to fight the Moth bandits and to investigate their situation."

Liu Hong shook his head: "No."

He Jin was taken aback. Liu Yan, sitting beside him, smiled helplessly: "I have also come to request permission from His Majesty to fight."

He pointed to the dashing young man: "This is Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande, a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, a member of the Han imperial family. He was once a disciple of Lu Gong and now serves under Gongsun Zan."

He Jin sized up Liu Bei. He was not old, only in his twenties, but his expression was resolute and his eyes were calm, which made him very likable.

Liu Yan turned to Liu Hong and said, “Your Majesty, defending the city cannot be done by simply holding it. We must go out of the city to fight the enemy from time to time. Otherwise, the morale in the city will continue to decline, and it will be difficult to protect Luoyang. Xuande is brave and good at fighting. Let him lead an army to fight and boost morale.”

Liu Hong still shook his head.

It was precisely because Liu Bei was brave that he was unwilling to let him go into battle. It would be a pity if a talented general named Liu died at the hands of the Yellow Turban Army.
He was hoping that Liu Bei would protect him and help him escape after the city fell!

“The false god among the Moth Bandits does indeed possess demonic magic, which is beyond human power to defeat. Our army going out to fight will only be sending them to their deaths,” Liu Hong said. “It would be better to hold the city tightly. Luoyang City is high and thick. Even if the false god’s demonic magic is amazing, it may not be able to break through the city.”

Liu Yan said helplessly, "But if we do that, morale will inevitably drop..."

"Wouldn't you be more dejected if you were defeated outside the city?" Liu Hong asked, displeased. "You'd probably be even more dejected, and then it would be even harder to defend the city."

Liu Yan and He Jin exchanged bewildered glances, speechless. It was indeed true; if they sent a strong army out of the city to fight the Yellow Turbans, but were defeated, would the other armies still have the confidence to defend the city?

"That……"

Liu Yan hesitated, thinking to himself, 'Fighting outside the city is no good, holding the city will demoralize our troops, and we're unlikely to receive reinforcements from outside. Are we just going to wait to die in Luoyang?'

Liu Hong also thought of this. He angrily drank two cups of wine, got up and paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back. He Jin and Liu Yan just sighed, while Liu Bei frowned.

Suddenly, Liu Hong stopped, his eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands, saying, "I've got it!"

The three men were taken aback and looked up at Liu Hong, who was somewhat surprised. Liu Hong said excitedly, "Minister He, Minister Zong, why don't we seek peace with the Moth Thieves?"

The three were stunned.

Seeking peace?

You're begging for peace when the enemy is at the gates? Are you kidding me?
Liu Hong said, "Luoyang City has high walls and thick walls, and is guarded by tens of thousands of loyal Han soldiers. Even if the E'zhe (a type of bandit) manages to take it down, they will probably suffer heavy casualties. They may not be willing to launch a full-scale attack."

My initiative to seek peace may not be contrary to their wishes. Furthermore, if the Moth Rebels agree to withdraw their troops and return to Ji, I am willing to share the world equally with that false god!

He became more and more excited as he spoke, his eyes shining, "I can give up Ji, Yan, Qing, Xu, You, and Yang to them, and let them establish the so-called Taiping Huangtian!"

If all else fails, we can even give them Yuzhou! More than half the population of the eastern part of the land belongs to them; that's enough for them to enjoy!"

As soon as he finished speaking, He Jin was somewhat tempted.

With such generous terms, obtainable without losing a single soldier, the Moth Bandits are quite likely to accept.

The only problem is that once the bandits acquire the richest provinces in the land, their power will increase significantly, and they will once again raise an army to attack the Han court. At that time, the Han court will still perish.

However, it's better to survive as long as possible than to be captured in Luoyang and die at the hands of the enemy right now.

Liu Yan, however, remained expressionless. "Your Majesty, this is unacceptable! It would be a disastrous act for the country! The court officials would not agree with your idea either."

Liu Hong walked to Liu Yan's side, grabbed the latter's arm, and said sincerely, "Your Excellency! Uncle! I have no choice! Besides, the so-called ceding of the east of the world to the Moths is just empty talk. Once the Moths retreat, we can order the various states to resist the Moths' invasion."

The most urgent task is to hold Luoyang. If Luoyang falls, everything else is meaningless.

Liu Yan didn't approve of Liu Hong's "plan." He thought the bandits wouldn't be so stupid as to withdraw their troops just because you made empty promises. However, seeing the pleading look on Liu Hong's face, Liu Yan softened and sighed, "I am willing to go into the bandit camp on behalf of Your Majesty to discuss this matter."

As the head of the Imperial Clan Court, he held a high position and was the emperor's most trusted person, making him the most suitable candidate for envoy.

"Then I'll leave everything to my uncle!"

(End of this chapter)