Han Dynasty Achievements

Chapter 12 Guilt

Zhang Rang looked at Jian Shuo and said, "You don't understand. After Liu Bian succeeds to the throne, even if he doesn't kill us, will Empress He and He Jin let you go? At this point, we have no way out, and neither do you. The only way to survive is to kill He Jin and enthronize Prince Xie instead."

Zhao Zhong followed up and said, "Although you and I have some ties, who among us doesn't have some? The most important thing for us to get to this day is to stick together and share the wealth. As long as the matter is accomplished, we will accept you as our leader."

Pan Yin stood behind Jian Shuo. As in the past, Zhang Rang and others did not know that Pan Yin had become the Grand Chamberlain, so they just treated Pan Yin as Jian Shuo's servant and spoke without reservation.

Pan Yin felt a chill down his spine when he heard this. These people are still dreaming of deposing and enthroning the emperor!

Jian Shuo stared at these people coldly and said, "If I believed you, I would have been beheaded by now! Don't talk nonsense, hand over your friends and property, and I may spare your lives. Otherwise, I will kill you!"

Zhang Rang was unmoved and continued, "Jian Shuo, you are in control of the imperial guards now. It will be easy for you to lure He Jin to his death. It will be no problem to change the situation. When the time comes, you can replace the crown prince Xie. He is only eight years old, so we can manipulate him. By then, we will surely be even more prosperous than the previous emperor, with wealth, power and money. We will have everything we want, and it will be inexhaustible..."

Jian Shuo's eyes were cold, he held a sword in his right hand, and his expression kept changing.

Seeing this, Guo Sheng said angrily, "Jian Shuo, as long as He Jin is killed, Queen He is just a woman who knows nothing, and you don't have to worry about Liu Bian. You have such a bright future right in front of you, you must think it through!"

Jian Shuo said nothing, but the sword in his right hand trembled, making a slight clash sound.

A hint of coldness appeared on Pan Yin's sallow face. He took a step back calmly, put his hand into his arms, grasped the dagger, stared at Jian Shuo's back, and at the same time turned his head left and right, giving a look to the eight guards beside him.

The eight guards understood silently, gripped the hilts of their swords with their right hands, and stared at Jian Shuo with grim eyes.

If he said something he shouldn't have said or made any unusual movement, the eight of them would pounce on him and chop Jian Shuo into meat paste!

Jian Shuo seemed to sense something, his expression suddenly straightened, and he shouted angrily: "You better tell the truth, you know the punishments in the palace better than I do!"

After saying that, Jian Shuo turned and left.

Seeing that he was not persuaded, Pan Yin breathed a sigh of relief and followed him out of the dungeon.

As soon as he walked out of the prison, Jian Shuo paused and said solemnly to Pan Yin, "Grand Chamberlain, I am loyal to Your Majesty, and the sun and the moon can testify to that!"

Pan Yin smiled and said, "I know."

He hasn't realized yet that he is no longer an ordinary eunuch.

Jian Shuo and Pan Yin were not close, because Pan Yin and He Jin were from the same hometown, and Jian Shuo had always been on guard against him, so although Pan Yin seemed to be his person, he was actually very distant from him.

After all, he has a lot of these eunuchs under his command.

Jian Shuo thought that what Zhang Rang and the others had said just now would definitely reach Liu Bian's ears, so he forced a smile on his face and said in a much gentler tone, "Please ask the Grand Chamberlain to report the words of Zhang Rang and the other traitors to Your Majesty verbatim."

As he spoke, he walked a little closer and whispered, "I have some good things in my room. I have sent them to the Grand Chamberlain's room. Please say a few good words to your majesty."

Pan Yin was shocked. This was the first time someone gave him a gift, and it was Jian Shuo!

"I dare not,"

Pan Yin refused repeatedly, then moved closer and whispered, "Emperor, please let me say a few more words. Zhang Rang and others are doomed to die, and they know it themselves. Your Majesty has already ascended the throne, and everyone in the court and the country knows it. Not to mention the Emperor, even the powerful general He Jin dared to change the world in a way that the world would not allow. Zhang Rang said so much just to drag the Emperor into the water and vent his hatred! Besides, is Your Majesty really as ignorant as Zhang Rang and others said?"

Jian Shuo was greatly alerted and raised his hand and said, "What the Grand Chamberlain said is true. For eunuchs like me, loyalty to the emperor comes first..."

Seeing that Jian Shuo did not move, Pan Yin put his mind at ease and said, "Let's go report to His Majesty."

Jian Shuo naturally had no objection. He lagged behind Pan Yin by half a step and headed for Jingfu Palace.

Liu Bian was standing in front of Jingfu Palace at this moment, watching Empress Dowager Dong's carriage leave the palace.

As he watched the carriage go farther and farther away, he said to himself, "Finally, one thing is settled."

So many things happened in this short half day. Sending away Queen Mother Dong was one of the things Liu Bian could sort out among the myriad of things.

After she is sent away, the inner palace will be much more peaceful.

When he turned around, he saw Pan Yin and Jian Shuo coming around the corner not far away. He couldn't help but narrow his eyes and watch quietly.

Jian Shuo was a very important person. Liu Bian needed him to temporarily check and balance the external relative group headed by He Jin.

When the two men got closer, Pan Yin nodded to Liu Bian calmly.

Liu Bian turned around and walked into the main hall.

"Not bad!"

He said with a smile. If Jian Shuo chose to stick to this path, he really couldn't find a second choice.

Then two men came in and saw a pile of silk in front of Liu Bian. After a pause, Pan Yin told Liu Bian everything that had happened in the dungeon.

Liu Bian listened thoughtfully, turned his head to glance at Jian Shuo, and said with a smile: "What they said actually still has a chance."

Jian Shuo knelt on the ground with a thud and said humbly, "Your Majesty, the late emperor has always taught me to be loyal to the emperor. You are the crown prince appointed by the late emperor, and your succession to the throne is in accordance with the will of heaven. I am loyal to Your Majesty and have no second thoughts!"

Liu Bian remained silent for a long time before he slowly said, "I still trust you, otherwise I would not have saved you alone. Go and discuss the cross-defense of the imperial city with Cao Cao in Nangong, and come up with a proposal for me."

Jian Shuo was so nervous that he dared not relax. He bowed and said, "Yes. I'll take my leave."

After Jian Shuo left, Liu Bian turned to look at Pan Yin and asked, "Can you read?"

Pan Yin was startled and said, "I know a little bit. Your Majesty, just now..."

Liu Bian waved his hand and said, "We'll talk later. Stand beside me and read these silks to me."

Pan Yin was somewhat puzzled, thinking that Liu Bian was tired, and quickly stood beside Liu Bian, glanced at the silk on top, and said softly: "Your servant, Dong Zhuo, the governor of Bingzhou, submits this report..."

Pan Yin was thinking, and occasionally glanced at Liu Bian.

Liu Bian knelt down with his head lowered, looking at the words on the silk, carefully distinguishing and memorizing them.

After Pan Yin finished reading one question, he waited for a while. Liu Bian then reacted and took it away to read the next one.

Pan Yin did not doubt him and read again: "Your servant, Duke of Duxiang and General-in-Chief Huangfu Song, reports..."

"So this is Huangfu..."

Liu Bian remained calm, but was secretly complaining in his heart. He had just been guessing for a long time.

"Your humble servant Yuan Feng respectfully reports: I have been promoted to the position of the Three Dukes with a humble mission, and I am blessed by the heavens, Your Majesty... I am old and frail, and I am sick and depressed, so I humbly request that you allow me to return home..."

"Yuan Feng..." Liu Bian remembered secretly.

I continued reading and listening until midnight.

Liu Bian stretched himself, waved his hand, and said, "Okay, that's all for today, go and have a rest."

Pan Yin was puzzled and read these dozen pieces of silk over and over again. He couldn't help but wonder: Does His Majesty want to use these people?

At this time, Pan Yin suddenly remembered and looked at Liu Bian cautiously and said, "Your Majesty, Jian Shuo said before that he had many valuable things to give to me..."

Liu Bian yawned and stood up, saying, "If it's given to you, just take it. From now on, you will be the one to interrogate Zhang Rang and his men. Take the names of their followers and all their property and bring them to the Central Government."

Seeing that Liu Bian really didn't seem to care, Pan Yin felt uneasy, so he cautiously stepped forward and led Liu Bian to the bedroom.

Liu Bian was too tired. It had been an exciting day full of intrigues and calculations, which had consumed his brain cells. He was nervous and excited, and he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Liu Bian couldn't sleep, and I wonder how many people couldn't sleep either.

Pan Yin, who was guarding outside Liu Bian's bedroom, looked at the moonlight in the sky, still unable to believe it. It was like a dream. Had he become the unattainable Grand Chamberlain?

Empress Dowager He was so excited that she danced in her palace.

Jian Shuo was standing in front of the Pinghong Palace, his shadow was very long.

What happened today was too sudden and too unexpected for them. They were caught off guard and had to respond hastily. After responding, they were filled with fear, anxiety, hesitation, repetition, struggle and entanglement.

The words of Zhang Rang and others have been ringing in his ears. He knows that they are not just trying to drag him down, there is some truth to them.

But he knew better that if he really did it, there would be no recovery.

That young emperor was extremely scheming. If he had shown any sign of disloyalty today, he would have been beheaded and his body would have been cold.

Now, he has only one way to survive, and that is to be loyal to the emperor, loyal to the new emperor!

Outside the palace, even more people were sleepless.

The new emperor's performance was beyond their expectations. He was completely different from the weak, incompetent, cowardly person they had thought of him before.

There are too many speculations involved, which adds more uncertainty to the Han Dynasty court, which is already like a boiling pot.

The huge palace was now very quiet after the bloodbath during the day, except for the dungeon next to Fanglin Garden.

Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Guo Sheng and more than ten others were tortured separately.

There's nothing fancy, just a whip.

But after just a dozen or so hits, some people started to confess.

The people arranged by Pan Yin began to take notes of the interrogation.

However, when the eunuchs who were interrogating them saw the list of their cronies and the property they had confessed, they were shocked.

There were still two who refused to speak out, but after just changing the torture device, all the eleven eunuchs confessed.

At daybreak, the eunuch who was interrogating the case prepared the confession and brought it to Pan Yin in a box of medium size.

Pan Yin's hands began to tremble after just looking at a few pictures, but he still forced himself to continue reading.

He could guess that these eleven eunuchs would have many followers, but the number of people involved was still beyond his imagination.

The palace eunuchs, the courtiers outside the palace, and the local officials at all levels, Pan Yin felt frightened at just a glance.

Among the provincial governors and provincial governors, more than half bribed the Twelve Eunuchs!

Among the officials of all levels in the court, even among the three highest officials, there were seven or eight coming and going, and there were as many as a dozen generals!

Among them was General He Jin's younger brother He Miao, who got his title of General of Chariots and Cavalry by bribing Zhang Rang!

There are hundreds of chief officers and subordinates in each prefecture!

The wealth of the Twelve Eunuchs was even more astonishing. Zhang Rang owned 2,000 hectares of land, Zhao Zhong owned 3,000 hectares, and the rest of them together owned as much as 10,000 hectares!

Pan Yin had been in the palace for a long time and had seen some of the world, but he was still deeply shocked.

He looked up at the two eunuchs in front of him. This was the longest time in his life, but he still couldn't believe it and said, "Is this all true? You..."

One of the eunuchs immediately said, "Grand Chamberlain, trust me. These are all true records. I have verified them several times. Moreover, those people are still here. Grand Chamberlain can check them at any time."

Pan Yin then lowered his head to look at the confessions, thought about it, and said, "You wait here, I will go to see His Majesty."

He picked up the box and was about to turn around and push the door.

"I heard it."

Liu Bian pushed the door open, stood at the door, looked at the sun before it rose, smiled and stretched.

Pan Yin looked nervous, holding the box, and said, "Your Majesty, this..."

Liu Bian looked at the blue sky outside the palace and said, "This kind of good weather doesn't come often. Don't let these things ruin your mood. Seal the box and have Zhang Rang and others guard it closely. Don't let anyone see it again. Make those who know the confession keep their mouths shut. If they can't, make sure they never speak again."

Pan Yin felt a chill in his heart and glanced at his two good friends beside him.

The two eunuchs knelt on the ground and said, "We will keep our mouths shut. Please spare our lives, Your Majesty!"

Liu Bian smiled and said, "I don't want to silence you, just keep your mouth shut. Go ahead."

"Yes, yes, I'll take my leave now." The two eunuchs were so frightened that they almost peed themselves and crawled away on their knees.

Liu Bian looked at the box in Pan Yin's arms, thought for a moment, and said, "Give me the box. I will not see anyone except my mother today. If there is anything, let the general and others handle it."

Pan Yin handed the box to Liu Bian. When he saw Liu Bian enter the room and was hesitating whether to leave, Liu Bian came out again and said, "Continue to read the silk for me."

Pan Yin was full of doubts, but he still followed him to the study.

The General's Mansion.

He Jin knelt in the main seat with a solemn look on his face, and there were people sitting on both sides.

The three highest officials are Ding Gong, Liu Hong, and Liu Yu, plus the former Grand Tutor and current Recorder of the Secretariat Yuan Wei, General of the Cavalry Dong Chong, and Chief Clerk Chen Lin.

Originally, He Jin did not want to invite Dong Zhong, but since he was also the Recorder of the Secretariat, equivalent to half a prime minister, all the matters to be discussed were important, and he could not be left out.

He Jin put his hands on his knees, his face full of flesh, his eyes wide open, like a wolf and a tiger, he looked around and said in a deep voice: "I asked you to come here today, I believe you all know. One is the funeral of the late emperor, and the other is the coronation ceremony of your majesty. I have drawn up the specific ceremonies, and Chen Zhubu will show it to you later, you just follow it. What I want to ask today is, how can we rescue Benchu ​​as quickly as possible?"

It was obvious that after what happened yesterday, He Jin could no longer wait.

Everyone was stunned when they heard this, looking at each other.

Whether it is the funeral of the previous emperor or the coronation ceremony of the current emperor, they are all very particular. Even the simplest position foreshadows the status in the new dynasty. How can it be mentioned in just one sentence?

Everyone immediately realized that with the ascension of his eldest nephew to the throne, He Jin, who was already extremely powerful, seemed to become even more arrogant and autocratic.

Fearing He Jin's power, he hesitated and dared not speak.