Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The tenth day of the first lunar month in 190 AD was truly a special day. Within the palace hastily renovated from the governor's mansion in Yecheng, Jizhou, sunlight poured generously onto the resplendent golden roof, gleaming with a radiant light of hope. Inside and outside the palace, colorful banners fluttered in the wind. Soldiers stood in formation like tall, straight pines, their armor gleaming in the sun with a dazzling brilliance.

Clad in a magnificent dragon robe and crowned with a dazzling crown, Liu Bian ascended the throne with resolute steps. His face was solemn and resolute, his eyes revealing an earnest hope for a bright future. Beside him, Lu Zhi's slightly stooped figure stood out. The ministers and generals of Jizhou, led by Yuan Shao, stood respectfully on one side, while on the other stood the Youzhou contingent led by Gongsun Zan, including the Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. Furthermore, envoys from other prefectures and counties also gathered to witness this glorious moment of profound historical significance.

The court musicians passionately played solemn and awe-inspiring music. The stirring beats of drums and the melodious tolls of bells intertwined, echoing lingeringly throughout every corner of the palace. The ministers knelt reverently, shouting "Long live the emperor!" in unison, expressing their loyalty and deep respect for the new emperor, Liu Bian. Liu Bian sat firmly on the throne, solemnly accepting the ministers' homage. His heart was filled with emotion and a strong sense of mission.

Immediately, Emperor Liu Bian asked the attendant beside him to announce the imperial decree.

"I have ascended the throne by the providence of Heaven. Considering the loyalty, bravery, and meritorious service of my ministers, I hereby issue this decree. Lu Zhi is a man of great learning and talent, of high moral character. He has upheld the right path during troubled times, nurturing countless talented individuals for the Han Dynasty, and for his unwavering loyalty, I hereby appoint Lu Zhi as Grand Tutor, honoring him with the highest respect. Yuan Shao, a man of great talent and vision, is renowned far and wide. He actively liaised with all parties regarding the campaign against Dong Zhuo, making remarkable contributions to upholding the Han Dynasty. I hereby appoint Yuan Shao as General of the Cavalry to honor his achievements. Gongsun Zan, a man of commendable loyalty and bravery, is a formidable figure. He defended the northern border against foreign enemies, securing the territory, and achieved outstanding military success. I hereby appoint Gongsun Zan as General of the Chariots and Cavalry. I implore you, my dear ministers, to continue to serve our country with all your heart and soul, and to ensure the eternal stability of the Han Dynasty. I decree this!"

Lu Zhi, Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan stepped out, knelt down respectfully and kowtowed to express their gratitude.

Lu Zhi said tremblingly but with great emotion, "I, Your Majesty, thank you for your great grace. I will do my utmost to assist Your Majesty and repay your grace."

Yuan Shao bowed and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I, Yuan Shao, thank you for your grace. I will serve you with all my heart and soul to protect the Han Dynasty."

Gongsun Zan also had a solemn expression and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I, Gongsun Zan, thank you for your great grace. I will fulfill my mission and serve your Majesty and the Han Dynasty!"

After the three men finished speaking, they kowtowed again to express their gratitude, then slowly stood up and stood aside, their expressions full of loyalty and determination.

Emperor Liu Bian then spoke indignantly, "The traitor Dong Zhuo has disrupted the government, daring to commit such heinous acts as deposing and enthroning the emperor. His crimes are truly heinous. I am the eldest son of Emperor Xiaoling, and was entrusted by him on his deathbed to succeed him. Yet, Dong Zhuo now supports my brother Liu Xie as a puppet emperor. Such actions are the wrath of heaven and of man. Today, most of the envoys from the prefectures and counties have gathered here. I will issue a manifesto, urging all governors and provincial governors to respond positively, unite their efforts, and jointly defeat Dong Zhuo to restore peace and prosperity to the Han Dynasty!"

Then many young attendants brought out the proclamations that had been written long ago and distributed them to the envoys who came to watch the ceremony.

"Exhortation to Punish Dong Zhuo"

To all the righteous men of the world:

The Han Dynasty is now in danger, and the nation is on the brink of collapse, all because of Dong Zhuo's evil! Dong Zhuo, a jackal and ambitious man, commanded his own forces and committed all manner of rebellious acts. Since entering the capital, he has arbitrarily deposed and enthroned emperors, unjustly deposing Emperor Liu Bian and enthroning Liu Xie. This is simply an attempt to coerce the young emperor, leaving Liu Xie as a mere puppet in his hands, at his mercy, leading to chaos in the government and the downfall of righteousness.

He allowed his subordinates to burn, kill, and loot, committing adultery in the imperial palace, desecrating the dignity of the Han dynasty and wreaking havoc in the capital, bringing suffering to the people and unbearable suffering to the common people. He arbitrarily monopolized power, slaughtered loyal and honest people, and blocked the channels of public opinion, causing dismay among the righteous and outraged the loyal and righteous. His crimes are too numerous to list, and they infuriate both heaven and man!

However, the Emperor, Liu Bian, is the direct descendant of Emperor Ling and the legitimate heir of the Han Dynasty. He should inherit the throne and stabilize the country. Now we must step forward to defend the orthodoxy, save the Emperor from danger, and support the Han Dynasty, which is about to collapse.

I solemnly invite all righteous men and women to unite and raise an army to defeat Dong Zhuo and other traitors, restore peace to the world, and restore the glory of the Han Dynasty! All of our allies, united in purpose, fearless of violence, and forge ahead courageously. Let us join hands and fight for justice, for Emperor Liu Bian, and for the Han Dynasty!

With righteousness in our hearts, we will march forward bravely, and together we will kill the traitor Dong and restore the Han Dynasty!

Emperor Liu Bian, with a solemn expression, declared, "I now appoint Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan as the primary officers for the campaign against Dong Zhuo. All envoys should return to their respective fiefdoms and expedite preparations. I have agreed with you to meet at Suanzao at the end of the first lunar month to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, raise an army to defeat Dong Zhuo, rectify the imperial system, and restore peace to the Han Dynasty!" With these words, Liu Bian cast a resolute gaze upon the crowd. The envoys chorused their agreement and departed, preparing to return to their respective fiefdoms to actively prepare for the impending campaign against Dong Zhuo. Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan exchanged a glance, their eyes ablaze with determination, determined to live up to the emperor's trust and defeat Dong Zhuo with all their might.

Time slipped by quietly, and Lu Zhi received a reply from Ma Chao. Unfolding the letter, he saw the message stating that his family had been taken in by Ma Chao for safekeeping. A wave of comfort washed over him. Although he had always devoted himself to his country, never caring about personal gain or loss, these were his blood relatives, his own children, and his wife, who had shared his life through thick and thin. How could he remain unconcerned? Gazing at the handmade clothing and shoes his wife and daughter had made for him, memories of the past flooded back, bringing tears to his eyes. Recalling the hardships he had endured, and the deep guilt he felt towards his wife and daughter, a wave of sorrow washed over him. After a long silence, Lu Zhi slowly wiped the tears from his eyes, carefully put away his clothes, and returned to carefully reading Ma Chao's letter.

When Lu Zhi saw Ma Chao mention that he couldn't come to Xiliang because he had to fight the Xiongnu invasion with all his might for the sake of national justice and the people of Xiliang, he didn't blame him too much. However, when Ma Chao ended the letter by mentioning the so-called kindness shown to him by Prime Minister Dong, Lu Zhi, who was always upright and rigid, finally felt a tinge of anger. He sighed with regret, "This child is so foolish! How can personal grudges be compared with national justice? You must know that you must have a country first and then a family. What a useless child."

Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao were each discussing matters in their small groups with serious and nervous expressions.

Gongsun Zan was surrounded by Guan Jing and his subordinates. Guan Jing spoke earnestly, "My lord, the position of leader of this anti-Dong Zhuo alliance is crucial! Think about it, if you can become the leader, you will be able to coordinate the forces of all parties and formulate strategic plans. Then we can carve out a niche in this chaotic world. What a rare opportunity!" Gongsun Xu continued, "Yes, my lord, you are brave and skilled in battle, and your reputation is far-reaching. If you become the leader, everyone will be convinced, and we will unite to fight against that evil thief Dong Zhuo. Moreover, after becoming the leader, our status in the eyes of the people will be greatly enhanced, which will have immeasurable benefits for our future development!" Gongsun Zan frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.

On Yuan Shao's side, his advisors, including Feng Ji and Guo Tu, were also anxiously trying to persuade him. Feng Ji spoke passionately, "My lord, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! You come from a prominent family and have a very high reputation. If you add the position of leader to your arrogance, you will surely attract even more heroes to join you. With the authority of leader, we will have absolute control over our actions. We can follow our plan to attack Dong Zhuo and realize our ambitions!" Yan Liang also eagerly echoed, "My lord, you must not miss this opportunity! Becoming leader will not only allow you to lead everyone in the fight against Dong Zhuo, but will also establish our Yuan family's dominant position in these troubled times and lay a solid foundation for our future struggle for supremacy!" Yuan Shao listened to everyone's persuasion, his eyes gleaming with determination.

What a ridiculous irony! No sooner had Emperor Liu Bian been crowned, and before the campaign against Dong Zhuo had truly begun, the various factions within their own factions were already developing divergent ideas. Even before they had truly carved out their own territory, they were already eagerly vying for power. The anti-Dong Zhuo alliance hadn't even officially begun, and already, the hint of internal strife was looming. It was truly heartbreaking.