Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

In fact, even before contacting Yuan Shao's forces, Lu Zhi had already discovered that Gongsun Zan, his former favorite disciple, was no longer as loyal to the emperor as he had appeared to be, as his power and status continued to rise. While the emperor enjoyed respect in his position, his influence had not expanded. After contacting Yuan Shao, he discovered the same was true of Yuan Shao. To put it bluntly, perhaps these people were not as loyal to the emperor and patriotic as they appeared, still centered around their family and surname. This was completely contrary to Lu Zhi and Emperor Ling's policy of breaking the dominance of aristocratic families at court. Therefore, Lu Zhi and Emperor Liu Bian spared no effort to seize every opportunity to win over those loyal to the Han Dynasty, hoping to escape this fate.

Since Lu Zhi and Liu Bian met and befriended each other, throughout the long journey, from the beginning to the present situation, including the arduous escape, Lu Zhi's greatest comfort and the key reason for his perseverance was that Emperor Liu Bian completely shattered the stereotype of mediocrity and cowardice he had previously portrayed. In fact, Liu Bian displayed unexpected intelligence and cunning. He not only showed great respect for him but also possessed unique insights into various matters of state. Especially in his grasp and manipulation of people's hearts, Liu Bian even possessed a rare level of insight and steadiness, surpassing his father, Emperor Ling of Han. All these factors gave Lu Zhi an endless source of motivation as he navigated the complex forces of power. Many times, when Lu Zhi stared at Emperor Liu Bian, he would involuntarily feel as if he saw the bright hope of the Han Dynasty's revival. This feeling was like seeing a ray of light in the darkness, giving him great strength and firm belief to move forward and work tirelessly.

Lu Zhi took a deep breath, slowly gathering his thoughts. He then turned solemnly to Liu Bian, nodded slightly, and hurried on with Liu Bian, striding quickly but firmly. Along the way, Liu Bian frowned, his eyes revealing a hint of worry and thought. He pursed his lips and followed Lu Zhi at a tight pace.

Before they reached Gongsun Zan's tent, they could faintly hear Gongsun Zan's almost hysterical roar of anger coming from inside. Hearing this, Lu Zhi's brows furrowed even deeper. He and Liu Bian exchanged another glance, each seeing a tacit understanding in the other's eyes. Then, without stopping, they continued walking towards the tent.

When they reached the tent entrance, Lu Zhi raised his hand to signal the guards to report. As they waited, Liu Bian unconsciously straightened his back, his expression serious and focused. Following the guards' announcement, the two men stepped into the tent. The first thing they saw was Gongsun Zan's face, flushed crimson, his eyes wide, his fury evident, his lingering anger threatening to erupt at any moment. The surrounding civil and military officials were also filled with righteous indignation, some clenching their fists, others with sullen expressions, as if they were all holding back their anger.

Before Gongsun Zan could even begin to speak, his aide Guan Jing spoke up, impatiently, "I wonder what Master Lu and Your Majesty are dissatisfied with? Since welcoming the Emperor, my general has fought tooth and nail to rescue him in Luoyang, and then fought tirelessly against Liu Yu for him. Every moment has been devoted to our country. Why, at this moment of concluding the alliance leader, would he treat our lord like this?"

Lu Zhi smiled calmly and said, "Don't worry, Master Guan, don't worry. The Emperor and I are here to answer your questions." Gongsun Zan and the other civil and military officials, upon hearing Lu Zhi's words, fixed their gazes on the old man who had toiled so tirelessly for the Han. Their anger subsided slightly. Gongsun Zan stepped forward, bowed, and then, with a folded hand, said, "Master, please enlighten me."

Lu Zhi then slowly scanned the crowd, his expression solemn, "Listen to me, everyone. There are many profound considerations behind not choosing Bo Gui as the leader of this alliance. With all the warlords gathered here, the situation is extremely complex. The position of leader carries a heavy responsibility, requiring sufficient prestige and a strong family influence to command the others and lead them forward. However, Bo Gui's current condition may be somewhat lacking in this regard, making it difficult for him to truly command the heroes. If we cannot win the hearts and minds of all, and if everyone harbors their own agenda, then I'm afraid this alliance to defeat Dong Zhuo will ultimately become an empty talk, a waste of manpower and resources, while failing to achieve our grand goal of restoring the Han Dynasty and defeating Dong Zhuo."

At this point, Lu Zhi paused briefly, noticing that everyone was listening intently. He then raised his voice and continued passionately, "However, the Emperor has absolutely no intention of neglecting Bogui! On the contrary, he has specifically proposed to Bogui, intending to marry his daughter. Think about it, when we successfully restore the Han Dynasty and return to the capital, restoring the former glory of our Han Dynasty, we will even make Bogui's daughter the Empress. By then, Bogui will not only be the father-in-law of the emperor, but also the most powerful person in the court. His exalted status can be imagined. And those of us who follow Bogui will surely benefit from it, enjoying supreme glory and merit. Our future is bright and glorious!"

Upon hearing this explanation, Gongsun Zan and the others' eyes lit up like blazing flames. Their anger instantly dissipated, replaced by an uncontrollable excitement and frenzy. Gongsun Zan's face flushed with excitement, and he began to imagine the exalted status and supreme power he would enjoy as the father-in-law of the emperor, as if he saw a glorious future. His breathing quickened, his heart pounding. The soldiers, too, were filled with excitement, as if they could already see a bright future of advancement and success. They rubbed their hands, eager to fight for this glorious prospect. Their enthusiasm was beyond words.

After hearing what Lu Zhi said, Gongsun Zan's displeasure instantly vanished. He hesitantly said, "Master and the Emperor are overthinking it. I'm not angry about Yuan Shao being elected leader. I just want to contribute more to the fight against Dong Zhuo."

On this side, Lu Zhi and the emperor saw the change in Gongsun Zan's attitude, and they knew that they had completely convinced Gongsun Zan, dispelled Gongsun Zan's dissatisfaction, and even made Gongsun Zan work harder for this goal.

Emperor Liu Bian smiled at Gongsun Zan and said slowly, "General Gongsun, I know that you are sincere and loyal, and you are dedicated to supporting the Han Dynasty. I trust and rely on you. Although Yuan Shao is the leader of the alliance, I know that your ability and sincerity are no less than his. I believe that you will go all out to defeat Dong Zhuo, and I will always remember your contribution. After I marry the general's daughter as my concubine, I will treat her well and make her the queen in the future. When the blood of your Gongsun family is connected with mine, "The blood of the two families merges, and when a child is born, it will be the Crown Prince of the Han Dynasty. This future Crown Prince will carry the blood of both the Imperial Family and the Gongsun Family. What a profound bond and connection this is. When that time comes, General Gongsun, you will be incomparably honored, and the Han Dynasty will become even more stable and prosperous through our joint efforts. General Gongsun, feel free to act boldly. I will always be your unwavering support!" The Emperor's words moved Gongsun Zan to tears of gratitude, solidifying his resolve to dedicate himself to the Han Dynasty.

The emperor's words effectively soothed Gongsun Zan. Gongsun Zan then transferred Zhao Yun, who had participated in rescuing the emperor from Luoyang, and two thousand White Horse Volunteers to the emperor, assigning them to serve as guards and ceremonial guards. Gongsun Zan's expression remained relatively calm, but a subtle flicker of reluctance flashed in his eyes. After all, these were forces he valued greatly. Nevertheless, he performed this transfer with a feigned graciousness. While not a grand gesture, it nonetheless demonstrated some degree of support for the emperor.

Lu Zhi watched Emperor Liu Bian speak eloquently. Though his face still held a touch of immaturity, his mind was incredibly thoughtful. With just a few words, he was able to so easily sway Gongsun Zan, a powerful general and a disciple he had once valued. Lu Zhi couldn't help but marvel inwardly, and at the same time, he was extremely pleased with Liu Bian. He secretly thought that with such a wise emperor, the Han Dynasty might truly be able to usher in a new era. His eyes revealed a complex glint of relief and anticipation.