Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

That day, the emperor quickly ordered the construction of a massive, imposing altar in the southern suburbs of Chang'an, expending countless manpower and resources. He then dispatched several imperial messengers to inform the brothers Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, announcing that the emperor would personally offer sacrifices to Yuan Wei. This news struck the Yuan brothers like a thunderbolt, igniting their fury and blood. They knew, as if a mirror, that the emperor's hypocritical gesture was merely a vain attempt to silence them, making it difficult for them to retaliate against the emperor's arbitrary manipulations in court, spurred by such hypocritical and calculating behavior.

The next day, an imperial decree was issued with swift force, commanding all civil and military officials, as well as any remaining princes, to join in the memorial service for Yuan Wei and the souls of over 200 members of the Yuan family. That day, a throng of people surged through the southern suburbs of Chang'an, the scene a scene of extraordinary grandeur and solemnity. The towering altar, constructed of the finest stone, was meticulously adorned with snow-white silk and elegant flowers. Incense curled upward, filling the air like a veil, carrying with it wisps of mourning.

Under the gazes of the citizens of Chang'an and all the civil and military officials, the emperor, clad in a stately and magnificent regalia, with a solemn expression and steady steps, slowly ascended the altar. He held the eulogy in both hands, his voice resonant and filled with deep emotion, each word tinged with endless grief: "Yuan Gongwei was a distinguished minister of state, of noble character and unwavering loyalty. For generations, the Yuan family has been loyal and dedicated, sacrificing their lives for the Han dynasty. Now that they have suffered this calamity, my heart is broken and tears stream down. The noble character of the Yuan family is as resilient as the pine and cypress trees, fearless of wind and frost; as elegant as the orchid and angelica, whose fragrance is passed down through the ages. Their heroic deeds, brave and righteous, for their country, will serve as a model for future generations and be forever recorded in the glorious annals of history."

As direct descendants of the Yuan family, the Yuan brothers could only passively endure all this, clad in heavy mourning. Their lips clenched, their eyes blazing with anger, their heads splitting with rage, as if a million ants were gnawing at their hearts. However, the occasion and their family's reputation prevented them from directly agitating. Their clenched fists, white from the exertion, their bodies trembling slightly, betraying the surging fury and deep resentment within them. Yet, in front of everyone, they had to suppress their rage and force themselves to appear grief-stricken and grateful. For the usually arrogant and conceited Yuan brothers, this was undoubtedly an excruciating torture worse than death. Their faces contorted, their muscles twitched, and they vowed to avenge this vengeance.

The emperor stood on the high altar, seemingly absorbed in the ritual, but in reality, his gaze was quietly gazing back and forth at Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu. His gaze was deep and obscure, resting briefly on the two men before gazing at Gongsun Zan, not far away, and he couldn't help but feel secretly pleased with himself.

First, in the imperial court, the emperor solemnly announced his choice of Gongsun Zan's daughter as his consort. This move undoubtedly brought great honor and comfort to Gongsun Zan, instantly settling his previously wavering heart and making him willing to serve the emperor. Secondly, the emperor flatly refused Yuan Shu's request to pursue Dong Zhuo's remnants. This obvious difference in treatment was undoubtedly intended to provoke a dispute between Yuan Shu and Gongsun Zan. Then, the emperor took advantage of the situation to confirm the ownership of Gongsun Zan's Youzhou troops, forcibly allocating half of them to the emperor's use.

The emperor knew these actions would inevitably infuriate Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, yet he remained unfazed. He then held a grand memorial service in the southern suburbs of Chang'an, lavishly praising Yuan Wei and widely publicizing the story of the Yuan family's four generations of loyal officials and patriotism, holding them up as role models for the world. Only Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, completely shameless and disregarding their own honor and their family's reputation, would have to renege on the emperor and openly challenge him. Faced with such an open and aboveboard scheme, seemingly aboveboard but concealing hidden ulterior motives, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, as ministers, could only swallow their anger and bear the bitter consequences.

The leaders of the allied forces who accompanied the emperor in the sacrifice had varying mindsets. Those loyal to the Han Dynasty wished they could be commemorated on a monument like Yuan Wei, their fame immortalized through the ages. The other princes simply wanted to quickly conclude the sacrifice and return to their respective fiefdoms, where they could rule their own lands, free from the constraints of the imperial court.

Amidst the crowd, Cao Cao was secretly horrified. He hadn't expected the emperor's tactics to be so cunning. First, he announced in court the selection of Gongsun Zan's daughter as his consort, stabilizing Gongsun Zan and ensuring his willingness to serve the court. Then, he exploited Yuan Shu's request to pursue Dong Zhuo's remnants to sow discord between the Yuan brothers. Finally, the emperor lavishly honored Yuan Wei in the southern suburbs of Chang'an, praising the Yuan family's four generations of three officials as a model of loyalty and patriotism. This series of actions clearly demonstrated the emperor's mastery of public opinion, and it somewhat quenched Cao Cao's restlessness, fueled by Dong Zhuo's devastation and the erosion of the Han Dynasty's prestige.

Standing beside the altar, Lu Zhi gazed at the emperor's face, young yet full of wisdom, and felt a surge of satisfaction. He was indeed the legitimate son of Emperor Ling of Han, his intelligence no less impressive than his father's. Amidst such a complex situation, the emperor's skillful manipulation of tactics to maintain the dignity and authority of the Han Dynasty was truly commendable.

Liu Bei, watching from afar, seemed lost in thought. He knew the emperor's tactics were brilliant, but he had no idea when his ambitions would be realized. He sighed deeply, lamenting his bad luck and fate. But he didn't give up, clinging to his resolve to restore the Han Dynasty and achieve great things.

After the sacrifice, the leaders of the coalition army, with varying expressions, came before the emperor one after another to bid him farewell. Whether they were county governors or provincial governors, they all knew that they bore the heavy responsibility of defending their land and educating their people, and could not remain in Chang'an for long.

Yuan Shu's face was gloomy, his eyes blazing with fire, his grip on his sword trembling slightly with anger. Yuan Shao's brow was also furrowed, his face filled with resentment and unwillingness. Even though they were filled with reluctance, seething with rage, and nearly losing their minds, they could not truly abandon the glory and reputation accumulated by the Yuan family, three officials from four generations. They could only grit their teeth and swallow their anger, carrying a deep sense of resentment as they led their troops back to their territory. A dull and oppressive atmosphere permeated the departing troops.

Gongsun Zan, on the other hand, was completely different from the Yuan brothers. His face was rosy and he was beaming as he led half of the Youzhou army on their return journey. Along the way, he joyfully planned how to send his daughter to Chang'an in grand style, as if he had already seen a glorious future for his family.

Thus, after the coalition's great victory, these arrogant generals who had once fought shoulder to shoulder on the battlefield, but each with their own agenda, finally fell apart and returned to their own territories. The emperor watched Gongsun Zan's departing figure, leaving behind only half of his troops, and his heart was filled with joy. That joy flowed like a clear spring in his heart.

Thinking back to when the coalition had first formed, he had been alone, helpless, with only Lu Zhi, Zhao Yun, sent by Gongsun Zan, and a group of White Horse Volunteers as his guards. Surrounded by ambitious individuals, he faced constant danger and adversity. But now, he commanded not only half of Youzhou's elite troops, but also had the civil and military officials closely at his side, and three outstanding generals, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, willing to serve him. Thinking of this, Bian felt a surge of pride, as if he saw the light of hope for the revival of the Han Dynasty glimmering before his eyes.

Liu Bian knew full well that the majority of the 18 allied forces were filled with ambition. They had all come under the banner of defeating Dong Zhuo, but who wouldn't want to be as powerful and influential as Dong Zhuo? Now that they had been dispersed, the inevitable outcome would be a campaign of individual conquests for their own gain, potentially plunging the empire into even greater chaos.

But Liu Bian held a deep confidence. He firmly believed that as the Son of Heaven, he now commanded both skilled soldiers and loyal, brave, and fearless generals. Even if the past, even the most difficult, had been successfully overcome, why fear the future? Even if their ambitions grew and they dared to raise their own forces and attempt to defy the imperial court, he would have the strategy and ability to defeat them one by one. The power of the Son of Heaven must not be underestimated; the dignity of the Han Dynasty was inviolable.

Yet, at this moment, he showed no sign of it, remaining respectful, his humble demeanor unchanged. He humbly asked Lu Zhi, "Master Lu, now that the situation has been initially determined, what should we do next? I hope you will be so kind as to advise us." His tone was sincere and genuine, his eyes filled with respect and expectation for Lu Zhi.

Lu Zhi stroked his beard, his formerly hunched figure seemingly straightening a little. With a determined gaze, he addressed the emperor, "Now that the princes have dispersed, our enemies may be the remnants of Dong Zhuo. However, Dong Huang's defeat doesn't guarantee that he will secure control of Dong Zhuo's remaining territory. The governors and commanders across the country will undoubtedly waver at the sight of Dong Zhuo's downfall and the revival of the Han Dynasty. At this time, we can order Generals Liu, Guan, and Zhang to lead a large force to the border to demonstrate our dynasty's might. We can then send envoys to negotiate in detail, using both reason and emotion to persuade them. This will surely yield unexpected results."