Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

At this moment, a beautiful palace maid approached with light steps, bowed slightly, and softly asked if the emperor would go to the imperial concubine's palace to rest tonight. Liu Bian's face instantly showed impatience. He waved his hand and evaded the maid, saying, "I drank too much at the banquet today and now have a splitting headache. If I go to the imperial concubine's palace, I am afraid I will disturb her sleep. Let her rest alone. I will rest in this palace tonight." Hearing this, the palace maid dared not say anything more. She bowed again and then respectfully took her leave.

Liu Xie frowned slightly and said, "My brother, with your words, the Concubine will probably be unhappy if you don't come to visit her for a long time." Liu Bian smiled gently, a glint of wisdom in his eyes. He said, "So what if she's unhappy? Now that Ma Chao has surrendered, the situation in our court has stabilized. Gongsun Zan can't easily cause any trouble these days, so I want him to see Ma Chao's glory. Let him know that I can't rely on him alone. I want these princes to know that I will treat those who are loyal to me well, and I will not easily forgive those who harbor disloyalty. Only in this way can we deter all forces and stabilize the Han Dynasty. Only by balancing the various forces can I seize the initiative in this complex situation."

Liu Bian, however, remained unfazed. He frowned slightly and spoke slowly, "Master Lu Zhi has truly devoted his life and soul to the court, wholeheartedly striving to restore the Han Dynasty's glory and revive the imperial court. However, not all of his disciples share his unwavering loyalty. This is precisely why I must rely on Lu Zhi's prestige to ensure his disciples dare not easily disobey me. Over the past two years, Lu Zhi's health has deteriorated, and he may collapse at any moment. It is precisely because of this that we should respect him morally and strengthen his control over his disciples. Only in this way can we protect our equilibrium when he passes away."

Liu Bian's words were somewhat cold, and even Liu Xie felt that Liu Bian was being too cold, but he didn't dare show it. Liu Xie's heart was filled with mixed emotions. He knew that in this vortex of power, Liu Bian had to make some seemingly ruthless decisions, but this approach still made him feel a little chilled. He lowered his head silently, unsure of what to say. Liu Bian seemed lost in his own thoughts, his eyes revealing a sense of determination and resoluteness, as if he would do anything for the Han Dynasty.

Liu Bian narrowed his eyes slightly, and then slowly said: "Master Lu scolded Ma Chao so harshly today. Thinking about it carefully, there is a bit of selfishness in it. As a master, if he doesn't act like this, how can he maintain his always tall and selfless image? Look, after he scolded me so harshly and mercilessly, what can I do? I can only adopt a relaxed preferential policy for Ma Chao and appease him more. If I follow up and investigate, wouldn't I force Ma Chao to rebel on the spot? This old guy, if he really has no selfish motives, how could he do such a thing? Since Ma Chao and his master and apprentice both claim to be loyal ministers and filial sons, it is precisely because of this that I will be more friendly to his rewards. "The more you do this, the more I can show my magnanimity and forgiveness to the people of the world, and treat him with great favor. If he harbors any rebellious thoughts in the future, the reputation of both master and disciple will be completely ruined. Even if Ma Chao harbors rebellious thoughts, he has to consider his master's reputation. We are standing at this crucial point, which is what is called a gentleman can be deceived by tricks. I want everyone to see that even if you have rebelled in the past, I will forgive you. I have been very kind to you, Ma Chao. But if you, Ma Chao, dare to have the slightest intention of rebellion in the future, you will be immediately condemned by the people of the world. By then, even his master's reputation will be completely lost. How can he still claim to be a loyal minister and a filial son?"

Liu Bian's mind was as deep as the sea. His endless thoughts and actions made Liu Xie completely unable to react. Liu Xie felt extremely depressed in his heart, his lips tightly pursed, and he didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Liu Bian seemed unaware and continued calmly, "Brother, tell me, what do you think of Lord Xun?" Liu Xie frowned slightly and fell into deep thought. After a moment, he slowly said, "Lord Xun is extremely capable and his loyalty is beyond doubt. However, he is a descendant of a prominent family after all. When my father was alive, he always regarded the aristocratic families as his biggest enemies. Brother, you are so happy to see Lord Xun today, but you don't seem to have thought about this and haven't made any plans." After saying that, a look of doubt appeared on Liu Xie's face.

Liu Bian smiled lightly, his face full of confidence, and continued: "Brother, think about it carefully, Xun Lingjun's ability is really outstanding. Whether in strategic planning or in handling government affairs, he has demonstrated extraordinary wisdom and talent. His loyalty is beyond doubt. In the face of many complex situations, Xun Lingjun has always stood firmly on the side of the court, working hard for the Han Dynasty, and has never wavered or retreated. Although he was born into a noble family, he is a world apart from those people from noble families who are only concerned about the interests of their family and are full of selfish motives. To what extent is this person selfless? In his heart, there is only the stability and prosperity of the Han Dynasty, and he completely disregards the gains and losses of his family and his personal honor. Humiliation. He can devote all his energy to the interests of the country, even at the expense of his own interests. If one day Master Lu passes away, with the ability and responsibility of Lord Xun, he will definitely be able to stabilize the government and handle all the complicated internal affairs in an orderly manner. With him around, I can devote all my energy to winning over the military generals without any worries, let those brave generals serve me, work together to restore the Han Dynasty, and punish those princes with evil intentions in various places. As for internal affairs and other matters, we can safely entrust them to Master Lu and Lord Xun. Tell me, how can I not be happy to have such a virtuous and talented minister? "Liu Bian's eyes flashed with anticipation, and his face was filled with longing for the future.

Liu Xie could only say respectfully, "Brother, your thoughts and vision must be correct." Liu Bian nodded slightly, and then said, "Just now at the banquet, I asked you to keep Xun Lingjun. Have you made arrangements on your side?" Liu Xie responded, "Xun Lingjun is already waiting in the side hall." A hint of joy flashed in the emperor's eyes, and he said, "Then please come into the hall quickly. I want to talk to him in detail all night." Liu Xie said, "Then I will go and invite Xun Lingjun over." Liu Bian waved his hand and said, "Brother, you go and notify him to come over. You go back and rest early." Liu Xie took the order and left, and soon arranged things.

Soon, Xun Yu arrived in the hall. The emperor affectionately asked the two of them to sit facing each other. With an earnest look on his face, he asked Xun Lingjun, "How should the government be handled now?" Xun Lingjun pondered for a moment, then said solemnly, "Your Majesty, although the current situation in the world is turbulent, no prince dares to openly commit acts of rebellion. The princes are all striving to expand their own strength and are constantly attacking each other. In this situation, Your Majesty can adopt a strategy of internal and external mediation. Externally, win over the weaker princes and promise them appropriate benefits so that they can be used by Your Majesty. For example, you can bestow them with honorary titles, or provide them with a certain amount of land and material support to make them feel Your Majesty's favor. At the same time, send envoys to communicate with them in a friendly manner and build trust. For those princes who are wavering, you must increase your efforts to win them over so that they can see the benefits of following Your Majesty."

Moderately suppress powerful vassal states. Exploit conflicts between them to create disputes and keep them in check. Economically restrict them, such as controlling trade routes and raising taxes, to weaken their power. At the same time, strengthen supervision of various regions to prevent them from colluding secretly and posing a threat to the court.

By now, Chang'an has largely returned to peace. With Gongsun Zan and Ma Chao in command, the Youzhou and Xiliang cavalry are sufficient to ensure tranquility in the north. However, the most urgent task is to defeat Dong Zhuo's former followers. Without their elimination, the imperial court's strength remains unproven. Only by completely defeating them can the northwest be truly stabilized and the rear secured. Your Majesty may dispatch capable generals and elite troops to encircle and suppress Dong Zhuo's former followers.

Once your rear is secure, Your Majesty can gradually advance into the Central Plains. During this advance, you must proceed steadily and cautiously, avoiding rash advances. You can first attack weaker regions, gradually expanding your sphere of influence. At the same time, you must prioritize your relationships with the local people, practicing benevolent governance and earning their support. As long as the vassal states maintain their alliances, Your Majesty can seize the opportunity to expand your own power while they attack each other. This will deter them from acting rashly.

Furthermore, Your Majesty can prioritize talent selection, recruiting talented individuals to strengthen the court. You can establish a dedicated talent selection agency, formulate strict selection criteria, and select talented and virtuous individuals to serve the court. At the same time, you must prioritize the cultivation and utilization of talent, giving them full trust and room to develop their talents, allowing them to contribute their wisdom and strength to Your Majesty's great cause.

Furthermore, focus on developing agriculture, encouraging the people to reclaim wasteland, increase grain production, and ensure sufficient military supplies. Preferential policies, such as tax reductions and exemptions, and the provision of farm tools and seeds, can be implemented to encourage active participation in agricultural production. At the same time, strengthen water conservancy projects, improve irrigation conditions, and increase agricultural production efficiency. Repair cities and strengthen defenses to counter possible foreign invasions. Recruit craftsmen to reinforce and repair city walls, increase the height and thickness of city walls, and install fortifications. Furthermore, strengthen military training to enhance the soldiers' combat effectiveness and ensure the safety of the city.

Only by ensuring a clean and orderly domestic situation and a strong military can Your Majesty gain a firm foothold in these troubled times and gradually achieve the revival of the Han Dynasty."