Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Above the palace, flickering candlelight danced wildly, its light and shadows shifting eerily on the walls, casting a shifting, shimmering, gloom on the emperor's face. The emperor sat in silence for a long moment, seemingly contemplating something. Then, he slowly rose, a look of humility gradually emerging on his face. His gaze, filled with sincerity, he looked directly at Xun Yu and spoke slowly, "Lord, I am well aware of your immense talent, possessing the strategies of a hundred thousand soldiers. While I harbor lofty ambitions, I also understand that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I am truly perplexed. What is our most urgent task now?" The emperor's words were filled with both deep respect for Xun Yu and earnest anticipation. He leaned forward slightly, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists, his eyes fixed and intense as he awaited Xun Yu's response. It seemed as if the entire world had stopped, only Xun Yu's answer could break the solemn atmosphere.

Xun Yu bowed slightly and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, this is a very good compliment! I am skilled in domestic affairs, but lack military strategy. Your Majesty just mentioned the most urgent task. In my opinion, we should first eliminate the remaining forces of Dong Zhuo."

Upon hearing this, the emperor frowned slightly and continued to ask thoughtfully: "The remaining troops of Dong Zhuo have actually been fighting for a long time, but they have been leaning towards Xiliang behind the scenes. Ma Chao's mind is unspeakable, and I am not sure whether Xiliang will intervene if I really launch a thundering attack on the remaining troops of Dong Zhuo?" After saying this, the emperor paced lightly, his face full of worry.

Xun Yu advised, "Your Majesty, Ma Chao studied under Master Lu in his early years, and his influence was profound. During my time in Western Liang, I handled internal affairs for him and know him to be kind-hearted, loyal, and devoted to the people. The borderlands are plagued by constant warfare, yet he consistently prioritizes the people in these challenging times, a truly remarkable feat. Now that he has arrived in Chang'an to serve, and Your Majesty has bestowed upon him generously, given his character and current circumstances, I believe he will be selfless in the campaign against Dong Zhuo's remnants. Your Majesty should exercise full confidence in him and assign him to participate in relevant military planning. With his prestige in Western Liang and his familiarity with the local conditions, he may be able to provide significant assistance in our campaign against Dong Zhuo's remaining forces."

The emperor frowned and said solemnly: "I promised him a high position and generous title, and I also have high expectations for him. But you said Ma Chao is loyal and righteous. Although this boy has shown in the past that he understands loyalty and righteousness, in my opinion, all he has in his heart is small righteousness, and he does not understand the great righteousness of the country. That is why I can only appease him and treat him well. When we were fighting against Dong Zhuo, his teacher Mr. Lu Zhi had sent a letter asking him to join the effort, but he was stubborn and unyielding, and colluded with the old villain Dong Zhuo. Even when Dong Zhuo was already defeated, he still fought to the end. "He resisted stubbornly, aiding Dong Zhuo against the Heavenly Army. I heard he handled Dong Zhuo's posthumous affairs in Xiliang. Now, he's reportedly having an affair with Dong Zhuo's granddaughter. How can I trust him with important tasks? My concerns are all for the country and the people of the world. If he can't discern the greater good, how can I entrust him with such a heavy responsibility? I worry he'll sacrifice personal interests for public good, and at a critical moment, do something detrimental to the court. Wouldn't that be nurturing a tiger to harm me? I'm truly torn between two extremes, cherishing his talent yet fearing his actions."

Indeed, the emperor's concerns were indeed true from his perspective. Xun Yu was unable to defend Ma Chao too much for a moment.

The emperor went on to say, "I have arranged for Wang Jie to be sent on this diplomatic mission to Xiliang. Wang Jie is no mediocre person. I have already told him to observe the words and deeds of the Xiliang army and Ma Chao and his son, as well as the behavior of the Xiliang soldiers and generals. After all, Xiliang is a border area and there have been wars for a long time, and I am worried about it. I have not summoned Wang Jie yet, and I don't want to believe that Ma Chao is that kind of ambitious person. A country needs good generals in times of crisis. Now that the Han Dynasty is struggling, I urgently need people who can hold up the sky and ride the sea to save the building from collapse. I hope Ma Chao can live up to my expectations." The emperor's words revealed a complex emotion of deep worry and expectation. He knew that the country was in danger, and he longed for truly loyal and righteous people to stand up and contribute to the Han Dynasty.

Xun Yu was a little embarrassed at this time and advised: "Your Majesty, Wang Jie was quite arrogant during his mission to Xiliang this time, which made Xiliang not treat him with much courtesy. If he expresses his dissatisfaction again when he comes back, it may affect Your Majesty's judgment." Xun Yu knew very well that the envoy's behavior and attitude might affect the understanding of the real situation in Xiliang. He had to report the truth to the emperor to avoid misjudgment of the situation in Xiliang due to Wang Jie's personal behavior.

Liu Bian continued, "He is a Han minister, and Wang Jie is an angel. Even if his words are a bit arrogant, we should still treat him with respect. If so, what's the saying? If the monarch wishes for the death of his subjects, the subjects must die. To ignore or even show hostility towards an angel's unusual behavior is not the behavior of a loyal minister. This worries me deeply." Liu Bian adhered to traditional principles of monarch-minister relations, believing that subjects should be respectful to envoys. However, he also recognized the potential problems this situation might cause, and this filled him with deep concern. He wanted to maintain the dignity and authority of the court, but he also worried that this rigid mindset would lead to missing out on real information, hindering his accurate assessment of the situation in Xiliang and his understanding of Ma Chao and others, ultimately affecting the country's decision-making and future direction. A tense and conflicted atmosphere permeated the palace, as everyone pondered how to find the best solution to this complex situation.

Liu Bian raised his hand slightly, his expression softening slightly as he spoke, "Your Excellency, do not worry too much. We will discuss this matter later. I have been thinking of advancing against Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu again after the New Year. As the saying goes, time reveals a person's true character. Regardless of Ma Chao's true character, he is, after all, a disciple of Master Lu, and I should maintain my trust in him. Moreover, recalling the night of my father's death and the palace coup, Ma Chao contributed greatly. Without solid evidence and reliable proof, how could I treat a meritorious official so poorly? I am by no means a mean-spirited person, so your Excellency can rest assured."

Xun Yu nodded gently, his anxiety easing slightly. He knew Ma Chao's power in Xiliang was immense and could not be underestimated. If the emperor harbored a deep prejudice against Ma Chao at this point, Chang'an would be hard-pressed to contend with him given its current strength. Xun Yu, however, was solely concerned about the Han Dynasty; his concern was genuine and without a trace of falsehood.

The Emperor then spoke, "Your Majesty, while we have a considerable number of generals commanding troops, many at court are mere sycophants, obsessed with power and careless about the nation's perils and the suffering of the people. This is our most pressing problem. Unfortunately, these are all veteran officials, each backed by powerful aristocratic families. While I harbor disapproval, I dare not act rashly. I am truly eager to seek talented individuals. Does Your Majesty have any recommendations for suitable candidates?" The Emperor's face was filled with frustration and anxiety. Despite his status as Emperor, he felt deeply constrained by the complex web of power at court. These veteran officials, relying on the powerful support of their aristocratic families, had long entrenched themselves in the court, like a tangled, intractable tree. The Emperor's desire to reform the administration and the court was met with numerous obstacles. Now, he can only place his hopes on Xun Yu, hoping that Xun Yu can recognize the talents and recommend some virtuous and capable people to inject new vitality and vitality into this dull and corrupt court, and jointly save the already shaky Han Dynasty.

Xun Yu paused in thought, then bowed to the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I believe Chen Qun is a man of great potential. He hails from the Yingchuan Chen family. He has been intelligent and knowledgeable since childhood, possessing unique insights into government affairs. He is upright and deeply concerned about the people. If he were to serve in the court, he would surely help Your Majesty alleviate his worries, rectify court affairs, and streamline various matters, ensuring smoother court operations."

"Furthermore, I have heard of a talented scholar named Guo Jia. He possesses exceptional wisdom, a sharp mind, and a highly accurate analysis and judgment of situations. Although unruly, he possesses great ambitions. If he could serve Your Majesty, he would surely offer many valuable suggestions for military planning and strategic decision-making, helping Your Majesty find a way out of this chaotic world."

"There is also Sima Yi, whose family is quite prestigious in Hanoi. Sima Yi is a calm, thoughtful, and long-term strategist. He is well-versed in classics and history, and possesses a profound understanding of the general trend of the world. He may demonstrate extraordinary talent in handling complex affairs and dealing with various forces, and contribute to Your Majesty's great cause."

Xun Yu recommended several literati he thought had potential in one breath, hoping that they could help the emperor solve the current difficulties of lack of talent in the court and chaotic administration, and also add some hope for the revival of the Han Dynasty. He looked at the Emperor earnestly, awaiting his response, silently praying that these individuals would be appreciated and valued by the Emperor, serving together as the future Emperor of the Han Dynasty. After a long pause, his face solemn, he slowly spoke, "The Chen family of Yingchuan is a prominent family, and together with the Chen family of Xuzhou, they are from the same family. I don't know much about Guo Jia. As for the Sima family of Henei, they are also aristocratic, filled with children of aristocratic families. There should be many talented people in the world, but looking around the court, most of them are from aristocratic families. Your Majesty should know that aristocratic families have long controlled the path to officialdom. Most officials come from aristocratic families, and they often prioritize their own personal interests over the interests of the country. Although I know they have talent, if I were to use them, I fear they would be difficult to control. If rebellion breaks out in the future, it will inevitably lead to a cholera-like situation, endangering the country and the people."