Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Early in the morning, just as the sky was beginning to turn pale, Emperor Liu Bian had Liu Xie convey an order to summon the three brothers Liu, Guan, and Zhang to the palace to wait for him.

Liu Bian sat upright on the throne, his expression slightly solemn. After the three brothers finished their greetings, Liu Bian took the lead in explaining his own difficulties. He sighed softly and slowly said, "I have rewarded Ma Chao with such a high position and generous title just because he has come to serve me. This is because Ma Chao's influence in the northwest is too great. The situation in the northwest is complex. Ma Chao's name is well-known, and his troops are strong. If he is not appeased, I fear that he will become dissatisfied and destroy the hard-won stability. It is not that I do not value the contributions of the three brothers Liu, Guan, and Zhang to the country, but it is simply what the current situation requires. I hope the three of you will not mind."

After his explanation, Liu Bian soothed the three brothers, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, with gentle words. He looked at them earnestly and said, "I have always witnessed your loyalty and bravery, dear friends, and I remember them in my heart. You have fought bravely for our country and achieved remarkable military success. I know your sincerity and will reward you accordingly in the future. I will not treat you unfairly. My kingdom cannot be built without your assistance."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei bowed slightly, his expression respectful and resolute. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is wise and wise. We will continue to serve you and our country without a single complaint. We fully understand your difficulties and will prioritize the greater good."

Although Zhang Fei felt a tinge of resentment, he couldn't let it out. He simply groaned, a look of slight dissatisfaction on his face. Guan Yu remained silent, his brow furrowed slightly, as if lost in thought. He remained noncommittal. While he lacked the calm analysis and tenacity of his elder brother, Liu Bei, he possessed a greater degree of thoughtfulness and inquiry than Zhang Fei's straightforwardness. He frowned slightly, gazing thoughtfully at the Emperor and Liu Bei, his mind grappling with the current situation.

Seeing that Liu Bei looked normal, neither sad nor happy, Liu Bian turned his gaze and said to Liu Bei, "Uncle, I sent an envoy to Xiliang to announce my decree, but he has not yet returned. Yesterday, I was busy preparing for the reception and was unable to meet him. Fortunately, Wang Jie came, so I thought I would ask him to explain the situation in Xiliang. Is Ma Chao loyal and useful now?"

Liu Bei bowed solemnly and said, "Your Majesty, when employing people, you should trust them. If you doubt them, do not employ them. I know Ma Chao well, and in my opinion, he certainly does not harbor any rebellious intentions in Xiliang. I beg your Majesty to understand this. You must not listen to one side of the story, lest you make mistakes in your decision-making."

In reality, long before Wang Jie returned to Chang'an, a secret letter had been quietly delivered to Emperor Liu Bian. The letter detailed the immense prestige of Ma Chao and his men in Western Liang, the people's deep love for them, and the impressive military might and numerous generals under their command. Upon receiving this secret letter, Liu Bian pondered it for a long time. While pretending not to meet Wang Jie, he had a far-reaching plan. His goal was to make Wang Jie's claims more convincing before Lu Zhi and the Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, proving that they had no prior collusion. This would make Wang Jie's words more convincing and further instill fear and resentment in Lu Zhi and the Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei toward Ma Chao. By sowing discord between them, Liu Bian could manipulate the people and consolidate his rule.

Meanwhile, Liu Bian had arranged for Liu Xie to act as the messenger to summon Wang Jie to report and deliver the decree. Prior to this, Liu Bian had carefully instructed Liu Xie to bring Lu Zhi to the palace with him when he arrived with Wang Jie. Lu Zhi's presence was inevitable, given the exceptionally generous reward given yesterday. Knowing the old man's temperament, Liu Bian was certain he would come to the palace to express his gratitude. Why had he arranged such a lavish reward? The purpose was to ensure Lu Zhi's presence. Given Lu Zhi's temper, he was certain to follow up with a reprimand. All of this meticulous planning ensured that they were present when Wang Jie described the Western Liang as powerful and rebellious, thereby enhancing the credibility and persuasiveness of his account.

Everything proceeded smoothly, in accordance with the emperor's instructions. Liu Xie and Wang Jie paused briefly at the palace gate when they spotted Lu Zhi hurriedly arriving. Liu Xie smiled and stepped forward to greet Lu Zhi, greeting him respectfully. Puzzled, Lu Zhi asked, "Why is the King of Luoyang at the palace gate so early in the morning?" Liu Xie replied, "Envoy Wang Jie returned from his mission to Xiliang. He was in a hurry yesterday and hadn't yet reported to the emperor. Today, my brother thought of it early this morning and quickly made time to see him." Liu Xie's words, carefully guided by Liu Bian, flowed seamlessly. Lu Zhi, unsuspecting, said, "In that case, let's go into the palace together to see Your Majesty." They entered the palace together. Liu Bian remained respectful and humble toward Lu Zhi, stepping down from the throne like a student and personally helping Lu Zhi to a seat. However, Lu Zhi said, "Your Majesty, first of all, I want to thank Your Majesty for your concern for me. I am honored to hold a high position, but I have not done anything. Secondly, I want to advise Your Majesty that the country is in a difficult situation now, and the people are suffering. You should take money from the people and use it for the people, instead of rewarding me." However, Liu Bian said with a look of respect and fear, "Master Lu, don't say that. I see that you have worked hard for the country, but I have never been able to repay you. When I first met you, you were still such a strong and majestic gentleman. Now your hair is gray and your back can hardly stand up straight. Everything is for me and for the Han Dynasty. I am just rewarding you with some money and property. How can it make up for what Master Lu has done for this world?" As he spoke, tears welled up in the emperor's eyes.

Lu Zhi was not overwhelmed by his flattery, but he was deeply moved when he saw the tears in the emperor's eyes. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I deeply appreciate your grace, and it is indeed a blessing for this old minister. Your Majesty loves me so much, and I will devote my whole life to your Majesty and the Han Dynasty until my death. Although I am old, as long as I am still alive, I will be loyal to my duties and help your Majesty solve problems. Your Majesty cares about the people and puts the people first, which is a blessing for the world. I wish your Majesty good health, a stable country, and prosperity for the Han Dynasty." Lu Zhi's words were sincere, and his eyes were full of loyalty and determination.

Lu Zhi was overwhelmed with emotion. Looking at the Emperor Liu Bian before him, his eyes filled with joy and admiration. His Majesty was intelligent, benevolent, and possessed a sincere heart that cared deeply for his subjects. These qualities formed the perfect image of a sage ruler in Lu Zhi's mind. Lu Zhi, an old man who had dedicated his life to the service of his country, felt immense satisfaction with his Majesty and the Emperor. He envisioned the Han Dynasty regaining its former glory under the leadership of this wise and virtuous ruler. He secretly resolved to devote the rest of his life to assisting the Emperor with all his might, dedicating his entire life to the prosperity and strength of the Han Dynasty. Despite the ravages of time and the gradual aging of his body, his loyalty and resolve never wavered. He believed that with unity between the ruler and his subjects, the Han Dynasty would usher in a new era, and he would be immensely proud of his life's work.

Only then did Wang Jie step forward to pay his respects, interrupting the emperor and stating that the affairs of Xiliang had been successfully completed and he had come to report. Emperor Liu Bian was quite interested and smiled, saying, "Your Excellency Wang, you have worked hard along the way. You have traveled deep into the borderlands to deliver my decree, and you have endured the ravages of rain and snow along the way. Most of the veteran officials in the court are now mere figures in office, but Your Excellency Wang, despite your youth, is fearless of hardship, which is very comforting to me. How about this: now that Lord Xun has returned to Chang'an, you will serve under Lord Xun, learn more about government affairs, and help me share my worries." After these few words, Wang Jie's heart was moved, and he shouted, "I have suffered a little, why should Your Majesty worry about me? I will serve Your Majesty and the Han Dynasty with my life and soul, even if it means death." These simple words of concern, coupled with the added bonus of Liu Bian's status as an emperor, easily won Wang Jie's heart.

Seeing all this, the three brothers Liu, Guan, and Zhang were filled with emotion. They stared at Emperor Liu Bian silently, their eyes revealing deep admiration for the emperor's demeanor. It couldn't be said that the emperor's methods were not brilliant.

Liu Bian nodded slightly, his eyes revealing satisfaction.

Liu Bian then said, "Wang Jie, please tell me about the scenery and landscape along the way. There have been numerous battles along the border of Western Liang over the past two years. I wonder how the people are doing. Please explain it to me and everyone else. I grew up in the inner palace and have never been to the northwest." Wang Jie now launched into a torrent of eloquence. He began by describing the scenery he had seen along the way to Western Liang, his words filled with admiration for the magnificent beauty of nature. "Your Majesty, as I journeyed west, I saw mountains undulating endlessly, like a winding dragon. Green trees shaded the mountains, and gurgling streams streamed through them, like a paradise on earth. The vast grasslands stretched as far as the eye could see, with cattle and sheep visible in the wind-blown grass. It was a breathtaking sight." He then recounted the hardships of the journey. "Your Majesty, the journey to Xiliang is long. We have to sleep in the open air, traveling day and night. Rain and wind make us struggle, and the sun makes us sweat profusely. But your Majesty's instructions are in our hearts, and we dare not slack off in the slightest." Emperor Liu Bian smiled calmly, his eyes piercing and full of encouragement. That warm gaze seemed to tell Wang Jie to continue, so that everyone could experience this different world together.

Wang Jie continued, "In the past two years, the country has been plagued by war, and the people along the way have suffered greatly. Everywhere we pass, villages are dilapidated, houses in ruins. The people are ragged, pale and thin. Some, with their families, wander from place to place, just looking for a place to stay. Others toil in the fields, but their harvest is meager, barely enough to feed themselves. Seeing this, I cannot help but feel heartbroken."

Liu Bian also sighed deeply, his expression solemn. He slowly said, "Alas, this is all my fault. I have failed to ensure the people live and work in peace and contentment. This is truly my fault. I still need your assistance to restore stability to the Han Dynasty and a secure life for the people. I will work hard to strengthen the country and govern diligently, and live up to the expectations of you and the people."