Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Expedited letters arrived endlessly at the Chang'an Imperial Palace, hammering down like heavy hammers on the young and vain emperor's heart. Once, within that magnificent palace, he had believed he could manipulate those loyal to the court with his wiles and schemes, wantonly manipulating their hearts. When dealing with those who still held a reverent and loyal heart, he always deftly employed his imperial skills, reveling in the elation of control.

Yet, now, facing the letters sent by these ambitious princes, he felt a deep sense of powerlessness and fear. Those princes, focused solely on their own hegemony and ambition, paid no attention to the imperial court. Regardless of the emperor's orders, they ignored them, continuing their reckless expansion and conquests within their own territories. The emperor's tactics seemed like childish, useless tricks before them.

In the imperial study, he often stared blankly at the letters. His once bright and confident eyes were gradually replaced by worry and confusion. His former smug expression had vanished without a trace. He began to realize that in these troubled times, without the support of powerful military force and substantial strength, the so-called imperial power was nothing but a castle in the air.

Meanwhile, Lu Zhi, the man who had always counseled the emperor and supported him like a sturdy pillar, had completely collapsed. Once vigorous and dedicated to the emperor's problems, the old man now lay on his sickbed, pale and dying. Every cough seemed to exhaust his entire body, and his condition worsened.

Lu Zhi's illness worsened due to the growing strife among the feudal lords. As news of the chaotic conflict continued to arrive, Lu Zhi toiled day and night, devising countermeasures for the emperor. Under the immense pressure, his body collapsed, and he eventually became bedridden. He knew the situation was dire, yet he felt powerless to share the emperor's worries. This consumed him, and his condition worsened.

Without Lu Zhi's attentive guidance and counsel, the emperor felt as if he were trapped in a dark abyss, isolated and helpless. The mountains of government affairs and the complex and thorny situation weighed on him like a mountain, almost suffocating him. He knew he had to grow up, he had to find a way to cope with it all, otherwise the Han Dynasty would be destroyed in his own hands. But at this moment, he looked out the window at the gloomy sky, filled with helplessness and hesitation, unsure of where to go next.

In his imperial study, the emperor's eyes narrowed as he considered the power he now wielded. Gongsun Zan, while renowned, was now overwhelmed by the immense pressure from Yuan Shao. The emperor knew that Gongsun Zan's loyalty was uncertain, and his ambitions shifted with the changing circumstances. Lü Bu, on the other hand, was known for his erratic nature. While he was a formidable warrior on the battlefield, his talents were undeniable, but the emperor had long witnessed Lü Bu's tendency to adapt to changing circumstances. With every shift in the situation, Lü Bu seemed to swiftly adjust his stance, like a reed in the wind, wavering.

As for the three brothers Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, their loyalty was a comfort to the emperor. However, their forces were limited, and the task of containing Lü Bu while also aiding Gongsun Zan in his fight against Yuan Shao was truly strained. If Yuan Shao's power could not be contained, the situation in the world would inevitably spiral out of control, like a collapsing building. The emperor now placed his hopes on Ma Chao, but his performance in the Tianshui campaign left him deeply concerned.

The emperor knew that if Lu Zhi were still alive, with his prestige and wisdom, he might still have some influence over Ma Chao. But now that Lu Zhi was bedridden and his condition was worsening, how could he control Ma Chao without him? The thought of this filled the emperor with distraught frustration. He gazed at the empty, heavy palace, feeling as if the walls were closing in on him, suffocating him.

"Let's go, Brother Xie, let's go check on Lu Zhi's condition," the emperor said to Liu Xie, the Prince of Luoyang, who was accompanying him. Liu Xie nodded slightly, and the two brothers stood up and walked out of the palace. The sunlight outside shone on them, but it could not dispel the haze in the emperor's heart. As he walked, he was still pondering his response, his steps were slightly heavy, and each step seemed to be filled with endless worries. The roads in the palace were winding and tortuous, just like the situation he faced now, intricate and unpredictable. But he knew that he had to find a way out, otherwise the Han Dynasty would be completely and irretrievably doomed.

As the emperor paced, pondering, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him, as if he had grasped a ray of light in the darkness. He thought of the deep and well-known relationship between Lu Zhi and Ma Chao, his mentor and disciple. Ma Chao, renowned for his filial piety and respect for his elders, held Lu Zhi in high esteem, as evidenced by numerous past events.

Now that Lu Zhi was gravely ill, if anything happened to him, this bond would become fragile. Lu Zhi's daughter, Lu Wan, had been Ma Chao's childhood sweetheart and held a very special place in his heart. As the emperor's mind reeled in images of Lu Wan, a plan gradually took shape.

If Lu Wan were brought into the palace and made his concubine, relying on his status as the emperor and Lu Wan's relationship with Ma Chao, he might be able to remove the constraints that Lu Zhi had placed on Ma Chao and transfer them to his own control. In this way, he could control Ma Chao through Lu Wan.

The more the emperor thought about it, the more he felt the plan was feasible, and a flame of hope ignited in his heart. He could already see Ma Chao regaining his loyalty to the court and becoming his own. His mood, previously gloomy due to numerous worries, now brightened slightly, becoming a fiery one.

He began to mentally plan how to implement this plan, from how to raise the issue with the Lu family to how to arrange all matters after Lu Wan entered the palace. The emperor knew he needed to proceed with caution, but the thought of controlling Ma Chao, a powerful general, and stabilizing the court made him feel that everything was worth trying. Within the palace, the emperor, clinging to this plan, seemed to see hope for the revival of the Han Dynasty, temporarily forgetting the numerous difficulties that lay before him.

The emperor trudged to Lu Zhi's bedside. His heart was deeply pierced by his presence. Lu Zhi's once piercing eyes were now bloodshot, their gaze clouded with fatigue. His once full face was now gaunt, his skin clinging to his bones like a brittle sheet of paper. His once jet-black hair had turned snow-white and lay tangled on the pillow. His body was so thin it looked as if it could be blown away by a gust of wind, and he exuded an air of devastation.

The emperor, tears in his eyes and his hands trembling slightly, stepped forward and grasped Lu Zhi's withered hand tightly. He choked and said, "Master Lu, how come you've gotten worse in the past two days?" Madam Lu, her eyes red and swollen, whispered beside him, "Yes, Your Majesty. The master's health has been declining these past few days, and he's even eating very little. When Ma Chao was here, the famous doctors we invited all urged him to rest more and not to let things get to him. But the constant state of affairs has left him no chance to rest. One misfortune after another, one worry after another, has only made him increasingly worried."

When Lu Zhi heard his wife's words, he frowned slightly. Although he was weak, he still tried to raise his hand, waved to his wife and said, "You go down first, I want to talk to His Majesty." Mrs. Lu looked at Lu Zhi, then at the emperor, her eyes full of worry, but she couldn't help but said to Lu Zhi, "Don't talk about state affairs anymore." Then she apologized to the emperor, "Then Your Majesty, please take care of it for a while." Only then did Lu's mother retreat to the inner room worriedly.

The emperor sat upright in a chair beside Lu Zhi's bed, his hands clasped in his lap. His face was solemn, his mind racing with thoughts as he pondered how to address Lu Zhi. His gaze frequently fell on Lu Zhi, his weakened form filled with worry. Lu Zhi's face was sallow, his eyes sunken. His once robust frame, tormented by illness, had become emaciated, as if a gust of wind could blow him apart. The emperor knew time was running out. If he didn't quickly prepare a response plan, if something happened to Lu Zhi, everything would become even more difficult, and by then it would be too late to regret.

Lu Zhi noticed the emperor's peculiarities. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze still piercing, and whispered, "Your Majesty, is there any more bad news? Don't listen to your wife's gossip; tell me what's going on." Upon hearing Lu Zhi's question, Emperor Liu Bian took a deep breath, calming himself. He pursed his lips, composed his words, and softly explained and soothed, "Master Lu, there's no bad news. It's just that I'm worried about the current situation. The princes are rising up, disputes are endless, and the various forces are unbridled and difficult to control. I had placed high hopes on General Ma Chao, hoping he could control the court and intimidate the princes. Unexpectedly, he has been unable to capture Tianshui City. Months have slipped by without any progress."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi's brow furrowed, a look of anxiety etched across his face, his breathing becoming somewhat rapid. He said, "I'll write to Ma Chao right now. What on earth is he up to? The court is in such chaos, and he's not trying to resolve the situation quickly. Tianshui City shouldn't be so difficult to capture." The emperor's eyes flickered as he heard Lu Zhi's words, and a host of thoughts flashed through his mind. He quickly waved his hand and said to Lu Zhi, "Master Lu, please don't rush to write to General Ma Chao. Just focus on recuperating. Many matters at court still require your advice and direction. With you here, General Ma Chao will have no other thoughts and will remain loyal to the court."

Lu Zhi looked at the emperor, a trace of sadness in his eyes. He said weakly, "Your Majesty, I know my own health. I'm afraid I can no longer serve you." As he spoke, his eyes became hazy, as if he were looking back through time.

He recalled his time in the palace with Emperor Ling of Han, and memories of the past, of overt and covert struggles and exhausting scheming, came flooding back like a tide. The stark contrast between the former prosperity and the present decline formed a stark contrast. He sighed, "Your Majesty, time flies!" Lu Zhi sighed slightly, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen.

He looked at the emperor's youthful yet troubled face, his heart filled with worry. "If I am gone, the entirety of this precarious nation will rest on your shoulders." Lu Zhi knew the emperor had great ambitions, but the current situation was chaotic, with warring states fighting for power and the road ahead was filled with countless difficulties and obstacles. He wished he could share some of the emperor's burden, but his body felt like a candle in the wind, its oil running out, and the feeling of exhaustion growing stronger.