Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

In the early years of his reign, Emperor Ling of Han harbored a deep fear of the powerful and influential families. To break this dynamic, he unexpectedly chose Empress He, a woman of no ordinary background. He sought to break free from the influence of the aristocratic families and, by choosing a commoner as his empress, weaken their power and influence within the court.

Although Empress Dowager Dong was the mother of Emperor Ling, she was actually a typical representative of an aristocratic family. She strongly opposed Emperor Ling's canonization of Empress He, and for this reason, mother and son had a fierce dispute over the matter.

In this dispute, Empress Dowager Dong revealed her unwavering commitment to protecting the interests of the aristocratic families, while Emperor Lingdi demonstrated his determination to break the aristocratic families' monopoly on power. This conflict further complicated the situation in the palace and intensified the struggle among the various factions.

It was not until Empress He gave birth to the eldest son, Liu Bian, that Emperor Ling of Han finally confirmed Empress He's status, leaving Empress Dowager Dong unable to object even though she was unwilling. However, two years later, Concubine Wang gave birth to the prince, Liu Xie, which gave Empress Dowager Dong hope again.

Empress Dowager Dong brought Liu Xie up from childhood, meticulously raising him. As he grew up, she instilled in him the idea that the empire needed to be governed by the support of aristocratic families. This was a covert attempt to influence Emperor Ling, furthering her own political ambitions by influencing Liu Xie and strengthening the status and influence of the aristocratic families within the court.

At the same time, Emperor Ling may have been aware of Empress Dowager Dong's behavior, which made the contradictions and conflicts between mother and son increasingly acute, and the power struggle within the palace became more intense. Various forces were competing secretly, planning and fighting for their own interests and goals.

When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out and Emperor Lingdi's health deteriorated, he promoted He Jin to the rank of Grand General to address the crisis. However, Empress Dowager Dong seized the opportunity to propose the appointment of her nephew, Dong Cheng, as General of the Cavalry. Although Emperor Lingdi was now the emperor, the Han dynasty had always been governed by filial piety. Faced with Empress Dowager Dong's demands, he had no choice but to compromise, even though he was reluctant.

This series of actions made the court situation even more complicated. Emperor Ling's reluctant compromise further strengthened the power of Empress Dowager Dong and the aristocratic families, laying deeper hidden dangers for future court struggles.

It was precisely because of this situation that, when Empress Dowager Dong practically named Liu Xie as the successor, Emperor Ling refused to yield. In his view, even if Liu Xie were made emperor, he would only become a puppet of the aristocratic families. With no relatives to rely on, his youth and status were limited, his mother had died young, and his maternal family held little influence. How could he possibly withstand the pressure from the aristocratic families?

The atmosphere in the palace was solemn. Empress Dowager Dong looked at the silent Emperor Ling, feeling somewhat dissatisfied. She frowned and raised her voice, saying, "My son, your health has deteriorated. You should make a decision soon. The Han Dynasty has been ruled for four hundred years. How can you not be cautious?"

Emperor Ling's face was as pale as paper, his forehead covered in beads of sweat. He struggled to hold his frail body together, his eyes filled with anger and helplessness. He slowly raised his head and spoke in a weak, trembling voice, "Mother, although my time is approaching, Liu Xie is still young and inexperienced. While Liu Bian is young, he has matured. I have high hopes for him." Each word Emperor Ling spoke seemed to exhaust his remaining strength. His words were slow and labored, and there was a deep sense of reluctance and struggle in his words.

Seeing that Emperor Ling had been going against her wishes, Empress Dowager Dong became even more furious. She widened her eyes and said sternly, "My son, are you confused? Although Liu Bian is older, he is cowardly by nature and has no courage and determination. How can such a cowardly person be able to take charge of the sacred artifact and inherit this vast country? Do you really want to watch the four hundred years of great achievements of the Han Dynasty destroyed in the hands of your generation?" Empress Dowager Dong became more and more excited, her voice became sharp, and her expression full of disappointment and anger seemed to pierce Emperor Ling.

Empress Dowager Dong went on to say, "My son, you are not feeling well now, so just rest assured. I have ordered General Dong Chong to take over the palace defense with his troops, so you just need to rest assured. Don't be stubborn anymore, listen to me and don't go against me anymore!" She waved her arms as she spoke, very emotional.

After Empress Dowager Dong said those words angrily, she pulled Liu Xie over and turned away angrily, her wide sleeves fluttering behind her, as if filled with anger.

Emperor Lingdi's face was filled with helplessness and worry. He looked at Lu Zhi and said in a weak but anxious voice, "Brother, these are troubled times. We need to arrange manpower as soon as possible and make preparations early."

Lu Zhi stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, why not quickly dispatch General He Jin to lead his troops to confront Dong Zhong? Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and the others are so brave they can't resist a thousand men. With their help, the general will surely be able to reclaim control of the palace guards and regain control of the situation!"

After saying this, Lu Zhi frowned and looked at Emperor Ling with worry, awaiting his decision. Emperor Ling's face was pale, and he looked tired and hesitant. He knew the matter was of great importance, but he was also worried that the situation would get out of control...

Emperor Lingdi was already on the verge of death, and now he was being pressured and provoked by Empress Dowager Dong. His face suddenly flushed, as if he had a last burst of energy. He suddenly perked up a bit, a trace of determination flashed in his eyes, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Although Dong Chong has blocked the palace gates now, I must find a way to pass the transfer order to the general! I will never let Dong Chong succeed!" After that, he clenched his fists tightly, as if fighting against fate.

Lu Zhi stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, Ma Chao and Sun Ce have arrived quickly. They are both highly skilled in martial arts. Give the tiger talisman and the token to them, and have them break through the encirclement and make their way to the general. Wait for the general to lead his troops to rescue us."

Emperor Ling held himself up while Empress He painstakingly retrieved the tiger talisman and seal from the hidden mechanism. His eyes were filled with eagerness and expectation, and then, with a trembling voice, he ordered them to be handed over to Sun Ce and Ma Chao.

Emperor Lingdi looked at Sun Ce and Ma Chao with a burning gaze, tears glistening in his eyes. He slowly said, "My two dear ministers, although you are still young, you have already shown extraordinary heroism and courage. You are all pillars of this world! I have high hopes for you. I hope you will not let me down...." After he finished speaking, there was a hint of indescribable desolation and helplessness in his voice.

After hearing this, Ma Chao and Sun Ce both knelt on the ground and solemnly promised: "Your Majesty, don't worry, we will do our best to live up to our mission!" After that, the two men kowtowed respectfully, then stood up and slowly backed out of the hall. In their hearts, they were secretly thinking about how to break through the siege and successfully deliver the tiger talisman and seal.

Emperor Lingdi slowly pulled out the imperial seal from his side with great difficulty and handed it to Liu Bian with all his strength. Seeing this, Liu Bian hurried forward and knelt down at the bottom of the stairs with a look of grief on his face.

Emperor Ling said weakly: "Bian'er, your father is no longer able to do it, and there is no need for him to support the world for you in the future. The future of the Han Dynasty is entrusted to you, you must..." At this point, Emperor Ling's voice choked, and his eyes were full of reluctance and expectation.

Liu Bian looked at Emperor Ling and burst into tears. He knelt on the ground, heartbroken, and cried, "Father! I can't bear to leave you!" His tears flowed like a flood, his voice was filled with endless sorrow and reluctance, and his whole body was shaking with crying.

Emperor Ling looked at Lu Zhi weakly, a glimmer of light flashing in his once dull eyes. He knew his physical condition was already extremely poor, and it was a great honor for him to have held on until now. He summoned his last bit of strength, raised his hand slightly, and wanted to pat Lu Zhi's shoulder, but found that he was unable to do so.

Seeing this, Lu Zhi hurried forward and shook Emperor Ling's hand tightly. Emperor Ling looked at Lu Zhi with a relieved smile on his face. That smile contained too many emotions: trust, gratitude, regret, and worry about the future of the Han Dynasty.

"Brother..." Emperor Ling's voice was so weak it was almost inaudible. "I know you are loyal to the Han Dynasty. After I leave, I will entrust this country to you... This world... This world is now full of dangers. I am truly worried..." At this point, Emperor Ling's voice became even hoarser, and his breathing became increasingly rapid. Emperor Ling's breath was so weak that he could no longer utter a clear word. He could only mutter: "Restore the Han Dynasty... Restore..."

The voice gradually faded and finally stopped abruptly, and a tear slowly slid down from the corner of his eye. That tear seemed to carry his infinite attachment and reluctance to leave the Han Dynasty.

Lu Zhi tightly grasped Emperor Ling's hand, his heart filled with grief. He understood the emperor's concerns. The Han Dynasty was now plagued by eunuchs' monopoly of power and the separatist forces of the aristocratic families. The people were living in dire straits, and the young new emperor was no match for such a heavy burden. But he also knew he couldn't betray Emperor Ling's trust. No matter how many difficulties and obstacles lay ahead, he had to forge ahead courageously.

Liu Bian was heartbroken as he watched the tear slip from Emperor Ling's eye. Lu Zhi and the others were also filled with sorrow, knowing that the future of the Han Dynasty would face enormous challenges.

Later, Liu Bian, supported by Lu Zhi and others, suppressed his grief and began to deal with the situation. Carrying Emperor Ling's instructions, they prepared to fight for the future of the Han Dynasty.

That tear seemed to become Emperor Lingdi's last words, forever engraved in people's hearts, inspiring them to work tirelessly for the survival of the Han Dynasty...

In 189 AD, on the second day of the first lunar month, Emperor Lingdi passed away.