Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The emperor's expression softened, and he spoke gently to Wang Jie, "Wang Jie, look at the court today. The princes are armed and powerful, and the powerful families are also harboring evil intentions. Most of the officials in the court are just sitting there doing nothing, enjoying their salaries but doing nothing. They have truly failed to live up to my trust and expectations."

The emperor paused for a moment, his expression becoming exceedingly solemn. His gaze locked with Wang Jie, he spoke earnestly, "What we discussed today, especially the news regarding Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and those sinister families, is of grave importance. You must keep this information to yourself for now, and never reveal a single word unless absolutely necessary. This not only concerns the court's plans, but also the direction of the world's affairs. You must not let a moment of negligence jeopardize such a matter."

Wang Jie's expression froze, and he quickly knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will keep my mouth shut and will not reveal a single word."

The emperor nodded slightly, looking at Wang Jie with hope, and continued, "But you are different. I value young talents like you. You are full of passion and ambition, and you are the hope of the court. From now on, you should work hard and make progress, share the worries of the court, and share the burden of this chaotic world with me."

Wang Jie listened to the emperor's heartfelt words, and his heart was filled with lofty ambition. His eyes reddened slightly, and he fell to his knees with a plop. His voice was passionate and firm: "Your Majesty has placed such trust in me. I will repay your grace with my life! I will live up to your expectations and serve the court with all my heart and soul, until my death!"

The emperor nodded with satisfaction and raised his hand: "Get up, I trust you. If you encounter any difficulties in your future actions, you can always report to me."

Wang Jie knelt down again, expressed his gratitude sincerely, and then retreated cautiously.

After Wang Jie left, the emperor's face instantly became more exhausted, as if shrouded in a haze. He raised his hand to rub his temple, then waved weakly, signaling the eunuch beside him to withdraw. However, just as the eunuch turned around, the emperor suddenly said, "Wait a minute, bring me that magic medicine."

The eunuch did not dare to delay for a moment and hurriedly fetched a delicate little box. He took out a pill emitting a strange luster and handed it to the emperor. The emperor snatched it and swallowed it without hesitation.

A moment later, the emperor's previously dull eyes suddenly became sharp, an abnormal blush spread across his face, and he fell into a state of excitement. He stood up and paced back and forth in the room, the faces of Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Ma Chao, and Sun Ce constantly appearing in his mind, and the hatred in his heart surged like a raging tide.

The thought of Yuan Shao filled the emperor's eyes with rage. Yuan Shao controlled Jizhou and Qingzhou, boasting numerous troops and generals, and abundant food and fodder. He should have been the court's most reliable supporter, but Yuan Shao, driven by ambition, sought to emulate the traitors, establish his own territory, and establish himself as a king. While outwardly respecting the court, he secretly disobeyed the emperor's orders, recklessly expanding his power and constantly provoking conflicts with neighboring forces, causing great suffering to the people and further unrest in the empire.

Yuan Shu was even more absurd. Counting on his noble birth, he presumptuously attacked the Han royal family, committing acts of treason. He disregarded the lives of the people of his realm, imposing heavy taxes and levies, plundering their wealth and wealth, and causing the people to live in dire straits and unbearable suffering. His actions were not only a blatant challenge to the Han Dynasty's authority, but also pushed the people of the world into an endless abyss.

Consider Sun Ce, who, at a young age, seized control of Jiangdong and, relying on the military might at his disposal, acted recklessly. His actions in Jiangdong, while ostensibly purported to quell rebellion on behalf of the imperial court, were in reality driven by a desire to expand his own territory and cultivate his own power. He disregarded the court's authority, arbitrarily disposing of local officials, ignored imperial edicts, and colluded with Ma Chao, a move destined to bring chaos to the empire.

Ma Chao, the scoundrel from Xiliang, infuriated the emperor. Leveraging the valor of the Xiliang cavalry, he ran rampant across the northwest, leaving the common people unaware of the imperial court. He showed no reverence for the court and even openly threatened the emperor, only to grow more enraged.

"These traitors!" the emperor suddenly roared, and with a swipe of his hand, he swept all the study treasures and curiosities on the table to the ground with a clanging sound. The eunuchs were so frightened that their faces turned pale and their bodies trembled. They dared not even breathe, and could only stand frozen in place, watching the emperor's madness.

The emperor smashed things and muttered through gritted teeth, "All the noble families deserve to die! They're nothing but a bunch of greedy, selfish parasites, bringing chaos to this world. Humph, just wait, sooner or later I'll wipe you out!" As he spoke, his eyes became a little blurry, as if he had traveled through time and space and saw the face of the late Emperor Xiaoling. "Father, your spirit is watching from heaven. I will live up to your expectations and must eradicate all these noble family parasites and revive our Han Dynasty!"

As his emotions spiraled out of control, the emperor's rationality gradually faded. He suddenly shouted to the eunuchs, "Call the beauty!" His voice was filled with an irresistible majesty.

The eunuch didn't dare ask any more questions and hurried off to pass on the decree. A moment later, two beauties shuffled into the study. Before they could react, the emperor pounced on them like hungry wolves...

After all this tossing and turning, the emperor finally collapsed on his bed, exhausted, and fell into a deep sleep. The study was now a mess, with books and broken porcelain scattered all over the floor. The scene of debauchery in broad daylight intertwined with this chaotic environment seemed particularly absurd and tragic.

The next morning, at daybreak, the court was already brightly lit. The ministers, dressed in court robes, looked on with varying expressions as they waited for the emperor to arrive.

After the emperor sat on the dragon throne and his ministers finished paying their respects, the issue of Sun Ce's reward yesterday was put on the agenda.

Pan Jun stepped forward first, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Sun Ce's recovery of Wujun and other areas, while perhaps acting arbitrarily, has also contributed greatly to the stability of the court. In my opinion, he should be appointed General Zhendong, inheriting Sun Jian's title of Marquis of Wucheng. This would demonstrate the court's magnanimity and appease Sun Ce."

The emperor nodded slightly, glanced at the ministers, and slowly said: "Although what Minister Pan said makes sense, I have other considerations. I intend to appoint Sun Ce as the rear general, Marquis of Wu, and give him a fief of ten thousand households." As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar in the court, and everyone whispered to each other.

Pan Jun frowned and took another step forward, speaking anxiously, "Your Majesty, although Wu County and Wucheng County are both counties, the title of Marquis of Wucheng has a long history. Sun Jian was once granted the title, and Sun Ce inherited it, making it a legitimate title. Wu County is a large county, sharing the same name as Wu Commandery. It would be inappropriate to rashly confer the title of Marquis of Wu. Your Majesty, please reconsider. Furthermore, the position of Rear General is currently held by Yuan Shu. Wouldn't such a reward displease Yuan Shu? He is already ambitious and has many grievances against the court. This arrangement would likely anger him and cause trouble."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's expression stern, a hint of disdain in his eyes. He said in a deep voice, "Lord Pan, even if I had never done anything wrong to Yuan Shu before, would he be satisfied with the court? He prides himself on his noble family background and has long harbored rebellious intentions, attacking the Han royal family and openly opposing the court. I am well aware of his actions, so how could I shrink from his dissatisfaction? This time, I appointed Sun Ce as Rear General to show the world that the court rewards only for merit and loyalty, not for fear of threats from those with ulterior motives."

Just as Pan Jun was about to continue his defense, Wang Jie stepped forward and declared loudly, "Your Majesty is wise! Ennobling Sun Ce with the titles of Rear General and Marquis of Wu, along with a fief of 10,000 households, is truly a far-sighted move. Sun Ce's influence in Jiangdong is growing, and Wu County is a key location in Jiangdong. Ennobling him as Marquis of Wu will not only satisfy his desire for power, but also closely connect him to Wu County, facilitating future control by the court. Furthermore, granting him a fief of 10,000 households demonstrates Your Majesty's immense grace, allowing the world to witness Your Majesty's magnanimity and benevolence. This will appease Sun Ce while demonstrating the court's authority and control to the world—a truly two-pronged approach."

Wang Jie's words were clear and logical, and all the ministers nodded in agreement. Although Pan Jun was reluctant, he saw that Wang Jie's words were indeed reasonable and supported by many ministers, so he had to give up for the time being.

The emperor smiled slightly, very pleased with Wang Jie's support, and said, "Your Excellency Wang, you are absolutely right. This matter is settled."

The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his gaze calmly directed at Zhang Hong, Sun Ce's envoy, who knelt before him. He spoke slowly, "Once I have issued my imperial edict and this matter is settled, you may return. Tell Sun Ce, Marquis of Wu, that as long as he wholeheartedly serves the court and protects the people, I will generously reward him, and promotions and advancements will be a given."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Hong immediately knelt on the ground, his voice loud and full of gratitude: "Your Majesty's grace is great. I will convey your Majesty's will to my master word for word. My master has received your Majesty's love and this honor. I will devote myself to it and go through fire and water for the court without hesitation!" These words were high-sounding, and his words were full of loyalty and gratitude.

In reality, Zhang Hong was well aware that the emperor's seemingly generous reward was actually an acceptance of a strategy orchestrated by the Jiangdong aristocracy. The generous reward was intended to indulge Sun Ce, leading him to become complacent and relax his guard. This, in turn, was the unspoken understanding between the Jiangdong aristocracy and the emperor. In these turbulent times, various factions maneuvered, while the apparent harmony between the emperor and his subjects concealed their own calculations and schemes. Nevertheless, for the Jiangdong aristocracy, this was an opportunity to temporarily stabilize the situation and pursue further development. After the ceremony concluded, Zhang Hong, carrying the imperial edict, withdrew from the court, already contemplating how to explain the court proceedings to Sun Ce upon his return to Jiangdong, and how to navigate the complex situation that lay ahead.

Zhang Hong fully believed that, thanks to the Jiangdong family's schemes, he had already gained the upper hand in the power struggle by appearing before the emperor. He reasoned that by using the emperor's hand to eliminate Sun Ce, he would not only stabilize the Jiangdong family's position, but also gain a great reputation in the emperor's eyes, thereby giving the Jiangdong family greater influence in the court. But how could he have foreseen that the emperor would be easily manipulated?

The emperor sat in the imperial court, seemingly moved by the words of Zhang Hong and his companions, but in reality, he had a plan in mind. In the emperor's eyes, Sun Ce's growing power was indeed a serious concern, and the arrival of Zhang Hong and his companions merely provided him with an opportunity. Wasn't the emperor using them to eliminate Sun Ce? By leveraging the power of the Jiangdong aristocratic families as a vanguard, with the court furthering the situation, the emperor could achieve the goal of weakening Sun Ce without forcing the court into direct conflict with him and being branded as a persecutor of loyal officials.

But for the Jiangdong gentry, all this was just the beginning of their troubles. With Sun Ce eliminated, the Jiangdong families seemed to have gotten what they wanted, but how could the emperor tolerate the excessive power of local forces? With the threat of Sun Ce removed, the court would inevitably turn its attention to the Jiangdong families. At that time, it was unclear how the emperor would treat these gentry.