Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 658: Zhengri Chaohui in the 4th year of Xingping
Time passed quietly, the third year of Xingping was spent in this dispute, and the fourth year of Xingping, 194 AD, arrived.
On the first day of the New Year's Day, the morning light in Chang'an City was dim. The entire imperial city was shrouded in golden light, appearing solemn and dignified, demonstrating the majesty and sacredness of the royal family everywhere.
Inside the Taiji Hall, red candles burned brightly, and incense curled into the air. Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Bian, clad in a magnificent dragon robe, sat atop a towering throne. The five-clawed golden dragon embroidered on his robe shimmered in the candlelight, seemingly poised to soar into the air at any moment. He wore a crown, and the jade beads dangling from it swayed gently with his movements, creating a crisp sound that added a touch of solemnity. Liu Bian's gaze was deep and resolute, a look that conveyed both the composure of weathered storms and a hope for the future. His gaze scanned the courtiers below, as if he could read each one's thoughts.
The melodious toll of the court bell echoed throughout the palace, its rich sound lingering. As the bell rang, civil and military officials, dressed in court robes, entered the hall in an orderly and orderly manner. Their steps were steady and their expressions respectful, as they lined up in order of rank. The entire court suddenly fell silent, with only the subtle sound of fluttering robes to be heard.
At the beginning of the court meeting, a messenger stepped forward quickly, holding the battle report high in both hands, knelt on one knee, and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, the battle report from the front line has arrived!" His voice broke the silence of the court, and everyone's eyes were focused on him.
The battle report begins with a discussion of the battlefield situation between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan. The two sides have been locked in a long standoff, with both sides winning and losing, and the battlefield situation remains stalemated. Gongsun Zan, with the support of Liu Bei and Lü Bu, has a slight advantage in both military strength and strategy, while Yuan Shao appears to be struggling. The battle continues with both sides trading blows and a stalemate, leaving the situation uncertain and unpredictable.
Meanwhile, the news from Yuan Shu was heartening. Zhou Yu's offensive in Jiujiang County was unstoppable. With his clever tactics, he led his army in relentless assaults on Yuan Shao's heartland. Victory reports poured in, detailing the glorious results of each battle. Yuan Shu's army was being beaten back, leaving the people of the heartland in a state of panic and restlessness. Ma Chao's battle against Zhang Xun in Runan was no less impressive. His valor and command were unparalleled, leaving Zhang Xun in disarray and in disarray. It was a pity that his relative Liu Yao performed poorly in the Battle of Yuzhang City, allowing Yuan Shu's forces to capture the city. Overall, however, the situation was trending in the Han's favor, and the balance of power seemed to be gradually tilting towards the Han.
Liu Bian listened quietly to the battle report, his expression expressionless, though a hint of relief lingered in his eyes. He raised his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the dome of the great hall, as if recalling the difficult years of the past. After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice deep and powerful, as if traversing a tunnel of time and space, carrying with it an endless stream of vicissitudes: "When I first ascended the throne, I encountered the Dong Zhuo Rebellion. At that time, the country was shattered and the state was in turmoil. I worried day and night, lost my appetite, and could not sleep. Now I am able to sit firmly in the court, and the situation is gradually stabilizing. This journey has been truly arduous." His words were filled with recollections of the difficult years of the past, and every word seemed to contain countless stories.
Civil and military officials stepped forward, kneeling in unison and chanting, "Your Majesty is wise! This is due to your benevolence. Under your rule, the Han Dynasty will surely experience a resurgence! Your Majesty is truly the ruler of a resurgence, bestowing grace upon the people and blessing upon the nation!" For a moment, the court erupted in a continuous stream of praise. The sound resounded throughout the hall, seemingly piercing the heavens, heralding to the world the imminent revival of the Han Dynasty.
Si Tu Wang Yun stepped forward, holding the tablet in both hands, and said respectfully: "Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have worked tirelessly and made plans. Every decision you make is carefully considered, and every plan is far-sighted. Now the situation is improving, which is truly due to Your Majesty's great fortune. This is God's favor to Your Majesty, and it is also a blessing for our Han Dynasty!" His words were full of admiration and praise for Liu Bian, and his eyes revealed loyalty and determination.
Taiwei Yang Biao also stepped out immediately, knelt down and said: "Your Majesty has the people of the world in his heart and is dedicated to revitalizing the Han Dynasty. He works day and night without any complaints. Although the wars have not been completely settled, there has been a turning point, all thanks to Your Majesty's wise decision. We are willing to sacrifice our lives to assist Your Majesty in achieving great things and reviving the glory of the Han Dynasty!" His voice was firm and powerful, expressing his loyalty to Liu Bian and his determination to serve the Han Dynasty.
Liu Bian nodded slightly, a look of relief in his eyes. He gazed at the civil and military officials in the court, a surge of lofty ambition welling up in his heart, as if he saw the dawn of the Han Dynasty's revival shining brightly ahead. On this New Year's Day, when everything was renewed, everything was filled with hope, and he would lead the Han Dynasty towards an even more glorious future.
All this, seemingly coincidental, was in fact the result of meticulous planning by Emperor Liu Bian. He sat serenely on the dragon throne, his expression calm, yet within him lay a turbulent undercurrent. The timely arrival of these reports wasn't accidental; it was deliberate. He wanted to demonstrate his strength to the old ministers in the court, brandishing this powerful fist to intimidate those who secretly colluded with the aristocratic families and formed secret alliances, sounding a stark warning.
Liu Bian narrowed his eyes slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping down like a cold ray, finally landing on Prime Minister Wang Yun. Wang Yun stood respectfully among the ministers, seemingly calm, but Liu Bian knew in his heart that this man was no ordinary person. He wondered what Wang Yun's purpose was in quietly returning to the court this time. After all, Wang Yun and Lü Bu were now closely aligned. On the surface, he was respectful to the emperor and obeyed his orders, but secretly he had ulterior motives. During the current campaign against Yuan Shao, Lü Bu had been slacking off and perfunctory on the battlefield, and Wang Yun's instigation must have been behind this. Now, just after the New Year, Wang Yun suddenly returned quietly, without being summoned. There must be something behind this, and he couldn't be without a plan.
Liu Bian knew full well that most of the former officials at court, both civil and military, held inextricable ties to the aristocratic families. Their intertwined influence and power were immense, and their mutual support formed an unstoppable force. These complex relationships, each one linked to the next, forced him to be constantly on guard. Furthermore, the brothers Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao were now openly defying the emperor, separatist factions, and waging rebellion, often with the support of these aristocratic families and former officials. Their willingness to betray the emperor and disrupt the government for the sake of their family's interests was truly despicable. Liu Bian clenched his fists, vowing to find a way to weaken these forces, restore the emperor's authority, and restore the Han dynasty to its proper course.
Emperor Liu Bian remained expressionless, secretly clenching his fists. The veins on the backs of his hands bulged slightly, and the force seemed to make the air crackle. A hint of madness gradually appeared in his eyes, like a long-suppressed beast about to bare its fangs.
He gazed down at the court officials from his high position, chuckling inwardly. These seemingly righteous officials, seemingly offering strategic advice for the Han dynasty, were in reality mostly idle, colluding with the aristocratic families for their own selfish ends. "Just wait," Liu Bian muttered to himself, "Once I have completely defeated Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, then it will be time to settle accounts with you." In his view, Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, with their own independent forces and separatist regimes, were traitors who openly challenged imperial authority and must be eliminated immediately.
Ma Chao, a brave general commanding a large force, was also a dangerous thorn in Liu Bian's side. Ma Chao's troops were valiant and skilled in battle, but if they were co-opted and exploited by treacherous court officials, they would pose a significant threat to imperial power. Liu Bian had long since decided that after the Yuan brothers were dealt with, Ma Chao would be his next target. By then, it would be unclear what further leverage these officials could use to stir up trouble.
"A bunch of selfish individuals, presumably seizing the imperial court and even attempting to oppose imperial power? Such wishful thinking!" Liu Bian's heart was filled with anger and disdain. He recalled his father, Emperor Xiaoling, who, despite his long reign, had never been able to completely suppress these forces, leading to chaos at court and unrest throughout the country. But Liu Bian firmly believed that he could accomplish what his father had failed. He wanted to restore imperial power, completely cleanse the Han court, and firmly wield all power in the hands of the Son of Heaven. At this moment, his eyes burned with burning ambition, as if he could already see the day when he would completely dominate the Han court, free from any constraints.
At the court meeting, the ministers' advice and the emperor's responses intertwined into a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere, with endless praises, as if the Han Dynasty had already embarked on a road to prosperity and everything was moving steadily in a good direction.
However, even before the court session concluded, a subtle flicker of impatience crossed the eyes of Emperor Liu Bian, seated on the dragon throne. Perhaps it was the fatigue from last night's revelry that washed over him; or perhaps it was the deep-seated weariness of the court's frivolous socializing that had ravaged him, for at this moment, he no longer had the patience to continue. Liu Bian raised his hand slightly, sending a subtle glance to the eunuch beside him. The eunuch understood, immediately raising his voice and accelerating the pace of the court proceedings. Under the eunuch's repeated urging, the once orderly court session became hastily rushed, with various matters hastily concluded, and soon, it was declared over.
The ministers rose and exited the hall in an orderly fashion. Minister of State, Wang Yun, was among the crowd. He glanced up seemingly casually, his gaze meeting Liu Xie's in mid-air. Liu Xie nodded slightly, as if receiving some silent instruction, his gaze tacitly understood. The two men deliberately slowed their pace, waiting until everyone had departed before, pretending to chat, they slowly approached and quietly began to discuss matters in a corner of the hall.
Wang Yun looked around cautiously. After confirming that no one was approaching, he leaned slightly closer to Liu Xie and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, look, the Emperor just ended the court meeting in such a hurry. I think he's probably in a hurry to take that magic medicine again."
Liu Xie's lips curled up, and he smiled secretly. A hint of mockery flashed in his eyes, and he responded softly, "Yes, Brother Wang. Last night I heard that he summoned three more women to serve him, and he didn't rest until the middle of the night. I guess the effect of the medicine has worn off by now, and he is exhausted."
Wang Yun frowned slightly, his face filled with worry. He leaned forward and stared intently at Liu Xie, "Your Highness, I see the Emperor taking that medicine more and more frequently." Liu Xie nodded gravely, "That's right. At first he took one pill a day, then two, and now he has to take at least three. How can his body handle this in the long run?"
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