Liu Bian at the start, so you're called Dong Zhuo, right?

At this moment, Liu Bian softened his tone and lowered his voice slightly:

"Father, I dare not presume to make a decision about whether Attendant Zhao will act on his own."

"But the responsibility for joint management lies with him. The vouchers and forged signatures outside the accounts all leaked from the joint management office—"

"If this matter is not punished, the people of the world will only think that the Tianshang Association is a front and the imperial court is a joke."

Emperor Ling of Han's chest heaved, and anger surged in his eyes.

He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, his voice extremely low:

"Zhao Zhong".

Zhao Zhong looked up, his eyes red-rimmed: "Your subject is here..."

Emperor Ling of Han spoke slowly and deliberately:

"From this day forward, you are completely severed from the Heavenly Chamber of Commerce."

"The joint management of this position is hereby abolished."

"A year's salary will be deducted."

"Furthermore—all the clerks and accountants in your household shall be transferred and handed over to the Commandant of the Capital Region for investigation for three months."

Wang Ming and Zhou Wen's expressions softened, after all, the punishment was quite severe.

Abolishing the joint management, fining salaries, and investigating government officials are tantamount to slapping them in the face in public.

Liu Bian, however, knew that this was of no consequence to Zhao Zhong.

A salary deduction? He has plenty of underhanded ways to deal with it.

Abolish joint control? That would actually remove one of the chains that had been firmly attached to him.

Emperor Ling of Han appeared furious, but in reality, he left room for maneuver—he gave a warning without overturning the table.

Liu Bian paused for a moment, then spoke:

"Father is wise."

"However, I believe that this matter involves the joint management of the Jizhou patrol inspector's official documents, road seals, inspection of prohibited items, and reporting of postal routes."

"We still need Attendant Zhao to take on this role."

"Your subject cannot bear the guilt of taking advantage of the situation to seize military power."

Zhao Zhong's face twitched.

Emperor Ling of Han glanced at Liu Bian indifferently: "Granted."

"Zhao Zhong, if anything goes wrong in this matter, you will be held responsible!"

Zhao Zhong gritted his teeth, his forehead pressed to the ground, his voice sounding as if squeezed out from between his teeth:

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your mercy."

Emperor Ling of Han coldly said:

"Get out of here."

Zhao Zhong bowed again and withdrew, his face already covered in frost when he turned around.

He knew he had lost by half a step today.

What he hated even more was that he thought he had worked hard all year, but unexpectedly, the crown prince had turned the tables on him.

-

After Zhao Zhong withdrew, the hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhang Rang whispered:

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The matter in Ji Province has already been addressed by imperial decree ordering General Huangfu to inspect it; it should be settled then..."

Emperor Ling of Han raised his hand to stop him, his gaze falling on Liu Bian as if he were re-examining his son.

"Go."

"If Huangfu Song can save Cao Cao, I will reward him."

"You...stop stirring up trouble in the Eastern Palace."

Liu Bian kowtowed: "Your subject will remember."

Once outside the hall, Wang Ming couldn't contain his breath and whispered:

"Your Highness, Zhao Zhong this time—"

Liu Bian continued walking, only saying calmly:

"A year's salary deduction and the removal of joint management are ostensibly severe penalties."

"It doesn't bother him at all."

Zhou Wen was stunned. If he had been punished like this, he would have lost half his life long ago.

Liu Bian glanced back at the door of Zhangde Hall:

"Don't rush, there's another cut."

When Liu Bian returned to Chengde Hall, it was already past noon.

Everything inside Chengde Hall was as usual, as if nothing had happened.

Liu Bian waved his hand: "Go, invite Attendant Guo."

Wang Ming was stunned. Was this a move to take action against Guo Changshi?

"Guo Sheng?"

"Yes," Liu Bian said calmly, "just say that I invited him for tea."

Wang Ming dared not ask any further questions: "Yes."

-

Shortly after, a message was sent from outside the palace.

"The Grand Eunuch Guo Sheng has arrived—"

As the voice faded, Guo Sheng entered the hall.

He walked more slowly than usual today, still with a smile on his face, but that smile held a hint of caution.

"Your subject Guo Sheng greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Liu Bian stood up and personally helped Guo Sheng up, his tone much softer than when they were in the Zhangde Hall:

"There's no need for such politeness, Master Guo."

Upon hearing this, Guo Sheng became even more nervous.

The more polite the crown prince is, the less polite he will be about what he discusses later.

His body tensed slightly, and he whispered:

"Your Highness is too kind to me. I... just heard some rumors that Attendant Zhao was severely punished in Zhangde Hall today."

At this point, he glanced cautiously at Liu Bian:

"Your Highness, what do you want me to do by summoning me now?"

Liu Bian did not rush to answer:

"Lord Guo, you have always been on good terms with the Crown Prince."

"But I know that ever since you brought Cao Song here two years ago, you've been observing the situation."

"Now, your chance has come."

Guo Sheng swallowed hard.

He knew, of course, that he was outwardly close to the Crown Prince, but he also knew even more clearly—

Among the Ten Attendants, only Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong were truly able to maintain control of the situation.

Someone like me, "close to the Crown Prince," could be crushed by both sides if I took the wrong step.

He had to be more careful than others.

Guo Sheng said in a low voice:

"Please speak frankly, Your Highness."

Liu Bian stopped beating around the bush:

"His Majesty's reprimand of Zhao Zhong was for everyone to see."

"But after the reprimand, someone must be put in place—otherwise, with Zhang Rang holding too much power in the Zhangde Hall, His Majesty would not be willing."

Guo Sheng's heart suddenly beat a beat faster.

Fill in the gap?

These two words are like a piece of meat placed in front of a hungry wolf.

He suppressed his joy and pretended not to understand.

"Your Highness means..."

Liu Bian seemed oblivious to the joy in Guo Sheng's eyes:

"I want you to fill Zhao Zhong's position."

Guo Sheng's finger trembled:

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is of little experience; how can you compare to Attendant Zhao..."

Liu Bian laughed:

"Master Guo, stop pretending."

"The reason you've survived this long is because you know when to pretend and when to take."

Guo Sheng remained silent for a few moments, then finally asked in a low voice:

"How does Your Highness wish me to replenish my strength?"

Liu Bian began:

"Zhao Zhong's punishment today may seem shameful, but it actually loosened the reins."

"He'll be more comfortable elsewhere after leaving the Heavenly Merchant Guild."

He changed the subject:

"Do you know that I have allowed him to continue to jointly manage the issuance of official documents, sealing of road signs, inspection of prohibited items, and reporting of matters related to the post roads in Jizhou?"

Guo Sheng dared not conceal the truth: "I know about this matter."

"What Zhao Zhong fears most is never being fined," Liu Bian said in a low voice. "What he fears most is being written into the case file."

"And in this case—his fingerprints are essential."

Liu Bian glanced at Wang Ming, who understood immediately and bowed before retreating.

Inside Chengde Hall, only Guo Sheng and Liu Bian remained.

No one knows what they were talking about.

-

Three days later.

"Zhou Yi, Magistrate of Luoyang—Urgent report!"

The morning court session was still in session in the hall. Emperor Ling of Han was still on his throne, Zhang Rang was standing by his side, and Zhao Zhong stood slightly behind him, with his hands in his sleeves and his eyes downcast, like an inconspicuous shadow.

Zhou Yi entered the hall, his face pale. He first kowtowed, then held a stack of documents above his head.

"Your subject Zhou Yi pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, I have an urgent matter to report—"

Emperor Ling of Han raised his eyelids:

"explain."

Zhou Yi's voice was tense, but not a single word was out of place:

"I was ordered to assist in the inspection of the post roads and the sealing of road signs in Jizhou. Recently, I discovered a caravan of goods leaving the city at the pass south of the city."

"The caravan has the Tian Shang Hui road permit, all the necessary documents, seals, and signatures... all are complete."

He paused, looked up at the several eunuchs in front of the emperor, and seemed to grit his teeth as he spoke:

"Ke Chen personally inspected the sealed box and discovered that it contained prohibited items such as sulfur from Jizhou, saltpeter, oilcloth, and talisman paper."

Emperor Ling's eyes instantly sharpened.

Sulfur, saltpeter, and tarpaulin—everyone knows what these three things are when put together.

"Tian Shang Guild?"

Zhou Yi kowtowed even more deeply:

"Yes."

Emperor Ling of Han slammed his fist on the table and roared:

"Summon Cao Song, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, to me."