Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 5: My money!
"Awang, go and call them over." Liu Bian shouted to Gao Wang.

"promise."

Gao Wang immediately went in person to bring the person summoned by Liu Bian.

Not long after, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and Guo Sheng arrived at Yong'an Palace, still breathless, obviously having run all the way.

Liu Bian took a glance and nodded secretly in his heart.

Regardless of whether there was some acting involved, the surface work was indeed done well, and it was no wonder that his father, the emperor, favored them so much.

"This old servant pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." The three of them bowed and said.

Liu Bian didn't stand up, nor did he even reach out to help, he just kept his head down and ate.

"Please sit down first." Liu Bian wolfed down the soup noodles in his bowl. He had vomited profusely since returning from the Northern Army camp yesterday, and he hadn't eaten dinner either. He was already starving. "I killed someone with my own hands yesterday and saw blood. I had a nightmare last night, so I got up a little late. Wait until I finish my breakfast."

"Your Highness, please wait a minute. You are at the age of growing up and should eat more meat. I have some top-quality venison sent by my servants. If Your Highness doesn't mind, I would like to present it to you." Guo Sheng looked at Liu Bian wolfing down his food with a smile on his face.

Among the three, Guo Sheng is the leader in terms of closeness and trust.

The reason is simple: it’s just my fellow villagers!

Guo Sheng was from Nanyang County, and Empress He was also from Nanyang County. When Empress He entered the palace, she was chosen by Guo Sheng, who also created opportunities for her to be favored by Liu Hong.

Later, Empress He was able to ascend to the throne of empress, and He Jin was able to be promoted to the positions of Shizhong, Jiangzuo Dajian, and Henan Yin, all thanks to Guo Sheng's mediation and good words among Liu Hong and the Ten Eunuchs.

Even though Liu Bian was clearly not liked by Liu Hong, Guo Sheng did not change his attitude towards him. Naturally, his relationship with Liu Bian was closer, and he spoke without too much restraint. Instead, he became concerned about Liu Bian's health.

Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong looked at each other and then said.

"I also have a few Korean ginseng plants that were presented to you by your servants. I will send them to Your Highness later."

"I also have some herbs from the Western Regions that can strengthen the body."

The three of them smiled and presented their gifts respectively, feeling quite happy in their hearts.

As for the ways of the world, no matter in ancient times or today, the more casual people are, the more they are our own people, and the more serious people are, the more they are outsiders.

After all, they would only be so rude and unpretentious when they were treated as one of their own. If they, the domestic slaves, were not treated as family members by their masters, how could they be called domestic slaves?
Without the status of slaves of the royal family, what are they?
"Alright, alright, you guys." Liu Bian waved his chopsticks, but didn't refuse the gifts from the three. "Tell me about yesterday's results. Have you cleaned up everything?"

Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and Guo Sheng all showed a knowing smile. It seemed that only Liu Xie died in the palace coup yesterday, and Jian Shuo and more than ten of his confidants in the Northern Army were captured. In fact, when Liu Bian was asleep, an even bloodier palace coup took place, and as many as four or five hundred people were strangled to death with white silk.

Now, among the "Ten Attendants" who were wanted by the scholars, except Gao Wang, who was Liu Bian's confidant, only Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and Guo Sheng survived, and the rest had been captured by these three people.

No one, including adopted sons, adopted grandsons, or confidants, was spared and all were hanged to death.

This was Liu Bian's reward to them, and also their token of allegiance.

This nighttime coup was also one of the rewards Liu Bian promised to the three of them.

Although Liu Bian did not conspire with the three in the previous plan, the three of them indirectly cooperated with his actions.

The eunuchs were indeed loyal to the emperor, but that was based on the fact that they had no way out.

He Jin, the butcher from Nanyang who had crossed the river and then destroyed the bridge, was treacherous. There was a deep blood feud between the gentry and eunuchs, so they naturally had no choice but to be loyal to Emperor Liu Hong, otherwise they would die without a burial place.

But Liu Hong's health was so poor that even Empress He and Liu Bian were unaware of many details. But how could Zhang Rang and others, who lived with him day and night, not know how poor Liu Hong's health was? At Gao Wang's suggestion, the young Liu Bian became their new choice.

Gao Wang was Liu Bian's confidant, so Liu Bian would naturally not call for the killing of eunuchs.

His mother, Empress He, was also close to the eunuch group, including Empress He's mother, Wuyang Jun, and her half-brother He Miao.

Therefore, when Liu Bian chopped off Liu Xie's head with thundering force, Zhang Rang made a decision immediately.

In any case, Liu Bian is the only prince at present.

What's more, his adopted son Zhang Feng married into the He family and married Empress He's biological sister, who had the same father and mother. After all, they were related by blood, so what was there to hesitate about?

Therefore, Zhang Rang immediately suppressed the spread of the news of Liu Xie's death, and even boldly placed Queen Mother Dong under house arrest, thus buying more time for Liu Bian.

He bet that Liu Bian was not as ungrateful as He Jin. Moreover, as the steward of the entire palace and the leader of the eunuch group, Liu Bian had to rely on his help to fully control the Luoyang Palace.

As for Zhao Zhong, his position was Grand Chamberlain, responsible for conveying the empress's orders and managing affairs in the Changqiu Palace where the empress lived. He was the head of the empress's attendants and had a close relationship with Empress He. He helped the jealous Empress He deal with many women who tried to climb onto the dragon bed.

However, although Liu Bian was willing to accept the eunuch group, he did not want the existence of twelve eunuchs.

In this regard, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and Guo Sheng, who were responsible for communicating with Liu Bian, also raised objections. The reason why they remained standing was because their foundation was solid and the Ten Attendants were generally united. However, Liu Bian was only willing to accept three Zhong Chang Shi in addition to Gao Wang!
Since Liu Bian cannot be persuaded, what is there to hesitate about?
Could it be possible that they could fall out with Liu Bian?

I would rather die than let my friend die. After capturing the remaining seven eunuchs in a surprise attack, Zhang Rang and others immediately dealt with their followers in the palace.

This is also the result Liu Bian hopes to see.

Only one of the "Ten Attendants" understood best how to completely eradicate the power of another "Ten Attendants". He easily wiped out the power of the remaining several Attendants.

Of course, in return, the lives of Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and Guo Sheng who took action were saved, and half of their property could also be saved.

It sounds like Liu Bian's return was more like repaying kindness with enmity, but even so, Zhang Ran still had to be grateful to him.

From being in a state of certain death to being able to survive by handing over half of the family property and recalling the clan relatives and children, and continuing to serve as the eunuch, from twelve people in power to four people in power, what is there to be reluctant about?

Half of the family property!

To be honest, if he had known that Zhang Rang would agree so readily, he would have only allowed Zhang Rang to keep one third of the family property.

Even though it seems that half of the family property was a huge loss to Zhang Rang, the family property that Zhang Rang personally acknowledged was as much as 800 million yuan!

The total amount of property admitted by Zhao Zhong was about 680 million coins, Guo Sheng's was 620 million coins, and Gao Wang's was 490 million coins!

Even if they gave up half of their property, they could still live a comfortable life.

"Your Highness, last night we interrogated Sun Zhang, Li Song, Duan Gui, and others, and searched their homes and found account books. If we only count the coins, there should be 3.7 billion coins."

"The remaining private residences, land, gold, silver, jade, and other valuables will probably take some time to be fully accounted for."

Liu Bian took a deep breath. Now in front of him were two pieces of news, one good and one bad.

The good news is, he's rich!
3.7 billion coins, plus half of the property confiscated from Zhang Rang and his three companions, is about 5 billion coins!
The annual taxes collected by the court in August last year were only more than 5 billion coins!

It’s almost like collecting an extra year’s worth of taxes!
The bad news is that even this group of eunuchs who have accumulated wealth for twenty years could embezzle 5 billion yuan. How much have those nobles and aristocrats embezzled over several generations?
Lonely money!
This is all my money!

(End of this chapter)