Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 247 Shocking Change
"Why do you say that, Lord Liu? This humble general is merely reminding you that Luoyang is just ahead, and foreign troops are not allowed to enter..."

Wu Kuang did not confront Liu Bei directly, but he still stood in front of him.

"I am the head of the Langjiang (a military officer) under the Guanglu Xun (a high-ranking official in the imperial court). When did I become an outsider?"

Liu Bei's face darkened: "Wu Sima, who gave you the audacity to obstruct a general holding the imperial insignia? Get out of the way! Otherwise, I won't be so polite!"

After saying this, he waved his hand, causing Zhao Yun to raise his imperial banner.

Zhang Fei led his troops straight forward, pressing towards Wu Kuang.

Wu Kuang gritted his teeth, but ultimately didn't dare to make a move. He slowly retreated to the side, but still threatened, "It seems that Prefect Liu doesn't take the General of Chariots and Cavalry seriously..."

"Ha, you led your troops out without permission... Do you dare let the General of Chariots and Cavalry find out?"

Liu Bei rode past Wu Kuang on horseback and retorted sarcastically.

Wu Kuang shut his mouth in frustration, watching helplessly as Liu Bei headed towards Luoyang.

"Order us to proceed immediately and set up camp outside the East Gate of Luoyang tonight!"

After passing Yanshi, Liu Bei immediately ordered a forced march.

Wu Kuang must have been sent by He Jin, and had nothing to do with He Miao.

Since He Jin sent He Miao's military commander to block Yanshi, it means that something bad is likely going to happen in Luoyang, otherwise there would be no need for him to stop him.

……

Meanwhile, west of Luoyang City, in Gucheng.

Dong Zhuo met Zhang Rang.

"...I have been ordered to come and ask the former general, why have you been stationed here for so long since you received the imperial edict to suppress the rebels?"

Zhang Rang appears to be speaking on behalf of the emperor.

"I have received two imperial edicts, one ordering the suppression of the bandits in Luoyang, and the other ordering the suppression of the rebellion in Guanzhong. I do not know which to do, and can only wait for His Majesty to give the order in person..."

Dong Zhuo answered fluently.

He knew that Zhang Rang was definitely not representing the emperor.

"Nonsense! What bandits are there to be punished in Luoyang? General, His Majesty orders you to go to Guanzhong immediately. Do not let the rebels disturb Xiling again, and above all, do not lose Chang'an!"

Zhang Rang was not as amiable when facing foreign officials as he was when he was in the palace.

"...The troops I command are all from the Huangzhong Righteous Army and Qin Hu soldiers, most of whom share the same origin as the Liangzhou rebels. If I lead the army to quell the rebellion, I fear my subordinates will immediately join the Qiang and Di in rebellion... Zhang Changshi, His Majesty is so wise, how could he issue such an unwise order? Where is His Majesty's edict? Why don't you show it to me?"

Dong Zhuo said it very directly.

This is the truth.

Last time in Liangzhou, Dong Zhuo selected many elite troops from the surrendered rebel soldiers. They were all Qiang and Di people from Huangzhong, and most of them were related to the current rebels in Xiliang.

These elite troops have now become the backbone of Dong Zhuo's army. Taking them to quell the rebellious Qiang and Di tribes would be nothing more than sending elite troops to the rebels.

"...I've heard that the former general is related to the Empress Dowager...Now that the position of Junior Chamberlain of Yongle is vacant, would the general be willing to take up the post?"

Zhang Rang clearly couldn't produce an imperial edict, so after a moment's hesitation, he changed his approach.

“I am a man from the border region of Liangzhou, and I know I am unworthy to enter the ranks of the Nine Ministers… Moreover, I have led troops for a long time, and my soldiers only recognize me and do not recognize anyone else, nor can they understand the official language… If I abandon the army and enter the court, I fear they will misunderstand, and there may be immediate chaos…”

Dong Zhuo glanced at Zhang Rang and shook his head again.

"...Dong Zhuo, what exactly do you intend to do?!"

Zhang Rang was furious and stopped beating around the bush.

"I am a general of the Emperor... Only the Emperor can inquire about what I do. What are you, a mere eunuch, to dare to inquire about matters of state and military affairs?!"

Seeing Zhang Rang's impoliteness, Dong Zhuo's temper was even worse than Zhang Rang's.

Zhang Rang gritted his teeth: "Dong Zhuo! How dare you! We'll see!"

After saying that, he turned away.

After Zhang Rang left, Dong Min emerged from behind a curtain in Dong Zhuo's camp.

"Do you know how much longer the Emperor has to live?" Dong Zhuo turned to ask Dong Min.

Dong Min shook his head: "The emperor intends to make his youngest son the heir apparent. After mentioning this matter, he fell seriously ill the next day... The emperor's lifespan probably depends on the wishes of the empress and Zhang Rang and his son."

"Husband and wife, brothers-in-law... The Emperor treated the He and Zhang families so well, yet they still dared to harm them..."

Dong Zhuo sighed: "The butcher's wife is heartless... the eunuch should be executed!"

……

"The eunuchs should be executed!"

At the same time, He Jin gritted his teeth and said, "That Jian Shuo is stubborn and insists on opposing me! Zhao Zhong is also obstructing me, saying that the emperor has issued an edict ordering me to send troops to Guanzhong to quell Han Sui's rebellion... Since Dong Zhuo and Liu Bei have already been dispatched, why would an edict be issued to summon me?"

"This must be a forged edict, no need to pay attention to it. The general can order Ding Yuan to pretend that the Black Mountain bandits are causing trouble in Hanoi County. Under the pretext of the Black Mountain resurgence, he can request to send troops to quell the rebellion in Hanoi. After the troops return, we can then attack Han Sui in the west."

Yuan Shao advised, "We should not provoke Dong Zhuo now. Dong Zhuo has his own uncle to advise him. General, you only need to gather the army and guard the palace."

"What about Liu Bei? Liu Bei will surely lead his army into Luoyang... He respects his teacher and often quotes his teacher's words. Now that his teacher is Dong Zhuo's teacher, Liu Bei will surely collude with Jian Shuo to support Dong Zhuo!"

He Jin still appeared very anxious.

"Liu Bei came from Qingzhou, and the journey was long and difficult, so he couldn't have arrived so quickly."

Yuan Shao shook his head and said, "Even if Liu Bei arrives, the General of Chariots and Cavalry will stop him..."

Why would Zhu Miao stop him?

He Jin was somewhat puzzled.

Zhu Miao is He Miao. He Miao's mother's first husband's surname was Zhu. After her husband died, she remarried He Zhen and later had sisters with He Zhen, including Empress He.

Zhu Miao changed his surname to He after his stepfather He Zhen, but He Jin clearly did not want to acknowledge this adopted younger brother.

"The General of Chariots and Cavalry will forge a life-or-death enmity with Liu Bei today... Rest assured, General."

Yuan Shao said in a low voice.

That afternoon, shortly after Yuan Shao left the General's Mansion, a commotion broke out outside the North Palace of Luoyang.

……

Yue Yin entered the palace to teach Prince Liu Xie, and Liu Xie escorted Yue Yin to the gate of the North Palace.

At this time, the soldiers of the Northern Commandant of Luoyang were patrolling the streets because a curfew was about to begin.

When the prince saw Yue Yin off at the door, the soldiers naturally stepped forward to pay their respects.

But at that moment, a sudden change occurred.

The soldiers of the Northern Commandant actually attacked Liu Xie at the palace gate!

Bows and crossbows were not allowed outside the palace gates, so the attackers used hand halberds.

Seeing the two flying halberds aimed directly at Liu Xie, Yue Yin didn't hesitate and pulled Liu Xie into his arms.

As a result, both halberds ended up stuck in Yue Yin's back.

The palace guards quickly rushed Yue Yin and Liu Xie into the palace and immediately arrested the murderer.

But the murderer committed suicide on the spot.

The Luoyang Six Ministries Commandant was under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Henan, who was also a member of the He Miao clan.

Moreover, the murderer was indeed a patrolman from the Northern Commandery, not some imposter.

The case started suddenly, but the outcome was clear: He Miao's Northern Lieutenant soldiers attacked the prince, which implicated the Grand Counselor Yue Yin.

At this time, He Miao was still in the Henan Yin office. Upon hearing this, he immediately rushed to the palace to try to see the Empress. However, Jian Shuo and He Jin both led troops to arrest He Miao and bring him to justice.

He Miao led his men out of the city and headed towards the Xiaopingjin military camp.

Upon hearing of Yue Yin's sudden accident, Jia Xu immediately led the guards left behind by Qian Zhao to the palace gates. However, the palace gates were already closed, and Yue Yin was left inside the palace for treatment.

That very night, just two hours later, Liu Bei's troops arrived outside the East Gate of Luoyang.

(End of this chapter)