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

Chapter 264 The Empress Dowager's Secret Edict
"...Only if things succeed can one achieve great merit! If things fail, one might even lose one's life!"

Dong Zhuo slapped Niu Fu on the head: "How can you be so clueless..."

"Yes, yes... But sir, it is precisely because the great cause has not yet been accomplished that the court must rely on you for the time being to discuss the reward."

Niu Fu covered his head and argued, "Lord Liu is holding the imperial edict to assist in governance, and this matter has already been discussed in the court. But you, sir, do not have such a guarantee... If we wait until it is accomplished, how will you compete for rewards?"

"Lord Liu may be a just and righteous hero, but the imperial court may not be so... If you do not seize this opportunity to gain the power to assist in governing, the people of Xizhou may not have a good future..."

This is actually the normal way of thinking for the military leaders. Most of the military leaders in Xizhou do not trust the imperial court. It is normal for the Han Dynasty to fail to reward those who have made meritorious contributions, and it is not surprising for those who have made meritorious contributions to be harmed. The military leaders have already developed this habitual way of thinking.

Dong Zhuo and Liu Bei had always cooperated well, and Niu Fu was actually willing to believe that Liu Bei was a fair person, but Liu Bei was Liu Bei, and the imperial court was the imperial court...

Once everything is settled, can the new court be trusted?
"I have not received the late emperor's edict, so how can I vie for the power to assist in governing?"

Dong Zhuo actually understood that Niu Fu was indeed thinking of himself and his troops, and what he said made sense.

Dong Zhuo was well aware of the character of the officials in the imperial court.

Of course, only Niu Fu dared to tell Dong Zhuo this. If it were anyone else, Dong Zhuo would definitely suspect that this was an attempt to sow discord.

"Dong Cheng has already acknowledged you as his elder brother. Why don't you go and see the Empress Dowager and ask her to personally compile the family genealogy so that you can acknowledge her as a member of the same clan in front of all the officials?"

Niu Fu suggested, "Lord Dong has no relatives left. The only one who can be considered a relative of the emperor is the Empress Dowager, and you, sir, are a relative of the crown prince. The crown prince is young, so it is only right that you assist in governing..."

"...Did you come up with this yourself, or did someone teach you?"

Dong Zhuo squinted at Niu Fu.

"This is what my wife said..."

Niu Fu nodded and said, "Sir, you can also ask my brother-in-law Huang, he also has the same idea."

Niu Fu's wife was, of course, Dong Zhuo's daughter, and the brother-in-law he mentioned was Dong Zhuo's nephew, Dong Huang, who was the son of Dong Zhuo's elder brother, Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo died young, and Dong Zhuo had no sons. He always took good care of Dong Huang, who served in Dong Zhuo's main army, leading his personal guard.

"It's true that our own people might have such thoughts," Dong Zhuo nodded, saying nothing more. He only instructed Niu Fu to quickly organize the troops, accept the surrendered soldiers, and take control of the city gates.

……

That night, Liu Bei and Dong Zhuo took over the various city gates separately.

Guan Yu was in charge of the north of the city, and Zhang Fei was in charge of the east.

Dong Zhuo's troops were responsible for the western and southern directions.

There were no major issues during the takeover of the city gates. By the time Liu Bei and Dong Zhuo's army arrived, the garrison at Gumen and Pingcheng Gates had already abandoned the city gates and left.

The other city gate commanders vacated their gate defense zones and led their troops to retreat outside the city.

There was no conflict, but no one surrendered voluntarily; it was like a normal rotation of guards.

By dawn, all the city gates were under control, and everything seemed to be going smoothly.

After taking control of the city gates, Liu Bei and Dong Zhuo returned to the palace together and summoned Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong, preparing to have the palace bells tolled in preparation for death.

Both the north and south palaces have bells and drums at their gates, with the funeral bells located on the gate towers.

After the palace gates' funeral bells sound, the bells at all the city gates will also ring.

During the emperor's funeral, bells would ring twelve times every hour for three days.

These three days are the mourning period, during which all officials in the capital will wear mourning clothes and weep for three days.

Plain clothes do not actually need to be prepared deliberately, because they refer to undyed hemp clothing, which are available in the palace and various government storehouses, and are usually also found in the homes of officials.

This is not a funeral procession; only officials need to participate. The common people and soldiers are not required to mourn.

These three days are for officials and generals from the surrounding areas of the capital to attend the funeral. Three days later, the crown prince will ascend the throne. After the new emperor takes the throne, he will handle the subsequent funeral arrangements, and only then will preparations be made for the funeral procession and burial.

"Xuande, His Majesty is holding a funeral; shouldn't we invite the Empress Dowager to preside over it?"

Dong Zhuo was unaware that Liu Bei had placed the Empress Dowager under house arrest, and he found it strange that she did not appear at the funeral.

"The Empress Dowager has just recovered from a serious illness and is in poor health. She is also grieving the loss of her son and is unable to attend to state affairs. Therefore, the funeral arrangements can only be handled by Magistrate Liu..."

Zhang Rang gave a suitable reason without hesitation.

Dong Zhuo turned to Liu Bei and said, "Xuande, this might not be appropriate..."

Of course it's inappropriate; Liu Bei was neither the Minister of the Imperial Clan nor the Grand Commandant.

Having Liu Bei preside over the funeral is like having the owner of a large company die, and instead of the family members showing up, a department manager with the same surname as the owner does. Even if this department manager is the top salesperson, it's still inappropriate...

"With foreign enemies still at large and Prince Bian captured, Cui Lie will handle the funeral arrangements. I need to work with Zhong Ying to stop the foreign enemies."

Liu Bei shook his head, indicating that he would not do this job, and changed the subject to military affairs.

"We can't close the city gates for a funeral. Luoyang has twelve gates, and we don't have enough troops to watch them all... Should we close a few gates?"

Dong Zhuo asked.

During the funeral procession, all military officers and officials from the surrounding area of ​​Luoyang must go to the capital to attend the funeral; the city gates must not be closed for personal celebration.

This is also the time for military generals and officials to take sides and make decisions.

But both Liu Bei and Dong Zhuo knew that Yuan Shao would most likely take the opportunity to cause trouble.

Liu Bei and Dong Zhuo's combined forces number only five thousand, and they also have the remaining troops of He Jin and He Miao to guard. Although they managed to incorporate a small portion of them overnight, those who were incorporated that very day are certainly not usable.

Luoyang is a large city. It needs to guard the palace and its surroundings, and also keep troops in control of the court. If troops are to be stationed at the twelve gates, then it is possible that no place can be defended.

"Do not close the gates... When the emperor passes away and the crown prince succeeds, the gates of Luoyang will be wide open and left unclosed for three days, and everything will be done according to the standard regulations."

Liu Bei shook his head and said.

This is indeed the standard procedure during times of peace, but it is clearly not a peaceful time now, as Yuan Shao's troops are right outside...

Dong Zhuo was somewhat puzzled: "Why? Xuande, this is too risky..."

"I want to see if Yuan Shao dares to attack Luoyang in these three days... These three days are the best opportunity for him."

Liu Bei said, “If he dares not, then all the generals will surely come to Luoyang to attend the funeral, and we will then gather all the troops around Luoyang. If he dares to come, then how many people would dare to collude with him? Even his own army will likely be in turmoil, which will be the perfect opportunity for you and me to defeat the enemy.”

Dong Zhuo nodded: "Is Xuande deliberately luring Yuan Shao here?"

"It's not just to lure Yuan Shao, but also to let the officials and generals make a decision sooner. If Yuan Shao really goes so far as to march his troops into Luoyang during the mourning period, such rebellious and immoral behavior will surely make all Yuan's followers feel ashamed, and the officials and those hesitant generals will not allow him to rebel... But if he doesn't come, the new emperor will ascend the throne in three days, and he can also call on the world to jointly punish the traitor."

Liu Bei explained, "We have few soldiers and cannot go out to attack Yuan Shao right now. We can only lure him to come on his own."

Dong Zhuo thought about it and felt that it was acceptable. Although it was somewhat risky, it was indeed better than going out to conquer.

The two reached a consensus and then went their separate ways to prepare for the battle.

When Dong Zhuo returned to the military camp, he found Dong Cheng already waiting outside.

"General, the Empress Dowager only wants to hold a funeral for His Majesty, but Lord Liu forbids her from leaving the palace..."

Dong Cheng took off his plain linen robe: "The Empress Dowager sent me with a secret edict to the General."

The hemp clothing had a lining.

Dong Zhuo's chubby face was wrinkled with a row of creases.

(End of this chapter)