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

Chapter 265 Everyone has their own agenda
As the first rays of sunlight shone on the palaces of the Northern Palace, the death knell of Luoyang tolled loudly.

The sound of the bell carried for more than ten miles, and all the post stations in Luoyang responded to the sound, sending messages by horse to various counties in the capital region.

Officials from both inside and outside the city rushed toward Deyang Palace.

No one would neglect the funeral arrangements, including disgraced officials who had been demoted to commoners by Liu Hong. After all, a new emperor meant a new court, and the new emperor's ascension to the throne was the best opportunity for reinstatement.

Of course, those who dared to come to Luoyang at this time were all quite bold.

Cui Lie presided over the funeral, with Yang Biao as his deputy.

"...The fire in the imperial prison must have been done by Yuan Wei...Yuan Ji and Empress He are suspected of having an affair, and the origins of Marquis Shi are questionable...His Majesty's death was due to Yuan Shao's rebellion yesterday, and Yuan Shao also kidnapped Marquis Shi..."

Cui Lie was greeting officials outside the palace, and occasionally he would chat privately with officials he was on good terms with about some secrets.

Although it was just a rumor, the fact that it came from people like Cui Lie and Yang Biao meant it wasn't a rumor at all.

After all, Cui Lie is now a senior official who presides over funerals.

Cui Lie knew, of course, that such gossip would completely destroy the reputation that the Yuan family had built up over generations, but he was determined to do it anyway.

Yuan Wei and Yuan Ji were both convicted and imprisoned by Cui Lie, who also affixed the seal of the Minister of Works to the imperial edict. If the Yuan family was not completely suppressed, Cui Lie would be the first to suffer retribution.

The Yuan family members were all detained by Cui Lie immediately.

The Imperial Guards also split up and left Luoyang from various directions, wearing hempen clothes and spreading the obituary and arrest warrants customized by Cui Lie.

Not only did the emperor die from Yuan Shao's rebellion, but the empress was also said to have been set on fire by Yuan Wei and died in prison.

The arrest warrant was naturally also aimed at Yuan Shao's family.

The deaths of He Jin and He Miao were described as follows: 'He Miao, unwilling to rebel, sacrificed his own family for the greater good, leading his soldiers to kill He Jin, and was subsequently killed by He Jin's subordinates in the chaos of battle.'

Jia Xu was discussing with Liu Bei in the North Palace: "Now that He Jin and He Miao are both dead, and Dong Zhuo is recruiting his remaining forces, shouldn't you, my lord, recruit more men?"

"We can't use the recruits today... Let's recall the Netherworld Soldiers first."

Liu Bei turned to Jia Xu: "Isn't Dong Zhuo the only one recruiting the remnants of He Jin and He Miao's forces?"

Jia Xu immediately understood Liu Bei's meaning: "I will immediately send the underworld soldiers to infiltrate He Jin and He Miao's remaining forces..."

……

Mengjin.

Zhang Yang was inviting Ding Yuan to join him in a major plot when he received a public announcement from the Court of Justice.

"Did the Yuan family really do these things? Such treason... How can I possibly help Yuan Benchu?!"

Ding Yuan shook his head at Zhang Yang: "If I were to assist Yuan Shao now, I fear I would be condemned for a thousand years. If you wish to go, then go. I must attend His Majesty's funeral..."

“Brother Jianyang, this is all a lie… His Majesty had already passed away before General Yuan’s army entered Luoyang, and that edict was also fake… Cui Lie and the others must be afraid of Liu Bei, so they spread this news to frame General Yuan.”

Zhang Yang defended himself, saying, "General Yuan was ordered by the Grand General to protect Lord Shi. He only took Lord Shi out of Luoyang because he discovered something was wrong... As long as we can break Liu Bei and Dong Zhuo's control of the court, these lies will be cleared up."

"Uncle Zhi, we are sworn brothers, I will not doubt you."

Ding Yuan shook his head and said, "But whether it's a lie or not is not important, and who is telling the truth and who is lying is not important... What's important is who the officials believe? Since the court has already made it public, Yuan Shao has no way to defend himself! I advise you to stop following the Yuan family... Although the Yuan family has held high office for four generations, from this day forward, they are traitors to the country!"

"I've killed Jian Shuo and taken Shi Hou away; I have no way out... Brother Jianyang, are you really not going to help me?"

Zhang Yang was very straightforward with Ding Yuan. The two of them fought together against the Hu people in places like Yunzhong and Yanmen for many years. They were truly sworn brothers and fellow townsmen.

"Uncle Zhi, I still have to advise you, why not kill Yuan Shao and return Marquis Shi to Luoyang? Perhaps there's still a chance to salvage the situation..."

Ding Yuan still wanted to persuade Zhang Yang to change his mind.

“Brother Jianyang, Yuan Benchu ​​and I are already engaged... there’s no going back.”

Zhang Yang shook his head: "My daughter has already been betrothed to Yuan Benchu's eldest son, Tan."

"Then let's each go our own way..."

Ding Yuan sighed and called Lü Bu over: "Fengxian, escort Zhishu out of the camp."

Zhang Yang had no choice but to follow Lü Bu out of Ding Yuan's camp.

After being escorted to Mengjin, Lü Bu was about to return to his camp when Zhang Yang stopped him: "Fengxian, I am now going to follow Marquis Shi, and I fear that I will not be able to return to Bingzhou in the future, and may even become enemies with my old friends. I am reluctant to part with you, Fengxian, why don't you accompany me a few more steps and stay with me for a while longer?"

Lu Bu and Zhang Yang had been colleagues for many years and had a close relationship, so he escorted Zhang Yang towards Xiaopingjin.

"Bu Shi does not wish to face his brother on the battlefield. What should we do if that day ever comes?" Lü Bu sighed as he walked.

"Then why don't you come with me to serve Lord Shi?"

Zhang Yang glanced at Lü Bu: "You and I get along very well, and I do not wish to be enemies with Fengxian... Shi Hou is His Majesty's eldest son and should rightfully inherit the throne. Fengxian is the best warrior in the land, and General Yuan is highly regarded by scholars throughout the country. If Fengxian and General Yuan join forces to assist Shi Hou, they can easily sweep across the land..."

Zhang Yang was very eloquent, and he kept saying that he would assist Shi Hou, not Yuan Shao.

Lu Bu hesitated for a moment: "Lord Ding has treated me well..."

"After all, Prefect Ding is only a governor. No matter how close we are, he can only hold a minor post like Chief Clerk. Doesn't Fengxian want to advance further?"

Zhang Yang advised, "I consider myself mediocre, but I still commanded two thousand soldiers under Lord Shi. Fengxian's talent surpasses mine tenfold. If we can accomplish great things, it would be natural for him to become a general. How can we be confined to a small corner of the land?"

Lü Bu remained silent.

"Fengxian, why don't you meet with Lord Shi and General Yuan first? You'll need to meet them to make a decision."

Seeing that Lü Bu seemed somewhat interested, Zhang Yang made another suggestion.

"...Very well, then let's send Uncle Zhi back to camp."

Lu Bu looked back in the direction of Mengjin. Since he had already escorted her this far, it wouldn't hurt to go a few more steps.

Upon arriving at Yuan Shao's camp, Zhang Yang introduced Lü Bu to Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao bowed respectfully and said, "I admire heroes most in my life. I have long heard of Fengxian's name. It is my great fortune to meet you today!"

Having said that, Yuan Shao looked Lü Bu up and down. Seeing that Lü Bu's armor was worn out, Yuan Shao shook his head and said, "Fengxian is a champion general. How can his armor be so tattered? A hero should be adorned with a sharp weapon. Men, bring me my silver armor and give it to Fengxian!"

Lu Bu was taken aback for a moment, then quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "General, you are too kind to me, I dare not accept such treatment..."

However, despite his reluctance, Lü Bu did not refuse when the silver armor was presented.

Yuan Shao's armor was a set of shiny armor, with the plates being the original metallic color of steel plates, coated with varnish to prevent rust, making it look shiny.

The inner leather lining is also extremely luxurious, with silver trim, and the tiger-shaped guards on both shoulders are also bright silver.

The helmet had a long white tassel, which was made of sable tail.

This is the magnificent style often worn by the Imperial Guards in the capital, but most of those rich kids with connections wear armor made of bamboo and wood, which is just for show, while Yuan Shao's set is a real scale armor.

This armor is both beautiful and practical, and its value cannot be measured in money. The only problem is that it is too shiny and easily attracts fire.

But this wasn't a problem for Lü Bu... Lü Bu couldn't be more conspicuous.

Yuan Shao was incredibly generous, and even Lü Bu felt a little bad accepting such a valuable gift for nothing, but he really couldn't bear to refuse it...

Seeing Lü Bu's reaction, Yuan Shao simply had another long halberd brought over.

This was also Yuan Shao's own equipment, a cross-shaped halberd, also silver and ornate, and it looked like a matching set with his armor.

Lu Bu was grinning from ear to ear, clutching the halberd with obvious delight.

"Fengxian, if you and I can join forces, what great things can't we accomplish?"

Yuan Shao then pulled Lü Bu aside and pointed to the cavalry outside the camp: "These cavalry should be led by a hero like Fengxian!"

……

At noon, Dong Zhuo changed into a hempen robe in the camp and prepared to follow Dong Cheng to the side gate of the North Palace.

But while changing clothes in the camp, he suddenly saw an acquaintance.

Dong Zhuo thought he was seeing things and rubbed his eyes hard before he was sure that it was Yuan Wei, the man who had supported him back then.

Yuan Wei was clearly a man of flexibility and extreme caution. Before meeting Dong Zhuo, he did not reveal his identity at all, and at this moment he looked like an elderly servant.

"Lord Yuan... what brings you here?"

Dong Zhuo looked around and quickly closed the tent flap.

"I've come to beg Zhongying for a chance..."

Yuan Wei looked around to make sure no one was watching before speaking in a low voice: "Zhongying, would you like to become the Duke who assists the state?"

(End of this chapter)