My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

Chang'an, the temporary Prime Minister's residence.

The main hall was brightly lit with candles late at night, but it couldn't dispel the heavy chill in the air.

Dong Zhuo sat slumped on a tiger-skin chair, his face ashen, toying with a jade thumb ring in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Your Highness, Yuwen Chengdu knelt on one knee, his long hair falling loosely over his shoulder. The wound bandaged under his shoulder armor had reopened due to the kneeling, and blood seeped out of the gauze, spreading dark red on his golden armor.

"My son... is incompetent." Yuwen Chengdu's voice was low and filled with an unprecedented sense of defeat.

"We failed to protect the Emperor's carriage and instead allowed Ji Xuanyuan to abduct His Majesty. We beg Father to punish us."

He bowed his head deeply, his disheveled hair obscuring his always proud, deep eyes.

The hall was deathly silent.

Li Ru, Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, Zhang Ji, and other civil and military officials stood on both sides, but no one dared to speak.

Everyone knows how devastating it was for Dong Zhuo that the emperor was kidnapped.

Having lost the righteous pretext of "holding the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords," Dong Zhongying truly became a traitor to the nation, condemned by all.

Dong Zhuo stared at his adopted son kneeling on the ground, his expression complex.

anger?

Of course.

He went to great lengths to move the emperor from Luoyang, even burning down palaces and forcing the people to surrender, thus earning eternal infamy.

Now everything is in vain, the emperor was actually kidnapped by that sickly Ji Xuanyuan!

But when he saw the blood seeping from Yuwen Chengdu's shoulder, saw the phoenix-winged gilded halberd he never parted with lying to the side, and saw this child, who had always been as proud as a god, now kneeling dejectedly...

The fire of anger in Dong Zhuo's chest ultimately failed to ignite.

He slowly rose, walked down the steps, and personally helped Yuwen Chengdu up: "My son, get up quickly, this matter... is not your fault."

His voice was unusually gentle.

Yuwen Chengdu looked up, a look of astonishment flashing in his eyes: "Father..."

"Ji Xuanyuan has many fierce generals under his command, including figures like Xiang Yu and Li Cunxiao." Dong Zhuo patted him on the shoulder.

"You fought Xiang Yu alone and fought Li Cunxiao with all your might. You have done your best. As your father... I don't blame you."

These words were spoken with such sincerity that they startled both the civil and military officials in the hall.

A glint flashed in Li Ru's eyes, and he sighed inwardly: The Prime Minister truly dotes on this adopted son to the extreme. If it were anyone else, they would have been dragged out and beheaded long ago if the Emperor had been lost.

Yuwen Chengdu's eyes reddened slightly as he knelt down again: "Thank you, Father, for your mercy!"

"Go and rest," Dong Zhuo waved his hand.

"Take good care of yourself and recover; there's plenty of time in the future."

"Yes." Yuwen Chengdu stood up, picked up the Phoenix Wing Halberd, and staggered back.

The wounds left by that battle were far more severe than they appeared.

As soon as his figure disappeared, the gentleness on Dong Zhuo's face vanished, replaced by a cold and sinister look.

He sat back in his tiger-skin chair, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping over the assembled officials in the hall: "The emperor has been abducted, and the reputation of the Xiliang army has been tarnished. This matter... requires an explanation."

The sound wasn't loud, but it sent chills down everyone's spine.

Li Ru understood, stepped forward, bowed and said, "Prime Minister, although the young master is brave, Ji Xuanyuan has repeatedly seen through our ambush, and his actions are as clear as reading the lines on the palm of your hand. I believe... this is not a coincidence."

"Oh?" Dong Zhuo narrowed his eyes.

What does "文优" mean?

Li Ru slowly uttered five words: "There is a traitor within our army."

The atmosphere inside the hall suddenly became tense!

Li Jue, Guo Si, and the others exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with wariness.

Such accusations could easily lead to execution if not handled carefully!

"Who goes there?" Dong Zhuo's voice was icy.

Instead of answering directly, Li Ru asked, "Does the Prime Minister still remember Jia Xu, Jia Wenhe?"

"Jia Xu?" Dong Zhuo frowned and thought for a moment.

"That strategist who's always silent and hides in the corner? I remember him... he's from Guzang in Liangzhou, isn't he?"

"That's right." Li Ru nodded.

"This man is indeed talented, but he keeps a low profile and doesn't flaunt his abilities. But is the Prime Minister aware of this...?"

He paused, then lowered his voice: "This man once studied in Jingzhou and became a disciple of Mr. Sima Hui, the Water Mirror Master. Ji Xuanyuan, Guo Jia, Xun Yu, Zhou Yu, and others all came from the Water Mirror Manor."

Dong Zhuo's pupils suddenly contracted!

"You mean, Jia Xu and Ji Xuanyuan are fellow disciples?!"

"Exactly." Li Ru stroked his beard.

"Jia Xu was the first to join the sect, making him the nominal senior disciple of Shuijing Manor. Although he didn't have a close relationship with Ji Xuanyuan and others due to the age difference, this relationship still existed."

He stepped forward, his voice even softer: "Our army's ambushes have been repeatedly foiled this time. If you say no one tipped us off... do you really believe that, sir?"

Dong Zhuo remained silent.

He didn't understand the concept of camaraderie among fellow students, but he did understand power struggles.

Li Ru's words may not necessarily indicate that he truly believed Jia Xu was colluding with the enemy, but rather that he wanted to find a "suitable" scapegoat.

Yuwen Chengdu could not move; that was the banner of the Xiliang army, the apple of his eye.

Therefore, someone needs to take the blame for "dereliction of duty" to quell any potential discontent in the army and to maintain Yuwen Chengdu's prestige.

Jia Xu, an unassuming strategist who is suspected of being a fellow student, is the perfect candidate.

"Summon Jia Xu," Dong Zhuo said slowly.

Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard west of Chang'an City.

Jia Xu sat alone under the lamp, holding a copy of "Guiguzi" in his hands, but did not read a single word.

He was about forty years old, with a thin face, three short wisps of beard, and eyes as calm as an ancient well, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

Suddenly, light footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Jia Xu's ears twitched slightly, and he closed the book.

"Sir." A deep voice sounded outside the door; it was a servant from the Prime Minister's residence whom he had secretly bribed.

"Just now, Li Ru spoke to the Prime Minister in the palace, saying that you and Ji Xuanyuan are fellow disciples and that you might be a traitor. The Prime Minister has already ordered you to be summoned."

Quiet.

After a long silence, Jia Xu slowly spoke: "I understand. Go back now, and make sure no one sees you."

The footsteps faded into the distance.

Jia Xu stood up, walked to the window, looked towards the direction of the Prime Minister's residence, and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

The bond between fellow students?

When he entered Shuijing Villa, Ji Xuanyuan was still begging for food somewhere.

The two had never even met, so how could they have any feelings for each other?

Li Ru's actions were simply an attempt to find a scapegoat for Yuwen Chengdu.

Jia Xu understood the rules of this game all too well.

In times of chaos, the wise should be like hidden dragons, seizing opportunities and avoiding dangerous places.

Over the years, he has kept a low profile under Dong Zhuo's command, neither vying for credit nor showing off his talents, which shows that he is well aware of the way to protect himself.

But now, the knife is hanging over his neck.

"If I don't escape now..." Jia Xu murmured to himself.

"He's about to become Yuwen Chengdu's stepping stone."

He turned and went back into the house, his movements calm, and pulled out a bundle that had been prepared beforehand from under the bed.

The bundle was small, containing only a few changes of clothes, some money and food, and a few scrolls of books.

There was no lingering attachment, no hesitation.

Half an incense stick later, Jia Xu, dressed in a blue robe, disappeared silently into the night of Chang'an.

When the soldiers from the Prime Minister's mansion came to arrest the man, they found the small courtyard empty, the lamps still warm, but the man had vanished.

Ten days later, in Youzhou, Zhuojun.

The early winter wind carried a chill, yet outside Zhuojun City, a bustling scene unfolded.

Along both sides of the official road, people spontaneously gathered, all dressed in neat winter clothes that were not luxurious, their faces filled with curiosity and anticipation as they looked southward.

At the front of the procession stood Guo Jia, Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and Zhao Yun, all dressed in official robes.

Behind him were officials of all levels from Zhuojun, representatives of local gentry, and elders and village heads who had come from various villages.

"They're here!" a scout on horseback reported from afar.

On the horizon, banners gradually appeared.

First, a group of black-armored cavalry led the way. These were the iconic Yinglong Winged Cavalry of the Jingnan Army. Although their wings were not spread, they exuded a chilling killing intent.

Following were the emperor's banners and the imperial carriage. Nine-year-old Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, sat in the carriage, his little hands tightly gripping the curtain. His face was slightly pale from the long journey, but his eyes were full of curiosity.

Beside the carriage, Ji Xuanyuan, clad in black armor and white robes, rode slowly along.

He stood ramrod straight, his gaze sweeping gently over the people on both sides of the road.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome you! Long live the Emperor!"

Guo Jia led the crowd in kneeling to welcome them, their voices ringing out in unison.

Liu Xie, helped alight from the carriage by his attendants, looked at the dark mass of people kneeling before him, at the city wall in the distance that, though not magnificent, was neat and sturdy, and at the people's expressions of awe without fear...

He was stunned.

Along the way, he saw the ruins of Luoyang, the desolate villages along the route, the starving refugees, and the miserable plight of the people who were coerced by Dong Zhuo.

He thought that the world was generally like this: broken, chaotic, and hopeless.

But Zhuojun... is different.

The streets were clean and flat, paved with some kind of hard, grayish-white material, without any mud.

The houses on both sides, though not luxurious, were neat and sturdy, with smoke billowing from their chimneys.

The people had rosy complexions, were well-clothed, and their eyes showed no signs of the numbness that comes with habit.

What's even more remarkable is that, despite the grand welcoming ceremony, there was no extravagance or ostentation.

The officials dressed simply, and the gentry did not wear gold or jade.

This was a deliberate arrangement by Guo Jia and others, to showcase the achievements of governance without flaunting their wealth and attracting jealousy.

"Ji Qing..." Liu Xie looked up at Ji Xuanyuan, his voice carrying the clear, childlike quality of a child.

"Is this the Zhuojun you govern?"

Ji Xuanyuan dismounted and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, it is true. Zhuojun is a border region, originally barren. It is thanks to Your Majesty's divine might, the soldiers' bravery, and the people's diligence that we have achieved what we have today."

He spoke humbly, but Liu Xie heard him clearly.

Along the way, he heard Xun Yu recount Ji Xuanyuan's actions in Youzhou.

He promoted the curved plow, built water conservancy projects, established hospitals, recruited poor scholars, pacified the Wuhuan, and intimidated the Xianbei...

Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I know what they said was true.

"Okay...okay!" Liu Xie suddenly smiled, a smile that came from the bottom of his heart.

"Throughout my journey, I have witnessed much desolation and misery, but only under Your Majesty's rule have I seen an atmosphere of peace and prosperity!"

He turned to the accompanying senior officials, including Zhong Fu, and said, "Do you all see this? This is what our Great Han should look like! Your presence in the northern frontier is truly a blessing for the border regions, a blessing for the people, and even more so... a blessing for the Great Han!"

That's a very strong statement.

Zhong Fu and the others looked at each other, but had no way to refute it.

Along the way, they could clearly see that the prosperity of Zhuojun was real.

Vendors strolled leisurely along the streets, the market was overflowing with a dazzling array of goods, children played at the alley entrance, and elderly people sat in front of their doors basking in the sun...

There was no shadow of war, no fear of famine.

In today's world, this is practically a paradise.

Ji Xuanyuan lowered his head: "Your Majesty flatters me. This is all within my duty."

He was clear-headed.

This arrangement is partly a genuine achievement and partly a deliberate display.

Only in this way will the emperor truly trust and rely on him.

In this way, the noble cause of "serving the emperor to punish the disobedient" carries even more weight.

The convoy entered the city.

Liu Xie insisted on walking around the "city of miracles" instead of taking a car.

Ji Xuanyuan naturally accompanied him, outwardly respectful but meticulous in detail, reminding His Majesty to watch his step, explaining the workshops along the street, and introducing him to local elders...

He did everything flawlessly, making the emperor feel respected and respected, while also letting the accompanying officials see his "loyalty" and "ability".

Upon reaching the city, Liu Xie suddenly pointed to a spot and asked, "What is that place? Why are so many people going in and out?"

It was a rather large courtyard, with the plaque above the gate reading "Zhuoxian First People's Hospital".

People came and went in the courtyard: soldiers helped wounded soldiers, women held infants, and old men walked slowly with canes.

Ji Xuanyuan replied, "Your Majesty, this is a hospital established by me, overseen by the two renowned physicians Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo. It treats the illnesses of the people, regardless of their wealth or social status, and all are welcome to seek medical treatment. Only a small fee is charged for medicine."

"Zhang Zhongjing? Hua Tuo?" Liu Xie's eyes lit up.

"Exactly."

"They... are actually under Ji Qing's command?" Liu Xie was shocked.

These two renowned physicians were famous throughout the land, and many feudal lords offered them high salaries but could not persuade them to join their ranks.

He was willing to stay in the border region and treat ordinary people.

Ji Xuanyuan smiled and said, "Both gentlemen are kind-hearted and willing to use their medical skills to help the world. I have only provided some convenience."

That evening, a banquet was held at the Zhuohou Mansion.

Although not as extravagant as the banquets in the Luoyang Palace, it had its own unique characteristics.

The hot pot is boiling, the mutton is tender, and a wide variety of vegetables are on display. These are all varieties improved by the Agricultural Science Institute of the Geological Museum, which are especially rare in winter.

Liu Xie ate until his face turned red, praising the food repeatedly.

The accompanying officials were also amazed. They had lived in Luoyang for a long time and had never seen such a novel way of eating.

I've never seen so many fresh vegetables at this time of year.

Halfway through the banquet, Liu Xie suddenly raised his cup, his youthful voice echoing throughout the hall: "My lords! Today, seeing the state of Zhuojun, I finally understand what a capable minister in times of peace truly is! Minister Ji!"

He looked at Ji Xuanyuan, his eyes filled with trust and emotion: "You are the true pillar that Father left me!"

Ji Xuanyuan knelt down: "Your Majesty, I dare not accept such praise even if I die ten thousand times."

But deep down, he knew that this game was won.

The nine-year-old emperor already regarded him as the most reliable "loyal minister".

This trust will be his sharpest weapon in his future conquest of the world.

Outside the window, the cold wind howled.

The lights of Zhuojun are warm and bright.