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

The banquet here has ended, but the General's mansion is still brightly lit, and the sounds of string and wind instruments can be faintly heard through the courtyard walls.

Inside the main hall, the charcoal fire burned fiercely, dispelling the chill.

He Jin sat in the main seat, his face flushed from the wine. Although he was wearing brocade official robes, he could not hide the rough and tough air of a butcher.

The person sitting below him was none other than Yuan Shao, the Commandant of the Capital Region.

Yuan Shao was not wearing his official robes today, but a dark-colored deep robe with a fox fur coat over it. His face was as handsome as jade, and his three long beards were neatly combed. He was smiling as he toasted He Jin.

"General, please." Yuan Shao raised his cup, his posture respectful yet exuding the composure characteristic of a scion of a noble family.

"You're too kind, Benchu!" He Jin laughed, downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, and wiped his mouth.

"This wine today is wonderful!"

Yuan Shao smiled and poured more cups for the two men, seemingly casually asking, "General, do you know what the scene was like on Zhuque Avenue when Ji Xuanyuan entered the city today?"

He Jin's smile faded slightly, a barely perceptible shadow of gloom flashing in his eyes. He said in a gruff voice, "I heard from the servants that the people are cheering, throwing fruit and flowers at each other; it's quite a lively scene."

"It's more than just lively." Yuan Shao shook his head and sighed softly, his tone carrying just the right amount of emotion and subtle disdain.

"It was like welcoming a god. Those ignorant commoners had never seen such a spectacle before. Seeing that Ji Xuanyuan had a handsome appearance and hearing that he had won several battles in the northern frontier, they thought he was Wei Qing and Huo Qubing reincarnated."

He paused, looked at He Jin, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes: "But they forgot what kind of background Wei Huo had. They were relatives of the emperor and nobles, close relatives of the emperor, while Ji Xuanyuan was just the son of a village head in a border county. In his childhood, he even had to beg for a living. He was lucky enough to gain the favor of Mr. Shui Jing, and then he used some means to gather a group of desperados, which is why he is where he is today."

Upon hearing this, He Jin's expression softened slightly, but he frowned again and said, "But he is now a General of the Cavalry, ranking below me, though not far off. His Majesty has also granted him the privilege of wearing a sword and shoes in the palace, not having to bow when entering the court, and not having to mention his name when being praised... This kind of honor is something that even Dou Xian back then could not match."

"A favor?" Yuan Shao scoffed and put down his wine cup.

"General, the honor and favor are bestowed by His Majesty, but Luoyang and the world are ultimately not decided by His Majesty alone."

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice: "The Ten Attendants control the palace, selling official positions and titles, and wreaking havoc on the court. This is a great calamity for the country. As the head of the imperial relatives and in charge of the military, if you can cleanse the court of these corrupt officials and eliminate the eunuchs, you will achieve the feats of Yi Yin and Huo Guang, and your name will be etched in history, praised by all. How can a border general who has climbed up the ranks by chance compare?"

A glint flashed in He Jin's eyes, and his breathing quickened slightly.

Yuan Shao, observing the situation, continued, "As for Ji Xuanyuan, he is only fortunate for the moment. His base is in the northern frontier. Now that His Majesty has kept him in Luoyang, he is like a dragon leaving the water or a tiger leaving the mountain. What waves can his eight hundred personal guards make in Luoyang, right under the emperor's nose? If the general wants to deal with him, it is only a matter of lifting a finger."

"But..." He Jin hesitated.

"His brothers are all fierce. Today in court, when Xiang Yu glared at us, even His Majesty..."

"It's just the courage of a common man," Yuan Shao said dismissively.

"No matter how brave Xiang Yu is, can he defeat an army of thousands? Ran Min and Lü Bu are nothing but warriors. Besides, if Ji Xuanyuan really makes a move, can they arrive in an instant?"

He paused, his tone turning cold: "Moreover, in this Luoyang city, there are more than just the General who wants Ji Xuanyuan dead. How many people's interests have been affected by his so-called 'Recruitment Order' and 'Academy of Physics'? Those noble families whose paths he blocked, generals whose merits he stole, court officials whose positions he threatened... Now that he is in Luoyang, it is a golden opportunity."

He Jin was deeply moved by what he heard. He drank several more cups, his face flushing even more. Suddenly, he slammed his hand on the table and laughed loudly, "What you say is absolutely right! That Ji Xuanyuan is nothing but a lucky bastard. How dare he compare himself to me? I'll get rid of the Ten Attendants and rectify the court first, then I can deal with him slowly!"

Yuan Shao smiled and raised his cup: "The General is wise."

Deep in his eyes, however, a cold sneer flashed.

At the same time, at the temporary residence of the General of the Cavalry.

Inside the study in the central courtyard.

Xiang Yu, Ran Min, Lü Bu, Li Cunxiao, and Yang Zaixing sat on either side, their expressions solemn.

"Brother, what should we do next?" Xiang Yu asked.

"Let's wait and see," Ji Xuanyuan said calmly.

Li Cunxiao scratched his head and said in a muffled voice, "So we're just going to wait here like this? His Majesty has left us in Luoyang and won't let us leave. What exactly does he want?"

Ji Xuanyuan put down his book, looked up at the crowd, and the lamplight reflected on his face, making his stunning appearance appear and disappear.

"What does Your Majesty wish to do?" he asked slowly.

"His Majesty wants me dead, yet he dares not let me die. He wants to use me, yet he dares not trust me with his authority."

He stood up, walked to the window, pushed open a slit, and the biting night wind rushed in, ruffling the stray hairs on his forehead.

"I have no wife or children, and no ties in Luoyang, yet I have soldiers, land, and prestige. For an emperor, this is the most dangerous subject."

"But he has no choice but to keep me around." Ji Xuanyuan turned around, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"The northern frontier is not yet settled. Although the Xianbei have been defeated, the Queju and Murong tribes are still stirring. The Wuhuan have just submitted, and their intentions are uncertain. The Southern Xiongnu are in internal strife, which could affect You and Bing at any time. If I die in Luoyang now..."

He paused, then said, "Brother Yu, tell me, if I were to die suddenly in Luoyang, what would you do?"

Xiang Yu abruptly stood up, his double pupils flashing with a terrifying ferocity: "If anything happens to my elder brother, I will lead eight hundred personal guards to first slaughter He Jin's entire family, then storm the palace and demand an explanation from His Majesty! Afterwards, I will march north to Youzhou, raise the entire Jingnan Army, unite with the surrendered Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes, and trample Luoyang!"

"Not bad." Ji Xuanyuan nodded.

"His Majesty understands this principle well, so he wants to use me to intimidate the northern frontier, while also keeping me in Luoyang under his watchful eye. This is an open strategy."

Ran Min frowned: "So we're just going to let him control us like this?"

"Let's wait and see." Ji Xuanyuan walked back behind the desk and sat down.

"His Majesty's days are numbered, as we both know, and His Majesty himself knows even better. He is making arrangements for his succession. He Jin, the Ten Attendants, the powerful families, the governors... and I are all pawns on his chessboard. He wants these pawns to check and balance each other, in order to give his weak crown prince a glimmer of hope."

A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Unfortunately, if a chess piece has its own will, it is no longer a chess piece."

"What does Brother mean...?" A glint flashed in Lu Bu's eyes.

"Wait." Ji Xuanyuan picked up the book again.

"When His Majesty passes away, when chaos erupts in Luoyang, when those demons and monsters emerge on their own, that will be the time for us to make our move."

He looked at the five men with a solemn expression: "These past few days, you must keep your men in check. They must not leave the camp without a reason. Luoyang is a dangerous place; do not give anyone any leverage over you."

The brothers exchanged glances, then clasped their hands in unison, saying, "We will obey our eldest brother's command!"

"Go and rest." Ji Xuanyuan waved his hand.

After the five people left, the study returned to silence.

Ji Xuanyuan sat alone under the lamp, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table.

Yuan Shao, He Jin, the Ten Attendants, the aristocratic families... and Emperor Ling, who seemed muddleheaded but was actually very shrewd.

This city of Luoyang is indeed more dangerous than the grasslands or the frontier.

But he was not afraid.

Chaos is approaching, and this chaos is precisely the time for heroes to rise.

He stood up, took out the mutton-fat jade pendant that Zhen Mi had given him from his bosom, and rubbed it a few times.

The jade pendant is warm and smooth, gleaming softly under the light.

"Your Majesty... You see the 'world,' but you cannot see the impending collapse of this 'world,' nor can you see the means and vision required for someone to truly rebuild order from these ruins."

"You want to prolong the life of the Han Dynasty with a system of checks and balances, but little do you know that this last balance will soon be broken by the butchers you personally promoted, the eunuchs you indulged, the powerful families and even your own relatives you relied on..."

"And I..." He stroked the jade pendant given to him by Guo Jia in his bosom, his fingertips icy cold.

"What I'm waiting for is the moment when the balance is broken."

"The wind and snow from the northern frontier should soon blow into this decaying city of Luoyang."

Outside the window, the night was as dark as ink, and the dew was heavy as the night deepened.

In the distance, the direction of the palace was utterly silent, with only a few scattered lights flickering in the cold wind, as if foreshadowing some great upheaval brewing silently.

The following day, news indeed spread from the palace.

The Emperor was unwell and suspended court for seven days to recuperate in the Western Garden, where he was not to be disturbed without imperial decree.

After this news was released, the undercurrents in Luoyang surged even more rapidly and became even more secretive.

Poetry:

In the bustling capital of the emperor, amidst the purple dust and red dust, hidden traps lurk beneath the vermilion gates where wine and meat are served.

The general boasted at a night banquet, while the cavalryman devised far-reaching plans by lamplight.

The armored vehicles in the northern frontier are still covered in snow, while the winds and clouds in Luoyang have already turned to autumn.

Who says a frail body cannot lift a tripod? Behold, a hidden dragon lies dormant in the middle of the stream.