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

Winter passed and spring came; in the blink of an eye, it was already February of the sixth year of Zhongping.

The undercurrents within Luoyang City continued to surge, but the surface maintained an eerie calm.

Since being appointed General of the Cavalry, Ji Xuanyuan has lived a secluded life, rarely interacting with others except for necessary court assemblies.

The eight hundred Imperial Guards stationed in the western camp of the city were disciplined and did not commit any offenses, leaving many court officials who were looking for trouble with no way to do so.

However, beneath the calm surface of the water, unusual ripples were emerging from the northwest.

Outside Chencang City, Han army camps stretched out in a continuous line.

Inside the central command tent, the charcoal fire crackled.

General Huangfu Song, the Left Chariot Cavalry General, sat in the main seat.

He held a military report in his hand, his gaze sweeping over it, his brows furrowing slightly.

Seated at the lower end of the table was none other than General Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo was sitting with his arms crossed, staring at Huangfu Song, making no attempt to hide the impatience in his eyes.

The atmosphere inside the tent was tense.

"General Dong." Huangfu Song put down the military report, his voice calm.

"Chencang has been besieged for ten days. The city still has enough food and the city walls are strong. Although the rebel army is numerous, they are full of energy when they first arrived. A strong attack will surely be thwarted. I think we should hold back and wait until they have been unable to take the city for a long time and their morale is exhausted before launching an attack."

"Hold back?" Dong Zhuo slammed his hand on the table, his voice booming.

"There are still several thousand civilians and several hundred soldiers in Chencang! The rebels claim to number one hundred thousand. If they really launch a full-scale attack, how many days can they hold out? We have fifty thousand elite troops, only thirty miles outside the city, yet we can only watch helplessly as the city is besieged. Wouldn't that chill the hearts of our soldiers and undermine the dignity of the court?"

He stood up, his imposing figure almost blocking out most of the light in the tent: "We must advance immediately and quickly relieve the siege! Rescuing Chencang is the most urgent task!"

Huangfu Song looked up at him, his gaze as calm as a still well: "I know General Dong is brave and fierce, but war is a matter of great importance to the country, a matter of life and death, and cannot be ignored. The rebel army came from Longxi, and after a long march, they have limited supplies. Chencang is a strong city and will be difficult to break in a short time. When their supplies run out and their morale is low, our army can wait in comfort and defeat them in one battle. If we advance rashly at this time, we will play right into their hands."

"Wait for the enemy to tire themselves out?" Dong Zhuo sneered.

"Should we wait until the rebels break through Chencang, slaughter the civilians, plunder supplies, and their morale is high before taking advantage of their weakness?"

He strode to the hanging map and slammed his finger heavily on Chencang: "The opportunity is fleeting! The rebels haven't secured the city yet. If our army launches a fierce attack on their flanks, coordinating with the defenders inside, we can surely crush the enemy!"

Huangfu Song shook his head, his tone still calm: "General Dong only knows one thing. Although the rebels have besieged the city, their camps are arranged in a very orderly manner, with ambushes set up on both the southeast and flanks. If our army attacks rashly, we may fall into an ambush."

"An ambush?" Dong Zhuo turned around, his bushy beard bristling and his halberd bristling.

"I will lead my iron cavalry as the vanguard, and whatever ambush they may have, I will crush them all! If General Huangpu is afraid, I am willing to sign a military pledge!"

These words already carried a hint of anger and contempt.

The other generals in the tent held their breath and lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Huangfu Song's expression darkened slightly, but his voice remained restrained: "General Dong, as the commander-in-chief, I have my own ideas on troop deployment. I have always admired your bravery, but a general cannot rely solely on strength."

He paused, then slowly said, "This matter need not be discussed further. Order all camps to reinforce their fortifications, send out more scouts to monitor the rebels' movements, and no soldier shall move a single inch without my order."

"You—!" Dong Zhuo's eyes widened in anger, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

But ultimately, military orders are absolute.

He flung his cloak away and strode out of the military tent, leaving behind a low growl laced with suppressed anger: "I'll see how long General Huangfu can keep up this 'waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out'!"

The tent curtains were drawn, shutting out the howling cold wind outside.

Huangfu Song looked at the swaying tent flap, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, which eventually turned into an almost inaudible sigh.

How could he not know of Dong Zhuo's bravery?

However, this man was stubborn and ambitious, and was no longer the border general who had fought against the Qiang rebellion in Liangzhou and was wholeheartedly devoted to serving his country.

In this campaign to quell the rebellion, His Majesty appointed Dong Zhuo as his deputy, intending to use him as a tool to keep the rebellion in check and balance.

He picked up another secret report from the table, a message that had come from Luoyang a few days earlier.

General Ji Xuanyuan, along with the Xianbei chieftain and Lian, entered the capital to present the captives. He was then granted the title of General Ji, reaching the highest rank among the officials.

Ji Xuanyuan.

This young man, this sickly boy whom he had even tried to promote and win over, had risen to a high position through military merit, even surpassing him.

Huangfu Song rubbed his temples, feeling a deep sense of exhaustion.

The Han dynasty seems to have reached a critical juncture, fraught with uncertainty.

The rebellion in the northwest has not been quelled, and although the northern frontier is temporarily at peace, hidden dangers are lurking everywhere. Eunuchs and relatives of the empress are locked in endless infighting at court, and the power of local governors is growing daily...

He was already over fifty years old.

How much longer can it hold on for this crumbling empire?

Outside the tent, Dong Zhuo returned to his own camp and kicked over the brazier.

Embers flew everywhere, and the guards hurriedly tried to put them out.

"Old man Huangfu! You pedantic fool!" Dong Zhuo roared in a low voice, his eyes flashing with ferocity.

He walked to the armor hanging in the tent and stroked the cold iron plates.

This armor accompanied him in battles for more than twenty years, from Liangzhou to Bingzhou, from the Qiang rebellion to the Yellow Turban Rebellion. His body was covered with scars, and he had made many meritorious contributions.

But now, he has to be controlled by a veteran general who came from a civil service background, and listen to him talk about "waiting for the enemy to tire himself out" and "waiting for the enemy to exhaust himself"!

"While I was fighting on the battlefield, you, Huangfu Song, were still reading your Confucian classics in Luoyang!" Dong Zhuo gritted his teeth.

But he ultimately did not react.

The time is not right.

"General Dong, His Majesty is old, the Crown Prince is weak, He Jin is wielding power, and the Ten Attendants are bringing disaster to the country... This world needs a true strongman to uphold it."

"General, you command a large army and your power is renowned throughout Xiliang. Why should you submit to others?"

Dong Zhuo clenched his fist.

Yes, why should we submit to others?

He looked eastward, as if he could see through thousands of mountains and rivers to the majestic city of Luoyang.

That's where the real battlefield is.

The days that followed unfolded as Huangfu Song had predicted.

The rebel army launched a fierce attack on Chencang for more than 20 days, suffering heavy casualties, but was still unable to breach the city.

Supplies were running low and morale was low.

At the end of February, the rebels began to lift the siege and retreat.

The time has come.

Huangfu Song took his command and ordered the entire army to pursue.

"The rebels have been unable to break through for a long time, their supplies are running low, and their morale is exhausted. Now is the perfect time to pursue them and annihilate them in one fell swoop, eliminating any future threat!" Huangfu Song ordered, sword in hand, his voice ringing out.

The generals responded with a resounding roar.

Only Dong Zhuo, with a gloomy expression, suddenly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "General Huangfu, this humble general believes this is inappropriate."

The tent was quiet.

Huangfu Song looked at him: "General Dong, what are your thoughts?"

"The Art of War says: Do not block the retreating army, and leave gaps in the encirclement of the army," Dong Zhuo said in a deep voice.

"Although the rebels have been defeated, they are eager to return home. If we push them too hard, they may fight like cornered beasts and end up hurting our army."

He paused, then added, "It would be better to let them go, to show the benevolence of the Celestial Empire. Liangzhou is sparsely populated, and once the rebels disperse, it will be difficult for them to regroup."

These words sounded grand and dignified, but they caused many generals in the tent to show strange expressions.

Everyone knows that Dong Zhuo had previously strongly advocated for a swift victory, and now that the enemy was in retreat, it was the perfect time to make a name for himself, yet he instead advocated "not pursuing them."

Huangfu Song stared at Dong Zhuo, a chill creeping into his eyes.

He slowly said, "General Dong, you previously advocated for a swift victory, which I did not agree to. Now that the enemy is in retreat, it is the perfect opportunity to annihilate them, yet you say 'do not pursue.' What exactly is your intention?"

Dong Zhuo remained unfazed: "Times have changed. Previously, the rebels were in high spirits, and our army should have fought quickly to relieve the siege. Now that the rebels have been defeated and have become a 'returning army,' we should act according to military strategy."

"Return to the army?" Huangfu Song sneered.

"Fleeing after losing a city, with supplies exhausted and soldiers worn out, is this 'returning to the battlefield'? This is like a stray dog!"

He stood up, his voice suddenly rising: "Issue the order! The entire army must pursue and annihilate the rebels! Anyone who misses the opportunity will be court-martialed!"

Dong Zhuo wanted to say something more.

"Dong Zhuo!" Huangfu Song shouted sternly to stop him.

"As the deputy general, you must obey the commander-in-chief's orders! Any further dissent will be considered disobeying military orders!"

Dong Zhuo's face flushed red instantly, but he ultimately said nothing more, only clasping his hands tightly: "This humble general... obeys orders."

However, during the pursuit, Dong Zhuo's troops moved slowly, repeatedly "misjudging" the rebels' movements and missing several opportunities to encircle them.

In the end, Huangfu Song personally led the main force and defeated the rebel army on the banks of the Wei River, beheading more than 10,000, capturing countless prisoners, and seizing supplies and provisions that piled up like mountains.

Meanwhile, Dong Zhuo's forces achieved nothing.

At the celebration banquet, everyone was in high spirits and drinking heavily.

The generals took turns toasting Huangfu Song, praising his brilliant military strategies.

Dong Zhuo sat alone in a corner, drinking wine in silence.

Huangfu Song glanced at him, then suddenly raised his cup and said loudly, "This great victory is entirely due to the bravery of the soldiers. However, the key to military strategy lies in assessing the situation and making decisions."

"If only I had listened to my advice earlier, I wouldn't be in this predicament today."

These words were seemingly spoken to everyone, but their gaze was fixed on Dong Zhuo.

The tent fell silent instantly.

The veins on Dong Zhuo's hand, which was holding the wine cup, bulged.

He slowly raised his head and met Huangfu Song's gaze.

Those eyes churned with humiliation, anger, and a ferocity bordering on the savagery of a wild beast.

But he said nothing, simply downed the wine in his glass, slammed the glass down, and got up to leave.

Before the curtain fell, Huangfu Song heard his deep voice:

"I've got it."

In the same month, Luoyang.

Crown Prince Liu Bian knelt before the bed, his face pale.

On the dragon bed, Liu Hong was pale and breathing rapidly, but he forced himself to sit up straight, his eyes filled with disappointment and anger.

"Flirtatious! Dissolute! Lacking any dignity as a crown prince!" Liu Hong's voice was hoarse, yet it struck Liu Bian's heart like a whip.

"Your subject... Your subject knows his mistake..." Liu Bian prostrated himself on the ground, trembling.

"You know you're wrong? Do you know how many court officials saw you frolicking with the eunuch yesterday? Do you know how many officials and common people are talking about you riding your horse in the marketplace today?" Liu Hong became increasingly angry as he spoke, and started coughing violently.

The attendant beside him hurriedly stepped forward to help him up and handed him a silk handkerchief.

Liu Hong pushed aside the attendants and pointed at Liu Bian: "I am not dead yet! This Han Dynasty is not for you to act so recklessly!"

"Father, please calm your anger... Your son will never dare to do it again..." Liu Bian said, tears streaming down his face.

Looking at his weak appearance, Liu Hong felt even colder inside.

Is this the crown prince on whom he placed such high hopes?

Is this the emperor who will inherit the Han Dynasty in the future?

He suddenly remembered his second son, Liu Xie.

Although the child was only eight years old, he was intelligent, composed, and well-mannered, possessing the bearing of an emperor.

What a pity, what a pity...

Liu Hong waved his hand wearily: "Go down and reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors. Without my decree, you are not to leave the Eastern Palace."

"Your subject... obeys the decree." Liu Bian staggered back.

The hall returned to silence.

Liu Hong leaned back on the dragon bed, his eyes filled with desolation.

"Your Majesty, it's time to administer the medicine." Jian Shuo carefully brought over the medicine bowl.

Liu Hong glanced at him, did not take the medicine, and instead asked, "Jian Shuo, how many years have you served me?"

Jian Shuo hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, I have served Your Majesty for twenty-one years since I entered the palace in the first year of Jianning."

"Twenty-one years..." Liu Hong murmured.

"I still remember when you first entered the palace, you were beaten half to death by the head eunuch for breaking a jade bowl. I happened to be passing by and saved you."

Jian Shuo's eyes reddened slightly as he knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty's kindness is something I could never repay, even with my life!"

"Get up," Liu Hong gestured for him to come closer.

Jian Shuo crawled on his knees to the side of the bed.

Liu Hong looked at him, this powerful eunuch who now held the power of the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden and wielded immense influence in the court, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

"Jian Shuo, I ask you, if I am gone, to whom shall I entrust this great Han dynasty?"

Jian Shuo trembled and lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to speak.

"Speak." Liu Hong's voice was weak, but it carried an undeniable authority.

Jian Shuo touched the ground with his forehead, his voice trembling as he said, "Your Majesty...Long live Your Majesty..."

"Long live?" Liu Hong smiled bitterly.

"I know my own body. Answer me."

After a long silence, Jian Shuo finally said in a low voice, "Your Highness the Crown Prince... is the eldest son of the legitimate wife, and is rightfully his..."

"Righteous and legitimate..." Liu Hong repeated these four words, but there was no trace of satisfaction in his eyes.

He suddenly started coughing violently, this time so violently that his handkerchief was stained with a glaring bright red.

"Your Majesty!" Jian Shuo exclaimed in alarm and was about to summon the imperial physician.

Liu Hong gripped his hand tightly, his nails almost digging into his flesh.

"Jian Shuo... listen to me..." he gasped, but a final glimmer of light burst forth in his eyes.

"The Crown Prince is weak, and He Jin is powerful. If Bian'er succeeds to the throne, he will surely become He Jin's puppet. At that time, the Empress Dowager's relatives will seize power, and the Han Dynasty will be in danger..."

He stared at Jian Shuo and said, word by word, "I want to make Xie'er the emperor."

Jian Shuo's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Xie'er is young, but intelligent and kind. His mother, Consort Wang, passed away early, so there is no threat from her relatives. I have already paved the way for you. Of the eight captains of the Western Garden, you are the captain of the Upper Army. Even He Jin is nominally under your control..."

Liu Hong's breathing became more rapid, but he forced himself to continue, "After my death, you should unite with other loyal men, first kill He Jin, then help Xie'er ascend the throne... I have already drafted a secret edict, hidden in..."

His voice grew softer and softer, forcing Jian Shuo to press his ear closer.

A moment later, Jian Shuo slowly raised his head. His face was bloodless, but his eyes burned with an almost insane loyalty and determination.

"Your Majesty... this servant... would gladly die for you!"

Liu Hong looked at him and finally showed a relieved smile, but the smile was quickly twisted by excruciating pain.

"There's one more thing..." he gasped.

"Summon...General Ji Xuanyuan...to the palace..."

Jian Shuo was taken aback: "Your Majesty, Ji Xuanyuan, he..."

"I know... he is no ordinary man..." A complex light flashed in Liu Hong's eyes.

"But now... only he... can keep He Jin in check... and protect Xie'er..."

"Go and deliver the imperial decree... say that I... wish to see him..."

Jian Shuo nodded emphatically: "This servant will go right away!"

He got up to leave, but Liu Hong grabbed him again.

In the old emperor's eyes, the last glimmer of light was like a candle flickering in the wind, yet it still carried the majesty of an emperor:

"Jian Shuo...do not disappoint my expectations..."

"This great Han dynasty... is entrusted to you..."

Jian Shuo knelt down and kowtowed heavily, his forehead touching the cold gold bricks:

"This servant... will repay him with her life!"

He stood up, wiped away his tears, and turned to walk out of the Jiade Hall.

Outside the palace, the spring sunshine in April was just right.

But Jian Shuo felt that the sky over Luoyang was already covered with dark clouds.

A storm that will determine the fate of the world is about to break.

And he will be in the eye of the storm.

He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice to the eunuch waiting outside the hall:

"Issue the imperial decree: Summon General Ji Xuanyuan to the palace for an audience immediately."