The Three Great Han Dynasties: Awaken Liu Bei with a scolding; you weave mats and sell sandals.

We must believe even more firmly in the dying words, "Anyone who does not have the surname Liu and claims the throne shall be punished by all under heaven."

The ancients were superstitious, so such claims were repeatedly verified. Thus, people with the surname Liu throughout the land were able to gain more popular support without anyone noticing.

That's all there is to it, which explains the current dialogue between Jia Xu and Li Ru.

"Ugh."

Watching Jia Xu's departing figure, Li Ru felt a little worried, but for a moment he didn't know what happened after Jia Xu left.

How should Li Ru, with all his talent, put it to good use?

Or perhaps we should also visit the Hall of Recruiting Talents?

This idea, like a seed, quietly took root and sprouted in his heart.

It was already noon in front of the Zhaoxian Pavilion.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Three resounding gongs, deep and powerful, pierced through the hustle and bustle of Luoyang.

An official from the imperial court, dressed in splendid robes, slowly emerged with a friendly smile and announced in a clear voice: "The registration area is ready. All talented individuals may register and enter in turn. Today's recruitment conference officially begins."

As soon as the words were spoken, the scene erupted in cheers, followed by a chorus of responses. On every face, young or composed, was a burning desire for a career in government.

Before long, the noise subsided, and the crowd lined up in an orderly queue, and the scene returned to quiet and orderly.

Across the street, Liu Hong stood on the railing of a restaurant, watching the scene from afar. He lightly twirled his wine glass between his fingers, a faint smile playing on his lips. At that moment, a strange sense of contentment welled up within him: "It seems that the Recruiting Talents Pavilion is doing quite well."

Standing beside Liu Hong, Cui Yan smiled faintly upon hearing this, a hint of pride and self-satisfaction radiating from her face.

Now, thanks to his efforts, the Cui family of Qinghe has decided to move the entire clan to Luoyang.

The intention is not to establish a base in Luoyang, but rather to gradually build up the foundation here.

After all, this place is the political center of the world, and only by obtaining first-hand information can the family make more accurate choices.

Cui Yan himself will now officially take over the clan's affairs and become the current head of the Qinghe Cui clan.

"What Lord Liu says is true."

Cui Yan cupped his hands, but his tone was somewhat mocking, "After all, the Zhaoxian Pavilion, coupled with Lord Liu's reputation, is now known to everyone in the world."

If Liu Gong is right, then he is right.

Hearing the sarcastic tone in Cui Yan's words, Liu Hong could only manage a bitter smile: "Between you and me, why do we need to hide things like this?"

Just say what you have to say.

Cui Yan shrugged, looking innocent: "In the end, the Grand General holds the military power of the entire country, and even His Majesty has to show him some respect."

How dare I, with my meager position among the Nine Ministers, offend the Great General?

If even one word in these words is wrong, and the Grand General truly blames me, how could I, a mere Nine Minister, possibly afford to offend him?

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Liu Hong shook his head helplessly, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

His first instinct was to consider the worst-case scenario: "Could it be that someone in this imperial city of Luoyang is plotting against me?"

But after much thought, no suitable candidate could be found.

The situation with the He family relatives has been resolved. He Miao has become a puppet in his hands, and the Imperial Guards remain firmly under his control. As for the gentry, both the Yuan and Yang families have been behaving themselves lately and have not dared to make any moves. As for the other gentry or imperial relatives, they keep their distance from him.

Could it be that there's some hidden trouble brewing?

Liu Hong pondered for a while but couldn't come up with a solution, so he turned his searching gaze to Cui Yan.

Who told him that the other party was his chief strategist?

Now that we've encountered difficulties, it's only natural to consult him; otherwise, what's the point of this strategist's existence?

"Hurry up and tell me."

Liu Hong urged.

A look of helplessness flashed across Cui Yan's face as he muttered under his breath, "Being a strategist is truly a bitter fate."

Liu Hong's gaze grew increasingly sharp.

He quickly composed himself, leaned forward slightly, and his face showed a hint of solemnity. He lowered his voice to a very low hue: "Reporting to the General, His Majesty is nearing the end of his life."

"But within the imperial court, the position of crown prince has not yet been decided."

His words struck Liu Hong like a thunderbolt.

Cui Yan's tone grew increasingly solemn: "This matter of the crown prince is something that even Liu Yan, the Minister of the Imperial Clan, might not be willing to get involved in."

But the situation is different for the General. You command a large army and are a high-ranking official of the imperial family. You will inevitably be drawn into this matter.

Therefore, it's best to prepare early.

At this moment, Cui Yan's eyes were filled with solemnity, which anyone could see.

The level of importance he attached to this matter was extraordinary.

If there is anything in the world today that has even a slight chance of causing Liu Hong to suffer a major setback, it is truly only the matter of establishing an heir to the throne.

However, in other conflicts, given Liu Hong's military power, the allegiance of various powerful clans, and the intricate web of interests among them, it would be impossible for them to harm him in the slightest.

This is an undeniable fact.

"It seems... I really need to have a serious talk with His Majesty."

Liu Hong muttered to himself, a thoughtful expression creeping onto his face.

Hearing this, Cui Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At least we can tell from the attitude of their own lord.

He was not so arrogant as to be delusional; he still knew how to weigh the pros and cons.

The issue of establishing an heir was not merely a concern conjectured by Cui Yan alone.

Throughout the entire General's Mansion, everyone with foresight was secretly worried about this matter.

Looking back at the original trajectory, wasn't Dong Zhuo, the governor of Liangzhou, also a powerful figure before entering Luoyang?

His decisiveness and courage are among the best in the world.

But what happens after entering Luoyang?

In just a few months, he quickly became corrupted in that luxurious and gentle place, his eyes blinded by lust for power, and ultimately met a tragic end, his head severed from his body.

This is not the first time such a lesson has been learned in history.

Once there is one, there will be two; once there are two, there will be three. We must be on guard.

However, seeing Liu Hong's attitude now, Cui Yan could at least feel a little more at ease with everyone in the mansion.

Time is merciless, and imperial power changes hands, never by human will.

Even if Emperor Liu Hong, the current emperor, is buried in the imperial mausoleum in the future, and the title given to him by the historians is no longer the "Emperor Ling of Han" that signifies his incompetence, at this moment...

He was also feeling uneasy.

It is because when a person is about to die, their words are kind and their heart is at peace.

……

Deep within the Northern Palace, Liu Hong leaned against a soft couch, staring blankly out the window.

The decadent and debauched world that he used to be obsessed with now held no appeal for him whatsoever, leaving only numbness and tranquility.

It's as if the rebellion in the southern border, the smoke of war in the northwest, and all the extravagant pleasures in the palace are all just fleeting memories.

He tried to move again, but his body was limp and powerless.

Years of indulgence and pleasure have drained this body of its vitality, and now that it has reached this point, it is only natural that it must pay the price.