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

The Han Dynasty governed the world with filial piety, but Liu Bei's actions showed no trace of filial piety. Even the entire Han clan disliked him, truly making him a figure who had strayed from the world's interests.

"Is Xuande here today to discuss this matter?"

Lu Zhi spoke slowly.

Liu Bei sighed, then his eyes cleared, and he regained his composure: "Of course not. I have come here today to discuss with Lord Lu a matter concerning the General of the Central Army and the Imperial Guards of the Han Dynasty."

This matter is now known to everyone in the world. So, which side are the Imperial Guards of the Han Dynasty truly on within the imperial city?

Liu Bei slowly opened his mouth to ask a question.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi's last shred of hope for Liu Bei vanished.

He gave a wry smile and said directly, "You should ask General Zhu Zhonglang about this. I have long since lost my official position and certainly cannot manage such matters. I am just an idle person."

"Can you?"

Liu Bei asked again, following his father's lead, but before he could finish his sentence, Lu Zhi rejected him, saying, "This will not work."

Seeing that his mission was accomplished, Liu Bei did not linger at the General's residence and left without hesitation.

"Something seems off about this Liu Bei."

Zhu Jun walked out of the side room, realizing that he had overheard their conversation through the wall.

Lu Zhi remained silent in response.

The only reason he can stay in Luoyang now is because of his old friendship with his former friends. Without that friendship...

He probably doesn't deserve to stay here.

After all, he is currently regarded as a traitor by the entire clan, and only the gentry can trust him to some extent.

However, those who currently control the imperial family in Luoyang are ultimately the clan and the royal family. Even though Zhu Jun holds the Han Imperial Guard, this guard is the imperial guard. Moreover, it is possible that the deceased Emperor Liu Hong has made some other arrangements within this guard to similarly restrain the power in Zhu Jun's hands.

In their memory, the emperor was indeed capable of doing such a thing.

This is why, even now, Zhu Jun has never interfered too much with the Han Imperial Guards, which shows that he has considerable means behind it.

The Imperial Guards of the Great Han Dynasty will at least obey my orders for the time being, but I don't know who has the Tiger Tally now.

Zhu Jun's eyes were deep and unfathomable. Outsiders only knew that he now held the power of the Han Imperial Guard and was qualified to mobilize it, but they were completely unaware that the most important Tiger Tally was in the hands of someone else.

This was intolerable to Zhu Jun, but unfortunately, several generals within the Imperial Guard had received great favors from the state and had been instructed and given orders by Liu Hong long ago. Therefore, even he was powerless to do anything about it.

Seeing this, Lu Zhi remained completely silent.

He had no stance and did not take sides with anyone; he simply stayed in the imperial city of Luoyang, quietly waiting for the situation to change.

When Liu Bei returned to the General's Mansion and finished telling Liu Hong everything he had said with Lu Zhi, Liu Hong nodded slightly, waved his hand, and told him to leave.

Inside the study, Liu Hong squinted at the window, a deep worry hidden in his eyes, and then he gave a bitter laugh.

"Actually, there's no need for that at all. Xuande is just having trouble understanding things for a while, which doesn't mean he'll never figure it out."

Ultimately, it is the Han Dynasty. As long as it is the Han Dynasty of the Liu family, nothing else will be as important as one might imagine.

Sooner or later, Xuande will understand this, so please rest assured, General.

Cui Yan spoke up from the side.

"Can we really rest assured?"

At this moment, Liu Hong chuckled softly, revealing his inner thoughts: "My good son is indeed loyal to the emperor and loves his country, but unfortunately, he is just like those book-study-obsessed pedantic scholars, whose minds are filled with nothing but such ridiculous ideas."

Otherwise, how could he not be involved in the many affairs within the imperial city of Luoyang?

He is the eldest son of this household.

Liu Hong spoke coldly, revealing that he did not disapprove of Liu Bei, but this child was truly disappointing.

Loyalty to the emperor and love for one's country also depend on the timing. One can do what is appropriate, but one must never do what is inappropriate.

Since it involved the Liu family's affairs, Cui Yan couldn't interfere, so he could only nod secretly and then get down to business: "We've also sent people to investigate the Imperial Guards of the Great Han Dynasty. Strangely, Zhu Jun doesn't seem to have as much control over the Imperial Guards as we thought, and it's even unexpectedly low. It's as if the Imperial Guards of the Great Han Dynasty are not actually under his jurisdiction at all."

"Continue the investigation. We want to see what has become of the Han Imperial Guard under the arrangement of our Emperor."

We absolutely cannot ignore this situation.

Liu Hong continued coldly.

Cui Yan nodded solemnly, clearly showing how much he valued the matter. He immediately agreed to go and do his job well, promising not to disappoint Liu Hong.

Not long after Cui Yan left, Liu Hong summoned the others again, and He Miao soon reappeared before Liu Hong.

Many things that Liu Hong couldn't find out from his perspective might be much easier for someone else to understand.

Undoubtedly, He Miao, as a relative of the emperor, is outwardly at odds with Liu Hong, which leaves considerable room for maneuver.

Liu Hong thought he could test the waters here and perhaps find some pleasant surprises.

Liu Hong told He Miao everything, and He Miao agreed very readily.

His expression was unwavering: "Please rest assured, General, I will do my utmost to ensure that this matter will put your mind at ease."

He Miao clenched his fists with a deep smile. At this moment, even Liu Hong could feel his determination.

"it is good."

Liu Hong laughed loudly, "Then this general will wait and see how you perform. If this matter succeeds, I will certainly reward you with a great achievement."

"Right now, in this imperial city of Luoyang, there are few who can rival your general, but it must be said that the Han Imperial Guard is indeed a major threat."

Liu Hong spoke slowly and deliberately, each word a gem. He Miao nodded slightly upon hearing this, both of them able to see the current situation and each other's demands.

In the blink of an eye, night had just fallen when He Miao arrived at the palace almost immediately.

He looked anxious and went to his younger sister, Empress He, and asked directly without saying a word: "Are you hiding something from me?"

Before His Majesty passed away, he made many arrangements within this imperial city. My dear sister, I never imagined that one day these rifts would arise between us.