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

During the Guanghe era, the disaster of the Party Prohibitions occurred repeatedly, and the gentry throughout the country were filled with resentment. In addition, Liu Hong's many absurd actions made his reputation for being incompetent even recorded in later historical books.

However, in modern times, it is necessary to adapt to the times, the place, and the people involved.

Moreover, only the emperor can understand the emperor and know the heart of a ruler.

Just right.

Now there are truly two "emperors" in this world.

One is in the deep palace of Luoyang, while the other is in the pavilion of Zhuojun right now.

Liu Hong, who possessed the Emperor's Panel, knew better than anyone else what the Emperor Liu Hong, who had long resided in the deep palace, was thinking.

Even though the opponent already felt that the Han dynasty was in dire straits and seemed powerless to reverse the situation, they were still willing to move a few more pieces to leave the Han imperial family a better chance of survival and increase their chances of winning.

At the very least, they did not want to see the Han Dynasty fall into such a dangerous situation, and were more willing to lend a helping hand within their capabilities.

even!

They wanted to muddy the waters of the Han court even further, so that they could have room to use their imperial methods to manipulate the situation.

Therefore, what Liu Wen considered to be only one or two out of ten certainties, Liu Hong saw the exact opposite: seven or eight out of ten, or even close to ten percent.

"Where you sit determines where you look," and Liu Hong naturally knew what the Emperor of Luoyang was thinking.

……

At this moment, Liu Wen looked troubled.

He was, after all, a member of the Han imperial family, of the same surname and clan, and was responsible for protecting the land and ensuring the safety of the people. He was even able to stand out from the many powerful clans that coveted the position of Prefect of Zhuojun, instead of being occupied by those with deep-rooted gentry.

They rely on their "clan ties" as their greatest asset, without exception.

Therefore, while other aristocratic families may praise or criticize the emperor, it is permissible for members of the Han imperial family, such as Liu Wen and Liu Hong, to discuss the matter privately, but they must never slander him in public.

This concerns the very foundation of one's character and must never be shaken.

At this moment, Liu Hong gave an answer without a doubt, and even with great certainty.

In front of Liu Wen, he spoke frankly and decisively: "Your Majesty is a wise and virtuous ruler."

In Liu Hong's mind, what constitutes a wise and virtuous ruler?

As the emperor, one must do everything that one should do, is capable of doing, and is obliged to do; only then can one be called wise and sagacious.

Liu Hong did just that.

This title is truly fitting.

After hearing this, Liu Wen looked at Liu Hong with a complex expression, his lips twitched slightly, and finally he nodded silently in agreement: "Your Majesty is indeed a wise and sagacious ruler."

But soon, he changed the subject, looking puzzled: "Brother Ziguang, His Majesty has probably already forgotten about the matter of Lord Cai."

Seeing Liu Hong smile without speaking, Liu Wen narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he had figured something out, but still didn't quite understand: "Brother Ziguang, did you... use some tricks?"

"nature."

Liu Hong readily admitted it, and then immediately cut to the chase without further suspense.

"West Garden Residence"

He was sparing with words, and his sentences were concise and to the point.

"His Majesty has entrusted this matter entirely to his personal attendants and will not take it to heart."

Liu Wen chuckled and shook his head.

"Such an amount, the Attendant-in-Ordinary might not dare to make the decision on his own."

Liu Hong said firmly, "Such an enormous fortune?! It's not just a million coins, but tens of millions. I'm afraid that the Attendant will definitely inform His Majesty."

"The power of eunuchs all comes from the emperor."

"Small profits may be embezzled, but such a huge sum of money, if concealed, is tantamount to cutting off one's own roots and courting death."

Liu Hong's words were powerful and resounding, and the impact on Liu Wen was undoubtedly enormous.

Tens of millions of dollars.

That's a whopping ten million dollars.

What kind of business practices do this Brother Ziguang in front of me, and the Liu family of Zhuojun behind him, have enabled them to amass such wealth?

Although it cannot compare to the accumulated wealth of those first-class or even top-tier aristocratic families over generations, it can still be considered a great fortune in the Zhuojun region.

What shocked him even more was Liu Hong's courage.

At least if it were Liu Wen, he might not have dared to make such a decision.

"In that case, Brother Ziguang can rest easy and marry this Cai woman."

Liu Wen was now completely convinced and utterly convinced, and could no longer utter a word of dissuasion. "This move will be of great benefit to the Liu family of Zhuojun. I'm afraid that in the future, even this small place of Zhuojun will not be able to hold you back, Brother Ziguang."

He paused, then added, "And as for Lady Cai, I suppose we can rest easy now. In fact, if His Majesty so desires, this Lord Cai might be able to return to the court, and Lady Cai could also return to Luoyang and be given important positions again."

Cai Yong's reputation was known throughout the land.

Even Dong Zhuo in the historical timeline, upon hearing of his great reputation, invited him to serve as an official in order to win over the hearts of the gentry.

Therefore, if Cai Yong had not been born at the wrong time and been framed by powerful eunuchs, he would never have ended up in such a state of exile.

As far as Liu Hong knew, the emperor in Luoyang had originally intended to turn a blind eye, but the matter was being closely watched by powerful eunuchs, so he had no choice but to do so.

After all, the Han Dynasty is no longer at its peak, and imperial power no longer reigns supreme.

Even emperors, most of the time, can only go with the flow.

"Furthermore, there is Cai Yan, the daughter of Lord Cai, whose courtesy name is Wenji. She is a woman of exceptional talent."

Liu Wen's eyes were full of admiration. "Within the gentry, everyone praised her for her erudition, eloquence, and mastery of music. It is said that she had an unforgettable memory from a young age. One night, when Cai Gong was playing the zither, a string suddenly broke."

"She could accurately tell which wire broke from the sound of the wire next door. This talent has long been a legendary topic of conversation among the upper class in Luoyang."

"In addition, she inherited Cai Yong's classical learning and demonstrated amazing talent in poetry and prose. She was by no means an ordinary woman who indulged in romantic writing, but a 'female scholar' with independent insights."

In the past, countless talented men pursued her in Luoyang. Now, she has married Ziguang, which can be considered a perfect match and a fine marriage.

"You flatter me, Brother Liu! As for the matter of Lord Cai, I will not insist."

Liu Hong remained calm and composed, a demeanor that Liu Wen admired even more, and he nodded repeatedly in response.

The two then continued to toast each other, drinking not strong liquor, but mellow, fragrant tea.

After several rounds of drinks, Liu Wen suddenly remembered something and said with a smile, "Brother Ziguang, do you still remember a few months ago when your Liu family's caravan passed through the border of Liaoxi and Liaodong prefectures, you met a captain?"

Liu Hong nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

"This man is named Gongsun Zan, and he is my son-in-law."

A look of relief appeared on Liu Wen's face.

Gongsun Zan was born into the Gongsun family of Liaoxi Commandery, but unfortunately he was not from the main branch, but from a collateral branch, and even more so from a collateral line. Therefore, although he received some benefits from the family, they were not many.

His achievements today are all thanks to the favor of Prefect Liu Wen, which enabled him to become a disciple of Lu Zhi in Zhuo County a few years ago, and now he is able to serve as a Commandant.

Without a doubt, it was all thanks to his help.

Not only did she marry her daughter to him, but she also provided him with much support, which led to Gongsun Zan's current success.

Liu Hong nodded secretly.

He was naturally aware of this.

Historically, Gongsun Zan was able to stand on equal footing with Liu Yu, the future governor of Youzhou, in the region.

Liu Wen also contributed significantly to this effort.

Otherwise, how could a mere collateral branch of the Gongsun family contend with Liu Yu, who was a member of the Han imperial family, and even repeatedly gain the upper hand?

Relying solely on individual bravery.

However, he could not win the hearts of the gentry in the various counties of Youzhou, nor could he truly control the military and political power of Youzhou.

"I had heard of his bravery back in Zhuo County, and his future is immeasurable."

Liu Hong followed up, his tone a mix of official and common manners, showing both respect and intimacy, "This junior has a bright future ahead of him, and the Prefect has also made repeated plans for him, his foundation is as solid as a rock. But I wonder about your future, Prefect and Brother Liu?"

Such a form of address and question undoubtedly reveals his thoughtfulness.

Liu Wen was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Brother Ziguang, you are joking. I am already nearing the age of fifty, what future do I have to speak of? I have already exhausted all my energy in planning for the younger generation."

"How could I dare to be greedy and demand more?"

Liu Hong put down his teacup, looked at him intently, and slowly said, "But what if it really is?"