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

Realizing this possibility, the commander of Yizhou quickly ordered a retreat.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yan, the chieftain of Jizhou, and his Black Mountain Army have long since transformed into members of the Taiping Cult.

He chuckled coldly, his face showing a hint of disdain after learning of the retreat of the Yizhou chieftain's main force: "What Liu family of Youzhou? I, the chieftain, truly do not believe he can do anything. Today, I, the chieftain, will have a good fight with him and see who my Taiping Sect and my Yellow Turban Army are afraid of in these thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty."

The voice was particularly loud, and without a doubt, among the Yellow Turban leaders in Jizhou, many people actually believed Zhang Yan's words.

Furthermore, since the Black Mountain Army was his own elite force, the effect of this mobilization was particularly significant.

However, at this moment, the troops led by Liu Hong of the Liu clan in Youzhou had just arrived in Yizhou.

Surprisingly, Liu's troops appeared to be advancing cautiously, taking their time and not making a rapid advance.

Almost wherever they went, they would first confiscate the weapons and provisions of the local Yellow Turbans, then station troops there, and even drastically strip away the power of the local gentry.

In a short time, the gentry of various counties fully understood the terror of the Liu family of Youzhou.

This was an attempt to sever their lineage. In the blink of an eye, the gentry of the world seemed to awaken: What was the Liu family of Youzhou planning to do?

What exactly do they want to do?

Without any evidence, they dared to accuse our gentry of having ties with the Yellow Turbans, and even went so far as to confiscate their property and exterminate their entire clan. Their methods are truly chilling. The local gentry gathered together, each one cursing and shouting with uncontrollable rage.

But they were facing the elite soldiers of the Liu family of Youzhou.

Their arguments seemed so insignificant and useless, amounting to nothing more than impotent rage.

The group looked at each other in bewilderment, and in the end, all they could do was talk big.

However, the powerful clans in the world vary in strength. The clans in these small counties are no match for them, but that doesn't mean that the large clans are helpless in the face of this matter.

In July of the third year of Guanghe, memorials impeaching the Liu family of Youzhou appeared one after another in Luoyang, as if all the gentry in the world had made a pact, as if the Liu family of Youzhou had done something unforgivable by heaven and earth by suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Yizhou.

The Grand Tutor, the Three Dukes, all the officials, and the Nine Ministers all knelt down in front of the North Palace gate like mountains of gold and jade pillars collapsing. The sight of the vast, imposing crowd was truly awe-inspiring.

Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other eunuchs weaved through the crowd, their faces devoid of any sympathy or pity.

After all, it has been like this since ancient times.

The eunuchs and these literati had never had a good relationship; aside from occasional cooperation, it was always a matter of life and death.

Now they can only watch helplessly as these so-called high-ranking officials are in such a sorry state. Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong are more than happy to help them.

Upon entering the North Palace, they found His Majesty in a particularly good mood, enjoying flowers and tea.

Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong exchanged a glance, feeling a surge of joy. They quickly stepped forward and began to share the good news.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Majesty."

"The Marquis of Weining has won a great victory and has completely quelled the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Yizhou. He has even taken this opportunity to understand Your Majesty's will and has imposed further restrictions on the large and small clans in Yizhou under the pretext of the Partisan Prohibitions."

"Besides the local administration, the magistrates of each county and the prefects of each prefecture have all been temporarily dismissed for dereliction of duty and collusion with traitors. This is the memorial submitted to you by the Marquis of Weining; everything is subject to His Majesty's decree."

"This Marquis of Weining truly lives up to his reputation as a member of the Han imperial family; he is absolutely loyal to Your Majesty."

Zhang Rang immediately began praising Liu Hong, which made it clear that the money sent by the Liu family of Youzhou to him was no small sum.

This time, besides Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong also kept saying nice things to him, which shows that Jian Yong not only gave Zhang Rang money, but also gave Zhao Zhong benefits.

After all, the Liu family lacked nothing except money, having confiscated the silver from the various clans. So, of course, they wanted to wipe them all out and also take care of the eunuchs.

"Hahaha."

Hearing these words from his two trusted confidants, Liu Hong couldn't help but burst into laughter. His expression then darkened slightly, and his gaze fixed on the group of officials outside the North Palace. Looking at the figure of Grand Tutor Yuan Wei, he continued with a cold laugh, "What a family, the Yuan family, four generations of high-ranking officials! What a family, the Yang family, four generations of high-ranking officials! Do you really think that besides your aristocratic families, my Great Han court has no one else to rely on?"

What good would it do to stall Lu Zhi?

So what if we've got Zhu Jun under our control?

They are all utterly disloyal and ungrateful. Unfortunately, while we can hold back these insignificant people, we cannot hold back my own Han imperial relatives. When the time is right, I will not let a single one of them go."

Liu Hong spoke slowly and deliberately, revealing the intense murderous intent in his words.

"By the way, how's the matter of the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden going?"

Liu Hong then changed the subject, seemingly casually asking, "I vaguely recall hearing that the son of the Marquis of Weining is quite talented, and that his two sworn brothers are now serving as military officers in Luoyang, and have also wiped out the Yellow Turbans in the vicinity of Luoyang. Is this matter confirmed?"

Although it was a casual question, Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong, who had served him for many years, certainly understood the meaning behind his words.

The two exchanged a glance, both understanding each other perfectly.

His Majesty is truly going to make good use of the Liu family of Youzhou.

The two men immediately understood each other and spoke one after the other: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. As the saying goes, 'Like father, like son,' Liu Bei, the son of Marquis Weining, certainly lives up to that reputation."

In his early years in Youzhou, he was fond of chivalrous deeds, helping the weak and punishing the strong, and promoting the name of the Han imperial family. He was well-known in Zhuojun, Youzhou.

After learning that his father was the governor of Youzhou, he took the initiative to travel to Luoyang so that he could serve His Majesty loyally.

Recently.

He, along with his two sworn brothers, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, indeed subdued the Yellow Turbans in Luoyang and the surrounding counties. Now, leading a thousand men, he can even rout a Yellow Turban force of ten thousand. Clearly, these three are all generals of unparalleled bravery, and naturally, they are worthy of His Majesty's favor and should be given important positions.

Listening to Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong's words, Liu Hong did not completely believe them at this moment.

Although he considered these two men as his confidants, it doesn't mean he lacked any judgment whatsoever.

Moreover, given how exaggerated their claims were, he felt a surge of curiosity.