New Three Kingdoms Tales: Starting as the expressionless Liu Bei

Chang'an, Meiwu.

Before the majestic gate of the mansion, Lü Bu stood with his hand on his sword on the left side of the steps, while Li Ru stood with his sleeves tucked in on the right side of the steps, the two of them welcoming the endless stream of officials.

Wang Yun arrived slowly in a carriage. He exchanged a few pleasantries with several familiar colleagues outside the gate, then straightened his clothes, bowed to Lü Bu and Li Ru, and stepped into the mansion.

Wang Yun was unaware that the moment he bowed, Lü Bu's eyes flickered slightly, and his gaze hastily shifted elsewhere, as if deliberately avoiding his gaze.

Wang Yun led the officials into the inner courtyard. The officials were immediately astonished, like country bumpkins stumbling into the Grand View Garden. They were speechless with amazement at the sight before them and couldn't help but point and exclaim in whispers.

"What a wonderful place!"

"Yes, yes, this house is so grand!"

"This isn't the human world, it's heaven!"

Even a seasoned minister like Wang Yun, who had seen it all, couldn't help but widen his eyes and murmur in amazement, "Look at Prime Minister Dong's private residence, it's ten times more magnificent than the Han Dynasty's palace!"

Zhang Wen stepped closer and lowered his voice to echo, "Prime Minister Dong mobilized a full 400,000 laborers to build this Mei Fortress, exhausting the imperial treasury. He even brought all the palace maids and concubines here for his debauchery!"

Wang Yun shook his head repeatedly as he listened, but Zhang Wen became more and more excited as he spoke, and his voice unconsciously rose a few decibels.

"Besides that, he also stockpiled enough grain to last for twenty years in Mei Wu and stationed 80,000 elite troops there! Lord Wang, Mei Wu may seem like a place of romance and pleasure on the surface, but in reality, it is the most important town in the land!"

Wang Yun nodded slightly and sighed, "Yes, it seems that Prime Minister Dong is going to enjoy the ultimate pleasures of life here."

Zhang Wen was so angry his teeth itched, and suddenly he became impassioned, blurting out: "If that traitor Dong Zhuo doesn't die, the Han Dynasty will surely perish!"

Wang Yun was startled and quickly grabbed Zhang Wen's arm, lowering his voice to a whisper as he urgently instructed, "Keep your voice down! Keep your voice down! Don't alert those patrolling hounds!"

Zhang Wen realized he had misspoke and quickly shrank back, glancing around to make sure no one was watching before letting out a sigh of relief.

The two exchanged a knowing glance, said nothing more, and quickly went inside.

Dong Zhuo had already taken his seat in the main seat and was inviting the officials to take their seats. His gaze swept across the crowd and finally landed on Wang Yun, his eyes filled with a sinister look, as if he were staring at a piece of fat meat that was about to be eaten.

"Minister Wang, you've finally arrived! We've been waiting for you with bated breath!"

Wang Yun felt a chill run down his spine and quickly bowed, saying, "It is only right that this old minister attends the Prime Minister's banquet. I wish the Prime Minister a long and healthy life!"

Dong Zhuo chuckled and pointed to the first table below the main seat: "Minister Wang, please take your seat."

Wang Yun felt a pang of bitterness in his heart, but dared not show the slightest sign of refusal on his face. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and sit down in the spot closest to the tiger's mouth.

After several rounds of drinks, all the officials had arrived. Dong Zhuo raised his wine cup, his booming voice echoing throughout the room:

"My esteemed ministers, Yuan Shao's eighteen rebel armies have been utterly routed by our forces! The traitorous general Sun Jian has also been slain by our Liangzhou soldiers! Governors and prefects from all the provinces and counties have submitted memorials to offer their congratulations, and the Central Plains are now at peace!"

Li Ru was the first to stand up from his seat, raising his wine cup high with both hands and proclaiming loudly, "Congratulations, Prime Minister! Congratulations, Grand Preceptor!"

The officials below all rose to their feet and shouted in unison, "Congratulations, Prime Minister! Congratulations, Your Excellency!"

Dong Zhuo threw his head back and laughed, his gaze slowly sweeping over the submissive faces as if he were looking at a pack of docile dogs.

As the officials took their seats, one figure remained standing there, standing out conspicuously.

This man was none other than Zhang Wen, who had just been conversing with Wang Yun outside the door! Holding a wine cup, his face beaming, he proclaimed loudly, "Your Excellency, your pacification of the rebellion and protection of the nation are unparalleled throughout history, shining as brightly as the sun and moon! Your subject, Zhang Wen, respectfully wishes Your Excellency a long and prosperous life!"

Dong Zhuo couldn't stop smiling, but he waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Not at all, I'm just wishing all my beloved ministers good fortune and happiness!"

When the words "I, the King" reached Wang Yun's ears, his fingers holding the wine cup trembled slightly, and the bad premonition in his heart grew heavier.

Zhang Wen stepped out from the banquet and stood in the center. He bowed to Dong Zhuo and said with a smile, "Your Excellency has rendered such extraordinary service to the country, which is a testament to the will of Heaven and the inevitable trend of the times! I humbly request that Your Excellency, in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people, change the era name, establish a new dynasty, and ascend the throne as Emperor!"

Dong Zhuo's smile froze for a moment, then turned into a sinister sneer. He glanced sideways at Zhang Wen, his tone drawn out in a sarcastic tone: "Minister Zhang, do you think I'm suitable to be emperor?"

Zhang Wen was completely oblivious to the murderous intent surging behind that smile, and continued to nod repeatedly, his face crinkling with laughter:

"Perfect, of course perfect! If Your Excellency refuses to become emperor, you would be going against the will of Heaven and betraying the hearts of the people! That would be truly unsuitable! I implore Your Excellency to consider the country and its people, to ascend the throne, and to establish a new dynasty!"

Dong Zhuo chuckled maliciously, pointing his thick finger at Zhang Wen's nose from a distance. His tone grew increasingly sarcastic: "Minister Zhang, you're truly loyal to me! Minister Zhang, I've treated you well all this time, so why are you in such a hurry to make me emperor?"

Zhang Wen then realized something was wrong, and his smile froze. He awkwardly cupped his hands and said, "Grandfather, your becoming emperor was not my wish, but the will of Heaven! I was merely... speaking frankly and loyally, regardless of honor or disgrace."

Dong Zhuo nodded with a half-smile. The next moment, he slammed his fist on the table, making the wine cups on it jump, and his fierce voice boomed through the hall: "Seize the traitor Zhang Wen!"

Zhang Wen froze on the spot, the color draining from his face instantly. Only when two armored soldiers' iron-like hands pressed down on his shoulders did he snap back to his senses and hissed:

"Your Excellency! I am innocent! I am innocent! I am not a traitor, I am utterly loyal to Your Excellency!"

Dong Zhuo slowly took a sip of wine, glancing at Zhang Wen, who was being held down by armored soldiers, and revealed a sinister smile: "Of course I know you are loyal to me. So, for me, you're willing to do anything, right?"

Zhang Wen's mouth was agape, and his whole body was trembling. How could he answer that?

Saying yes meant certain death; saying no meant certain death as well. He could only nod, his face pale.

Dong Zhuo laughed heartily, but his laughter abruptly stopped before it subsided. He let out a cold snort, his eyes flashing with an almost blood-red ferocity: "You're loyal to me to the core, but I'd like to know, how would it taste if that loyalty of yours were dug up and used as a snack?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wen's face turned deathly pale. Before he could even utter a second cry of injustice, Dong Zhuo waved to the two armored soldiers.

The armored soldiers dragged Zhang Wen outside, and Zhang Wen's heart-wrenching screams came from outside, growing farther and farther away, and finally stopping abruptly.

The officials in the room were all deathly pale, barely daring to breathe, their eyes fixed on the table in front of them.

Dong Zhuo, however, calmly stepped down from the main seat, strolled around with his hands behind his back, and glanced at the trembling officials, his tone as relaxed as if he had just crushed an ant:

"My esteemed ministers, there is no need to panic. Zhang Wen is a complete traitor! He wants to instigate us to commit treason for his own petty gains!"

He suddenly raised his voice, pounding his chest with fervor, "Who are we? We are loyal ministers sent by Heaven to save the Han Dynasty! We will eliminate the traitors, support the Han, and restore the Han Dynasty!"

He sneered, his gaze sweeping over the faces of each official. His voice suddenly lowered, carrying a chilling edge, "I wonder if any of you officials and nobles here still wish to emulate Zhang Wen, outwardly loyal to the Han Dynasty, but secretly plotting to usurp the throne and seize our heads? Is there anyone? Is there anyone else?!"

The hall was deathly silent. The officials were so frightened that they were trembling all over, barely breathing, wishing they could bury their heads under the desks in front of them.

Dong Zhuo smiled with satisfaction. He slowly walked up to Wang Yun, stood there straight, his turbid eyes fixed on Wang Yun, and said nothing.

Wang Yun kept his head down, beads of sweat dripping down his neck, and even his eyelashes were trembling.

Seeing Wang Yun so humble before him, Dong Zhuo nodded in satisfaction, waved his hand, and shouted loudly towards the outside:

"Bring forth the blood wine! Let all my esteemed ministers taste it and see if Zhang Wen's blood is sour or not!"