Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

In the midst of this deathly silence, one of the people at the table slowly stood up.

Dong Zhuo glanced sideways and saw it was Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao paused, took a deep breath, and said:

"Now that the court has just been established, you have been summoned to the capital to assist the emperor and bring peace to the people. Yet you have repeatedly and presumptuously proposed to depose the eldest son of the legitimate wife and establish a son of a concubine. Isn't this... a premeditated rebellion?"

These words shocked everyone present!

In the corner, Cao Cao's gaze fell on Yuan Shao, and he secretly cheered in his heart: Good heavens! How can a person be so courageous?

Dong Zhuo was also stunned.

He never expected that, in Luoyang, besides Ding Yuan and Lu Zhi, there would actually be someone who dared to contradict him to his face.

Dong Zhuo's face changed instantly! He stood up abruptly, his eyes wide with rage, and his spittle almost landed on Yuan Shao's face:

"Yuan Benchu! You dare challenge me! The affairs of the world are in my hands; I will act as I see fit, and who dares disobey!"

Yuan Shao snorted, a cold smile playing on his lips:

"The affairs of the realm rest with the emperor and with your loyal ministers. You... are merely a usurper, so what?"

"You...!" Dong Zhuo roared, gripping his sword. "Do you want to test the sharpness of my sword?!"

He thought Yuan Shao would be afraid.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Shao burst into laughter and drew his sword with a clang, pointing the blade directly at Dong Zhuo!

"My sword has never been at a disadvantage!!!"

Two men, two swords, standing about ten feet apart, their sword tips facing each other!

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze; even breathing could be clearly heard.

Everyone was stunned. Was this still the same cowardly Yuan Benchu?

Cao Cao's pupils contracted slightly as he watched this scene, his blood boiling with excitement. His mind raced with thoughts of: "Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap!!! He's so handsome! He's too handsome!"

Even if this was Yuan Shao, a spoiled brat from a family that had held high office for four generations, an indecisive and incompetent teammate, and one of Cao Cao's greatest rivals in the latter half of his life.

But at that moment, he was absolutely stunning.

Li Ru broke out in a cold sweat and rushed forward again, grabbing Dong Zhuo's arm, saying, "Father-in-law, please calm down! Father-in-law, please calm down! The matter is not yet settled; we must not kill indiscriminately!"

Several ministers who were on good terms with Yuan Shao quickly surrounded him, pulling him back and saying, "Benchu, calm down! Benchu, calm down! Fighting in the palace is unbecoming of your manners..."

Yuan Shao was pulled along by the crowd, and he took the opportunity to sheath his sword.

He gave Dong Zhuo a cold look, didn't bother to bow, just made a gesture of respect with his sword held horizontally, turned around, and strode out of the palace gate.

Never looking back.

He walked to the East Gate, hung the tally symbolizing the power of the Commandant of the Capital Region on the gate, and declared, "I'm done!"

Then, with his entourage, he spurred his horse and rode straight out of the city.

run away.

After Yuan Shao left, the hall fell into an even deeper silence.

Dong Zhuo stared intently in the direction Yuan Shao had left, veins bulging on his forehead.

Then, he turned to the assembled ministers and said coldly:

"Does anyone else have objections?"

No one spoke.

......

September 2nd.

In the Chongde Hall, officials were summoned once again.

This time, Dong Zhuo stopped wasting words.

He directly coerced He Lian into issuing an edict in public to depose the emperor:

"During the mourning period for the late emperor, the emperor showed no filial piety and his demeanor was unfit to be a ruler. Therefore, he is hereby deposed and made Prince of Hongnong, and Liu Xie, Prince of Chenliu, is established as emperor!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Grand Tutor Yuan Wei stepped forward swiftly.

He first knelt before Liu Bian, then stood up, expressionless, and personally untied the jade seal ribbon from Liu Bian's waist, holding it in both hands and handing it to Liu Xie, the Prince of Chenliu, who was standing beside him.

He then turned around, helped Liu Bian down from the main hall, and made him kneel down to face north and acknowledge his submission.

Liu Bian, with his shoulders hunched, didn't dare utter a sound, kneeling there, tears streaming down his face.

He Lian stood to the side, biting her lip, trying to keep quiet, tears streaming down her face.

The entire hall was filled with civil and military officials, all with their heads bowed, fists clenched, nails digging into their flesh, yet none dared to move or utter a sound.

Liu Xie sat quietly on the dragon throne, his face expressionless.

He took the imperial seal and placed it on his lap.

The ceremony has ended.

September of the sixth year of the Zhongping era of the Great Han Dynasty.

Luoyang City was now completely under the control of the Dong family.

......

at the same time.

In Zhuo County, Youzhou, a thousand miles away, lies the Prince of Yan's residence.

Inside the council chamber.

Lu Bing stood in the hall, having just finished reading the last secret report sent back by carrier pigeon from Luoyang.

"...On the second day of the ninth month, Dong Zhuo deposed the young emperor and made him the Prince of Hongnong, and installed Liu Xie, the Prince of Chenliu, as emperor. Empress Dowager He was moved to Yong'an Palace. All the officials were silent, and no one dared to remonstrate...Dong Zhuo himself took the position of Grand Commandant, and was given the authority to wield the imperial axe and the Tiger Guard. He was allowed to enter the court without having to bow, and could wear a sword and shoes in the palace."

After reading it aloud, Lu Bing closed the secret report and stood with his hands at his sides.

A moment of silence fell over the hall.

Fang Xuanling spoke first, his voice steady: "Dong Zhuo's actions can be described as digging his own grave. Deposing and installing the emperor, and acting arbitrarily as Yi Yin and Huo Qubing, will surely lead to the warlords of the land raising armies to demand justice."

Du Ruhui nodded and said, "But for now, he is still the ruler of Luoyang, using the emperor to command the other lords. My lord, we..."

Liu Ce shook his head.

He leaned back on the couch, crossed his legs, one hand supporting his chin, the other idly scratching the rim of his teacup lid.

......

Guo Jia suddenly clicked his tongue, took a sip of tea, and said leisurely:

"My lord's recent order to rescue Empress Dowager He and Liu Bian was a brilliant move."

Xun Yu looked up at him.

Guo Jia swirled his teacup: "Although Liu Bian is a deposed emperor, he is still the eldest son of the late emperor, and his title remains. Empress Dowager He is the late emperor's empress, and her title also remains. Now Dong Zhuo controls the court, and the people of the world are in a state of panic, all watching and waiting."

"When Dong Zhuo really intends to kill this mother and son, our men will 'just happen' to rescue them and 'just happen' to deliver them to Youzhou..." He smirked. "At that time, our lord will hold the reins of power, with a legitimate emperor standing beside him. What's that called? Using the emperor to command the disobedient!"

He paused, then added, "As for how old this emperor is, and whether he has real power... hehe."

Xun Yu frowned, about to speak.

Liu Ce waved his hand and said, "Wenruo, I know what you're going to say. Loyalty to the emperor and adherence to propriety—I understand all of that."

He looked at Xun Yu, and said with unusual seriousness, "But Dong Zhuo wants to kill my imperial brother's wife and children. Liu Bian is my nephew, and Empress Dowager He... is someone I've known before."

He paused, his tone softening:

"Officially, they are close relatives of the late emperor; personally, they have a past with me. Dong Zhuo wants to kill them to silence them, and I cannot stand by and watch."

Xun Yu remained silent.

Liu Ce added, "As for whether or not we should 'serve the Emperor,' that's a matter for later. Right now, the most important thing is for people to stay alive."

Xun Yu looked at him for a long time, then nodded gently.

He didn't say anything more.

......