Liu Bian at the start, so you're called Dong Zhuo, right?

"Does Your Highness intend to save Lu Zhi, or to bring Lu Zhi into your own ranks?"

Liu Bian was taken aback.

Xun Yu got up and walked to the window.

The window paper rustled in the wind and snow. He pushed the window a crack open, and the cold air rushed in, feeling like a knife.

"His Majesty has issued his decree; Lu Zhi will surely return to the capital."

Xun Yu's voice was not loud, but it was like driving a nail into wood.

"This step cannot be stopped, nor should it be stopped."

Liu Bian frowned: "Then Lu Zhi..."

"Let him finish his journey."

Xun Yu turned around and looked at Liu Bian:

"Once the prison cart was on its way, he was no longer just 'Lu Zhi,' but also 'Lu Zhi being questioned by the emperor.'"

Liu Bian asked, puzzled, "Then what should we do?"

"Save the person first, then cut off the hand."

Xun Yu turned to look at Wang Ming.

"Go and invite Cao Ren."

Wang Ming turned to look at Liu Bian, and seeing that the other party nodded, he bowed and left.

Before long, Cao Ren, clad in armor, entered the hall: "Your Highness."

Liu Bian did not speak, but instead looked at Xun Yu.

Xun Yu nodded slightly:

"Zixiao, there is something I need you to do."

"Mr. Xun, please speak freely."

Xun Yu then continued:

"Take your men out of the palace, use the name of the Minister of Justice, and go to 'Shangdongmen Post Station' outside Beimang."

"The prison cart carrying Lu Zhi will pass through the post station no later than the day after tomorrow."

Cao Ren was taken aback: "The title of Court Minister?"

"Yes." Xun Yu placed a document on the table, the seal at the end of the document was bright red, "It says - 'Officials who have committed crimes must be brought to the capital alive for questioning, and must not suffer from cold, hunger or illness along the way'."

He paused, then added:

"Bring the Typhoid Fever Powder and Antiseptic Powder from the Tian Shang Guild. Also bring two thick fur coats. Hand them over to the officials under the Court of Justice who are escorting you."

Cao Ren looked up: "Whose name is it?"

Xun Yu shook his head: "I will not appoint him as the Crown Prince."

"Let him think it's a matter of court regulations, not a favor from someone. The stricter the regulations, the less likely Zuo Feng will dare to tamper with things on the road."

Cao Ren clasped his hands in greeting: "Yes, sir."

After Cao Ren left, Liu Bian asked:

"Sir, where did you get this court official's help?"

Xun Yu explained, "The Grand General's Mansion."

Liu Bian paused for a moment:

"Did you know all along that I intended to save Lu Zhi?"

Xun Yu shook his head:

"I don't know."

"I only know that Your Highness is determined to quell the injustices of the world, so I have paved the way for you in advance."

Liu Bian asked no further questions, but simply bowed to him.

it is more than words.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he asked:

"What about Zuo Feng? Even after he returned to Beijing, he's still capable of biting people."

"Therefore, the second step is to avoid merchants and the Tian Chamber of Commerce."

Xun Yu raised his eyes, his gaze sharp and unfathomable.

"Use the military government and the inner government."

Liu Bian's eyes flickered.

Xun Yu said in a low voice:

"Zuo Feng was the military supervisor, and his travel arrangements and supplies were nominally to be 'rewarded and used for the journey' by the military government."

"Have the General's Mansion issue a 'reward of silk for the troops' tomorrow."

He took a roll of white cloth, spread it out, and pointed out to Liu Bian the extremely fine fire mark on the corner of the cloth:

"The folded silk came from the Imperial Treasury, and the corner of the silk bears the Imperial Treasury's seal. It's not money; it's evidence."

Liu Bian instantly understood:

Once this item falls into Zuo Feng's pocket, it's not just "accepting gifts," it's "accepting bribes under false pretenses and misappropriating military supplies." Moreover, it carries the imperial seal—no one can deny it.

"But what if he doesn't accept it?" Liu asked.

Xun Yu's smile was very faint:

He will accept it.

"The most feared thing for a greedy person is having nothing to greed for. What's more, this was sent in the name of the military government—if he doesn't accept it, he has to sign 'refuse to accept.' Once he signs 'refuse to accept,' it's as if he admits: your accusation against Lu Zhi is not for military discipline, but for personal grudges."

Liu Bian felt a chill run down his spine: "Who will deliver it? Who will watch him receive it?"

"The Commander of the Imperial Guards," Xun Yu said calmly. "After the Zhao Zhong case, the Commander of the Imperial Guards is in dire need of a meritorious deed to 'establish authority.' Letting them do it is a logical step."

He stopped abruptly after saying this.

The charcoal fire inside the hall crackled.

Liu Bian looked at Xun Yu and, for the first time, read something profound in that cold, aloof face—

It wasn't ruthlessness, but a chillingly calm calculation:

Put everyone's desires and every department's responsibilities on the same playing field.

No one can escape it.

-

Two days later, at the East Gate Post Station.

On a snowy night, the prison cart slowly came to a stop.

The dim light of the post station lamp illuminated the pale yet stern face inside the carriage—Lu Zhi.

Just as the officials under the Court of Justice were about to enter the post station to rest, a group of armored soldiers suddenly appeared outside. The leader, clad in armor, spoke little, only delivering a document:

"Imperial edict from the Court of Justice: Convicted officials must be brought to the capital alive for questioning, and must not suffer from cold, hunger or illness along the way."

The subordinate official checked the document and, seeing that the seal was correct, immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

He dared not delay and immediately ordered someone to deliver the thick fur coat and medicine package to the prison cart.

Lu Zhi did not reach out.

He merely glanced at the fabric of the fur coat—the weave was fine and the stitches were clean, resembling the style commonly used in the imperial court of the capital.

I glanced at the markings on the medicine packet again, and there were two small characters engraved on it—Tian Shang.

His eyes flickered slightly, but he remained silent.

That silence wasn't stubbornness; it was suppressing all emotions in one's heart, waiting for an answer.

-

Three days later, at the northern gate of Luoyang.

The wind and snow at the city gates grew fiercer, and the verification of records became even stricter.

The escort team had just arrived, but Zuo Feng was in a hurry to go into the palace to report, so he spurred his horse to cross the gate.

A cold shout came crashing down from the city wall:

"According to King Wu's order - check the luggage!"

Zuo Feng's face stiffened: "I am here to supervise the army by imperial decree—"

"The more you obey the imperial edict, the more you must verify it." The city gate captain said neither servilely nor arrogantly, "His Majesty personally ordered that all entry and exit be checked. If you, the magistrate, fail to verify, it would be disobeying the imperial edict."

The words "resisting the imperial edict" were like nails driven into his throat.

Zuo Feng gritted his teeth: "Inspect!"

The luggage was opened.

The silk was folded into a roll, and the fire mark on the corner of the silk was clearly visible; next to it was a document that read "Received," and the signature was indeed Zuo Feng's handwriting.

The snowlight shone on the fire mark, as if it were shining on a dead end.

Zuo Feng's face turned deathly pale instantly, and his lips trembled: "This...this is for military use..."

The captain spread out the "Received" receipt and said coldly:

"Practical use refers to its application in the military."

"What good is it if you pocket it?"

"Take it down!"

The armored soldier stepped forward and grabbed his arm.

Zuo Feng screamed shrilly, his voice ripped apart by the wind and snow: "Injustice! Injustice! I—I was ordered to do this—"

The more it cried out, the more it seemed afraid.

Beside the prison cart, Lu Zhi finally slowly raised his head.

He watched the scene unfold beneath the city gate, saw Zuo Feng's disheveled state as he was dragged away, and watched the silk scroll bearing the fire mark being collected and sealed by the Imperial Guard—

For the first time, a very faint ripple appeared in those eyes, which were as deep as an ancient well.

It's not a pleasant experience.

Yes, I understand.

—This situation wasn't a stroke of luck; it was orchestrated by someone, and that person must have some connection to those two words.

Tian Shang.

This man knew he would be escorted back to the capital, knew Zuo Feng would be greedy, knew the city gates would be inspected, and even knew—that he should be given a fur coat when he was at his coldest.

At this moment, the official from the Court of Justice who was escorting them stepped forward tremblingly and whispered:

"General Lu... no, Lu Zhi."

"Since the Imperial Guard has arrested Zuo Feng, the Court of Justice will likely interrogate him again. The prison cart... will be temporarily detained at the Court of Justice's separate office."

Lu Zhi did not respond.

He only said it softly, his voice slightly hoarse, but still steady:

"Use a different signature if you want."

"I only ask that the charges be brought to a clear conclusion."

He paused, as if speaking to himself:

"I, Lu Zhi, can wait."