My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 207 Probing Tests and Attitudes from All Sides
Inside the Taozhu Imperial Palace.

Although it was called a temporary palace, it was actually a military camp.

However, because the emperor was there, the military camp also served as a temporary palace.

Erzhu Rong returned to his tent without calling anyone, as if he had already guessed something.

Yuan Tianmu quickly found him.

"I've met the king!"

"Tianmu, you are my sworn brother, why be so distant?"

Erzhu Rong personally rose to greet him before asking, "Have you come to see me for something?"

Yuan Tianmu nodded, and after a moment's hesitation, he asked, "If high-ranking officials and princes come to pay their respects, what does Tianbao intend to do?"

Erzhu Rong smiled nonchalantly and asked in return, "Since you've come to me, brother, you must already have a plan in mind? Feel free to speak frankly, I currently have no clue what to do."

Yuan Tianmu then said bluntly, "Just now you killed the Empress Dowager and the deposed emperor, which is exactly what Dong Zhuo did at the end of the Han Dynasty. After you enter Luoyang, the officials and ministers in Luoyang will inevitably be dissatisfied. You also know that many ministers in the court were promoted by the Empress Dowager and are all sycophants who only know how to flatter."

"You didn't achieve any great military exploits before you came, so you can only establish your authority by killing people. You came here under the righteous banner of eliminating treacherous officials in the court, so it's perfectly reasonable for you to kill them!"

Erzhu Rong glanced at him, but did not agree immediately. Instead, he took his hand affectionately and said, "I had no clue what to do, but now, after hearing your words, I have suddenly understood."

Yuan Tianmu quickly stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "However... this is just my personal opinion. Tianbao might as well ask others, or ask His Majesty what his attitude is towards the officials."

Erzhu Rong nodded, and Yuan Tianmu did not linger any longer, leaving the tent.

Just as Erzhu Rong was about to get up to meet Yuan Ziyou and find out his attitude, Fei Mu came to see him again.

Erzhu Rong had no choice but to sit down again.

This time, it was Fei Mu who took the initiative to speak, "I have come to pay my respects to the General because I have something to say!"

"Oh? What is it? Just say it."

"They are the officials!"

Fei Mu gritted his teeth and said seriously, "I wonder how the General intends to deal with the officials?"

The imperial guards in Luoyang had already given up resistance, yet Erzhu Rong still insisted that all officials come outside the city to pay their respects to Yuan Ziyou. A seasoned official like Fei Mu had long since seen through this scheme.

If we enter the city and start a massacre, it will surely cause everyone in Luoyang to be terrified and uneasy.

Besides...

What if the person killed by Erzhu Rong secretly raised assassins in the city and suddenly came out to avenge his master and assassinate Erzhu Rong?
Inside the city, inside the palace.

That's a place where you have to be respectable.

Disrespectable things should be done outside the city.

"I'm also at a loss. Just now, Tianmu advised me that I should kill someone to establish my authority. What do you think?"

"General Yuan's words are exactly what I wanted to say!"

Fei Mu, his expression excited, hurriedly said, “General, you have led your troops here, and people along the way have flocked to join you. You have not fought a single battle, so you cannot establish your authority with the momentum of a great victory, nor can you intimidate the officials. Moreover, you currently have less than ten thousand men under your command. If the officials were to see the true strength of your army with their own eyes, they would surely become contemptuous and fear unrest. If you do not raise your sword and start a massacre, you will have to plant your confidants in the court.”

"When the General leaves Luoyang, all our previous efforts will be in vain, and all our hard work will be for naught!"

"General, you must distinguish between the loyal and the treacherous, and carry out a thorough purge of the wicked officials in the court. This is the best course of action!"

Erzhu Rong nodded again, "It is indeed a good suggestion. Let me think about it a little more."

After seeing Fei Mu off.

Erzhu Rong quickly stood up; what he needed to ascertain most right now was the attitude of the new emperor, Yuan Ziyou.

He rushed to Yuan Ziyou's tent.

"Greetings to Your Majesty!"

"General, please rise. Have the officials' carriages arrived yet?"

Erzhu Rong shook his head. "I have come here because I have some doubts in my heart. I hope Your Majesty can dispel my worries."

Yuan Ziyou calmly asked, "What is it?"

Erzhu Rong spoke frankly, without any subtle probing: "I wonder what Your Majesty's attitude is towards the officials, ministers, and princes? What are Your Majesty's plans after they pay their respects to Your Majesty?"

Yuan Ziyou remained expressionless, but inwardly he was terrified. What did Erzhu Rong mean by coming to him at this time to ask such a question?
He didn't think someone like Erzhu Rong needed to ask for others' opinions at such a crucial moment.

Was it a test?

Currently, he and Erzhu Rong are still on the same side, but after Empress Dowager Hu died, he returned to the Luoyang Imperial Palace.

The two will become enemies in the struggle for power, but that's a matter for later. Does Erzhu Rong not even want to wait that long?

Many thoughts flashed through his mind, but Yuan Ziyou's mental fortitude was indeed excellent.

He forced a smile. "Why would the General ask such a question?"

"Your Majesty, I only wish to know your thoughts so that I may act accordingly."

Yuan Ziyou could only ask, "Does the General still remember the slogan you used when you raised the banner of rebellion?"

"Eliminate the treacherous officials!"

"Correct!"

Yuan Ziyou nodded and said, "With the world in chaos and the court in such a state, there must be treacherous officials in the court. Why is the General hesitating now that he has raised an army to eliminate them?"

"So, according to Your Majesty's will, you want me to unleash a massacre?"

Yuan Ziyou shook his head repeatedly, "Why make such a fuss? Wouldn't that damage the general's reputation for benevolence?"

"but……"

"There are indeed treacherous officials in the court. Many high-ranking positions have been occupied by a group of sycophants who only know how to flatter. As for these people... the general should execute them without mercy."

"Only when I have free time can I give important positions to loyal and righteous men like the general."

"Now the Great Wei dynasty is in turmoil and its future is uncertain. We need to make good use of people like the Grand General so that the Great Wei dynasty can be restored from darkness to light."

Yuan Ziyou guessed that Erzhu Rong most likely wanted to kill someone.

No.

It's definitely necessary to kill someone to establish authority.

This has always been the case.

If one has not achieved great military exploits abroad, then one can only resort to internal strife, slaughtering countless people to establish authority.

So he wouldn't mind giving a hint, letting Erzhu Rong do some 'dirty work' and kill a few more people.

Murder will inevitably leave a bad reputation, and the families behind those who were killed will certainly regard Erzhu Rong as an enemy.

So……

Yuan Ziyou could then curry favor with them and get them to work for him.

Erzhu Rong could take some of the vacant official positions, and he could also allocate some to win over a group of people.

The court should retain a few veterans like Yuan Yong, who served three reigns, to challenge Erzhu Rong and act as a check and balance.

The rebellions in Hebei, Shandong, and Longxi have not yet been quelled, and he still needs to rely on Erzhu Rong.

After all, within the territory of the Great Wei, only Erzhu Rong still had elite and combat-ready soldiers at his disposal.

Once the war is over, he can use Yuan Yong and others to challenge Erzhu Rong and gradually eliminate Erzhu Rong's influence from the court.

By then!

Only then can he wield absolute power.

To become the true Emperor of Wei, not a puppet emperor controlled by others.

Later historical records will record that Yuan Ziyou was the restorer of the Great Wei Dynasty and continued its rule.

Erzhu Rong looked up at him, smiled, and then bowed in greeting.

"Your Majesty's meaning is clear to me."

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty... I will do as Your Majesty has said, punish the treacherous officials, and restore order to the court!"

"General, you truly are the pillar of our Great Wei. This time, we must rely on you to eliminate the traitors. You are a great benefactor to the Yuan family!"

(End of this chapter)