Brother, stop curling up! You're curling up like the founder of the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 123 Only the Wise and Virtuous Man, Liu Bei Displays His Might as a Ruler (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)
He Jin's death was like a pebble falling into water, disappearing after a few ripples, as if he were just an insignificant passerby.

Apart from He Jin's former subordinates, almost no one mourned He Jin's death.

The high-ranking officials and nobles in Luoyang also kept their doors tightly shut and secretly sent their servants to gather information, fearing that they would be caught in the crossfire of the mutinous soldiers.

The brothers Liu Bian and Liu Xie were sent to Lu Zhi's residence.

Given Lu Zhi's position as Minister and his long-standing reputation in both the military and political spheres, it's unlikely that any petty person would attempt to steal him.

Even Yuan Shao, who commanded most of the troops in Luoyang, only dared to send Chunyu Qiong to patrol outside Lu Zhi's residence after hearing that Liu Bian and Liu Xie had entered Lu Zhi's residence.

Yuan Wei's residence.

Grand Tutor Yuan Kui, Grand Master of the Palace Yuan Ji, and General of the Tiger Guard Yuan Shu all gathered together.

The atmosphere inside the hall was far from peaceful.

Yuan Shu was cursing and swearing, repeatedly calling Yuan Shao a "son of a concubine," venting his deep resentment towards him.

In this coup in Luoyang, Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Yuan Shao all benefited, while Yuan Shu suffered a series of misfortunes.

Before entering Changle Palace, Yuan Shu intended to accompany and protect He Jin.

He Jin, however, was confident that there was no danger inside Chang Le Palace since there were no eunuchs inside, and ordered Yuan Shu to wait outside the palace gate.

Only after five hundred eunuchs appeared outside Changle Palace and Zhang Rang threw out He Jin's sword did Yuan Shu realize he had been tricked.

Enraged, Yuan Shu immediately led his elite troops to fight the eunuchs.

Normally speaking, two hundred well-equipped Tiger Warriors should be able to easily defeat five hundred ordinary Yellow Gate Envoys.

The truth is that after the Yellow Gate Attendants suffered over a hundred casualties, Yuan Shu was directly frightened away by their fearless fighting spirit.

Although the Tiger Warriors were selected from among the fierce warriors, having fierce warriors does not necessarily mean being good at fighting.

A raging soldier, and a raging nest.

Yuan Shu valued his life highly and was fond of leisure, so the soldiers he led were not much better.

In Yuan Shu's mind, a precious member of the Yuan family could not risk his life against a group of eunuchs.

Those who followed Yuan Shu's elite troops shared a similar mindset: they were there to make a fortune alongside the General of the Central Army, not to fight a bunch of eunuchs.

So much so that two hundred well-equipped Tiger Warriors couldn't defeat five hundred ordinary-equipped Yellow Gate Attendants!
Being defeated by a group of eunuchs was a great humiliation for Yuan Shu.

So Yuan Shu ran back to the Tiger Warrior Camp to mobilize troops, hoping to return to Changle Palace and avenge his previous humiliation.

When they arrived at Changle Palace again, Liu Bei was already attacking it.

Liu Bei was already dissatisfied with Yuan Shu's provocation some time ago, so when he saw Yuan Shu, he was not polite at all. He directly ordered Zhao Yun to knock all the deputy generals of the Tiger Warriors flying, which frightened Yuan Shu into surrounding him with layers of guards.

Faced with the ferocious Zhao Yun, Yuan Shu uttered a few harsh words before backing down and leaving.

On the way, Yuan Shu was further enraged when he encountered a report from a court official that Cao Cao was embezzling money from the eunuchs' palace. "I didn't get the benefits from Chang Le Palace, and now someone's trying to steal the benefits from the eunuchs' palace?"
Filled with resentment, Yuan Shu went to the eunuch palace again to try to stop Cao Cao, but Cao Cao retorted, "Although the Grand General is dead, I, Yuan Shu, still hold the Grand General's insignia and have the power to make decisions on my own without needing to consult him. I, Yuan Shu, am acting on Yuan Shu's orders to take over the eunuch palace. What do you, a mere Tiger General, intend to do?"

Cao Cao's disdainful gaze, mocking tone, and tough attitude nearly made Yuan Shu vomit blood.

What angered Yuan Shu even more was that someone from the Tiger Warriors camp urgently sought him out, claiming that Yuan Shao had appointed his retainer Yan Liang as Tiger Warrior Commander with the insignia of a Grand General, intending to take over the Tiger Warriors camp.

Fearing that his base would be attacked, Yuan Shu had no choice but to hurriedly return to the Tiger Warrior Camp and drive Yan Liang away.

After all that trouble, Yuan Shu gained nothing and was repeatedly humiliated by Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Yuan Shao. He was also accused of failing to protect He Jin. One can imagine the resentment Yuan Shu felt!

Seeing Yuan Shu constantly cursing and swearing, both Grand Tutor Yuan Kui and Grand Master of the Palace Yuan Ji felt a sense of disappointment and frustration.

The Tiger Warriors, renowned for their bravery, became a bunch of cowards in Yuan Shu's hands, even worse than eunuchs.

"Gonglu, let's get down to business first." Yuan Wei couldn't hold back any longer and interrupted Yuan Shu's incessant rant against Yuan Shao, saying, "Tomorrow morning, the Empress Dowager will surely summon all the officials to reward merits and punish crimes. Now that He Jin and the eunuchs are both dead, it is time for the Yuan family to seize power. At this time, we should put aside our past grievances and help Yuan Shao to compete for the position of Grand General."

"You want me to help that maid give birth to a child? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Upon hearing that he was to help Yuan Shao seize the position of Grand General, Yuan Shu instantly flew into a rage.

Am I crazy to help Yuan Shao, or are you all crazy?

What right does Yuan Shao, that son of a concubine, have to ask me to help him?
Shouldn't Yuan Shao have voluntarily relinquished the position of Grand General to me?
I am the noble son of the Yuan family, what is Yuan Shao? Does he deserve to be my foil?
Yuan Shu glared, furious, then looked at Yuan Ji: "Brother, are you also going to help Yuan Shao's son, born of a concubine, to vie for the position of Grand General?"

Compared to Yuan Shu, an incompetent and dissolute son of the Yuan family, Yuan Ji possessed all the advantages of a noble son of the Yuan family: handsome appearance, dignified demeanor, calm temperament, resourceful and decisive, and tactful in dealing with people.
Seeing Yuan Shu's undiminished anger, Yuan Ji spoke calmly yet with an undeniable authority: "Gonglu, your uncle is right. The conflict between you and Yuan Shao is an internal struggle within the Yuan clan; Yuan Shao's desire to become Grand General is an external struggle within the Yuan clan. We must not let personal grudges interfere with important matters."

"Tomorrow you must take the lead in expressing your support for Benchu. You must let the Empress Dowager and the court officials know that in Luoyang today, only the Yuan family can assist the emperor in stabilizing the people. This is a decision made jointly by my uncle and me. You must learn to abandon your personal interests and focus on the future interests of the family. Only when the Yuan family is strong can you act without restraint."

It's the family again!

Why should I abandon my personal interests instead of Yuan Shao?

I can be a great general too!

Why can't I be the Great General!

Am I, Yuan Shu, born to serve my family?

Although he was filled with resentment, Yuan Shu could only reluctantly endure the arrangements made by Yuan Kui and Yuan Ji.

It was through the efforts of Yuan Wei and Yuan Ji that he was able to become the Tiger General of the Central Route.

If they disobeyed, Yuan Wei and Yuan Ji could also prevent Yuan Shu from becoming the Tiger General.

Yuan Shu snorted coldly and agreed to the request, but inwardly he was cursing: "You'll be proud of this child born of a concubine for now, but I will surely have my day in power!"
Liu Bei's military camp.

The Imperial Secretary Gai Xun led seven men inside, claiming they were men of ambition willing to respond to the secret edict and support the new emperor: they were Zhong Ji, Liu Ai, Zhou Bi, Wu Qiong, Liu Dai, Xu Jing, and Liu Biao, the Commander of the Northern Army.

Looking at the group of people in front of him, Liu Bei couldn't help but sigh inwardly: "Gai Yilang, you really have a wide circle of friends!"

The title of Attendant-in-Ordinary was originally an honorary title bestowed upon officials such as marquises, dukes, ministers, grand masters, generals, and commandants, but now it is a high-ranking official with a salary of two thousand piculs of grain.

Not only could they enter and leave the forbidden area of ​​the palace to answer questions from the emperor, but they also served as messengers between the emperor and civil and military officials. Although there was no fixed number of people in the Attendant-in-Ordinary, it was remarkable that Gai Xun was able to win over five people, and Zhong Ji, Liu Ai, Zhou Bi, Wu Qiong, and Liu Dai were also well-known among scholars.

The position of Shangshulang was in charge of selecting officials, and Xu Jing was also quite famous among scholars because of his fondness for evaluating people.

Liu Biao was the commander of the five battalions of the Northern Army, which included the Commandant of the Tunqi Cavalry, the Commandant of the Yueqi Cavalry, the Commandant of the Infantry, the Commandant of the Changshui Cavalry, and the Commandant of the Shesheng Cavalry. He was not only a descendant of King Gong of Lu, but also a famous scholar who had become well-known at a very young age.

After introducing everyone, Gai Xun asked, "Although He Jin is dead, Dong Zhuo has not yet arrived. Yuan Shao is also holding the insignia of the Grand General, commanding the troops in Luoyang. Tomorrow, the Empress Dowager will surely summon the officials to reward merits and punish crimes to stabilize the court. I wonder what Liu Yongzhou's plans are regarding supporting the Prince of Chenliu? Should we delay tomorrow to wait for Dong Zhuo?"

Everyone had gathered, but the most crucial person, Dong Zhuo, was missing, which made Gai Xun quite anxious.

Now that He Jin and the eunuchs are both dead, it is the best opportunity to support Liu Xie as emperor.

If the opportunity is missed and the ministers who support Liu Bian establish the court, it will be very difficult to support Liu Xie again.

The reason why Liu Biao and others support Liu Xie now is not because they are particularly loyal to Liu Xie, but because supporting Liu Xie now carries the least risk and the greatest reward.

When the risks increase in the future, no one will be willing to do it.

After all, everyone is here to seek merit in supporting the emperor, not to have their families play games.

Liu Bei did not answer Gai Xun's question, but instead glanced at everyone and then looked at Liu Biao: "I have heard that Yuan Shao holds the imperial seal and has taken command of the five schools of the Northern Army. How many people can Marquis Liu still command now?"

Liu Biao's eyes gleamed with arrogance: "I have commanded the five battalions of the Northern Army for many years and have an excellent relationship with the captains of the five battalions. Many soldiers in the army also fear and respect my name. As long as the secret edict arrives in Luoyang, I can command the five battalions of the Northern Army."

"In that case, you can all rest easy." Liu Bei chuckled and said, "Dong Zhuo is a valiant general from the border region, and he is well aware of the importance of speed in warfare. If he hears of the upheaval in Luoyang, he will surely rush there overnight. When Dong Zhuo enters the city tomorrow, you all just need to cooperate."

Seeing that the worry on everyone's faces had not lessened, Liu Bei added, "My mentor, Lord Lu, also has the same idea."

Upon hearing that Lu Zhi was also involved, the worry on everyone's faces gradually disappeared.

Because Liu Bei frequently bestowed titles upon Lu Zhi, Lu Zhi's reputation among scholars soared, becoming comparable to the might of a 100,000-strong army claiming to be an 800,000-strong army.

Gai Xun exclaimed in surprise, "I once privately invited Minister Lu, but he declined, citing his refusal to get involved in the power struggle between the two palaces. I never expected that he would have this intention now. With Minister Lu's help, the great undertaking can be accomplished!"

Having obtained the answers they wanted, everyone left.

Not long after the group left, Dong Min, the Commandant of the Imperial Carriage, brought Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang to pay their respects.

Liu Bei was not surprised that Dong Min would come.

The arrival of Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang surprised Liu Bei.

Upon meeting Liu Bei, the two immediately bowed and declared, "We are willing to obey the orders of Governor Liu of Yongzhou!"

"General Wu, General Zhang, we are old acquaintances. I would like to know why you two are under my command?" Liu Bei asked with a smile.

Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang exchanged a glance and said truthfully, "Now that the General is dead, we two are unwilling to surrender to Yuan Shao. We heard from Commandant Dong that Liu Yongzhou wants to join forces with Dong Bingzhou to support the Prince of Chenliu as emperor. We two are willing to lead our troops to assist Liu Yongzhou and ask for our future."

Dong Min chimed in, "After Generals Wu and Zhang killed the General of Chariots and Cavalry who colluded with the eunuchs, they also absorbed his troops. They still have two thousand men in the city. Yuan Shao commands his troops with imperial insignia, making him difficult to control. With the assistance of Generals Wu and Zhang, we have a better chance of winning."

Liu Bei lowered his head in deep thought.

Although Liu Bei had a bad impression of Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang and had a personal grudge against them in the past, he greatly admired Wu Kuang's son and nephew.

Wu Kuang's son, Wu Ban, was a generous and chivalrous man, while his nephew, Wu Yi, was a steady and reliable man who could be entrusted with important matters. Both of them were also capable generals.

The power struggle between Liu Bei and He Jin has now ended with He Jin's death. Accepting Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang, the two C-cards, may lead to obtaining Wu Ban and Wu Yi, the two B-cards, which is not a loss.

Seeing Liu Bei bow his head and remain silent, Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang both felt a chill in their hearts and were immediately filled with dejection.

Putting themselves in Liu Bei's shoes, if it were Liu Bei seeking advice on his future, Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang would also be suspicious and unwilling, and might even take advantage of his misfortune to humiliate him at will.

Thinking about their uncertain future and not knowing where to go, Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang were even more frustrated.

Although Dong Min also invited Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang to lead their troops to join Dong Zhuo, Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang, who had been in Luoyang for a long time, knew very well that Dong Zhuo and Liu Bei were different!

Even disregarding the fact that the secret edict was directly entrusted to Liu Bei by Liu Hong, just considering the relationship that "Liu Bei's mentor was Lu Zhi," Dong Zhuo's prospects were far inferior to Liu Bei's!
In addition, Liu Bei is not yet thirty years old, and his youth and talent mean a brighter future!

Most importantly, Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang did not believe that Dong Zhuo could succeed.

A border warrior who has neither a lineage of martial arts masters like Liu Bei nor is a descendant of the Liu clan, and whose secret edict was even given by Liu Bei, is unlikely to hold power for long even if he can rely on force to seize power in the short term.

"Hahaha--"

A burst of laughter rang out, and Liu Bei got up and went over to help Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang up.

My mentor, Master Lu, once said: "The ocean is vast because it embraces all rivers."

"The sea is vast because it can contain all the streams and tributaries; if a person wants to have great virtue, he must also have a broad mind like the sea."

“Generosity wins the support of the people; only the virtuous and wise can win their hearts.”

"Only now do I realize the profound meaning of my teacher Lu's teachings."

Seeing the astonished looks in Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang's eyes, Liu Bei's tone became even gentler: "Although I have some old grudges with you two generals, they are not life-or-death feuds. Now that you two generals are willing to put aside your prejudices and take the initiative to find me, it is enough to show your magnanimity; if I continue to dwell on past grievances, how can I achieve great things and establish a great career?"

"As the ancient saying goes, 'The ice is about to melt.' I am willing to put aside our past grievances with you two generals and work together to achieve great things. Although I cannot promise you a bright future like you do, I will never treat you unfairly as long as you sincerely help me."

The astonishment in Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang's eyes quickly turned into ecstasy.

"Only today do I realize that Prefect Liu's magnanimity is as vast as mountains and seas. I was blind and underestimated Prefect Liu before. I, Wu Kuang, am willing to do anything for Prefect Liu!"

“I am grateful to Magistrate Liu for not finding me uncouth. Although I, Zhang Zhang, am not a great talent, I understand gratitude and am willing to do my best for Magistrate Liu.”

Dong Min, standing to the side, was shocked: "I have been trying to persuade Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang for a long time, but neither of them would give an opinion. Liu Bei only said a few words, yet he managed to get Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang to do things for him? This man's ability to gather people far surpasses that of my second brother!"

Meanwhile, Dong Zhuo, the second brother whom Dong Min cherished, finally arrived at Xianyang Garden in the west of Luoyang City after a frantic night's journey.

Looking at the time, Dong Zhuo felt both relieved and furious: "Luckily, I arrived in time! That scoundrel Yuan Shao dared to deceive me! Once I enter the city, I will not let you off!"

(End of this chapter)