A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Unfortunately, all of this was within Jia Xu's calculations.

Return His Majesty's secret edict?

Your plan was revealed to Dong Zhuo by His Majesty. You speak without thinking, and you're all the same. You're all good people.

Lu Bu muttered to himself.

"Is this true? Is it really possible to marry Diao Chan, become a general, be ennobled, and have one's name recorded in history?"

Lu Bu appeared excited, but as a military general, he lacked acting skills. Although he had been trained by Jia Xu, there were still many flaws in his performance.

"This matter is certainly true! How could I dare to falsely convey an imperial edict?"

"The people have suffered under Dong Zhuo for too long. Dong Zhuo is tyrannical and wicked. Everyone in the world wants to eat his flesh, drink his blood, and sleep on his skin."

"If Fengxian can kill the traitor Dong Zhuo, he will surely be the greatest contributor to the restoration of the Han Dynasty!"

Lu Bu's eyes gradually hardened. "I am willing to die for Your Majesty!"

"Hahahaha, with Fengxian's help, the great cause can be accomplished, and the Han Dynasty can be revived!"

Wang Yun laughed until he convulsed, and a scene flashed before his eyes: he was in a high position, with all the officials bowing their heads, and even the Wei family groveling at his feet.

Under his rule, the Han Dynasty flourished, and the surrounding barbarians submitted to him. This period is known in later generations as the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty. He was praised in historical records as a wise minister comparable to the Duke of Zhou.

Annoyed by the laughter, Lü Bu quickly stepped forward to interrupt, "What's your plan?"

Although Wang Yun was somewhat displeased at being interrupted by Lü Bu, he suppressed his displeasure out of consideration for Lü Bu's continued use of him.

"Fengxian, please let me explain slowly."

"Tomorrow we will petition His Majesty to grant Dong Zhuo the title of King. After His Majesty issues the decree, we will hold a ceremony to confer the title of King."

"The ceremony for bestowing the title of king was very solemn. Dong Zhuo would be overjoyed when he was made a king, and would naturally lower his guard."

"At the investiture ceremony, I will present the imperial edict, ordering Fengxian to immediately execute Dong Zhuo!"

"Then Fengxian took the imperial edict to subdue the army and eliminate the remaining followers of Dong Zhuo."

"This plan is ingenious, truly ingenious!"

Wang Yun laughed so hard his mustache twitched, like he had epilepsy.

"I understand."

Lu Bu kept his head down, afraid that Wang Yun would see the expression on his face.

After driving Lü Bu away, Wang Yun rushed to the palace to petition for Dong Zhuo to be granted the title of king.

Liu Xie was still just a child, and Wang Yun didn't take him seriously. Fearing that Liu Xie would know too much and ruin important matters, he only told Liu Xie that Dong Zhuo was to be granted a title of king, without mentioning his own plans.

When Liu Xie heard that Dong Zhuo was to be granted the title of king, he thought it made perfect sense. Dong Zhuo had made great contributions and was about to help him destroy the Luoyang court, allowing the brothers to reunite. Granting him the title of king in advance would also help to win over the hearts of the people, and perhaps Luoyang would be captured sooner.

Wang Yun was a truly loyal minister; he never expected this. He deserves a good reward.

"The title of the Prime Minister is Marquis of Mei. Since that is the case, let him be enfeoffed as King of Mei."

"Can."

Although Wang Yun felt somewhat uncomfortable with Liu Xie still referring to Dong Zhuo as Chancellor, this was, after all, the imperial palace, and he had to be careful to avoid being overheard. He only thought that Liu Xie was being overly cautious, not realizing that the two of them were thinking about completely different things.

After leaving Wang Yun's residence, Lü Bu came to Jia Xu through a secret passage in his own house and relayed Wang Yun's plan to Jia Xu without missing a single word.

"Being granted the title of king is indeed a good thing."

Jia Xu was surprised by the unexpected bonus; he was able to help Dong Zhuo secure a throne.

"However, the Han Dynasty is about to face a situation where many kings rise up."

Jia Xu seemed to see, through the long river of history, a future where every place in the world would be ruled by kings and nobles.

Once Dong Zhuo is granted the title of king, other local warlords will also seek the title of king. Whoever grants the title of king, they will support that court, including those relatives and powerful clans.

In order to seize this power, both the Chang'an court and the Luoyang court will surely open their mouths wide to the Prince of Feng.

When the feudal lords of the land were enfeoffed as kings, the collapse of the Han Dynasty was like a boulder rolling down a mountain, which could no longer be stopped.

But what does this have to do with Jia Xu?

He's just a worker trying to take advantage of the situation.

After receiving the message from Jia Xu, Wei Ya and Li Ru revised the imperial edict for bestowing the title of king overnight, clearly specifying the merits for such honors. Only those who had helped establish the emperor or saved his life were eligible for the title.

This would slow down the process of other feudal lords being granted the title of king, allowing them to maintain their advantage for a while longer.

The option of not being granted a title of king was never on their minds. Who wouldn't want to climb the ranks? Dong Zhuo's subordinates were definitely the driving force behind it, and even the two of them couldn't stop it.

The next day in the imperial court, Wang Yun submitted a memorial requesting that Dong Zhuo be granted the title of king.

Dong Zhuo's forces naturally agreed wholeheartedly, and the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition also knew about the plan and gave it their full support. Others could tell something was wrong at a glance, so they chose to protect themselves and remained silent.

Finally, Liu Xie summarized the matter and officially decided to confer the title of King of Mei upon Dong Zhuo.

"I have heard that praising virtue and merit is a national custom; bestowing titles and honors is a grand rule for emperors. Grand Tutor and Marquis of Mei, Zhuo, is blessed by the spirit of the mountains and rivers and possesses unwavering loyalty. He was sent to guard the western frontier and subdued the Qiang and Hu tribes; he returned to the state and his merits are comparable to those of Yi Yin and Huo Qubing."

"In the past, treacherous eunuchs caused chaos and turmoil, plunging the capital into despair. You, sir, drew your sword and rose up, leading your troops to quell the rebellion, supporting me from the brink of collapse and restoring order to the nation. This is an unparalleled achievement in rebuilding the imperial empire and restoring peace to the ancestral temples!"

"Subsequently, petty villains swarmed in the east, and treacherous rebels ran rampant in the north. The Duke, employing profound strategies and relying on his valiant martial prowess, defended against these outward villains and pacified the officials, restoring the court from peril to stability and strengthening the imperial regalia. His diligence in serving the king, day and night without rest, surpasses even the Duke of Zhou's assistance to King Cheng."

"I believe that the ancient sage kings rewarded merits beyond measure; and the meritorious officials of today should be rewarded with great honor. In the past, Xiao He was granted shoes, and Han Xin was granted thatched huts, both in recognition of their extraordinary achievements. You, Zhuo, have merits surpassing the Five Hegemons and virtues exceeding those of Huan and Wen. Now, I grant you your land, with white thatched huts, and enfeoff you as the King of Mei, bestow upon you the Nine Bestowments, establish royal banners and flags, and allow you to receive audiences without using your name, enter the court without hastening your steps, and wear a sword and shoes in the palace."

"Alas! You shall obey my command, and forever secure your throne. You shall pacify the western lands, protect the imperial palace, ensure the peace of the ancestral temples, and provide a safe haven for the people. May your reputation endure through the ages, and your name be recorded in history. Respectfully obey!"

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness. May Your Majesty live a long and prosperous life."

Dong Zhuo never expected such a huge windfall to fall into his lap at court today. Jia Xu, Li Ru, and Wei Ya tacitly kept the news from him, just to give him a surprise.

"Congratulations, Prince of Mei."

"I request that the Prince of Mei make thorough preparations upon his return. The investiture ceremony will be held three days later in the eastern suburbs of Chang'an. The imperial edict, the royal seal, and the sacrificial soil will all be delivered on that day."

Wang Yun congratulated Dong Zhuo, but even though it was his scheme, his face still turned a little red. After all, it was a title of king!

Once he takes control of the government, the first thing we must do is bestow the title of king upon him!

He was born into the Wang clan of Taiyuan, which was the ancient land of Jin, and was enfeoffed as the Prince of Jin!