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

Chapter 132 Reign Title: Chuping

Three days later, another court assembly was held in Deyang Palace.

The fog following the late emperor's passing had not yet dissipated, but all the officials and civil servants understood that the new emperor was not observing mourning for the past three days, but rather consolidating power.

The gates to the North and South Palaces were changed, the path to the medicinal cuisine hall in Zhangde Hall was completely altered, and the military tally in the West Garden was split into three verifications. The Northern Army dared not act rashly, and the eunuchs dared not wander around.

Those in Luoyang who had originally wanted to test their mettle during the national mourning period had barely poked their heads out when they were forcibly pushed back in.

Today, however, the matter to be discussed in the Deyang Palace is no less important than those matters.

Era name.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies stepped forward first, holding his tablet and bowing: "Your Majesty has ascended the throne, and all under heaven look to you. The matter of the reign title is not merely a matter of palace etiquette, but also concerns the entire realm. I request that it be decided as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bian did not speak immediately.

He simply sat quietly on the throne, looking down at the officials below.

Sure enough, someone stepped forward very quickly.

The official was a seasoned official in charge of rites, and his voice was not loud, as if he was afraid of overstepping his bounds: "The matter of the reign title is a matter of great importance in terms of etiquette. The late emperor has just passed away, and the national mourning period has not yet ended. I believe that we can temporarily maintain the old reign title and discuss changing it next year to fulfill our auspicious wishes."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bian's lips curled into a cold smile.

Whether they are sticking to the old ways or want to wait and see, they know very well what they are doing.

These kinds of people may not necessarily have something to hide, but they definitely want to see just how stable this new emperor can be.

Immediately afterwards, someone else stepped forward, speaking in a much more crisp tone than the former.

"I disagree."

"Now that Your Majesty has received the mandate of heaven and inherited the throne, the eyes and ears of the nation are on this day. If we continue to maintain the old era name, it will only arouse suspicion among the people, making them feel that the court is unstable and the new emperor is uncertain. Now that the capital is stable, we should immediately change the era name to reassure the people and clarify the Mandate of Heaven."

These kinds of people are much more useful than those who just stand by and watch, or those who are conservative.

While he cannot be called a loyal and virtuous man, he was able to help Liu Bian raise his profile first.

Once the people on both sides of the hall spoke, the rest of the people followed suit.

On one hand, he said, "The nation is in mourning, and it is not advisable to make hasty changes, lest it damage the integrity of the former dynasty of the late emperor"; on the other hand, he said, "The new emperor has inherited the throne and should establish a new era, and the world should not be left in a state of flux."

Some people are even smarter; instead of directly saying whether to change it or not, they just circle around the words, saying things like "it should conform to the rites," "it should understand the ancestors' intentions," and "it should be in accordance with the times."

It all sounds reasonable.

Actually, they were all leaving themselves an escape route.

Liu Bian sat on his throne and watched coldly for a long time.

Who is using the law to stall for time?

Who is truly thinking on behalf of the imperial court?

The line in his heart gradually cleared up.

At the same time, he began to really think about the important matter at hand.

The reign title needs to be decided.

The reign titles of the Han dynasty from my previous life flashed through my mind one by one.

Guangxi, Zhaoning, Yonghan, Chuping, Xingping, Jian'an —

Some are too short, like a flash of light in the wind; some are too grand, as if they haven't even settled down yet, but have already put on an air of establishing peace and stability; and some are too refined, unable to suppress the current turmoil in the court.

There were only two words that lingered in his heart the longest.

—Chuping.

"初" means "beginning".

What is flat is determined.

It's not that the world is at peace.

On the contrary, it was a message to the world: this chaos has only just begun to be cleaned up under my rule.

This idea is most suitable for the current situation.

Thinking of this, Liu Bian finally raised his eyes.

"Have you finished speaking?"

The argument in the hall immediately ceased.

Liu Bian's gaze swept across the entire court, his voice not loud, but loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear.

"The late emperor has passed away, and the country is in grave danger. I have heard the arguments for maintaining the old ways; I have also heard the proposals for changing the reign title."

Those who adhere to the old ways fear chaos; those who advocate change fear uncertainty.

"But what the Han Dynasty fears most now is not changing too quickly."

He paused, his voice turning slightly colder: "It's time to change, but you're still thinking about waiting."

Upon hearing this, the faces of those ministers who had advocated "conservatism" immediately turned pale.

"The reign of the late emperor has come to an end. Now that I have succeeded to the throne, I will not play any tricks with the world."

"The reign title will be decided today."

All the officials in the hall bowed their heads.

Liu Bian slowly uttered two words: "The matter is settled, and the peace is restored."

Xin Taichang was the first to react, immediately prostrating himself and shouting, "Your Majesty's judgment is divine!"

The other officials, as if waking from a dream, all bowed down, saying, "Your Majesty's judgment is divine!"

The shouts shook the palace.

Liu Bian did not give them much time to continue singing along, but instead issued a second edict.

"Record the imperial edict."

The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat immediately stepped forward with his pen.

The imperial edict reads: "I, with my meager virtue, have served the Great Mandate, and have been constantly vigilant day and night, never daring to be at ease for even a day. Now I am changing the era name to Chuping, and we are beginning anew together."

The moment the words "Gengshi" were uttered, the hall trembled slightly once more.

"Another edict was issued: During the period of national mourning, a general amnesty should not be granted, lest it disrupt the penal code; nor should there be no amnesty, lest it extinguish the people's hope. A minor amnesty is hereby granted."

"Except for crimes such as treason, murder of the emperor, collusion with foreigners, and palace intrigue, other minor crimes shall be reduced by one degree; old cases shall be reviewed by the Court of Justice and the Ministry of Personnel, and those that can be lenient shall be lenient, and those that can be decided shall be decided."

Upon hearing this, the officials in the hall breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Xun Yu also gave Liu Bian a slightly approving look.

It's not a complete amnesty.

Instead, it's a limited release of air.

It wins people's hearts without losing control.

This is more like the handwriting of a new emperor.

"A second imperial edict was issued: Xun Yu may enter the central government, participate in the decision-making of memorials, and serve in the Secretariat."

Xun stepped forward, prostrated himself to receive the order, and remained calm, but even the old ministers of the Ministry of Personnel couldn't help but glance at him.

The new emperor gave the position next to his head to this Xun Yu.

"Cao Cao was in charge of all matters related to night patrols, investigations, and post road inspections in the capital. He was also in charge of all matters related to medicine and food, issuing notices, and night reports inside and outside the Zhangde Hall."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's eyes lit up, and he stepped forward, clasping his hands in a gesture of respect: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

"Gongsun Zan is a skilled commander with outstanding tactics."

"The military officer in charge of the western garden is in charge of patrolling the cavalry, rotating guards at the camp gates, and conducting night patrols."

Gongsun Zan's armor clattered slightly as he responded in a deep voice.

After this sentence was uttered, many people in the hall realized its meaning.

The real power of the Western Garden is being gradually taken over by the new emperor.

"Xun Shuang, Lu Zhi, and Huangfu Song, all of whom had long-standing reputations, were each given their proper positions to serve as advisors and military and state counselors."

He Jin stood in the classroom, listening to the imperial edicts, his face growing increasingly stiff.

Despite holding military power, he himself was, from beginning to end, only someone who could be "assisted but not act arbitrarily."

Thinking of this, his knuckles tightened slightly.

Liu Bian, however, seemed not to notice his subtle change at all, and simply turned his gaze back to the entire court.

"My lords."

"I am changing the era name today not to show the world two words."

"From this day forward, the Han Dynasty shall use the Chuping era name."

"From this day forward, I will see who truly wants to bring peace to the world and who is merely trying to use this chaos to elevate themselves."

The courtiers in the hall all bowed their heads.

No one dared to answer.

That night, in a side room of the Yuan residence.

When Yuan Shao returned to his residence, his face showed obvious signs of exhaustion, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept well for the past few nights.

Yuan Shu was already waiting for him. As soon as he entered, he quickly stood up and asked, "Second Brother, how is it?"

Yuan Shao did not answer, but walked straight to the table, took a sip of tea, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Everything has been taken care of; it is no longer safe to stay in the capital."

"The rest of the matter cannot be handled in the capital."

At this point, Yuan Shao paused and looked at Yuan Shu.

"It's time to go."

Yuan Shu swallowed hard.

Now that the reign title has been set and a new emperor has ascended the throne, the heavens have changed.

"Go, prepare the car."

Yuan Shu was taken aback: "Now?"

Yuan Shao looked up at him, his eyes now devoid of any hesitation.

"If you don't leave now—"

'

"We can't leave now."

"9