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

Ever since the rankings were determined in the West Garden that day, the winds have shifted in the East Palace's favor.

The guard formation was no longer just a list of names—every morning, fifty men would form a line, raise their flags at the command, and fall in unison, like walls being pushed across the palace road.

Xiahou Dun's commands were rough and forceful, Cao Ren's formation was steady and composed, Cao Chun led his cavalry to patrol the courtyard, and the sound of Xiahou Yuan's bow startled even the sparrows flying under the corridor.

The one who commands the utmost respect is the newly arrived martial arts master—Huangfu Song.

Upon first meeting the Crown Prince, he merely gave a slight bow and uttered one sentence:

"If Your Highness intends to wage war, you should first learn military law."

Liu Bian was taken aback.

Huangfu Song had already turned around and pointed to the training ground:

"Military law comes before martial skill. Martial skill is a matter of individual strength, but military law is the lifeblood of the people."

From that day on, Liu Biancai truly understood: this person wasn't just opportunistic; he was a genuine teacher.

He taught the prince archery and horsemanship, but first he taught him "calmness"—

"A steady mind is more important than a steady hand. If the mind is not steady, even the strongest bow will produce a jumble of arrows."

He taught the prince the art of spear fighting, but first he taught him "stopping the killing"—

"Weapons are instruments of destruction. Your Highness, when you use your sword in the future, think three steps ahead: For whom will this sword be drawn, who will be injured, and where will it stop?"

He also taught formations.

It wasn't some fancy "military drill," but a real "battle formation": how to pass the flags, how to sound the drums, when the vanguard retreated, when the flanks closed in, how to gather the defeated troops, how to keep fires out of the night, and how to change shifts for scouts.

Liu Bian learned quickly, but he developed respect even faster.

Because he knew that this was a true loyal subject of the Han Dynasty—even someone recommended by the Ten Attendants could never become their weapon.

While making progress in martial arts, Liu Bian also excelled in literature.

Xun Shuang explained the meaning of the classics, but he never spoke of them in a superficial way.

In the Book of Documents, there is a line that says, "Only by being able to conduct business can one be cautious." He could then explain how government offices should be cautious. In the Spring and Autumn Annals, there is a line that says, "If names are not correct, words will not be proper." He could then explain how titles and status can kill people.

His calligraphy teaching style resembled more of a set of rules and regulations.

"The strokes must be steady, like a set of rules. If the strokes are not steady, they will become the source of disaster on the paper."

He taught the laws, but his teaching was more like the essence of swordsmanship—

"The blade wounds, but the back protects. Laws are like the back of a blade; only when they protect those who deserve protection can they be called benevolent."

Liu Bian was "polished" inch by inch along these two lines: one side is military, the other is civil administration; one side is the spearhead, the other is the sheath.

Meanwhile, changes were also taking place outside the palace.

Yang's woodblock printing was groundbreaking.

What became famous first was not the book, but the "style".

Once the seals, numbered tags, transcription books, and joint signature papers of the Eastern Palace were engraved, the paper was clean and the handwriting was neat.

As a result, Yang's fame soared, and even paper sellers in Luoyang raised their prices.

Following closely behind, Yuan made the rock sugar.

When Liu Bian first saw the candy, he was momentarily stunned.

The sugar cubes were crystal clear, almost transparent, with only a slight cloudiness at the edges, like a bit of mist encasing thin ice in winter.

He thought of his past life again, and many other things.

A moment later, he suddenly felt that Yuan was a bit scary.

They actually managed to force out the "impurities" little by little.

However, with the introduction of rock candy, he had some new ideas...

The Tongsheng Association was even more lively.

Soap sales were booming, with boxes of laundry detergent, hand soap, and face soap being shipped out. Adhesive paper followed suit, and with the proliferation of account books, contracts, and receipts, this paper became an indispensable "backbone" for both officials and the people.

Taking advantage of the situation, Tong Sheng Hui acquired several workshops and partnered with several shops.

In addition, Cao Song provided almost unconditional support—money, manpower, carriages, and connections; as long as Liu Bian asked, the Cao family could provide it.

Inside the Chengde Hall, the account books were turned page by page, and the numbers grew longer and longer.

Money is rising.

The road is being opened.

For the first time, the "hand" of the Crown Prince's palace reached out from inside the palace walls to outside.

Everything is slowly getting better.

But Liu Bian's mind became increasingly restless.

Because the real hidden dangers are still brewing.

The Yellow Turban Rebellion.

Like a thorn stuck in the bone, it can't be pulled out; you can only endure it slowly drilling deeper.

Now, the fourth year of Guanghe is nearing its end. In the fifth and sixth years of Guanghe... in just over two years, the net between Hebei and Henan will suddenly tighten, the talisman water will become the talismanic decree, the application of medicine will become an uprising, and the Yellow Turbans will change from "wrapping heads" to "wrapping the whole world".

The files in the shack room were piling up thicker and thicker:

Wherever the Way of Peace spreads its teachings, wherever there is an epidemic, wherever there are displaced people, wherever there is land grabbing by powerful families and land being arbitrarily divided, wherever there is government corruption and inadequate relief—each one is like a spark.

That whirlwind that would ignite the entire Han Dynasty was about to begin.

There was still no news from Cao Cao's side.

Due to the inconvenience of travel by carriage, it was not uncommon for a month or two to be on the road.

Moreover, they sought out Hua Tuo—a man who, if unwilling, could be completely elusive.

-

On this day, lessons were given as usual in Chengde Hall.

Xun Shuang was reciting a passage from the Spring and Autumn Annals that "criticized the mistakes in employing people," his voice steady and each word like a nail.

Liu Bian, however, felt somewhat disoriented upon hearing this.

It's not that I'm daydreaming; it's that thorn in my heart has started turning again.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.

Unlike the hurried steps of palace maids, it was more like marching in the army—straight, fast, and with the wind at its back.

When the eunuch came in to report, his voice was so heavy he could barely contain his breath:

"Wei Shuai Cao Cao—come to pay homage!"

Xun Shuang stopped writing and looked up.

Liu Bian's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively clenched his sleeve.

"Announce."

The curtain was lifted.

Cao Cao entered the palace.

He was covered in dust, the edges of his cloak were covered in dry mud, but his eyes shone with an alarming light, as if he had traveled hundreds of miles and still hadn't managed to extinguish the fire.

Without exchanging pleasantries, he entered the hall and immediately prostrated himself in reverence.

"Your Highness, I have—I have not failed in my mission."

Before Liu Bian could speak, Cao Cao had already stepped aside.

There was a person following behind him.

The man was dressed simply, even somewhat old, with a medicine bag on his back, his hair casually tied up, and his eyes as calm as a deep well.

He stood in the hall, neither in a hurry to kneel nor in a hurry to raise his head to vie for the proper etiquette.

Cao Cao added in a low voice, as if he were suppressing a breath:

"This person is Hua Yuanhua."

The lights inside the hall flickered slightly.

The thorn in Liu Bian's mind suddenly felt like its tip had been pinched.

Hua Tuo did not immediately announce his official status; instead, he first took off his medicine bag and placed it beside the couch in the palace.

He glanced at the furnishings in the hall: the imperial desk, scriptures, writing brush and inkstone, bow rack, spear rack... and then swept his gaze over the row of heavily armored guards outside the hall gate.

Finally, he turned his gaze back to Liu Bian.

"Your Highness."

His very first words were devoid of politeness, sounding more like a sigh:

"Your Eastern Palace is more like a small military camp."

Liu Bian wasn't annoyed; he simply smiled and asked, "Yuanhua, do you find this inappropriate?"

Hua Tuo shook his head: "Appropriate."

"It's just that you have too much inner fire."

He raised his finger and pointed to Liu Bian's brow, then to his own chest: "The fire is above, the qi is stagnant. The child's body can withstand it, but his heart cannot."

These words were so blunt that everyone in the hall changed their expressions.

Hua Tuo, however, acted as if he hadn't seen it and simply stretched out his hand: "Give me your hand."

Liu Bian extended his hand.

Hua Tuo took the pulse with two fingers, closed his eyes for no more than three breaths, and then opened them and said:

"I slept little last night, had an empty stomach this morning, and got angry again this afternoon."

"Your Highness has a strong wind in your heart—before the wind comes, you've already torn yourself apart."

This time, Liu Bian was stunned.

Hua Tuo actually pinpointed his anxiety over the past few days just by looking at his pulse.

He loosened his pulse and took out a thin silver needle from his medicine pouch; the tip of the needle flashed in the candlelight.

The guards in the hall instantly pressed down on the hilts of their swords.

Liu Bian quickly raised his hand: "Don't move."

Hua Tuo didn't even look at the commotion around him, but looked up at Liu Bian and asked, "Do you dare let me insert a needle?"

Liu Bian stared at the needle, then suddenly laughed: "Dare."

Hua Tuo nodded: "How bold."

He raised his hand and inserted the needle, as fast as raindrops. The needle went in about an inch, and Liu Bian felt as if a crack had been pried open in his chest, and his breathing became easier.

Then, Hua Tuo put away the needles, reached into his sleeve, and took out a piece of finely folded paper.

It was that half of the square.

The edges of the paper were soft from being handled so much; it had clearly been read countless times.

His first words were spoken in a low voice:

"Your Highness."

"Who wrote this half of the square?"

The hall was so quiet that you could hear the candle wick crackle.

Cao Cao instinctively held his breath.

He had seen Hua Tuo flip through this piece of paper far more times than he had crossed mountains and valleys along the way—

He didn't sleep when he stayed overnight at the post station; he didn't complain when the rain stopped and the road was still bad; but every time he saw the phrase "first clear the upper level, then expose the lower level," his eyes would light up.

Liu Bian, seemingly oblivious to Hua Tuo's gaze, slowly uttered, "I wrote it."

Hua Tuo then raised his eyes, a hint of doubt in them.

He suddenly smiled, but the smile was very faint:

"To be able to write such a treatise at the age of eight... is either a genius or—someone is writing it for His Highness."

"This part isn't finished. You left half a sheet, not because you were afraid of leaking the secret, but because you were trying to lure me in. And you did it very cleverly."

At this point, his tone suddenly turned serious: "But doctors hate cleverness the most. Saving lives cannot be done with clever words."

"If Your Highness insists on not revealing who wrote this medical prescription—"

"I will give you the other half," Liu Bian interrupted Hua Tuo.

"As for who created this formula, Yuanhua has no need to know."

"Just know that this remedy can save the lives of everyone in the world."

Just then, a young eunuch outside the hall urgently announced—

"Your Highness! An urgent report from the Bureau of Disorder: Jizhou... the Taiping Road has gained a new leader!"