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

Cao Cao remained calm; he already knew that His Highness had been investigating the Taiping Dao.

He had heard His Highness mention Ma Yuanyi's name a year ago.

Huangfu Song's brows twitched almost imperceptibly.

He knew about the Taiping Dao organization; they used talismanic water to save people and build good relationships. He thought His Highness might have some misunderstandings about this organization.

Thinking of this, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Liu Bian and said:

"Your Highness, as far as I know, the Way of Peace is an organization that truly cares for the people."

According to popular belief, this organization sets up soup kitchens and distributes talismanic water. It is a good deed for both the country and the people.

Liu Bian shook his head at this moment:

"The Way of Peace has indeed done a lot of good deeds and cultivated many positive relationships."

"But I would like to ask you a question, teacher—" Liu Bian raised his eyes and looked directly at him: "What do you think of the people of the Han Dynasty these days?"

Huangfu Song opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

It's not that I don't want to talk, it's that I have nothing to say.

What could he say? That His Majesty is incompetent and the government is corrupt? That would be utter disrespect. That the people live in peace and prosperity and have plenty of food and clothing? That would be blatant lying.

Liu Bian didn't press him, but simply sat up slightly, the pain in his shoulder making him grimace again.

"Oppressive government is more ferocious than a tiger, and corvée labor is as heavy as a mountain." He seemed to be talking to himself. "Last year there was a severe drought, and the fields were littered with corpses of the starving; this year there is a locust plague, and there is no harvest at all. Refugees are pouring from Kanto to Kansai, and then pouring back from Kansai to Kanto. They die along the way."

He paused, then lowered his voice:

"Those people who could not survive were ignored by the government and oppressed by powerful local bullies."

"At this moment, someone came—giving them a bowl of porridge and a dose of talisman water, telling them that they were suffering because Heaven was dead, and that someone else should bear this suffering for them."

"Teacher, do you think they might join in the shouting?"

Huangfu Song's expression changed.

"The Azure Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise." Liu Bian pronounced these eight words slowly and deliberately. "My teacher should know better than I what these eight words mean."

He recalled how, when he was young, he followed Duan Jiong to pacify the Western Qiang. What did those Qiang people shout before they died? They shouted for their god, for their king, for the faith passed down from their ancestors.

Once faith takes root, it can make people willing to die without regret.

Now, the Way of Peace is about to plant a new seed.

"Your Highness..." Huangfu Song's voice was somewhat hoarse, "Is there any concrete evidence for this?"

"Yes." Liu Bian gestured slightly, and Cao Cao understood. He got up, pulled out a scroll from a pile of bamboo slips, and handed it to Huangfu Song.

"This is what my people found out this year."

Huangfu Song took it and unfolded it.

The more she looked, the paler her face became.

They gathered followers, preached, and took on disciples. They secretly forged weapons. They simultaneously established a presence in eight provinces: Qing, Xu, You, Ji, Jing, Yang, Yan, and Yu. Their followers numbered in the hundreds of thousands, organized into thirty-six districts, with large districts having over ten thousand members and smaller districts having six or seven thousand.

This is not a sect, it is an army.

Huangfu Song's hands trembled slightly.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty does not know..."

"I have only heard that they distributed porridge to save people, but I believe..."

"Teacher, there's no need to blame yourself," Liu Bian said, raising his hand to comfort him.

"They first distributed porridge, then plotted rebellion. If they didn't distribute porridge, why would the people follow them? If they didn't save people, why would believers die for them?"

Cao Cao walked up to Huangfu Song and closed the scroll.

He looked at Huangfu Song and said:

"At first I didn't believe it either, but as my investigation with His Highness deepened, I had no choice but to believe it."

Xun Yu nodded and spoke up:

"The Taiping Dao has been playing this game for many years."

"Setting up soup kitchens was real; distributing talismanic water was also real. The gratitude of those who were saved and those who were fed to the Way of Peace was also real."

His voice was soft, yet every word was clear.

"It is precisely because of these 'truths' that so many people were willing to follow them when they raised the flag of rebellion."

"Fake things can't fool people, only the truth can fool them for a lifetime."

Huangfu Song raised his eyes and then bowed:

"I've learned a lot."

Xun Yu slightly stepped aside to yield the courtesy, and then spoke:

"General Huangfu, there's no need for such formalities."

He turned to Liu Bian and continued:

"There is one thing that I do not understand."

"General Huangfu and Mengde were assassinated, and Your Highness was also assassinated in Luoyang County Prison at the same time." Xun Yu's gaze swept over the three of them.

"Don't you think these three things are too much of a coincidence?"

Liu Bian's expression hardened:

"What you mean, sir..."

"The assassin was able to accurately track General Huangfu and Mengde's itinerary, set up ambushes in advance, and escape unscathed," Xun Yu said slowly. "It would be impossible without an inside accomplice."

He paused, then emphasized, "Moreover, someone who can mobilize the post stations and county jail as an inside agent must hold a high position."

Liu Bian pondered for a moment, then spoke:

"In your opinion, who could be this inside man?"

"The assassin's target appears to be General Huangfu and Colonel Cao, but in reality—it is His Highness."

Xun Yu's gaze was calm and composed, as if he had everything under control.

"General Huangfu is His Highness's mentor, and Mengde is His Highness's confidant. Eliminating them is tantamount to severing His Highness's left and right arms."

Liu Bian nodded, signaling him to continue.

"Anyone capable of this must be someone who knows everything about the people around His Highness," Xun Yu paused, lowering his voice slightly, "and must be an enemy of the Crown Prince."

Upon hearing this, a name immediately came to mind for everyone.

—Zhao Zhong.

Liu Bian wasn't too surprised, but based on his memories from his previous life, Feng Xu and Xu Feng were more likely to be involved.

He considered a possibility, then summoned Cao Ren and spoke to him:

"Has anyone else from the palace been visiting the Zhao residence recently?"

Cao Ren cupped his hands in greeting:

"Aside from some necessary personnel exchanges, there are two people who visit the Zhao residence quite frequently."

Liu Bian's eyes flickered: "Who?"

"Feng Xu and Xu Feng."

"These two men visited Zhao Zhong's residence at night on the very day Zhao Zhong was dismissed, which is highly suspicious."

Liu Bian nodded; this matched the traitor in his memory.

Xun Yu's eyes lit up at this moment, and he turned to look at Liu Bian:

"Your Highness, I have a plan."

-

Three days later.

Liu Bian's complexion had improved somewhat, though his shoulder still ached, but he was able to stand up steadily. He changed into his court robes, fastened his crown, and let his cloak hang down, covering half of the bandage wrapped around his wound.

As he left Chengde Hall, Empress He personally escorted him to the corridor, briefly grasped his hand, and whispered:

Don't be reckless.

Liu Bian nodded: "I understand."

He didn't bring too many people with him.

He only took Cao Cao and Xun Yu with him.

Chengde Hall and Zhangde Hall are both located within the Forbidden City. In less than two steps, the three of them arrived at the entrance of Zhangde Hall.

Emperor Ling of Han was reviewing memorials in the palace.

He said he was reviewing it, but in reality he just glanced at it a few times and then tossed it to Zhang Rang, the eunuch standing to the side.

When Liu Bian came in, he raised his eyelids and glanced at his son's face.

"Is your injury healed?"

Liu Bian prostrated himself in a deep bow, his voice steady:

"Your Majesty, I was careless and encountered thieves at night."

Emperor Ling of Han showed a softened expression:

"It's good that the injury has healed. Don't act so recklessly next time."

Then, he changed the subject:

"I have heard about the commotion that has been happening in the Eastern Palace these past few days."

"Tell me, what exactly happened?"

His tone revealed neither joy nor anger.

Liu Bian lowered his eyes and said respectfully, "Your subject has disturbed Your Majesty and deserves to die."

"Don't give me that." Emperor Ling of Han snorted. "I'm asking what you've found out?"

"Reporting to Father Emperor," Liu Bian said slowly without further hesitation.

"Your Majesty, I have discovered that the events of the past few days are all related to a civilian organization—"

"It is related to the Way of Peace."

Emperor Ling of Han raised an eyebrow but did not interrupt, signaling Liu Bian to continue.

Liu Bian continued:

"They simultaneously established a presence in eight provinces: Qing, Xu, You, Ji, Jing, Yang, Yan, and Yu. Their followers numbered in the hundreds of thousands, organized into thirty-six districts, with large districts having over ten thousand people and smaller districts having six or seven thousand. They secretly forged weapons and stockpiled provisions, waiting only for the opportune moment to raise their banners in rebellion."

Emperor Ling's expression changed.

"Is there any concrete evidence for this?"

"Yes." Liu Bian took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve and presented it with both hands. "This is what I have found by sending people to investigate this year. Please take a look, Father Emperor."

Zhang Rang stepped forward, took the document, and presented it to Emperor Ling of Han.

Emperor Ling of Han unfolded the bamboo slips and slowly scanned them from top to bottom. The more he looked, the more somber his expression became.

After a long silence, Emperor Ling of Han slammed the bamboo slips on the table and sneered, "What a fine 'Way of Peace'! What a Zhang Jiao! I have treated the people of the world well, yet they dare to act like this!"

Liu Bian did not stop:

"Your Majesty, I have also discovered that it is not only the Taiping Dao, but also some people in the court who are colluding with the Taiping Dao, in league with county prisons and post stations to assassinate important officials in the court."

Emperor Ling of Han was furious:

"Is this true? Who has such audacity!"

Liu Bian didn't beat around the bush any longer and looked up at Emperor Ling of Han:

"Zhao Zhong".