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

Liu Bian placed the secret report on the table, pressed it down with his hand, and did not move it.

West Garden.

Yuan Shao.

It has not been released yet.

He spun those words in his mind, then slowly put down the secret report, raised his head, and looked out the window.

The night was deep, and the lights of Chengde Hall cast his shadow on the window paper, where he remained motionless.

"West Garden," he suddenly spoke, his voice very soft, as if talking to himself.

Wang Ming was taken aback: "What did Your Highness say?"

Liu Bian did not answer.

He simply sat there, taking out all the loose threads from tonight one by one and putting them back together.

Yuan Shu's actions outside caused a great uproar, forcing the Crown Prince to divert his attention to cleaning up Zhang Fei's mess.

Yuan Shao has been sitting in the West Garden since nightfall and has not yet come out.

Emperor Ling of Han summoned his ministers late at night. What could they possibly talk about after such a long conversation?

—It can only be a big deal.

Liu Bian closed his eyes.

He recalled the historical records he had read in his previous life. In the fifth year of the Zhongping era, Emperor Ling of Han established a new imperial guard, directly commanded by himself, to counterbalance the power of the empress's relatives and eunuchs. It was called the "Western Garden Army." It had eight colonels under its command, with Jian Shuo as the leader. Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and others were among them.

That was the most important move Emperor Ling of Han made in his later years.

In this life, however, Yuan Shao was summoned in first, almost four years earlier.

Liu Bian's gaze gradually darkened.

If Yuan Shao were to take the lead and promote the project in Xiyuan, he would inevitably become one of the eight colonels, just like in his previous life, or even obtain a more central position.

Given Yuan Shao's reputation, background, and upright character, once he entered the Western Garden, it was as if he had put on the cloak of "New Imperial Army" even more properly and beautifully, and no one in the court dared to openly oppose him.

And once this knife falls into Yuan Shao's hands...

Liu Bian suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

He had previously been thinking that "Yuan Shu's move tonight was like a test," but now he understood—that test was merely a prelude, an appetizer. The real knife was being sharpened in the West Garden.

He suddenly stood up, his voice faster than usual:

"Wang Ming, go and invite Lu Zhi."

Wang Ming was startled: "Your Highness, now?"

"Now."

Liu Bian walked to the window and pushed open a small window.

A night breeze swept in, causing the lamplight to flicker. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, but he couldn't suppress the urge in his chest—

He has to make a move.

If the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden were to be appointed, and the Eastern Palace were to be left without anyone, it would be as if one of their arms were being held in vain.

His previously painstaking efforts in building "trade routes, charitable granaries, and local influence" were all in vain in the face of military power.

Without military power, no matter how much popular support one has, it's all just empty words.

He wanted to place his own people among the eight colonels.

Liu Bei.

Liu Bei is the ready-made answer.

He is a local hero from Zhuojun, with outstanding martial arts skills and practical combat experience. He has already made a name for himself in the Yellow Turban Rebellion and is a legitimate candidate for selection.

If Liu Bei's name is presented to the right people before Emperor Ling of Han finalizes the list, there's a 70% chance of success.

He picked up the pen again and wrote a few lines on the cloth.

It was a draft of a letter of recommendation written with earnest words, recommending Liu Bei and mentioning his achievements in the Yellow Turban Rebellion, citing Huangfu Song's battle report as evidence.

The signature was intended to be in Lu Zhi's name—Lu Zhi had just been reinstated and was enjoying the emperor's favor; if he recommended someone, Emperor Ling of Han would have no reason not to take a look.

After he finished writing it, he read it once and felt that the wording was not enough, so he added two more lines, writing down Liu Bei's specific achievements in suppressing the remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Youzhou. He wrote it in detail and thoroughly, so that anyone who read it would think that this person was worthy of being employed.

After finishing writing, he put down his pen and looked at the draft. Something was welling up inside him—not joy, but an urgent feeling of finally grasping something.

-

Lu Zhi arrived very quickly.

When he entered, he saw that the lamp on Liu Bian's desk was still on, and he saw the half-finished draft, but he didn't say anything. He sat down beside him, took the piece of cloth that Liu Bian handed him, and read it with his head down.

He looked up, somewhat puzzled:

"The Eight Colonels of the Western Garden?"

"Yes." Liu Bian nodded.

"I just received the news. The Yellow Turban Rebellion is over. He Jin has been promoted to Grand General. The five Northern Army Schools are nominally under the control of the imperial court, but in reality, they are already under the shadow of the imperial relatives."

"His Majesty needs an army that listens only to him."

"Then why did Your Highness want An Xuande to go in?"

Liu Bian explained:

"Liu Bei was a local hero in Zhuojun, and he represented the hearts of the people."

"If he were to become one of the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden, it would be in line with the will of the people, and the foundation of the Han Dynasty would be more secure."

Lu Zhi did not immediately agree after hearing this.

He simply lowered his head, thought for a moment, and then spoke:

"Your Highness, although it is somewhat far-fetched, I may sign this letter of recommendation."

Liu Bian breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak when Lu Zhi continued:

"But I have something I'd like to say first."

Liu Bian looked at him, waiting for him to speak.

Lu Zhi put down his teacup, looked at Liu Bian, and his expression held a calmness that only thirty years of official service had cultivated. Beneath that calmness lay the weight of someone who had truly seen the world.

"Your Highness, what will His Majesty think if this letter of recommendation is sent out?"

Liu Bian paused slightly.

"Xuande is a member of the Crown Prince's faction."

Lu Zhi continued, speaking slowly and deliberately, as if he were helping him break down a matter.

"Everyone in Luoyang knows that it was His Highness who introduced Xuande and the other two to the capital."

"I recommended him to the Western Garden, ostensibly as a recommendation of a worthy person, but Your Majesty's eyes will not be judged solely by titles."

Liu Bian didn't speak, he just looked at him.

"His Majesty built the Western Garden to create an army that would only obey him."

Lu Zhidao.

"If someone from the Eastern Palace enters the Western Garden, he won't think he's gained a good general; he'll think—the Crown Prince has reached out."

The room fell silent for a moment.

The lamplight trembled slightly in the night breeze.

Liu Bian lowered his head, looked at the draft on the table, pressed his fingers on the corner of the paper, and said nothing.

He knew that Lu Zhi's words were not without reason.

But he also knew that if he didn't send people to the West Garden now, it would be too late once the list was finalized.

If that army were to be built up and consist entirely of people from Emperor Ling of Han, Yuan Shao, and Jian Shuo, the situation of the Crown Prince in Luoyang would be far more perilous than he imagined.

He needs Liu Bei inside.

He mentally processed this judgment, then looked up and said to Lu Zhi:

"Lord Lu, this risk is worth taking."

Lu Zhi looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded:

"Your subject understands."

He took the draft, tucked it into his sleeve, stood up, and bowed to Liu Bian:

"I will submit it first thing tomorrow morning."

The letter of recommendation was sent to the palace early the next morning, following the proper procedure for submitting a memorial to the emperor. It was signed by Lu Zhi and included an excerpt from Huangfu Song's battle report, which was sincere, well-reasoned, and supported by evidence.

Liu Bian instructed Wang Ming to plant spies in the palace, waiting for news.

There was no response on the first day.

The next day, still nothing.

On the third day, Wang Ming came to report that the letter of recommendation had been delivered to Zhangde Hall.

Emperor Ling of Han read it that day, but neither approved nor rejected it; he simply placed it on the table and did not touch it.

In the Chengde Hall, Liu Bian pondered the four words "placed on the table".

There was neither approval nor rejection.

This was a unique attitude of Emperor Ling of Han—he saw it, he knew it, but he didn't want you to know what he was thinking.

Liu Bian didn't urge him, but simply told Wang Ming to keep an eye on things.

On the fifth day, news arrived, but it wasn't from the Crown Prince's palace.

They were people from the palace, Zhang Rang's men.

He bowed as he entered, his voice flat and even:

"By His Majesty's decree, the Crown Prince has been busy with state affairs lately and should rest in the Eastern Palace. He need not concern himself with military affairs in the Western Garden."

"All matters concerning the reorganization of the Western Garden and the selection of officers shall be decided by His Majesty personally."