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

The lights in Chengde Hall stayed on very late.

The fire and arrows of that night burned away the courage of many and shaped the paths of many others.

But when Liu Bian returned to the palace, the first thing he did was neither to celebrate nor to scold.

He turned to the last page of the "Access Control and Audit Register" and wrote four characters by hand:

"It has been recorded as a precedent."

Wang Ming stood to the side, staring at those four words, his throat tightening.

An example.

Once this becomes a precedent, that March will be meaningless.

When Xun Yu entered, he had a stack of papers tucked into his sleeve, the edges of which were pressed flat, indicating that they had been prepared long ago.

He didn't beat around the bush; he simply laid the paper out on the table.

The title has eight characters:

Regulations for Inspection and Auditing in the Capital

Liu Bian raised his eyes.

Xun Yu said, "His Majesty has given you 'power,' but what Your Highness needs to do is 'control.'"

He pointed to a spot on the paper, looking at Liu Bian:

"Firstly, the Eastern Palace Inspection Office was established—nominally called 'inspection,' but in reality, it was for auditing."

Secondly, the department is divided into three sections:

"The first office is the Register Office, which is in charge of verifying credentials, keeping registers, issuing ten-day reports, and registering entry and exit at checkpoints. All gates, ward gates, palace gates, and alley entrances of the capital are sealed off, and records are kept, with daily summaries and monthly reports submitted."

"The second is the Accountability Office, which is in charge of signing and holding accountable those responsible. Anyone who fails to release, releases without authorization, forges documents, or alters registration without permission will first be detained according to the law, and then submitted to the Zhangde Hall for verification."

"The third is the Patrol Office, which is in charge of arrests and containment. It is based on Cao Cao's Guards, with the support of the Imperial Guards and the Northern Army. When encountering a situation, the streets are sealed off first, then a headcount is taken, and then a search is conducted—indiscriminate killing is not allowed, but prisoners must be captured alive."

Xun Yu turned the paper to the second sheet and continued:

"Thirdly, the reporting system: a report every ten days, directly presented to the Crown Prince; a summary report every month, with supporting evidence, presented to the Zhangde Hall."

"Fourth, the boundaries of authority: only five matters are investigated: access control, verification of credentials, entry and exit of money and grain, correspondence, and dispatch of guards. No interference is allowed in government affairs reports, and no overstepping of the authority of the Ministry of Personnel."

"Fifth, the method of accountability: all passage through checkpoints must be signed; all issuance of tokens must be documented; all withdrawals of money and provisions must be documented. Signing is responsibility, and responsibility is life."

After listening, Liu Bian finally couldn't help but slam his fist on the table and stand up:

"color!"

Wang Ming couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, should we present this plan to His Majesty first?"

Liu Bian glanced at him:

"Of course it should be presented."

"We need to show Father how much trouble the Crown Prince's Palace can save him."

He paused, then murmured:

"The Emperor wouldn't be willing to take back someone who's easy to deal with."

-

The next day, at Zhangde Hall.

After Emperor Ling of Han finished reading the regulations, his brow first furrowed and then relaxed.

In his heart, he didn't want the Crown Prince to have too much power.

But last night's fire woke him up—the pot of the capital, if not kept in check, will overturn.

If we keep it under control, the Ten Attendants are unreliable, and the imperial relatives are even less reliable.

The only one who can be used, controlled, and even bear the "execution" for him is the Crown Prince.

He placed the articles of association on the table and said calmly:

"Can."

"But remember one thing: only check access control, do not use it as an excuse to seize people."

Liu Bian kowtowed: "Your subject obeys the decree."

Emperor Ling of Han looked at him and suddenly asked:

"What were you thinking last night when you held Xie'er and shielded her from the arrows?"

That question came out of nowhere.

The hall fell silent, and Zhang Rang's ears perked up.

Liu Bian looked up and answered steadily:

"What I'm thinking is—Father's decree must not be overturned."

"If the imperial edict falls, the world will think that even the emperor can fall."

Emperor Ling of Han stared at him for a long while, then waved his hand:

"Go do it."

Liu Bian bowed and withdrew, his steps steady, but he couldn't help feeling excited:

The Eastern Palace Inspection Office was established.

From now on, everyone should consider the Crown Prince's attitude before doing anything.

-

Zhang Rang arrived on the fifth night after the Inspection Office was officially established.

He came alone, without any attendants, dressed in ordinary dark robes. He stood at the entrance of Chengde Hall for a while before having Wang Ming announce his arrival.

He bowed as soon as he entered the hall, and the bowing was so full that it was unlike him.

Liu Bian didn't make him kneel for long, simply saying, "Get up."

Zhang Rang stood up, his eyelids slightly drooping, but his voice was very steady:

"Your Highness, now that the Inspection Commission has been established, all the various departments and offices need someone to cooperate. I am willing to cooperate."

Liu Bian chuckled lightly, not even looking at him, but simply saying:

"Zhang Changshi, if I remember correctly, you said something similar four years ago."

"However, there is one thing I don't understand: in these four years, did the Attendant forget, or did he go to others and say something else?"

Zhang Rang's heart tightened, and he quickly cupped his hands in greeting:

"Your Highness, I have served His Majesty for so long, how could I have time to play both sides?"

"If I had been going to the Crown Prince's Palace every day four years ago, what would people outside have said?"

"They say that before His Highness has even been established, the Ten Attendants have already come to claim him as their master; they say that His Highness has entered the court by relying on eunuchs; they say that the He family wants to use eunuchs to suppress others."

He spoke slowly, but every word he uttered felt sincere.

"I did not move then, not because I was heartless, but because I dared not give Your Highness any cause for criticism."

Liu Bian looked on coldly:

"Now you dare?"

Zhang Rang said in a low voice, "Your Highness now has His Majesty's decree."

Liu Bian nodded:

"Understood."

"So you've not come to serve me, but to serve this imperial decree."

Zhang Rang's smile froze for a moment, then immediately returned to normal. He bent down even lower:

"I dare not claim loyalty. I only ask to live."

Liu Bian was surprised by Zhang Rang's honesty:

"You're finally willing to tell the truth."

"If you beg to live, I will not stop you. But where do you intend to live?"

Zhang Rang was stunned.

Liu Bian raised his hand, pulled a page from the booklet, and spread it out in front of Zhang Rang. At the top was a blank space for "Signature for Passage Through Duanmen," and next to it was a line of small print: "Those who sign are equally responsible."

Liu Bian tapped the blank space with the back of his finger.

"Live from here."

Zhang Rang stared at that column, his face turning slightly pale—this wasn't asking him to "help," it was asking him to stake his life on that piece of paper.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly took out another folded letter from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"Your Highness, this is a list that I have kept under wraps for years."

Liu Bian didn't answer, but gestured to Wang Ming with his eyes.

Wang Ming stepped forward, took the list, unfolded it, and his fingertips trembled slightly—the list was not long, but it contained all the essentials: which gatekeepers of which gates were recommended by whom, which eunuchs often relayed messages for others, which bookstores were close to whom, and the "source" was marked afterward.

Liu Bian then looked at Zhang Rang: "You've kept it for four years, just to hand it over today?"

Zhang Rang said in a low voice, "I must wait for a 'rule' that can protect me."

When Liu Bian heard the word "rules," the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, as if he were smiling, but not quite.

"Rules aren't meant to save your life."

He pushed the signature section forward an inch.

"Rules are meant to keep you from making any rash moves."

Zhang Rang's back stiffened slightly.

Liu Bian suddenly changed the subject, glancing at Wang Ming beside him, and asked casually:

"Has Wang Ming still listened to you while he was in the Eastern Palace all these years?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Ming's legs went weak, and he instantly collapsed to the ground.

"Your Highness... I have absolutely no disloyal intentions towards you."

Zhang Rang's eyelids twitched, and he immediately lowered his head: "Wang Ming is now a member of the Crown Prince's faction."

Liu Bian nodded: "You know what's good for you."

He then waved his hand, "Get up, of course I believe you."

Wang Ming obeyed and stood up, but still bent over and bowed his head.

He raised his hand and pointed to the pile of account books: "Then do something sensible."

Zhang Rang looked up.

Liu Bian said calmly, "Write down all the connections you have, the channels you can use, and the people you can pressure. Make it clear: who recommended whom, where the money came from, where the message was relayed, and who handled the verification of the talisman."

"From this day forward, every action you take must be accounted for."

Zhang Rang's throat went dry: "Your Highness, what's wrong...?"

Liu Bian didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "If you're unwilling, then Zhang Changshi should go back and rest first."

Zhang Rang immediately gave a wry smile: "Your subject is willing."

After listening, Liu Bian nodded:

"Since you're willing, I'm willing to leave you an opening."

Zhang Rang felt a sense of relief.

The next moment, Liu Bian added, "But it must be in the account book."

"Here you are."