, One Night!

Wang Yun returned to his residence in a daze, forgetting even to bring back the horse he had just ridden.

Upon entering the study, he sighed softly and immediately realized that someone was in the room.

"Uncle!" Jiang Zhe had been waiting in Wang Yun's study for a while. Seeing Wang Yun return home, he said anxiously, "Where have you been, Uncle? I've been looking for you for so long!"

Wang Yun, now disheartened, sat in the main seat and casually said, "Shouyi, is there something you wish to discuss with me? If it concerns Bojie's daughter, then let's talk about it another day. I am exhausted today!"

"No!" Jiang Zhe said, slightly annoyed. "I just had a divination performed, and I'm very worried about the result! I came to tell you, Uncle..."

"Shouyi, you've even learned divination?" Wang Yun smiled wryly and said, "Tell me!"

"The divination results indicate that Dong Zhuo is about to enter Luoyang!"

Wang Yun was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Jiang Zhe initially thought Wang Yun was laughing at him, but after a moment he sensed something was wrong; the laughter was actually incredibly bitter and distressing.

"Uncle... Uncle?"

"That's right!" Wang Yun said helplessly, "The Bingzhou troops from Jianyang arrived an hour ago! But Empress He stopped them at the gate. I just went to the inner palace to try and persuade them, but to my surprise, the Empress Dowager didn't even summon me..."

"Why...why?" Jiang Zhe was puzzled.

"I've learned that someone is sowing discord between us, and now the Empress Dowager is secretly wary of me... It's too late! Too late!"

Jiang Zhe remained silent for a moment, then asked, "Uncle, do you know why the Empress Dowager listened to the slander of petty people?"

"Shouyi, you don't understand! The current emperor is Empress He's own son, and he is not worthy to inherit the throne. It is said that when the late emperor passed away, he made a secret edict to establish Xie as the crown prince. The Empress Dowager must have misunderstood me... Alas! What's the use of saying this now!"

"No...it's terrible, sir!" A servant stumbled in.

"What is it?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, the... the Xiliang army has entered Luoyang!"

Jiang Zhe's expression changed as he looked at Wang Yun.

"Did anyone try to stop us?"

"No!"

"Haha!" Wang Yun said with a wry smile, "It really is so! Alas! Empress He is so foolish! Shouyi! Go and pack your things. If things don't go well, you and Xiuer should leave Luoyang and return to Xuzhou!"

"..." Jiang Zhe had thought the same thing, but after Wang Yun's words, he suddenly felt uneasy and hesitated before asking, "Then... what about Uncle?"

"An old man?" Wang Yun said with a wry smile, "I am nearing the end of my life, what have I to fear? You may leave!"

Jiang Zhe glanced silently at Wang Yun, shook his head, and walked out of the study.

"You may leave as well!" Wang Yun dismissed the servant, closed the door, and sat quietly with his eyes closed in front of his desk.

After a long silence, Wang Yun suddenly opened his eyes, wrote the two characters "Dong Zhuo" on the paper, and said through gritted teeth, "If you dare to act recklessly and destroy my Han Dynasty, I will risk my old life to kill you!"

Jiang Zhe sighed and returned to his room. Xiu'er saw him and asked, "Have you spoken to your uncle, my husband?"

Jiang Zhe shook his head and said, "Xiuer, pack your things, we're going back to Xuzhou!"

"Huh?" Xiu'er looked at Jiang Zhe in surprise, then nodded. "Yes, husband..."

The next day, Wang Yun went to court and saw a military man standing at the head of the hall. He frowned.

"Lord Situ!"

"Hmm?" Wang Yun turned around, then smiled wryly, "Is Jianyang... alright?"

Ding Yuan shook his head sadly and said, "All my efforts have been in vain. All my troops have been stationed outside Luoyang. The Empress Dowager ordered me to enter Luoyang alone, with only fifty guards with me..."

Wang Yun shook his head, having lost interest in talking.

On that day, Empress He appointed Dong Zhuo as Commandant of the Guards, in charge of the inner palace, placing him above Cao Cao and the other eight colonels. At the same time, in order to appease Ding Yuan and counterbalance Dong Zhuo, Empress He appointed Ding Yuan as Commandant of the Imperial Guards, to patrol and guard the capital.

Wang Yun sighed inwardly.

After the court session ended, Wang Yun and Yang Biao walked out of the hall. Dong Zhuo approached them and said, "Grand Commandant, Minister of Works, greetings! I am Dong Zhuo from Xiliang. I have long admired the names of you two sages. If you have nothing else to do, I would like to invite you to a place for a drink. What do you say?"

Wang Yun sneered inwardly and said, "I appreciate your kindness, Commandant Wei! However, I am slightly unwell today and cannot drink. Please forgive me!"

"...No, no! Then...what about Grand Commandant Yang?"

"What bad timing!" Yang Biao said with a chuckle. "I was overjoyed to have a grandson yesterday, and now I'm in a hurry to go back and enjoy family time!"

"..." Dong Zhuo's expression froze for a moment, then he said, "In that case, I'll invite you both again next time!"

Wang Yun didn't stand on ceremony and left, while Yang Biao nodded to Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo watched Wang Yun and Yang Biao walk away, his eyes blazing with fury.

Walking along the road, Wang Yun said with a smile, "Wenxian, when did you have a grandson? How come I didn't know?"

Yang Biao laughed, "Haha, just like Master Zi!"

Wang Yun laughed heartily.

Yang Biao laughed for a while, then frowned and said, "This might not be appropriate!"

"Hmph!" Wang Yun sneered. "That man comes from Xiliang and has no foundation in the court. What is there to fear? Now that Jianyang is the Commander of the Imperial Guards, touring the capital, I don't believe Dong Zhuo would dare to act recklessly!"

"That makes sense!" Yang Biao nodded.

For several days, Dong Zhuo repeatedly hosted banquets for court officials, but not a single one showed up. Looking at the empty banquets, Dong Zhuo was filled with rage. He slammed the table down and roared, "How dare this scoundrel deceive me like this?"

A man behind Dong Zhuo straightened the table and said calmly, "I had already guessed this, Father-in-law, there's no need to worry!" This man was Dong Zhuo's son-in-law, Li Ru!

"What ideas does Zhang Xian have? Tell me quickly!"

"We are all from Xiliang, so these scholars naturally see through us. But father-in-law need not worry too much. These scholars are mostly outstanding in literature and good at governance, but they are very few when it comes to military campaigns. Now, father-in-law's priority is to expand our strength, and this strength is military power!"

"This..." Dong Zhuo said doubtfully, "Without the Empress Dowager's order, how can we recruit soldiers? Judging from that woman's appointment of Ding Yuan as Commander of the Imperial Guards, she probably doesn't fully trust us!"

"Why recruit a new army?" Li Ru asked with a smile. "There's still an army in Luoyang without a commander!"

"You mean...?"

"The army under the former General He Jin numbered 40,000! After He Jin's death, this army was abandoned. Why doesn't Father-in-law take it in? There are also more than 10,000 troops under his eight colonels, but these are all from prestigious families. Father-in-law must be wary! Why not pretend to promote them and leave them idle to avoid trouble in the future!"

"Well said!" Dong Zhuo clapped his hands and laughed loudly. "In that case, the only thing to worry about is Ding Yuan's 30,000 Bingzhou cavalry! Hmph!"

"The Bingzhou Iron Cavalry... I, Li Ru, still have no countermeasure!" Li Ru pondered for a moment, feeling somewhat ashamed.

"Zhang Xian, there's no need for this!" Dong Zhuo laughed. "It's just that none of the court officials are on our side these days. What can we do? Besides, we don't have much power! That woman is using Ding Yuan to suppress us! It's truly despicable!"

"If my father-in-law desires supreme power, that's easily accomplished!" Li Ru smiled slightly and said, "The late emperor's secret edict can be used here perfectly!"

"You..." Even Dong Zhuo, with his immense audacity, was startled by Li Ru. "You mean..."

"By borrowing the late emperor's edict, we can depose the current emperor and install Liu Xie as emperor. In this way, my father-in-law will be a minister who helped establish the new emperor, wielding unparalleled power! Empress Dowager Dong, whom He Jin previously executed, was from the same clan as my father-in-law. Empress Dowager He must be concerned about this matter. Rather than letting her check us, we should strike first and wipe out He Jin's entire clan!"

"..." Dong Zhuo stared wide-eyed at Li Ru, and asked urgently, "Is Zhang Xian confident about this matter?"

Li Ru smiled but remained silent.

"Good!" Dong Zhuo laughed heartily, then said angrily, "Those scoundrels in the capital have dared to humiliate me like this; I will certainly not let them get away with it!"

"This is not appropriate!" Li Ru advised, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect. "The matter of governance still requires those scholars. Father-in-law, you should not force things too much. I am concerned with settling the matter of incorporation. Father-in-law, you might as well meet with your old friend, Cai Bojie!"

"That's right!" Dong Zhuo exclaimed in realization. "That year when I entered the capital, I was ignorant of everything and was ridiculed by everyone. Only this person treated me kindly! I must avenge him!"

Thus, Li Ru, with his silver tongue, recruited the 40,000 troops left behind by the former general He Jin, and then hosted a banquet for Cao Cao and eight other colonels, secretly planting his confidants in their service, effectively sidelining Cao Cao and the others.

At present, Dong Zhuo's army has reached 80,000 men. Taking advantage of the reorganization, Li Ru dispersed the 80,000 troops. The original Xiliang soldiers were all promoted one rank, soldiers were promoted to squad leaders, squad leaders to platoon leaders, and platoon leaders to sergeants. He also lured them with benefits, thus firmly controlling the 80,000 troops and assigning them to the four generals Xu Rong, Hu Zhen, Li Jue, and Hua Xiong.

At this point, Dong Zhuo became increasingly proud, especially since Empress He had repeatedly criticized him for incorporating the former general's army. Dong Zhuo's resentment grew, and he secretly plotted to depose and install the new emperor!

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