Arriving and leaving in a hurry, it was like going to the toilet.
"I never expected there to be a real man among the eunuchs. Rare indeed," Lu Ming shook his head, looking at the official seal and robes handed over. The document clearly stated that he was the Prefect of Longxi Commandery.
The deal was only finalized yesterday, and he'd already secured it today. The power of the Marquis Zhao is truly not to be underestimated!
Nobody possessing such extraordinary abilities is truly astonishing!
"It's a real pity I didn't get to see Cao Cao and Yuan Shao this time," Lu Ming lamented, regretting not being able to witness firsthand what these two figures, who wielded immense influence during the Three Kingdoms period and left a significant mark on history, were like."
The court assembly was remarkably harmonious, with few arguments.
The Yang family of Hongnong obtained the desired position, the Yuan family of Runan consolidated their power, and the emperor gained wealth and stability for the dynasty—a win-win situation for all three parties.
What remained were the scraps left for the other families, enough to make a bloodbath.
Just before the court session adjourned, Zhang Rang glanced at Emperor Ling's expression, receiving a slight nod of approval.
He then loudly proclaimed, "Finally, given the frequent rebellions in the border regions and within the Han Dynasty's territory, His Majesty intends to emulate Emperor Wu of Han's grand undertaking and re-establish the Western Garden Army, recruiting able-bodied men in Luoyang to establish eight Western Garden Colonels. What are your thoughts on this, esteemed officials?"
These words immediately sparked a flurry of discussion among the crowd.
"The Western Garden Army? Where will they get so much money? The national treasury is already running a deficit!"
"Eight Colonels? Who will be one of them?"
Some were surprised, some disdainful, and others had already set their sights on the list of eight colonels.
While Emperor Ling's actions were somewhat unexpected, the widespread suffering caused by the Gold Rebellion of previous years revealed the numerous problems plaguing the people.
The court lacked a regular army; the border troops were starving and relied entirely on the local prefects for sustenance.
"The rebellion in Xiliang continues day after day, again and again. The barbarians beyond Yanmen Pass invade our land, burning, killing, and looting. Even from my high tower, I can see the devastation ravaged by war. How can the nation be peaceful and prosperous?" Emperor Ling lamented, every emperor a born performer.
The art of imperial rule is not merely about controlling subordinates, but also about learning to compromise and exchange.
Liu Hong sensed his days were numbered; the Han dynasty was teetering on the brink of collapse.
He had only two sons; he had to plan ahead.
The maternal relatives had become too powerful to control, and the aristocratic families, accumulated over the years, had formed a colossal monster, impossible to subdue.
Once this is dealt with, the order of the court will likely collapse instantly!
Many ancient emperors died young, for no other reason than their insatiable lust and unrestrained indulgence.
Semen is a man's vital essence; each ejaculation is like shooting out that essence. Over time, it's no wonder his lifespan is shortened.
Only by maintaining a proper rhythm and nourishing the body can one avoid depletion.
Otherwise, once depletion occurs, it proves the body is failing, and reversing it becomes extremely difficult.
General He Jin, standing at the forefront, subconsciously looked up at the emperor upon hearing this, but the pearl curtain in front of Emperor Ling obscured his face, making it impossible to see his expression.
"Does Your Majesty not trust me?"
As a general, he knew his own limitations.
He was chosen as general not only because Emperor Ling had no other options, but also to counter the powerful civil officials.
Recently, however, Yuan Shao, a talented member of the Yuan clan, joined his ranks, offering him advice and strategies.
Furthermore, he himself had become increasingly close to the powerful clans, contradicting Emperor Ling's initial plans. It was no wonder that Emperor Ling had chosen someone else.
"May I ask Your Majesty, is the Western Garden Army under the control of the Grand General?" a civil official inquired, clearly a lamb being turned away.
He Jin, hearing this question, also perked up his ears. This was a sensitive question, concerning whether he had truly lost Emperor Ling's trust.
The Grand General, after all, commanded all the armies of the realm. Theoretically, the Grand General had the right to govern all the troops of the Liu Dynasty!
Now it seemed that His Majesty was preparing to strip him of his military power!
Imperial power cannot be lent to others; once lost, it is harder to regain than to ascend to heaven.
Emperor Ling knew this, and so did the powerful clans.
When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, Emperor Ling of Han probably realized this day would come sooner or later. After the rebellion, even He Jin was no longer so obedient.
Previously, he was extremely obedient and followed orders, but now he was flirting with powerful clans, preparing to sideline him as emperor!
Is an emperor who has been sidelined still an emperor?
The reason He Jin was chosen to take command of the military was because he was the most suitable choice for Emperor Ling.
The He family came from humble butchering backgrounds, lacking any real power base. Empress He was the mother of the crown prince; they were family, so keeping them within the family was an acceptable outcome.
Unexpectedly, He Jin "changed." He became so close to the powerful clans so quickly, essentially becoming their representative and challenging imperial power.
Emperor Ling once considered using a diversionary tactic, transferring He Jin to Liangzhou to quell the rebellion, then finding a way to sever his ties with the powerful clans and reclaim his military power.
But He Jin had become clever. With the support of Yuan Shao and others, he played a trick, employing delaying tactics and refusing to leave.
Under these circumstances, Emperor Ling of Han had no choice but to start afresh, establishing another armed force under the direct command of the emperor—the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden Army—in addition to the Northern Army.
This was Emperor Ling's true intention and purpose; he needed to leave something for his son, even if his son was incompetent, as a father, he couldn't let his son down.
"The Western Garden Army is my personal army. When necessary, the Grand General will also be subject to the Western Garden Army's command. Do you all have any candidates in mind?" Emperor Ling's expression remained frighteningly calm; his tone was anything but a discussion.
Those who attended court were mostly not fools, but capable individuals, or at least cunning old foxes.
Seeing Emperor Ling's attitude, they immediately fell silent.
Clearly, Emperor Ling had his own candidates in mind.
They weren't naively thinking they could interfere!