Liu Bian as Emperor

Perhaps sensing that He Jin was destined to die at the hands of the eunuchs, Yuan Shao foresaw the impending chaos in Luoyang. Acting in his capacity as the Colonel-Director of Retainers, he preemptively notified the influential and upright ministers from noble families to leave the capital to escape the turmoil of war. As a result, most high-ranking officials and nobles went to Pingleguan in the east of Luoyang (Note 1) to enjoy various entertainments. Only Lu Zhi, who had recently resigned, and Wang Yun, who had just assumed the position of Intendant of Henan, remained in the city.

While reading historical records, Lu Bu hadn't thought much of it. Now, caught up in the situation, he increasingly felt that the disruptor of the country wasn't He Jin but Yuan Shao, a schemer and ambitious individual, much like Yuan Shikai in the late Qing Dynasty.

Suddenly, Lu Bu was struck by a remarkably similar historical phenomenon: the chaos in the late Eastern Han was initiated by the brothers Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu. The cause of Yuan Shu's downfall was the jade seal given to him by Sun Ce. In the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty, it was Yuan Shikai who, after repeatedly refusing and retreating from the presidency, ultimately declared himself emperor, and Sun Yat-sen played a part in it. The entanglements between the Yuan and Sun families persisted from the late Eastern Han to the period of the Republic. Another astonishing fact was that the ancestral home of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu was in Ruyang, Henan, and sixteen centuries later, Yuan Shikai was born in Xiangcheng, Zhoukou, Henan.

Arriving at the north gate, Lu Bu was stunned by the shamelessness of the high-ranking officials in the court. When the young emperor and the Prince of Chenliu were in danger, they leisurely listened to scriptures in the Daoist temple. However, upon the safe return of the young emperor and the Prince of Chenliu, they flocked in, each putting on a face as if they had been tirelessly searching and sacrificing for the protection of the imperial family.

Lu Bu wanted to scold these guys, but he quickly realized that most of the innocent commoners in the world were illiterate. Public opinion in the late Eastern Han was controlled by these shameless people, and he couldn't afford to offend them.

Six white horses pulled a luxurious golden carriage, blocking the city gate. Next to it was another carriage pulled by five horses (Note 2). Lu Bu could tell that these Confucian ministers, who upheld the principle of ritual above all else, had already prepared the carriages for the young emperor and the Prince of Chenliu.

Lu Bu quickly dismounted his Green-Mane Horse and gently helped Liu Xie down. Then, he led him to the front of the carriage and assisted him onto it.

Standing near the carriage was none other than Wang Yun, the Intendant of Henan. Trembling, he tried to come forward and help Liu Xie onto the carriage but was stopped by Liu Xie's rebuke, "Wang Yun, as long as General Lu assists, it's enough. You step back."

The current Wang Yun relied on the support of Grand Commandant Yuan Wei and had risen to the position of Intendant of Henan. Liu Xie, dissatisfied with the Yuan family due to He Jin's favoritism towards Yuan Shao, also harbored some resentment towards Wang Yun.

Seeing Wang Yun's somewhat embarrassed expression, Lu Bu couldn't help but smile inwardly. Wang Yun's loyalty did not earn him the same trust as Emperor Xian of Han had in Liu Xie. During the siege of Chang'an by Li Jue and Guo Si, Liu Xie unhesitatingly implicated Wang Yun, blaming him for the assassination of Dong Zhuo. In fact, observing Liu Xie's later actions towards Cao Cao, Lu Bu could tell what kind of person he was. If not for Liu Xie's approval, would Wang Yun have dared to secretly conspire with the ministers and take action?

Fortunately, Lu Bu aimed to be a political figure similar to Cao Cao, even more Machiavellian. Therefore, he didn't care about what kind of person Liu Xie was. In Lu Bu's eyes, he was just a pawn.

At this moment, Lu Bu also began to doubt: should he support the shrewd Liu Xie or the confused Liu Bian? Liu Xie was not an easy character, as seen in the historical accounts. During the period when he was held hostage by Dong Zhuo and Li Jue, Liu Xie managed to scheme against them, leading to their eventual defeat. Moreover, he repeatedly conspired with ministers against those in power, including Cao Cao.

Before Liu Bian was born, the sons of Emperor Ling all died in infancy. Consequently, when Prince Bian was born, he wasn't raised in the imperial palace but in the house of Daoist scholar Shi Zimiao. He couldn't be called by his birth name and was referred to as "Marquis Shi" because Shi Zimiao had Taoist skills, and Empress Dowager He wanted to use his skills to protect Prince Bian. Raised this way, Liu Bian grew up without understanding political affairs, naive and ignorant. Such a person wasn't fit to be a wise and enlightened emperor, but he was well-suited to be a puppet emperor.

Lu Bu, deep in thought, mounted his horse and urged his soldiers to follow behind the carriage, heading towards the direction of the imperial palace. As the Colonel-Director of Retainers, ensuring the safety of the imperial family was his responsibility.

Seated atop his horse, Lu Bu gazed compassionately at the chaotic scene of Luoyang, now in ruins after the recent turmoil. Recalling the vibrant and flourishing sight of Luoyang when he visited during the Harmonious Peace period, he couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.

While Lu Bu was lost in his thoughts, a palace maid approached from beside the Empress Dowager's phoenix-carriage, saying, "Announce Lu Bu to come forward."

Lu Bu quickly dismounted, handing his Green-Mane Horse to a guard, and briskly walked to the side of Empress Dowager He's phoenix-carriage. He bowed slightly, saying, "This humble minister pays respects to the Empress Dowager. Please forgive the lack of proper courtesy due to wearing armor."

The Empress Dowager's voice trembled softly, "In such extraordinary times, how can the Empress Dowager blame you for lacking formality? Lord Lu, do not be overly reserved. The Empress Dowager wants to speak some private words with you."

The term "Lord Lu" was not commonly used during the Han Dynasty, but the Empress Dowager addressing Lu Bu in this way carried a hint of intimacy.

In the midst of the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, Luoyang was still hot. Through the pearl curtain, Lu Bu could vaguely see the figure of Empress Dowager He. Because she was still mourning her late husband Emperor Ling of Han, she was dressed in a plain white silk robe.

As the saying goes, to be filial one must dress in mourning attire. The mature charm of the thirty-year-old widow was presented before Lu Bu, showcasing a unique beauty. Especially under her thin silk robe, one could faintly discern a touch of alluring whiteness.

On the surface, Lu Bu stood straight, avoiding any sidelong glances. However, his eyes were wandering restlessly in their sockets.

Suddenly, he had an idea. He couldn't allow Dong Zhuo to harm Empress Dowager He; instead, he should take her away from Luoyang. Not only could he enjoy the company of the young emperor's mother, but he could also use Empress Dowager He's prestigious name to continue to win over the followers of He Jin and He Miao.

Moreover, he was curious to see what would happen if he wielded the emperor's authority from the beginning, supporting the young Emperor Liu Bian against the puppet Emperor Liu Xie established by Dong Zhuo. How chaotic could the world become?

Lu Bu had not quite understood why Dong Zhuo insisted on deposing the older and enthroning the younger. Clearly, Liu Bian was easier to control. Perhaps Dong Zhuo had become too complacent and wanted to establish his own authority by manipulating the succession of emperors.

Empress Dowager He ordered the palace maids around them to disperse, preventing anyone from eavesdropping. Then, lowering her voice, she said, "Lord Lu, you saved me, as well as the young emperor and the Prince of Chenliu. For such great achievements, how would you like the Empress Dowager to reward you?"

Lu Bu followed the script of a typical play, saying, "Lu Bu is dedicated to serving the country, and rescuing the emperor is only a matter of course. I dare not request any rewards."

Seeing that Lu Bu didn't understand her intentions, Empress Dowager He scolded in a lowered voice, "If you don't say it, how can we announce the edict in the court? I need you to intimidate those noble families, kings, and ministers. Your appointment as Colonel-Director is temporary; later, the young General Du Liao is stationed far away on the border. How can he intimidate them?"