Capítulo 16: Considering Ji Zhou
Lu Bu understood Empress Dowager He's intentions but was unwilling to remain in the vortex of chaos in Luoyang. After a moment of contemplation, he decided to persuade Empress Dowager He to leave Luoyang, avoiding the historical calamities. He spoke in a low voice, "Empress Dowager, have you heard the story of the internal turmoil in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period? Shen Sheng was in danger inside, but Chong Er found safety outside."
Although Empress Dowager He was the daughter of a butcher, her father, He Zhen, arranged for teachers to educate her in the Four Books and Five Classics to please the former emperor. So, Empress Dowager He understood Lu Bu's words, but she still had some confusion, asking, "Please clarify, Lord Lu, what does this have to do with my situation?"
Lu Bu tried to use a solemn tone to influence Empress Dowager He, "This humble minister has received confidential reports. The former Inspector of Liang Province, Dong Zhuo, has led a hundred thousand cavalry from Mianchi to Luoyang. His brother, Dong Min, serves as the Attendant Charioteer, and the Colonel-Director of Retainers, Yuan Shao, acts as their inside man. They will arrive in Luoyang in two days. Dong Zhuo is a relative of the late Empress Dowager, and if the Empress Dowager insists on staying in Luoyang, there may be unforeseen consequences." To enhance credibility, Lu Bu handed the carrier pigeon's secret letter from Dong Min to the palace maid, who then presented it to Empress Dowager He. He also explained the matter of the carrier pigeon.
Empress Dowager He had been uneasy since she ordered the execution of the late Empress Dowager, and upon hearing Lu Bu's words and seeing the secret letter, she couldn't help but be shocked, "Dong Zhuo is the relative of that old woman?! Why would Yuan Shao collaborate with Dong Zhuo?"
Lu Bu recounted the conversation with Huang Zhong earlier and explained it to Empress Dowager He. After listening, she carefully considered the actions of the Yuan family before and after the eunuch conspiracy, further confirming the untrustworthiness of the Yuan family. Suppressing her resentment, Empress Dowager He, with fierce eyes and clenched silver teeth, declared, "I want to exterminate the entire Yuan Shao clan!"
Since the death of He Jin, she had been filled with immense guilt, regretting deeply and blaming herself for being so foolish and trusting the eunuchs, leading to the death of her elder brother and the loss of her fundamental support. In the end, it was all a scheme by Yuan Shao.
Lu Bu quickly coughed, reminding Empress Dowager He not to get too agitated, "Empress Dowager, be cautious; the walls have ears."
Restraining her overwhelming resentment, Empress Dowager He said, "Lord Lu, this palace hates Yuan Shao to death. Tell me, how can I kill Yuan Shao and avenge the Grand General?"
Lu Bu, caught off guard by this turn of events, hesitated for a moment but quickly recovered. He advised, "Your Highness, this statement is not appropriate. Consider this: whether it is Dong Zhuo or Yuan Shao, once they control the court, with their ambitious nature, they will inevitably marginalize the imperial family. Whether it is Emperor Bian or Emperor Xie, in their eyes, there is no difference. Both are mere puppet emperors during this transitional period. After they eliminate other opposition, they will seek the throne. Therefore, it is meaningless for the Empress Dowager to kill the young Emperor Xie. It will only become an excuse for them to usurp the throne later. Empress Dowager, staying in Luoyang is a dead end, but leaving Luoyang provides a chance for survival. I hope the Empress Dowager will consider it carefully."
Empress Dowager He, with a gloomy expression, said, "It seems that Luoyang is no longer a place to stay. According to Lord Lu's words, leaving Luoyang, where should we go?"
Lu Bu balanced the interests from various aspects in his mind and spoke with a deep voice, "Jizhou is the head of the nine provinces, with fertile land stretching for thousands of miles and a dense population. Currently, Governor of Jizhou Huangfu Song has gone to Liangzhou to suppress Han Sui and Wang Guo. Jizhou is temporarily without a governor. I see that Lord Lu Zhi is loyal and has no ulterior motives. He is proficient in both civil and military affairs, with a great reputation. Now, he has also contributed to rescuing the emperor. He can be appointed as the Governor of Jizhou. The Empress Dowager and the young emperor can temporarily endure some hardship, disguising as a maid and a child, and integrate into Lord Lu Zhi's convoy heading to Jizhou, far away from the troublesome Luoyang."
Empress Dowager He pondered for a moment and asked with a hint of grievance, "Lord Lu, without your protection, I feel quite unsafe. Why don't you find a good position for yourself, making it convenient to defend both of us, mother and son?"
Lu Bu smiled faintly, "I came from Bingzhou, and I plan to return there. Empress Dowager might as well appoint me as the Governor of Bingzhou, currently held by Dong Zhuo. Additionally, I hope Empress Dowager can confer upon me the title of General Who Conquers the North, commanding the military forces of Bingzhou, Jizhou, and Youzhou. I will subdue the Black Mountain Army, the Xiongnu, and the Xianbei, creating an invincible army for Empress Dowager to eliminate rebels like Yuan Shao and Dong Zhuo. After wiping out the traitors, we can then return to Luoyang with Empress Dowager and the emperor. I wonder if this is to Empress Dowager's liking?"
Empress Dowager He thought for a moment and nodded, "That is as you wish. However, merely appointing you as the Governor of Bingzhou and General Who Conquers the North is not enough. I want to reward you with another title—Marquis of Wen, with a fief in Wen County, Henan Commandery. How does that sound to you?"
Lu Bu was overjoyed; he hadn't expected Empress Dowager He to be so generous in securing her position. He quickly expressed gratitude, "I am deeply grateful for Empress Dowager's kindness. I will surely serve with utmost loyalty, dedicating myself entirely until death."
Empress Dowager He chuckled, "Lord Lu, you saved the lives of both of us. These rewards are well-deserved. By the way, I mentioned earlier that Yuan Shao only controls half of the West Garden Eight Armies. What about the other half?"
Since Lu Bu entered Luoyang, he had dispatched many scouts to gather information within the city. He had also obtained some information from Zhang Rang a while ago. Calmly, he replied, "After the death of the Colonel-Director of the Upper Army, Jian Shuo, the Upper Army was in chaos. Zhao Rong, the Assistant Colonel of the Army, was recommended by the eunuch Zhang Rang and assumed the position. Feng Fang, the Assistant Colonel of the Right Army, is the son-in-law of the eunuch Cao Jie. Xia Mou, the Colonel of the Left Army, was a student of the late Emperor's Hongdu Gate School. These three individuals are not favored by Yuan Shao and are only interested in maintaining their own military power. If I receive the decree from Empress Dowager to jointly resist Yuan Shao, the situation can be promising."
Empress Dowager He nodded in approval. Seeing that the conversation had gone on for quite a while, she was worried that the followers of Yuan Shao might harbor suspicions. She raised her voice, "I have instructed you to teach the emperor martial arts diligently. Do not neglect your duty. You may leave!"
Yuan Shao, who was closely watching the Empress Dowager's carriage from a distance, heard her words and instantly dispelled his doubts, thinking, "The courage of commoners, the sons of humble families, is only fit for martial arts instructors. How can they contend with us aristocrats?"
Cao Cao noticed Yuan Shao's thoughts and wanted to advise him, but he knew Yuan Shao's temper. Although Yuan Shao seemed to accept advice readily, he was stubborn and couldn't tolerate differing opinions. Since Cao Cao, as the adopted son of the eunuch Cao Teng, did not receive approval from the aristocratic families, he had no choice but to temporarily align with the Yuan family for his own interests. It wasn't worth offending Yuan Shao for the sake of the Yuan family's benefits. With this in mind, Cao Cao tightly sealed his lips.
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