47. The One Who Punishes the Traitor (2)
47. The One Who Punishes the Traitor (2)
The news that Emperor Liu Xie was suffering from a serious illness naturally reached Dong Zhuo as well.
He had heard it directly from the Emperor's female physicians.
Since Dong Zhuo had placed palace attendants who were either colluding with him or trustworthy by the Emperor's side, it was no exaggeration to say that he was monitoring every single move the Emperor made.
"These are the ingredients for the decoction submitted by the Imperial Physician. Chancellor of State, it is certain that the Emperor is truly ill. Rehmannia root, white peony root, motherwort... they are all ingredients with such potent medicinal properties that they would only be prescribed to a patient with a serious illness."
"Hmm, is that so?"
Dong Zhuo nodded at Li Ru's explanation.
His strategist possessed not only scholarly knowledge and tactical brilliance but also a sharp aptitude for medicine. Once Li Ru reported that it was certain the Emperor was suffering from a serious illness, Dong Zhuo was convinced that it must be true.
"If the young girl dies, who should we enthrone as the next Emperor?"
He spoke as if a master who had lost an item was looking for a replacement.
To Dong Zhuo, the Emperor was nothing more than an object.
Deposing Liu Bian and installing Liu Xie, who had been the Prince of Chenliu, was merely to completely crush the influence of General-in-Chief He Jin; he had never expected the ascension of a brilliant Emperor.
Now, the utility had dropped.
The existence of Liu Xie, who was evaluated as being brilliant, acted as a source of aversion for Dong Zhuo. It was because he didn't know when she might grow up and aim for his throat.
"The direct line has already been severed. It seems we will have to look for a distant bloodline among the collateral branches."
At that, Dong Zhuo showed a listless reaction.
Li Ru, who keenly captured Dong Zhuo's reaction, realized that his lord had someone else in mind to place on the throne.
"Does the Chancellor of State perhaps have a candidate in mind?"
"Of course."
Dong Zhuo said with a smirk.
Then, he pointed at himself and burst into a loud laugh.
"Am I not the warlord most suited to be Emperor? I have crushed all the Guandong Warlords, and there are no enemies left to oppose me. Ever since I absorbed General-in-Chief He Jin's troops, I have had the ambition to ascend to the throne."
He designated himself as the new Emperor.
Dong Zhuo judged that the time was now ripe and wished to receive abdication from the severely ill Liu Xie.
Who in the world could defy his will? Having repelled the Guandong Warlords, Dong Zhuo was so arrogant that he acted as if he didn't even fear Heaven, and he even said that no one could stop him.
I will become the new Heaven.
He showed a rash judgment, saying he had even thought of the name of the dynasty.
'This is the will of Heaven. The Emperor fell ill after moving the capital to Chang'an. Ignorant subjects call it an ominous sign, but to me, it is the best opportunity. Before the young Emperor dies, I will receive abdication and become the Emperor of a new dynasty.'
How could it not be the will of Heaven?
If Liu Xie dies, the bloodline of Emperor Ling (Filial and Spiritual Emperor), Liu Hong, will be completely severed. That Liu Hong was also far from being the direct heir of the imperial family, and wasn't he someone who ascended to the throne only because the direct line was severed?
The direct line of the imperial family was severed.
He could choose an easy-going royal family member from the collateral branches and enthrone them as a puppet Emperor, but Dong Zhuo believed that Heaven was angry at the Han Dynasty and had severed the direct lines one after another.
If Lee Seong-hwi had been next to him, he would have shouted, 'You killed the previous Emperor, you son of a bitch!'
"The direct lines of the imperial family are being severed one after another. It's obvious that even if I choose a new royal family member, they won't last long and will die. What does this mean? Isn't Heaven telling me, Dong Zhongying, to ascend to the throne!"
Dong Zhuo burst into loud laughter.
Having grasped the world, he felt overwhelmed with emotion as it seemed even Heaven was helping him.
"Chancellor of State, someone has come from the Imperial Palace."
To Dong Zhuo, who was immersed in a sense of overwhelming exhilaration while talking with Li Ru, an imperial eunuch had come to visit.
Soon, the eunuch had an audience with Dong Zhuo.
When Dong Zhuo gestured, the eunuch hurriedly lowered his head and opened his mouth.
"His, His Majesty says he has a request he wishes to discuss urgently with the Chancellor of State."
"A request?"
Dong Zhuo asked back.
He felt puzzled that the Emperor said there was something he wanted to ask of him.
Li Ru was the same.
Then, Dong Zhuo gestured to the eunuch again, instructing him to continue speaking.
"His Majesty was born in Luoyang and grew up only in Luoyang."
"That was the case. But why?"
"For the last time... he said he wanted to visit Luoyang just once... that is what he said."
As if it were too respectful to even speak, the eunuch could not continue his words.
The eunuch shed tears and lowered his head.
He was crying and wailing because it was so sad to convey the young Emperor's last request.
'So the time to die has come.'
On the other hand, Dong Zhuo felt like he wanted to burst into uproarious laughter.
People said that one knows when one is about to die.
The young Emperor also came to realize that his death had arrived. Dong Zhuo was happier than ever that the time for the Emperor of the Han Dynasty to die had come.
Lee Seong-hwi had refrained from doing anything that would cause suspicion.
He had delivered all reports to his superiors without hiding anything.
By reporting everything, including the conscription of soldiers and his dedication to training, as well as his own movements, he broke down the vigilance of General of Chariots and Cavalry Dong Min.
And it was a success.
Although Dong Min had frequently been wary of Lee Seong-hwi for several months, once Lee Seong-hwi showed no signs of anything, he quickly showed a loosened appearance and fell into the debauchery he loved.
"Uahaha! Let's drink, let's drink!"
Dong Min raised his wine cup.
With his other hand, he grabbed the large breasts of the gisaeng sitting next to him, showing a lustful appearance.
The other generals were the same.
General of the Martial Army Li Meng and General of the Household Wang Fang, who were crazy about women, were also drinking heavily with gisaengs on both sides.
Zhang Ji and Zhang Xiu showed restraint in drinking, saying they were still on duty, but Li Meng and Wang Fang showed a relaxed appearance, asking what there was to worry about.
"Did the Minister of the Imperial Guard not tell you to be wary of General of the Right Lee Seong-hwi?"
General of Henan Zhang Ji spoke in a feigned admonishing voice. Hearing that, Dong Min laughed loudly and emptied his wine cup repeatedly.
"What is there to worry about, General of Henan? I had the same thought as you, General of Henan, but are you not saying that no signs are appearing? He must have been surprised by my brother's might and decided to bow his head even now. How could a guy like him defy my brother's world."
At Dong Min's words, Zhang Ji nodded.
No suspicious circumstances were found in Lee Seong-hwi. As the Xingyang Commandant, he only focused on the necessary conscription and training, and showed only a normal appearance without any particular movements.
Isn't that suspicious in itself?
There were only ordinary daily routines without any special matters, to the point where the person receiving the report would naturally become lazy.
"General of the Right has arrived."
The door opened and Lee Seong-hwi entered.
It seemed that Dong Min had called him personally.
He, the Xingyang Commandant, came to meet Dong Min, who was holding a drinking party at the Imperial Palace in Luoyang.
"Did you call for me, General of Chariots and Cavalry?"
"Haven't you been focusing only on work lately? I called you to this banquet to reward your diligent efforts. Don't be so stiff and take a seat. I called only very pretty gisaengs."
Dong Min had already let down his guard.
However, perhaps he couldn't be completely off guard, so he called Lee Seong-hwi to check on him. Seeing that he was no different from usual, Dong Min nodded, thinking, 'As expected.'
This guy is the same as usual.
Even his unlucky face and unlucky appearance.
It felt like his appetite for alcohol was ruined just by looking at that face, but seeing him run over as soon as he heard his call, he began to look down on him.
"My lord, please have a drink here."
The gisaeng said with a nasal voice.
As the wine cup was filled, Lee Seong-hwi emptied it in one breath.
"I thought you were a bookworm, but you empty your cup quite heartily."
Dong Min said, clapping his hands.
At that exaggerated action, Li Meng and Wang Fang burst into loud laughter and emptied their wine cups.
"But it seems the General of Chariots and Cavalry has something to be happy about."
Lee Seong-hwi asked.
At that, Dong Min, who was sitting in the seat of honor, nodded.
"I took in a new concubine this month. With this, I have 30 concubines alone. I only brought in absolute beauties. Thanks to that, my lower body is melting every night. I'm worried if I might die from this."
It's done, the guy has started to let his guard down.
Seeing Dong Min answering his words obediently, Lee Seong-hwi knew that the vigilance in Luoyang had been lifted.
The guy who tried to kill me has relaxed.
If Dong Min is like this, would the others be any different? It has been 4 months since Dong Zhuo left Luoyang. The military discipline of Dong Zhuo's generals had completely loosened.
Zhang Ji and Zhang Xiu are a bit worrying. But since Jia Xu has already turned to our side, I think I can deceive Zhang Ji and Zhang Xiu well.
"You don't have to worry about the Guandong Warlords either. After the war ended, the warlords started fighting among themselves. It's as if they've forgotten when they formed an alliance and fought together; they are fighting each other. The sight of warlords, who have no loyalty or faith at all, fighting over a small piece of land is a living hell."
Lee Seong-hwi reported on the trends of the warlords.
At those words, Dong Min burst into a loud laugh, saying what could those warlords do.
Now there is nothing left to worry about.
Hearing those words from Lee Seong-hwi's mouth, Dong Min showed an even more relaxed appearance. He revealed his lecherous nature by getting intimately close to the gisaeng next to him.
"But General of the Right, how many troops do you have under your command?"
Colonel Zhang Xiu asked.
Lee Seong-hwi, judging that it was information they already knew anyway, revealed it honestly.
"In total, about 2,000. If you include the guards stationed in other counties, it will be a little more."
"We have received intelligence that bandits are swarming in the surroundings. Wouldn't it be better to increase your troops to subjugate them all?"
Zhang Xiu threw the bait.
It was to confirm Lee Seong-hwi's rebellious intent by deliberately giving him an opportunity to expand his troops. But Lee Seong-hwi showed a reaction that bandits were not a big deal.
"It's spring now. If we increase the troops, won't there be a shortage of people to farm?"
"That is correct, General of the Right."
He threw the bait boldly.
At Lee Seong-hwi's reaction, who was only showing himself drinking, Zhang Xiu nodded.
"But have you heard the news?"
Dong Min opened his mouth.
Drunk as he was, his face was beet red. Moving his tongue, which was completely loosened, he spoke to Lee Seong-hwi.
"I heard the Emperor is coming to Luoyang."
"His Majesty... is coming to Luoyang, you say?"
Lee Seong-hwi raised his head.
Emperor Liu Xie is coming to Luoyang again.
Dong Zhuo must be monitoring Liu Xie like a prisoner so that he cannot go anywhere. What kind of trick did he use to get Dong Zhuo to agree?
"They say the Emperor is suffering from a serious illness. He said that even if it's just once before he dies, he wants to return to Luoyang."
The Emperor is terminally ill.
Dong Min, who was conveying that, didn't feel sad at all, but rather started giggling as if it were a good thing.
Li Meng and Wang Fang were the same.
It was a reaction that whether the young Emperor was terminally ill and died or not, it was a story that had nothing to do with them.
Lee Seong-hwi drank the alcohol.
Outwardly, he maintained a blank expression with no reaction, but inwardly, his heart was greatly excited. From the Emperor's decision to come to Luoyang on the pretext of a serious illness, he knew that the great undertaking was not far off.
'I will definitely take your heads. I will throw your heads to the concubines you are so proud of.'
It has been a whopping 4 months.
The time for the efforts he had prepared for 4 months to raise its head had begun to come.