Emperor Ling's Demise
The chill air seeped through the cracks in the windows and wrapped the room in its embrace. Beneath the flickering oil lamp, the shadows of two men stretched long across the floor.
He Jin sat in silence, staring down at the letter Yuan Shao had placed before him. It bore no seal and carried no mark of officialdom. Only the words Mengjin Port Report were scrawled across the single sheet.
“This is the first I’ve heard of any trouble at Mengjin Port,” He Jin said. His voice was low, yet it carried the full weight of his authority.
“Yes. It is exactly as the Grand General knows,” Yuan Shao replied without hesitation, nodding firmly.
“However, if the Grand General so desires, trouble can be made to appear.”
He Jin’s eyebrows twitched. His gaze sharpened like a blade.
“Do you even understand what you are saying right now?”
“Of course I do, Grand General.” Yuan Shao did not retreat an inch. “If Mengjin Port were to be consumed by flames, the court and the people would believe the contents of this report to be true.”
He Jin stared at him in heavy silence. The air in the room grew thick and stagnant.
“Mengjin Port is the heart of Luoyang’s logistics. Every resource consumed in the capital passes through there. If the remnants of the Yellow Turbans were to infiltrate and set it ablaze, Luoyang would face a crisis of immense proportions.”
Yuan Shao reached out and unfolded the map on the table, pointing directly at the spot marked Mengjin Port.
“Even the mere ‘fact’ that a fire broke out, the harbor burned, and some supplies were lost would be enough. The Grand General could then issue edicts to the provinces in the Emperor’s name under that pretext.”
He Jin remained silent. His eyes only grew sharper.
“Gather the provincial armies in the capital and display military force both inside and outside the court. Everyone knows of the Ten Eunuchs’ corruption, yet no one dares speak of it. If the Grand General draws his sword, they will all follow.”
Yuan Shao bowed deeply at the waist.
“Grand General, this is the perfect opportunity to purge the Ten Eunuchs.”
A brief silence fell. He Jin rose quietly from his seat and gazed out the window. A sliver of moonlight pierced the dark sky.
“So what you are saying… is that I should personally set Mengjin Port on fire?”
“Grand General, sometimes one cannot avoid dirtying one’s hands. Moreover, no one will ever know the truth of this matter.”
Yuan Shao’s eyes gleamed with bright conviction. There was not the slightest trace of fear or hesitation in them.
He Jin turned his head. His expression remained unreadable.
“I know the empire’s illness runs deep,” He Jin said slowly. “However, now does not seem the proper time to draw the sword to cure it.”
Yuan Shao bit his lip. Grand General He Jin had always claimed to be mentally prepared, yet he clearly had no intention of wielding the blade himself.
He Jin sat back down and lifted the teacup from the table. The tea had gone cold. A bitter taste filled his mouth.
“I agree with the idea of purging the Ten Eunuchs. No matter how you look at me now, I severed my trust in them long ago.”
“Then you must act now, more than ever,” Yuan Shao pressed without pause. “The Ten Eunuchs currently control the court from beneath the Emperor’s shadow. If things continue this way, the entire government will fall into ruin. Grand General, you must make the decisive—”
“His Majesty is critically ill.”
He Jin cut him off, murmuring the words softly. The atmosphere in the room grew heavy once more.
“The Emperor’s condition is grave. That is the opening you are aiming for, is it not?”
“...Precisely because His Majesty lies on his sickbed, we must take sweeping action across the court.”
“Hah. Do you truly believe that? I hold the opposite view.”
He Jin set the teacup down and looked Yuan Shao squarely in the eyes.
“Because His Majesty is critically ill, we must not act rashly. If we cause unnecessary turmoil and tarnish His Majesty’s dignity, the realm will fall into even greater chaos.”
Yuan Shao clenched his teeth.
“Grand General, His Majesty is currently being manipulated by the Ten Eunuchs. The eunuchs have isolated him from all outside contact. In truth, he is little more than a prisoner.”
“What is wrong with the palace eunuchs guarding His Majesty during his illness?”
“Grand General!” Yuan Shao’s voice rose. “Are you truly unable to understand this humble one’s intentions!? They are abusing the Emperor’s name to trample over the court as they please. This is the moment we can sweep away these treacherous vermin in one stroke!”
“Enough, Benchu! I understand your intentions better than anyone. But there are procedures for everything!”
He Jin spoke clearly.
“To purge the Ten Eunuchs, we require His Majesty’s explicit decree. If I mobilize the army in my capacity as Grand General of the Empire without such an edict, would that not constitute rebellion?”
“......”
“Therefore, I will continue to check the Ten Eunuchs both inside and outside the palace while awaiting His Majesty’s command.”
Yuan Shao ground his teeth inwardly. Damn it… Is the Grand General still afraid of the Ten Eunuchs?
He Jin had risen to his current position thanks to the recommendation of the Ten Eunuchs. Yet that old debt and the memory of their past favor had become the shackles preventing his final decision.
“...Grand General. How could we possibly obtain His Majesty’s decree? The Ten Eunuchs are blocking all access to him.”
“That… I will verify myself. Benchu, you need not concern yourself with it any further.”
He Jin’s eyes were heavier than ever. Yuan Shao pressed his lips into a thin line.
He Jin was not yet ready to draw the sword. No—he was actively avoiding it.
But the realm would not wait for the Grand General to steel his resolve.
“Hah… So the Grand General still cannot make his decision.”
Yuan Shao muttered to himself as he walked slowly through the courtyard of the Grand General’s residence. The freezing winter wind tore at his clothes, yet his steps felt leaden.
“He says he will only draw the sword after receiving an edict from His Majesty…”
Yuan Shao gazed at the pond in the center of the courtyard. In the reflection of the water, his own eyes burned with fury.
In the end, the Grand General is still afraid of the Ten Eunuchs!
Yuan Shao gritted his teeth and lifted his head again.
He Jin was an upright man. For such a man, justification and proper procedure took precedence over law itself. But what Luoyang needed now was not justification—it was a sword.
The Ten Eunuchs were using the Emperor’s illness as an excuse to prevent anyone from meeting him. They wielded the Emperor as a tool while keeping the outer relatives and ministers at bay. It was obvious that no edict would ever come from an Emperor held in their grasp.
“Receive an edict from His Majesty? Will such an edict even be possible… while he still lives?”
Yuan Shao murmured, lowering his head. At that moment, a gust of wind brushed past his back. He suddenly felt like a soldier standing atop a sandcastle that could collapse at any moment.
If things continue like this, we will be the first to fall.
Yuan Shao looked up at the moonlit sky. The darkness above seemed endless.
We cannot wait. There is no time.
He whispered inwardly.
Everyone knows the Emperor is critically ill. No one in the court will fail to exploit this news. The Ten Eunuchs, the other ministers… they are all watching for the slightest opening.
Yuan Shao’s hands trembled.
Yet the Grand General… still says he will wait for His Majesty’s command. Just what edict are you hoping for, Grand General…?
Gravel crunched beneath his feet. Yuan Shao kicked a stone hard, then suddenly stopped.
“...Must I do it myself?”
The question was not directed at anyone. Yet the words that left his lips flew back like a blade stabbing his own heart.
“The only one who can point a sword at the Ten Eunuchs is the Grand General. Therefore, we can only wait…”
Yuan Shao began walking again. But from behind, only unquenched rage radiated from his figure.
And after that day, Yuan Shao never again requested a private audience with He Jin.
Mid-Ping 6th Year (189 AD), First Month, Luoyang, Residence of Grand Tutor Liu Yan
“Jiao Province… or Yi Province…”
Liu Yan slowly traced his finger across the map on his desk. Though cold wind slipped through the cracks into the room, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
“His Majesty’s illness grows worse by the day, and the movements within the palace are far from ordinary.”
Liu Yan tapped the desk as he pondered deeply.
“They say the aura of the Son of Heaven lingers in Yi Province…”
He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them. The words had come from a man named Dong Bu just days earlier. Yi Province was said to be a land long steeped in the aura of the Son of Heaven, and that aura had now grown strong enough to support the enthronement of a new emperor.
“However… the rebellion in Liang Province has yet to be suppressed.”
Liu Yan’s gaze shifted to the northeast of the map. Han Sui’s rebel forces were gaining momentum and still rampaging across Liang Province. The imperial armies had failed to quell them, and some were even whispering that Liang Province might have to be abandoned. The situation remained in constant flux.
“The routes out of Yi Province are limited. And if the barbarians have occupied Liang Province, we must also account for their cavalry…”
Liu Yan spoke indifferently, jabbing his finger into the territory of Liang Province. Then his gaze moved once more.
“Yi Province is an attractive land. Surrounded by rugged terrain, it has long maintained independent politics without outside interference. If I were to occupy it… and bide my time, I too might seize the realm, just as my ancestors did.”
Liu Yan rose slowly and pushed aside a folding screen in the corner of the room. Behind it was another map. This was no ordinary one. It was a precious strategic map detailing the military strength and topography of every province.
“However… now is not the time. Yi Province remains chaotic, and even if I build up strength, the exit routes are too narrow. If I possessed the talents of Emperor Gao or Emperor Guangwu, it might be different, but…”
Liu Yan rested his chin on his hand and muttered.
“Then… what of Jiao Province?”
This time his finger touched the southernmost edge.
“It lies beyond the reach of both the frontier and the court’s gaze. Yet… it is suitable for raising an army, and unlike Yi Province, it offers paths to Jiangnan, Jing Province, and Yi Province.”
Liu Yan’s eyes flashed. A thin smile crept across his lips.
“Pacify Jiao Province, reorganize the army, then seize Yi Province. Once the troops are disciplined and the people’s support is secured, extending our reach to Jing Province, Liang Province, and the lands east of the river…”
Liu Yan let his words trail off. His hand slowly caressed the map once more.
“If one wishes to become the Son of Heaven, wasting any more time in Luoyang would be foolish.”
His eyes had hardened with firm resolve.
Jiao Province was not merely a starting point. For him, it was the prologue that would open a new era.
Liu Yan took a sheet of fine silk from his drawer. He began writing upon it with careful, elegant strokes of the brush.
Your subject, Grand Tutor Liu Yan, is foolish by nature and has failed to repay the vast imperial grace bestowed upon him. Having received the Emperor’s will and served for many years in the office of Grand Tutor, I have been unable to prevent the abuses of state affairs, and can only reproach myself daily.
Recently, calamities and omens have continued without cease across the realm, and bandits swarm in all directions. His Majesty, father and mother to all the people, is deeply worried, and the ministers of the court grow more anxious by the day. Truly, this is a matter of utmost sorrow.
In Jiangdong and Liang Province, treacherous men have privately raised armies, and the common people have lost their livelihoods, wandering scattered and homeless. Yet your subject sits in the court, receiving only imperial grace, and feels nothing but shame.
I have heard that the people of Jiao Province are simple and honest, and they long for the Emperor’s benevolence. However, bandits run rampant and oppress the good people, so even those who wish to follow Your Majesty’s will cannot do so.
If your subject were to go there and convey Your Majesty’s will in your stead, this would be a way to repay the imperial grace and return the debt owed to the nation.
Though I know myself to be without talent, as a member of the imperial clan, how could I turn my back on the nation’s crisis? I humbly beg Your Majesty to consider my earnest petition and appoint me as Governor of Jiao Province, granting me the opportunity to govern the people of that land.
Should this be permitted, your subject will exert himself to the utmost—like a loyal dog or horse—sparing no effort to stabilize the populace, repel the bandits, and ensure Your Majesty’s sacred grace reaches even the most distant provinces.
I dare not harbor any selfish intent. I beg Your Majesty to discern this.
Liu Yan did not pause for even a moment, writing each character with precise strokes.
“After pacifying Jiao Province, Yi Province can be targeted at leisure.”
He lifted the completed memorial and spread it open. Then, very slowly but with perfect clarity, he whispered to himself.
“Who in this world would be more fit for the throne of the Son of Heaven than I?”
Mid-Ping 6th Year (189 AD), Fifth Month, Taishan, General’s Residence Training Grounds
I sat on a flat spot atop the hill, arms resting on my knees, looking down at the training ground. Before my eyes, Jeon Wi held a wooden staff instead of his axes, barking orders at the soldiers. The men were sweating profusely yet moved with disciplined precision. At this point, they could genuinely pass for proper troops anywhere.
“Second line, right side—your spear tip is wavering. Correct it.”
Jeon Wi’s voice was low but rang out clearly. I spat out the twig I’d been chewing on and muttered.
“...It’s a real fucking army now.”
From behind, So-yeon approached quietly, carrying a bundle of documents.
“Lord Jang Yeon, news has arrived from Luoyang. It isn’t confirmed yet, but rumors say the Grand General’s residence has been trying to gather troops recently.”
I raised an eyebrow slightly.
“The Grand General’s residence? You mean He Jin?”
“Yes.”
“...He’s probably playing mind games with the Ten Eunuchs.”
I scratched the back of my head. Still, that bastard only reached his position thanks to the Ten Eunuchs, so he won’t draw his sword easily. Just like in the original history.
“Anything else?”
“There is talk that Liu Yan has volunteered to become Governor of Jiao Province.”
So-yeon continued cautiously.
“He was originally serving as Grand Tutor, merely performing ceremonial duties as a member of the imperial clan, yet he suddenly requested to be sent to the frontier.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“...Liu Yan? Why would that guy suddenly do that?”
“I’m not sure either.”
I closed my eyes slowly, then opened them and nodded.
Didn’t that bastard Liu Yan originally head to Yi Province? Jiao Province? Has history changed, or did I just not pay attention and miss it when I read?
I sprang to my feet. So-yeon looked up in surprise.
“Lord Jang Yeon?”
“Increase the training schedule,” I said slowly. “From now on, I will personally oversee the cavalry. Yu Byeok and Jeon Wi, you two will handle the infantry. Especially the spear phalanx! Train those long spears until they’d rather die than let go of them, fuck.”
Yu Byeok, who had been slacking off beside me, answered in a dazed voice.
“Me?”
“Yeah. You and Jeon Wi.”
“No way… I thought things were finally getting easier…”
I ignored Yu Byeok clutching his head and rolled up my sleeves.
“We have to grind them until they’re ready to drop dead.”
I looked at the training ground again. The tips of the soldiers’ spears glittered in the sunlight.
Fuck. We don’t have any decent generals or strategists. What the hell. Even though the conditions are perfect, the only ones willing to serve under a bandit general are Jeon Wi and Master Jang. Ha… expensive bastards…
My mood turned to shit, so I stomped the ground hard.
“But if I enter Luoyang before anyone else…”
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
“...Let’s see if they can still act so fucking expensive then.”
To achieve my goal, the chips I currently held were nowhere near enough. But if I moved quickly and planted my feet in the chaos of the court first—
“Hah, fuck! Looks like I’ll finally get to drink meat broth every day.”
I looked up at the sky. The cold winter sunlight poured down.
Yet beneath that sunlight, I was certain.
The time was coming soon.
Mid-Ping 6th Year (189 AD), Fifth Month, Luoyang, Imperial Palace
Eunuchs dressed in black mourning robes moved slowly from the main gate. The court ministers, also in mourning attire, began to wail quietly. Emperor Ling of Han—Liu Hong—had finally passed away.
Yet the imperial palace was eerily silent. Unlike usual, not a single sound rang out. The Emperor’s women wept bitterly, but the eunuchs guarding them shed not a single tear. Instead of grieving, they moved with swift efficiency.
Deep within the palace, in a secret chamber.
Roughly ten eunuchs had gathered. All wore black mourning clothes, their silk belts hanging loosely.
In the silent chamber, Jian Shuo, Colonel of the Upper Army, spoke first. His voice was low but filled with power.
“His Majesty… spoke clearly to me right before he passed.”
Jian Shuo pressed a trembling hand to his chest.
“‘I entrust Xie to you.’”
Zhang Rang, the Regular Attendant, lowered his gaze. The others kept their heads bowed but shifted their eyes toward Jian Shuo.
Liu Xie. Son of Consort Wang. Though a concubine’s child, he was intelligent and known both inside and outside the court as an exemplary prince. However, he had no faction to support him. Grand General He Jin supported Liu Bian, the son of his own younger sister.
Jian Shuo spoke again. This time there was no tremor in his voice.
“His Majesty cherished Prince Xie. That is why, even on his deathbed, he never named the eldest son, Bian, as Crown Prince.”
At those words, Guo Sheng cautiously opened his mouth.
“Was that not simply His Majesty postponing his decision? Prince Xie is still young, and the court ministers will not support him.”
Jian Shuo drew a sheathed knife from his waist and placed it on the table with a heavy thud.
“Who granted us this power and wealth?”
His voice was low, yet it echoed calmly throughout the chamber.
“It was His Majesty’s decree. When he told me, ‘I entrust Xie to you,’ was that not the same as entrusting me with all great and small affairs of state?”
He rose quietly. Strength flowed into the hand gripping the knife.
“If Prince Bian becomes Emperor, Grand General He Jin will seize real power. He rose through our recommendation. We helped make his sister Empress. Yet now he points his blade at us. How can we allow his nephew to ascend the throne before the previous Emperor’s soul has even departed!?”
Jian Shuo emanated a vigor unthinkable for a eunuch, overwhelming the other members of the Ten Eunuchs in the secret chamber.
“...However, the Grand General holds military authority.”
“Military authority, you say?” Jian Shuo scoffed. “I was appointed Colonel of the Upper Army by the late Emperor. Even the great He Jin must obey my commands. The Imperial Guard follows my orders—why should we fear the Grand General’s military power?”
He had not swung the blade, yet its edge already hovered at every eunuch’s throat.
“I am the Colonel of the Upper Army of the West Garden Eight Colonels, and I received the grave duty from the late Emperor to protect the safety of Prince Xie.”
The meeting room grew even heavier. No one could answer easily.
Jian Shuo slowly turned his eyes, looking at each member of the Ten Eunuchs one by one.
“If He Jin becomes the Emperor’s maternal relative and seizes the court, nothing will remain for us. Listen well! He has already betrayed us. Now he will try to eliminate us.”
Jian Shuo gripped the knife, radiating killing intent.
“If we do not decide now, we will all die.”
In the silent secret chamber, the sound of wailing that filled the imperial palace echoed loudly. The period of national mourning had been declared.