The Fall of the Eunuchs
The sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the deep, hidden chamber of the Luoyang imperial palace. Fragments of the broken teacup scattered across the floor, soaking the crimson silk with steaming tea that still curled with fragrant vapor.
“...How can there be such a fool in this world?”
Chief Eunuch Zhang Rang’s voice was low, yet the fury contained within it was impossible to suppress. As the leader of the Ten Eunuchs, he usually wore a gentle expression, but not a trace of that composure remained now.
“You had to drag Guo Sheng and Zhao Zhong into this as well...”
His hands trembled. He slowly sank into his chair, set aside the shattered teacup, and instead grabbed a wine jug, pouring its contents straight down his throat.
“Guo Sheng, who has always been close to the He clan... and Zhao Zhong, who helped elevate the Empress. Jian Shi, why in the world did you draw your sword in front of men like them?”
Deep wrinkles carved across Zhang Rang’s forehead.
“Guo Sheng and Zhao Zhong made the greatest contributions to allowing the He faction to stand here today. And yet, in front of them, you... By now, their hearts have surely already turned toward the Grand General.”
Zhang Rang hurled the wine jug to the floor.
Lead the Black Mountain Army and march on Luoyang. We shall personally inspect your troops and confirm their discipline.
The sweet aroma that stirred the heart wafted from the shattered fragments of the jug, filling the secret chamber.
“...It’s all over now...”
Zhang Rang’s voice trailed off.
“Jian Shi. To think your foolishness has driven us all into a pit of death... How truly idiotic.”
He reached for another bottle of wine, then slowly rose from his seat. His body swayed unsteadily before he suddenly clenched his fist tight.
“In any case, more than half of us will probably go crawling to the Grand General now.”
A bitter smile crossed his lips as he quietly opened the door. Yet within those two eyes burned an unshakable resolve.
“Better to go first than stagger around in resignation...”
Even as he staggered, Zhang Rang quickened his steps. There was not the slightest hesitation in his stride.
That very night, Zhang Rang raced to Grand General He Jin’s residence faster than anyone else. And on this day, the man who had stood as the leader of the eunuchs in the darkest chamber of the imperial palace—Chief Eunuch Zhang Rang—was the first to bow his head before Grand General He Jin.
Luoyang Imperial Palace.
Jian Shi stood clad in black armor, a sword adorned with gold at his waist. Blood vessels stood out in his eyes, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged prominently.
“Assemble the entire Imperial Guard.”
At the command of Imperial Army Commandant Jian Shi, the imperial palace of Luoyang trembled. Following his order, the Imperial Guard streamed in from every corner of the palace. The thunder of military boots against stone and an aura of steel sharp enough to cut a man down at any moment filled the air. Soon, several thousand Imperial Guards had gathered in one place.
Jian Shi stood before them and spoke.
“Before His Majesty the Emperor passed away, he gave me an order.”
His voice was refined, yet it carried a presence that overwhelmed the thousands gathered before him.
“‘I entrust you with Xie.’ Do you understand what those words mean?”
No one answered. The Imperial Guard simply remained silent, heads bowed.
“I am the late Emperor’s entrusted regent. Ensuring that Prince Xie ascends the throne is my duty and the way to honor His Majesty’s final will.”
Jian Shi drew the ornate sword from its sheath with his right hand. The blade gleamed with a luster that suggested it had never once been drawn before.
“However, Grand General He Jin seeks to defy this wish. He flaunts his status as a relative by marriage and intends to place his nephew Bian on the throne. This is nothing less than a denial of His Majesty’s final command and an act of treason.”
Jian Shi drew a deep breath and swung his sword. The tip sliced across the stone floor, leaving a deep gouge.
“Therefore, in accordance with His Majesty’s will, I hereby declare Grand General He Jin a traitor. He and the entire He clan are rebels, and their three clans shall be exterminated!”
A faint ripple of unease spread through the ranks of the Imperial Guard. One of them cautiously spoke up.
“Commandant, sir... Do you truly intend to brand the Grand General as a traitor...?”
Jian Shi’s eyes flashed. He glared at the man who had spoken and snapped back.
“Who are you!? At this very moment, who dares defy His Majesty’s final command!?”
“N-no, sir... How could this humble one possibly dare!”
The guard who had spoken immediately prostrated himself. Jian Shi took a step forward.
“Gathering soldiers within the palace and the Grand General sending letters to the provinces are both clear evidence of treason. Even now, that traitor must be desperately trying to install Prince Bian. But I will not tolerate it. As one entrusted by His Majesty—”
It was then that a man boldly pushed his way through the ranks of the Imperial Guard and revealed himself.
“Hah? You dare speak of me that way?”
A heavy, rough voice rang out. It was none other than Grand General He Jin of the realm. Dressed in the full regalia of the Grand General and without a single guard, he stood alone before Jian Shi.
“Go on then, Commandant. Try to kill me.”
At He Jin’s words, Jian Shi’s eyebrows twitched. He slowly raised his sword and pointed it at the Grand General.
“This traitor...! You have come seeking your own grave!”
The Imperial Guard fell silent for a moment, watching Jian Shi and He Jin.
“What are you all doing!? Seize that man! He is a rebel who has defied the Emperor’s command!”
Jian Shi’s voice echoed through the palace, but no one moved. Then, suddenly, one of the nearby guards reversed his grip on his sword. Instead of moving toward Grand General He Jin, he slowly approached Jian Shi.
“...Have you forgotten the Emperor’s grace, you bastard!”
At Jian Shi’s roar, the guard answered quietly.
“Ha, what a joke. Who was it that’s been feeding off us all this time?”
At the same time—other Imperial Guard soldiers began reversing their swords one by one and charging toward Jian Shi.
“Arrest the Imperial Army Commandant!”
“You are a criminal who has abused the Emperor’s name to throw the realm into chaos!”
In an instant, countless blades flew toward him. Jian Shi twisted his body and sliced through the throat of the nearest soldier. Droplets of blood sprayed through the air, splattering across his face.
“You bastards...! You dare defy His Majesty’s will!?”
Jian Shi finally abandoned his eunuch-like tone, baring his teeth as he shouted.
“His Majesty bestowed the regency upon me! Prince Xie is the one who shall carry on the Emperor’s will! Anyone who opposes me is a traitor!”
But even at Jian Shi’s desperate cries, the Imperial Guard did not stop. They no longer obeyed his commands.
He Jin watched the scene with a mocking smile, arms still folded across his chest.
“You people blocked the Emperor’s eyes and ears, throwing the world into disorder, yet you claim not to know your own sins?”
At He Jin’s words, Jian Shi gnashed his teeth in rage. He stopped speaking entirely, raised his sword high, and charged straight at He Jin.
“Die!!”
But before he could reach him, two soldiers blocked his path. Jian Shi twisted agilely, slipping between them. With ferocious momentum, he pierced one man’s chest and severed another’s arm. His ferocity was truly that of a warrior who had once shaken an era.
He Jin observed this and murmured softly.
“Hmph. Your past reputation was not in vain.”
Jian Shi glared at He Jin with a blood-soaked face. Yet He Jin did not move. Instead, he slowly raised his hand.
At that signal, heavily armored soldiers poured out from all directions. They raised their shields and leveled their spears, completely encircling Jian Shi.
Only then did Jian Shi realize the truth. It was over.
His body was drenched in blood, and he no longer had the strength to grip his sword. Bent at the waist and gasping for breath, he slowly straightened up. The area was already packed with He Jin’s troops. From both ends of the palace, the Imperial Guard had become perfect spectators, staring coldly at Jian Shi. Every spear tip and every gaze was fixed upon him.
“Your Majesty...”
Jian Shi muttered to himself as he looked up at the sky. The days when he had ruled the court in the Emperor’s name now felt like nothing more than a fleeting dream.
Yet within that dream, Jian Shi recalled the final command of the last Emperor.
‘I entrust you with Xie.’
Those few words had ignited a soul that had long been buried in silence, and now they were leading him to his death. Even so, he felt not the slightest regret.
Jian Shi slowly turned his head. He Jin was still watching him without having drawn his own sword. That body wrapped in fluttering official robes looked so frail that it seemed he could be cut down in a single stroke. Yet Jian Shi no longer possessed the strength to break through the waves of men surrounding him.
He took one final look around. Countless eyes burned with hatred and resentment. But even beneath such gazes, Jian Shi’s spirit did not break. That was the last shred of pride left to him.
Jian Shi quietly knelt. He set his sword on the ground and reached his left hand toward his waist.
“Your Majesty...”
He murmured the words, then drew in one short but deep breath.
“This humble one was too insignificant to carry out your command—”
The dagger drawn from his waist flashed in the sunlight. A moment later, blood spurted from his throat.
“I shall repay my sin with death.”
Jian Shi’s body tilted forward, his head falling. Crimson blood soaked into the pure white silk beneath his black armor.
Imperial Army Commandant Jian Shi, the military arm of the Ten Eunuchs who had received the Emperor’s final trust, had taken his own life.
He Jin, who had watched the entire scene, remained silent for a time. The soldiers and the Imperial Guard all held their breath as they stared at the sight.
At last, He Jin slowly opened his mouth.
“...How dare a traitor dress himself up as a loyal subject?”
His voice was low, yet it rumbled through the palace like thunder. He raised his hand, drew his sword, and issued his command.
“Cut off this bastard’s head and hang it in the streets. Anyone who dares follow a traitor will meet the same fate.”
“Yes, sir!!”
At He Jin’s order, the Imperial Guard roared in unison and moved out. The blood-red sword slid back into its sheath, and the stench of blood mixed with the wind and faded away.
From that day on, only a single head hung in the streets of Luoyang.
Imperial Army Commandant Jian Shi.
A man who had once been the Emperor’s eyes and ears. A eunuch who had shaken the court in the final years of the Later Han. And so he made his exit from history.
Luoyang. Grand General’s Headquarters, conference hall.
He Jin quietly set down the wine cup he had been holding. Ever since the day Jian Shi had slit his own throat, Luoyang had grown far quieter than usual. Yet it was not a calm silence—it was a suffocating stillness.
“Jian Shi took his own life, and the remaining faction has been reined in by Zhang Rang. They have all withdrawn,” Yuan Shao said, looking up at He Jin. “Now is the time to uproot them completely.”
He Jin said nothing. His expression was calm, but it was clear he struggled to contain the turbulent currents raging within.
“Grand General, set fire to Mengjin Port.”
Yuan Shao once again urged the plan he had proposed before.
“Fire? What are you saying, Yuan Benchu?”
Minister of Works Lu Zhi, seated nearby, widened his eyes. He then turned sharply toward the hesitant He Jin.
“Grand General. I trust you do not intend to burn Mengjin Port and summon the provincial armies the moment after killing Imperial Army Commandant Jian Shi.”
Yet Yuan Shao calmly countered Lu Zhi’s words.
“The chaos in the court has not yet subsided. This will not end with Jian Shi alone. Though the remaining Ten Eunuchs have stepped back, can you truly be certain they will not take up arms again?”
Imperial Censor Zheng Tai, who had been observing the clash between the two, stepped forward.
“But Mengjin Port is a harbor right next to Luoyang. If we set it ablaze, not only will public sentiment collapse, but the flow of supplies will be severed and the realm itself will be endangered.”
Yuan Shao immediately refuted him as if he had already anticipated the objection.
“That chaos is a necessary trial... to usher in an era of great peace.”
Upper Minister Zhen Lin quietly raised his hand and looked at He Jin while observing Yuan Shao’s demeanor.
“Grand General. I shall speak plainly.”
His eyes were calm, yet the meaning behind them was clear.
“At this moment, you already hold absolute military authority over the realm. There is no power under heaven that can surpass you. Yet if you needlessly summon the provincial armies, someone among them will surely try to seize the hilt of the sword.”
He Jin frowned.
“Zhen Lin.”
“Those who render merit will inevitably demand rewards. At that time, do you believe you will still be able to hold the sword’s hilt?”
Zhen Lin bowed deeply once more.
“The world calls this ‘turning the weapon around and handing the hilt to another.’ In the end, I fear you will fail to achieve your great ambition and only bring further chaos to the realm.”
Lu Zhi and Zheng Tai also bowed their heads in agreement with Zhen Lin’s words.
“Grand General, the time has come for you to make a decision. Sheathe your weapon once more.”
At that, He Jin’s expression hardened like stone.
“Have you all... not seen how that bastard Jian Shi rampaged as he died?”
A wave of tension swept through the conference hall. He Jin’s voice was not loud, yet every word struck like a blow to the bone.
“Do you know what he did? He spoke of the Emperor’s regency, seized military power, and tried to exterminate our entire clan. If he had not died, who among us would have survived?”
He Jin looked around at them all and declared firmly.
“I trusted Jian Shi. No, at one time we even sailed the same boat. But he drew his sword, and in the end, I had no choice but to draw mine as well.”
Silence.
He Jin leaned back deeply in his chair.
“If not now, another Jian Shi will appear someday. And when that time comes... who among us will survive?”
Everyone lowered their heads. Finally, He Jin raised his hand and pointed at one man.
“All of you, leave. Benchu, you stay.”
At He Jin’s command, the numerous officials vacated the room until only He Jin and Yuan Shao remained.
Without the slightest hesitation, He Jin spoke directly.
“Send a messenger to Bingzhou Inspector Ding Yuan.”
He Jin gave the order in a low, resolute voice.
“Tell him to burn Mengjin Port. And order the soldiers from each province to march toward the vicinity of Luoyang.”
Yuan Shao knelt and bowed his head deeply.
“This humble general shall obey the Grand General’s command.”
The dark clouds covering the sky above Luoyang grew even thicker.
Secret chamber within the Luoyang Imperial Palace.
The chamber was steeped in darkness, illuminated only by a single lantern. Zhang Rang drank his tea in silence before quietly speaking.
“It’s all over now.”
His voice was calm, yet the resignation woven into it was heavier than anyone else’s.
“With Jian Shi’s death... our military forces have all been lost as well.”
He no longer drank from his cup. Setting it down slowly, he continued.
“Luoyang has fallen into the Grand General’s hands. Now... there is nowhere left to run.”
At those words, Zhao Zhong cautiously spoke up.
“It is time to bow our heads.”
Zhang Rang lifted his eyes to look at Zhao Zhong.
“We must beg Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Since she has always shown special favor to Guo Sheng and myself, she will not turn away our plea.”
Guo Sheng also nodded.
“The connection with the He family still remains. At the very least, we can save our lives.”
At that, Zhang Rang stared silently at his teacup before grinding his teeth inwardly.
‘Hah, so you’re saying we should abandon all our wealth and glory?’
He pressed his lips together several times, suppressing his rage. But in the end, he lowered his head with a gloomy expression.
“...Even though our intentions now differ from the Grand General’s, we were originally one and the same. If we beg, he will probably spare us.”
Zhao Zhong and Guo Sheng nodded, unable to hide their relief.
“We shall soon go to see Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Let us also visit the Grand General and beg for forgiveness.”
Zhang Rang gave a light nod and slowly rose to his feet. Yet at the same time, an entirely different plan was stirring within his heart.
‘Now is the time to call upon the bandits of Taishan and wield the sword.’
Zhang Rang carefully took out a single letter he had prepared in advance. Inside was an imperial decree bearing the Emperor’s personal jade seal.
Lead the Black Mountain Army and march on Luoyang. We shall personally inspect your troops and confirm their discipline.
The date had been left blank.
...Deliberately.
This decree was something Zhang Rang had prepared in advance during the Emperor’s lifetime, sensing a hint of crisis. But now... the Emperor was dead.
‘There is no date written. Wouldn’t the will of the deceased Emperor still carry the same weight?’
Zhang Rang exhaled roughly. It had to be now. He Jin had drawn his sword. Begging for their lives would only result in losing everything.
‘I cannot give up everything like this. Even if I must drag in bandits, so be it.’
Zhang Rang looked down at his fingertips. They were already trembling. He took a deep breath and murmured.
“Bandits of Taishan... the time has come to draw your blades. If you succeed, I shall share as much wealth and glory as you desire.”
His voice was low, yet it quietly spread throughout the secret chamber.