The Ten Eunuchs' Rebellion (2)
May 25th, Zhongping 6 (189 AD), Governor’s Residence, Taiyuan Commandery, Bing Province.
“Heh… So the bastard really means to use me.”
Jeong Won pried open the red box with his thick fingers. Inside lay a letter. When he unfolded it, the bold strokes of Grand General Ha Jin’s handwriting, written in deep black ink, filled his eyes.
The state of the realm is in chaos. The Ten Eunuchs have long corrupted the palace and twisted the court to their private whims. They have blinded His Majesty’s eyes and ears. Loyal subjects and generals from the outer provinces suffer unjust deaths, while the common people sink ever deeper into misery. Therefore, to devise a plan to eliminate these treacherous officials, I entrust a vital mission to Jeong Geon-yang of Bing Province, whose name is known for his profound loyalty and unyielding integrity. Lead the armies of Bing Province to Mengjin Port. Disguise yourselves as remnants of the Yellow Turbans. Set fires and sow confusion to tighten the noose around the Ten Eunuchs. This scheme exists to slaughter the unjust ministers and restore order to the court. The brief turmoil serves the greater peace of the realm. Should you succeed, both the court and heaven itself will recognize your merit. As Grand General, I shall personally recommend you for the post of Zhi Jin Wu. A loyal subject deserves his reward—this is both heavenly principle and human righteousness. Consider these words deeply and fulfill your duty with utmost loyalty and honor.
Jeong Won finished reading and let out a sticky chuckle.
“Kkkl. He’s being shamelessly blunt.”
Jang Yang leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Grand General Ha Jin. On the surface the man played the part of an upright leader who followed the Pure Stream faction, but the truth was different. He was a toothless lion—once he drew his blade, he lacked the will to strike.
Jeong Won furrowed his wrinkled brow.
“Do I eat this, or do I refuse?”
Setting fire to Mengjin Port was no different from cutting off Luoyang’s supply lines. Moreover, this was neither an imperial decree nor an official order from the Grand General. It was a covert missive, and if one read between the lines, its true meaning was simple:
Burn it. If you’re caught, you’ll bear the infamy, but if you succeed, I’ll give you the post of Zhi Jin Wu.
“Hah. What a damned fool.”
Jeong Won rose and lifted the long sword that stood against the wall with one hand. After decades together, the blade had grown dull, yet it could still crush and kill a man. He slung the scabbard over his shoulder and muttered,
“Still… it’s a deal worth swallowing the shame for.”
“If I wipe out the Ten Eunuchs, my name will spread across the realm far louder than any stain on my honor.”
Jeong Won’s eyes sharpened with new intensity. Moving his army now would put Bing Province itself at risk. Yet before he died, he wanted his name to echo across the land. Preferably as a “loyal subject.”
“Fine. Someone there? Bring me Yeo Pyo and Zhang Liao.”
His voice rang like thunder through the governor’s residence.
“Governor, sir. You called?”
The man who entered the main hall carried the presence of a tiger. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s, and his body stood taut like the edge of a blade. This was Yeo Pyo, courtesy name Bongseon. A native of Bing Province whom Jeong Won had personally recruited several years earlier. He served as both chief clerk and deputy commander.
Following quietly behind him was another figure—Zhang Liao, courtesy name Wenyuan. Zhang Liao had originally been a low-ranking military officer, but Jeong Won had praised his martial talent and elevated him to advisor.
Unlike Yeo Pyo, Zhang Liao remained silent, simply meeting Jeong Won’s gaze. When both men had entered the hall, Jeong Won rose slowly, black cloak draped over his shoulders. He studied them for a moment, then spoke.
“I intend to light a fire.”
At those words, Yeo Pyo’s eyebrows twitched. Zhang Liao did not move a muscle.
“We will disguise ourselves as Yellow Turbans and burn Mengjin Port.”
Jeong Won’s voice was calm, yet it carried the weight of an iron resolve.
“Governor, sir… Do you truly mean that?” Zhang Liao spoke for the first time.
“It is a letter from Grand General Ha Jin.”
Jeong Won showed them the letter he had set aside. Both men seemed to grasp the situation from his gesture and asked no further questions.
“I will bear the infamy. The court may pretend not to know of our merit. However—”
Jeong Won lifted the long sword in his hand.
“If we succeed in cutting off the heads of those eunuchs, the world will call me by a different name. Even if we begin in disgrace, we will end as loyal subjects.”
Yeo Pyo frowned.
“What does a mere name matter? Cut down everything with your blade and be done with it.”
“Puhahaha! Exactly, Yeo Pyo. You’re right. But sometimes a man must use his head instead of his sword.”
Jeong Won strode out of the hall. Zhang Liao and Yeo Pyo followed in silence. Outside, Bing Province troops were already gathering at his command. The force Jeong Won had summoned numbered fifteen thousand in total, but only about two thousand had assembled so far. They carried yellow headbands and banners.
Heaven Again Descends.
The Way of Heaven Cannot Be Defied.
The soldiers wearing yellow turbans hurried to load wagons—not with rations, but with jars of oil, fire arrows, pine resin, and kindling.
Jeong Won closed his eyes, then opened them again.
“This time the men of Bing Province will pour oil on already rotten meat. If the whole thing is going to burn anyway, we might as well be the ones to light the flame and claim at least a piece for ourselves.”
Yeo Pyo burst into laughter.
“I like it, Governor. Setting fires instead of swinging blades—sounds entertaining.”
Zhang Liao simply bowed without a word.
May 26th, Zhongping 6 (189 AD), outskirts of Yang Province.
“UHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”
The roaring laughter shook the entire command tent. The generals and soldiers waiting outside froze in place as the armored laughter echoed. Yet Dong Tak, seated inside, paid them no mind. He tossed the letter onto the desk with a thud.
The document bore a clear seal and a brief order.
General of the Central Army Dong Tak shall lead his forces to Luoyang.
“Khh… At last… At last I can escape this cesspit.”
His bloodshot eyes gleamed. Dong Tak leaned his exhausted body against the wall and muttered,
“The rebellion Han Sui raised… At first I thought it was an opportunity. I could regain my position, earn merit, gather troops, and build my power…”
He shook his head and gave a short laugh.
“Ha… This is no opportunity. It’s a swamp. How can these rebels be so tenacious? No matter how many I kill, more keep crawling out.”
Han Sui’s rebel army had spread like wildfire across Yang Province’s rugged terrain, multiplying like poisonous mushrooms. The imperial forces under Hwangbo Sung and Dong Tak could no longer focus on suppression—they were forced into defense. Soldiers died every single day. As Han Sui’s power grew, supplies were gradually cut off.
Into that situation came the order from Grand General Ha Jin.
“Lead your army to Luoyang.”
Dong Tak spread both arms toward the sky and shouted,
“Finally, heaven has granted this body the chance to aim for the world!”
He immediately burst out of the tent.
Hwangbo Sung’s tent.
“…In accordance with the Grand General’s command, I will lead my troops to Luoyang.”
Dong Tak, fully armored and sword at his side, entered Hwangbo Sung’s tent and announced it boldly. Hwangbo Sung glanced at him, then quietly set down the report he had been reading.
“What do you mean, going to Luoyang?”
“Grand General Ha Jin has ordered the entire army to march on Luoyang. As one who serves under his command, I naturally have no choice but to obey.”
Hwangbo Sung’s brow twitched with displeasure.
“What? You ignored my orders to surround the enemy and wait. You refused to pursue when I told you to pursue. And now you spout this?”
“General! How can you misunderstand my intentions? At the time I judged it to be an enemy trap!”
Dong Tak thumped his chest with a look of utmost grievance, but Hwangbo Sung’s face had turned slightly red. The corner of Dong Tak’s mouth curled upward as if savoring the older general’s expression.
Hwangbo Sung, true to his veteran status, calmed his anger and spoke evenly once more.
“Do you even understand the situation here before you say such things?”
He laid out the logic as though grasping for any remaining hope.
“We are currently in a stalemate. Han Sui’s rebellion has seized nearly all of the old Yong Province region. If your troops leave now, we will be forced to retreat to the Three Auxiliary Districts around Chang’an. Yet you still mean to take all your men?”
Dong Tak nodded.
“Yes.”
BANG!
Hwangbo Sung’s palm slammed down on the desk. Teacups rattled. Ink splattered everywhere.
“Have you lost your mind? Luoyang? The Grand General’s summons? You think that is more important than the front line?”
“General, are you saying you intend to disobey the Grand General’s order?”
At Dong Tak’s retort, Hwangbo Sung sucked in a breath. Veins bulged on the back of his hand. Yet Dong Tak did not yield an inch.
“General, come to your senses. The court has already abandoned Yang Province. Do you truly believe you can hold it alone? The Qiang and Di tribes have already joined them. Even the Qiang warriors under my command are wavering—how do you expect to suppress this?”
“What did you say!?”
Hwangbo Sung glared at him as if ready to kill, but Dong Tak merely snorted.
“Why should I throw my soldiers into a hopeless slaughter? The court has already given up on Yang Province.”
“You—!”
CRACK!
Hwangbo Sung’s fist shattered the desk. But Dong Tak stepped back calmly, completely unfazed by the killing intent.
“If you wish to complain, complain to the Grand General.”
He turned away indifferently.
“This body merely obeys the Grand General’s command.”
“You— You bastard!”
Hwangbo Sung shot to his feet, face flushed crimson. Fragments of the broken desk scattered across the floor.
“If you take your army and leave, Yang Province will collapse!”
“Then I leave it to you to defend it with all your strength, General.” Dong Tak shrugged. “Please do not make me repeat myself until my mouth goes dry. Aren’t you a wise general? Han Sui has already beheaded Bian Zhang, united all the rebel forces, and now the Qiang and Di tribes are rampaging across Yang Province under his banner. Our army numbers only eighty thousand, and the court offers no reinforcements.”
Dong Tak turned to stare directly at Hwangbo Sung.
“Since your name is known throughout the realm as a loyal subject of Han, if you would kindly die a heroic death in my place, the court may feel enough outrage to pay more attention to Yang Province.”
Hwangbo Sung could say nothing more. His fists trembled. The urge to draw his sword and cut off Dong Tak’s head surged within him. But he could not. Dong Tak had essentially turned his troops into a private army. Killing him would leave Hwangbo Sung with nothing. Moreover, as a loyal subject of Han, executing someone who carried the Grand General’s orders would be a clear overstep of authority.
“Hah… You are the one who will ruin the realm…”
At Hwangbo Sung’s mutter, Dong Tak laughed lightly and turned his back.
“Puhaha. To ruin the realm, one must first seize it, General.”
Dong Tak left the tent. Not long after, the fifty thousand troops under his command began disappearing one by one from Hwangbo Sung’s sight.
June 1st, Zhongping 6 (189 AD), Luoyang Imperial Palace. Before the Main Hall.
Banners draped in black silk stood in solemn array. Along the great avenue leading to the Main Hall, thousands of civil and military officials in full court robes lay prostrated on the ground. In the heavy silence, the young prince Liu Bian slowly appeared.
Fourteen years old. Still too young to fully understand the refined language of the court. Yet on this day, he was fated to ascend as the twenty-eighth emperor of Han according to the late emperor’s will.
“The prince emerges!”
At the eunuch’s cry, Liu Bian walked forward, nervously clutching his sweat-dampened hands. The Imperial Guard stood watch around him, while Grand General Ha Jin followed a few steps behind. At the end of the hall, the Grand Herald unrolled a golden document. His clear voice rang out over the prostrated officials.
Alas! The great succession of the realm stands on the verge of severance. The court is anxious, the people have lost their way, the vast lands lie covered in dust, and the imperial palace overflows with mourning robes. Therefore, Grand General Ha Jin has gathered the will of the court. With the consensus of the imperial clan and the civil and military officials, we uphold the eldest legitimate son of the late emperor, Liu Bian, to inherit the great lineage of the world. The prince is benevolent and wise, generous of heart and upright in will. In his youth he studied the classics and observed the rites; thus he is the vessel heaven has prepared for all the people, the rightful heir to continue the late emperor’s line. We therefore proclaim to the realm: Prince Liu Bian shall humbly accept this mandate and become the father and mother of all people. His name shall reach heaven and earth, his virtue shall spread across the four seas. Let the civil and military officials devote their loyalty. Let the people of the four seas offer reverence. Let all subjects of the world uphold this will. The legal lineage of Han shall continue. The dignity of our ancestors shall be restored. The kingly way shall cover the land, and the rites and music shall ascend to heaven. Heaven’s will is already fixed; the realm shall once again know great peace. To establish the wise is the true Way of Heaven.
When the reading ended, the Master of Ceremonies stepped forward holding the imperial seal. The boy’s small hands trembled slightly as they received the heavy jade. Liu Bian said nothing. Every prostrated minister’s eyes were fixed upon him, yet he revealed his true feelings to no one. Some lowered their heads deeply. Others hid subtle fury behind their eyes. And Ha Jin stood firm in the silence.
The real power had now fallen into his hands.
Deep within the inner palace, in a chamber where not a single ray of light entered, Empress Dowager Dong sat alone. Her back was bent, her hands withered. A cup of tea that had long gone cold still sat untouched beside her. For three days and nights she had not taken even a sip of water.
“His Majesty… did not choose that child…”
Empress Dowager Dong’s lips trembled as she struggled to speak. The one who should have inherited the throne was not Liu Bian. It was Liu Xie—son of Consort Wang. Though not of her own blood, she had loved that intelligent and upright boy more than anyone.
“Xie… at such a tender age, must now face the cruel winds of the world. His Majesty cherished him so dearly… How… how could this happen…”
When a palace maid cautiously approached with warm tea, the empress dowager brushed her hand away.
“Such tea cannot wash away this bitterness…”
Her voice crumbled as she muttered. The sound of drums from the ascension ceremony in the Main Hall refused to leave her ears. She closed her eyes and wept.
Luoyang, Grand General’s Residence.
After the ceremony ended, Ha Jin summoned only a small group of close aides. His expression was proper, but his eyes were cold.
“The new emperor has ascended.”
His words were brief, yet their meaning was heavy. Jo Jo clasped both hands respectfully and replied,
“The realm will look up to His Majesty. However…”
He narrowed his eyes.
“His Majesty is still too young to discuss state affairs.”
Ha Jin gave a faint smile.
“Then who should discuss them?”
Jo Jo closed his eyes for a moment, then bowed his head. His gesture was answer enough. At this moment, although Liu Bian had ascended as emperor of Han, the true power rested in Ha Jin’s hands.