Volume One: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss Chapter Twenty-Three: The Passing of the Spirit Emperor

In the third month of the sixth year of Zhongping, inside the study of the Commandery Governor’s mansion, sandalwood incense curled in the air.

Liu Heng and Xun Yu sat opposite each other at a go board. Liu Heng held a black stone, his brow furrowed as he stared at the complex, intricate situation on the board, his fingers hesitating.

He had learned to play go over the past few years, but his talent was limited and his skill poor. Yet, he stubbornly insisted that a wise and heroic Marquis ought to be a master of the game. This made life difficult for Xun Yu, who was often dragged into matches; though he invariably crushed Liu Heng, he always seemed to enjoy the process.

Xun Yu placed a white stone, but instead of looking at the board, he leaned in slightly and lowered his voice: "Marquis, a secret report from Wen Gong states that His Majesty... his health is failing, and he is likely not long for this world. Zhang Rang and the others have been unusually active lately; they seem to be in secret communication with General-in-Chief He Jin, yet they are also calculating against each other, ever suspicious. Jian Shuo holds the new West Garden Army, but his stance remains ambiguous. Dark undercurrents are surging in the capital, with various factions locked in a deadly tangle. I fear there will be chaos."

*Click.*

Liu Heng dropped the black stone back into the bowl. The playful look on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a profound gravity. He stood up slowly and paced to the window, pushing it open. The chilly air of early spring rushed in, fluttering the hair on his forehead.

He gazed silently toward the southeast—the direction of Luoyang. His eyes seemed to pierce through mountains and rivers, seeing the imperial capital on the brink of being swallowed. Emperor Ling, Liu Hong—that muddled uncle of his who had granted him a glimmer of hope at the eleventh hour—was finally reaching the end of his life.

The Ten Eunuchs, He Jin, the great clans... and that variable that would ultimately drag the Han dynasty into the abyss: Dong Zhuo entering the capital, followed by the resurgence of the Yellow Turbans and the fragmentation of the empire among warlords... The wheels of history were rumbling toward a junction Liu Heng knew all too well.

Xun Yu stood quietly to the side, waiting.

After a long silence, Liu Heng turned around. The gloom and reminiscence had vanished, replaced by his usual composure. His voice was low but steady: "Wenruo."

"I am here."

"Pass the order: The entire Zuofengyi region is to enter 'Spring Hunt' status, effective immediately! Reinforce the defenses of every city, strictly monitor all arrivals and departures, and seal all granaries after taking inventory. Order Xu Huang to lead his Poqiang Battalion to relocate to Yunyang immediately and secure the strategic pass at the Jing River. Command Zhao Yun’s Xuanjia Battalion to remain ready, horses saddled and armor on! Furthermore, order Chen Shuzi to assemble the elite of the agricultural colonies, form three 'Subjugation' battalions, distribute weapons and armor, and intensify combat training! Increase the guards at all post roads and checkpoints within the commandery. Monitor all suspicious movements closely—especially news from Luoyang—and report to me day or night, without delay!"

"Understood!"

Xun Yu’s expression turned solemn. Without a moment's hesitation, he bowed and hurried away.

The study door closed softly.

Liu Heng turned back to the window, his gaze once again fixed on the southeast, toward Luoyang. He whispered to himself, his voice audible only to him: "Your time is finally running out... Your Majesty."

***

Fourth month of the sixth year of Zhongping, the day of Bing-si.

At dusk, the sun hung lazily in the distance, as if ready to depart. Liu Heng was barefoot, his trousers rolled high above his knees and covered in mud. He was bent over, tending to a few newly transplanted bok choy seedlings.

"Marquis!"

A low voice called from behind. Chen Shuzi, a veteran who had followed Liu Heng since his days in Luoyang, had grown as steady as a mountain. He walked quickly, stopped beside Liu Heng, and presented a scroll: "An urgent report from Gongming in Yunyang. West of the Jing River, scouts have discovered scattered Qiang cavalry. Thirty miles behind them, a force of over five thousand armored soldiers is stationed. Judging by their banners, they appear to be the Xiliang Army; it is suspected to be Dong Zhuo’s son-in-law, Colonel Niu Fu! I do not know why they have entered the Guanzhong region."

Liu Heng did not stand up immediately. He gently stuck his mud-stained trowel into the moist earth, patted the soil at the base of a seedling, and only then slowly straightened his back. He wiped his muddy hands on his backside, took the scroll, and scanned it quickly. His face remained calm.

Niu Fu? He had already reached Guanzhong? That was fast. Could it be...

Fortunately, Niu Fu did not have many troops. He was no longer the sickly weakling he had been when he first arrived in this world; he could handle five thousand men, especially with fierce generals like Zhao Yun and Xu Huang at his side.

Liu Heng said indifferently: "Ordering the Poqiang Battalion to Yunyang to guard the pass was precisely for this reason. Dong Zhuo rose to power in Liang Province and has always been on good terms with the Qiang people. Their sudden appearance in Guanzhong is no good omen. Gongming has handled this well. Tell him to keep a close watch. If Niu Fu’s army dares to cross the line, he does not need to ask for orders—strike them immediately!"

"Also, order Zilong to lead the Xuanjia Battalion from Chiyang to the valley entrance. March by night and hide by day; they must remain concealed as a surprise force. Act as support and aim for total annihilation to serve as a warning to others."

***

"Understood!" Chen Shuzi cupped his hands and departed.

Liu Heng handed back the scroll and looked toward the inner part of the office. Under the corridor, a figure in a blue robe stood as still as bamboo—it was Xun Yu. He seemed to have already known the contents of the report, and seeing Liu Heng look his way, he nodded slightly, his expression as composed as ever.

Liu Heng’s lips curled imperceptibly. Over these four years, with Xun Yu coordinating the center and overseeing civilian affairs, money, and grain, and with Fa Yan, Zhang Ji, and Du Ji each performing their duties, they had turned Zuofengyi into a peaceful place where granaries were filling up and no one pocketed lost items. The Xuanjia cavalry led by Zhao Yun, the fierce soldiers of the Poqiang Battalion under Xu Huang, and the three Subjugation battalions formed from the elite of the agricultural colonies by Chen Shuzi were the guardians of this burgeoning vitality.

Liu Heng had to admit that Xun Yu’s reputation as an advisor fit for a king, and the historical renown of men like Du Ji, were no exaggeration. They handled complex matters with ease; if it were left to him, it would surely have become a mess. Fortunately, he had the advantage of being a transmigrator—his knowledge of these historical figures allowed him to place them in the right roles, and his grasp of historical trends gave him a strategic overview. It was through these advantages that Liu Heng had become the charismatic lord everyone saw today.

As Liu Heng was lost in thought, the sudden, frantic sound of hooves broke the peace of the courtyard. Before the sound ceased, a courier covered in dust and grime scrambled into the backyard, his voice hoarse and shrill, filled with soul-crushing despair: "Marquis! Luoyang... an 800-li urgent dispatch from Luoyang! His Majesty... His Majesty... has passed away!"

***

"You say... who?" Liu Heng asked softly after a moment of silence.

The courier’s head was nearly buried in the dirt as he sobbed: "It is... the Son of Heaven! His Majesty... on the day of Bing-chen... has passed away!"

Bing-chen... that was only yesterday! The news had traveled with terrifying speed!

Dead silence.

The air, which had just been filled with the scent of earth and green sprouts, was suddenly replaced by an invisible chill. Under the corridor, Xun Yu’s body swayed slightly, and his usually calm eyes flickered with ripples of emotion. Chen Shuzi stood frozen, his gaze fixed toward the direction of Luoyang.

"Hoo..."

A heavy breath escaped Liu Heng’s throat. He looked up, his gaze passing over the low walls of the office toward Luoyang.

"As expected," Liu Heng muttered, as if stating a preordained conclusion.

He walked step by step toward the corridor, whispering to himself: "The four-hundred-year glory of the Han dynasty has finally reached... the moment when its mandate is about to collapse."

He stopped at the steps of the corridor. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes sweeping over Xun Yu’s knowing expression and Chen Shuzi’s iron-tight jaw, finally landing on the courier still prostrate in the courtyard.

No wonder! No wonder the Xiliang Army had appeared in Guanzhong!

"Jing Bo!"

Jing Bo, who had been standing in the shadows of the pillars like a ghost, stepped forward immediately, head bowed: "This old servant is here!"

"Pass the order immediately!" Liu Heng’s voice was resolute, every word carrying unquestionable authority: "The entire Zuofengyi region is to enter the highest state of alert, as discussed for the 'Spring Hunt'! Lock the gates of every city, reinforce the defenses, and have Du Ji personally oversee the inventory and sealing of all government storehouses and granaries! Anyone who dares to act without permission, no matter who they are, is to be executed on the spot!"

"Understood!" Jing Bo’s aged voice trembled with excitement but was exceptionally loud. He turned and hurried away.

***

Liu Heng turned his gaze to Chen Shuzi: "Shuzi!"

"I am here!" Chen Shuzi cupped his hands, his armor clanking.

"I command you to assemble the agricultural colony troops!" A cold, sharp light erupted in Liu Heng’s eyes: "Raise the banners of the Subjugation battalions today! Train them strictly and keep them ready for battle! Tell them: the days of peace are coming to an end!"

"I obey!" Chen Shuzi’s roar was like thunder. He turned and strode away, his heavy footsteps quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Finally, Liu Heng’s gaze fell on Xun Yu. This advisor, who could assist a king, had recovered from his initial shock; his face was calm, though complex thoughts danced in the depths of his eyes.

"Wenruo." Liu Heng’s voice was a bit lower, yet it still carried immense weight: "The center has collapsed, the young Emperor is weak, and there are the relatives of the Empress, the eunuchs, and those ambitious regional governors... Luoyang has become a boiling pot of oil. How should we, in Zuofengyi, conduct ourselves?"

Xun Yu took a deep breath, adjusted his sleeves, and bowed deeply to Liu Heng. His voice was clear and steady: "Marquis, please consider. The Emperor is dead and the throne is empty; this is the moment when all heroes under heaven look toward the capital. However, without a righteous name, one’s words lack authority, and no matter how strong one’s force, one risks becoming a target for all. I believe that although Luoyang is in chaos, the throne still stands! The Prince of Bian, born to Empress He, is the legitimate son of the late Emperor; his status was long ago established, and this is a great truth known to all under heaven! As a member of the imperial clan, holding elite troops and sitting in Zuofengyi—the barrier to the capital—the time is now! I dare to offer this advice—"

He looked up, his eyes burning as he stared straight at Liu Heng: "He Jin is but a butcher; he cannot achieve great things and is not worth conspiring with. Zhang Rang and the others are merely sycophants who have usurped state power and poisoned the people; they deserve to die. Jian Shuo is also just a eunuch. Though he is the Colonel of the Superior Army and Yuan Shao and the others are under his command, would those generals truly follow the orders of a eunuch? Thus, he has already paved his own path to ruin! With these three, Luoyang will fall into chaos! Moreover, even when the late Emperor was alive, Wang Fan plotted to depose the Emperor and install the Prince of Hefei. Now that the Emperor has passed, Luoyang and the entire world will surely descend into chaos! My plan is this: I request the Marquis to dispatch elite troops immediately, march day and night to Luoyang, and 'Support the Son of Heaven to Subjugate the Rebellious'! Protect the young Emperor and uphold the state! This is an achievement unparalleled in history, and it is the only righteous path! With the mandate in hand and the name on our side, who under heaven would dare to stand against the Marquis? This is to respond to the will of Heaven, satisfy the hearts of the people, and uphold the four-hundred-year foundation of the Han!"

"Support the Son of Heaven... to subjugate the rebellious..." Liu Heng repeated the seven characters in a low voice, his eyes profound. He stood barefoot on the steps, unmoving, silent for a long moment.

Xun Yu’s suggestion pointed precisely to the "shortcut" to the pinnacle of power that had been proven countless times in the annals of history.

The night wind began to rise, carrying the chill unique to the northern Weibei plateau, rustling the young plants in the courtyard with a faint, whispering sound. In the distance, the heavy, muffled sounds of troops mobilizing and city gates closing, along with the shouting of soldiers, could be heard. Gaoling City, and indeed all of Zuofengyi, was tensed up in the night.

Liu Heng turned slowly, his back to Xun Yu, looking toward the night sky in the direction of Luoyang, which was gradually sinking into darkness. He was silent for so long that even the personal guards standing in the corridor felt an invisible pressure.

Finally, his low voice broke the stillness: "Wenruo’s plan is the glorious, righteous path; it is indeed a brilliant strategy."

A flash of light appeared in Xun Yu’s eyes, but Liu Heng’s next words felt like a basin of ice water poured over him.

"However..." Liu Heng turned sharply, his gaze like lightning, sweeping over Xun Yu: "The time is not yet ripe!"

"The time?" Xun Yu frowned, puzzled.

"What is the situation in Luoyang right now?" Liu Heng asked: "General-in-Chief He Jin holds heavy troops and power over the court; would he allow others to meddle in the Forbidden City? The Ten Eunuchs have been entrenched in the deep palace for years, their roots deep and tangled; like trapped beasts, they will fight to the death! These two are like two red-eyed, starving wolves, biting each other’s throats—there is bound to be a fight to the death! Enter the capital now? In whose name? He Jin’s? Or Zhang Rang’s? If we plunge in now, are we helping He Jin execute the eunuchs? Or helping the eunuchs kill the imperial relatives? Whichever side we help, we will instantly become the sworn enemy of the other! Not to mention those regional governors who hold strong armies and watch from the sidelines! Dong Zhuo is sharpening his blades in Bing Province, Ding Yuan is watching from Henei, and there are Liu Yan in Yizhou, Liu Yu in Donghai... How much of our limited strength would be enough to fill the bottomless pit of Luoyang?"

He took a step forward, closing in on Xun Yu, his tone resolute: "Entering the fray now will not save the Son of Heaven; it will only invite disaster upon ourselves! The foundation we have built in Zuofengyi over these past four years—what you, I, Fa Yan, Zhang Ji, Du Ji... and Shuzi, Zilong, and the others have scraped out with thousands of refugees, one hoe-stroke at a time, one sword-thrust at a time! It is the foundation that has allowed countless starving people to survive and countless women and children to have a home! We cannot throw this foundation into the vortex of Luoyang for the sake of a hollow name or a 'potential' opportunity, letting everyone’s blood and sweat flow away for nothing!"

Xun Yu opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but Liu Heng raised a hand to stop him. His eyes shone with a coldness that bordered on heartless: "Wait! Wenruo, what we need most right now is time! Let them fight! Let them tear each other apart! Let them bleed until the last drop! When they are both exhausted, when the 'time' that truly decides the fate of the world arrives... when the chaos in Luoyang requires a shield strong enough and 'righteous' enough to stabilize the situation, when it requires a new force that can deter all sides and belongs to neither of the existing factions to clean up the mess... that is when we shall move!"