Chapter 116

Chapter 116: The Emperor’s Illness

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 4: The End of Zhongping, The Storm in Luoyang, Chapter 116: The Emperor’s Illness

From the fifth year of Zhongping to the winter of the sixth year of Zhongping, the promotion of fertilizer in Bingzhou proceeded smoothly due to the high yield per mu in Suiyuan City.

At this time when each family could have a peaceful year, Qin Yu, along with the state and county officials, completed the popularization and teaching of the district field planting method.

So much so that when Qiao Yan received the news of Liu Hong’s serious illness, she felt less of the usual anxiety that comes with major events.

Indeed, she didn’t need to feel that way.

Currently, Bingzhou has few external threats.

The only remaining hidden danger in Shuofang County was addressed by Qiao Yan sending Zhao Yun there.

Zhao Yun, together with Linghu Shao, was to guard against the Western Qiang people who were being dealt with by Huangfu Song. Apart from retreating to the east of Liangzhou where Ma Teng and Han Sui were, they might also attack Shuofang County.

As for the internal situation in Bingzhou, the increase in grain yield per mu and the shift of the academic education center towards Leping were enough to make people feel the state’s attachment to the people.

Liu Hong no longer had the energy to manage Qiao Yan’s isolated power and could only focus on the situation within Luoyang, which made Qiao Yan’s position even safer.

The only thing she needed to worry about was:

When should she quietly disappear, so that she wouldn’t become a tool in Liu Hong’s hands when he was about to die.

The historical process, especially matters of life and death, is too variable for an emperor who doesn’t die of old age. Relying solely on Qiao Yan’s memory of his death time and her scattered arrangements in Luoyang was not enough to achieve accurate monitoring.

So she needed an external ally, or rather, an internal informant.

The four words “The Emperor’s Illness,” though written elegantly, were powerful, and they came from Ma Lun’s hand.

Two months ago, Qiao Yan sent her a letter, and it wasn’t until today that she received a reply, which was not unexpected.

Getting this reply was enough.

For Ma Lun, serving as the Grand Historian was her first step towards not being completely tied to the Yuan Clan of Runan. But taking another step forward, from discussing astronomical calendar reforms with Qiao Yan to discussing such critical matters, was somewhat difficult.

Therefore, Qiao Yan wrote her a rather long letter.

This, of course, involved some risks, but when it also concerned Ma Lun’s own safety and the safety of the Fufeng Ma Clan she belonged to, and when Qiao Yan held military power and firmly controlled Bingzhou, she would never make an unwise judgment.

At the beginning of the letter, Qiao Yan mentioned:

“The Emperor is weak and will not live long. Once he passes away, no matter who succeeds, there will be concerns about a young ruler and a suspicious state.

The Yuan Clan is rotten wood and cannot ensure your safety. The Fufeng Ma Clan is in the Sanfu region, and once the Longxi military revolts, it cannot be protected either.”

This is indeed a fact.

Liu Hong’s illness has been such that even a strong wind could not be endured since last June. Although he himself refuses to admit it, his subordinates can see it clearly, and Ma Lun is no exception.

Whether the successor is the 16-year-old Liu Bian or the 10-year-old Liu Xie, it will inevitably cause turmoil in Luoyang.

At first glance, the Yuan Clan, relying on Grand General He Jin and with Yuan Shao as the Tiger Guard Middle General controlling some military power, can protect themselves during the change of rulers.

Moreover, with the Yuan Clan’s four generations of three dukes, they are unlikely to be implicated under normal circumstances.

But Ma Lun’s judgment is not poor.

The Yuan Clan’s reputation is both a family honor and a burden, making them overly optimistic about the current situation.

The collapse of rituals and morals caused by Liu Hong’s indulgence has brought about not only the prevalence of selling official positions but also the likelihood that the power transition after his death will not be as elegant as the noble families imagine.

In addition, the struggles among scholars, relatives, and eunuchs make the situation even more complicated.

As Qiao Yan said, in the face of the sudden changes coming to the capital, how can she protect herself? How can the Fufeng Ma Clan protect itself?

The Qianxiang Calendar has just been completed and has not yet been fully promoted in the capital. Ma Lun still feels a sense of urgency in her career.

Even though Ma Ri, who is now in the position of Grand Commandant among the Three Dukes, is her clan nephew, it does not alleviate Ma Lun’s worries.

Because Qiao Yan wrote another sentence in the letter:

“Madam once mentioned the law of solar eclipses to me. If the estimation is not false, there will be a solar eclipse between March and April this year. The Emperor, on one hand, agrees to calendar reforms, intending to reduce the association of celestial changes with his virtue, and on the other hand, still dismisses the Three Dukes due to solar eclipses. The Grand Commandant has changed frequently; how can Mr. Wengshu be spared?”

Wengshu is Ma Ri.

Ma Lun pondered this sentence for a long time and had to admit that Qiao Yan was right.

The Grand Commandant still has some real power, but Liu Hong, in his emotional distress and suspicion of others, will not let the Grand Commandant serve a full year.

Two years ago, he was still trying to explain celestial disasters by seeking patterns, so that people would not associate locust plagues and epidemics with him. Now, he does not hesitate to use celestial phenomena as a reason to dismiss the Three Dukes.

Ma Ri became Grand Commandant in July last year. With the successive suppression of rebellions this year, could the solar eclipse between March and April be the reason for his dismissal?

Very likely!

Ma Lun does not think Ma Ri will be an exception.

“The rumbling of war chariots, burning books and creations in one fire, is not just an old story. The game of those in power, treating those below as pawns, is common nowadays…”

Ma Lun looked towards the Lingtai.

Previously, to quickly calculate the Qianxiang, after Liu Yuanzhuo invented the abacus, many women were recruited from Luoyang to assist in the calendar’s completion.

This place has become a sanctuary in the past year.

Only because she is in the position of Grand Historian and the Lingtai has little contact with outsiders, there is little external criticism.

This has now become another reason for her to make a decision.

If sudden changes occur in the capital, the Yuan Clan cannot be relied upon, and the Ma Clan cannot be protected, how can she protect these people?

Among the high-ranking people in the world, perhaps only Qiao Yan truly believes that Ma Lun has the ability to sit in the position of Grand Historian, and that these assistants are doing work that will benefit future generations, rather than just Liu Hong’s rebellious thoughts to suppress the old and stubborn ministers.

“Madam does not need to make an early decision. You can give a reply when what I said comes true. Just please inform me when the Emperor is critically ill.”

No need to make an early decision?

Upon careful consideration, Ma Lun felt that she no longer had much time to hesitate.

Qiao Yan’s internal informant is not just her.

This Marquis Qiao has shown such a determined and enterprising attitude in her own promotion, step by step from five years ago to now, without any mistakes. How could she put all her bets on her?

On the contrary, she is in the vortex of Luoyang and must rely on the other party to break free.

She should make an early decision!

Hesitation leads to change, as it has always been throughout history!

It was with this thought that she sent this reply to Bingzhou in the first month.

Who knows Liu Hong’s body best?

The doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau are undoubtedly one.

But these people dare not tell the Emperor that he is terminally ill and incurable. At this time, they only dare to prescribe some mild tonics.

They are well aware of the way to survive and will not leak such information.

The eunuchs who serve the Emperor are naturally another.

But their power comes from Liu Hong. The closer the Emperor is to changing, the more they stick together and will not easily associate with others.

Even though Bi Lan sent his ideas for improving the threshing machine to Bingzhou in late autumn last year, he did not mention it in the letter.








Anything related to Liu Hong.

Ma Lun is the third category.

Because Liu Hong has turned from seeking medical help to seeking divine intervention and heavenly mercy to gain more time.

Since last September, Liu Hong has frequently visited Lingtai and Biyong to perform rituals to heaven and earth.

Ma Lun observed this change and could easily see that the emperor was in a desperate struggle.

He previously intended to take back Dong Zhuo’s military power, also trying to eliminate an external threat while ill.

Unfortunately, the chaos in Liangzhou was only temporarily halted, not completely pacified. Liu Hong still needed Dong Zhuo to lead his troops. After Dong Zhuo presented this reason, Liu Hong had to temporarily give up.

As winter set in, he no longer had the energy to impose restrictions.

This winter was not as cold as the last, but Liu Hong felt it was much harder to endure.

This made him unable to convince himself that he could live longer.

From the eyes of Liu Xie and Liu Bian serving by his bedside, he saw his increasingly haggard and emaciated appearance.

This change filled him with immense fear.

When his illness did not lessen despite his prayers and amnesty, he felt even more desperate.

Seeing his two young sons before him, Liu Hong clearly realized it was time to pass the power to the next generation.

After Liu Xie and Liu Bian left, Liu Hong coughed for a while before saying to Zhang Rang, “I am luckier than Emperor Huan, at least I have two sons to inherit the throne, unlike Emperor Huan who had no son and had to pass it to me.”

He lifted his heavy eyelids and said to Zhang Rang, who had knelt down upon hearing this, “Get up and speak. Now, the Grand General is obsessed with the power of relatives, scholars are unwilling to repeat the Prohibition of Factionalists, and although the bandits are pacified, if one dares to claim the title of Son of Heaven, there might be a second. Who can I trust?”

“You must listen, even if you’re afraid.”

Midway through his speech, he shivered from the cold and ordered more charcoal to be added before continuing.

“I ask you again, if I still intend for Xie to inherit the throne, can you fully support him after my death?”

Earlier, Liu Xie and Liu Bian stood by his bed, allowing him to clearly see the differences between his two sons.

Liu Xie, six years younger than his brother, showed more composure in the face of their father’s illness, aligning more with Liu Hong’s expectations for a future emperor.

In the current chaos, the next emperor must have enough courage, or else they will become a puppet in the court’s power struggles.

Although young, Liu Xie indeed has a better chance of stabilizing the court than Liu Bian.

This was true a year ago and remains true now.

Zhang Rang knew he could no longer offer comforting words about the emperor’s health improving.

Liu Hong’s piercing gaze was like a sharp knife at his throat, demanding a definite answer.

But Zhang Rang had no other path.

He resolutely replied, “If Your Majesty is determined, I will ensure Prince Xie ascends the throne, even at the cost of my life. However, Your Majesty, to depose the elder and establish the younger, aside from court discussions, the Grand General—”

Liu Hong closed his eyes to rest for a while, only speaking when Zhang Rang thought he had fallen asleep, “Rest assured, I will make arrangements.”

His wariness of He Jin peaked when He Jin attempted to interfere with the Eight Commanders of the Western Garden. This made him constantly watch He Jin’s actions.

The Grand General’s recruitment of followers, He Jin’s alliance with Dong Min and other Liangzhou generals in the capital, He Jin’s subtle moves to weaken the Eight Commanders of the Western Garden…

Each action was stepping on the line he absolutely forbade his ministers to cross.

This pushed him to make a decision—

He must make He Jin go with him!

But to achieve this, some preparations were needed.

To outsiders, from January to March, it seemed he had regained some energy as winter passed.

During the court meetings held every five days, aside from the obvious use of makeup to conceal his pallor, he appeared no different from the previous year.

Even He Jin thought Liu Hong might linger on for another year.

But the close attendants knew the emperor had reached the point of sleepless nights and frequent vomiting of blood, with frequent personnel changes in the palace.

He was living day by day, also starting the process of paving the way for his young son.

He first secretly summoned Jian Shuo.

To deal with He Jin, sufficient military power was needed. As the Commander of the Eight Commanders of the Western Garden, Jian Shuo should have already secured a force for him and identified reliable individuals.

However, with old officials from noble families in the Eight Commanders, Liu Hong worried about leaks.

Thus, he tasked Jian Shuo with secretly mobilizing trustworthy individuals to act on the emperor’s decree when necessary.

Then, under the pretext of having General Dong Zhong pay regular respects to Empress Dowager Dong, he gave Dong Zhong instructions at the empress dowager’s residence.

By mid to late March, he began mobilizing trusted guards within the palace, screened by Zhang Rang and others.

However, while he feigned normalcy and carefully raised the executioner’s blade towards He Jin, he did not expect a misstep at the very beginning.

Sima Pan Yin, trusted by Jian Shuo and a close confidant, had been friends with He Jin since before He Jin’s rise.

Thus, the troop movements by Jian Shuo could not be hidden from this military officer.

He informed He Jin.

At the end of March, the atmosphere in the Grand General’s mansion was as oppressive as winter.

He Jin, upon learning of the emperor’s intent to kill him, sat grimly at the head.

Previously, when Liu Hong only wanted to curb his military power, he had already discussed with He Miao the need to change the situation. Now, with the threat of death clearly before him, it was even more so!

If the emperor wants the minister dead, the minister—

The minister must resist!

Having enjoyed such great power, how could he be willing to become a sacrificial offering?

He looked at the people below.

The abundance of talent in the Grand General’s mansion did not ease his tension, as he knew some harbored their own agendas.

But since he was about to die, they had to set aside their personal schemes.

They had to save He Jin first; otherwise, with Liu Xie’s ascension and Jian Shuo and Zhang Rang assisting, a third Prohibition of Factionalists might occur!

“Ben Chu, what are your thoughts?” He Jin looked around and directly called on Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao, named, showed no panic at the sudden inquiry. The current situation was within his expectations. The change of the emperor indeed came with risks, but also the opportunity they had been trying to achieve—eliminating the eunuchs!

This was an opportunity amidst the risks!

He replied, “The emperor favors the younger son and thus wants to eliminate the Grand General. However, with external threats pacified, the emperor would not want to see internal strife in the capital.”

This was correct; Liu Hong only wanted to swiftly eliminate He Jin, not leave a ruined capital for his successors.

Seeing He Jin deep in thought, Yuan Shao continued, “The Grand General might as well summon warlords from all sides, stationing brave soldiers loyal to you in Hedong to intimidate the capital. The emperor might reconsider.”

He Jin hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and asked, “Ben Chu, who do you think can be used?”

Yuan Shao glanced at Dong Min and replied, “Dong Zhongying from Liangzhou could be an ally.”

A Liangzhou brute, easy to use and discard, is the best choice at this moment!