Chapter 11: Subduing Lü Bu

"You are Lü Bu? The Emperor has heard your great name like thunder! Now Dong Zhuo and other treacherous ministers have been executed, and the Han Dynasty is in urgent need of talent. If you can loyally serve the Emperor, I will let the past go unpunished. A peerless war general like you should be expanding territories and defending the nation on the battlefield, not become a tool for Dong Zhuo and others' rebellion."

Liu Bian spoke earnestly to Lü Bu. He admired Lü Bu greatly, and it would be a pity to slay him outright. After all, Lü Bu possesses extraordinary martial skill and fearless fighting spirit; if he were taken into one's own service, he would become a great asset. Moreover, the so‑called "rebellious bone" of Lü Bu is only directed at the weak. With his strength and wisdom, subduing a Lü Bu is not difficult.

"I, the junior general Lü Bu, salute Your Majesty!" Lü Bu, hearing Liu Bian's invitation, was overjoyed, hurried forward, bowed and clasped his fists in salute. After all, his heart was still loyal to the Han Dynasty; he had simply not met a wise ruler, and having witnessed Liu Bian's greatness, he dared not entertain thoughts of rebellion.

"Very well, hahaha, with the support of the divine ancestors, how could the world be unsettled!" Liu Bian said cheerfully to Lü Bu.

"We, the ministers, congratulate Your Majesty for eliminating the rebels and regaining supreme authority!"

The officials in the Grand Hall, seeing that all the rebels had been executed, clasped fists and saluted, shouting loudly, each face radiating excitement and agitation.

They could not have imagined Liu Bian to be so powerful; a single man executed all the bandits, and it seemed as easy as if nothing had happened.

"Your Majesty, the rebel party led by Dong Zhuo has been completely exterminated, but the Imperial Palace and Luoyang City are still guarded by over a hundred thousand Xiliang Army; we must swiftly retake the Imperial Palace and the Huang Du of Luoyang."

Below the Grand Hall, Grand Tutor Yuan Kui said in a deep voice.

"Everyone need not worry; now that the commanders of the Xiliang Army, Dong Zhuo and his cohorts, are dead, relying on Li Jue, Guo Si and the like will not stir up any trouble," Liu Bian said with a slight smile. In actual history, after Dong Zhuo was slain by Lü Bu in Chang'an, the Xiliang Army under Li Jue and Guo Si was soon killed by their subordinates in a power struggle.

"Huh, isn't that the Prince of Chen Liu? What are you hiding for?" Suddenly, Cao Cao, who was below, discovered Liu Xie hiding in a corner of the Grand Hall and, seeing Liu Xie's dejected demeanor, couldn't help mocking aloud.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Chen Liu has colluded with Dong Zhuo's rebel party, intending to usurp the Han Dynasty and assassinate the Emperor; his crime is unforgivable. Please execute the Prince of Chen Liu to remove future trouble!"

Yang Biao, Yuan Kui and the other ministers all shouted.

"Your Imperial brother, spare me! I was forced by Dong Zhuo and his men; Your Imperial brother, spare me..." Liu Xie, hearing the crowd, immediately fell to his knees, pleading with Liu Bian in a voice trembling with tears.

"Heh heh heh, you truly are my good imperial brother; you probably have long wanted to eliminate me and become Emperor! If I were defeated today, would you spare me?" Liu Bian, his face cold, shouted angrily at Liu Xie.

"This..." Liu Xie, the prince, fell silent upon hearing it. How could he possibly spare his life? If Liu Bian does not die, Liu Xie will not sit securely on the throne.

"Attendants, take him away and give him a respectable death!" Liu Bian waved his hand and said softly.

Outside the Grand Hall, the soldiers Lü Bu had brought rushed in, seized Liu Xie and dragged him out; the crowd in the Grand Hall ignored his pleas for mercy. As for Liu Xie's fate, no one was surprised; rather, they thought Liu Bian had handled it excellently.

"Yuan Shao, obey! I command you to lead a unit of soldiers under your command, first fully assume the Imperial Palace guard duties; if anyone obstructs, behead them! For now, you will take over the palace guard task."

"Lü Bu, obey. The Huang Du of Luoyang is currently controlled by fifty thousand Xiliang Army under Li Jue and Guo Si; you shall lead your own fifty thousand Bingzhou Army to take over. Remember, incorporate them if you can; they are all Han Warriors, merely misled by Dong Zhuo and his followers." Liu Bian's imposing gaze fixed on Lü Bu and Yuan Shao below, his expression solemn as he spoke.

"I, the junior general, accept the command!" Yuan Shao and Lü Bu shouted excitedly. Especially Lü Bu, who had been Dong Zhuo's adopted son, could not have imagined Liu Bian's boldness in ordering him to take over the Xiliang Army—what a great fortune! Lü Bu's loyalty surged instantly; his respect for Liu Bian deepened, and he swore in his heart to serve Liu Bian faithfully.

"Cao Cao, obey. When Dong Zhuo first entered Luoyang, he coveted the Xiyuan Eight Captains left to the Emperor by the former sovereign, but the former sovereign had once said that the Xiyuan Eight Captains obey orders, not individuals. You and Yuan are two of those Captains, so you must understand clearly."

"Therefore, I grant you a golden badge, to integrate the Xiyuan Eight Captains' troops and eliminate all the commanders and pawns placed by Dong Zhuo. You may accomplish this." Liu Bian said solemnly to Cao Cao. The Xiyuan Eight Captains are the hardest to subdue; entrusting them to others makes him uneasy. Looking across the Grand Hall, only Cao Cao seems capable.

"Your Majesty, rest assured; I will not betray the trust you have placed upon me!" Cao Cao said gravely.

"Very well, Your Ministers, promptly take command of the troops; then we can field an additional hundred thousand combat‑ready soldiers."

"The remaining officials, cooperate with the three ministers; during this period, maintain control over Luoyang. Since Dong Zhuo entered the Huang Du, the people of Luoyang have suffered greatly—arson, murder, plunder, all evils. I command you to lead your soldiers to eliminate the troublemakers as a warning, fully secure Luoyang, and guarantee the safety of its residents."

"We obey the command!!!" the ministers hurriedly bowed.

"Very well, the Han Empire has endured the early Yellow Turban Rebellion, then the Ten Attendants and He Jin caused chaos in the court, and later Dong Zhuo's rebels plotted treason. Now, at this critical juncture of national peril, we need all Your Ministers to work together to swiftly restore national strength. I look forward to your results; five days later, after you have secured Luoyang, I will convene the Grand Court Assembly, and then all meritorious officials will be rewarded accordingly!" the Emperor said with authority.

"We obey the command." the high officials responded in unison, then withdrew. Watching the departing officials, Liu Bian let out a long sigh as if a great burden had been lifted.

"Attendants, prepare the carriage to Changqiu Palace." Liu Bian ordered the eunuchs and Gong Nu on his sides. He thought that now he could finally pay respects to this life's Empress Dowager—Han Empire's Empress Dowager He Lian. Since his transmigration, he had been confined by Li Ru and had never seen his birth mother.

As Yuan Shao took over the palace guard, the Xiliang Army soldiers originally placed by Dong Zhuo were fully seized; those who refused to surrender were all executed, and the air was thick with the scent of blood. The Gong Nu and eunuchs dared not move about freely.

"Your Majesty!" About a quarter of an hour later, Liu Bian's party finally arrived before the Changqiu Palace where Empress Dowager He Lian resided; the soldiers at the gate saluted Liu Bian's arrival, their eyes filled with intense reverence. They had also heard of the events that occurred in the Court Hall.

"Soldiers, stand at ease." Liu Bian, seeing their fervent gazes, nodded slightly and said calmly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Ignoring the still‑excited soldiers, he walked slowly toward Changqiu Palace.