Chapter 284

"You are Lü Bu? I have heard of your great name! Now that chaotic ministers and thieves like Dong Zhuo have been brought to justice, our Great Han is in urgent need of talents. If you can be loyal to me, I can let bygones be bygones for the past. A peerless fierce general like you should be opening up territory and protecting the country on the battlefield, not becoming a tool for Dong Zhuo and others to rebel."

Liu Bian said earnestly to Lü Bu. He admired Lü Bu quite a bit. If he were to be beheaded just like that, it would be a pity. After all, Lü Bu possessed extraordinary martial arts and a fearless fighting spirit. If he could be used for his own purposes, he would definitely become a great help. Moreover, the so-called "rebellious bones" of Lü Bu were only aimed at the weak. With his strength and wisdom, subduing a Lü Bu was not a difficult task.

"Subordinate Lü Bu, pay respects to Your Majesty!" Lü Bu heard Liu Bian's recruitment and was overjoyed, hurriedly stepping forward to bow and clasp his fists. After all, he was still loyal to the Han in his heart, but he hadn't met a wise master, and plus he had witnessed Liu Bian's strength with his own eyes, he didn't dare to have any thoughts of rebellion.

"Good, hahaha, with Fengxian's help, why worry about the world not being settled!" Liu Bian said happily to Lü Bu.

"We congratulate Your Majesty for eradicating the rebels and regaining power!"

The officials below saw that the rebels had all been executed, and they all clasped their fists and saluted, shouting loudly, their faces filled with excitement and agitation.

They never expected Liu Bian to be so powerful, killing all the thieves alone, and it looked easy, like nothing happened.

"Your Majesty, now that the rebel Dong Zhuo and others have all been executed, there are still more than one hundred thousand Xiliang Army soldiers guarding the Imperial Palace and Luoyang City. We need to regain control of the Imperial Palace and the Imperial Capital Luoyang as soon as possible."

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

"Everyone, don't worry. Dong Zhuo and others who commanded the Xiliang Army are dead. Relying on generals like Li Jue and Guo Si, they can't make any waves." Liu Bian said with a slight smile on his face. What actually happened in history was the same. Since Dong Zhuo was executed by Lü Bu in Chang'an, the Xiliang Army didn't last long in the hands of Li Jue and Guo Si before they were killed by their subordinates due to power struggles.

"Eh, isn't this Chen Liu Wang? Why are you hiding there!" Suddenly, Cao Cao below the Grand Hall discovered Liu Xie hiding in the corner of the Grand Hall, and couldn't help but mock him when he saw Liu Xie's dejected look.

"Your Majesty, Chen Liu Wang colluded with rebels like Dong Zhuo, intending to usurp the Han and murder the emperor. The crime is unforgivable. Please have Your Majesty execute Chen Liu Wang to eliminate future troubles!"

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

"Emperor... Emperor Brother, spare my life. Subordinate was wrong, I was forced by Dong Zhuo and the others, Emperor Brother, spare my life..." Liu Xie heard everyone's words, immediately knelt on the ground, and begged Liu Bian for mercy with tears in his eyes.

"Hehehe, you are really my good emperor brother. You probably wanted to get rid of me long ago and be this emperor! If I had lost today, would you have let me go?" Liu Bian was full of coldness and shouted angrily at Liu Xie.

"This..." Liu Xie below the hall was speechless after hearing this. How could he have spared Liu Bian's life? If Liu Bian didn't die, he wouldn't be able to sit securely on this imperial throne.

"Come, take him down and give him a decent way to die!" Liu Bian waved his hand and said in a low voice.

The soldiers brought by Lü Bu outside the Grand Hall immediately rushed in, picked up Liu Xie, and dragged him out. Everyone in the Grand Hall ignored his pleas for mercy. Regarding Liu Xie's fate, everyone was not surprised, but felt that Liu Bian handled it extremely well.

"Yuan Shao, take the order! I order you to lead the soldiers of your own command to take over the Imperial Palace guards first. If there is any obstruction, kill! Temporarily take over the task of guarding the Imperial Palace."

"Lü Bu, take the order! The Imperial Capital Luoyang is controlled by the fifty thousand Xiliang Army led by Li Jue and Guo Si. You lead your own fifty thousand Bingzhou Army to take over. Remember, if you can incorporate them, incorporate them. They are all soldiers of my Great Han, just bewitched by Dong Zhuo and the others." Liu Bian's majestic gaze stared at Lü Bu and Yuan Shao below, his expression solemn.

"Subordinate takes the order!" Yuan Shao and Lü Bu said loudly with excitement. Especially Lü Bu, he was originally Dong Zhuo's foster son. He didn't expect Liu Bian to have such great courage to ask him to take over the Xiliang Army. What great luck this was. Lü Bu's loyalty skyrocketed instantly, and he became more respectful to Liu Bian, swearing in his heart to serve Liu Bian well.

"Cao Cao, take the order! When Dong Zhuo entered Luoyang, he took a fancy to the Eight Captains of the Western Garden left to me by the Previous Emperor. But I don't want to. When the Previous Emperor was on the throne, he said that the Eight Captains of the Western Garden only recognize the order, not the person. You and General Yuan are both among the Eight Captains of the Western Garden, so you must be very clear."

"Therefore, I grant you the golden medal to integrate the Eight Captains of the Western Garden and eliminate all the generals and chess pieces arranged by Dong Zhuo. Can you complete this?" Liu Bian said solemnly to Cao Cao. The Eight Captains of the Western Garden were the hardest to subdue. He couldn't rest assured giving them to others. Looking at the Grand Hall, only Cao Cao had this ability.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the subordinate will definitely not fail your trust!" Cao Cao said solemnly.

"Good, please have the ministers take control of the army as soon as possible. By then, we can have one hundred thousand battle-ready troops."

"As for the others, cooperate with the three ministers to control Luoyang during this period. Since Dong Zhuo entered the Imperial Capital, our Luoyang common people have suffered, burning, killing, and looting, doing all kinds of evil. I order you to lead your soldiers to eliminate the troublemakers to warn others, completely control Luoyang, and ensure the safety of the residents in the city."

"We obey the edict!!!" The ministers hurriedly bowed and said.

"Good, our Great Han Empire has gone through the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the early years, and the chaos of the Ten Attendants and He Jin and others, plus the rebellion of thieves like Dong Zhuo before, is now at a critical moment of national crisis, requiring all ministers to work together to restore national strength as soon as possible. I look forward to your results. Five days later, after you have controlled Luoyang, I will hold a Grand Court Assembly. At that time, all meritorious ministers will be rewarded!" The emperor said majestically.

"We obey the edict." The ministers responded in unison, then retreated one after another. Watching the departing officials, Liu Bian breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Come, prepare the carriage for Changqiu Palace." Liu Bian ordered the eunuchs and palace maids on the left and right. He thought to himself, now he could finally go to pay respects to his mother in this life—the Great Han Empire's Empress Dowager He Lian. Since traveling through time, he had been grounded by Li Ru and hadn't seen his biological mother yet.

As Yuan Shao took action to take over the Imperial Palace guards, the original Xiliang Army soldiers arranged by Dong Zhuo had all been controlled. Those who did not surrender were all executed, and the air was filled with the smell of blood. Palace maids and eunuchs dared not walk around at will.

"Pay respects to Your Majesty!" About a quarter of an hour later, Liu Bian and his party finally arrived in front of Changqiu Palace where Empress Dowager He Lian lived. The soldiers at the door saw Liu Bian coming and saluted one after another, their eyes filled with fiery respect. They had also heard about what happened in the court meeting hall.

"All soldiers, rise." Liu Bian looked at their fanatical gazes, nodded slightly, and said in a calm tone.

"Thank Your Majesty."

Ignoring the excited soldiers, he slowly walked towards Changqiu Palace.