After Chu Yan departed, the court of Emperor Ling of Han underwent a sudden reshuffle.
Xu Xiang was dismissed as Minister of Works. Ding Gong took his place. Liu Hong, the Grand Master of Ceremonies (not the emperor himself, but a clansman of the same name), was also reassigned, while Dong Zhong, formerly Commandant of the Guards and nephew of the Empress Dowager, was elevated to General of the Cavalry.
The court immediately sensed something was wrong.
The title "General of the Cavalry" was no ordinary appointment. Since the days of Huo Qubing, it had rarely been granted in life. Most who bore it received the honor posthumously. Now Dong Zhong held it—clearly a sign the emperor was strengthening his own maternal faction.
At the same time, Ma Ridi was promoted to Grand Commandant for his role in suppressing the White Wave Yellow Turbans.
The partisan officials were alarmed.
Earlier that year, under the pretext of the Yellow Turban unrest, Liu Hong had already removed Cao Song and replaced him with Fan Ling—another opportunist who, like Xu Xiang, had effectively bought his position. Both men were despised by the reform-minded faction. They had planned to impeach and replace them, but the emperor moved first, leaving them no room to act.
Now, aside from Ding Gong—who could barely be counted as one of their own—the key positions were no longer in partisan hands.
Then came the decisive blow.
"Zhang Xin, for his merits in suppressing the White Wave and pacifying the Black Mountain bandits, is hereby appointed Colonel of the Upper Army. He shall command the Western Garden Army, oversee all generals, and supervise officials below the Commandant of the Capital Region."
The court erupted.
This was unprecedented.
A mere colonel now held authority to supervise officials across the realm—and even stood nominally above senior generals like He Jin.
Power beyond measure.
All eyes turned to Zhang Xin.
He stepped forward calmly, bowed, and accepted the decree without hesitation.
Shock spread through the hall.
To command the Western Garden Army was expected—the emperor needed a trusted man. But to grant him authority over civil officials and military commanders alike? That was excessive.
Officials tried to protest, but Liu Hong dismissed the court before they could speak.
After the audience, tension lingered.
Cai Yong pulled Zhang Xin aside, worried.
"Ziqing, how can you accept such a dangerous post? The higher you stand, the harder the fall."
Zhang Xin only smiled. "As a subject, should I not share my ruler's burdens?"
Cai Yong could only sigh.
Meanwhile, Dong Zhong approached warmly, already treating Zhang Xin as an ally. From his perspective, Zhang Xin had clearly aligned with the emperor's faction.
Not far away, He Jin also came forward, testing him with polite congratulations.
Zhang Xin responded courteously—but distantly.
That was enough.
He Jin's heart sank. Zhang Xin had chosen his side.
Soon after, Zhang Xin took command of the Western Garden Army. He submitted a memorial promoting his trusted officers like Zhao Yun and requested that Xun You be transferred to serve under him.
This crossed a line.
Xun You was originally under He Jin's network. Taking him was a direct provocation.
Furious, He Jin and the partisan faction struck back.
At court, they accused Zhang Xin of colluding with the Black Mountain bandits and plotting rebellion.
Zhang Xin stepped forward and dismantled their claims with cold logic.
"If you doubt them, summon all the bandit leaders here. Settle their hundreds of thousands of followers. Provide land for them—twenty million mu should suffice."
Silence.
No one could answer.
He turned his back on them, ending the debate.
The first attack failed.
A second accusation followed: that Zhang Xin intended rebellion because he had taken the daughter of the rebel Han Sui as a concubine.
Even Liu Hong lost patience.
"If marrying a rebel's daughter proves treason, then by that logic, what does marrying into your family make me?"
Laughter spread through the court.
The second attack collapsed.
Now angered, Zhang Xin stopped holding back.
Instead of remaining in the capital, he unleashed his authority.
Hundreds of investigators—many of them former Yellow Turbans—were sent across the surrounding commanderies. They audited officials, exposed corruption, and overturned wrongful cases.
The results were devastating.
Over four hundred officials were impeached in just two months.
Corruption ran deep—even near the capital.
The court fell silent.
No one dared provoke him again.
The people, however, rejoiced.
A folk song began to spread:
"Zhang Ziqing, clean."
His reputation soared.
Even Liu Hong was stunned by the scale of it.
He had intended Zhang Xin's authority as a deterrent—not a weapon to purge half the bureaucracy.
But Zhang Xin had used it fully.
Still, the emperor tolerated it. After all, Zhang Xin was weakening rival factions.
Yet there were limits.
Too many officials had fallen. Governance itself was at risk.
At last, an imperial order arrived.
"Enough. Return to Luoyang—and lead a campaign against Qingzhou."
Zhang Xin read the message, smiled faintly, and folded it away.
The game at court was not over.
It had merely moved to the battlefield.