Zhang Xin was startled.
"They arrived this quickly?"
At this moment, only half of his forces had assembled. Yu Jin's troops from Beihai and Xu Huang's thousand men from Donglai were still on the road.
Liu Hong had died on the ninth day of the fourth month.
Zhang Xin received the news on the twelfth.
Today was the eighteenth.
That meant only nine days had passed.
The journey from Luoyang to Pingyuan spanned nearly a thousand li. Even at full speed, it would take four or five days. In other words, by the time Zhang Xin received the secret letter, the new emperor had already ascended the throne.
"Is it Liu Bian… or Liu Xie?"
Without hesitation, Zhang Xin mounted his horse and rode out of the city to receive them.
A sliver of hope still lingered in his heart.
Perhaps—just perhaps—history had changed. Perhaps Jian Shuo had succeeded in killing He Jin.
If so, he could enter Luoyang openly and repay Liu Hong's trust.
But reason told him otherwise.
Jian Shuo's chances had always been slim.
He had not ridden five li before he saw a group of riders approaching at full gallop. The leader wore official robes; the rest were armored soldiers.
"Halt!" Dian Wei stepped forward and shouted.
The riders slowed.
"Shifan?"
The moment Zhang Xin recognized the man at the front, his heart sank.
Tian Kai.
A subordinate of He Jin—and once his own subordinate.
If Tian Kai had come, then Jian Shuo had failed.
Liu Bian had ascended the throne.
Without even reading the edict, Zhang Xin could already guess its contents.
He Jin wanted him back in Luoyang—alone.
And once he returned… he would never leave.
An open trap.
If he went, he would be at their mercy.
If he refused, the next edict would brand him a traitor and call for his destruction.
Zhang Xin's thoughts raced—but his face remained calm.
"What brings you here, Shifan?" he asked with a smile.
"My lord."
Tian Kai, dusty from travel, bowed from horseback and presented a proclamation.
"The late emperor passed away on the ninth day of the fourth month."
Though Zhang Xin had already mourned in private, hearing it spoken aloud still brought tears to his eyes.
"I will have the entire province observe mourning," he said solemnly, accepting the proclamation.
He then led Tian Kai and his party into the city.
Along the way, Zhang Xin casually asked about Luoyang.
Tian Kai avoided answering, urging him instead to hurry back and receive the imperial edict, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.
Zhang Xin understood immediately.
He gave Dian Wei a subtle glance.
The moment they entered the government compound, Tian Kai suddenly rolled his eyes and collapsed.
"Shifan! Shifan!"
Zhang Xin reacted instantly. "Quick! Carry him inside! Fetch a doctor!"
Guards rushed forward and carried Tian Kai toward the inner residence. Zhang Xin followed closely.
The armored soldiers attempted to follow—
"Halt!" Dian Wei blocked them.
"We are imperial envoys! How dare you stop us?" one shouted.
"Even if the emperor himself came," Dian Wei roared, "he would not enter a minister's private quarters without cause!"
His voice thundered. The soldiers hesitated, stepping back.
In the courtyard, Zhang Ning, who had been walking as instructed, saw Zhang Xin carrying someone in and grew curious.
Once inside, Zhang Xin called softly, "Shifan… Shifan…"
Tian Kai opened his eyes, quickly stood, and bowed.
"My lord…"
"Come with me."
Zhang Xin pulled him into the study and shut the door.
Zhang Ning, sensing the gravity of the situation, ordered the guards, "Stand watch. No one is to approach within fifty paces."
Inside the study, Zhang Xin spoke in a low voice.
"What is it?"
Tian Kai wasted no time. He pulled out an imperial edict and handed it over, his face tense.
"The emperor has passed. Liu Bian has ascended the throne. He Jin fears you—he has conspired with Yuan Shao and others to summon you back to the capital and kill you. You must not return!"
Zhang Xin opened the edict.
Just as he expected.
He Jin granted him the title of General of the Guards, expanded his fief to ten thousand households, and summoned him to Luoyang to "assist in governing."
Fine words.
A gilded cage.
More importantly, the court had already appointed Jiao He as the new Governor of Qingzhou—effectively stripping Zhang Xin of his authority.
Return immediately.
That was the command.
Zhang Xin closed the edict and handed it back.
"What happened in Luoyang?"
Tian Kai explained everything.
After Liu Hong's death, Jian Shuo had attempted to assassinate He Jin during the mourning rites. But his own subordinate, Pan Yin—who had ties to He Jin—leaked the plan.
He Jin escaped, mobilized troops, and refused to re-enter the palace.
The plot failed.
Two days later, on April 11, Liu Bian ascended the throne with full backing from the court and Empress He. The era name was changed, and power consolidated in the hands of He Jin and Yuan Wei.
Jian Shuo tried again, seeking help from the Ten Attendants—but Guo Sheng, an ally of He Jin, betrayed him.
He Jin struck first.
Jian Shuo was arrested and executed.
With that, all military power in Luoyang fell into He Jin's hands.
At last, he stood at the peak.
His nephew was emperor.
His sister ruled as Empress Dowager.
The court supported him.
Even the once-dominant eunuchs bowed before him.
And with internal threats eliminated…
His gaze turned east.
To Zhang Xin.
In He Jin's eyes, Zhang Xin had risen under his patronage—yet now stood apart, commanding troops and wielding influence.
Worse, he was loyal to Liu Xie.
A man like that could not be left unchecked.
So He Jin summoned Yuan Shao and others to discuss only one thing—
How to eliminate Zhang Xin.