"Yuan Tu, what do you think?"
Yuan Shao turned to Pang Ji. It had been Xu You's idea to have He Jin summon Zhang Xin back to the राजधानी. Now not only had Zhang Xin survived, he had even joined forces with He Jin. Yuan Shao was furious and had since refused to acknowledge Xu You at all.
Hearing the question, Xu You's heart sank, and he glanced uneasily at Pang Ji.
Pang Ji, however, smiled, stroking his beard. "There's no need for concern, Lord Yuan. Zhang Xinyuan is thousands of miles away—communication with He Jin is inconvenient. We, on the other hand, are right here. We can persuade him to change his mind."
He continued calmly, "He Jin only aligned with Zhang Xin because he was threatened by Qingzhou's troops. He fears Zhang Xin's strength, yet also wants to use those troops to bolster his own authority. He had no choice but to agree."
"In that case," Pang Ji said, eyes gleaming, "we simply give him what he wants—a greater share of power."
"Two tigers cannot share one mountain. Once He Jin no longer fears Zhang Xin, why would he tolerate him?"
Yuan Shao leaned forward eagerly. "What's your plan?"
Pang Ji chuckled. "The Dong family."
He Yong slapped his thigh. "Brilliant!"
At present, power in the court was divided into four parts: He Jin held one, Yuan Wei another, and the two Empress Dowagers each controlled the rest.
If Empress Dowager Dong were removed, the balance would shift from four to three.
With He Jin aligned with Empress Dowager He, they could firmly suppress Yuan Wei. If Yuan Wei showed even the slightest weakness, He Jin would begin to believe he held absolute authority.
And once he believed that, would he still tolerate someone like Zhang Xin, who posed a threat?
Even if he did, it would not matter. The faction members were right here—they only needed to stir things up now and then. Rumors, repeated often enough, could turn truth into illusion. Given time, even brothers could be driven apart—let alone a butcher and a rebel.
Moreover, removing the Dong family through He Jin would serve their own ultimate goal: to control the government themselves.
A perfect win-win.
Everyone present quickly grasped the brilliance of the scheme. Even Xu You had to admit Pang Ji's plan was sound.
Eliminating Empress Dowager Dong would not provoke opposition from Empress Dowager He—in fact, she might welcome it. It would also benefit He Jin directly. With Yuan Wei joining in, it would become three against one.
An easy victory.
"Let's proceed with Yuan Tu's plan," Yuan Shao said with delight. "I'll go see He Jin immediately!"
—
At the General's Mansion, Yuan Shao was granted an audience.
"What brings you here?" He Jin asked, puzzled.
After circling the topic with trivialities, Yuan Shao finally raised the matter of Empress Dowager Dong.
In truth, He Jin had already conspired with Empress Dowager He to remove her. Yet now, faced with Yuan Shao's proposal, he hesitated.
The faction members were cunning—nothing they proposed could be taken at face value.
Yuan Shao spoke until his mouth ran dry, only to find He Jin's expression unchanged.
"I'll think it over," He Jin said politely. "Benchu, go back and rest."
Yuan Shao was stunned.
What spell has Zhang Xin cast on him? Why is he suddenly so hard to sway?
But fearing suspicion, he could only withdraw.
—
After Yuan Shao left, He Jin pondered for a long while before grinding ink and lifting his brush.
"I'd better write to Brother Ziqing and ask his opinion…"
—
The next day in court, He Jin submitted a proposal: appoint Zhang Xin as General of the Guards and grant him the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households.
"As expected," Yuan Wei thought. Following the plan, he deliberately showed weakness and voiced his support.
Empress Dowager He, wary of Zhang Xin's troops, did not dare oppose the motion.
As for Empress Dowager Dong—Zhang Ping was still being cared for in her palace. The child was charming and lovable; naturally, his father deserved promotion.
The proposal passed unanimously.
For a brief moment, harmony filled the court.
Then, as usual, the two Empress Dowagers began bickering again.
Liu Bian sat on the throne, dazed, lost in thought. The officials wore expressions of resignation—as if to say, If it rains, it rains. If a mother wishes to remarry, let her.
—
After court, Empress Dowager Dong glared furiously at Empress Dowager He.
"You've grown arrogant, relying on your brother! With a single order, I could have the General of Chariots and Cavalry behead He Jin as easily as turning my hand!"
With that, she stormed off.
Empress Dowager He was enraged. She immediately summoned He Jin.
"That old woman just said she'd have Dong Zhong kill you!"
He Jin was furious. Upon returning home, he summoned Yuan Shao, Xu You, and the others to discuss how to deal with Dong Zhong.
Yuan Shao was overjoyed.
The bait has been taken.
Plans were quickly laid. Spirits were high.
—
Soon, memorials impeaching Dong Zhong flooded the court.
Dong Zhong was utterly bewildered.
Since Liu Hong's death, his aunt had served as regent, allowing him a brief period of peace. Why was he suddenly under attack again?
Caught in the crossfire, he could only lament his misfortune.
"Marquis Xuanwei… why haven't you returned yet?"
—
With He Jin, Empress Dowager He, and Yuan Wei united, Empress Dowager Dong could not stand alone.
During court, Dong Zhong was arrested on the spot.
Before his execution, He Jin told him the reason.
"Aunt… you've ruined me!"
Dong Zhong wept bitterly.
I may hold the title of General of Cavalry, second only in rank—but I command barely a thousand men! And you expect me to kill He Jin? With what army?
In the sixth year of Zhongping, in the fifth month, Dong Zhong died in prison.
—
With Dong Zhong gone, Empress Dowager Dong lost all support and withdrew from court, no longer daring to appear.
Empress Dowager He was triumphant.
With He Jin as her brother and Yuan Wei yielding, all major decisions now lay in her hands.
Yet one thorn remained in her side.
That old woman.
She had to go.
—
She summoned He Jin again and pressed him for a solution.
He Jin hesitated.
Empress Dowager Dong was the late emperor's birth mother. If she were to die in the palace, public outrage would be catastrophic.
With no answer, he returned home and wrote again to Zhang Xin.
—
But before he could send the letter, a messenger arrived with Zhang Xin's reply to his earlier inquiry:
"Empress Dowager Dong is the late emperor's mother. Do not act against her. The better she lives, the more secure your own position will be."
He Jin nodded.
If that's the case, then let her be. Without Dong Zhong, she poses no threat anyway.
Supporting her cost little.
—
But while He Jin chose restraint, the faction members did not.
Sensing his reluctance, Yuan Wei and the others joined forces with the Three Dukes and submitted a new memorial:
"Empress Xiaoren has secretly instructed attendants to communicate with local officials, collecting treasures and bribes to send to the Western Provinces."
"Such conduct is unfit for one residing in the capital. We request that the Empress of Yongle be returned to her native lands, with her rank and provisions duly regulated."
The storm, once again, began to gather.