"Understood."
Zhao Yun gave a slight wave of his hand, and two Imperial Guards immediately stepped forward.
He showed no trace of respect toward Yuan Shao. Zhang Xin's words before leaving Luoyang were still fresh in his mind:
Those who bring chaos to the realm are the so-called partisans.
"Outrageous!"
Yuan Shao's face darkened as he shouted at the guards, "I am Yuan Shao, Commandant of the Central Army! How dare you lay hands on me?!"
The two guards hesitated and looked toward Zhao Yun for instruction.
"Take him."
Zhao Yun did not bother with further explanation.
He Jin commanded the Imperial Guards. That meant He Jin was his superior. If he ignored orders from above, was he supposed to listen to Yuan Shao instead?
What did a mere court official have to do with the Imperial Guards?
"Yes!"
The guards seized Yuan Shao and escorted him out.
Zhao Yun maintained strict discipline over his troops; none dared disobey.
"Let go! I'll walk on my own!"
Yuan Shao struggled briefly before giving up resistance, but the guards paid him no mind.
At that moment, He Jin noticed Yuan Wei and the others approaching and quickly ordered, "Stop them!"
Zhao Yun stepped forward again, leading his men to block their path.
Yuan Wei and the others cursed loudly, but He Jin ignored them completely.
The document was swiftly completed.
After giving it a quick glance and confirming there were no issues, He Jin hurried off to obtain Liu Bian's seal.
Yuan Wei and the others stamped their feet in frustration.
Once the imperial seal was affixed, the matter would be irreversible.
"Brother Ziqing… I've taken care of everything."
Leaving Liu Bian's chambers, He Jin felt a rare sense of ease, already considering how to reply to Zhang Xin and mend their relationship.
Just then, a eunuch sent by Empress Dowager He arrived.
"General, the Empress Dowager requests your presence."
He Jin followed him to Changle Palace.
Seated at the head, Empress Dowager He looked furious. The moment he entered, she erupted in anger.
"What were you thinking today?!"
She vented at length.
When she finished, He Jin dismissed the attendants and explained everything—Liu Hong's secret edict, Zhang Xin's position, and the understanding between them.
"You're worried Zhang Xin will march on Luoyang and harm your son?" he asked calmly.
Empress Dowager He fell silent.
He Jin spread his hands. "Then what choice do we have?"
Though still furious, she had no answer.
In the end, she could only suppress her anger and turn the discussion toward eliminating Empress Dowager Dong.
He Jin readily agreed.
Though Empress Dowager Dong had supported him in court earlier, that was only a temporary alignment. Removing her would both strengthen his sister's authority and elevate his own standing.
A perfect outcome.
After leaving the palace, He Jin returned to his residence and wrote two letters.
One was addressed to Zhang Xin, entrusted to Tian Kai for delivery.
The other was sent to Jiao He, ordering him not to proceed to Qingzhou but to return immediately to Luoyang.
Jiao He, a refined scholar who valued etiquette, traveled slowly with his full official retinue. As a result, it took him over ten days just to reach Yanzhou.
Fortunately so—had he arrived in Qingzhou, matters would have become far more complicated.
Tian Kai received the orders and once again set out for Qingzhou at full speed.
Five days later, he arrived in Pingyuan and was granted an audience.
"My lord, a letter from the Grand General."
Zhang Xin smiled faintly as he took it. "You've worked hard traveling back and forth. Rest for now—there's no need to hurry off this time. Stay in Qingzhou for a few days."
"Thank you, my lord."
After Tian Kai withdrew, Zhang Xin opened the letter.
"Emperor Xiang of Han… good, good!"
His eyes reddened as he turned westward and bowed deeply before continuing.
In the letter, He Jin wrote:
When a new emperor ascends the throne, it is customary to grant favors. Brother Ziqing, your restraint in not invoking the secret edict shows great goodwill. I am ashamed of having wronged you.
As for the title of General of the Guards and the Marquisate of Ten Thousand Households—we can restore them to you. There is no need for you to return to Luoyang at this time. What do you think?
The intention to reconcile could not have been clearer.
After a moment's thought, Zhang Xin penned a brief reply:
Handle matters as you see fit.
He then summoned Zuo Bao, assigned him five hundred cavalry, and established a relay system—twenty riders stationed every fifty li to transmit messages day and night.
This ensured he could receive news from Luoyang—and send orders to Zhao Yun and Cao Xing—with maximum speed.
Next, he dispatched men to Langya in Xuzhou to recruit Zhuge Xuan.
Previously, the chaos of the Yellow Turbans had blocked all contact. Now that Tao Qian had stabilized the region, the opportunity could not be missed.
Zhang Xin exhaled slowly, looking west.
"City expansion, troop training, weapons, provisions… everything is in place."
"All that remains… is to wait."
Luoyang
After being forcibly removed from the palace, Yuan Shao quickly pieced everything together.
"Ziqing"… Tian Kai's repeated trips to Qingzhou…
His expression darkened.
"He Jin has sided with that traitor."
No wonder the man had acted so strangely in court—insisting on granting Liu Hong the posthumous title Emperor Xiang.
Yuan Shao hurried home and summoned He Yong, Xu You, Pang Ji, and others.
After recounting the events, he sighed heavily.
"He Jin and Zhang Xin—one inside the court, one outside with an army. If they join forces… what becomes of us?"
He had spent nearly twenty years cultivating reputation and influence. Not out of idleness—but to gather talent, win loyalty, and one day restore the power of the scholar-officials.
And now, just as their chance had come…
He Jin had turned away.
Xu You spoke calmly, "Do not panic. Today's events suggest alignment, but it is not yet certain. We must investigate before acting."
Yuan Shao nodded and sent spies to confirm.
The result came quickly.
Tian Kai had indeed gone to Qingzhou again.
Jiao He had been recalled.
That was enough.
The truth was clear.
He Jin was no longer playing their game.
He had chosen Zhang Xin.
Yuan Shao gathered his allies once more.
This time, the mood was far heavier.