After hearing the full account, Huangfu Song fell silent.
Huangfu Li grew anxious. "Dong Zhuo harbors rebellious intent and disloyalty. Father, you should send troops to strike him at once—why hesitate?"
Huangfu Song replied slowly, "That letter—Dong Zhuo cannot prove it is genuine, but neither can we prove it false."
He paused before continuing, "If it truly came from the Grand General, then attacking him would be treason on my part."
Huangfu Li stamped his foot. "If the General wanted to summon him, he could issue a formal decree. Why send a secret letter? Even if it is real, it's still a reckless and dangerous order!"
"When armies gather, the strong prevail. Our Huangfu family has served the empire for generations—how can you stand by while the emperor falls into danger?"
Huangfu Song shook his head. "If the General's order is improper, that is his fault. But if I mobilize troops without authorization, I too would be guilty. I will write to persuade him to rescind it."
"Father!" Huangfu Li cried out.
"My decision is final."
Huangfu Song picked up his brush and began writing, refusing to look at him again.
"Fine!" Huangfu Li stormed out, pounding his chest in frustration.
His father was a flawless general in every respect—except for being overly rigid.
Earlier that year, when Liu Hong had appointed Dong Zhuo as Minister of the Imperial Household, Dong Zhuo had openly defied the decree. Huangfu Li had urged immediate arrest, seeing him as a wolf in sheep's clothing.
But Huangfu Song's answer then had been the same as now:
"Issuing arbitrary orders is a fault—but executing people arbitrarily is also a crime. Better to report it and let the court decide."
With a sigh, Huangfu Li left.
"Father… today you may be sending a wolf straight into Luoyang…"
Watching him go, Huangfu Song sighed softly.
He had once received a secret order from Liu Hong—commanding him to lead troops outside the capital, both to assist Zhang Xin and to restrain him.
But everything had changed too quickly.
Liu Bian had ascended the throne. He Jin and Yuan Wei now held power. Zhang Xin had vanished without a trace for over four months.
What choice did he have?
He could only acknowledge the new regime.
Now Dong Zhuo presented a secret letter from He Jin—how could he stop him?
If the letter were real, opposing it would mean inviting punishment.
After finishing his letter, Huangfu Song immediately dispatched it to Luoyang.
Luoyang — August 24
News that the eunuchs' families were being arrested spread rapidly. Zhao Zhong and the others rushed into the palace, pleading before Empress Dowager He.
Confused, she summoned He Jin at once.
"You were the one who proposed employing the eunuchs—and now you're arresting them? What exactly are you doing?"
He Jin was stunned. "I… I don't know! I didn't issue any such order!"
"Then why is it said to be your command?"
"I'll investigate immediately!"
Leaving the palace, He Jin hurriedly sent men to verify the situation.
That very night, flames suddenly rose north of Luoyang.
Acting on Yuan Shao's forged orders, Ding Yuan had his men disguise themselves as Black Mountain bandits and set fire to homes in Mengjin and Pingyin.
The blaze lit up the night sky. Panic spread through the capital.
At dawn, He Jin sent men out to investigate. But before any report returned, a palace messenger summoned him again.
Inside, Empress Dowager He sat pale and shaken.
"What happened?" He Jin asked.
"Read this."
She handed him a memorial.
He Jin opened it—and his pupils shrank.
"The emperor disregards the will of the people and empowers eunuchs. Loyal heroes from all directions have gathered…"
It was a joint petition led by Yuan Shao.
Its tone was righteous—but its meaning was unmistakable:
Dismiss the eunuchs at once, or the armies outside the capital would act.
He Jin exploded in anger. "How dare Yuan Shao secretly summon outside troops?!"
Empress Dowager He slammed her hand down. "What have you done? Foreign armies are already outside Luoyang, yet you knew nothing!"
He Jin fell silent, guilt creeping in.
After venting her fury, she panicked. "Brother… what should we do?"
"I'll return and consult my advisors," he said hurriedly.
"Then go—quickly!"
Back at his residence, He Jin summoned Tian Kai and Chen Lin and explained everything.
Chen Lin was both shocked and furious. "The Yuan family has served the empire for generations. How could Yuan Shao commit such treason—summoning outside troops?"
But the evidence was undeniable.
Tian Kai also cursed angrily, "Yuan Shao has gone mad!"
"Enough!" He Jin nearly shouted. "Think of a solution!"
Chen Lin steadied himself. "General, there is no need to panic. Yuan Shao's goal is simple—to force you and the Empress Dowager to dismiss the eunuchs."
He Jin nodded repeatedly.
"You may as well comply," Chen Lin continued. "If the eunuchs are dismissed, the outside armies lose their justification to remain. Then, under imperial orders, you can command them to withdraw."
"And if they refuse?" He Jin asked nervously.
"Then they are rebels," Chen Lin said gravely. "You can call upon all loyal forces to suppress them."
"War?" He Jin's face went pale. "Can Luoyang hold until reinforcements arrive?"
"It can," Tian Kai assured him. "The capital is well-defended, well-supplied, and garrisoned by tens of thousands of elite troops."
Relieved, He Jin hurried back to the palace.
He persuaded Empress Dowager He to dismiss Zhao Zhong and the eunuchs.
She agreed.
With an imperial decree from Liu Bian, He Jin ordered the outside forces to withdraw.
Qiao Mao and Dong Zhuo ignored the order.
But Ding Yuan complied, preparing to return to Bingzhou.
When Yuan Shao heard this, he rushed to stop him.
"The Empress Dowager has only dismissed the eunuchs—not executed them. We must submit another petition, demanding their deaths to prevent future trouble."
Ding Yuan hesitated—but eventually agreed.
If the eunuchs survived, they might be reinstated once he left. His efforts would be wasted.
Thus, another joint memorial was sent—urging their execution.
When Zhao Zhong and the others heard this, they rushed to Empress Dowager He, weeping.
"Today Yuan Shao uses military force to coerce Your Majesty into killing us. Tomorrow, could he not force the emperor to abdicate as well?"
Those words struck deep.
Empress Dowager He's face changed instantly.
Fear turned to fury.
"Summon the Grand General at once," she ordered. "Have him arrest Yuan Shao and his fellow traitors!"