Chapter 7

At this time, the climate of the Eastern Han Dynasty was very pleasant. Although Luoyang was in the north, it was still warm. The sun shone warmly, making the weather very comfortable.

The streets of Luoyang were bustling with activity. Apart from the central imperial path, which no one dared to walk on, the streets on both sides were crowded with people. Ox carts loaded with goods, officials' carriages, shops lining the streets, and street vendors all displayed the prosperity of the Han capital to the fullest.

With the new emperor's ascension, a general amnesty was declared, and various shops were decorated festively. Although there had been a brief period of chaos, the people of Luoyang recovered very quickly, and now there was no trace of it left.

Fei Qian and Uncle Fu had just bid farewell to the family head, Fei Min, and were preparing to return home. Fei Qian, now just a reserve official, had no entourage and could only walk.

Although the transaction was completed and Fei Qian had achieved his goal, he still felt very uncomfortable. The feeling of being manipulated was very unpleasant.

He was still too insignificant.

He had no reputation.

He had no connections.

He had no foundation.

"Beimang Mountain..." Fei Qian muttered, "Perhaps I can take a risk and grab the chestnuts from the fire? Uncle Fu, let's take a detour and go to the Jiaoma Gate to take a look."

Upon learning that the family's books were to be "temporarily stored" by the head of the family, Uncle Fu was very reluctant but had no other choice. He did not blame Fei Qian at all, only saying that he felt he had let down Fei Qian's deceased parents and that he had failed to protect the family. He secretly wiped away tears several times while following Fei Qian.

Hearing Fei Qian speak, the distracted Uncle Fu almost collided with someone. "Ah? What did Young Master say? Jiaoma Gate? That's where the residences of the Grand General, the Three Excellencies, and other nobles are. Why are we going there?"

Since the founding of Luoyang by Emperor Guangwu, the city had been continuously expanded and renovated by successive emperors, making it a vast metropolis. The city of Luoyang in the Eastern Han Dynasty was "six li and eleven steps wide from east to west, and nine li and one hundred steps long from north to south," known as the "Nine-Six" city. It had a vast area, a dense population, and twelve city gates: four on the south wall, two on the north wall, and three on each of the east and west walls. The aristocratic families mostly lived in the Buguangli and Yongheli areas near the Shangdong Gate, which was convenient for transportation and close to the northern palace of the imperial family.

To the north of the Jiaoma Gate in the southeast, a special area was designated for the residences of the Grand General, the Grand Commandant, the Minister of Works, and the Minister of War, to highlight their exalted status.

Fei Qian had just come out from the Yongheli area where the head of the Fei family lived. He was originally planning to return to his residence on Yongmen Street, but now he wanted to turn southeast to take a look at the Grand General's residence.

In Fei Qian's memory, He Jin was deceived into the palace by eunuchs and beheaded. A series of events followed, so to pinpoint the timing, he needed to understand He Jin's current situation.

Fortunately, the Eastern Han Dynasty did not have the strict hierarchy of the later dynasties. As long as civilians did not cause trouble and did not loiter within three hundred steps of the residences, no one would bother them. So, taking a distant look was not a problem.

Before Dong Zhuo went mad and destroyed Luoyang, it could be said that Luoyang was the second-largest city in the world, and no one would dare to claim the first. It was densely populated, with thriving commerce and trade, and a flourishing culture. At that time, the Xiongnu and other nomadic tribes were still herding sheep, and the Romans were still amazed by the pebble roads they had built.

Thanks to a policy of Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty, which involved periodically "cutting down the wealthy." Liu Bang solved the problem of local strongmen by having the governors of various regions report on the strongmen who were difficult to manage. He then warmly invited these strongmen, who were on the blacklist, to live in the capital, transforming them from rural peasants into prestigious residents of the capital. These local strongmen, half happy and half sad, came to the capital, contributing to its prosperity and development. Over the years, the capital Luoyang had become a gathering place for the wealth of the nation.

And such a prosperous city, which was the best in the world at the time, was about to be destroyed by a military man...

Was it because he practiced martial arts too much, and his muscles grew into his brain?

Fei Qian thought maliciously as he walked. Before the Han Dynasty, Xiang Yu, who had the strength to lift a tripod, had a mental lapse and burned down the Afang Palace. Now, Dong Zhuo, whose brain was about to be flooded, was going to burn down Luoyang...

And among the top ten warriors of the Three Kingdoms, those whose brains were so full of muscle that they lost their capacity for thought included Lü Bu, the Wolf of Bingzhou, who was one of the best cavalrymen of the time, along with Chen Gong, Zhang Liao, and Gao Shun's elite infantry. They were top-notch cavalry and infantry, and they had top-notch strategists and generals, yet they all ended up dead on the White Gate Tower...

And Guan Yu, who was not being criticized as a saint, where did he go with all the years he spent reading the Spring and Autumn Annals? Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty highly praised the Spring and Autumn Annals: "The Spring and Autumn Annals, on the one hand, elucidates the ways of the Three Kings, and on the other, clarifies the principles of human affairs, distinguishing right from wrong, resolving doubts, praising the good and condemning the bad, honoring the virtuous and despising the unworthy, preserving the lost and reviving the extinct, repairing the broken and restoring the fallen, and embodying the great principles of the Way of the King." Such a profound book, which Guan Yu read for decades, where did he learn from it? He still lost Jing Province due to overconfidence. If Liu Bei had not been limited by the resources of Yizhou in his later years, the final outcome of the Three Kingdoms would have been uncertain...

Zhao Yun was an exception, but historically, Zhao Yun mostly accompanied the army on campaigns, at most leading a separate force. After returning, he would surrender his military authority. Apart from leading the Jiangzhou region, he did not seem to have been given an independent command, not even as good as Wei Yan, who was accused of having "rebellious bones" but still managed to govern Hanzhong for a long time. Why was Zhao Yun only given the command of Jiangzhou during the honeymoon period between Shu and Wu? Was Zhao Yun not loyal enough? Saving Liu Bei's son from the Battle of Changban, bleeding profusely, was not enough to show his loyalty?

The mysteries of the Three Kingdoms were many...

For example, why did Grand General He Jin, whose sister was the Empress Dowager and whose nephew was the emperor, and who had just eliminated his biggest rival, Jian Shuo, suddenly choose Dong Zhuo as an ally? According to logic, he should have at least enjoyed his victory for a while, so why did he suddenly want a pig as a teammate?

Fei Qian stood far from the Grand General's residence, watching the eunuchs outside the gate, who were weeping and begging for forgiveness, and could not quite understand.

Since Jian Shuo's death, the eunuchs had collectively come to the Grand General's residence to kowtow and pledge their loyalty, which had become a scene in Luoyang. Every day, large and small eunuchs came to the Grand General's residence to request an audience, tearfully confessing their past sins and hoping that the Grand General would see them to understand their sincere desire to turn over a new leaf.

Of course, the Grand General was not interested in seeing them, indicating that since they had sided with Jian Shuo when he was in conflict with him, their apologies now were useless. He told them to go where it was cooler.

The eunuchs, however, said that it didn't matter if they were not seen. Their loyalty was as clear as the sun and the moon. If they were not seen today, they would come back tomorrow, and every day before work, they would first check in at the Grand General's residence to show their loyalty...

Fei Qian smiled lightly. "The Grand General's residence is really lively... There are so many people..."

Uncle Fu, who was standing beside him, said, "Young Master, every time I go to the market, the people there consider this a scene. They say that the Grand General's residence has been like this for a while. Today is actually less crowded. Previously, the gate was full of people kneeling, and the carriages and horses they brought could line up to the street corner!"

Fei Qian's heart stirred. The decrease in the number of eunuchs did not necessarily indicate a good sign. He carefully observed the carriages and entourages of the eunuchs and found that they were all minor officials and lackeys, and none of the Grand Eunuchs were present...

Fei Qian turned to Uncle Fu and asked, "So, the Grand Eunuchs have also come to the Grand General's residence before?"

"According to what I've heard, they used to come frequently, especially in the past. Without the Grand Eunuchs leading the way, these people wouldn't dare to come," Uncle Fu indicated the small eunuchs still kneeling at the gate.

"Used to come... now they don't..." Fei Qian pondered, "Uncle Fu, could you please go to a shop at the street corner and ask how many days it has been since the Grand Eunuchs last came to the Grand General's residence to beg for forgiveness?"

Although Uncle Fu did not understand why, he agreed and went to ask. After a while, he returned and said, "Young Master, I asked a few shopkeepers at the street corner, and they didn't pay much attention to it, but they said that the entourage of the Grand Eunuchs hasn't been seen for about three to five days."

"Understood!" Fei Qian said, "Uncle Fu, let's hurry home. By the way, send a message to the Cui family, telling them that we will visit their estate tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

Fei Qian nodded. "Tomorrow." If we go too late, we might miss it!

The Grand Eunuchs, the leaders of the eunuchs, had not come for several days. What were they doing? They were definitely not busy with state affairs. Fei Qian didn't need to think much; these people were definitely plotting to get rid of He Jin!

It had been three to five days, and they were likely well-prepared. These eunuchs, who could cut off their own testicles without hesitation, were not lacking in ruthlessness!

He Jin's good days were coming to an end. But once he died, the imperial guards would cause chaos, and the Grand Eunuchs would be dragged down with him, leading to the two emperors fleeing to Beimang Mountain at night!

It was time to make a presence!

To stand out in the Three Kingdoms, one needed some capital.

Fei Qian thought, no wonder the original accumulation of capital is always bloody. Grand General He Jin, I have no way and no qualifications to save you. Since that's the case, I will use your blood to pave the way for this chaotic era!

Even a small official has his wisdom.

Emperor Xian and Emperor Bian were like the CEOs of a company, and the CEO is not easy to meet for a small official. Even if you meet, you won't leave a lasting impression. But if one day the CEO visits a branch office in casual clothes and accidentally slips on a watermelon peel, the first small official to help him up will definitely leave a deep impression and can expect a promotion soon.

Now, Fei Qian wanted to be that small official who helps the CEO, regardless of who threw the watermelon peel!