In the year 186, after a period of development, Youzhou had become as prosperous as Jingxiang. The people here were no longer as helpless as when they were invaded by the Wuhuan and other foreign tribes. Now, the people here only had happiness and pride. Fan Xing had also gotten married to his six daughters the year before last. After almost half a year of honeymoon, Fan Xing once again threw himself back into his busy work.
After more than a year, the soft invasion strategy used against the Wuhuan had begun to take effect. After Fan Xing intimidated the Wuhuan, he began this strategy. On the surface, he seemed to be helping the Wuhuan, but in fact, he wanted to implement the goal of assimilating the Wuhuan through economy and culture. In addition to using this strategy against the Wuhuan, he also used this method against several other foreign races. However, other foreign races were not attacked like the Wuhuan. Therefore, unlike the Wuhuan, they only opened up trade routes with Youzhou so that Youzhou merchants could trade with them.
Most of Wuhuan people were using various consumables and household goods produced in Youzhou Province. Nobles even used the porcelain produced in Youzhou Province to show their status. Additionally, each Wuhuan people wanted to send their sons and daughters to Youzhou Province to study in the hope that they could have a chance to make a name for themselves. At the end of the winter of 185th year, Youzhou Province sent enough grains to Wuhuan people. Additionally, Wuhuan people exchanged their wool and other goods for grains. Therefore, in the winter of 185th year, Wuhuan people didn't need to rob grains from other places for the first time. This made Wuhuan people who had to exchange grains with their lives in winter very excited. Therefore, Wuhuan people wanted to maintain the current relationship with Youzhou Province.
After Fan Xing read the report from Xun Yucheng, he was very satisfied with the current situation in Youzhou. He believed that Wuhuan would cease to exist in a few years. Then, Fan Xing asked Zhao Feng, who was in charge of intelligence, about Luoyang's situation. When he heard Zhao Feng say that the Spirit Monarch might be in danger, Fan Xing was slightly stunned, but he immediately understood. Perhaps it was because he had dealt with the Yellow Turban too early that the Spirit Monarch had more time to indulge in debauchery, causing his body to be damaged faster. Fan Xing thought wickedly,"Who does he think he is? How can he be like me? Wanwan fed the six little women until they were full and full of energy!”
After thinking about it for a while, Fan Xing realized that the Spirit Emperor was in critical condition. Jian Shuo's rebellion might be brought forward. He immediately ordered Zhao Feng to keep an eye on Jian Shuo and help him escape if he was in danger.
Guo Jia and the other strategists were confused after hearing Fan Xing's order. Why did the lord keep an eye on a eunuch? However, this was not the first time that Fan Xing had done something that seemed meaningless, but was the most important step in the end. Therefore, the advisors did not say anything. Except for a few who had just followed Fan Xing for a while and had a trace of doubt in their hearts, the subordinates who had followed Fan Xing for a long time were full of confidence in Fan Xing because they believed in their lord.
In Luoyang, in a relatively large palace in the inner court of the Imperial Palace, a pale-skinned and unusually thin man was sleeping on a bed. Beside the bed, a graceful and elegant woman was looking at the man on the bed with worry and sorrow in her eyes. The man was the Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty, the Spirit Emperor, and the woman beside the bed was Empress Dowager Dong, not Empress He.
Suddenly, the Spirit Monarch, who was lying weakly on the bed, moved slightly. Then, he slowly opened his eyes. His lifeless gaze made Empress Dowager Dong, who was beside the bed, cry out. As if provoked by Empress Dowager Dong's crying, the Spirit Monarch's eyes slowly regained a trace of life. He turned his head slightly and looked at Empress Dowager Dong." Mother, I don't have much time left, but I still have things to settle. That's why I've been holding on until now. Mother, please bring me a pen and paper. I want to write a will. Mother, remember to pass the will to Jian Shuo.”
When Empress Dowager Dong heard the Spirit Monarch's words, she felt even more sorrowful. However, she still obeyed the Spirit Monarch's wishes and took a piece of paper and a pen from a table not far away for the Spirit Monarch. After the Spirit Monarch received the paper and pen, he seemed to have regained his strength. He sat up as if nothing had happened and picked up the pen to write his will on the paper. Looking at the Spirit Monarch who had suddenly regained his strength, Empress Dowager Dong did not feel happy. Instead, she felt even sadder because she knew that this was just the Spirit Monarch's last breath before his death.
After a while, the Spirit Monarch finally stopped writing and solemnly handed the paper with his will to Empress Dowager Dong. Then, he solemnly said,""Mother, remember to pass this will to Jian Shuo and ask him to help Xie 'er ascend to the throne. Mother, you will listen to the government from behind the curtain and assist Xie' er.”After seeing Empress Dowager Dong nod her head seriously, the Spirit Monarch smiled and lay back on the bed. Then, he slowly closed his eyes. This was probably the most peaceful sleep the Spirit Monarch had ever had other than when he was young. Therefore, he did not want to get up again.
Seeing the Spirit Monarch close his eyes, Empress Dowager Dong was also stunned. After a while, she realized that she had something important to do immediately. Then, she hurriedly left the Spirit Monarch's palace and rushed in a certain direction. However, she did not realize that a pair of sinister eyes were watching her from behind a tree not far away.
As Empress Dowager Dong gradually ran out of his sight, the figure hiding behind a tree not far away from the Spirit Monarch's touring abode also left in a hurry.
Hearing that the servant had come to report that Empress Dowager Dong had an urgent request to see him, Jian Shuo was a little surprised and confused. However, Jian Shuo still had to go out to welcome her. He waved his hand to let the servant lead the way and followed her out.
When Jian Shuo saw the flustered Empress Dowager Dong, he immediately went up to bow. However, before he could do so, Empress Dowager Dong waved her hand and dragged him into the hall. Although Jian Shuo was very confused, he tactfully dismissed all his subordinates. After Empress Dowager Dong calmed down, Jian Shuo asked her with a puzzled expression,"I wonder why the Empress Dowager is so flustered? I wonder if Jian Shuo can share the Empress Dowager's burden?”
Empress Dowager Dong didn't answer Jian Shuo's question immediately. Instead, she scanned the surroundings. The shrewd Jian Shuo naturally knew what Empress Dowager Dong was looking at and immediately said,""Empress Dowager, it's alright. There are no outsiders here. I've already sent the servants away."
After receiving Jian Shuo's assurance, Empress Dowager Dong heaved a sigh of relief. She then took out a letter and handed it to Jian Shuo. Jian Shuo took the letter from Empress Dowager Dong's hands and read it carefully. Slowly, his expression turned from one of confusion to one of solemnity.
After reading the letter in his hand, Jian Shuo slowly placed it on the table. He then looked at Empress Dowager Dong and said,""I wonder what Empress Dowager plans to do?" Empress Dowager Dong had been paying attention to Jian Shuo ever since he started reading the letter. Hearing his question, she replied without hesitation,""Of course, this widow will follow my son's will. Marshal Jian, please help.”
Looking at the nervous Empress Dowager Dong, Jian Shuo laughed self-deprecatingly and said,""Empress Dowager, you should know that He Jin's words carry the most weight in the Imperial Court. How can I, Jian Shuo, help the Emperor?”
When Empress Dowager Dong heard Jian Shuo's words, she thought that Jian Shuo was going to decline and immediately said anxiously,""This is my son's will. How can Marshal Jian let my son down?”Jian Shuo shook his head helplessly." The Emperor's life is on the line now, and we have a feud with He Jin. So, even without the Emperor's will, I will still support Liu Xie as the Emperor."”
Empress Dowager Dong was finally relieved when she heard that Jian Shuo would make Liu Xie Emperor. However, she immediately became nervous and said,""Yes, now that Empress He and He Jin are so powerful, what should we do?”
Seeing that Empress Dowager Dong was on the verge of tears, Jian Shuo comforted her,""Empress Dowager, don't panic. After all, we have the Emperor's will, so we are perfectly justified. So the most important thing now is to prevent He Jin and the others from harming us, so we must unite all our forces to protect Prince Liu Xie.”Hearing Jian Shuo's words, Empress Dowager Dong knew that they could only rely on the Spirit Monarch's will.
After settling down Empress Dowager Dong, Jian Shuo immediately ordered the servants to protect Liu Xie. Then, he called for Zhang Rang and the others.
The people in Luoyang would never have thought that there was an undercurrent surging behind this prosperous city.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。