Swift and decisive, from his entrance to his departure, less than five minutes had passed; He Xian had been knocked unconscious and taken away.
His servants and three members of the Yuan family, along with He Xian, were also tied up, their mouths stuffed with smelly socks to silence them, and they were simply escorted away.
This scene left Yuan Shao, who had been watching from afar, completely bewildered. This was utterly unreasonable, relying solely on force!
"Outrageous! Allow me to return and report to my uncle; the Yuan family members must not be bullied!" Yuan Shao was thinking of consulting his uncle, Yuan Kui, for a solution, not personally protecting the Yuan family members he had banished.
To put it bluntly, the Yuan family was vast and powerful, with many collateral branches declining each year, numbering in the thousands, but their fates were generally ignored.
However, opportunities for education were still provided, with selection based on merit; those with ability were given a better life.
Those Yuan family members without ability were left to fend for themselves, some reduced to manual labor at the docks, others to prostitution.
Such behavior hardly befits a wise ruler. A ruler without responsibility, no matter how many talented individuals he has, is useless.
This scene had initially attracted much attention, but Lu Ming's actions undoubtedly ignited the conflict!
The other side's meddling was like flies, but Lu Ming's accusation of rebellion was an act worthy of annihilation!
Even Lady Wuyang was startled, still pondering what to do.
Zhang Yulan, meanwhile, found an excuse to leave and consult with Princess Wannian.
Offending the Grand General might not end well.
Back at his residence, Lu Ming knew time was of the essence; he had to first go to the palace to meet the Emperor and explain the situation.
So he pulled Lady Wuyang aside, gave her some instructions, and then...had sex with her!
Because he was in a hurry, Lu Ming didn't hold back. In just ten minutes, after a whirlwind of attacks, he ejaculated all his semen into Wu Yangjun's cunt.
Wu Yangjun's eyes rolled back in her head. Such intense thrusting almost killed her!
It was pleasurable, truly pleasurable, but her cunt suffered a bit. She'd probably have to be careful when urinating for the next few days, otherwise, the sharp pain would be quite unpleasant!
Just as he reached the door, he saw the eunuch Zhao Zhong approaching in person.
"Lord Zhao, what brings you here?" Lu Ming stepped forward, cupped his hands, and subtly handed over a jade pendant.
Zhao Zhong weighed the jade pendant in his hand, then quickly put it away. "By His Majesty's decree, Commandant Lu is summoned to the palace for an audience."
He then added in a low voice, "Commander Lu, remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion are causing trouble in Hanoi. Grand Master of Ceremonies Liu Yan and the Grand General have both recommended that you go to join the rebellion. His Majesty also intends for you to go. This trip to the palace is not of great importance."
"Thank you, Lord Zhao. I will surely repay you handsomely in the future!" Lu Ming replied with a cupped-hand salute, his expression somewhat serious. He was actually being sent to war?
Several groups of men split into several groups to act. Yuan Shao returned to the Yuan family to seek countermeasures, Zhang Yulan went to persuade Princess Wannian to intercede for Lu Ming, and Lord Wuyang returned to Changqiu Palace to plead with Empress He.
The key lies with Emperor Ling's will, and Empress He's influence is limited. However, He Jin dares not offend her. Firstly, she is the Empress; secondly, even if his eldest son Liu Bian ascends the throne, Empress He will become Empress Dowager, her power increasing rather than declining. Compared to her, He Jin still needs to rely on her.
In the Deyang Palace, Emperor Ling and General He Jin were already present.
Lu Ming arrived and glanced at He Jin, a bearded butcher, as fat as a ball. "Your Majesty, this humble subject greets you."
"Hmm, Anmin, no need for formalities. An urgent report has arrived from Hedong Commandery: Yellow Turban remnants have gathered 100,000 men to attack the commandery city. Prefect Fan Yi has requested reinforcements from the court. Now, both the Grand Master of Ceremonies and the General-in-Chief recommend you. What do you think?" Emperor Ling's words were brief. Hedong was the gateway to Luoyang; the Yellow Turban remnants had already reached his doorstep, forcing him to take the matter seriously.
In reality, while the core areas of the Central Plains were relatively safe, remote regions were constantly attacked by bandits. Once breached, the city was utterly destroyed.
They dared not occupy cities, fearing annihilation by government troops, leaving only utter looting and devastation.
This severely weakened the population. Even if the region was conquered, insufficient manpower would lead to a lack of sustainability, making even production impossible.
The decline of the Han Dynasty was not a sudden event, but a gradual accumulation.
After considering his options, Lu Ming clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the army, but there is something I must report to Your Majesty, otherwise my heart will be uneasy. I do not wish to see those fighting valiantly on the front lines, shedding blood to protect the Han Dynasty, while shameless villains slaughter my family and devour my property."
These words were quite serious, clearly implying that someone was plotting behind the scenes. Who was this person?
Emperor Ling's first suspicion fell on the Yuan family. Only the Yuan family had a deep-seated grudge against Lu Ming, and there was a reason for making an example of them.
"Speak freely, I will stand up for you!" Emperor Ling knew he had to make a show of force; otherwise, if the person he valued was targeted by the Yuan family, then imperial power would wane, and the emperor would become a puppet!
He absolutely would not allow this to happen!
In the past, he had acted recklessly, abandoning all shame for money.
But now, he needed to pave the way for his successor, and all obstacles must be removed!
"For five consecutive days, He Xian, the son of the Grand General, vandalized my shop without cause. These were gifts from His Majesty, and I had no choice but to protect them. However, He Xian repeatedly pressured me, leaving me with no way to retreat. He Xian claimed that Luoyang belonged to his He family and boasted that the He family army was invincible, threatening to kill my entire family. I had no choice but to retaliate, and now He Xian has been captured. I am willing to follow His Majesty's lead, even at the cost of my life! But I cannot tolerate such despicable behavior from such a villain!"
Upon hearing this, He Jin felt a chill run down his spine!
Especially when Emperor Ling looked at him, he could feel a rage that had been suppressed to the extreme!
No one wanted, no, no emperor could allow such a thing to happen.
The He family army!
What immense power!
The Han army, under the control of a private individual—was this still the Han army?
"Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty to raise my son! I am guilty!" He Jin immediately knelt down, admitting his mistake and blaming it on his poor upbringing.
Making a big issue into a small one, and a small one into nothing, was his usual practice.
At the same time, he harbored extreme hatred for Lu Ming, and also felt a certain fear. The other party was truly despicable, aiming to kill without hesitation!