Volume 1: Kyoto Wind and Cloud Chapter 24: Flying Cavalry Arrives in Youzhou, Chaos Ensues

  Luoyang Palace

  Just as Yuan Wei, Yuan Fang and the family heads were discussing whether to ransom with money, Liu Zhang had already arrived at the imperial palace from the governor of Luoyang. Of course, Liu Hong did not let him pay the ransom.

  "Imperial brother, your plan is not bad. Yuan Wei and Yuan Fang have agreed to help Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao with a ransom in gold, but those aristocratic families have not made any statement. I couldn't possibly let them receive corporal punishment for such a small matter!" Liu Hong and Liu Zhang sat together sipping tea while discussing. In fact, Liu Hong had never believed in Liu Zhang's plan, thinking that it was just to vent his anger.

  "Brother, you can rest assured!" Liu Zhang was very confident in his plan, after all, the emperor's words were not to be taken lightly, and he had also pulled in Cao Jie, the real holder of power. Even if the Yuan family did not fear the emperor, they would certainly worry about their own enemies.

  "Right!" Liu Zhang thought of something and said: "Brother Huang wants to separate those aristocratic young masters and lock them up with many ferocious prisoners. I think those aristocrats will definitely send people to visit them in prison, and at that time, the miserable appearance of those people will surely make their elders determined."

  "Good!" Liu Hong called out to a small yellow gate and said: "Go tell Zhou Yi, let those aristocratic young masters suffer a bit more!"

  In this way, the young masters who accompanied Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu and Liu Zhang were humiliated in the prison of the prefect of Luoyang. Later, some people would tremble with fear at the mere mention of the word "prison". Meanwhile, Liu Zhang returned to his mansion after attending a lecture by Cai Yong together with Emperor Ling in the imperial palace.

  The next day, Yuan Wei and Yuan Fang did not mention the matter at the early court session. Liu Hong thought they had given up on those aristocratic sons and was about to send someone to supervise the execution in Luoyang when he received a report from the Grand Minister of Agriculture that Yuan Wei and Yuan Fang not only delivered the ransom for the Yuan brothers but also brought in the ransom for nearly a hundred other aristocratic sons.

  Liu Hong calculated that the money not only covered the disaster relief but also left some surplus. Returning to **, Liu Hong highly praised Liu Zhang. Unfortunately, despite such great merit, Liu Hong couldn't grant Liu Zhang an official title or reward, which made Liu Hong feel very uncomfortable. However, Liu Zhang didn't mind. The more ashamed Liu Hong was of him, the better his future days would be!

  Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, three years have passed. Eight-year-old Liu Zhang is a household name in Luoyang, not only famous for his heroic deeds but also recognized as a child prodigy. The most pitiful ones are Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, who were repeatedly outsmarted by Liu Zhang and eventually received orders from Yuan Wei to avoid him at all costs, lest they fall into his trap again. In the end, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu had no choice but to leave, with one becoming the governor of Bohai and the other returning to his hometown in Runan. The resentful Yuan Wei and Yuan Fang have been constantly plotting to frame Liu Yan and Liu Zhang, determined to drive them out of Luoyang at all costs.

  That day, Liu Zhang was strolling down the street when suddenly the crowd became chaotic. A man resembling a border guard rode a fast horse, parting the crowd while shouting "Urgent report from the border!" Liu Zhang voluntarily gave way to the messenger, who was like a modern police car or ambulance on an emergency mission - if anyone blocked their path and encountered any danger, they would be held responsible unless they were the emperor.

  Liu Zhang let the messenger continue to stroll around, he didn't care about this messenger at all, after all, he was only eight years old, and such national affairs were not within his consideration. But he did not expect that the message brought by this messenger was extremely shocking, it turned out that the Wuhuan people had attacked Youzhou!

  Liu Hong learned that the Wuhuan people invaded Youzhou and immediately convened a meeting with all civil and military officials to discuss countermeasures. However, facing the powerful Wuhuan people, all the officials remained silent! Enraged, Liu Hong pointed at the officials and scolded: "In normal times, you are all loyal to the emperor and devoted to the country, but now that something big has happened, you have all become turtles with their heads shrunk in. What is the use of me feeding this group of rice buckets?"

  "Your Majesty, I am willing to go to Youzhou!" A man walked out of the line of civil officials, with a square face and big ears, looking very majestic.

  "Lü Shangshu's loyalty and righteousness!" This man was originally Lü Zhi, styled Ziguan, the Minister of Works.

  Liu Hong was overjoyed to see that someone was finally willing to go and face the enemy. He was just about to order Lu Zhi to go to Youzhou when Yuan Wei jumped out and said, "Your Majesty, Lu Shangshu's affairs are too complicated, how can he go to Youzhou? Moreover, the position of Governor of Youzhou is a very important one, is it something that Lu Shangshu can undertake?"

  "As Zhao Taiwei said, who can defeat the enemy and win? Liu Hong was somewhat displeased. At a time when they should be making a concerted effort, no one came forward. And now that someone has come forward, with some ability to boot, this old fellow Yuan Wei actually opposes him!"

  "Your Majesty! Youyu is a strategic location on the border, if you send someone to garrison it, they must have high moral character and outstanding abilities, and also need to be of noble birth! Lu Shang has the official position and ability, but his identity is not enough!"

  "Lu Shangshu was a disciple of the great Confucian Ma Rong, a world-renowned scholar who held the position of Minister of Works. Was this status not enough?"

  "Your Majesty! Although the Minister is noble, I think that Youzhou is a crucial border region. The governor not only manages the civil administration of one state but also has military power. It would be best to send a member of the Han imperial family to take this position, which would demonstrate Your Majesty's emphasis!"

  "This..." Liu Hong hesitated, after all, among the Han imperial relatives, there were not many capable people.

  "Your Majesty, I think it's possible!" Cao Jie surprisingly stood up to speak for Yuan Wei, which made Liu Hong extremely surprised. To know that in the past few years, Cao Jie had been gradually returning power to Liu Hong, and even the task of attending to Liu Hong was slowly taken over by newly promoted attendants Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong. Of course, Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong had been serving Liu Hong since he entered the palace, but their official positions were relatively lowly at that time.

  "Cao Qing thought it should be so, but among the many relatives of the Han imperial family, how many can undertake this great responsibility?"

  "Zongzheng Liu Yan's ability is outstanding, and he has been diligent in his post as the governor of Nanyang. Although he holds a high position as one of the nine ministers, at this critical moment for the country, as a member of the imperial family, he should share the emperor's worries!"

  "Liu Hong looked at Yuan Wei's wrinkled old face and really wanted to slap him! Over the past three years, he and Liu Yan had become inseparable, but this old thing, Yuan Wei, always wanted to deal with Liu Yan. Now that he had finally found an opportunity, Liu Hong was in a difficult position."

  "Your Majesty! I, your old minister, think that General Yuan's words are reasonable!" Cao Jie said: "I believe that if the Grand Minister Liu is willing to go to Youzhou, he will certainly be able to quell the rebellion in Youzhou!"

  "Hmm? Let me consider, withdraw for now!" Liu Hong really didn't understand why Cao Jie and Yuan Wei, who were sworn enemies, would both want to expel Liu Yan from the capital today!

  After the crowd left, Emperor Liu looked at Cao Jie and said: "Cao Qing, the imperial uncle is my arm, you are not unaware of this, why did you join Yuan Yi to squeeze out the imperial uncle?"

  "Your Majesty is mistaken!" Cao Jie smiled and said: "Now that Your Majesty has gradually taken control of Luoyang, but what about the local areas? Among the thirteen state governors of the Great Han Dynasty, how many are Your Majesty's people? Although the position of Zongzheng is prestigious, what help can it be to Your Majesty? Why not let the Emperor's uncle go to Youzhou! Your Majesty should know that the people of Youzhou are fierce and warlike, and there are plenty of war horses. If you can let the Emperor's uncle train a fine army, Your Majesty will have nothing to worry about!"

  "Liu Hong hesitated: "I don't know if the Emperor is willing!"

  "Don't worry!" Cao Jie smiled and said: "Although the position of Governor is not as prominent as the nine ministers, it is a real job. If Your Majesty lets the eldest son and second son of the Emperor's uncle take office again, I think the Emperor's uncle should have no opinion."

  "Zhang Qing, go and summon the Emperor's uncle into the palace. I want to ask him about his intentions."

  "Yes, Your Majesty!"

  After a while, Liu Yan heard that the emperor had summoned him and hastily came. At court, he listened to Yuan Wei recommend him as Governor of Youzhou and felt somewhat uneasy. However, as the person in question, it was not good for him to come out and refuse, now that the emperor had summoned him, probably a decision had been made.

  "See Your Majesty!" Liu Yan didn't come alone, he also brought Liu Zhang with him.

  "His Imperial Uncle dispenses with the formalities! Please take a seat!" Liu Hong called out to Liu Yan, then had Liu Zhang sit down beside him.

  "Imperial Uncle! Now that Youzhou is in great chaos, Yuan Wei has recommended you. What are your thoughts on this?"

  "What is Your Majesty's intention? I humbly obey the sacred decree!" Liu Yan was not foolish either, the Emperor must have had a change of heart, otherwise he wouldn't have called him to ask.

  "Imperial Uncle! Yuan Yi is right, but I am reluctant to part with you, and it's a dilemma for me!"

  "Your Majesty, I am willing to go to Youzhou!" Liu Yan understood the emperor's meaning and nodded: "As a member of the Han imperial family, it is only right that I should serve the court. Since Youzhou is in great chaos and cannot be guarded by just one person from the imperial family, I naturally must go!"

  "Very well!" Liu Hong stood up and said: "Cao Qing, order the drafting of an edict to appoint Liu Yan as Governor of Youzhou, his son Liu Fan as Colonel, Liu Dan as Gentleman-in-Attendance, Liu Mao as Imperial Messenger, and Liu Zhang as General of the Feathered Forest Guard!

  "Your Majesty, my brother wants to follow our father to Youzhou!" Liu Zhang didn't want to stay in Luoyang anymore. Now that Yuan Shu and his brothers had left, the only one remaining in Luoyang was the old fox of the Yuan family. Those aristocratic young men knew that Liu Zhang was deeply favored by the Emperor, so they avoided him whenever they saw him. Moreover, Cai Yong, due to his connections with the eunuchs, although he held the position of Grand Tutor, had also taken on the concurrent post of Director of the Eastern Observatory, responsible for editing books. As a result, Liu Zhang's days of attending classes were few and far between, making his stay in Luoyang extremely dull.

  "Imperial brother! The customs of Youzhou are so bold and fierce, your father is a grown man, it doesn't matter if he goes, but you are still young, why not stay in Luoyang?"

  "Imperial brother, I once said that I want to be the Huo Qubing of this dynasty. If Emperor Wu of Han had kept Huo Qubing cooped up in the palace every day, could he have achieved such immortal merits? Liu Zhang smiled and said: "Although I am only eight years old this year, I am willing to go to the border to guard a place for the great Han, and I also want to go to the army to hone my skills. Huo Qubing was 19 years old when he helped Emperor Wu drive out the Xiongnu, but I, Liu Zhang, want to surpass him! Reading ten thousand volumes of books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles, so please, imperial brother, help me achieve this."

  "Liu...". Liu Hong hesitated again, he really didn't want to let Liu Zhang go to Youzhou, but Liu Zhang had already made up his mind and he couldn't reasonably refute him. Liu Hong thought for a moment, then suddenly sighed and said: "Go! Go bid farewell to the Empress!"

  "Yes!" Liu Zhang led the order and left.

  The current queen is already He Lingyi, the original Empress Song died unfortunately two years ago due to palace struggles and poor health. However, He Lingyi was appointed as empress by Emperor Liu Hong after giving birth to a son named Bian. Although she had a son, He Lingyi's favor towards Liu Zhang did not change. When she heard that Liu Zhang was going to Youzhou, Empress He showed a reluctant face but did not stop him because she knew that a good man's ambition lies in the four directions!