Chapter 46: Zhang Rui is Expelled

  The figure that ran out was indeed Liu Min. It turned out that Liu Min had been worried about Zhang Rui and had been hiding in the side hall to take a peek. Everything had been going smoothly, but unexpectedly, Zhang Rang suddenly intervened, and Liu Min naturally knew Zhang Rang's position in Liu Hong's heart, so she didn't care about anything else and hurriedly ran out to plead for mercy.

  "Father, I beg of you not to arrest Zhang Rui. The prison conditions are harsh and the environment is cruel. If you put Brother Rui in there, he won't be able to hold on for even a few days. This daughter will only marry Brother Rui in this lifetime, if Brother Rui dies, then even if I live for ten thousand years, I will not live alone."

  It's true that girls are outgoing, and even princesses are no exception.

  "Princess, hurry up and get up. How can your precious body be used to beg for mercy for a small child?" Zhang Rang was truly cunning and had planned this carefully. This was the emperor's family affair, and as long as he took the lead, Liu Hong would make the decision.

  "Ten thousand years, quickly get up and return to the palace, how can girls from ordinary families come and go freely in the imperial court?"

  "Father Emperor" "Go quickly, don't you even listen to Father Emperor's words?"

  "Min'er, hurry back to the palace, don't quarrel with the Emperor because of me. Don't worry, I'll be fine." Zhang Rui also didn't want to see Liu Min quarreling with Liu Hong because of himself, it would make him seem too selfish, and he didn't want that.

  "Bring this Rui down and throw him into the heavenly prison to await his fate." Liu Hong gave the order after Liu Min left. Zhang Rang sneered on the side, letting you not know the current affairs, when you enter the heavenly prison, Ben Gong naturally has countless ways to deal with you.

  Huangfu Song watched anxiously from the side, and hastily looked towards He Jin. He Jin pretended not to see Huangfu Song, preparing to start meditating with his eyes closed. Yuan Shao also followed He Jin's footsteps, closing his eyes, and what he was thinking in his heart was unknown, perhaps regretting that such a talented person turned out to be someone who didn't know the times.

  Cao Cao was also hesitant in his heart, wondering whether to speak up for rescue or not. Judging from the situation earlier, even the princess's plea for help didn't work, so would his own words have any effect? If not, it wouldn't be worth risking his own future again, and his family had just managed to get their connections in order, so there must be a position for him among the eight marshals of the Western Garden. Was rescuing Zhang Rui really worth it or not? Although Xun's uncle and nephew were famous, they didn't have any say on this court, so they could only anxiously wait.

  "Your Majesty, I have something to say. Zhang Rui is a loyal and brave man who has made great contributions in the suppression of the Yellow Turbans, and he is indeed a young hero. Besides, Cai Yong was already banished from Luoyang and had no further connection with Your Majesty, why mix these two things together? If Your Majesty imprisons meritorious officials like Zhang Rui, I fear that the soldiers will lose faith." Huangfu Song interceded for Zhang Rui, not wanting to see this young Han dynasty star fall.

  "Huangfu General, are you threatening His Majesty?" Zhang Rang chimed in from the side, fanning the flames.

  Huangfu Song was furious about this, relying on this great victory, the emperor had just agreed to release his good friend Lu Zhi, but unexpectedly Zhang Rang struck again at Zhang Rui. Does Zhang Rang really want to destroy the Great Han dynasty before he is satisfied?

  "Very well, My mind is made up. You all needn't speak further. General Huangfu, rise and withdraw from the court immediately."

  "Your Majesty, I, Cao Cao, humbly request that you retract your order and deal with me leniently." Zhang Liao did not expect Cao Cao to go so far for him, but thinking about how Guan Yu had passed through five passes and killed six generals, yet Cao Cao still let him go, Zhang Liao was thoroughly moved by Cao Cao's actions. In life, it is enough to have one or two close friends, one or two sworn brothers who would risk their lives for you.

  Yuan Shao saw Cao Cao kneel down to plead, and his heart was also somewhat different. Meng De didn't seem like such a confused person, it wasn't worth it for just one Zhang Rui. Unbeknownst to him, the expressions of everyone fell into Zhang Rui's eyes. People like He Jin and Yuan Shao only treated themselves as pawns, if he didn't die this time, then he would definitely be tied to Cao Cao's chariot for a lifetime.

  "We beg Your Majesty to show leniency and pardon..."

  Huangfu Song and Zhu Dan, among others, saw Cao Cao kneel down, and they all knelt down to plead for mercy. He Jin also saw Cao Cao kneel down, thought for a moment, and then followed suit. As soon as He Jin pleaded for Zhang Rui, the situation changed. Behind him, Yuan Shao, and more than half of the officials on the court who were part of He Jin's faction, all knelt down to plead for mercy (He Jin's power should be roughly equal to that of Zhang Rang, and adding Huangfu Song and other royalists who genuinely cared about the Han dynasty, they outnumbered Zhang Rang's people). They were all pleading for mercy for Zhang Rui.

  Liu Hong looked at the crowd kneeling down in the imperial court, as well as those standing by to watch the commotion. He felt inexplicably annoyed in his heart. This was the current state of the imperial court, this was the foundation of the Great Han, chaotic and filled with strife. Of course, Liu Hong couldn't not give He Jin face, after all, as Huangfu Song had just said, Cai Yong had already been expelled from Luoyang, and he wouldn't have any further dealings with him anyway.

  "Alright, alright, all of you get up. Considering that many of you have pleaded for him and Zhang Rui has military achievements to his credit, let's just offset his merits against his faults. I order you to leave Luoyang by tomorrow and never come back. I don't want to see you again. Father, do you think my decision is fair?" The last sentence was actually seeking Zhang Yan's opinion, how great was Zhang Yan's power?

  "The Emperor is wise." Zhang Rang's goal had been achieved, so there was no need to continue fighting with He Jin. Besides, once they left Luoyang City, it would be easy to kill someone. The only person that Zhang Rang couldn't get to was a dead man.

  "Alright alright, I'm so annoyed all day. Nothing to do, let's go and see that interesting cicada you told me about yesterday, Dad."

  Liu Hong walked away, and the court also dispersed. The people of He Jin's faction thought that they were different from their energetic and spirited appearance at the morning court, and now they all looked somewhat depressed after the court session. He Jin walked past Zhang Rui with a cold hum, turned up his sleeve and left, and Yuan Shao also followed closely behind him. Zhang Rui had already been ordered to never be employed again, and he was of no value to them anymore.

  Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun patted Zhang Rui's shoulder and left one after another. Only Cao Cao, Xun Yu and his nephew remained by Zhang Rui's side. The four of them had a drinking party at the Xun residence that noon, during which Cao Cao got extremely drunk, while Xun Yu and his nephew also drank until they fell to the ground. Zhang Rui knew that they were feeling sorry for him because he was not going to be employed again after the age of 20. If scholars were not employed, what was the point of studying? It would be equivalent to being useless.

  Zhang Rui silently packed his luggage, rode his horse alone out of the Xun family house and headed towards the city gate of Luoyang. Unbeknownst to him, Cao Cao, who was heavily drunk, shed a tear at the corner of his eye as soon as Zhang Rui left the Xun family gate. At this moment, Cao Cao realized that in order to protect more people, he needed to have more power. He knelt down and begged General He Jin, with a dream of having many more people under his command.

  Xun Yu and his nephew both opened their eyes, Xun Yu thought that the Han dynasty really needed a man of literary and military strategy to carry out a major reform, otherwise the Han dynasty would perish. He firmly believed that Meng De was that person, and Meng De also had that ability. It's just that without the company of his younger brother, life is not exciting.

  As for what Xun Yu was thinking in his heart? Only ghosts know...