The climate of the Eastern Han Dynasty was quite pleasant. Although Luoyang was located in the north, it was still warm. The sun shone down, warm and comforting, making it a very agreeable day.
The streets of Luoyang were bustling with activity. Except for the central imperial road, which no one dared to walk on, the side streets were packed with people. Oxcarts carrying goods, carriages of officials, shops lining the streets, and street vendors all showcased the prosperity of the Han Dynasty's capital.
With the new emperor ascending the throne and issuing a general amnesty, the shops had decorated themselves festively. Although there had been some chaos in the city not long ago, the people of Luoyang had recovered quickly, and now there was no trace of it left.
Fei Qian and Uncle Fu had just left the residence of Fei Min, the head of the Fei family, and were preparing to return home. As a reserve official, Fei Qian had no ceremonial entourage and could only travel on foot.
Although the transaction with Fei Min was complete and Fei Qian had achieved his goal, he still felt uneasy. The feeling of being manipulated was terrible.
He was still too insignificant.
He had no reputation.
No connections.
No foundation.
"Mount Mang..." Fei Qian muttered under his breath. "Perhaps I should take a risk and try to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat? By the way, Uncle Fu, let's take a detour and check out the Jiaomao Gate."
Uncle Fu, who was still upset about the family's books being "temporarily stored" by the main family, hadn't heard Fei Qian's words clearly and almost bumped into him. "Ah? What did you say, Young Master? Jiaomao Gate? That's where the residences of the Grand General and the Three Excellencies are. Why are we going there?"
Since Liu Xiu established Luoyang as the capital, successive emperors had continuously expanded and renovated the city, turning it into a massive metropolis. The Eastern Han Luoyang was known as the "Nine-Six City," measuring six li and eleven steps from east to west and nine li and one hundred steps from north to south. It was vast and densely populated, with twelve city gates—four on the southern wall, two on the northern wall, and three each on the eastern and western walls. The aristocratic families mostly lived in the Buguangli and Yongheli neighborhoods near the Shangdong Gate, as these areas were both convenient and close to the imperial palace.
To the north of the Jiaomao Gate in the southeast, a special area had been designated for the residences of the Grand General, the Grand Commandant, the Minister of Works, and the Minister Over the Masses, highlighting their prestigious status.
Fei Qian had just left the Yongheli neighborhood, where the Fei family head resided, and was originally heading back to his home on Yongmen Street. But now he wanted to make a detour to the southeast to take a look at the Grand General's residence.
In Fei Qian's memory, He Jin, the Grand General, was lured into the palace by the eunuchs and killed, leading to a series of events. To time his actions correctly, Fei Qian needed to understand He Jin's current situation.
Fortunately, the Han Dynasty didn't have the extreme hierarchical restrictions of later dynasties. As long as commoners didn't cause trouble or linger within three hundred steps of a noble's residence, no one would bother them. So, observing from a distance wasn't a problem.
Before Dong Zhuo went mad and destroyed it, Luoyang was arguably the second-largest city in the world, if not the largest. It was densely populated, with thriving commerce and a flourishing culture. At the same time, the Xiongnu and other nomadic tribes were still herding sheep, and the Romans in Europe were marveling at cobblestone roads.
The prosperity of Luoyang was partly due to a policy implemented by Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang. To deal with local powerful families, Liu Bang would periodically have local governors report on troublesome local magnates and then "invite" them to move to the capital. These local elites, half delighted and half reluctant, would come to Luoyang, contributing to its prosperity. Over successive dynasties, Luoyang had accumulated wealth from across the empire.
And now, this magnificent city, unparalleled in the world, was about to be destroyed by a mere soldier...
Does practicing martial arts too much make muscles grow in the brain?
Fei Qian couldn't help but think maliciously as he walked. In the past, Xiang Yu, with his immense strength, had burned down the Epang Palace in a fit of madness. Now, Dong Zhuo, whose brain was about to be flooded with muscle, was going to burn down Luoyang...
And among the top ten martial artists of the Three Kingdoms, it seemed many had their brains crowded out by muscles—Lü Bu, with his elite Bingzhou cavalry, along with Chen Gong, Zhang Liao, and Gao Shun's elite infantry, had all the makings of an unstoppable force. Yet, he managed to get himself killed at the White Gate Tower...
Then there was Guan Yu. Not to disparage the martial saint, but what exactly did he learn from reading the *Spring and Autumn Annals* every day? Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty had praised the *Spring and Autumn Annals* highly: "The *Spring and Autumn Annals* elucidates the ways of the ancient kings, distinguishes human affairs, clarifies right and wrong, resolves doubts, praises the good, condemns the evil, honors the virtuous, and disdains the unworthy. It preserves fallen states, continues extinct lineages, and revives what has been lost. It is the essence of the kingly way." Such a profound book, and Guan Yu read it for decades—what did he learn? He still ended up losing Jing Province due to carelessness, or rather, arrogance. If Liu Bei hadn't been limited by the resources of Yi Province, the final outcome of the Three Kingdoms might have been different...
Zhao Yun was an exception—though historically, he spent most of his time on military campaigns, rarely holding independent command. Apart from briefly governing Jiangzhou, he never held a significant regional post, not even as much as Wei Yan, who was left to defend Hanzhong for years. Why was Zhao Yun only given command of Jiangzhou during the brief honeymoon period between Shu and Wu? Wasn't he loyal enough? Did his seven charges through Changban Slope, saving Liu Shan, not prove his loyalty?
The Three Kingdoms are full of mysteries...
And then there's Grand General He Jin. Why did he, as if his brain had short-circuited, decide to bring in Dong Zhuo? His sister was the empress dowager, his nephew was the emperor, and he had just eliminated his biggest rival, Jian Shuo. Logically, he should have been enjoying the fruits of his victory for a while. Why did he suddenly decide to bring in a liability like Dong Zhuo?
Standing far from the Grand General's residence, Fei Qian watched the eunuchs kneeling outside, weeping and begging for an audience with He Jin. He couldn't quite understand it.
Since Jian Shuo's death, the eunuchs had been flocking to the Grand General's residence to kowtow, confess their wrongdoings, and pledge their loyalty. It had become a common sight in Luoyang. Every day, large groups of eunuchs would come to the Grand General's residence, tearfully repenting their past misdeeds and begging for a chance to prove their loyalty.
Of course, He Jin had no interest in seeing them. As far as he was concerned, they had all sided with Jian Shuo when he was alive. Now that Jian Shuo was dead, what use were they? They could go wherever they pleased!
But the eunuchs were undeterred. If He Jin wouldn't see them today, they would come back tomorrow. They made it a daily routine to stop by the Grand General's residence before work to express their loyalty...
Fei Qian chuckled softly. "The Grand General's residence is quite lively... So many people..."
Uncle Fu, standing beside him, said, "Young Master, every time I go to the market, people talk about this as if it's a spectacle. They say the Grand General's residence has been like this for a while now. Today is actually less crowded. At its peak, the entire front was filled with kneeling eunuchs, and their carriages lined the streets!"
Fei Qian's mind stirred at this. The decrease in the number of eunuchs wasn't a good sign. He carefully observed the carriages and entourages of the eunuchs and noticed that only minor officials and low-ranking eunuchs were present. None of the high-ranking eunuchs, like the Regular Attendants, were in sight.
Fei Qian turned to Uncle Fu and asked, "So, did the Regular Attendants used to come to the Grand General's residence?"
"I heard they did. They came often before. Besides, without the Regular Attendants leading the way, these minor eunuchs wouldn't dare come," Uncle Fu said, gesturing to the group of kneeling eunuchs.
"They used to come often... but now they've stopped..." Fei Qian pondered. "Uncle Fu, could you go ask the shops across the street how long it's been since the Regular Attendants last came to the Grand General's residence?"
Although Uncle Fu didn't understand why, he complied. After a while, he returned and said, "Young Master, I asked a few shops. They didn't pay much attention, but they said it's been about three to five days since they last saw the Regular Attendants' entourage."
"I see!" Fei Qian said. "Uncle Fu, let's hurry home. Also, send a message to the Cui family. Tell them I'll visit their estate tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
Fei Qian nodded. "Tomorrow." If he waited any longer, he might miss his chance!
The high-ranking eunuchs hadn't shown up for several days. What were they up to? They certainly weren't busy with state affairs. Fei Qian didn't need to think hard—they were undoubtedly plotting how to kill He Jin!
It had been three to five days. They were probably ready. These eunuchs were ruthless—they had even castrated themselves. When it came to cruelty, they were second to none!
He Jin's days were numbered. But once he died, the imperial guards would riot, plunging the palace into chaos. The Regular Attendants would be dragged down with him, and the two emperors would flee to Mount Mang in the dead of night.
It was time to make a move!
To establish himself in the Three Kingdoms, Fei Qian needed some capital.
He thought to himself, no wonder the primitive accumulation of capital is always bloody. Grand General He Jin, I can't save you, nor do I have the qualifications to do so. In that case, I'll use your blood to pave my path through this chaotic era!
Even a small clerk has his own wisdom.
Liu Xie and Liu Bian were like the chairmen of a company in Fei Qian's past life. As a small clerk, it wasn't easy to meet the chairman, and even if you did, you wouldn't leave much of an impression. But if one day the chairman, dressed in plain clothes, visited a subsidiary and accidentally slipped on a watermelon peel, the first clerk to help him up would undoubtedly leave a lasting impression and be poised for a promotion.