Chapter 91 Liu Hong’s wishful thinking, who will be the general of the Eight Armies of Xiyuan?
Imperial Palace, Xuande Hall.

The current residence of Emperor Liu Hong.

Ever since Liu Hong was cursed by Zhang Jiao's "Longevity of Heaven and Earth", his health has been getting worse day by day.

He used to be obsessed with women every day and night, but now he is a celibate and abstains from sex and alcohol.

But even so, my health is getting worse day by day.

"Your Majesty, great victory in Jizhou!"

Zhang Rang, one of the Ten Eunuchs, walked in quickly from outside the palace, his face full of excitement.

Liu Hong suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes shining brightly: "What happened? Tell me in detail."

Zhang Rang knelt on the ground and said happily, "Five days ago, Zhang Jiao died of illness, and Xindu was in chaos. Ye Feng took this opportunity to attack Xindu. After several days of hard fighting, he killed Zhang Bao from a distance on the city wall."

"The army entered the city, and the soldiers loyal to Zhang Jue set fire to the general's mansion. Now Zhang Jue and Zhang Bao have all turned to ashes."

"Your Majesty is wise and brave. You have quelled such a great chaos in just half a year. You are so wise that you can be compared to the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor. You will definitely go down in history."

Liu Hong's face was full of excitement: "Okay!"

"it is good!"

"I really didn't misjudge Ye Feng."

"Placing the rebels and returning with the offensive can check and balance those aristocratic families and relatives who monopolize the court and act lawlessly."

"Unfortunately"

When Liu Hong said this, a hint of bitterness flashed in his eyes: "I don't have much time left, otherwise I can completely centralize power, so that I won't be constrained in everything I do now."

"Whenever they are dissatisfied, they will spread the word that I am a tyrant."

"Isn't it because of them that I became a tyrant?"

When it came to the intense part, Liu Hong coughed violently and his face turned red.

Zhang Rang hurried forward and patted Liu Hong on the back: "Your Majesty, you will surely be blessed with great fortune and live a long life."

"The doctor said not to get angry, so don't get angry."

Liu Hong nodded and said, "Let Jian Shuo come in. I have something important to discuss."

"Yes!!"

Not long after, Jian Shuo, who was wearing armor and was now the Lieutenant General of the Imperial Guards, knelt on one knee.

Although Jian Shuo was born a eunuch, he had a strong physique. He had practiced martial arts since he was a child, so he was full of toughness. From the outside, he did not look like a eunuch at all.

It was for this reason that Liu Hong handed over the Imperial Guards to him.

"Get up!"

"Zhang Rang, Jian Shuo, you two are my trusted confidants, I will not hide anything from you."

"My life is in danger, but my successor is still hesitant."

"Although the eldest prince Liu Bian is a legitimate son, he is cowardly and incompetent, and does not look like a wise leader. If the world is handed over to him, I am afraid it will fall into the hands of the He family. With Empress He in power and He Jin in charge of the military outside, what authority does the emperor have?"

"Add to that the fact that the aristocratic families are trying to win over the right to speak in the court, and the Han Dynasty can change at any time."

"Although the second prince Liu Xie is young, he is as smart as me. I have been fond of him for a long time, but I have no one to support him."

"I originally thought that if I could live a few more years, I could pave the way for him and help him ascend the throne, but my body will only last half a year at most."

"So I want to ask you, how can Liu Xie succeed to the throne?"

After saying this, Liu Hong lay on the pillow again, coughing violently.

Zhang Rang and Jian Shuo looked at each other, and neither of them spoke rashly.

After a long while, Jian Shuo said, "If your majesty wants to carry out your will after his death, he must have the support of absolute power, that is, military power."

"We need good generals and loyal men who will risk their lives to help the young master ascend the throne."

"As long as the capital is stable, the world will naturally be at peace." Although Zhang Rang and Jian Shuo were both eunuchs and later came to power, they did not get along well.

In the past, he often disagreed with Jian Shuo, but today he rarely did not oppose.

"I second this motion!"

Liu Hong forced a smile on his face: "Although you were both my confidants and right-hand men in the past, you didn't get along with each other. Today, you can put aside your past grudges and work together for me. I am very pleased."

Zhang Rang and Jian Shuo knelt on the ground again and said: "I am loyal to Your Majesty. Heaven and earth can bear witness to this, as can the sun and the moon."

"Your Majesty's wish, we must complete it even if it means risking our lives. How can our personal preferences interfere with national affairs?"

Liu Hong laughed: "Okay!"

"it is good!!"

"I am going to form a new army, with the elite troops from various places who have suppressed the rebels as the main framework, and to appoint a lieutenant general, who will be in charge of the other seven lieutenants."

"Bypass the court's original military framework and obey my command."

Zhang Rang clapped his hands and praised, "Your Majesty, this is a brilliant plan."

"They quietly took over the battle-hardened army that the noble families had worked so hard to build, and also weakened the general's military power."

"As long as we control these eight armies, plus the imperial guards that are guarding the palace, Luoyang City can be controlled."

"The new emperor will surely ascend the throne smoothly and without any obstacles."

Jian Shuo hesitated for a moment: "Although the idea is good, I am afraid that He Jin and the aristocratic families will stop it."

"After all, it is difficult to defy public anger. Your Majesty is not feeling well. How can a conflict break out at this time?"

Liu Hong smiled confidently: "I also had a headache with this problem before, but now it has been solved."

"Good news from Jizhou. Ye Feng conquered Xindu and killed Zhang Bao. In addition, he killed Zhang Liang outside Guangping City. He killed two of the three rebel leaders. The only one who escaped was Zhang Jiao, who died of illness before his time."

"With such merit, how can the court treat him unfairly?"

"I intend to appoint this new army as the captain of the upper army and have them obey my orders directly."

"Let him escort the new emperor."

"What do you two think?"

Zhang Rang had a smile on his face. After all, the gift that Zhang Feng brought back from Jizhou last time made him feel that Ye Feng was one of his own.

Just as he was about to nod in agreement, he suddenly remembered that he had never even met Ye Feng in person so far. How could he trust him so rashly?
Wasn't it because of his recommendation that Jian Shuo caught the emperor's attention?
But after Jian Shuo gained power, wouldn’t he still be his enemy?

A lesson from the past, a teacher of the future.

You can't help it.

Thinking of this, Zhang Rang did not nod in agreement, but instead looked at Jian Shuo.

A hint of bitterness flashed across Jian Shuo's lips, but he still gritted his teeth and nodded: "I second the motion!"

"Although Ye Feng is young, he has been through hundreds of battles and has made outstanding military achievements. No one dares to disobey him when he is appointed as the captain of the upper army."

Liu Hong smiled with satisfaction: "Zhang Rang, what do you think?"

Zhang Rang hesitated, pretending to be embarrassed and said: "Ye Feng is loyal and brave, and he can naturally take on the important task, but in the prosperous city of Luoyang, there are countless temptations. Who knows if he will be seduced by the noble family in the end..."

"After all, that's the nature of youth!"

"General Jian Shuo's loyalty to Your Majesty is unquestionable. It would be better to let General Jian Shuo take the position of the Senior Army Captain."

"As for Ye Feng, let him be the Lieutenant General of the Imperial Guards, replacing General Jian Shuo. In this way, he can be by your Majesty's side, listen to your teachings every day, and also protect your Majesty's safety. Isn't this the best of both worlds?"

There was a look of disbelief in Jian Shuo's eyes, his breathing became a little rapid, and he looked at Zhang Rang in confusion.

Liu Hong was thoughtful and secretly calculating.

After a long while, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes: "This is more appropriate, let's do it this way."

At this moment, Ye Feng didn't know that before he arrived in Luoyang, the undercurrent had already dragged him into the biggest political struggle.
(End of this chapter)