Chapter 183: Death of He Jin, Opening

August 16th.

All the eunuchs and palace attendants went to He Jin to plead guilty and wait for He Jin's decision on how to deal with them.

He Jin said to them, "The whole world is in turmoil, and it is you who are causing the trouble! Now Dong Zhuo will be here soon, why don't you return to your hometowns as soon as possible?"

The eunuchs and the eunuchs agreed on the surface, but in their hearts they had already cursed He Jin's ancestors for eighteen generations.

The younger generations in their family still rely on their power to do evil in the local area.

If I really go back to my hometown, I'm afraid I'll be torn to pieces by the nobles immediately.

The gentry in the capital were not that powerful yet, but the local gentry were terrifyingly powerful.

The eunuchs were very clear about this self-awareness.

Seeing that they could not gain any advantage over He Jin, the eunuchs returned to the palace to think of a solution, but they could not reach a consensus and the situation became deadlocked.

When Yuan Shao heard about this, he immediately went to the general's residence to ask for a meeting.

"General, you should take this opportunity to execute them and prevent future troubles!"

Hearing this, He Jin was very dissatisfied: "We have achieved our goal. Eunuchs no longer have power!"

"I have already announced to all the states and counties to select knowledgeable people to come to the capital to serve as the eunuchs and eunuchs. What else do you want?"

"Does it mean that we must kill them all to satisfy your wishes?"

At this time, He Jin recalled what Zhang Rang said to him yesterday and couldn't help feeling annoyed.

"Alright! That's the end of this matter!"

"If you have nothing else to do, go and manage Sili well and make sure there is no trouble near the capital."

After leaving the general's mansion, Yuan Shao believed that these eunuchs would always be a nuisance, like a time bomb that could explode at any time.

Yuan Mansion.

Yuan Shao thought about it and felt something was not right, so he recruited He Yong, Xu You and a few others, including Cao Cao.

Although Cao Cao was suspected of sabotaging last time, Yuan Shao thought that he should treat others generously.

If he doesn't even have this much tolerance, then what's the difference between him and Yuan Shu.

"Everyone, the general is unwilling to kill the eunuchs, what can we do?"

Faced with Yuan Shao's question, everyone fell into deep thought.

Cao Cao did not perfunctorily think about it seriously. Although Yuan Shao had accomplished the task last time, the hidden dangers still existed.

Cao Cao had dealt with Dong Zhuo before, and he knew that this man's ambition was beyond the reach of these aristocratic families.

Once Dong Zhuo entered the capital, no matter which side won among the relatives of the emperor, eunuchs and the gentry, they would have to face a problem in the end.

How to get rid of Dong Zhuo and his group of hyenas.

However, there are more important things to do right now.

The extermination of eunuchs is a big deal, and if Cao Cao could participate in it, the benefits would be huge.

At least among the gentry, the Cao family's reputation can be reversed and will no longer be like it is now, neither up nor down.

Among these people, Xu You was the quickest thinker and had received many benefits from Dong Zhuo, so he said, "Benchu, why don't you wait a few days?"

"By then, Bingzhou Governor Dong Zhuo should also arrive in the capital. We can use his troops to force the general to make a decision."

He Yong frowned. What was the difference between this behavior and treason?

Cao Cao saw through it at a glance, but did not say anything.

After hearing Xu You's plan, Yuan Shao pondered and said, "It's a mature plan."

"But waiting is not my character!"

"Did you teach me during this time?"

Xu You was well aware of the principle that a tree stands out in the forest, so after offering a strategy, he never spoke again.

He Yong is an upright person and can't think of any good solution.

Seeing this, Cao Cao bowed and said, "Report to the Inspector General of the Imperial Guards, I have a solution that is not a solution."

"Haha, Aman." Yuan Shao laughed and patted Cao Cao on the shoulder and said, "We are friends, why should we be so polite?"

Cao Cao immediately put on a smiling face and said, "Benchu, then I will show you my ugliness!"

Cao Cao’s strategy was very simple. Yuan Shao was the Inspector of the Imperial Guards who was promoted by He Jin.

People in the Luoyang circle naturally knew that He Jin no longer supported Yuan Shao, but the local information was isolated, so how could they know this?

It's hard to say. In some places, people just knew that Yuan Shao was appointed as the Inspector of the Imperial Capital by He Jin.

Cao Cao suggested that they take this opportunity to write letters to all counties and prefectures, falsely conveying He Jin's intention and arresting the eunuchs' relatives.

In this way, just like Ding Yuan burning Mengjin, the eunuchs' roots in the local area were uprooted.

The desperate eunuch group will definitely break off relations with He Jin.

By then, He Jin would have no choice but to kill the eunuchs.

"You are still insidious!" Yuan Shao pointed at Cao Cao and said, "Sure enough, the people who understand eunuchs best are those inside the eunuchs!"

Then, Yuan Shao realized that he had said the wrong thing, but he was not prepared to apologize to Cao Cao as the last incident was not over.

Cao Cao was such a sensitive person that he didn't even bother to pretend. He just kept a sullen face and said nothing.

The meeting ended in a bad mood.

Yuan Shao followed Cao Cao's strategy and began to write a letter.

Cao Cao left in a depressed mood.

Seeing this, Xu You smiled disdainfully.

Seeing this, He Yong quickly caught up with Cao Cao.

"Meng De, please stay."

Because of the unpleasant experience with Chen Lin last time, Cao Cao also had some resentment in his heart, but he still put on a smiling face when facing He Yong.

"What do you want from me, Boqiu?"

He Yong looked back, then pulled Cao Cao along and said, "Don't blame Benchu. You grew up with him and know his character best."

"Now that we are all on the same front, I hope you can put aside your personal grudges for the sake of justice." Cao Cao said innocently, "Bo Qiu misunderstood. I am fine."

"For the prosperity of the Han Dynasty, I, Cao Cao, am willing to devote my whole life!"

He Yong showed respect and bowed to Cao Gong, saying, "The Han Dynasty needs loyal ministers like you!"

Cao Cao smiled happily, as if all the previous unhappiness had disappeared.

"Bo Qiu, I heard that you once dealt with the governor of Yangzhou."

Cao Cao asked curiously, "What kind of person is he?"

He Yong asked curiously, "Why are you suddenly interested in Yangzhou Mu?"

Cao Cao bowed and said, "There are five governors in the world today. Two of them are idlers, two are highly respected, and one is a hero from the grassroots."

Those who were just sitting there doing nothing were Dong Zhuo, the governor of Bingzhou, and Liu Yan, the governor of Yizhou. Those who were highly respected and virtuous were Liu Yu, the governor of Youzhou, and Huang Wan, the governor of Yuzhou. The last one was naturally Jin Mao.

Liu Yu and Huang Wan suppressed the rebellion in the state solely by relying on their personal reputations, and Huang Wan was praised for his best political achievements among the thirteen states.

Liu Yu was even more powerful. After arriving in Youzhou last year and taking only a few measures, Qiuliju and others sent envoys to negotiate for submission, causing Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju to flee to Mobei and eventually be killed.

The only person Cao Cao didn't understand was Jin Mao, so he was very curious.

He Yong commented: "The governor of Yangzhou is a natural king, quite similar to Emperor Gao."

Cao Cao was shocked: "Bo Qiu, your evaluation is too much, isn't it?"

"How could there be such a person in the world?"

He Yong did not explain, but smiled and said, "It's just a joke. I only met him once, so I don't know him well, so it doesn't count."

With this interruption, Cao Cao forgot his previous thoughts, said goodbye to He Yong and went home.

August 20th.

Zhang Rang's hometown was near Luoyang. He soon learned of his family's situation and summoned all the eunuchs to discuss countermeasures.

"Everyone, the disaster of extermination is right in front of us!"

Zhang Rang said sternly, "My family has already been in trouble, and your families will soon be in trouble too. If you don't make a decision, we will all die!"

All the eunuchs were frightened and panicked.

Zhang Rang shouted loudly, attracting everyone's attention.

"My daughter-in-law is the Queen Mother's sister. If you want to survive, you must obey me from now on!"

All the eunuchs nodded in agreement. With the help of Empress Dowager He's sister, they would be able to establish a relationship with Empress Dowager He, and there should be no problem in saving their lives.

Zhang Rang's daughter-in-law happened to be back in the palace to visit her relatives and thus avoided the disaster.

When Zhang Rang found her, he kowtowed and said, "I have sinned, and I should marry my new wife.

I have received your kindness for many generations, but now I have to leave the palace. I am reluctant to leave. Please come to the palace once more, so that you can temporarily see the Queen Mother and the Emperor, and then go back. I will die without regrets."

Zhang Rang's daughter-in-law was moved and went to tell Lord Wuyang.

Lord Wuyang told Empress Dowager He about this.

During this period, Empress Dowager He was already living a very unhappy life without the eunuchs' care. Upon hearing this request, she immediately ordered all the eunuchs to return to the palace without saying a word.

August twenty-fifth.

Yuan Shao came to He Jin with news of victory from the surrounding counties.

"General, all the relatives of the eunuchs have been executed!"

"Now is the best time to eradicate the eunuch thief!"

He Jin was both anxious and angry. He didn't expect that what Zhang Rang said at the beginning would actually come true.

"What do you take me for?"

He Jin was extremely angry: "Are all the people in the world just pawns being manipulated by you?"

"Even me!"

Yuan Shao was "terrified" and asked, "Why do you say that, General?"

"I have been working hard for you, so that you can achieve achievements comparable to those of Dou and Huo."

"I didn't expect you to think of me this way."

He Jin was easy to fool, so he couldn't help but hesitate and asked, "Is what you said true?"

"Then why did you fake my order?"

Yuan Shao "felt very wronged" and asked, "Isn't this what you suggested I do?"

He Jin looked thoughtful, trying to recall whether he had really given any hint.

Yuan Shao did not dare to let He Jin truly recall the past, so he urged him, “General, please come to the palace as soon as possible.”

"If the eunuchs get wind of this, they will surely strike back before they die."

"I am willing to escort the general to the North Palace."

He Jin was led into Yuan Shao's thinking, so he waved his hand and said, "No need, I have more than 50,000 elite infantry and cavalry under my command. Even if they have ten guts, they wouldn't dare to kill me!"

So He Jin walked into Changle Palace in a brazen manner and asked Empress Dowager He for permission to kill all the eunuchs and below, and select three officials to enter the palace to guard the eunuchs' residence.

Zhang Rang sent people to eavesdrop and heard everything He Jin said. He then led dozens of people including the attendants Duan Gui and Bi Lan, quietly entered through the side door with weapons, and ambushed the palace.

When He Jin came out of Changle Palace, he pretended that the empress dowager had summoned him.

He Jin had no suspicion and returned to the palace.

When He Jin entered the ambush, Zhang Rang jumped out and asked He Jin: "The chaos in the world is not only the fault of our generation.

The late emperor once had a feud with the empress dowager and nearly deposed her. We cried for her help and each of us took out millions of our family wealth as gifts to please the late emperor. We only wanted to rely on your, the He family’s, family.

Now they are actually trying to exterminate our race, isn't that too much? You said the palace is filthy and dirty, who are the loyal and honest people below the ministers?"

"Wait!" He Jin shouted, "There must be a misunderstanding!"

Zhang Rang said sternly, "He wants to delay time and wait for reinforcements. Don't hesitate!"

Then, Shangfang Supervisor Qu Mu drew his sword and beheaded He Jin in front of Jiade Hall.

Before he died, scenes from his life flashed through his mind like slides, and He Jin suddenly realized, "It turns out that I am just a chess piece."

(End of this chapter)