“General, this is not advisable!” Yuan Shao had barely finished speaking when Chen Lin stood up.

“In the Book of Changes, it is said, ‘When the deer has no cover, traps are set.’ There’s also a saying about ‘covering one’s eyes to catch a sparrow.’ We must not deceive ourselves or others just because we think we’ve succeeded in hunting. How much more so when it comes to matters of state?” Chen Lin bowed respectfully to Yuan Shao, indicating no disrespect, and continued..

“I understand the urgent situation facing the Grand Marshal. Under pressure from above, he may feel compelled to act. But to station troops in Hedong under false pretenses to manipulate the situation will inevitably lead to future troubles. It’s self-deception!”

“Gathering strong forces near the capital to exert pressure will only elevate the strong and potentially arm those who might turn against us. Whether success can be achieved remains uncertain, but disorder will surely follow. I urge the Grand Marshal to reconsider.”

He Jin couldn’t help but hesitate upon hearing Chen Lin’s words.

He glanced at Yuan Shao, who appeared calm and unaffected by Chen Lin’s challenge.

“Ben Chu(Yuan Shao’s nickname), speak your mind,”

Yuan Shao replied. “I understand Kong Zhang’s concerns. Bringing external forces near the imperial capital would undermine the Emperor’s authority. If mishandled, it could lead to greater backlash. Moreover, if Dong Zhuo harbors any disloyalty, it could spell disaster.”

Did Yuan Shao not know Dong Zhuo’s capabilities?

Of course he did.

Even Liu Hong, despite his illness, recognized Dong Zhuo’s rise from Xiliang and his association with powerful figures, foreseeing him as a potential threat.

“This man not only commands the support of numerous generals from Xiliang with formidable military might, but he also demonstrated calmness and strategic brilliance when he was besieged after pursuing Han Sui and others alone. Surely, he surrounds himself with skilled strategists.”

“Such a figure, given the opportunity to officially deploy troops to Hedong, could spell disaster.”

“But Dong Zhuo also has glaring weaknesses.”

“In an era where personal integrity carries immense weight, Yuan Shao believes Dong Zhuo won’t have the opportunity to overstep his bounds.”

“For this reason, Yuan Shao continued, ‘Since Uncle Ying is here, I may offend some with my words.

Although Dong Zhuo was recently appointed General of the Front due to his efforts in pacifying Xiliang, his roots lie in Lin Tao, lacking a solid foundation in the Central Plains.

Even if he amasses troops in Hedong, advancing further would be extremely difficult.

Moreover, the General’s authority and the defense of the city are already well-prepared.

All these measures aren’t groundless, as Kong Zhang suggests.'”

“Of course, Yuan Shao wouldn’t mention that Dong Zhuo had been promoted with some support from the Yuan family.”

“While not a complete endorsement that would align Dong Zhuo fully with Yuan’s former officials, in today’s reputation-conscious environment.”

“Furthermore, with his assistance, we should be grateful to the Yuan family no matter what.”

Having said this, Yuan Shao glanced at Dong Min.

Dong Min had been resentful towards the noble families for their selection of candidates for the Western Armies Eight Division and the General of the Expeditionary Force to Liaodong.

If Liu Hong hadn’t kept his drunken talk from spreading, he would have already clashed with Yuan Shao.

Yet, he also hadn’t forgotten how he had been targeted and eliminated behind the scenes, harboring some resentment towards Yuan Shao and other aristocrats.

However, he was quick-witted at this moment, realizing that this was likely the opportunity his elder brother had mentioned earlier.

He hurriedly added from the side, “General, rest assured. My elder brother has always respected you. His reluctance to serve as Minister of Finance and Governor of Qingzhou was indeed because of his longstanding friendship with the powerful figures of Liangzhou since youth, and his reluctance to leave. If you give the order, my brother will surely comply.”

Dong Min’s words were almost as if he were making a solemn oath.

To be honest, He Jin found this gesture somewhat endearing.

He wasn’t sure if this feeling of familiarity stemmed from their similar humble backgrounds or from Dong Min not seeming particularly clever.

He Jin was so moved by Dong Min’s words, especially when he said, ‘If the General gives the order, my brother will obey,’ that he felt he was hearing the words of a righteous hero, with some credibility to them.

But before he could respond to Dong Min, another person spoke up among those present.

“I still believe this is unwise.”

He Jin turned towards the voice and saw that it was Zheng Tai.

Zheng Tai, known as Zheng Gongye, had achieved honors in filial piety, but refused official appointments.

Instead, he had many connections with heroes and used his own 400 acres of land to support righteous causes, gaining fame in his hometown.

Upon gaining power as Grand Marshal, He Jin had heard of Zheng Tai’s reputation and brought him into his circle, appointing him as a Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.

Unlike those who maintained appearances in front of Dong Min, Zheng Tai was known for his hot temper, having been involved in plotting with He Yong and others to assassinate Dong Zhuo in the future.

He Jin asked, “Gongye, what are your thoughts?”

Zheng Tai, unlike Yuan Shao and others who maintained their image in front of Dong Min, was known for his hot temper and had been involved

“What reasons would convince him to retreat? Besides, learning from past mistakes, we should be cautious in handling this matter.”

Dong Min instinctively wanted to argue with Zheng Tai right then and there.

But Zheng Tai, who was only in his forties and had a bold and martial appearance, looked calm and confident, making Dong Min worry that arguing with him might lead to being outwitted.

He could only turn hopeful eyes towards He Jin, subtly implying that even in Liangzhou, there were honest men who couldn’t be argued with.

“…” He Jin glanced again at Yuan Shao, who had suggested this plan.

After a moment of thought, Yuan Shao responded, “I dare not judge others’ character lightly. However, there is a method that could prevent General Dong Zhuo from causing trouble by stationing troops in Hedong.”

He Jin’s eyes brightened. “Ben Chu, please continue.”

“General, apart from summoning the former general to Hedong, we can have Bao Ji North (Bao Xin) and Ding Jianyang (Ding Yuan) raise troops on the eastern side to respond. Strictly command Dong Zhuo not to bring more than three thousand soldiers. This precaution will allow us to control the situation and apprehend him if necessary. What do you think?”

Yuan Shao referred to Bao Xin, who was currently serving as the magistrate of Ji Province, stationed outside the capital, and Ding Yuan, who held the position of Chief Commandant, currently in the capital.

According to Yuan Shao’s plan, one would recruit troops near the capital, while the other would recruit from the direction of Yanzhou.

Dong Zhuo’s deployment in Hedong, northwest of Luoyang, would thus be flanked from east and west, putting him in a vulnerable position.

Limiting the number of troops Dong Zhuo could bring would naturally reduce the potential for trouble.

He Jin was evidently quite interested in this idea.

If they acted according to this plan, Dong Zhuo’s influence might not be as great, and it might even reduce the chances of the troubles spoken of by Chen Lin and Zheng Tai.

Seeing that Zheng Tai had more to say, He Jin quickly raised his hand to indicate that he needn’t speak further for now.

But at this moment, He Yong also stood up.

He Yong had previously chaired discussions at the Three Excellencies’ offices and had offered many useful suggestions on He Jin’s past actions over the years.

Seeing him stand up, although He Jin couldn’t help but sigh inwardly at the twists and turns of these suggestions, he still gestured for He Yong to share his thoughts first.

“I have no objections to Prime Minister’s suggestion,” He Yong said, “but if General wants Dong Zhuo to advance to Hedong, you must pay attention to one person. If His Majesty hears the news and orders another person to march from the north and General Huangfu to move eastward, the pressure on Dong Zhuo could be relieved instantly.”

March from the north?

He Jin immediately understood whom He Yong was referring to.

“Are you talking about Qiao…

“Yeshu?”

“Yes,” replied Heyong.

Because of the previous selection matches at the Western Army among the Eight Division, and because Qiao Yan had informed Heyong through Guo Jia ahead of time, she had ended up as the ultimate winner, leaving Heyong somewhat wary of her.

The political acumen of this Governor of Bingzhou Province couldn’t be measured by ordinary standards of youth.

Last spring, her successful campaign against the Xianbei and her triumphant return had elevated Heyong’s opinion of her even further.

So, using Dong Zhuo as He Jin’s external support to force the current Emperor to make a decision, was Liu Hong really without a solution?

Not necessarily. He could still deploy Qiao Yeshu as his trump card.

Dong Zhuo’s soldiers were hardened on the battlefield of Liangzhou, but Qiao Yan’s men had faced the Hu tribes in battle.

If it came down to a comparison with equal numbers, the outcome remained uncertain.

But if Dong Zhuo, restricted by He Jin, were to bring only three thousand troops, while Qiao Yan marched out from the mountain passes of the Fen River basin, she would undoubtedly hold the advantage.

If Huangfu Song, still in the Western Liang, returned with his troops to attack, the victory would be assured.

He Yong feared that this intimidation might backfire, prompting the Emperor to investigate He Jin’s faults and provide a reason for retribution against him.

“But this concern is unnecessary,” He Jin replied before Yuan Shao could speak. “From the rumors spreading from the Imperial Physician’s Office, His Majesty may not live past April. I have no intention to commit regicide; I merely wish to prevent any unwise decisions made in illness. If we secure the upper hand in April, that will be sufficient.”

“Quite fortunate indeed. Just three days ago, Qiao Yeshu followed last year’s tradition and went to attack the Xianbei court beyond the frontier. Given the upheavals of the past year, the Xianbei tribes have surely moved, and locating their court isn’t easy. Even if the Emperor calls for her, she won’t be able to come,” He Jin chuckled as he spoke.

The timing of Qiao Hou’s expedition beyond the frontier was indeed inconvenient.

By the time she returned, Liu Hong would likely have passed away, and Liu Bian would have ascended the throne.

At that point, dealing with this Governor of Bingzhou wouldn’t be too late.

He Jin couldn’t help but think—if it weren’t for Liu Hong deliberately concealing his health to ensure his covert mobilization wasn’t discovered, the General who hunted the Xianbei wouldn’t truly think it was a good time to march north.

Liu Hong had truly dug his own pit.

And without Qiao Yan’s assistance, relying solely on Huangfu Song to contain Dong Zhuo’s advancing troops wouldn’t be so easy.

After all, Huangfu Song wasn’t as rooted in Liangzhou as Dong Zhuo was.

His achievements in battle surpassed even Dong Zhuo’s, but if Dong Zhuo remained with his forces and faced off against Huangfu Song, it might take more than a month to determine the outcome.

With this assurance in mind, He Jin reconsidered and found Yuan Shao’s proposal quite feasible.

He immediately had three letters drafted and sent them respectively to Ding Yuan, the Commandant of the Capital, Bao Xin, the Administrator of Jibei, and to Dong Zhuo himself.

Only after that did he announce the conclusion of the meeting.

However, as he stepped out of the Grand General’s office, Zheng Tai, who had spoken earlier, still felt uneasy about He Jin’s actions.

He glanced back at the gilded plaque silently sighed.

Then, retracting his gaze, he hurried a few steps to catch up with someone ahead, asking, “Why didn’t Gongda speak up earlier in the hall?”

The person he caught up with was Xun You of Yingchuan from the Xun family.