Both Dong Zhuo and Ding Yuan's territories of Bing and Liang suffered attacks from Liu Wei's troops to varying degrees!

Both of them, without prior arrangement, chose to march into the capital.

Dong Zhuo valued the immense benefits that the Luoyang coup would bring. If successful, it would mean that he would take a big step from being a local official to the imperial court, and his power would be further enhanced!

At least one of the four generals is a foregone conclusion.

If He Jin doesn't offer rewards, then let's continue the remonstrance.

Ding Yuan was loyal to the Han Dynasty and knew that once Dong Zhuo led his troops to the gates of Luoyang without any checks and balances, he would become lawless and capable of anything.

Therefore, Ding Yuan had to be present when Dong Zhuo arrived in Luoyang.

No one understood Dong Zhuo's strength and ambition better than him. This was evident from their previous struggle for the position of governor of Bingzhou, as well as Dong Zhuo's every move in the past six months, including his frantic recruitment of soldiers.

As for Liu Wei, he's still a long way off!

By the time his eastern and western armies have opened up Bingzhou and Liangzhou, who knows when that will be.

His main force, the 100,000-strong army that came from the Qin Straight Road, would take at least a month to reach Guanzhong at its current marching speed.

By then, He Jin had successfully killed the Ten Attendants and gathered forces from all over the country to turn around and fight against Liu Wei!

However, Liu Wei's possession of the late emperor's edict and his questioning of Empress Dowager He's alleged poisoning of the late emperor, along with his call to "purge the court of corrupt officials and quell the national crisis," gave Ding Yuan some pause.

These are all matters of great righteousness and the will of the people.

As Ding Yuan traveled through Guanzhong, Tongguan, and Hangu Pass, he heard along the way that merchants, common people, scholars, and officials were all discussing the He family's plot to murder the late emperor, and privately calling Empress Dowager He the "Poisonous Empress"!

Avenging his father is a matter of course! Everyone thinks Liu Wei's uprising was justified!

It's understandable that Ding Yuan is now going to remonstrate with Empress Dowager He to execute the Ten Attendants; that's perfectly justified. But if he turns around and fights against Liu Wei, then they'll be aiding and abetting the wicked and colluding with the poisonous empress.

"At that time, the Grand General and the court officials will surely have a proper plan to deal with it!"

Ding Yuan's face, weathered by the harsh winds of the Northwest, wore an expression of deep sorrow and distress.

As the setting sun shone like blood, Ding Yuan quickly arrived at Gucheng, fifty miles west of Luoyang, and set up camp.

"Someone, ride at top speed to Luoyang tonight and report to the General that General Pingxi, Governor of Liangzhou Ding Yuan, has arrived with 30,000 elite troops from Liangzhou!"

......

However, at this very moment.

Before the Hanzhang Hall in the imperial city of Luoyang, a scene of flashing swords and bloodshed was about to unfold.

Hanzhang Hall was the only way from Zhengyang Gate to Yong'an Palace in the inner palace, and it was also the palace closest to Yong'an Palace.

He Jin entered Zhengyang Gate alone, his face full of arrogance.

When the palace guards and eunuchs saw him, they all prostrated themselves in respect.

Still basking in Yuan Shao's flattery, He Jin was arrogant and completely unaware of the impending danger.

He walked up the long steps, crossed the straight imperial road, and arrived at a square in front of Hanzhang Hall that was about the size of a football field.

The vast palace was completely empty; not a single person was in sight.

To the left of the palace is the Yongle Palace for the Empress Dowager, and to the right is the West Garden. Passing Hanzhang Hall, you will reach the Yong'an Palace for Empress Dowager He.

He Jin wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. It had been at least three miles from Zhengyang Gate to here.

He Jin, who has become increasingly obese, seemed to be walking with great difficulty.

He had walked this road countless times.

But I feel unusually tired today.

"Why is there no one here? It's so lifeless."

He Jin muttered to himself, "I'll have to tell my sister later that someone needs to stand guard and patrol here."

"Now that I am in charge of the government of the Great Han Empire, it must be full of vitality and popularity."

As He Jin reached the foot of the steps in front of Hanzhang Hall, a sharp shout suddenly rang out:

"Let's do it!"

In an instant, a large number of armed eunuchs surged out of the main hall and from both sides, heading menacingly towards He Jin.

"You eunuchs, what are you trying to do, wielding weapons in the inner palace?!"

He Jin, his beard and hair bristling, shouted a question.

Having long held a high position, He Jin commanded respect without anger. The eunuchs, intimidated by his imposing presence, surrounded him, not daring to approach.

"Hehehe! What are you doing?"

"A butcher is still a butcher; fat and big-eared, his brain is still so dull!"

Just then, a sinister laugh rang out.

Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Xia Yun, Sun Zhang, Bi Lan, Li Song, Duan Gui, Gao Wang, Zhang Gong, Han Kui, Song Dian and others filed out.

Guo Sheng was the only one not among them.

"Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, do you intend to kill me?" He Jin roared, "Believe me or not, I'll exterminate your entire clan!"

"Butcher He, you're about to die and you're still being stubborn?"

Zhang Rang's face turned cold. "Men, get to it! Chop him into mincemeat!"

"Let's see who dares!"

He Jin glared angrily at Zhang Rang, pointing his halberd at him, "Zhang Rang, don't you know that I am the Grand General of the court?"

"If you want to kill me, you won't have a good end either! Will the Empress Dowager let you get away with it?"

Zhao Zhong and the others dared not look He Jin in the eye, saying, "Eunuch Zhang, why don't we lock him up and make him swear he will never kill us again!"

"Foolish! Don't you know that He Jin has already sent troops from Bingzhou and Liangzhou to the capital to stage a mutiny against the Empress Dowager and demand that we be handed over?"

Zhang Rang said expressionlessly, "If we don't kill him today, then we'll be the ones who die!"

Zhao Zhong and the others gritted their teeth and shouted, "He Jin won't let us live, how can we let him live! Kill!"

Upon hearing this, the eunuchs did not hesitate and drew their knives to attack He Jin.

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