Luoyang.
After several months of screening and evaluation, one hundred women from all over the Han Dynasty who participated in the selection of imperial concubines were ultimately chosen to enter the palace.
He Jin's younger sister, He Huan, also became one of them, unsurprisingly.
The reason she was selected, apart from her appearance and usual behavior, was mainly because of Liu Hong's fascination with the historical Empress Dowager He.
After all, it's impossible for a normal man to say he has no feelings for these beauties in history.
This was the second famous woman he took in after arriving in the Han Dynasty, besides Cai Yan.
Although this selection of imperial concubines caused a great stir and involved a large number of people, the etiquette and procedures were relatively simple.
In other words, when Cai Yan was officially conferred a title, the process was followed. The other women, including He Huan, were simply given a title and that was it.
Since it wasn't about establishing an empress, neither the empress dowager nor the court officials put much effort into this matter.
Zhaode Hall, Cai Yan's sleeping quarters.
Liu Hong looked down at Cai Yan, who was nestled in his arms, and smiled gently: "Zhao Ji, the ceremony for establishing a concubine this time is simple, which is a bit of a hardship for you!"
Cai Yan smiled and shook her head: "Your Majesty, what are you saying? You have always been unconcerned with formalities. Without those tedious etiquettes, I am quite relaxed. How can you say I am wronged?"
"To have gained Your Majesty's favor and to be able to serve Your Majesty, I am already content!!"
As she finished speaking, Cai Yan's voice grew softer and softer, and she nestled into Liu Hong's arms.
With so many concubines entering the palace at the same time, Cai Yan was already extremely pleased that the emperor was able to come to her bedchamber immediately.
"Zhaoji, I plan to build a school in the palace to provide early education for my princes and princesses. How about you take on the role of the school's director?"
Thinking of his two-year-old eldest son and several other concubines who were pregnant, Liu Hong felt it was time to put his children's education on the agenda.
As the saying goes, "You can tell what a person will be like at three years old." Children at this age have already begun to understand the world, and everything they accept and learn can potentially influence their entire lives.
Although the Han Dynasty was not lacking in learned scholars and Confucian masters, Liu Hong did not intend to let outsiders educate his children.
After all, this was the education of the princes, and Liu Hong couldn't guarantee that those people outside the palace wouldn't have their own agendas.
The only thing I can truly trust is to entrust the task of educating these children to my wife.
Once they are old enough to understand and be polite, we can hire some renowned teachers to instruct them, and then there won't be any major problems.
"To have earned Your Majesty's trust like this, I will certainly do my best and never fail Your Majesty's high expectations!"
Upon hearing Liu Hong's question, Cai Yan agreed without hesitation.
The fact that the emperor entrusted the education of all the princes and princesses to her demonstrates a great deal of trust, and Cai Yan naturally would not refuse.
Liu Hong smiled and said, "Very well, Zhao Ji, please feel free to do as you please. If you have any needs or questions, you can come to me at any time!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Cai Yan gently agreed and wrapped her arms around Liu Hong's waist.
"Zhaoji, it's getting late, it's time to retire for the night...!"
Feeling the beauty in his arms, Liu Hong's breathing quickened slightly, and his gaze towards Cai Yan became more fiery.
"Please, Your Majesty, have mercy..."
Meeting Liu Hong's burning gaze, Cai Yan's cheeks flushed, and in the candlelight, she became even more alluring.
Liu Hong's Adam's apple bobbed, and he gently lifted Cai Yan's chin, gazing at her exquisite face, before impulsively kissing her...
For the next period of time, apart from occasional military affairs, Liu Hong also spent his time visiting the palaces of various concubines, striving to ensure the continuation of the royal family.
Until April 25th, a piece of intelligence from the Western Regions Detective Agency pulled Liu Hong out of this gentle embrace.
As early as last year, after Liu Hong and a group of ministers finalized a series of plans targeting the Kushan Empire, Jia Xu set off for the Western Regions.
Upon arriving in the Western Regions, Jia Xu, through Cao Cao and Li Ru, purchased more than 500 Kushan slaves from Dayuan and personally trained them.
After months of brutal training, of the original five hundred-plus Kushan slaves, only forty-three survived. These remaining forty-three were filled with primal fear and absolute obedience when facing Jia Xu.
Subsequently, Jia Xu arranged for these people to assume the identities of merchants and infiltrate the Kushan Empire to begin their espionage and infiltration work.
With the cooperation and support of Jia Xu, Cao Cao, and Li Ru, these spies thrived after infiltrating the Kushan Empire and quickly established relationships with some Kushan officials.
Before long, they learned that the current Kushan king was getting old and his health was deteriorating, so he frequently summoned physicians to the palace to treat him.
The three sons of the Kushan king also began to stir, forming their own factions and engaging in open and covert struggles.
When the news reached the Western Regions, Jia Xu and Cao Cao immediately saw an opportunity to wreak havoc on the Kushan Empire.
As Liu Hong's trusted advisors, Jia Xu and Cao Cao were aware of the existence of Hachi, Samo, and Sijia.
Therefore, after receiving the message from the Kushan Empire, the two men not only sent messengers to relay the message back to Luoyang, but also discussed the matter with Li Ru.
After discussions among Jia Xu, Cao Cao, and Li Ru, they decided to send Xiongnu and Xianbei cavalry to seize Dayuan in early May of this year, and then station troops on the border of the Kushan Empire to prepare for the Xiongnu and Xianbei's westward advance.
Upon seeing the message Jia Xu sent back, Liu Hong smiled.
After putting down the secret letter, Liu Hong turned to Zhang Rang beside him and said in a deep voice, "Go tell Zhicai to bring Hachi, Samo, and Sijia to the palace."
Also, go find Wang Yue and have him select one thousand soldiers with families, wives, and children from among the Imperial Guards!
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Zhang Rang respectfully agreed, then bowed and withdrew.
After Zhang Rang left, Liu Hong closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and began to think about his next move.
Now that the Kushan Empire is embroiled in a succession struggle, it presents a perfect opportunity to stir up trouble. If planned properly, it might reap unimaginable benefits.
Thinking of this, Liu Hong immediately took out paper and pen and wrote a secret letter to Yuan Shao, who was sent as an envoy to the Kushan Empire.
In the letter, Liu Hong instructed Yuan Shao to choose the least powerful of the three princes of Kushan to assist, and to try to draw all the Kushan officials and nobles into the struggle for the throne.
Only in this way can they wreak havoc on the Kushan Empire to the greatest extent possible, thus creating a chance for Hachi and others to rise to power.
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