Time flies like an arrow.
Liu Wei has been in Luoyang for almost half a month now.
His system's population count, after the hype surrounding Zou Ling in Hongnong City, totaled 5 million!
If half a month has passed, it has already accumulated to more than ten million.
However, there is still a long way to go before he achieves his goal of having the Qi Family Army and the Yue Family Army!
Yue Family Army: 10,000 gold coins, number of soldiers!
Qi Family Army: 10,000 gold coins, number of soldiers!
At the current rate, if we stop spending population to exchange for gold coins, the daily increase will be roughly equivalent to a year's worth!
Once things are settled in Luoyang, I need to go and wipe out one or two foreign tribes in the surrounding areas, or win over a few beauties, or recruit famous generals and strategists.
Otherwise, if you want to acquire Yue Fei's army and Qi Jiguang's army, you can only wait!
Liu Wei spent the better part of his time in Luoyang, socializing with princes and nobles and frequenting the palace and taverns.
It makes one feel that there is a certain decadence and debauchery involved.
However, Liu Wei has already investigated the cause of death of his birth mother, Consort Jing, and his adoptive parents, and has already settled this score with Empress Dowager Dong.
Although she did not touch Empress Dowager Dong, she had already killed Zhao Zhong, one of Empress Dowager Dong's henchmen!
Meanwhile, Empress He confiscated her private savings and also got rid of Eunuch Du.
As for He Miao, after Liu Wei bought an official position from Liu Hong, Empress He and He Jin sent someone to negotiate with Liu Wei and finally redeemed He Miao for one thousand taels of gold.
Just when He Jin thought Liu Wei would calm down, someone reported that his trusted advisors He Yu and Xun You had been missing for several days!
Damn it!
This is never going to end!
He Jin's angry outburst clearly showed that Liu Wei was behind it.
With the grand court assembly at the end of the year just around the corner, He Jin had no choice but to swallow his anger for the time being.
He had already secretly ordered Chunyu Qiong's troops to surround the mountain and kill people once the dust had settled by tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the troops of the five northern schools in the capital have also been frequently mobilized recently.
Besides Chunyu Qiong, Bao Hong, Zhao Rong, and other troops were also rotated to the area below Beiman Mountain.
In a short time, nearly 10,000 soldiers gathered around Mount Beiman.
These three men, along with Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, had all served as officers in the Western Garden Army.
However, after He Jin gradually gained control of the government, he took advantage of Emperor Ling's illness to gradually win them over.
Only four men remained in the Western Garden Army: Jian Shuo, the Commandant of the Upper Army; Zhao Rong, the Assistant Commandant of the Left Army; Feng Fang, the Assistant Commandant of the Right Army; and Xia Mou, the Left Commandant and Grand Counselor.
He controlled only 5,600 troops.
The once-famous Eight Colonels of Xiyuan have become a mere shell of their former selves.
Originally, the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty did not have many troops, but after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the army was being expanded from the central government to the local level.
For example, Dong Zhuo of Bingzhou and Ding Yuan of Liangzhou each had 50,000 troops in their respective provinces.
Coupled with the rebellions of various ethnic groups in Liangzhou and Bingzhou, the two fought against them while simultaneously incorporating their forces, which grew increasingly larger.
Meanwhile, the garrison in the capital was also being expanded.
The five schools of the Northern Army had a staff of 3,536, which was increased fivefold to 15,000.
The Tiger Warriors Battalion expanded from 1,000-1,500 men to 20,000.
The Imperial Guard Battalion, originally numbering 1,820, was expanded to 5,000.
In addition, the number of palace guards remained unchanged at 2,506, the number of imperial guards at 720, and the number of city gate officers at approximately 1,000.
Of the five Northern Army schools that He Jin could directly mobilize, three had already been transferred to defend Beiman Mountain.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that He Jin was planning to take action against Liu Wei.
Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Dong has been sending the Ten Attendants around to frequently whisper rumors to Liu Hong.
Empress Dowager Dong herself kept summoning some loyal old ministers, preparing to push things along at tomorrow's court meeting.
Liu Hua and Liu Yu were also making frequent moves.
However, the consensus they reached with Liu Wei that day was to vote for the Prince of Chenliu, thus confusing the public.
However, He Jin, Yuan Shao, and other people who were determined to uphold the legitimate succession still held the majority of power.
The three dukes and nine ministers of the court would certainly insist on making Liu Bian the crown prince.
In addition to plotting to get rid of Liu Wei, He Jin also followed Yuan Shao's advice and prepared to take action against the Ten Attendants.
With the grand court assembly just around the corner tomorrow, Luoyang and its surrounding areas are in turmoil and undercurrents are stirring!
......
Beiman Mountain Villa, Liu Wei's bedroom.
The two figures overlapped for a moment, then separated!
At this moment, Zou Ling seemed to have transformed into a lazy mother cat, kneeling gracefully and lightly on the bed.
Like a peerless beauty atop a palace, overlooking endless splendor. Her posture exudes a natural charm, like peach blossoms in early spring, swaying gently in the breeze and releasing a faint fragrance.
She seemed to be enjoying her own happy time; her expression and movements revealed an indescribable satisfaction and joy.
Her jet-black hair was disheveled, like dark clouds in the night sky blown away by the wind, or like a waterfall cascading down, breathtakingly beautiful.
Her hair shimmered in the sunlight, as if every strand contained the vitality of life.
She murmured softly, her voice gentle and low, like a night breeze rustling through the leaves or a stream flowing gently.
Those whispers seemed to possess a certain magic, drawing people in irresistibly into them, allowing them to feel her inner joy and contentment.
Her pretty face would occasionally turn around and look back like a rhinoceros gazing at the moon, her eyes looking behind her with a languid gaze, as if expecting something, or perhaps searching for something.
Her eyes were filled with expectation and longing, making one want to explore her inner world and understand her deep yearning.
The entire palace was filled with Zou Ling's aura, a unique and intoxicating aura that made one feel as if they were in a dreamlike and romantic world.
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