Cao Cao was persuaded to return by the Xiyuan army during the Battle of Mengjin, which angered He Jin. He dismissed Cao Cao from his post as the governor of Dongjun and wanted to punish him.
After Yuan Shao pleaded on his behalf, Cao Cao was reassigned as the Commandant of the Northern Army Cavalry!
Zhao Rong, a colonel in the Northern Army, died in battle and was posthumously awarded the title of general. Chunyu Qiong and Bao Xin assumed their former positions. He Jin was displeased, but Yuan Shao sent them gold and silk as a consolation.
The power struggle between Liu Wei and He Jin led to subtle changes in the political landscape of the court.
Although He Jin's faction still held sway, Empress Dowager Dong and the eunuch faction were beginning to rise in power, and the imperial clan was also expanding its influence.
As for the Yuan family, who were hiding behind He Jin, they also reaped many benefits in secret.
For a time, due to the conflict between He Jin and Liu Wei in Mengjin, although the capital was peaceful, undercurrents were surging beneath the calm surface.
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At this very moment, in the main hall of the Pingyuan County Government Office, a man sat upright.
He was seven feet five inches tall, with ears that reached his shoulders, hands that reached past his knees, eyes that could see his own ears, a face like jade, and lips like painted rouge.
This man was none other than Liu Bei, Liu Xuande, from Zhuojun.
During the Yellow Turban Rebellion last year, he recruited 500 soldiers in Zhuojun and became sworn brothers with Guan Yu from Jieliang in Hedong and Zhang Fei from Zhuoxian in Zhuojun.
He joined the army of Liu Yan, who was then the governor of Youzhou, and was appointed as the magistrate of Anxi County for his meritorious service in defeating the Yellow Turbans.
After much deliberation, he was recommended by Gongsun Zan, the Marquis of Duting, who was also a surrendered military officer and general, and was appointed magistrate of Pingyuan County.
Liu Bei had only taken office as county magistrate at the end of last year. He appointed Guan Yu as a horse archer and Zhang Fei as a foot archer, and also called on his fellow townsmen and friends Jian Yong and Fu Shiren to help him.
With the help of the four men, Liu Bei governed Pingyuan with ease, earning the praise of the people.
“Your Excellency, we have received a report that Liu Wei, the King of Yunzhong, is about to arrive at our Pingyuan County with two thousand cavalry. What should we do?” Jian Yong asked.
Before Liu Bei could speak, a man to his left shouted, "Who is the King of Yunzhong? I've never heard of him!"
This man was eight feet tall, with a leopard's head and round eyes, a swallow's chin and tiger's whiskers, a voice like thunder, and a momentum like a galloping horse.
He was none other than Zhang Yide of Yan!
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