"Grand Tutor Dong, how is the defense around Luoyang progressing?"
"If Liu Wei arrives, are you confident you can defeat him?"
Inside the Hanzhang Hall in the imperial city of Luoyang.
The young emperor looked at the burly, obese Dong Zhuo not far away with fear and unease, his eyes darting away.
During his three days in Dong Zhuo's army, although Dong Zhuo treated him to good food and drink, Liu Bian did not get a good night's sleep even once.
Three days later, Dong Zhuo sent him back in a grand and splendid manner.
Dong Zhuo scoffed at their performance over the past three days.
Beside the young emperor was the incomparably beautiful Empress Dowager He.
After a struggle, compromise, and exchange of interests, the young emperor returned to her side and continued to be her puppet emperor.
But now the one who controls the court is no longer the He family, but this warlord from Bingzhou, Dong Zhuo!
While Empress Dowager He was speaking cautiously to Dong Zhuo, Dong Zhuo's eyes were fixed on her ample breasts, and he occasionally revealed a lewd smile.
Although He Hui is now the Empress Dowager, she entered the palace at the age of fifteen, gave birth to Liu Bian, and is only thirty years old now.
In today's terms, this age is the most mature and charming age for a woman, with her charm still intact, which is just right.
Upon seeing the stunningly beautiful Empress Dowager, Dong Zhuo naturally harbored designs on her.
However, he had only recently forced Yuan Shao out of the court through political means and military power, and had become the de facto ruler of the court. Therefore, he could not do many things too obviously for the time being.
Sleeping with the Empress Dowager would be exciting and satisfying, but the impact on the entire court must be considered.
Once the news gets out, the court officials still can't get over it psychologically.
However, sleeping with palace maids is no problem!
This condition was mentioned when he negotiated with Empress Dowager He.
After he sent the young emperor back to the Luoyang palace, Empress Dowager He also granted Dong Zhuo's wish, sending out ten palace maids every day.
After enjoying his pleasures, Dong Zhuo distributed them among his generals.
"Grand Tutor! Are you even listening to me?"
Empress Dowager He spoke for a long time but did not receive a response from Dong Zhuo. Instead, she noticed Dong Zhuo's eyes were fixed on her chest, so she shrank back and asked a question.
"Your Majesty, I heard you clearly!"
"Rest assured, the 200,000-strong army has completely surrounded Luoyang. Liu Wei can only attack from two directions: the north bank of the Yellow River and Hangu Pass."
"These two officials have made a complete plan. Liu Wei's army is only about 150,000 men. To think he can take Luoyang is wishful thinking, hahaha!"
"Your Majesty, please rest assured and wait for my good news in the palace. Don't forget to quickly raise the money and provisions to reward the soldiers!"
Dong Zhuo laughed heartily without restraint.
He was reminding Empress Dowager He that the palace maids should not be shortchanged in terms of money and food.
"Grand Tutor, didn't the Grand Preceptor raise funds and provisions for you once? Go ask him for more! My palace is almost starving!"
Upon hearing that money and grain were needed again, Empress Dowager He wore a bitter expression.
Since Liu Hong died, the Ten Attendants were gone, and He Jin also died. The imperial treasury was even more strained, relying entirely on the savings from the past.
The last time Liu Wei went to the capital, he obtained information from Eunuch Du about Empress Dowager He's hidden money. He immediately sent Shen Lian to raid Baoguo Temple, causing Empress Dowager He a heavy loss.
Maintaining Empress Dowager He's extravagant lifestyle, along with the expenses of so many concubines in the harem, strained the imperial treasury.
Now there are more than 200,000 troops outside Luoyang, and their daily food, drink and sanitation needs can be described as enormous.
First, the national granary was emptied, and then the granaries in the surrounding counties of Luoyang were also emptied by them.
Grain needed to be transferred from Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Xuzhou, and other places, but there simply wasn't enough time.
When Dong Zhuo asked the young emperor for money and provisions, Empress Dowager He could only turn to Grand Tutor Yuan Wei and his group of ministers, hoping they would donate some of their personal belongings to help them get through the crisis.
Yuan Wei, Wang Yun, Yang Biao, and others claimed to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic, but when asked to offer their personal benefits, they all complained bitterly and cried poverty.
"Your Majesty, you can't expect a horse to run without feeding it."
"Since Your Majesty is now ruling in place of His Majesty, the problem of provisions must be solved."
"The Grand Tutor and the others don't obey my orders!"
"The military situation is urgent. The provisions for 200,000 soldiers are no trivial matter. I urge Your Majesty to pay close attention to this issue."
"Your subject takes his leave!"
Dong Zhuo left triumphantly, leaving only Empress Dowager He and the young emperor behind.
After Dong Zhuo left, the young emperor turned pale and tightly grasped Empress Dowager He's hand, saying, "Mother, the Grand Tutor is so fierce, I'm so scared!"
"Don't be afraid!" Empress Dowager He tried to remain calm.
She now regrets it somewhat; if she hadn't opposed He Jin and taken in the Ten Attendants, she wouldn't be in this predicament now.
If He Jin were still alive, Dong Zhuo would not be allowed to act so recklessly here.
One wrong step leads to another!
You have to taste the bitter fruit you sowed.
Does she still want to be like Empress Lü? It's already difficult enough that she can maintain her current position.
"Eunuch Wang, quickly summon the Grand Tutor, Minister of Works, Minister of Education, Grand Commandant, and General Who Conquers the South to an audience."
"Yes, Your Majesty! I'll go right away."
"In addition, has the whereabouts of the Prince of Chenliu been found?" Empress Dowager He asked again.
"Your Majesty, the Prince of Chenliu and General Dong Cheng mysteriously disappeared on the very day that Dong Zhuo escorted His Majesty back to Luoyang."
Wang Zhen replied hastily.
"We must find them, alive or dead!"
"If the Prince of Chenliu is taken away by Liu Wei's men, the consequences will be dire!"
Empress Dowager He frowned. "Also, the residences of *** and Liu Yu and others must be searched."
"Here you go!"
Wang Zhen nodded solemnly, then turned and left.
Empress Dowager He was relieved to see the young emperor return to his palace and was about to leave.
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