“Turmoil”: Battle for the Han Empire sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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“We can indeed, Minister Yang,” Li Jue replied. “Ma Teng and Han Sui are not going to
attack us again any time soon; Song Jian seems content to sit in his little ‘kingdom’ and do
nothing, which we’ll let him do until we’re ready to deal with him; the other Qiang tribes
aren’t going to do anything unless any of those three do anything; and as for the Xiongnu, they seem
to have withdrawn to Bing Province now that the chaos around Chang’an has subsided. They were just
exploiting an opportunity, as all barbarians do.”
Shisun Rui scowled at the hypocritical statement.
“All in all, everything’s going pretty well!” Guo Si chuckled.
Many officials stifled groans.
“And what of the nationwide famine, the Black Mountain Bandits, the White Wave Bandits, the general
rebel activity, the feud between the Yuans of Ru County, and the whereabouts of the traitor, Lü
Bu…?” Emperor Xian asked calmly.
Li Jue bowed reluctantly and said, “Your Majesty, Lü Bu was last reported as attacking Yan
Province. There are conflicting reports as to whether he is still in Yan or he has gone elsewhere, but
we will keep the court informed.”
“And we’re doing everything that we can about the famine, Your Majesty,” Jia Xu promised.
“The bandits and feuding warlords in the east do, admittedly, make it difficult to reach some areas,
but we’re doing everything possible.”
Emperor Xian sensed sincerity in Jia’s tone and nodded gladly.
“We’ve sent supplemental petitions to remind Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Gongsun Zan, Cao Cao and the
rest of the rabble that they are to put the state before their personal ambitions and squabbles,” Li
Jue said. “The-”
Guo Si started giggling.
“…What are you doing…?” Li Jue asked irritably.
Guo Si grinned and replied, “No, sorry, I just think that’s funny coming from us when-!
…I shouldn’t laugh.”
“…No Regent Guo, you shouldn’t,” Li Jue said coldly. “We’ve put our
past behaviour behind us now that we are servants of His Majesty, and we are now doing what we can to set a
good example… an example that men like Yuan Shao - men that can claim better lineages than some of the
officials here - should be setting as well, not scrapping for land that isn’t theirs. But we’ve
sent more petitions, and they seem to be heeding them and confronting the rebels that His Majesty mentioned.
There is, in addition, the faction of rebel Xiongnu that will also be dealt with.”
“And this rumour that our distant relative Liu Bei has ‘seized’ Xu Province…?”
Emperor Xian prompted.
“That… is unconfirmed,” Li Jue said awkwardly. “If he has, then-”
“If he has, then he had no right, since he’s disinherited,” Guo Si said. “If old
Tao Qian had sons, then-”
“I was answering perfectly well without your help!” Li Jue chortled.
“…Sorry, Regent Li,” Guo Si sighed.
“Liu Bei is, indeed, rumoured to be the acting governor after Tao Qian’s death,
and we also have word that correspondence is on the way here, Your Majesty,” Jia Xu said. “Any
news will be immediately presented to the court.”
“Very good, Mister Jia Xu,” Emperor Xian said politely.
“…Marquis Zhang, you had a matter to raise…?” Li Jue said as he alternated his gaze
between Jia Xu and the smiling emperor.
Zhang Ji - who was one of the few that remained of Dong Zhuo’s other senior vassals - bowed slightly
and said, “I was going to suggest that we strengthen our border with Hanzhong, Regent Li.”