“Turmoil”: Battle for the Han Empire sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne

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“Against Liu Zhang…?” Li Jue chuckled.
“No, Regent Li; against Zhang Lu, ruler of Hanzhong,” Zhang Ji replied. “I am well aware that Liu Zhang has done nothing but send tribute since taking power, and that he is not the threat that his ambitious father was; but Zhang Lu’s kind are benefitting greatly from the chaos caused by the famine and the warlords bickering, and while he rules Hanzhong and calls it ‘Han’ning’, it should be of concern.”
“We quite agree, Marquis Zhang,” Emperor Xian said, “but have we the forces to spare for a greater defence against this avaricious heretic that defiles our dynasty’s birthplace…?”
“I suppose that you want to post Huche’er to the border so that he can gain merit,” Guo Si heckled.
“…And have him nowhere near me at such a dangerous time…?” Zhang Ji retorted. “I have no desire to be as vulnerable as Fan Chou, Hu Zhen or Wang Fang at any point in time.”
“What’s that supposed to mean…?” Guo Si asked.
“He means that we should all be careful,” Li Jue replied as he glared at Zhang Ji. “…And he’s right. I’ll despatch additional men to build more signal towers and checkpoints… and dismantle some of the roads into the province. That should be enough.”
“I agree,” Zhang Ji said with a smile.
“We feel much safer with that decision made,” Emperor Xian said.
“Then we should move on, discuss any remaining matters quickly and get back to our duties,” Li Jue suggested. “Mister Jia Xu…?”
Jia Xu coughed deliberately and prepared to announce the next item on the agenda.
“…Should I not be playing a greater role in this…?” Shisun Rui complained quietly. “Surely I am Director in name only!”
“You are surprisingly agitated today, and should calm down,” Yang Biao replied. “When this farce is over, come to my office.”
Shisun Rui nodded silently.

Minister Yang Biao had been waiting for a moment to act since Regent Li Jue’s public execution of former ally Fan Chou at a banquet: although the given reason for the execution had been for allowing the Qiang warlord Han Sui to escape after the failed attack on the capital, the remaining warlords and officers - particularly Marquis Zhang Ji and Li Jue’s fellow regent Guo Si - were becoming suspicious of Li Jue and each other, since each new death added more power to those that were left, and Li Jue was obviously ambitious. Minister Yang had watched two attempts to remove Dong Zhuo and his minions come to nothing, and he was determined to make his own effort a successful one. To that end, he had explored every possibility, and when direct attempts to divide the warlords failed, he resorted to a secondary target for division - the warlords’ wives and consorts.

“Marquis Zhang’s wife is legendary for her beauty,” Director of the Imperial Secretariat Shisun Rui said as he sat in a private conference with Yang Biao.
“Yes, but Zhang Ji is not the greatest threat,” Yang Biao replied. “Our target is the regents. I have done some very careful research, and my target is Lady Qiong, the wife of Regent Guo Si.”
“A fair-looking woman, but with a sneering face,” Shisun Rui recalled.

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