Do it.

Yuan Xi had anticipated that he would ask this question, so he carefully organized his words. "In the past, while studying alongside the imperial princes in the palace, a minor eunuch I came to know happened to be stationed near the place where the late emperor's coffin was laid. He overheard a secret discussion among the eunuch scoundrels. Feeling that the matter was of the utmost importance, Xianyuan ventured to come here without authorization. I hope the General will forgive Xianyuan for his crime of trespassing."

Hearing this, General-in-Chief He Jin felt somewhat reassured. His furrowed brows relaxed, and he stroked his hands with a loud laugh. "Haha, how could that be? Truly, Heaven does not wish to destroy me, and noble helpers have come to my aid. Benchu, you truly have a qilin among your sons!"

"I dare not, I dare not. The General flatters me too much."

He Jin then asked, "What should be done now?"

Seeing this, Yuan Shao wore a look of triumphant pride and said, "General-in-Chief, why worry? We merely need to dispatch a trusted officer with troops to capture and execute Jian Shuo."

"Very well. Then let us begin according to the original plan."

He Jin nodded and ordered his subordinate general, Wu Kang, to take his command and enter the palace. At the same time, he demanded that, together with the Prefect of the Yellow Gate, Jian Shuo be hunted down and killed.

Taking advantage of the moment, Yuan Shao said, "General-in-Chief, in the past, Dou Wu intended to execute the palace favorites, yet suffered disaster himself because his plans were not secret and his words leaked out. The troops of the Five Camps all obeyed the eunuchs, yet Dou Wu trusted them, resulting in his own destruction. Now, the General holds the supreme position of the Emperor's uncle, and you and your brothers command powerful armies. Your military officers and officials are all brilliant and renowned gentlemen, more than willing to spend their lives and efforts in the General's service. Everything is within the General's grasp. This is a rare opportunity bestowed by Heaven. The General should strike a single blow to rid the world of this scourge and leave a legendary name for posterity!"

"I second that!" "Benchu speaks the truth!"

"What you say makes complete sense!" Cao Cao and the others also felt that it was time to seize this opportunity to eradicate the Ten Attendants along with Jian Shuo. Consequently, they chimed in one after another.

However, He Jin hesitated slightly and said, "As for this matter, let us wait until Jian Shuo has been executed. I shall enter the palace to discuss it with the Empress Dowager before making a final decision."

"Alas!" "This!"

His remark drew secret sighs of disappointment from the civil and military officials gathered below.

Though Yuan Shao's face betrayed no emotion, his resolve hardened inwardly. He was determined to seize this rare opportunity and accelerate the expansion of his power.

He Jin knew that it was also time to offer some rewards to Yuan Shao and the others; otherwise, this faction of aristocratic families might not truly support him.

Therefore, He Jin smiled and said, "I shall discuss with His Majesty to elevate all of you to crucial posts such as the Yellow Gate and the Masters of Writing, so that you may assist in the affairs of state."

"Many thanks, General." "Many thanks, General."

"Benchu, in a moment, you shall lead men to take over Jian Shuo's Northern Army." He Jin looked at Yuan Shao and pacified him, fearing that Yuan Shao might turn against him.

"Understood!" Receiving his orders, Yuan Shao led Yuan Xi out the door.

That very day, the Colonel of the Northern Army Jian Shuo and the eunuchs conspired together to capture and execute the General-in-Chief He Jin, but the plot was leaked. He Jin ordered the Prefect of the Yellow Gate to arrest and execute him.

In April of the year 189, the Emperor of the Empire passed away, and all the people mourned with grief—though, naturally, this did not include the Yuan family. Even before the late emperor's bones were cold, the General-in-Chief and Yuan Shao launched a coup d'état. They proclaimed that Jian Shuo was guilty of treason and had tampered with the late emperor's posthumous edict. Consequently, Jian Shuo was beheaded at the palace gates, and his Northern Army troops were divided and placed under Yuan Shao's command. As for whether the contents of the posthumous edict were true or false, it no longer mattered; since Jian Shuo had lost, no one would ever acknowledge it. In the end, Jian Shuo was branded a traitor and his entire clan was slaughtered.

Faced with all this, Yuan Xi felt a lingering trace of bewilderment and bitterness. Were political struggles truly this cruel? To be born into the Yuan family—was it a blessing or a curse? Trapped within the game, one truly had no control over one's own destiny.

During the court assembly the next day, He Jin was brimming with high spirits and vigor. In his capacity as regent, he appointed Yuan Shao as Colonel of the Cheng-jungle, He Yong as Inspector of the Northern Army, Xu You as Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, and Zheng Tai as a Master of Writing. At the same time, more than twenty of his close confidants received promotions.

He Jin and the Confucian scholars achieved a preliminary victory in their struggle against the eunuch faction. Meanwhile, Dong Chong, the younger brother of Empress Dowager Dong, was appointed General of the Chariots and Cavalry. This was a helpless move, an expedient measure to stabilize the court's situation.

However, instigated by the Ten Attendants, the General of the Chariots and Cavalry Dong Chong and He Jin vied with each other for power. The eunuchs relied on Dong Chong as their partisan support to keep He Jin in check. This was something He Jin could not tolerate. Whenever Empress Dowager Dong attempted to interfere in state affairs, Empress Dowager He intervened to stop her. Empress Dowager Dong felt intensely resentful.

Thus, Empress Dowager Dong angrily said to Empress Dowager He, "You are now soaring with arrogance, all because you rely on your brother, He Jin! If I were to order the General of the Chariots and Cavalry, Dong Chong, to sever He Jin's head, it would be as easy as turning a hand!"

Hearing these words, Empress Dowager He secretly reported them to He Jin. She intended to overthrow Empress Dowager Dong; after all, Dong Chong was Liu Xie's backer, making him her political rival, and she needed to clear away obstacles for her own son.

Consequently, He Jin and the Three Excellencies jointly submitted a memorial: "Empress Dowager Dong sent the former Mid-Cavalry Attendant Xia Yun and others to collude with provincial and commandery officials, extorting wealth and storing it all in the Yongle Palace where she resides. According to precedent, the queens of vassal states are not permitted to remain in the capital. We request that she be transferred back to her own state."

Empress Dowager He readily approved this memorial.

On the day of Xinsi, He Jin raised an army and surrounded the mansion of the General of the Chariots and Cavalry. He arrested Dong Chong and stripped him of his official post, whereupon Dong Chong committed suicide.

Shortly afterward, Empress Dowager Dong, consumed by worry and fear, suddenly passed away of a sudden death. Rumors spread among historians that Empress Dowager He had sent someone to deliver a cup of poisoned wine at the time.

From then on, He Jin's family lost the hearts of the people. Was it truly the hearts of the common people? More likely, it was the hearts of the literati. It seemed the scholar-bureaucrat class was not of one mind with He Jin either.

In May of 189, He Jin reported to Empress Dowager He, proposing to execute the eunuchs. However, Empress Dowager Empress Dowager He refused to consent, and He Jin did not dare to defy her imperial will, ultimately compromising. Afterward, he thought to himself, "Perhaps we should just kill a few whose crimes are most glaring?"

Little did he realize that wild grass must be pulled up by the roots; otherwise, the spring breeze will cause it to grow again. Regrettably, He Jin was not a qualified politician after all. His ultimate fate could already be foreseen. Politics is cruel.

That day, Yuan Shao once again offered advice on executing the eunuchs, saying, "The eunuchs are close to the Supreme One and transmit imperial decrees. If they are not completely wiped out, they will surely leave behind endless disaster. Furthermore, now that the plan has been exposed, why does the General not make a prompt decision? Delays bring changes; acting too late will surely invite catastrophe."

However, because Empress Dowager He's mother, Lady Wuyang, and He Jin's younger brother, He Miao, had repeatedly accepted bribes from the eunuchs, they meddled from within. Obstructed from multiple directions, the matter ultimately came to nothing. Because He Jin was naturally indecisive and hesitant, there was still no result.

"I also wish to execute the eunuchs, but as for the Empress Dowager's side..."

Seeing this situation, Yuan Shao offered advice once more, saying, "You can summon fierce generals and heroes from the four quarters to lead troops into the capital and bring pressure to bear on the Empress Dowager."

"A brilliant plan! A brilliant plan indeed! Where is Chen Lin?" He Jin asked with great joy.

"The Chief Clerk Chen Lin is here," Chen Lin stepped into the hall and bowed, saying.

"Chen Lin, draft a decree for me, summoning the lords of the four quarters to enter the capital and await orders, so that they may join me in executing the eunuchs." He Jin looked at Chen Lin and issued his command.

"General-in-Chief, this must not be! These lowly eunuch scoundrels—why summon the lords of the four quarters? You, General, hold supreme military power and bear the imperial mandate. You stride like a dragon and a tiger, able to act as you please. A single slip of paper with your command is enough to execute the eunuchs with your own hands—following the will of Heaven above and responding to the desires of the people below. This is an easy task; why abandon your authority and seek external reinforcements? If frontier troops march into the interior, it will be a case of the strongest vying for dominance, and I fear it will provoke chaos."

Chen Lin explained the pros and cons of the matter to He Jin.

"Speak no more nonsense! Withdraw at once." He Jin furrowed his brow.

At this moment, Cao Cao also stepped out of the ranks and advised, "Eunuchs have existed in all ages, past and present. It is merely a matter of rulers refusing to grant them authority. In the present situation, if one wishes to eliminate the eunuchs, a single prison warden is quite enough. Why summon the lords of the four quarters and throw the capital into turmoil?"

"Mengde must be drunk. I recall that you are also the descendant of a eunuch."

In his cups, He Jin looked at Cao Cao and could not help uttering these words.

"Hmph! The one who will plunge the realm into chaos is none other than He Jin." Cao Cao flicked his sleeves and strode away.