As Guan Hai and his men slipped into Luoyang, Emperor Ling and his entourage finally had a moment to catch their breath.
Although Zhang Bao had not ordered the Yellow Turbans to pursue, they had no way of knowing that! After being escorted out by the Imperial Guards, they had galloped along the official road without stopping. If not for the bright starlight that night, they might have been traveling in darkness. It wasn't until they had traveled more than ten li and scouts reported no pursuit that Yu Huatian finally ordered them to stop and rest.
However, as soon as they stopped, several keen-eyed scouts approached. "Commander, look, it seems like Luoyang is on fire!"
"Hmm?" Yu Huatian was startled and looked up, only catching a glimpse of a reddish glow in the distance. But this was enough to confirm the scouts' report. Still, Yu Huatian couldn't understand why there was unrest in Luoyang when they had already escaped the city. Had the Yellow Turbans taken advantage and stormed in? Impossible! It was late at night, and even if they knew the situation, they might not dare to enter. What if it was an ambush? Therefore, Yu Huatian was certain that the disturbance within the city was not the work of the Yellow Turbans.
But a question arose: The Emperor had fled, and the Yellow Turbans were not entering. So, where did the unrest in the city come from?
"Eunuch Yu~!" While Yu Huatian was lost in thought, Emperor Ling, having escaped to safety, approached with a smile and asked with anticipation, "Since those Yellow Turbans aren't pursuing, why don't we rest here for the night before leaving?"
"Oh?" Yu Huatian pondered for a moment and understood Emperor Ling's intention. The Emperor was reluctant to leave! It seemed that after escaping Luoyang, survival was no longer the Emperor's top priority. It made sense! Although they could re-establish the court in Chang'an, it wouldn't be as convenient as the existing one. Perhaps, he only needed to wait here for the allied forces to arrive and perhaps defeat the Yellow Turbans, retaking Luoyang.
With this thought, Yu Huatian looked at Emperor Ling with a hint of amusement and gestured towards Luoyang. "Your Majesty, resting for a night is certainly fine, but your Luoyang may be in peril!"
"What?" Emperor Ling was shocked and instinctively looked in the direction Yu Huatian pointed. "Gasp!" "Is that the direction of the Imperial Palace? What's going on? Did you set it on fire?"
"???" As Emperor Ling spoke, it was Yu Huatian's turn to be stunned. The Imperial Palace? Set it on fire? No way! He didn't recall ordering anyone to set fire to the palace when they left. Although he was sure he hadn't given such an order, Yu Huatian still waved for one of his men. "Go ask which squad was covering our rear and if they set fire to anything in Luoyang!" "Yes!" The guard agreed and turned to leave, clearly going to find the rear-guard.
Seeing this, Emperor Ling on the side became uncertain and looked at Yu Huatian suspiciously. "Eunuch Yu, you really didn't set it?"
"Why would I?" Faced with Emperor Ling's questioning gaze, Yu Huatian spread his hands helplessly. "We were trying to sneak out of the city. What would I gain by setting a fire?" "Besides..." "We only brought people out this time. There are still so many treasures in the Imperial Palace!" "If I dared to burn down the Imperial Palace, my lord would have my head. Why would I do such a thing?"
"This..." Hearing Yu Huatian's explanation, Emperor Ling also began to realize. Right! It didn't make sense! Although the Han court was a bit impoverished now, the Imperial Palace was still filled with treasures. Even if they couldn't take them all this time, they could always come back for them later. After all, even if the treasures fell into the hands of the Yellow Turbans, they wouldn't be able to sell them quickly. And with Ye Feng's current strength, he wouldn't resort to destroying what he couldn't obtain.
But if it wasn't Ye Feng's doing, then who could it be? The Yellow Turbans? That was even less likely! Those beggars would cherish treasures like they were their own lives; how could they bear to burn them? If it wasn't Ye Feng or the Yellow Turbans, then... the noble families? That shouldn't be it! While those noble families were wealthy, who would complain about having too much money? Unless... unless there was some other reason?
As Emperor Ling pondered this, his eyes narrowed, and an ominous premonition inexplicably arose in his heart. The Imperial Palace? Burning the Imperial Palace? Who would do such a thing, and for what reason?
"Commander~!" Just as Emperor Ling was on the verge of guessing the answer, the锦衣卫 (Imperial Guard) who had left earlier quickly returned. "Your subordinate has already asked the squads covering the rear. No one received orders to set fires, and no one set fire anywhere in the city!"
"That's good!" Relieved that it wasn't their own men who started the fire, Yu Huatian visibly relaxed. After all, those treasures in the Imperial Palace had long been coveted by his lord. If they were burned...
"No!" Before Yu Huatian could contemplate his own fate, he was startled by a sudden exclamation from beside him. Turning his head, he saw Emperor Ling's usually smiling face appear so pale in the torchlight. "What's wrong?" Yu Huatian leaned closer curiously, waving his hand in front of Emperor Ling. "Your Majesty, what happened?"
"Eunuch Yu~!" Emperor Ling, having snapped back to reality, looked up at Yu Huatian and said with bitterness, "We, we might be in trouble!"
"Trouble?" Yu Huatian frowned and waved his subordinates behind him before asking, "Your Majesty, what kind of trouble?"
"Big trouble!" Emperor Ling let out a deep sigh and pointed towards Luoyang. "My Imperial Palace is burning!"
"Huh?" Yu Huatian was momentarily confused and stared blankly at Emperor Ling. Wasn't that obvious? He knew the Imperial Palace was burning, but he swore it wasn't them who set it! Did the Emperor think he was going to pay for it?
"Eunuch Yu~!" Seeing Yu Huatian's bewildered expression, Emperor Liu Hong's voice suddenly became agitated. "My, my Imperial Palace is burning, that's the Imperial Palace!" "My Imperial Palace is burning, then what am I? Am I still the same me?" "Once those noble families unite and declare me dead..."
"???" As Emperor Ling spoke, Yu Huatian's expression also became solemn. Damn it! Such ruthless tactics! They had just planned to undermine the noble families, and now they were immediately refusing to acknowledge him? This was...
"Let's go!" Without waiting for Emperor Ling to say anything more, Yu Huatian stood up with a cold face. "Let's go back and discuss with my lord. If necessary, it wouldn't be bad to eliminate those noble families first!"
"This..." Hearing Yu Huatian's arrangement, Emperor Ling hesitated, his expression uncertain. "Eunuch Yu, if the allied forces also listen to the noble families, then what's the point of me going to Chang'an?"
"Allied forces?" Thinking of the allied forces composed of noble families, Yu Huatian sneered. "Those allied forces are made up of noble families. Do you still expect them to listen to you?" "Let alone Lu Zhi!" "Although he is the commander-in-chief of the allied forces, who will listen to him when push comes to shove?" "Give up!"
"..." Hearing Yu Huatian's brutally realistic words, Emperor Ling's steps became somewhat unsteady. "If, if that's the case, then why did you save me?!" "Why not just let me die!" "Heh heh..." "To think that my great Han Dynasty would follow in the footsteps of the Qin!"
"..." Looking at the Emperor, who seemed to have lost the will to live, Yu Huatian sighed helplessly. "Your Majesty, please rest assured, my lord has already arranged everything for you!" "As long as you can safely reach Chang'an, someone will resolve this for you!"
"???" Emperor Ling looked up in surprise, not quite understanding what Yu Huatian meant. Arranged everything? What did that mean? He now understood that it wasn't about legitimacy, but about soldiers, many, many soldiers! How could that be arranged? And, wasn't Ye Feng's sphere of influence in Youzhou, Jizhou, and Qingzhou? When did he have influence in Sizhou? Could it be the twenty thousand cavalry from before? That didn't seem right either! Although Ye Feng's twenty thousand cavalry were indeed formidable, his current situation was even worse! It could be said that once the noble families united and announced his death, he would have to face both the Yellow Turbans and the noble families! What could a mere twenty thousand cavalry do?
Alas! Although he could see the suspicion and distrust in Emperor Ling's eyes, Yu Huatian remained silent. He was mainly afraid of startling him! After all, compared to being a puppet, dying early was a quicker release.
...
Outside Luoyang city, about ten li away, on the official road, under the dim moonlight, a convoy of three riders galloped rapidly along the road. Two men and one woman. It was Ye Feng, Yang Yanqi, and Chen Gong, who had separated from the main army at Jiwu! Although they had started slightly later than Yu Huatian, their speed was not much different. Therefore, when Yu Huatian and his men were covering Emperor Ling's escape, they had almost reached the outskirts of Luoyang. They had even heard the sounds of battle caused by the breakout. If not for fearing that it would disrupt Yu Huatian's plan, Ye Feng would have liked to join in the excitement.
But who would have thought that while they decided not to get involved, trouble would find them? Just as they waited for Yu Huatian and his men to successfully break out and were preparing to resume their journey, they saw a fierce fire erupt within Luoyang.
"???" Looking at the flames that had almost illuminated half the sky, Ye Feng's face turned a little green. "What was Yu Huatian doing? Did this governor order him to set a fire?" "Damn it!" "So many treasures weren't brought out, and now it's the same as in history!"
"Hmm?" Chen Gong, listening beside him, understood only half of it, but he couldn't help but defend Yu Huatian. "My lord, from my perspective, this fire has nothing to do with Eunuch Yu!"
"Nothing to do with it?" Ye Feng's eyebrows twitched, and he looked at Chen Gong's somewhat grim expression. "Gongtai, have you thought of something?"
"Somewhat!" Chen Gong took a deep breath and shook his head with a bitter smile. "Although I initially reached this conclusion, I didn't expect these noble families to be so decisive!" "My lord!" "You may have to send troops from Youzhou now, at least a legion!"