Chapter 17: Zhang He!

After much negotiation, the appointments were finalized: Yuan Shao was named Great General, and Yuan Shu became Grand Marshal.

Immediately following this, Yuan Shao escorted Liu Xie to tour the second palace.

“Your Majesty, this second palace consists of nine halls designated for receiving officials, handling state affairs, hosting banquets, and providing rest.”

“I have prepared one hundred serving girls and two hundred servants within the palace to attend to you. Additionally, there is a thousand-strong imperial guard stationed here to protect the imperial palace and ensure Your Majesty’s safety.” Yuan Shao briefly outlined the palace arrangements for Liu Xie.

Having already provided such a grand palace, he naturally spared no expense on personnel. Thus, he assigned three hundred individuals to serve Liu Xie directly, along with a full contingent of a thousand imperial guards - truly an impressive display of hospitality.

“So many?” Liu Xie marveled inwardly at Yuan Shao’s generosity.

Not only did Boss Yuan gift him a massive villa, but he also furnished it with servants and even an imperial guard! This wasn’t just any boss; he was practically a godfather!

Before Liu Xie could respond, Yuan Shao called out behind him, “Zhang He, come forth and pay your respects to His Majesty!”

As his voice trailed off, a robust and seemingly reserved general emerged from the crowd, immediately kneeling before Liu Xie.

“This humble general Zhang He greets Your Majesty!”

Though not loud, his voice sent a shiver through Liu Xie, nearly causing him to gasp aloud.

Z-Zhang He?!

Liu Xie wondered if he was hallucinating.

One of the renowned Five Elite Generals, comparable to the Five Tiger Generals of Shu, had been assigned as his imperial guard commander? To put it mildly, this role could be considered equivalent to the Palace Protector; bluntly, just the head of palace security.

During the dynasty’s zenith, the position held considerable prestige. But now, with the Han Imperial Family diminished and himself being an imposter Emperor, serving as his guard commander offered no prospects for advancement.

Was this how Yuan Shao valued talent?

“Oh… ah, yes, very good, General, please rise.” Suppressing his astonishment, Liu Xie regained composure and spoke amicably, stepping forward to personally help Zhang He up.

This gracious treatment left Zhang He somewhat overwhelmed.

“Your Majesty, Zhang He was originally under Han Fu’s command. After I took Jizhou, he pledged allegiance to me,” Yuan Shao explained with a smile. “Zhang He is exceptionally brave, far surpassing most men. With him leading the imperial guard and protecting the palace, Your Majesty can rest assured without any worries.”

Despite his flattering words, Yuan Shao internally did not hold Zhang He in high regard.

Yuan Shao boasted numerous formidable generals under his command, such as Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Qu Yi, Han Meng, and Chunyu Qiong—all capable of leading independent forces. Zhang He, merely a recent defector with no notable battle achievements, hardly caught Yuan Shao’s attention.

However, sidelining him could lead others to perceive Yuan Shao as narrow-minded for not utilizing defectors. Instead, it made more sense to put him to use by commanding the imperial guard.

“Indeed, General,” Liu Xie nodded in agreement, his expression remaining unchanged despite internally bursting with joy. “With you at the helm, we can rest assured.”

Just moments ago, he had realized something crucial—Zhang He had only recently joined Yuan Shao and was not yet highly regarded. It wasn’t until later when he defected to Cao Cao that he truly began to distinguish himself.

To Liu Xie’s surprise, here was an opportunity to snatch up this overlooked talent!

“While my claim to the throne may be false, aside from Yuan Shao, Ju Shou, and those aligned with Cao Cao, nobody else knows the truth.” Liu Xie pondered, “Perhaps I can leverage this position to gather loyal supporters around me.”

His thoughts started to shift rapidly. Initially, he hadn’t considered such a strategy, but Yuan Shao inadvertently presenting Zhang He to him changed his perspective subtly.

His intention wasn’t to vie for power and conquer the world; rather, it was simply self-preservation. Liu Xie couldn’t be sure if Yuan Shao would spare him after exploiting his position, so he refused to become a helpless pawn.

Yuan Shao remained oblivious to Liu Xie’s thoughts. After leaving Zhang He behind, he said, “Then, Your Majesty, we shall take our leave now.”

With that, he departed with his entourage of officials.

Liu Xie and Zhang He were left standing alone.

“Finally… I’m free.” As Liu Xie watched Yuan Shao’s group depart, a sense of relief washed over him.

Moving from the Lodge to this temporary imperial residence merely enlarged his cage, but still, he felt a profound connection to the sentiment of escaping confinement and returning to nature.

At least he no longer had to endure that cramped little courtyard!

While Liu Xie basked in the joy of his newfound freedom, Zhang He respectfully approached him from behind to bid farewell.

“Your Majesty, this humble general must go organize the imperial guard and arrange defenses for the palace. Please allow me to take my leave,” Zhang He said, bowing deeply with utmost respect.

Hearing this, Liu Xie snapped out of his reverie and promptly reached out to grasp Zhang He’s arm, smiling warmly. “Ah, no rush on that matter. First, accompany us to the pavilion in the garden and let’s chat awhile.”

“Your Majesty, I…” With Liu Xie holding his arm, Zhang He felt somewhat at a loss.

Gripping someone’s arm or offering support were gestures by those in power to convey intimacy and trust towards their subordinates.

Zhang He, considering himself merely a humble General of the Household, wondered what merits he possessed to receive such honor from the Emperor.

Before Zhang He could decline, Liu Xie pulled him toward a nearby pavilion without hesitation.

“Don’t just stand there, General, come sit with me,” Liu Xie said as he took a seat on a stone bench first, gesturing for Zhang He to join him.

Hearing this, Zhang He hastily waved his hands in refusal, “No, no, no, it is enough for this humble general to stand. How could I possibly sit beside Your Majesty? It would be grossly disrespectful.”

“All right then.” Liu Xie respected Zhang He’s decision and didn’t press further.

His intention was to build rapport with Zhang He, hoping to potentially bring him under his influence. However, overwhelming him with excessive enthusiasm might scare him off, which wouldn’t serve any purpose.

Noticing Zhang He’s cautious demeanor, Liu Xie smiled reassuringly. “There’s no need to be so tense, General. We simply wanted to have a chat since you will now be responsible for ensuring our safety. Surely, getting acquainted makes sense, doesn’t it?”

Hearing this, Zhang He felt slightly reassured and understood why Liu Xie was so eager to engage with him.

The commander of the imperial guard served as the Emperor’s closest protector. Typically, this position would be filled by members of the imperial clan or someone the Emperor trusted deeply. As an outsider suddenly appointed to such a role, it was natural for the Emperor to feel uneasy.

After pondering briefly, Zhang He responded solemnly, “Your Majesty, I originally served under Governor Han Fu of Ji Province. However, when Yuan Shao took control of Jizhou, I joined his forces.”

“But please rest assured, Your Majesty, I am not a retainer solely to Han Fu or Yuan Shao. My loyalty lies with the Great Han and its Emperor.”

“Now that I have been entrusted with commanding the imperial guard, I will protect Your Majesty with my life.” Zhang He spoke with conviction, his expression resolute.

His words made it abundantly clear that Liu Xie needn’t worry about his allegiance to either Han Fu or Yuan Shao; his devotion lay with the Han court itself.