Chương 3: Buying an official position in Luoyang and encountering Cao Cao

The next morning, everything was ready.

Liu Ce, dressed in a close-fitting outfit with a gold-threaded soft armor underneath and a sword at his waist, bid farewell to Liu Bo and the people in the mansion. With ten guards, the group mounted their horses, took the money, and left Hejian, galloping towards Luoyang.

He knew that this trip to Luoyang would be a crucial step for him to gain a foothold in this chaotic world, for himself and for the Liu family.

……

half a month later.

The majestic outline of Luoyang finally appeared on the horizon like a crouching behemoth.

Liu Ce and his companions stood outside Luoyang, gazing upon the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty, its palaces towering and its streets bustling with activity.

After experiencing the grandeur of Luoyang, we entered the city through the North Gate.

Liu Ce led his horse along the bustling street. He knew that in the capital, where he was unfamiliar with the area, directly seeking an official position would be tantamount to walking into a trap.

At this point, a middleman is needed, someone who is well-versed in this matter and can help him get things done.

After Liu Ce and his group found a place to rest.

After making inquiries from various sources, he finally found his target: Li Feng, a trusted eunuch in the household of Zhang Rang, one of the Ten Attendants.

This person held a position in the palace, was well-informed, and was extremely greedy. He specialized in connecting people who wanted to take shortcuts with others, and made huge profits from it.

Liu Ce did not act rashly. He waited outside a restaurant that Li Feng frequented.

After Li Feng emerged drunk, Liu Ce stepped forward and discreetly placed a heavy gold ingot into his hand.

Li Feng weighed the amount in his hand, and his drunkenness immediately subsided considerably.

He squinted and looked Liu Ce up and down. Seeing that he was dressed in fine clothes and had an extraordinary demeanor, he knew that a job had come in, and it was a big client.

"Young master, what brings you here?" Li Feng's tone immediately became obsequious.

Liu Ce smiled slightly and lowered his voice.

"I am Liu Ce from Hejian. I wish to purchase an official position and serve the court, but unfortunately, I have no one to recommend me. I have heard of the extraordinary abilities of Li Huangmen, so I have come to seek his advice. If this is successful, I will reward you handsomely."

Li Feng weighed the gold in his hand, a greedy smile spreading across his face.

"So it's Young Master Liu. No problem, no problem. Come with me, let's find a place and talk slowly."

……

Guided by Li Feng, Liu Ce bypassed the main gate of Zhang Rang's residence and entered through a secluded side gate. After passing through several courtyards, he was led to a luxuriously furnished but somewhat eerie side room.

Inside the hall, a slightly plump, fair-skinned middle-aged eunuch was reclining on a couch, resting with his eyes closed. He was Zhang Rang, one of the emperor's most trusted eunuchs.

"System check..."

[Ding, in progress...] Name: Zhang Rang Gender: Male/Female Age: 48 [Strength]: 25 Commander: 33 [Politics]: 81 (Second-rate) Intelligence: 86 (Second-rate) 【Charm】: 52 [Appearance]: 51cm [Hobbies]: Fondness for power.

"Zhang Rang, are you Liu Ce, the one who wants to see us?"

Zhang Rang did not open his eyes, his voice was high-pitched, and carried an undeniable arrogance.

Liu Ce's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface and bowed respectfully.

"I am Liu Ce, paying my respects to Lord Zhang. I have long admired your illustrious name, and it is my great honor to meet you today."

Zhang Rang slowly opened his eyes. He liked to be called "Lord" by others. Then, he used his venomous gaze to sweep over Liu Ce, as if he wanted to see through him from the inside out.

"Hmph, prestige? I'm just an old servant by His Majesty's side." Zhang Rang said with a contemptuous tone.

"Li Feng should have told you that this place wasn't given away for nothing."

"Tell me, what official position do you want to donate to our family?"

Liu Ce was prepared. He stepped forward, placed a heavy wooden box on the table, and gently opened it.

It was filled with twenty ingots of gold of the highest quality.

"You flatter me, my lord," Liu Ce said sincerely.

"This is a small gift, nothing more than a token of my respect. I hope Your Majesty will accept it with a smile. I do not seek high office or generous salary; I only wish to obtain a local official position so that I may share the burdens of the court and serve Your Majesty."

Zhang Rang's gaze was drawn to the gold on the table, a flicker of greed crossing his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He didn't look at the gold; instead, he fixed his gaze on Liu Ce again.

"Oh? These days, official positions in the imperial court are extremely valuable."

"According to His Majesty's decree, the prefects of inland prefectures are entitled to 20 million coins, and the governors of border prefectures to 10 million coins. Have you brought enough money?"

"My lord, I wish to go to Youzhou to serve as the governor of Zhuojun. I have ten million coins here. What do you think, my lord?"

Liu Ce stepped forward again, placed an exquisite wooden box steadily on the table, and then gently lifted the lid.

Inside, two crystal-clear glass balls lay quietly.

"This one with the floral pattern is specially presented to you, my lord; while this one with the dragon pattern is prepared for Your Majesty," Liu Ce said slowly.

Upon hearing Liu Ce's words, Zhang Rang first leaned closer to examine it carefully, then widened his eyes in astonishment and exclaimed in surprise, "What is this? It's so beautiful!"

He picked up the patterned glass ball and examined it repeatedly against the light, his initial shock quickly turning into a broad smile.

He patted Liu Ce on the shoulder with satisfaction and said with a smile, "You've really put your heart into this."

As Zhang Rang's fingertips touched the cool, smooth glass ball, his mind was already in turmoil.

"These rare treasures are definitely not ordinary things!" he exclaimed to himself.

"The dragon-patterned ball I present to His Majesty will surely please him, and my standing before him will increase even further. As for this patterned ball..."

He glanced at Liu Ce, a shrewd calculation flashing in his eyes.

"Liu Ce is no ordinary man to be able to produce such a treasure. He can be used, but we must also be wary of him. Let's accept this offer for now and see what his next scheme is. If he's sensible, he'll benefit from it in the future; if he harbors ulterior motives..."

"Hahaha... you little rascal, you really know how to charm people, knowing that we like this kind of thing. Don't worry, you can go back and wait for news."

"The position of Prefect of Zhuojun can only belong to you, Liu Ce. We need time to work on it."

Liu Ce was overjoyed, knowing that things were mostly settled. He bowed again, saying, "Thank you, my lord! I await good news."

After leaving Zhang Rang's residence, Liu Ce did not immediately return to the inn, but instead chose to wander around Luoyang.

He knew that the waiting time was a good opportunity to gather information and observe the situation.

As the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Luoyang was a melting pot of people, including high-ranking officials, ordinary people, and many ambitious but frustrated heroes.

That day, Liu Ce arrived near the famous Imperial Academy in Luoyang. He had heard that students often discussed philosophy there, and perhaps he could hear some useful information.

Sure enough, in an open space outside the Imperial Academy, a group of students were gathered together, arguing heatedly about current affairs.

Among them, a man who was seven feet tall, not particularly tall, but with a resolute face, was especially eye-catching. His voice was loud and clear, and his words were sharp and to the point, drawing nods of approval from many around him.

Liu Ce's heart skipped a beat; this person's appearance and demeanor reminded him of someone else.