As soon as he thought of it, Lawrence Lord began to tremble with excitement—the era belonging to the eunuchs had finally arrived!

The first Disaster of the Partisan Prohibitions had erupted!

Chapter 0012 Consulting the Heavenly Book

On this day, the Colonel-Director of Retainers, Ian Lee, was gathered in his residence with the Imperial University students. Two scholars were discussing matters of emotion and principle, debating the Book of Changes. The audience listened with great interest, thoroughly enjoying themselves. As they listened, suddenly a commotion was heard outside. Ian Lee remained calm, his anger not showing on his face, but the leader of the students, Thomas Grant, was different from Ian Lee. He stood up, furious, and demanded, “What is happening outside? How dare you disturb the scholarly discourse in this residence?”

Suddenly, more than a dozen guards burst in from outside, all armed with weapons. At this, everyone sensed something was wrong. The scholars rose, whispering among themselves, gathering around Ian Lee. Ian Lee stepped forward slowly, his expression unchanged, cupping his hands and saying, “May I ask what brings you gentlemen to my humble abode?”

“Ian Lee, do you recognize me?” Suddenly, someone stepped out from among the guards. This man had a pale, beardless face, wore a red robe, and a small cap, and strode forward quickly. Ian Lee squinted at him—how could he not recognize this man? He said, “Charles Bolton, it’s only been a few days, but you look quite well…”

This man was none other than Ronald Bolton. Ronald Bolton stared at Ian Lee; there was great enmity between them. Previously, Ronald Bolton’s younger brother, Scott Bolton, had served as magistrate of Yewang County. Greedy and brutal, lawless, he even killed a pregnant woman. Hearing of Ian Lee’s reputation, he fled back to the capital in fear of punishment, hiding in a pillar at Ronald Bolton’s house. When Ian Lee learned of this, he led officers to break open the pillar and arrest Scott Bolton, handing him over to the Luoyang prison. After recording his confession, he was executed according to the law. News of this spread throughout the land, and Ian Lee became a model for all, his character beyond reproach.

Ronald Bolton did not mock Ian Lee; he simply cupped his hands and said solemnly, “There is an imperial edict, ordering the guards of the North Prison of the Yellow Gates to arrest Ian Lee! All unrelated persons, stand aside!” At these words, the students erupted in an uproar. Among them were also court officials, who were not afraid of the infamous eunuch Ronald Bolton. The Minister Coachman, David Dunn, slowly stood up, glared coldly at Ronald Bolton, and said, “Even if Lord Lee is guilty, the case should be tried by the Three Judicial Offices. Are the Three Excellencies aware of this? Does the Grand Commandant know?”

“I do not know. This is the order of the state!”

Ian Lee and David Dunn said nothing, but the students could not sit still. They immediately surrounded Ronald Bolton and his men, their hands moving to the hilts of their swords, ready to act at any moment. The guards grew fearful, but Ronald Bolton alone remained calm, once again cupping his hands and saying, “I hope Lord Lee will come with us. Surely the state awaits your presence.”

“Heh, you shameless eunuchs! Lapdogs and lackeys—how dare you arrest Lord Lee?? We will stand here—do you think our swords are dull?”

The student Thomas Grant shouted, suddenly drawing his sword. The surrounding students also drew their swords, glaring angrily at the officials. The guards dared not fight the students and retreated, leaving only Ronald Bolton standing motionless, his gaze fixed on Ian Lee. Ian Lee pondered for a moment before speaking: “Do not resort to violence. I am willing to go.”

“My lord, how can you abandon us!!”

Everyone cried out, then began cursing Ronald Bolton:

“Wicked villain!”

“Shameless scoundrel!”

“Rootless thief!”

“The Zhao Gao of our age!”

Ronald Bolton was surrounded by more than a dozen students, cursed in every way, but his expression did not change. He quietly watched Ian Lee in the distance. Just as Ian Lee was about to speak, a student suddenly shouted, “How unjust is His Majesty! To trust such petty men, to cast the worthy into the wilds—how blind! How foolish!” Accustomed to cursing in daily life, he now shouted even more wildly. At these words, Ronald Bolton suddenly thrust his sword, stabbing the student through the neck. The student stared at him in terror, touched his neck, and instantly collapsed, dead!

“To discuss state affairs in private is a capital crime!”

“Guards, hear my order! Shoot these traitors! If even one escapes, your families will be punished!”

At these words, the guards came to their senses. Since Ronald Bolton had already killed one, they drew their crossbows and prepared to shoot. Ian Lee hurriedly stood at the front, shouting, “You must not! Do not kill them!” The students, enraged by the death of their classmate, ignored the crossbows and drew their swords to charge. Ian Lee roared, “Do you want to force me to my death? One more step, and I will die!” Only then did the students hold back. Ronald Bolton ordered Ian Lee to be arrested, and also had many students seized.

They were taken back to the North Prison of the Yellow Gates.

This scene was happening in many places at once. In a single day, more than four hundred members of the scholar-official class, led by Ian Lee, were arrested, including court officials, renowned local gentry, and students of the Imperial University. Many who resisted arrest were killed. The scholar-officials of the Han dynasty valued honor over life; rather than die in prison, many chose to die under the crossbows.

……

In the State of Hejian, at Jiedu Pavilion, the Little Chubby One, completely unaware that he had stirred up a political storm, was reading in the attic. He had already flipped through the heavenly book many times. The book recorded the lives of hundreds of ministers and officials from three different states, all of which ultimately perished. Especially when he read the part about Wei’s usurpation, just like when the Han emperor had yielded the throne to Wei, the furious Little Chubby One nearly threw the book out the window. How could my great Han yield the Mandate of Heaven to their family? My Liu clan are descendants of the Red Emperor! Sons of Heaven!