The sudden upheaval in the Imperial Palace abruptly tightened the atmosphere in Luoyang. Then the news spread in every direction. Ever since the Taiping Army had stormed Luoyang, earth-shaking reports had come one after another, until the whole world was nearly numb to them.
Naturally, the first to receive the news were those nearer Luoyang in the East of the Passes: the High-ranking Marquises of the Five Surnames, the scholarly clans versed in Classical Studies, and the powerful local gentry of the commanderies and counties.
After returning to the East of the Passes, the High-ranking Marquises of the Five Surnames had parted ways and gone back to their respective Marquisate States to suppress the bandits. Fortunately, the Taiping Army had marched west toward Luoyang, greatly reducing their pressure and losses.
The Five Provinces were being cleared step by step. After escaping, Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and the others had joined in as well, chiefly to build up their strength.
Although Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu were brothers, their positions within the family were entirely different. Yuan Shu had returned directly to the Yuan Clan's base in Runan Commandery, one of the most populous commanderies in Great Han, with more people even than certain provinces.
Yuan Shao lacked Yuan Shu's standing and could not obtain much material investment from the family. The Yuan Clan's support for him consisted mainly of prestige.
Yuan Shu had gone south, so he went north. As it happened, too many Inspectors and Commandery Governors had died in the battle against the Taiping Army. Han Fu, the Inspector of Jizhou, and his leading general Pan Feng had died at Zhang Jue's hands, giving Yuan Shao an opportunity.
Originally, Yuan Shao had only wanted to become a Commandery Governor. But the deputy administrator from the Hebei