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As the carriage traveled along the mountain path, a low rumble of hooves echoed from afar, shaking the ground like thunder. As dust swirled, a massive army gradually came into view, banners fluttering in the wind, their imposing presence reminiscent of a long-dormant beast awakening. Emperor Shao's gaze was captivated by this sudden display of might; his hands gripped the saddle tightly as his breath quickened. "Whose army is that...?" he gasped.
Yuan Shao immediately spurred his horse forward, drawing his sword across his chest with a cold voice, "Who goes there? State your name at once!"
As the army advanced, a heavily armored general rode out, the horse whinnying and kicking up a cloud of yellow dust. His gaze was sharp as a blade, and his tone was deep and commanding. "Dong Zhuo, Governor of Xiliang, is here! Where is the Emperor?"
Emperor Shao's breath caught in his throat, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He looked up at Dong Zhuo, whose presence seemed capable of tearing apart heaven and earth. His lips moved but no words came out. Instinctively, he shrank back, fear evident in his eyes.
Beside him, the King of Chenliu's expression hardened, revealing an unexpected calmness for someone of his age. He tightened the reins and leaned slightly forward, speaking clearly and forcefully. "Dong Zhuo, are you here to protect or to seize the Emperor?"
Dong Zhuo sneered, shifting his gaze to the King of Chenliu with an added measure of scrutiny and mockery. His hand rested on the saddle as he replied dismissively, "You jest, my lord. As the Governor of Xiliang, how could I commit such treasonous acts? I am here by imperial decree to ensure the safety of His Majesty and all ministers."
The King of Chenliu did not falter under Dong Zhuo's imposing demeanor; his voice remained steady and even carried a hint of sharpness. "If you are here to protect us, then the Emperor is right here. Why do you not dismount and pay your respects?"
At these words, Dong Zhuo's smile froze instantly. A flicker of anger flashed in his eyes but was quickly suppressed. He scrutinized the King of Chenliu; though the boy's tone was calm, each word pressed firmly against him without fear of his intimidation. He glanced at Emperor Shao, who remained stiffly seated on his horse, panic-stricken and utterly lost in the situation.
Dong Zhuo silently mocked himself, thinking: "A cowardly emperor with such a clever younger brother? What a pity... If only this courage were used to assist rather than obstruct my plans; it could lead to great things. But if it hinders me, he will simply become a discarded pawn."
Yet outwardly, he quickly donned a mask of respectfulness, dismounting and kneeling on one knee with cupped fists raised high. "I bow before Your Majesty and greet you, King of Chenliu. I have long heard of Your Majesty's benevolence; it is indeed my fortune to see your illustrious countenance today."
The King of Chenliu watched Dong Zhuo kneel with an unchanging expression but remained wary in his heart. He replied without showing any emotion, "Governor Dong has traveled far; it must have been arduous. However, my brother and I must return to the capital swiftly. If you truly come to protect us, then please accompany us on our journey."
Dong Zhuo raised his head slightly; hidden within his gaze was a glimmer of mockery and calculation, yet his tone remained unbroken: "What you say is entirely correct. I shall ensure Your Majesty reaches the capital safely."
He turned around and surveyed the vast army behind him with a hidden smirk while contemplating: "A cowardly emperor with such a sharp-tongued brother... Interesting. But if someone more capable were to take this position instead of him, it might not be such a bad thing."
He stood up and brushed off the dust from his clothes before commanding loudly to his soldiers: "All troops on alert! Escort His Majesty forward!" His voice boomed through the valley like thunder.
The King of Chenliu remained unfazed as he returned to Emperor Shao's side and whispered softly, "Brother, do not worry; though this man seems fierce and ruthless, he does not dare act recklessly now."
Emperor Shao nodded slightly but still wore an expression filled with deep wariness. From afar, Dong Zhuo observed this exchange with an increasingly profound smile that concealed an unsettling glint in his eyes.
On that day, Emperor Shao and the King of Chenliu returned to the palace with their entourage, where Empress He had been waiting outside the gates. Upon seeing the disheveled appearance of Emperor Shao and the King of Chenliu, she rushed forward, throwing herself at Emperor Shao's feet, tightly embracing him with tears streaming down her face. "My son, you have suffered! Mother is sorry for you!"
Emperor Shao, held tightly by Empress He, could not stop the tears from falling. His voice was weak as he replied, "Mother... I have returned safely." The King of Chenliu stood nearby, gently patting the Empress's arm. Though he forced a calm expression, his eyes betrayed a hint of exhaustion and sorrow.
Soon after, ministers from the palace arrived upon hearing the news. The emperor and his subjects knelt before each other, their cries echoing in the air, creating a somber and oppressive atmosphere. However, when Empress He ordered an inventory of the palace's belongings, she discovered that the Imperial Seal was missing. At this revelation, everyone exchanged worried glances, and the tension in the room intensified.
"The Imperial Seal is a vital national treasure; how can it be lost?" Yuan Shao murmured to himself, his face darkening. He cast a discreet glance at Dong Zhuo not far away, who appeared unconcerned, standing leisurely to one side as if this matter had nothing to do with him.
Dong Zhuo's army had taken position outside the city under the pretext of "protecting the capital." Every day he led his heavily armored cavalry into the city; their horses galloped through the streets, forcing the citizens to flee in fear. The sounds of clashing weapons and iron boots weighed heavily on everyone's hearts, plunging Luoyang into a stifling silence.
Dong Zhuo remained unfazed by this atmosphere. He strode into the palace with steady steps and an air of confidence, even engaging in loud laughter within its halls. His gaze roamed freely over every corner as a faint smile lingered on his lips, as if he owned the entire court.
One day, Colonel Bao Xin from the rear army hurried to Yuan Shao's residence and exclaimed without preamble, "Yuan Shao! Dong Zhuo is a wolf in sheep's clothing; he harbors treasonous intentions! Given the current situation, we must eliminate him immediately; otherwise, we will face endless troubles!"
Yuan Shao sat behind his desk with a furrowed brow and a serious expression. He looked up at Bao Xin and replied softly, "Colonel Bao, I am well aware of Dong Zhuo's ambitions. However, the court has only just stabilized; if we act now, it may lead to greater chaos and harm our nation’s foundation. We must proceed with caution."
Hearing this, Bao Xin felt increasingly anxious and raised his voice slightly. "Caution? If we remain too cautious, by the time he controls all military power, we will become victims ourselves! Do you think Dong Zhuo brings his troops into the city just to show off?"
Yuan Shao waved his hand firmly. "This matter is serious; we need to observe further. Colonel Bao, do not be hasty."
With a cold laugh, Bao Xin turned on his heel and left. He then went to Wang Yun's residence and spoke candidly upon meeting him: "Lord Wang, Dong Zhuo is greedy and brutal; he acts without restraint. Can you not see this? If we do not remove him soon, he will swallow up the court!"
Wang Yun’s expression was complex as he stroked his beard in contemplation before responding softly, "What Colonel Bao says is understood in my heart. However, this matter is delicate; we must tread carefully. Allow me a few more days for discussion."
After hearing this, Bao Xin's eyes reflected deep dissatisfaction and anger. He bowed slightly but spoke with restrained fury: "If that is your decision, I shall say no more. But Lord Wang must be aware of Dong Zhuo's threat."
Wang Yun sighed as he watched Bao Xin leave, feeling as if his thoughts were tangled like a mess of threads.
Returning to camp, Bao Xin let out a long sigh. Seeing that no action could be taken in the capital, he ordered his troops to pack up their belongings and set off towards Mount Tai. Looking back at Luoyang’s direction, he murmured to himself: "There is no hope left here; however, Dong Zhuo's chaos will not cease easily."
In the distance, as the sun sank lower in the sky, it painted the horizon of the capital in fiery red hues—a foreboding omen brewing on the horizon—while within the city itself, its citizens found themselves with nowhere to escape.
In the deep of night, the tent of Dong Zhuo was brightly lit, while outside, hundreds of armored soldiers stood guard, their weapons glinting coldly in the firelight. Inside the tent, Dong Zhuo sat at the head of the table, clad in heavy armor, his fingers lightly tapping on the surface. His gaze was sharp and penetrating, exuding an undeniable confidence and calculation.
"My brother He Jin's subordinates are now all under my control," Dong Zhuo said in a low yet powerful voice, pride evident in his words. He turned his head to look at Li Ru, who stood within the tent, his eyes sharp as knives. "Now, who in the court dares to defy me, Dong Zhuo? However... Emperor Shao is too timid; he trembles even when he speaks. How can the court be stable? If a more courageous person were to ascend the throne, perhaps the world could be unified."
Li Ru smiled softly and stepped forward, whispering, "Lord, you must be referring to King of Chenliu."
Dong Zhuo nodded, a glint of cunning and coldness in his eyes. "That boy, though young, has some depth. He speaks and acts with considerable method. If I support him to the throne, it will be more convenient for me. We have some friendship; in the future, he will surely remember my kindness."
Upon hearing this, Li Ru pondered for a moment before bowing deeply and responding solemnly, "I fully agree with your insight, Lord. Given the current situation, there is no true backbone within or outside the court. If we are to carry out a change of rulers, now is indeed the time. Otherwise, delays may lead to unforeseen changes."
Dong Zhuo raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly very pleased with this response. He stood up and walked steadily to the map before him, pointing to the location of the capital with a cold smile. "Very well. But mere kindness is not enough; what I want is an authority that no one dares challenge. Tomorrow, I will summon all officials at Wen Ming Garden and publicly announce the deposition of Emperor Shao and the ascension of King of Chenliu as emperor. If anyone dares to oppose..."
He paused dramatically and slammed his palm on the table with a loud bang that made the candles flicker slightly. His voice turned icy enough to send chills down one’s spine: "Let their heads roll on the ground to affirm my authority as Dong Zhuo!"
A faint smile crept across Li Ru's lips as he bent slightly and said, "Your foresight is remarkable, Lord; I will do my utmost to assist you. However, for this change of rulers to succeed, we must first draft a justification in the name of divine mandate to silence any dissenting voices."
Dong Zhuo laughed heartily and patted Li Ru on the shoulder. "You truly understand me. Good! I leave this matter in your hands; ensure that tomorrow no official has any excuse to oppose!"
The atmosphere inside the tent was cold and oppressive; candlelight illuminated their faces with a cruel determination. Outside, soldiers stood in formation like a forest of spears, exuding a chilling aura of death. Dong Zhuo's military might was like an iron torrent firmly controlling all of Luoyang, as if a giant beast was awakening, ready to tear apart this facade of peace.
Dong Zhuo fixed his gaze on the map with a cold smile playing on his lips as he murmured to himself: "What emperor? What court? This world will eventually belong to me."
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