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Cao Cao observed the scene with a calm exterior, but he could not hide the joy in his heart. The recent battle not only bolstered the morale of the allied forces but also deepened his understanding of Guan Yu's ferocity. However, before he could say much more, he noticed Zhang Fei stepping forward angrily from behind Liu Bei, shouting loudly, "My brother has slain Hua Xiong with a single strike! If we don't take advantage of this momentum to storm the gates and capture Dong Zhuo alive, what are we waiting for?"
This loud outburst startled the lords within the tent, causing them to shudder slightly. It also ignited Yuan Shu's fury; he slammed his hand on the table and barked, "Even ministers show mutual respect among themselves. How dare a mere subordinate of a county magistrate act so recklessly here? Someone, throw them out!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei's eyes flashed with anger as he prepared to retort, but Liu Bei pulled at his sleeve. Liu Bei whispered, "Third Brother, this is not the place for a war of words; we must not jeopardize our greater plans." Reluctantly, Zhang Fei stepped back, though his piercing gaze remained fixed on Yuan Shu as if he intended to pin him down.
Cao Cao sensed the situation was deteriorating and quickly rose to speak. "Why must you be so angry, Lord Yuan? Rewarding those who achieve merit is a common practice in the military; why should we be so concerned with status?"
Yuan Shu snorted dismissively, his eyes filled with contempt. "If you all value a mere ruffian under a county magistrate so highly, then I, Yuan Shu, shall take my leave and say no more." With that, he made as if to rise from his seat.
Cao Cao felt a pang of urgency and hurriedly advised, "Lord Yuan, please calm down! This is a joint effort to deal with the Traitor; how can we let a single argument disrupt our greater cause? Please sit down and let us discuss our strategy together."
Seeing that everyone's attention was now on him, Yuan Shu felt displeased but could not afford to escalate matters further. He sat back down with a cold expression. Cao Cao noticed that Yuan Shu had calmed down and discreetly instructed someone to bring wine and beef to appease Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. He also ordered Gongsun Zan to temporarily escort the three back to their camp to avoid further conflict.
Meanwhile, outside the gates, Hua Xiong's defeated troops fled back to Si Shui Pass and reported their loss in detail. Li Su was taken aback by the news; he quickly wrote an urgent report and personally delivered it to the Prime Minister's residence in Luoyang.
Dong Zhuo was enjoying himself inside his residence when he saw Li Su's flustered expression. His hand paused mid-air as he raised his cup and coldly asked, "What is it that has you so alarmed?"
Li Su knelt and reported anxiously, "Hua Xiong has been defeated outside the gates. The enemy forces are formidable, and the allied lords are emboldened. According to reports, Yuan Shao is the leader of this alliance, while his uncle Yuan Wei holds the position of Grand Tutor. If they coordinate their efforts from within and without, it could spell disaster."
Dong Zhuo's expression darkened upon hearing this; he suddenly smashed his wine cup onto the ground, causing shards to scatter everywhere. He scoffed angrily, "A mere Yuan Shao dares to oppose me! Li Ru, what do you think we should do?"
Li Ru stepped forward slightly and bowed respectfully. "Prime Minister, losing Hua Xiong is indeed a significant blow; we cannot underestimate the enemy's morale. However, Yuan Shao's connection with Yuan Wei poses a serious threat. In my humble opinion, it would be best for you to lead our forces personally and strike down the allied army with overwhelming force before eliminating Yuan Wei’s internal support to prevent future troubles."
Dong Zhuo's gaze turned cold as he squinted at Li Ru. "Are you suggesting we first eliminate the external threat before dealing with the internal one?"
Li Ru nodded. "Exactly. The enemy forces have not yet fully consolidated. If we can strike decisively and break the coalition, who in the court would dare defy the Prime Minister's orders?"
Dong Zhuo slammed his hand on the armrest and laughed heartily. "A splendid plan! Immediately gather the troops; I will personally lead the campaign and see what these rats are capable of!"
After hearing Li Ru's suggestion, Dong Zhuo sneered, a glint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. He waved his hand, commanding Li Cui and Guo Si to immediately lead five hundred soldiers to surround the residence of Grand Tutor Yuan Wei. With a chilling tone, he declared, "Yuan Wei is in league with Yuan Shao; he will surely become a calamity. You are to act tonight without leaving any survivors! Tomorrow, we will present his head at Si Shui Pass to intimidate the coalition!"
Li Cui and Guo Si accepted their orders and that very night surrounded Yuan Wei's residence heavily. Yuan Wei was still in the hall reading family letters when he suddenly heard the sounds of shouting and killing, doors and windows shaking, with flames illuminating half the night sky. Alarmed, he rushed out of the hall only to be confronted by fully armed Dong Zhuo soldiers bursting in, their blades glinting menacingly. He shouted, "I am the Grand Tutor of the Han; how dare you rebel!"
Li Cui sneered, "By the Prime Minister's command, today we will eradicate your entire Yuan family!" With that, he swung his long knife down, blood splattering everywhere, leaving no one in the household alive. Moments later, Yuan Wei's head was hung high and taken to Si Shui Pass for all to see, meant to instill fear among the lords.
The next day, Dong Zhuo gathered his generals and spoke solemnly. "Now that Yuan Wei has been executed, our concerns about internal traitors have been resolved. Since the coalition does not know their own limits, I will personally confront them and see what waves they can stir up!"
Dong Zhuo then mobilized an army of two hundred thousand, dividing it into two routes. He ordered Li Cui and Guo Si to command fifty thousand troops to guard Si Shui Pass, ensuring stability in the situation without engaging in battle. Meanwhile, he himself led a main force of one hundred fifty thousand straight towards Hu Lao Pass, accompanied by trusted generals like Li Ru, Lü Bu, Fan Chou, and Zhang Ji.
Hu Lao Pass was only fifty miles from Luoyang and had treacherous terrain that could easily choke off the coalition if well-defended. As Dong Zhuo rode towards Hu Lao Pass, he coldly remarked, "These so-called Army of Righteousness are nothing but a rabble. Once they exhaust their supplies, I will easily take their heads."
Upon reaching Hu Lao Pass, Dong Zhuo stood atop a high vantage point surveying the steep terrain; its mountainous features made it easy to defend but hard to attack. Satisfied with what he saw, he ordered Lü Bu to camp with thirty thousand troops at the pass as a forward stronghold and establish multiple defensive lines.
Lü Bu knelt on one knee to accept his orders, his expression stern. "Rest assured, Father; as long as I am here, the coalition will not step beyond this threshold."
Dong Zhuo patted Lü Bu on the shoulder with a chilling smile. "Fengxian, this battle is crucial for our success or failure. As long as we hold Hu Lao Pass, they will be like trapped beasts. Remember, there’s no need for direct confrontation; just let them starve or tire themselves out—that is our best strategy."
Lü Bu clasped his fists and replied, "I will not fail the trust of my father." He then led his troops straight to the front of the pass to set up camp, with blades and halberds forming a forest, banners fluttering in the sky, and the sound of war drums booming, creating an imposing atmosphere. Dong Zhuo stood atop the pass, coldly gazing down at the scene before him, seemingly envisioning the coalition forces in disarray, with the lords kneeling in surrender.
Ma Tan rode swiftly to deliver the news of Dong Zhuo's army stationed at Hu Lao Pass to Yuan Shao's camp. Inside the tent, the lords gathered, and the atmosphere was tense. After hearing the report, Yuan Shao slowly rose and scanned the crowd, saying, "Hu Lao Pass is like a thorn in our throats; if we do not remove this barrier, how can we advance to Luoyang?"
Cao Cao stood up and cupped his hands in salute, speaking solemnly, "Dong Zhuo has regarded Hu Lao as his lifeline and has sent Lü Bu as the vanguard. His defenses will surely be formidable. We must not underestimate him. However, our coalition is numerous; we can split into eight routes to disperse their defenses. I am willing to lead a contingent to maneuver and support our allies as needed."
Yuan Shao nodded and immediately assigned tasks: "Wang Kuang, Qiao Mao, Bao Xin, Yuan Yi, Kong Rong, Zhang Yang, Tao Qian, Gongsun Zan—each of you will lead a force to confront the enemy at Hu Lao. Cao Mengde will coordinate from the center; all of you must not be negligent!"
The eight lords accepted their orders and set off with their troops. Governor Wang Kuang of He Nei arrived first at Hu Lao Pass and arranged his forces outside the gates. Just as his troops were forming up, they suddenly heard war drums booming ahead, shaking the earth.
Wang Kuang reined in his horse at the front of his formation and focused intently on the sight before him. He saw a rider on a red horse charging out from the gates like a flame, appearing as if a celestial being had descended.
The newcomer wore a three-pronged purple gold crown that held his hair back, radiating a faint purple glow; he was clad in beast-faced armor that reflected sunlight like thunder’s might; draped over him was a red brocade robe adorned with flowers from Xichuan that billowed in the wind like flames consuming the sky; at his waist hung a finely crafted belt that exuded an imposing aura. In his left hand, he wielded a painted halberd that sliced through the air with a whistling sound; in his right hand, he lightly held the reins of Red Hare, whose coat was as dark as charcoal and whose steps were light yet steady.
Lü Bu coldly surveyed the array of lords before him, a trace of disdain curling at the corners of his mouth. He raised his voice and declared, "You insignificant creatures dare to challenge Chancellor Dong's might! Who among you will fight me?"
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