Chapter 140: Proclamation Against Dong Zhuo

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"Damn it, damn it! You are all good for nothing, every single one of you! So many men defeated by that fellow Lü Bu, what use do I have for a pack of useless trash like you?" Inside the Luoyang Imperial Palace, Dong Zhuo was smashing things in a fit of rage.

Standing below him were his top generals, Li Jue and Guo Si. At this moment, their faces flickered between shades of red and black, swirling with gloomy expressions. Both of them had sustained minor injuries on their limbs. Although the wounds were not severe, losing face so utterly in front of Dong Zhuo was mortifying. One did not need to guess to know these injuries were suffered yesterday during their one-on-one duel against Lü Bu. And this so-called "one-on-one" had actually been Li Jue and Guo Si fighting Lü Bu together.

Just then, Li Ru and Li Su walked in from outside, happening to witness Dong Zhuo in the middle of his violent rage. Li Ru immediately stepped forward and asked cautiously, "Father-in-law, what on earth has happened to make you so furious?"

The moment Dong Zhuo saw Li Ru arrive, his face lit up with joy. He strode over to Li Ru and asked, "My good son-in-law, you've come just in time. It's all because of Ding Yuan's adopted son, Lü Bu! With him around, no matter how vast our army is, we can never defeat Ding Yuan." Back during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Dong Zhuo had witnessed the formidable capability of scholars. Upon returning to Hedong, he began to highly value scholarly men, and Li Ru was a great talent he had discovered. Without hesitation, Dong Zhuo had married his daughter to Li Ru in order to win him over.

Before Li Ru could reply, Li Su stepped forward with a confident expression and said, "Reporting to my lord, I am a fellow townsman of Lü Bu, and thus I know that he is a thoroughly greedy man. It will take only a few treasures to win him over. Furthermore, Lü Bu has performed numerous meritorious deeds under Ding Yuan's banner, yet he remains nothing more than a lowly Registrar. No doubt Lü Bu has long harbored deep dissatisfaction toward Ding Yuan. Therefore, if I go to persuade him with precious treasures, I am certain to make him kill Ding Yuan and bring his troops over to submit to my lord."

Hearing this, Dong Zhuo was overjoyed and asked, "What treasures are needed?"

"Lü Bu loves fine horses. However, while observing the battle earlier, I noticed that the steed beneath Lü Bu was barely able to bear his weight. Thus, all we need is a legendary steed. I have heard that my lord possesses a peerless thousand-li warhorse, the Red Hare. Using this Red Hare will suffice," Li Su pondered and replied.

"What?! That will never do!" Dong Zhuo immediately objected. One must know that the Red Hare was a top-tier warhorse, and it had saved Dong Zhuo's life on multiple occasions. Asking him to hand it over was practically equivalent to cutting flesh from his own body.

"Father-in-law, what is mere horse compared to this? A single horse can be traded for a peerless Lü Bu, plus Ding Yuan's fifty thousand cavalrymen. No matter how you calculate it, we are coming out ahead," Li Ru persuaded from the side.

Hearing this, Dong Zhuo fell into deep hesitation. After pondering for half the night, Dong Zhuo finally gritted his teeth with a look of extreme heartache and said, "Fine!! We shall use the Red Hare. Li Su, hear my command!"

"This subordinate is here," Li Su acknowledged.

"I hereby appoint you as the Commandant of the Tiger Elite, and you shall take the Red Hare to persuade Lü Bu," Dong Zhuo said through clenched teeth.

"This general obeys," Li Su cried out with excitement. The post of Commandant of the Tiger Elite was by no means a small official title; how could Li Su not be overjoyed?

"Go," Dong Zhuo waved his hand casually.

"Understood," Li Su replied, and then immediately went off to make preparations for his journey to Ding Yuan's camp.

Ten li outside the city of Luoyang lay the encampment of Ding Yuan. Lü Bu was notified by a courier that a fellow townsman named Li Su had come to visit him.

Lü Bu was instantly puzzled. Although he and Li Su were from the same hometown, they were not close at all, and he had no idea why Li Su had come here. Nevertheless, he ordered his men to escort him into his command tent.

"Fengxian!" As soon as Li Su stepped into the tent, he called out Lü Bu's name with overflowing joy.

"What brings you here? You must know that we belong to opposing sides now. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?!" Lü Bu said fiercely.

Hearing this, Li Su showed not a hint of panic and said, "I have come here today to bring you a gift."

"A gift? Who is sending a gift and what is it?" Lü Bu asked, uncomprehending.

"Fengxian, look at yourself—you are still merely a Registrar. Yet my abilities are far inferior to yours, and I am already a Commandant of the Tiger Elite. Therefore, I have come on behalf of my lord to deliver a gift. My lord greatly appreciates your capabilities. If you were to pledge allegiance to my lord, your official rank would certainly surpass mine. Come, follow me outside to look at a divine steed." With that, he walked out of the tent.

Hearing the mention of a divine steed, Lü Bu felt his heart skip a beat and followed him out. Not long after, when Lü Bu laid eyes upon the Red Hare, his eyes instantly bulged, and he was captivated on the spot.

"How does Fengxian find this horse?" Li Su asked proudly.

"Truly a magnificent steed!" Lü Bu praised endlessly.

"This horse was formerly my lord's personal mount. As long as you are willing to kill that Ding Yuan and pledge allegiance to my lord, this horse shall be yours," Li Su said with a smile.

Lü Bu gritted his teeth and said, "Rest in this camp for the night, and I will give you my answer tomorrow."

Seeing that there was a chance of success, Li Su immediately agreed and followed a personal guard to a designated tent.

Watching Li Su's departing figure, Lü Bu sneered inwardly. "I, Lü Bu, am a man destined for great things. How could a mere horse ever buy me off? Besides, Foster Father told me long ago that making me a Registrar was merely to allow me to read more books, and in the future, the position of the Governor of Bingzhou will be mine. With Bingzhou in hand, I can contend for dominance in the Central Plains and achieve great hegemony. Why would I ever need to humble myself under that villain Dong Zhuo?" With these thoughts, he walked toward Ding Yuan's command tent.

"Foster Father, just now Li Su, a subordinate of Dong Zhuo, came to try and bribe me, demanding that I kill you." Lü Bu unhesitatingly spilled the whole matter.

Hearing this, a flash of piercing light burst from Ding Yuan's eyes, and he asked sternly, "Fengxian, tell me truthfully, do you harbor any rebellious intentions against the Great Han?"

Lü Bu was greatly startled upon hearing this. He had never expected that Ding Yuan would be able to perceive his inner thoughts, but he forced himself to remain calm and replied, "Foster Father, this child harbors no such thoughts whatsoever."

"Is that so? Since that is the case, Fengxian, I now assign you a task," Ding Yuan said casually.

"Please give your orders, Foster Father."

"Then draw your sword right now, Fengxian, sever my head, and take it to Dong Zhuo's camp. Seize the opportunity to assassinate Dong Zhuo and eliminate a scourge for the people," Ding Yuan said through clenched teeth. Knowing full well that he was no match for Dong Zhuo in combat, this was the only method he could conceive to get rid of him.

"What?!" Lü Bu was shocked and retorted, "Foster Father, do you not trust me?!"

Ding Yuan nodded, speaking without restraint, "Fengxian, you are my adopted son; naturally I know what is on your mind. Your eyes are filled with ambition, but you do not know how to conceal it. Therefore, you cannot fool me."

"Foster Father, why must you force me?" Lü Bu roared in anger.

"Heh. If I can use this old life of mine to take down both of you, that will be enough," Ding Yuan said with a smile. "Do it!"

Seeing this, Lü Bu gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and with a single stroke of his sword, severed Ding Yuan's head, packing it into a pouch. Yet, deep in his heart, he felt an extreme fury toward Ding Yuan. Lü Bu was no fool; he understood Ding Yuan's intentions completely. Of the two people Ding Yuan referred to, the first was naturally Dong Zhuo, and the second was Lü Bu himself.

Once a person bore the infamous crime of killing one's foster father, Lü Bu's reputation would be thoroughly ruined. How many people would be willing to follow such a man? This undoubtedly choked out his dream of hegemony in its infancy.

Immediately, Lü Bu strode out of the tent, walked straight to Li Su's lodging, threw the cloth bundle directly to him, and said coldly, "Here is Ding Yuan's head. If you dare to deceive me, watch out for my Heavenly Painted Halberd."

Li Su never expected that Lü Bu would execute Ding Yuan right then and there. Overjoyed, he quickly promised, "My lord will certainly not break his word."

"Hmph," Lü Bu grunted coldly and said nothing more. He was left with no choice; if he did not join Dong Zhuo's camp, perhaps only death awaited him. After all, Lü Bu only had these fifty thousand troops, which was by no means a match for Dong Zhuo's army of half a million. He could only temporarily submit to Dong Zhuo and plan his future moves later. As for the matter of eventually killing Dong Zhuo, that would depend on whether it presented any advantages.

That night, Lü Bu led the fifty thousand Bingzhou wolf cavalry under Ding Yuan's command to defect to Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo was overjoyed, immediately recognized Lü Bu as his adopted son, and appointed him as the Marquis of Wen and General of Cavalry.

With Lü Bu aiding him, Dong Zhuo became even more lawless and unbridled. He directly deposed the Young Emperor, murdered Empress He, established the Prince of Chenliu as the Emperor Xian, and proclaimed himself Chancellor. In a short time, the entire imperial court was plunged into chaos and corruption by Dong Zhuo.

Meanwhile, Yuan Shao fled back to his ancestral home in Bohai to raise an army in order to escape Dong Zhuo. Cao Cao remained in Luoyang to attempt the assassination of Dong Zhuo, but failed. After escaping Luoyang, Cao Cao returned to Chenliu, recruited soldiers, and simultaneously issued a decree calling upon all governors and regional inspectors across the realm to rise up against Dong Zhuo.

On that very day, Youzhou, governed by Liu Yao, also received this call to arms against Dong Zhuo.

"My lord!" Xun You walked quickly into Liu Yao's study, holding a letter, and said with a worried expression, "An urgent report has arrived."

Liu Yao trembled all over upon hearing this, but reached out to take the letter and began to read. The grim words—the passing of Emperor Ling of Han and the anti-Dong proclamation—imprinted themselves into Liu Yao's eyes.

"Imperial Father!" Liu Yao wailed in grief, his body collapsing to the side. Fortunately, Shi A was quick enough to support him. Although he had long known that Emperor Ling would die around this time, seeing the actual news firsthand still made it impossible for Liu Yao to control his emotions.

"My lord, are you alright?" Xun You asked with deep concern.

Liu Yao shook his head, sighed, and pushed the thoughts aside. What he needed to do now was fulfill Liu Hong's dying wish and restore the Great Han; that alone would suffice.

Then, with a cold and chilling tone, Liu Yao pronounced word by word, "Gongyu, beat the drums and assemble the generals for a council!!!!"