Leaving the Capital

In the year 189, Luoyang.

Having secured an absolute advantage, Dong Zhuo completely discarded his former humility and cautiousness. He began to monopolize the imperial court, exercising the power of life and death according to his whims, and even spent his nights within the imperial palace.

Just as Dong Zhuo grew increasingly arrogant, crises were quietly brewing. Forces led by the Yuan clan were secretly plotting against him, and undercurrents surged violently beneath the calm surface.

During this period, Yuan Xi dispatched a secret agent to notify Princess Wannian.

Shortly after, Liu Yan escaped from the palace, intending to seek refuge with Yuan Xi.

Ninety miles of a hundred-mile journey is merely half-way; a temporary victory is not a permanent one. Until the last five minutes, the final outcome remains unknown, so how could one not be cautious? Consider how Wang Mang was humble before he usurped the throne. If he had simply died back then, who could truly tell the good from the bad throughout his entire life?!

...

Inside Wang Yun’s residence, in the inner hall.

On the daybed, supported by Wang Yun's adopted daughter Diaochan, half-reclined a delicate young maiden dressed in palace attire. Perhaps the reader has already guessed—yes, it was indeed Princess Wannian.

Wang Yun bowed and said, "Your Highness, has your health improved at all?"

As it turned out, the person struck by Wang Yun’s carriage that day was none other than Princess Wannian, Liu Yan, who had escaped while being held captive by Zhang Rang and his cohorts—a true twist of fate.

At this moment, Liu Yan on the daybed felt somewhat frail and said in a tender voice, "Lord Wang, do you know what the situation in the palace is like right now?"

Hesitating slightly, Wang Yun replied, "Is Your Highness planning to return to the palace? Although His Majesty has already returned there, Luoyang is currently garrisoned by over one hundred thousand troops from various factions, and the crisis persists. The newly appointed Minister of Works, Dong Zhuo, has seized control of Luoyang city and the imperial palace."

"Do... Dong Zhuo?" Liu Yan’s heart skipped a beat.

She remembered when she was still in the palace, Yuan Xi had described Dong Zhuo to her as a supreme demon king. Influenced by her affection for Yuan Xi, Liu Yan viewed him in the same light.

"From what I have observed, this man leads his troops in and out of the palace at will and treats His Majesty and the Empress Dowager with utmost disrespect. Just now, I also heard that Inspector Ding of Bingzhou has been murdered by him."

Seeing that Princess Wannian, Liu Yan, offered no response, Wang Yun continued on his own accord.

In truth, Princess Wannian had originally intended to seek out Yuan Shao's residence that day, but due to her hurried departure and unfamiliarity with Luoyang city, she had ended up being struck by Wang Yun's carriage.

In reality, she had long grown weary of the numerous restrictive rules and rituals of palace life.

Hearing Wang Yun speak thus, Liu Yan smoothly seized the opportunity and said, "Aside from His Majesty and my younger brother Prince Xie, I have no other close relatives. Since the situation is so chaotic, it would be best for me not to return to the imperial palace for now. I beseech Your Lordship to take me in."

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Your Highness, please feel free to stay here as long as you wish, and decide whether to enter the palace only after the situation stabilizes," Wang Yun said hastily and courteously.

Actually, he did not dare to harbor a princess in secret.

However, over the past few days, he had heard some disturbing rumors filtering out from the palace—rumors claiming that this scoundrel Dong Zhuo, relying on his command of the military, had forced his way into the imperial palace by night and defiled the late emperor's surviving imperial concubines.

This was by no means a good omen. Before he could clearly discern the shifting tides of power, he had no wish to let Liu Yan return hastily. In a way, it could be seen as preserving a remnant of the late Emperor Ling's bloodline.

...

Inside the Yuan family study.

Yuan Shao had summoned a group of his trusted civil and military confidants and friends, including Cao Cao, Yuan Shu, Xu You, Guo Tu, Chunyu Qiong, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou.

Everyone wore a grave expression. In addition, there was a remarkably valiant young warrior—the newly arrived defector, Zhang Liao, styled Wenyuan.

On the day he parted ways with Yuan Xi, Zhang Liao had returned to Ding Yuan's encampment. He reported to Ding Yuan on matters concerning troop recruitment and relayed the advice and instructions given by Yuan Xi.

Ding Yuan deeply detested Dong Zhuo's overbearing arrogance, yet he could not fathom how Dong Zhuo might move against him, merely ordering the Bingzhou troops to strengthen the defenses of their camp.

What he never expected, however, was that he would ultimately meet his death at the hands of his most trusted subordinate, Lü Bu—an outcome that likewise exceeded Zhang Liao's expectations.

Lü Bu relied on his formidable martial prowess to suppress the resistance of the Bingzhou army, yet many soldiers refused to follow him and chose to flee instead, among them this very Zhang Liao.

Seeing Zhang Liao heading east, Lü Bu cared little and led his personal guards—over two thousand Bingzhou elite cavalry—along with Ding Yuan's remaining troops, to defect to Dong Zhuo.

Having received Yuan Xi's warning and subsequent overtures, Zhang Liao deliberated carefully.

He decided to lead the thousand-odd troops he had newly recruited from Hebei and fled eastward by night, seeking refuge with Yuan Shao, who commanded the Xiyuan garrison. Thus, things had reached the present day.

When questioned by Yuan Shao, Zhang Liao stepped forward and concealed nothing.

He recounted the entire sequence of events to Yuan Shao and the others in detail. The late Ding Yuan had shown great favor to Zhang Liao by recognizing his talent and promoting him from humble beginnings.

With Lü Bu's rebellion throwing the army's morale into disarray, Zhang Liao was powerless to turn the tide. Remembering the great kindness of his former master, he intended to return to Bingzhou, raise troops, and seize an opportunity to avenge Ding Yuan.

Unexpectedly, he was pursued by Lü Bu's assassins, only to be rescued by Yuan Xi, who had been dispatched by Yuan Shao. Consequently, he threw in his lot with the Yuan clan, hoping to leverage their power to avenge his former lord.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao sighed in deep admiration and remarked, "I never imagined General Wenyuan to be a man of such profound loyalty and righteousness. If Inspector Ding's spirit in the netherworld is aware of this, he will surely find great solace."

"That scoundrel Lü Bu is utterly devoid of human decency!" "Indeed!" "An ungrateful wretch!" Although everyone already knew the story, hearing the person involved recount it firsthand still filled them with righteous indignation.

"We should never have summoned that brute to the capital in the first place; otherwise, how could matters have come to this?"

Yuan Shu cast a gloating glance at Yuan Shao and remarked with sarcasm.

"That matter is in the past; speak no more of it." Yuan Shao glared angrily at Yuan Shu.

Yuan Shu had been at odds with him since childhood. Summoning Dong Zhuo to the capital had been Yuan Shu's idea. Although subsequent events proved this to be an immensely foolish blunder, Yuan Shu was exceedingly proud and refused to admit his mistake in his heart, deliberately bringing up a sore subject.

Cao Cao stepped in to mediate, saying, "Our primary task at present is to discuss how to cope with the immediate situation. My division of the imperial guards currently numbers only two thousand men; even combined with Benchu's and Gonglu's forces, we are still too isolated and weak to confront Dong Zhuo."

"What Mengde says is true. Dong Zhuo's Xiliang troops are hardened veterans of many battles—ferocious and formidable—far outclassing the garrison forces of Luoyang. We must deliberate thoroughly and plan for the long term."

The amiable gentleman, Zhang Miao of Chenliu, chimed in to agree.

Xun You nodded repeatedly upon hearing this and offered his own advice: "In my view, my lords, you should lead your forces out of the capital to recruit troops throughout the various regions of Guandong. Then, unite the loyal and patriotic heroes of Guandong to dispatch an army and eliminate Dong Zhuo, thereby restoring the Han Dynasty."

"Well said! We cannot sit idly in Luoyang and allow ourselves to be slaughtered like fish on a chopping board. We must summon the heroes of the realm to rise together in a punitive campaign against Dong Zhuo and restore the Han house," Cao Cao agreed.

"Agreed!" "I second that!" "Makes complete sense!" The remaining individuals also felt this was the best course of action available at present, and they readily voiced their assent.

Yuan Shao made his decision: "Then let us all make preparations."

After discussing further details regarding their departure from the capital, Cao Cao, Yuan Shu, and the others hurried away from the Yuan residence, leaving only Yuan Shao's personal strategists behind.

The script for the campaign against Dong Zhuo by the Eighteen Route Lords was about to unfold.

Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and the others began arranging for their families to evacuate the capital.

For a time, Luoyang was shaken by winds and rain. Tumultuous times in the imperial capital are bound to breed heroes.

...

"My lords, pray tell, where should we seek a foothold to raise our righteous army?"

Once the others had departed, Yuan Shao looked at the remaining confidants and asked.

This question immediately stumped them. It seemed everywhere was a possible destination, yet nowhere offered a secure base. This was fundamentally a strategic problem, though it ultimately boiled down to either Yuzhou or Hebei.

Guo Tu spoke up: "Originally, Runan was the foundation of the Yuan clan and the ideal destination. However, since that territory is already under the control of Gonglu and the others, we have already lost the initiative."

Yuan Xi glanced at the company, recalled the words Zhang Hong had imparted to him, and seized the opportunity to advise Yuan Shao, "Father, why not head to Hebei?"

Yuan Xi and Zhang Hong had previously discussed this very issue. Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, had acted similarly during the early stages of Li Yuan's uprising, actively participating in strategic planning.

"Oh? What makes the Second Young Master think of going to Hebei?" Xu You asked with some surprise.

"Ziyuan, could it be that Hebei is unfeasible?" Yuan Shao asked curiously in return.