Head-on confrontation

189, Luoyang.

In the end, Dong Zhuo still chose to walk down this path.

From now on, there was no turning back. Dong Zhuo's dethronement of the emperor also meant a complete and irreconcilable rupture with the factions led by the Yuan family, leaving no room for mediation.

......

Seeing that the situation was under control, Dong Zhuo coldly swept his gaze over the assembly and threatened, "Who else? Who still has objections? Who else?"

Facing Dong Zhuo's aggressive posture, Yuan Shao, who had never suffered such provocation—especially since it was his own idea that had lured Dong Zhuo into the capital—felt a heavy knot in his heart.

Yuan Shao strode out furiously, lifting his head high, and declared, "I, Yuan Benchu, do not agree!"

Dong Zhuo's momentum faltered slightly. "What? Yuan Shao, what do you intend to do?"

"The Great Han has enjoyed four hundred years of deep grace, embraced by all the people. Now His Majesty is young and has committed no fault. General Dong wishes to depose the legitimate heir in favor of a secondary one; I fear this will hardly win the hearts of the people."

Throwing caution to the wind, Yuan Shao stepped directly forward.

For a moment, Yuan Wei was stunned, the ministers were stunned, and Cao Cao was stunned as well.

Thinking to themselves, they marveled at how formidable Yuan Shao was, secretly cheering him on in their hearts.

Dong Zhuo had never expected that anyone would dare to resist. If this were not handled properly, the authority he had worked so hard to build would be squandered for nothing. He rebuked angrily, "Yuan Shao, you arrogant wretch, how dare you be so insolent! Are not the affairs of the realm decided by me?"

Yuan Shao looked at Dong Zhuo, glanced around the room, and said coldly, "Hmph! The affairs of the realm belong to the Emperor and to all the loyal ministers here. You are merely a usurper."

Dong Zhuo threatened, "If I wish to do this, who dares to disobey?"

"Hmph! The realm belongs to the people of the realm; how could it ever be decided by you alone, Dong Zhuo?" Yuan Shao was not intimidated by Dong Zhuo, standing his ground firmly to the end.

By this time, the ministers below had been completely conquered by Yuan Shao.

"Yuan Shao, do you think my sword is not sharp?!" Driven half to death with rage by Yuan Shao, Dong Zhuo rose abruptly and drew his sword from its scabbard.

Showing utter disdain, Yuan Shao likewise drew his sword. "Are there no heroes and gallants in this realm other than you, Dong Zhuo? My sword is sharp as well."

With Dong Zhuo holding absolute dominance, Yuan Shao, Yuan Benchu, was the only one who dared to stand up to him with such unyielding defiance. Truly, he was worthy of becoming the future overlord of Hebei.

......

Thus, Yuan Shao and Dong Zhuo refused to yield an inch, pointing their swords at each other as a dead silence fell over the hall. Luoyang's Lü Bu quickly stepped forward in high alert.

Dong Zhuo's strategist, Li Ru, also snapped back to reality and rushed between Yuan Shao and Dong Zhuo, trying to placate them. "The matter is not yet settled; there must be no reckless bloodshed."

"Hmph." Dong Zhuo trembled with rage, but taking advantage of Li Ru playing the peacemaker, he stepped down from the precipice—he knew this was not yet the time for a showdown.

At that moment, Yuan Wei also stood up to urge caution. "Benchu, do not act rashly."

Although Yuan Shao's outburst stemmed from a momentary surge of indignation, the nascent aura of an overlord he displayed still subdued the crowd, and his unyielding spine compelled everyone to cast sidelong glances of awe.

Cao Cao thought to himself, *What a remarkable Yuan Shao, what a remarkable Yuan Benchu.*

"Hmph." Having been reined in by the persuasion, Yuan Shao horizontalized his sword, cast a sidelong glare at Dong Zhuo, offered a casual bow to the assembly, and strode straight out of the grand hall without looking back.

Watching Yuan Shao walk out proudly, Dong Zhuo's complexion turned exceptionally ugly. He tightened his grip on his treasured sword, hesitating repeatedly before finally lowering it.

At this point, Lü Bu made a move to draw his sword and give chase, but Li Ru stopped him.

Li Ru then stepped forward to comfort the thoroughly enraged Dong Zhuo.

He whispered in a low voice, "My lord, the situation is not yet stable. The Yuan family has held high offices for generations and is not easily dealt with. Let us discuss this later when the time is right."

Dong Zhuo still held a degree of wariness toward the prestige of the Yuan family.

Therefore, he too turned and left in a huff, snorting, "Hmph."

Above all, the saying that "the Yuan family has held the Three Ducal Offices for four generations, and their disciples and former subordinates fill the empire" was not entirely used just to bluff people. The influence of such a prestigious and noble clan truly could not be underestimated.

Seated below, although Cao Cao felt that Yuan Shao's actions today were not entirely rational, he nonetheless offered a rare praise in his heart.

After all, Yuan Shao had done what he himself dared not do.

Yet, Yuan Shao's performance today had also exposed his ambition.

......

In truth, Yuan Shao had broken with Dong Zhuo purely driven by a rush of hot-blooded impulse. The moment he turned around, cold sweat began to pour down his back, and the more he thought about it, the more terrified he felt.

On his way home, he began to regret his rashness.

After standing face-to-face with Dong Zhuo in such a showdown, Yuan Shao arrived home. Upon deep reflection, he broke out in a cold sweat. He immediately ordered Wen Chou to lead the central army to escort his family away first.

Then, he headed to the Xiyuan gardens, united his assigned troops, and evacuated Luoyang entirely. Finally, Yan Liang was tasked with leading five thousand soldiers from the former Shangjun forces to serve as the rear guard.

In less than half a day, a force totaling over twenty thousand men departed Luoyang. Yuan Shao planned to take the route through Chenliu and the Yellow River before rushing to Hebei.

Upon reaching Puyang, he would immediately begin negotiations with Han Fu, the Governor of Jizhou.

During this period, Yuan Xi, escorted by three hundred elite cavalrymen under the command of Xu Chu, followed Yuan Shao to the Luo River, directing the army in a forced crossing through the night.

When the final detachment of troops had crossed the Luo River and Dong Zhuo still had not sent any pursuing forces, father and son Yuan Shao and Yuan Xi were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

To prevent any mishaps, Yuan Shao ordered the destruction of all nearby boats and sent men ahead to notify Han Fu, Governor of Jizhou, to prepare for the campaign against Dong Zhuo.

Father and son Yuan Shao and Yuan Xi took the route through Hebei.

Meanwhile, Yuan Shu would also depart for Nanyang shortly.

Cao Cao remained in Luoyang to maneuver against Dong Zhuo and buy time.

......

During this exact timeframe, two other matters also occurred: the first concerned Gao Yue, and the second concerned Cai Yan. Let us discuss them separately.

Before fleeing Luoyang, Yuan Xi, who was in the back courtyard of a gambling house, received Yuan He, who had rushed over to convey Yuan Shao's order for him to set off immediately and prepare for the evacuation.

Though he was mentally prepared, he still felt it was far too rushed. Anxiously, Yuan Xi mounted his horse and, accompanied by Xu Chu, sped toward the Gao residence.

Yuan Xi intended to make one final gamble, leaving everything to the will of heaven.

Luoyang, the Gao Estate.

At this moment, Gao Jing and Yuan Xi were discussing something in the study.

In truth, when Gao Jing saw Yuan Xi appear at the Gao residence once again, he already understood what was happening, and he had made his decision in his heart.

Gao Jing glanced at Yuan Xi, sighed, and said, "Yue'er, you may come in."

Startled, Yuan Xi abruptly turned his head to see Gao Yue gently pushing the door open, looking at him with a complex expression. Judging by her appearance, she must have been standing by for a long time.

"Father!" Gao Yue entered, closed the door behind her, and bowed gracefully to Gao Jing.

Gao Jing glanced at Yuan Xi, then looked back at Gao Yue, saying, "Yue'er, you heard our conversation outside the door just now. Now that your father is old and about to travel to Shu, let us settle this matter today and leave the choice to you."

"I..." Gao Yue had not expected her father to utter such words; a hundred emotions welled up inside her simultaneously, and she opened her mouth, quite at a loss for what to say.

Eagerly, Yuan Xi looked at Gao Yue. "Wugou, come with me."

Gao Yue cast a glance at Yuan Xi, then shifted her gaze to Gao Jing. "Father, I..."

Giving Gao Jing a deep look, Yuan Xi stepped forward, took Gao Yue's delicate hand in his own, and gripped it tightly to prevent her from pulling away. Facing Gao Jing, he said resolutely, "No matter how the choice is made, I must be the best candidate. I have made the decision for her!"

Gao Jing did not look at him, keeping his eyes fixed on his daughter instead. He needed Gao Yue to state her position, which would also serve as his backing for her. "Yue'er, what is your choice?"

"Father, daughter, daughter..."

Gao Yue's cheeks flushed bright red. She tried to twist her arm free, but seeing that she could not escape Yuan Xi's grasp, she lowered her graceful head and took a tiny step backward.

The meaning was already abundantly clear: she chose to follow Yuan Xi.

To be honest, the reactions of Gao Jing and his daughter somewhat exceeded Yuan Xi's expectations. Earlier, he had anticipated that he might need to use harsher words, and he had even imagined that when he reached out to grab Gao Yue's arm, she would decisively reject him.

However, things had not unfolded in the direction he imagined at all. The smoothness of it left him somewhat dazed; this entire sequence of events genuinely caught Yuan Xi completely off guard.