Chapter Sixteen: Hidden Agendas

“The Son of Heaven led the army yesterday to recapture Luoyang and executed the traitor Dong Zhuo!”

Inside the grand tent, upon hearing Yuan Shao’s words, the faces around shifted with unease. This tent was filled with formidable warlords; few who gathered here remained truly pure in heart.

Each present was backed by powerful clans from various regions. Their so-called support for the Han dynasty was merely a pretext to strengthen their own positions by rallying against Dong Zhuo.

In their eyes, the rise and fall of the Han court was irrelevant; what mattered was securing the greatest advantage for their families amid this chaotic era.

The world’s hustle and bustle are all for profit; the restless masses all pursue gain.

At this moment, a general who had just questioned Yuan Shao asked in disbelief, “You say the Emperor himself led the army to reclaim Luoyang? And that Dong Zhuo has been executed?”

“How can this be? Lord Yuan, are you mocking us?”

Yuan Shao’s temper flared slightly at this. “Han Fu, what do you mean by that? Do you think I, Yuan Benchu, would deceive you?”

Sensing the anger in Yuan Shao’s tone, Han Fu quickly apologized and sat down sullenly.

Now that the entire assembly accepted the news as truth, the question on everyone’s mind was clear: What next?

Soon, all eyes turned to Yuan Shao, seated in the main position, eager to see what the alliance leader intended.

Yuan Shao, aware of the gaze fixed upon him, remained impassive, concealing his thoughts. From his scouts, he had learned that Liu Xie had not been abducted back to the capital but had seized part of Dong Zhuo’s army through his own means and secured the allegiance of Ma Teng and Han Sui of Xiliang. With overwhelming force, he had eliminated Dong Zhuo.

Truly, this young emperor was an enigma. Yuan Shao found himself greatly intrigued by Liu Xie, still far away in Luoyang.

As a regional power, Yuan Shao was hardly inclined to relent. Though Dong Zhuo was dead, the Han dynasty had suffered greatly through the Ten Eunuchs’ rebellion, the Yellow Turban uprising, and Dong Zhuo’s tyranny. The nation’s strength was diminished.

Moreover, after the Yellow Turban rebellion, many local aristocrats and officials commanded private armies. Ambition was inevitable.

Now, Yuan Shao faced two choices: enter the capital to pay homage or redirect his forces back to his Hebei stronghold.

If he went to Luoyang, considering the temperament of this young emperor, his private army would likely be disbanded or absorbed. Yuan Shao himself would hardly escape unscathed.

If he returned directly to Hebei, he would preserve his army but openly declare himself a warlord seeking to carve out his own domain.

After a moment’s thought, Yuan Shao declared loudly, “We shall enter the capital to pay homage.”

A stir went through the crowd. Seated below Yuan Shao was a sharp-featured, lean general who bore a striking resemblance to him—Yuan Shu.

Yuan Shu’s temperament was the opposite of Yuan Shao’s. Upon hearing of the plan to go to Luoyang, he immediately stood, “Brother! I believe this is unwise! If we go, we may never return! It is better to withdraw to Hebei and establish our own domain!”

Many in the assembly showed approval at Yuan Shu’s words.

Yet some grasped Yuan Shao’s true intent and fell silent, regarding Yuan Shu’s protests as foolish.

A shadow flickered in Yuan Shao’s eyes at his half-brother’s words, though he masked it well. The two had long been at odds, vying in secret for the headship of the family.

Though Yuan Shao ultimately secured the family leadership, Yuan Shu constantly stirred trouble, seeking to unseat him.

“Gonglu,” Yuan Shao said with a cold smile, “we are loyal ministers of Han; how can this be called establishing our own domains?”

At this, Yuan Shu’s eyes gleamed with concealed delight. He thought to himself that Yuan Shao’s decision to go would surely be fatal. Even if he returned, he would have forsaken his power to serve the young emperor. This would provide Yuan Shu and the family elders the chance to impeach him.

The thought of Yuan Shao’s removal and his own rise filled Yuan Shu with an unspoken joy, though he quickly hid it. Yuan Shao saw right through him and found it childish.

“Brother, if you insist on going, then I shall lead my men back to Hebei to preserve the Yuan family’s remaining strength,” Yuan Shu said, feigning sorrow.

Yuan Shao watched his brother’s poor act with disdain and laughed, “Very well, take them with you.”

“Thank you, brother!” Yuan Shu’s grief instantly turned to joy.

The crowd observed the open rivalry between the brothers. The astute knew Yuan Shu was clearly inferior to his elder brother.

“Are there any generals who will return with me?” Yuan Shu stood and asked loudly.

“I, Gongsun Zan, will accompany the general!” Gongsun Zan, unable to contain himself any longer, rose to respond.

“Me too, Han Fu!” Han Fu also stood quickly.

“Me! Me!” others chimed in.

Seeing half the tent empty in an instant, Yuan Shao remained composed. Those who left were shortsighted fools; their departure was no loss.

“I believe those who stay understand my intent and trust me. Though this journey is risky, not going will surely invite condemnation from the world,” Yuan Shao said as he surveyed the assembly.

All nodded. Refusing to go would brand one the next Dong Zhuo or Yellow Turban rebel. No one wished to retreat and face the allied armies of other warlords alone.

Only a dozen or so remained in the tent. Most had followed Yuan Shu, but those who stayed were the true power players.

Among these remaining men were destined to become fierce rivals to Liu Xie, each a warlord ruling their own domain.

“Since those generals who remain trust me, I ask you to return and gather your troops. Tomorrow, we enter the capital to pay homage,” Yuan Shao said, rising with a bow.

The men saluted him and then departed the tent one by one.

“Brother, are we going to Luoyang tomorrow?” Outside, a tall, bearded, robust man asked the large-eared general among the three companions.

A red-faced, long-bearded warrior replied, “If the elder says so, then we go! Why ask so much?”

These were none other than the three sworn brothers Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. The one who spoke first, the black-faced, sturdy man, was Zhang Fei; the response came from Guan Yu; and in the middle stood their eldest brother, Liu Bei.

At this time, they were mere junior officers under Gongsun Zan, who had already left. Liu Bei decided to follow Yuan Shao into the capital the next day.

Hearing Zhang Fei’s words, Liu Bei’s gaze darkened. “We have no other choice now. This journey is our chance to seize opportunity.”

Meanwhile, about a hundred miles from Chenliu, at the camp of Hu Zhen in Guangcheng, over a dozen cavalry arrived, led by a general astride a fiery red steed.

“Dong’s personal guard! Lu Bu seeks an audience!”