Chapter Five: Behind Me Stands the Great Han Emperor!
March, 190 AD. Emperor Xian, Liu Xie, was abducted by rebel forces while en route to the new capital, Chang’an, sending shockwaves throughout the realm.
In an instant, dark currents surged beneath the surface, and heroes from all corners fixed their gaze upon the rebels who had seized the emperor.
One day later, Luoyang, the Prime Minister’s mansion.
“A bunch of useless fools! Good-for-nothings! What use do I have for you? You can’t even protect the emperor—how dare you show your faces before me!” In the grand hall of the Prime Minister’s mansion, a stout man with a face full of coarse flesh bellowed down at a trembling soldier kneeling below him. “Take him away and behead him! Worthless trash!”
Two guards then dragged the soldier out of the hall, the man begging desperately as he struggled.
“Prime Minister, spare me! Spare me! Please!”
All the generals stationed in Luoyang stood silently along the sides of the hall, each ashen-faced and scarcely daring to breathe.
At the forefront stood Dong Zhuo’s trusted lieutenants, Li Jue and Guo Si, while Wang Yun and Zhu Jun stood to one side with a group of court officials, their expressions detached, as if the matter did not concern them.
Dong Zhuo was on the verge of exploding with anger. With the emperor abducted, his greatest pillar of support was gone. His claim as Chancellor was rendered meaningless, let alone his ambition to control the lords by holding the Son of Heaven hostage.
Dong Zhuo settled into his seat and tried to calm himself before asking in a grave tone, “Have Generals Huangfu and Gai returned to the capital?”
“They are on their way. They should arrive today,” Li Jue replied.
Just as Li Jue finished speaking, a guard outside reported, “General Huangfu is waiting at the entrance!”
“Only General Huangfu?” Dong Zhuo knitted his thick brows, deep in thought.
“Yes, he came alone,” the guard confirmed.
“Bring him in at once!” Dong Zhuo’s mind was consumed by the crisis of the abducted emperor; the matter concerning Gai Xun was no longer his concern.
“Presenting myself, General Huangfu Song pays respects to the Chancellor!” Huangfu strode into the hall and bowed deeply to Dong Zhuo.
“No need for such formalities, General Huangfu!” Despite his foul mood, Dong Zhuo forced a grim smile.
“I presume you have heard of the emperor’s abduction on your journey?” Dong Zhuo cut straight to the point.
“I have indeed,” Huangfu said. “That is why I hastened to Luoyang with all speed. I respectfully urge you to act swiftly to recover His Majesty. If the emperor is held captive, the consequences will be disastrous.”
Wang Yun and Zhu Jun exchanged meaningful glances upon hearing this—they sensed an attempt to stir unrest. Yet only the two of them perceived it, while to Dong Zhuo it sounded like a death knell.
“General Huangfu, do you have a plan?” Dong Zhuo clung to hope like a drowning man grasping a straw. The courtiers were mere spectators now; he could rely only on himself.
Huangfu was prepared. “For now, the priority is to retrieve His Majesty promptly and to reinforce the western defenses of Luoyang to guard against any interference from the Eastern coalition.”
Dong Zhuo frowned deeply but saw the logic in Huangfu’s words. Casting a glance to Li Jue and Guo Si below, he deliberated briefly before declaring, “Then we shall proceed as General Huangfu advises. Huangfu Song, Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhu Jun—hear my orders!”
Zhu Jun exchanged a look with Huangfu Song. Having served alongside Huangfu during the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Zhu Jun questioned how such a loyalist to the Han dynasty could be so eager to aid Dong Zhuo.
The four stepped forward in unison. “At your command!”
“Huangfu Song and Li Jue, lead 15,000 troops and bring His Majesty back safely!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Zhu Jun and Guo Si, you two shall command 15,000 men to guard Mengjin and Pingyin ferry crossings!”
“Yes, sir!”
Huangfu’s heart swelled with quiet joy upon hearing Dong Zhuo’s orders; he feared Dong Zhuo might not assign him such a pivotal role. Now, his death knell seemed near indeed.
At the same time, Huangfu’s respect for Liu Xie had blossomed—yes, a seasoned general in his fifties had grown to admire this boy emperor.
All that was unfolding had been foreseen by Liu Xie and recorded in a silk manuscript well in advance.
Next… Huangfu glanced toward Zhu Jun—yes, him!
…
Dong Zhuo sat alone in the vast, empty hall, his mind restless despite careful plans laid out: nearly 80,000 troops guarding against the Eastern coalition to the west, Huangfu Song recalled from Chang’an to pursue the “Son of Heaven,” accompanied by his trusted generals Li Jue and others.
Yet something still felt amiss.
“Fengxian!” Dong Zhuo called, rubbing his temples.
A tall, handsome general entered and saluted. “Your servant awaits orders!”
“You and your 5,000 palace guards in Luoyang shall patrol day and night to strengthen security,” Dong Zhuo instructed, eyes narrowed.
“Understood!”
“I am weary. Dismissed.”
…
Outside Luoyang city.
Zhu Jun listened, stunned, as Huangfu recounted the full story.
The wisdom of this young emperor was unprecedented.
“The revival of the Han rests upon our shoulders, Gongwei! What more is there to hesitate about?” Huangfu urged, looking at Zhu Jun with fervor.
“We are loyal to the Han dynasty. Though it now wanes, the emperor is young and capable. Why should we not serve him and restore the great Han?”
Huangfu’s words grew passionate, and Zhu Jun’s resolve strengthened in turn.
“If Brother Yizhen trusts me so, then I shall join you in supporting His Majesty and forging this grand legacy!” Zhu Jun declared resolutely after a moment’s thought.
“Haha! I knew I had not misjudged you!” Huangfu laughed heartily.
“What shall we do next? Does His Majesty have a plan?” Zhu Jun asked.
“The emperor has prepared in advance. Listen, and I will tell you…” Huangfu smiled.
The wind rose, and rain began to fall again, its soft patter gradually drowning out their voices.
…
Lying in the carriage, Liu Xie fiddled with a jade finger ring that puzzled him greatly.
Indeed, this jade ring had been a gift from his grandfather in a past life. It had slipped from his bundle of clothes and now lay quietly in his palm.
“Strange… could this ring have traveled through time with me?” Liu Xie muttered to himself.
“Young master, here is the saltpeter you asked me to find. Luckily, we had some in the family store,” a young girl climbed aboard the carriage and asked, “What will you use it for?”
Liu Xie quickly pocketed the jade ring, smiling at her. “Guess!”
The girl, Qi Zhen, turned her bright eyes thoughtfully. “Alchemy?”
Liu Xie shook his head and smiled. In recent days, he had grown close to the two children of the Qi family. The siblings often came running over for no particular reason.
Over time, the three had become well acquainted.
Qi Zhen pondered but could not figure it out. “I can’t think of anything else. Father says saltpeter is for alchemy. What else could it be?”
Liu Xie smiled mysteriously. “I won’t tell you yet. Once we reach Chang’an, I’ll make something fun with it for you.”
Speaking of Chang’an, they had been traveling through rain for nearly half a month. Liu Xie thought Huangfu Song should already be pursuing the “Son of Heaven,” and forces in Luoyang should be mobilizing.
Qi Zhen looked at the unremarkable saltpeter in Liu Xie’s hand, baffled as to what fun thing could be made from it.
The carriage slowed, and a voice called from outside.
“Young master, we’ve reached Chang’an.”
Relieved, Liu Xie prepared to disembark.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted ahead.
“Officer! Why won’t you let us in? We’ve traveled so far; you can’t just turn us back now!”
Ahead of the Qi family’s convoy, the steward Chen wore a flattering smile, explaining to a city gate guard.
The guard replied coldly, “It’s not that I won’t let you in. Our general says there are rebels in your convoy. We must inspect your vehicles.”
Behind the guard stepped forward a sharp-featured general, his gaze ill-intentioned as he stared at Chen. “Move aside! We’ll finish searching before you enter. Otherwise, go back the way you came!”
Qi elder, just disembarking, hurried forward with a smile. “Officer, please show some leniency…”
He secretly pulled out a bulging pouch from his bosom and handed it to the general, who, without even glancing, flung it aside.
“How dare you bribe a military officer! Seize him!” the general roared.
“Wait!” Liu Xie stepped forward swiftly to intervene, followed closely by Fu Hu, wary lest these soldiers harm the Han emperor.
“Who are you, brat? Go back to suckle your mother!” the general snarled at Liu Xie.
A crowd of onlookers had gathered, and the general’s words drew laughter from them.
Liu Xie remained calm and asked politely, “May I inquire how you know there are rebels in this convoy?”
The general replied immediately, “Informants reported it!” and tried to shove Liu Xie aside.
Fu Hu kicked the general hard, sending him crashing against the city wall.
“You dare attack an officer! Guards, seize them!” the general shouted hoarsely as he struggled to rise.
Qi Zhen grew tense and rushed forward to restrain the soldiers drawing their swords, only to be pushed aside roughly. Qi Yuan also tried to intervene but was kicked aside.
Liu Xie’s face darkened. Seeing the change, Fu Hu swiftly drew an object from his waist.
“Let’s see who dares move now!” Fu Hu bellowed, brandishing a command token.
“Behind me stands the Son of Heaven of the great Han! I dare anyone to lay a hand!”