12. The Era of the Tyrant Arrives (2)
12. The Era of the Tyrant Arrives (2)
General of the Central Army Yuan Shao had occupied the Imperial Palace.
After purging the Ten Eunuchs faction and eliminating everyone associated with them, she was buoyed by the sense of exhilaration that she had become the ultimate victor while commanding the forces of the General-in-Chief's Office.
"Congratulations, it's yours now."
Right Colonel Chunyu Qiong sent her congratulations to Yuan Shao.
She had led the troops and avenged General-in-Chief He Jin.
By achieving the goal that General of the Household Yuan Shu had coveted in his stead, she was able to ascend as the successor to General-in-Chief He Jin.
The head of the military is now Yuan Shao.
Even though she was born of a concubine, was she not the daughter of a prestigious family that had produced the Three Excellencies for four generations?
Her character is outstanding, and she is capable in both insight and strategy.
Military officers who had admired Yuan Shao, who had played the role of second-in-command under He Jin, began to support her primarily.
"We have occupied the Jiaotai Hall and secured the Empress Dowager He. Since she is the elder of the imperial family, she will surely become our great justification."
Left Colonel of the Zhao Army, Zhao Rong.
He, too, was moving under Yuan Shao's command.
Displaying excellent capability, she had recruited two of the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden as her subordinates. Using Chunyu Qiong, Zhao Rong, and their subordinate units, she further strengthened her dominance.
"Right Colonel of the Zhao Army Feng Fang has retreated following Yuan Shu, and Left Colonel He Mao seems to have left Luoyang."
"What about Mengde?"
"It seems she is currently stationed in the city. I've sent someone, so she will join us at the Imperial Palace."
"She should."
Yuan Shao wore an expression filled with emotion.
Finally, she had become the winner.
It felt as if the past, where she had been ignored since birth due to her status as a concubine's daughter, had been completely wiped away.
Are you watching,
you Yuan clan, who boast of the Four Generations and Three Excellencies!
This Yuan Benchu, whom you all ignored so much, has finally occupied the Imperial Palace and become the number one in the military. Now, you won't dare to look down on me!
"After calling my uncle and brother to control the imperial officials, I intend to ascend to the position of General-in-Chief and seize political power."
Yuan Shao declared to Chunyu Qiong and Zhao Rong.
That she would become General-in-Chief, succeeding He Jin.
She had no intention of being stupidly taken down like that dull butcher General-in-Chief. She would discard indecisiveness and choose boldness, and she would not overlook the existence of political rivals who threatened her power.
"My Lady, they say Buguo Zhang Wu Kuang is dead!"
A military officer under Yuan Shao reported.
It is said that Gate Guard Colonel Lee Seong-hwi led his troops and slaughtered Wu Kuang at his residence.
Yuan Shao was momentarily flustered by the report, but,
soon realizing that Wu Kuang's death would act as a stroke of luck for her, she was greatly delighted.
"Since Wu Kuang is dead, his subordinate units must have scattered! If I absorb them, there is nothing left in the world for me to fear!"
Wu Kuang, her only obstacle, was dead.
Now that General of the Household Yuan Shu had failed to occupy the Southern Palace and retreated, there would be no one left to stop her advance.
"It weighs on my mind that His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Prince of Chenliu have disappeared. I am worried... that they might meet with some misfortune."
"I've sent Gao Lan, so let's wait for news."
Although Yuan Shao said that,
she actually hoped that Emperor Liu Bian and the Prince of Chenliu would die in this chaos.
What was so important about bloodline?
If the Emperor's seat became vacant, she could just choose an obedient royal family member and enthrone them instead.
The current Yuan Shao had the power to do so.
Like He Jin, who tried to seize power by using the fact that he was an imperial in-law, she was confident she could make the Emperor a puppet and control the Han Dynasty.
"Urgent report!"
A military officer entered, panting for breath.
The officer was under Cao Cao, and he had rushed to the Imperial Palace to report to Yuan Shao.
"The Governor of Bing Province, Dong Zhuo, has arrived leading an army...! The Colonel of the Vanguard has urgently requested reinforcements."
"Dong Zhuo?"
Yuan Shao muttered Dong Zhuo's name.
Why had a local official, who should be dealing with barbarians on the frontier, come all the way to Luoyang?
However, there was nothing to worry about.
She had gained control of Luoyang while gradually absorbing the forces of the General-in-Chief's Office.
If Dong Zhuo started to use force,
she would use Luoyang as a shield and launch a counterattack.
She did not know.
Yuan Shao, who had become the master of Luoyang with excellent capability and strategy, was thinking too lightly of Dong Zhuo's existence.
Dong Zhuo had already secured the custody of the Emperor and the Prince of Chenliu.
Lee Seong-hwi was the only one who guessed what kind of result that would bring.
The vanguard of Dong Zhuo's army arrived.
The vanguard was a cavalry unit of 3,000 riders.
Having covered the long distance in one breath by switching horses, they reached the vicinity of Luoyang and managed to secure the custody of Emperor Liu Bian and the Prince of Chenliu, Liu Xie.
They were very lucky.
It was no exaggeration to say that the heavens were helping them.
While running across the vast plains, they discovered the Emperor's party.
After slaughtering the Ten Eunuchs' group that had kidnapped the Emperor and the Prince of Chenliu, they called themselves the Righteous Army that had rushed to protect Luoyang.
"Your Majesty, this humble general is Xu Rong, a subordinate general of the Governor of Bing Province! Is there anything you are uncomfortable with?"
The generals hurriedly dismounted from their horses.
To the Emperor, who was being dragged away by the Ten Eunuchs, they could only look very reliable. He even felt grateful for the generals' words that they had come a long way to save them.
Now, finally, he was saved.
Not knowing that they had entered the tiger's mouth, the young Emperor and his younger brother breathed a sigh of relief.
"Where did you bastards come from!"
At the appearance of Lee Seong-hwi and Lu Bu, who had arrived shortly after, General Li Jue raised his voice.
He looked ready to launch an attack at any moment.
However, Xu Rong conveyed a message to restrain himself, saying they should not show a threatening appearance in front of the Emperor as much as possible.
"I am Gate Guard Colonel Lee Seong-hwi of Luoyang. You appear to have come from Xiliang... is that correct?"
Lee Seong-hwi, struggling to suppress his anger,
asked the Dong Zhuo army that had secured the custody of the Emperor and the Prince of Chenliu.
To that, Li Jue shouted.
"That's right! We have come to Luoyang leading our troops, following the orders of the General-in-Chief who planned the eradication of the Ten Eunuchs."
But He Jin was dead.
Since He Jin, who was the only one who could hold back the Governor of Bing Province Dong Zhuo, was dead, it was impossible to stop Dong Zhuo, who would soon bring his main force from Xiliang.
The master holding the reins was dead.
Then, naturally, the beast tied to the reins would jump over the fence and try to attack people.
"The rebellion of the Ten Eunuchs has ended. The ringleaders have all been executed, and the Empress Dowager in Jiade Hall is also waiting only for Your Majesty to arrive."
At Lee Seong-hwi's words, Liu Bian's face brightened as he opened his mouth.
"Is that true! You mean Mother is safe?"
"Yes, that is correct."
The rebellion in Luoyang had ended.
At Lee Seong-hwi's words, Xu Rong realized that the gap they could squeeze into was getting narrower.
They had come to Luoyang to suppress the rebellion.
But if that rebellion had ended, it meant the Dong Zhuo army had lost its justification to march into Luoyang.
"His Majesty must return to the Imperial Palace as soon as possible. We will escort His Majesty and enter quickly, so you all return and wait for orders."
"Outside troops cannot enter Luoyang."
Lee Seong-hwi retorted to Xu Rong's words.
Lu Bu whistled at the sight of Lee Seong-hwi raising his voice in front of an army numbering in the thousands.
"What are you relying on to be so loud? I'd like to say you're brave, but it would be more accurate to call you reckless in this situation."
It's something no sane human would ever do.
The opponent is an elite corps that was active in Xiliang.
Moreover, the Xiliang Cavalry, which possesses many Ferghana Horses, is right in front of them.
What on earth is he relying on to act like that?
Even Lu Bu was clicking her tongue at Lee Seong-hwi's insane behavior.
"Move aside! We are the army escorting His Majesty the Emperor!"
Xu Rong shouted loudly.
His will to push through like a tank if they didn't move seemed strong.
Liu Bian raised his hand to try and stop them.
He didn't know the situation that was going on.
However, he thought that harming the warrior who brought the welcome news that his mother was safe was an act against benevolence and righteousness.
"Ah, no, you can't..."
Liu Xie stopped Liu Bian.
If they stepped forward to help, they would instead be pressured by the fierce army.
Now is the time to endure and lower their heads.
Liu Xie, the small girl who was Emperor Liu Bian's half-sister, knew well that they were weaklings who could do nothing without the help of adults.
"Ge, General...!"
"Damn it! To think that an army from Luoyang has already arrived!"
The city gates opened, and an army poured out.
A force of approximately 1,000 troops sortied.
The Luoyang troops blocked the front of the Dong Zhuo army, radiating a tense sense of intimidation as if defending against foreign enemies attacking the castle.
"I am Colonel of the Vanguard Cao Cao. We have suppressed the rebellion in Luoyang, so your role is finished. I will promise to reward you for your efforts in coming this far later, so return to Xiliang and guard the frontier."
Cao Cao formed a formation in the middle of the road.
She had brought all of her subordinate troops.
Judging by the serious atmosphere, it seemed she intended to respond immediately if the Dong Zhuo army tried to enter Luoyang by force.
The Dong Zhuo army was superior in numbers.
Moreover, it was the Xiliang Cavalry, called the best among cavalry.
"We do not know if you are lackeys of the Ten Eunuchs or government troops who colluded with the rebels. So, we will escort His Majesty and enter the Imperial Palace ourselves."
Xu Rong shouted.
Li Jue and Guo Si gripped their sword hilts.
The Xiliang soldiers under them were the same.
Tightening their grip on the spears in their hands, they finished preparing to fight at any moment.
It is a hair-trigger situation that could explode at any moment.
If a battle breaks out here, the Dong Zhuo army's vanguard would very likely gain the upper hand.
"You owe me one."
Cao Cao said.
Lee Seong-hwi nodded at those words.
"I'll do anything, so let's not die here."
Should I say, as expected of Cao Cao.
To think she could afford to think about the future even in this situation.
I wanted to appear as bold as Cao Cao.
But that was not as easy as it sounded. It was near impossible to deal boldly with the Xiliang Cavalry, which was emitting a fierce aura, right in front of me.
'Damn it, what now? I've used all the means I could. Now that the custody of the Emperor and the Prince of Chenliu has passed to the enemy, we have no choice but to be one step behind the Dong Zhuo army.'
It had entered the worst phase.
It couldn't get any worse than this, right? To Lee Seong-hwi, who muttered that, a huge nightmare arrived.
"Everyone, put away your spears and swords! How rude, you bastards! I have come all the way to Luoyang leading my troops myself, so why do you dare to block me!!"
A man of huge stature roared loudly.
He was wearing black armor.
Obese flesh, tanned skin, and even bulging eyes.
He was clearly no ordinary person.
Witnessing the middle-aged man with abundant hair and beard, Lee Seong-hwi realized that the 'nightmare' he had feared so much had appeared.
He was wrong.
It had already arrived.
Faster than the expected time... too fast...
To swallow Luoyang, the nightmare,
arrived majestically, leading the Xiliang legion stained with murderous intent and rage.
"I am the Governor of Bing Province, Dong Zhuo, and I have come to slaughter the traitorous groups and set the Han Dynasty's state right, following the orders of the General-in-Chief He Jin!!"
The troops he led were approximately 20,000.
It was not an opponent that a force of only 1,000 could dare to defeat.