39. A Reputation That Shakes the World (4)
39. A Reputation That Shakes the World (4)
The coalition's morale was completely broken after failing to capture Sishui Pass.
They hadn't managed to occupy a single stronghold.
The amount of grain needed to feed the soldiers was truly astronomical, becoming a huge burden on the warlords, and they began to grow increasingly sick of a war that felt like pouring water into a bottomless pit.
'If only those bastards had taken the vanguard...!'
'Cowardly bastards. They talk about righteous causes, but in the end, they care most about their own troops?'
Distrust began to pile up among the warlords.
And that distrust gradually spread into blatant dissatisfaction, reaching a point where they harbored grudges against one another.
"Our soldiers have been starving for two days already! Administrator of Dongjun, your camp still seems to have plenty of grain, how about sharing some?"
"What are you talking about? It's a struggle to feed our own army."
Fights finally broke out over the lack of grain.
What started as petty squabbles between soldiers escalated into a war of nerves between the warlords, eventually leading to the Inspector of Yanzhou, Liu Dai, murdering the Administrator of Dongjun, Qiao Mao.
A warlord had brutally murdered another warlord.
When the news broke, the leader, Yuan Shao, sighed, saying it was impossible to lead this hopeless coalition any longer.
'What power does a leader have if they don't even have the right to discipline a warlord who broke military law? These warlords are the type who can't even control their own subordinates, so what use is a leader, and what use is a coalition?'
The Prefect of Bohai, Yuan Shao, decided to withdraw her troops.
Also, the Governor of Ji Province, Han Fu, who had been keeping her in check from within the military camp, decided to withdraw as well.
The warlords of Hebei were plotting to enthrone the Inspector of Youzhou, Liu Yu, as the next emperor. Therefore, Han Fu was worried that Yuan Shao might make a preemptive move to enthrone Liu Yu as emperor, so she tried to return to Hebei before her if possible.
"We are leaving too."
"As long as Dong Zhuo doesn't pursue us."
The Inspector of Yuzhou, Kong Zhou, and the Grand Administrator of Beihai, Kong Rong, withdrew their troops.
Their posts were relatively far from Luoyang. Since there was less risk of a counterattack from Dong Zhuo's army compared to the other warlords, they easily decided to withdraw.
"You foolish bastards! Then what about me, who is in Nanyang!"
The Administrator of Nanyang, Yuan Shu, shouted.
Although Nanyang Commandery was a county belonging to Jing Province, it was located very close to Luoyang.
If Dong Zhuo were to launch a counterattack, Yuan Shu, who had participated in the coalition army, would be at the highest risk of being attacked first.
So, Yuan Shu tried to hold back the departing warlords. He tried threats and appeasement, putting forward the authority of the Yuan Clan of Runan, but no one listened to the words of the young master of the Three Excellencies.
"Mengde, what will you do now?"
The Prefect of Chenliu, Zhang Miao, approached.
And next to him was his younger brother, the Administrator of Guangling, Zhang Chao.
"If it were the old me, I would have driven my troops to strike Dong Zhuo even if I were alone. But I'll stop. I don't want to risk my life fighting alone just to fill the bellies of other warlords. I will retreat to Chenliu Commandery with my soldiers intact and gather strength until I can raise my own punitive force."
"Well thought out, Mengde."
Zhang Miao nodded at Cao Cao's words.
Zhang Miao, who was also her old friend, said he would support her until Cao Cao raised the banner of the righteous cause, and that he would spare nothing, both materially and spiritually.
This friend is a talent who will become great later.
Recognizing that, Zhang Miao declared he would even empty his family's fortune to support Cao Cao's army.
"B-brother..."
Is it necessary to go that far?
As his younger brother Zhang Chao trailed off and sent him a look, Zhang Miao showed a firm stance, saying that one should not discuss private interests in front of a righteous cause.
"That army over there is the Chancellor of Jibei, Bao Xin. It looks like the Chancellor of Jibei is also returning. The Inspector of Yanzhou, Liu Dai, is leaving too. That wretched man! No matter how resentful he was, how could he kill a fellow warlord!"
Watching Liu Dai, who had killed his colleague Qiao Mao and absorbed his army, Zhang Miao spat out curses.
This coalition army would surely be seen as the laughingstock of the world. They hadn't even seen the face of the traitor Dong Zhuo, and the warlords mobilized for the crusade had exhausted their strength fighting among themselves.
Even searching through history, ancient and modern, there would be no coalition that ended as emptily and absurdly as this one.
"Don't waste your energy, Mengzhuo. It was a doomed affair anyway. It's fortunate enough that we kept Dong Zhuo from taking over the Central Plains."
Cao Cao didn't think poorly of the current situation.
She explained that if the people remembered it as an event where the warlords of the Central Plains rose up against Dong Zhuo's tyranny, that was enough of a story, and it wasn't a result where nothing was gained.
And Cao Cao also decided to withdraw.
At that, Zhang Miao said he would join her until they reached Yan Province with his younger brother Zhang Chao. The reason was that Dong Zhuo might target the retreating army, so they had to stick together to return to Yan Province.
"Let's withdraw."
Cao Cao stood up from her seat.
She looked at her army, rising from her small stature.
The majestic elites were excellent.
But this was not enough.
To plot for Luoyang, she needed a larger army. She swore that one day she would come to Luoyang leading a larger, more majestic, and strictly trained grand army than this.
"I leave the rest to you."
Our role ends here.
And now, it is your turn to drop Dong Zhuo's head.
Cao Cao thought of the one person who would be slowly sharpening his blade inside, and saying she was leaving the rest to him, she turned away from Sishui Pass.
The coalition army finally disbanded.
Seeing the warlords who failed to break through Sishui Pass and eventually retreated, Dong Zhuo laughed louder than ever and rejoiced like a child.
"The warlords have retreated? Guhahaha, it seems these stupid bastards have finally realized they can't break through Sishui Pass! Now there will be no one in the world who can stop this Dong Zhuo!"
Dong Zhuo was intoxicated with confidence.
All the warlords in the world had run away in a pathetic manner.
He blabbered that he wanted to see their broken morale with his own two eyes. As Dong Zhuo showed great joy, his subordinates also wore expressions of joy.
"Whether it's a hundred thousand or a million, let them come! I have excellent generals and soldiers! Moreover, with the natural fortress of Sishui Pass standing there, who could possibly target Luoyang?"
Only the glory of the victor remained to be taken.
Since he had won a huge war that staked the world, it was a natural principle to monopolize all rights as the victor.
Everything is permitted to the victor.
Coveting the throne that was only permitted to the Liu imperial family, violating the court ladies in the imperial palace, and squeezing the lifeblood out of the people to enjoy a Wine Pool and Meat Forest would all be permitted.
"First, I will open all the warehouses in the imperial city to reward the hard work of the men who fought bravely in this war. It's a very good opportunity to show what a generous ruler this Dong Zhongying is!"
Thanks to us, the people have regained peace.
Thinking that way, Dong Zhuo thought it was natural for the people of Luoyang to sacrifice themselves for a while for his allies.
Soldiers have a duty to win the war.
And the people must offer everything for the soldiers who have fulfilled that duty.
"Son-in-law."
"Yes, sir."
"Give the men a very generous reward. Until they say it's okay and refuse. Shouldn't we feed the soldiers well and fill their pockets so they will fight hard next time? I must show that as long as they follow this Dong Zhuo, wealth will never run dry."
"That is a wise decision."
"Guhahaha! Very good, guhahahaha!"
Dig up the tombs of past emperors and their consorts to prepare treasures to bestow upon the men. Dig up not only the tombs of noble families but also the tombs of warlords to scrape together wealth.
Dong Zhuo is from Liang Province on the frontier.
So, he had long questioned why dead corpses were holding onto treasures.
He concluded that treasures should naturally be held by the living, and why should the dead, who have rotted and turned into soil, have them, and that it was only right to distribute them to his subordinates.
"Then who shall do that work..."
"I will entrust it to Lu Bu."
"Yes? But she will not want to do it! Would that high-pride Lu Bu voluntarily take on the role of digging up graves?"
"Even if she is a girl called Unrivaled Under Heaven, she is my adopted daughter and my subordinate! Where in the world is there a daughter who disobeys her father's orders, and where in the world is there a subordinate who does not follow the ruler's orders? Stop the nonsense and convey my order to Lu Bu!"
"Yes... yes, I understand. Sir."
Why on earth would he make Lu Bu do that?
He would rather entrust it to Li Jue and Guo Si, who would happily shovel harder than anyone else.
Li Ru thought it would be a source of trouble someday. Just as the General of the Left, Dong Min, was trying to harm Lee Seong-hwi, Li Ru was constantly suspicious of Lu Bu, who had readily accepted the proposal to become Dong Zhuo's adopted daughter.
Lu Bu must never be treated poorly.
She must be cherished and treated well. The name Unrivaled Under Heaven would certainly not be an empty boast.
However, Dong Zhuo treated such a Lu Bu poorly.
Because of Dong Zhuo's attitude, Li Ru could not shake off the anxiety in his heart even though they had won at Sishui Pass.
Yellow gold and treasures came into their hands.
The warriors of the Lu Bu army were surprised, with their eyes wide open at the rewards delivered from above.
Is this all a reward from above?
The generals, who had received rewards amounting to hundreds of times their salary from the court, were at a loss and busy watching each other.
Kung!
Lu Bu struck down with her Painted Halberd and stood up.
"I'm not taking this filthy gold."
It must be treasure stolen from someone.
Lu Bu is a person of very greedy nature.
However, she treated the gold and treasures received from Dong Zhuo like stones, saying they smelled too much and were too disgusting to bear.
"You've finally become an adult. Well done, well done. Our Lu Fengxian has started to have some discernment."
"Shut up."
Lu Bu clicked her tongue at Lee Seong-hwi's words.
What on earth does this guy think of me?
Lu Bu muttered that Lee Seong-hwi needed some education, as he was a guy whose attitude toward his lord was completely hopeless.
"Th-this, if you add it all up, how many horses is this...!"
Hou Cheng swallowed his saliva.
He seems more interested in something other than treasure.
Hou Cheng showed his greed, saying that with this gold, he could buy as many excellent steeds from Xiliang as he wanted.
"I'll let you touch the Red Hare once, so can you hold it in?"
Lee Seong-hwi proposed.
At that, Hou Cheng put down the gold coins he was holding in both hands.
"H-hey, is that a promise? The Captain said she felt bad and stubbornly refused, saying it was stingy... If I can touch the Red Hare with these hands, what would I be greedy for!"
The horse of horses, Red Hare.
Hou Cheng swallowed his saliva at the fact that he could stroke that lewd mare with the red mane with both hands.
What a wanton, skittish mare.
Since she carries Lu Bu, who is called Unrivaled Under Heaven, and gallops across the battlefield, how strong must she be? Hou Cheng giggled, saying he was very much looking forward to it.
"These are treasures that will become a source of trouble later."
Zhang Liao put down the treasure.
Then she said she would not use a single penny of the rewards received from Dong Zhuo.
Someday Dong Zhuo will fall.
She predicted that his bloated body would be dragged down by the angry people, and the gold he had piled up would disappear without a trace.
"We are noble warriors. We must not have our hearts moved by mere gold. If we sell our hearts and loyalty for gold, how would we be any different from the Xiliang Dong Zhuo army."
At Zhang Liao's words, the generals nodded.
They had felt uneasy every time they saw the greedy Xiliang army. At Zhang Liao's words, the generals refused to accept the gold and treasures, saying they could not abandon their honor and pride as warriors.