Chapter Sixteen: Slaying Dong Zhuo and Gaining the Emperor

The Imperial Jade Seal also symbolizes the throne itself. Countless warlords have divided the land, raising armies and sharpening their weapons, all for the sake of this piece of jade.

"General, please heed the will of Heaven and ascend the throne at once!" Cheng Pu and a line of veteran generals knelt on one knee, clasped their fists, and earnestly entreated him.

Sun Ce and Lu Meng also implored Sun Jian with sincere faces to take the throne immediately. Sun Jian held the Jade Seal lovingly, his joy barely contained.

Jiang Wen arched an eyebrow and shouted, "Who would have thought that after so many years in the world, all you venerable generals could utter such laughable, crude words!"

“Dong Zhuo controls the court, has deposed the Emperor, murdered the Empress Dowager, and commands two hundred thousand soldiers. Tell me, generals, has Dong Zhuo declared himself Emperor? And now you covet this mere piece of broken jade, all while the living Emperor remains in Dong Zhuo’s grasp. You treat a stone as a treasure and dismiss the living Emperor. Is that the extent of your grand ambitions, General? Is that all your aspirations amount to? When Cao Cao borrowed troops from you, he dared to pursue Dong Zhuo with only a few thousand men! If he were to seize the Emperor, it would be too late for regrets. Dong Zhuo flees with the Emperor and the wealthy merchants of Luoyang, but their retreat is slow. If we march swiftly, we still have a chance to attack!"

Jiang Wen clasped his hands and declared loudly, "Time waits for no one. I beg the General to lead us forth!"

Sun Jian was suddenly awakened from his greed, and with a self-deprecating smile, he commanded, "Send orders: all cavalrymen are to remove their heavy armor and assemble at the city gate in half an hour. Cheng Pu, Zu Mao, and Huang Gai will accompany me with the light cavalry in pursuit. The other generals are to hold Luoyang."

"Yes, sir!"

The army set out. Sun Jian and his generals led ten thousand light cavalry in pursuit of Dong Zhuo, leaving Jiang Wen, Sun Ce, Lu Meng, and the other commanders to garrison Luoyang.

Sun Ce said, "Order the troops to tidy up Luoyang. We will occupy the city for a month and repair the ruined buildings."

Standing outside the palace, Jiang Wen gazed up at the shattered halls. Lu Meng stood beside him. "Changsu, the General has set out after Dong Zhuo, but Dong Zhuo still commands eighty thousand troops. With only ten thousand, can the General succeed?"

"Ziming, Changsu!" Sun Ce approached and saluted the two.

"Bo Fu," Jiang Wen replied with a bow.

"I have heard of your counsel to my father to rescue the Emperor," Sun Ce said. "But now that my father holds the Jade Seal and commands sixty thousand men, why not declare himself king?"

Jiang Wen replied, "In these unsettled times, no one can take that step. Whoever dares proclaim himself emperor will meet the same fate as Dong Zhuo."

"Ziming, you asked just now—does the young general not worry for the General’s safety?" Sun Ce turned to Lu Meng with a smile. "Brother Changsu has judged the timing well. He predicted that Cao Cao would fail in his pursuit, leading Dong Zhuo to let his guard down, thinking there could be no further pursuit. With my father leading ten thousand cavalry in a surprise attack, he is sure to win a great victory!"

"But the question is whether he can catch up."

...

At Hangu Pass, Sun Jian’s ten thousand light cavalry rode hard without rest. All the wealth and people of Henan had been plundered by Dong Zhuo.

The pass lay five hundred li from Hongnong. Its garrison had already withdrawn, leaving the way unimpeded.

Cheng Pu reported, "General, we have spotted Cao Cao’s forces ahead!"

Sun Jian ordered, "The main army will press on. I will speak with Cao Mengde."

Cao Cao’s face was ashen; his troops were dispirited, evidently reeling from recent defeat. As he saw Sun Jian approach, he could not hide his bitterness. "Zilian, our army has labored only for others’ gain!"

Sun Jian clasped his hands in salute. "Commander Cao, I thank you for your devotion to the Han. You have my utmost respect!"

Cao Cao forced a thin smile. "I thought, Brother Wentai, that you would be content with Luoyang. Yet of the eighteen warlords, all are drunk on their own ambitions—only you are truly awake. I, Cao Mengde, offer my congratulations on your coming victory!"

With a shout, Sun Jian spurred his horse forward. A cold light flashed in Cao Cao’s eyes. "This man will be my greatest foe!"

Within a carriage, Dong Zhuo sat. Suddenly, a jolt on the road threw his head against the wood. He flew into a rage. Beside him, the young Emperor quietly rejoiced, though his face remained impassive.

Lu Bu, covered in dust and astride his weary Red Hare, arrived outside the carriage. "Father, I have driven off Cao Cao, but failed to take his head. He escaped."

Dong Zhuo’s eyes shone with approval. "No matter. So long as my son is safe, all is well. Ahead lies Xin’an. You are exhausted. We will rest the army there for a day."

Lu Bu hesitated. "Father, the traitors are close behind. We should hasten to Chang’an."

Dong Zhuo laughed. "What is there to fear? The army that pursued us suffered a crushing defeat just now. Their spirits are broken—who would dare chase us further? Tell the men to set down their baggage and rest for a day."

"Yes!"

Dong Zhuo disembarked, holding the Emperor in his grip. After the disaster at Hulao Pass, his army of 150,000 had been cut to only 80,000, and many generals lost. Morale had sunk to its lowest ebb. Now, at last, they could rest. Though Dong Zhuo lacked vision, he was skilled at organizing his troops.

The soldiers breathed a sigh of relief, set down their packs, and laid aside their weapons.

"Thud, thud, thud!" The deep, muffled sound of hooves echoed. Dong Zhuo turned to see a great cloud of dust rising behind. His face changed instantly.

"Quick, enter the city and prepare to defend!"

Easier said than done. Eighty thousand soldiers are not ants; they couldn’t pour into the city all at once.

The men had just laid down their arms when the pursuers appeared. Their will to fight deserted them, and they fled in panic.

The Red Turban Army raised their banner high—"Sun!" Dong Zhuo gnashed his teeth, his bloodshot eyes burning with fury. "Sun Wentai! That brat Sun Jian!"

With his ancient saber raised high, Sun Jian cut down the soldiers in his path, charging straight toward Dong Zhuo. Lu Bu roared and tried to intervene but was blocked by Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Zu Mao.

A head flew from its shoulders. Dong Zhuo, filled with rage, glared at Sun Jian even as his blood spattered the Emperor, who screamed in terror. Sun Jian grabbed the youth and hoisted him onto his horse. "My loyal generals, withdraw!"

"Father!" Lu Bu howled, but his Red Hare was spent and stumbled, throwing him to the ground. Huang Gai, intending to finish Lu Bu, hesitated—recognizing his valor, he stayed his hand. Instead, he noticed the carriage Lu Bu refused to abandon and charged toward it.

Lu Bu’s face twisted. He didn’t even have time to snatch up his halberd. "Let go of Diao Chan! What are you doing?"

Huang Gai threw open the curtain, and upon seeing a beauty of peerless grace, burst into laughter. A plan formed in his mind. "To think Lu Bu’s beloved is here. We can use her to force him into service for our general!"

"Diao Chan! Sun Jian, that dog! From now on, Lu Bu and you are mortal enemies!"

Lu Bu scrambled onto a nearby horse, snatched up his spear, and gave chase—but Sun Jian’s light cavalry was too swift. He was left behind, helpless.

"A humble scholar, Jia Xu, greets General Lu!"

A scholar approached Lu Bu from afar and bowed deeply.