Chapter 91: Using a Pretext to Overawe the Court Officials

The steps rang out crisply outside the Hall of Virtue.

A host of nobles and ministers hurried up the stairs, whispering excitedly among themselves as they made their way to court, every face lit with joy.

“Have you heard? The warlords’ host has already crossed Hulao Pass and will soon arrive in Luoyang.”

“What of that? Surely you all have not yet heard—Li Jue is dead.”

“Li Jue?”

At the shocked murmur, all the gathered officials turned at once toward Grand Commandant Huang Wan.

Though the Grand Commandant no longer commanded troops, he still retained some ties within the army, and his information naturally came a little sooner than most.

Huang Wan stroked his beard with a smile and turned to the Minister over the Masses beside him, Wang Yun. “Master Wang, do you still remember that young man who once broke into your residence to borrow a sword?”

Wang Yun’s old face soured. Cao Cao and Chen Cong had indeed made their names by striking down Dong Zhuo, and the Demon King had nearly swallowed him alive in fury. Had he not bought himself some breathing room by taking out that imitation Seven-Star Sword from home to tide things over, he would already have been dead.

“The son-in-law of Colonel of Cavalry Cao Mengde—how could I forget him?”

“It was he who led a night assault against the Liang cavalry and slew Li Jue in battle. I hear they even tore out his heart. All the men of Western Liang fear him like tigers and wolves, and the allied warlords all call him invincible. That boy is the one.”

A fresh wave of astonished whispers rose among them.

Chen Cong.

Most of them had seen him before, and none had expected such ferocity from the man.

Wang Yun’s brows smoothed, and some of the gloom in his heart eased.

If that were so, then the borrowed sword of that day had not been given in vain.

“Yet the righteous armies are about to win, and the butcher from Western Liang speaks of moving the capital. How are we to answer him?”

“For now, delay him. No more than ten days is needed. By then the righteous army will have reached Luoyang, and once they are here, even if the butcher wishes to leave, he will not be able to.”

After the others murmured assent, they fell silent.

By the time they ascended the last step of the long stair, the Hall of Virtue stood before them.

Dong Zhuo, armored and sword at his waist, stood brazenly beside the Son of Heaven’s imperial desk.

Only after the ministers had finished their bows did he speak with a cold laugh.

“My lords, how goes the packing of your baggage and valuables? The three-day limit draws to an end; once the court moves west, do not say I did not warn you.”

“Grand Tutor, it is not that we refuse your orders. Our family estates are simply too large; three days truly is not enough.”

“Such petty rebel troops can hardly be the Grand Tutor’s match. We are willing to follow you and fight to the death!”

“We are willing to offer the Grand Tutor one hundred thousand in gold to resist the rebel army and preserve the ancestral land where the radiance of the House of Han first rose!”

Yesterday, Dong Zhuo had already swept away a number of those who opposed moving west. The ministers had learned to be clever; instead of saying how harmful the relocation would be, they spoke only of how difficult it was to prepare their households.

But...

One hundred thousand in gold...

The Demon King’s smile grew even colder. These ministers were taking him for a beggar to be dismissed with scraps.

His hand shifted, and the long sword slowly slid free from its scabbard. He braced the hilt with both hands and pressed it lightly to the floor.

At the sound of the treasured blade biting into the stone—

Xian trembled all over, head hanging low, saying not a word, like a frightened quail.

The officials of the court all dropped to their knees at once. “We beg the Grand Tutor to spare our lives.”

“Oh? So you intend to cling on and deadlock with me to the bitter end?” Dong Zhuo sneered. “Fine. Whoever refuses shall take this sword and kill himself on the spot!”

The ministers drew in their necks and lowered their heads, saying nothing, neither stepping forward nor yielding.

Dong Zhuo hesitated.

As the saying goes, the law does not punish the multitude. Now that these old pedants had hardened their hearts and chosen to stand against him, he could hardly slaughter them all.

If the court in Luoyang ceased to exist, those rebels could simply choose another member of the Liu clan to enthrone. By then, how could he continue to lord over them as he pleased?

As he hesitated, Dong Zhuo looked down at Li Ru at the foot of the dais.

Li Ru’s expression was calm. He lifted a hand and pointed lightly toward the first man in the right-hand row. Dong Zhuo understood at once.

He descended the steps with sword in hand and, grinning cruelly, laid the blade across Wang Yun’s shoulder.

“Is the Minister over the Masses truly unwilling to cooperate with me?”

“Old minister... old minister...” Feeling the bone-deep chill against his neck, sweat the size of beans rolled down from his temples. His fists tightened beneath his wide sleeves, again and again, until finally he shut his eyes and let out a long sigh. “I am willing. Grand Tutor, rest assured. Once the three days are up, I will have all the baggage and valuables packed, take my family and servants, and follow the army westward.”

“Hahaha! Good!”

Dong Zhuo lifted the sword and moved on, stopping before the first man in the left-hand row: Huang Wan.

“Is the Grand Commandant willing?”

“...I am willing!” Huang Wan closed his eyes in pain.

“Still sensible.”

Dong Zhuo praised him once, then tossed the sword to the floor and barked, “I do not wish to waste words. Whoever refuses shall kill himself on the spot. After three breaths, any man who has not spoken shall have his clan exterminated!”

With the two elder statesmen no longer leading the resistance, how could the others endure such a threat to the lives of their families?

One after another they hurriedly said, “We are willing...”

Dong Zhuo burst into laughter.

He was quite practiced at handling scenes like this—half bluster, half deceit, soothing the crowd’s panic so that no one would dare obey him only in appearance.

He then went to the long stair and sat down.

“I know that you have some eyes and ears outside. I will not hide it: the fighting ahead is indeed tense...”

Before the officials could erupt into uproar, Dong Zhuo continued, “But! My decision to move the capital has nothing to do with the war. If I wished to win, I could crush the rebel army in the blink of an eye...”

The ministers were just beginning to sneer in contempt when a eunuch’s shrill voice rang out:

“Marquis of Wuhu, Left General Dong Min requests an audience!”

Without waiting for the emperor’s permission, an old man over fifty rushed into the hall and called loudly to Dong Zhuo, “Second brother, stop dawdling. Mother says you are to come home at once.”

Dong Zhuo slapped his plump forehead in exasperation. “Nonsense. Go back at once!”

“Second brother, let those trifling matters be handled by Wenyou. Our grandson-in-law has come calling; Mother says you are to hurry home.”

For a moment, the ministers were all at a loss.

They had never heard that the Demon King had a grandson-in-law...

And from the sound of it, this grandson-in-law was rather favored by the Demon King’s mother?

Otherwise, why would she send the mighty Left General himself to make the errand?

Dong Zhuo was even more bewildered.

Chen Cong coming to Luoyang was one thing—why had he gone to his own Grand Tutor’s residence?

Could it be that A-Fu had truly persuaded the boy to enter his service?

Was that really necessary?

Back when he held Luoyang in his grip like a tiger crouched over a hill, the man had not come. Now that the general situation had already been settled and he himself was about to flee to Guanzhong to enjoy his later years, was this belated offering of coal in the snow not a little too late?

Dong Zhuo was just about to stop caring and use the mention of a grandson-in-law to cow the ministers a little more when he hesitated.

For all his selfish nature, he would never willingly place the authority in his hands into the grasp of any outsider. He would rather believe that, through his own efforts, he might yet produce another son. And even if in the end he truly had no heir, he would rather carry his empire into the grave with him.

But for that same selfish reason, he did not wish for Chen Cong to be stained by association with him.

He was old. The body grows old, and so does the heart.

But Dong Bai still had the best years of her life ahead of her.

His granddaughter had thrown herself wholly into that foolish boy’s arms, and no matter how much Dong Zhuo hated to admit it, the truth was ironclad: if Chen Cong prospered, then his granddaughter could prosper as well.

And now that Chen Cong had taken a stand with him, could he possibly have a good end?

The hero who had risen up to strike down Dong Zhuo would in an instant become the hound of the state’s great criminal.

Was he truly to let his granddaughter be buried in the earth alongside him?

She was his only blood left in this world...

Li Ru’s eyes flickered.

Though he could not quite understand why Chen Cong had come to Luoyang, the fact that he could enter and leave the Grand Tutor’s residence so openly already meant there was no need to hide him.

Since there was no need for concealment, they might as well borrow his name to intimidate the ministers.

As for slander and disgrace, those were of no consequence. At worst, when the time came to leave, they could “strike down Dong Zhuo” once more. It was not as though it would be the first time.

As for submission?

Li Ru had not considered that for a single moment. Would the son-in-law personally taught by that crafty Cao ever choose this moment to submit to Dong Zhuo?

He immediately stepped forward and said, “Father-in-law, since Zining has come from afar, we must not slight him. Let this humble servant handle these minor matters.”

Dong Zhuo was somewhat displeased.

He had not even reached a conclusion yet, and Li Ru had already lifted the lid.

Annoyed, he waved a hand and strode off with Dong Min.

Only after the Demon King had gone far away did the ministers slowly rise. Some were lost, some stunned, and some looked as though the sky had fallen.

Grand Commandant Huang Wan’s lips trembled as he stammered, “May I ask... may I ask who the ‘Zining’ spoken of by the Palace Attendant-Lord might be?”

Li Ru smiled faintly. “He is called the Invincible General. Chen Cong, courtesy name Zining.”

Huang Wan’s eyes slowly widened. Before he could draw breath, he fainted dead away on the spot.

The rest sank to the floor, unable to speak for a long, long while.