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Inside the grand tent, the flickering candlelight cast shadows, creating a tense and oppressive atmosphere. The gathered generals and strategists displayed a range of expressions, some deep in thought, others anxious. The chief clerk, Chen Lin, stood among them, his face etched with worry as he clasped his hands and spoke, "General, this is absolutely unwise! As the saying goes, 'To cover one's eyes while catching sparrows is merely self-deception.' How can we ignore the current situation?"
He Jin raised his head, impatience flickering in his gaze. "Chen Lin, what insightful advice do you have? Speak up."
Chen Lin stepped forward slightly, his tone resolute. "General, you wield the emperor's authority and command the military like a dragon soaring or a tiger striding. The outcome lies entirely in your hands. If you wish to eliminate the eunuchs, you must act swiftly and decisively, like a roaring furnace igniting hair—quick and thorough. Heaven will naturally align with you. However, if you issue proclamations to summon heroes from afar, each will have their own agenda. The capital will become a boiling cauldron; one misstep could lead to chaos and allow others to seize control of the situation, ultimately resulting in failure and disorder!"
As soon as he finished speaking, whispers filled the tent as the crowd exchanged uneasy glances. Yet He Jin scoffed derisively, his tone dripping with disdain. "Chen Lin, despite your extensive knowledge, how can you be so timid today? The situation is already chaotic; if I do not leverage external forces to bolster my position against the eunuchs, how can I succeed on my own?"
At that moment, applause erupted from behind the tent, followed by a low chuckle. "General, why trouble yourself so? Eliminating the eunuchs is but a matter of raising your hand; why all these concerns?"
The crowd turned to see a figure walking leisurely into the tent. Dressed in simple military attire with a short sword at his waist, he bore a stern expression and sharp eyes like blades. It was Colonel Cao Cao. He strode confidently to He Jin's side and offered a slight bow with an air of condescension. "If you truly wish to rid yourself of the eunuchs, General, you need only act decisively; there’s no need for futile proclamations inviting everyone to the capital."
He Jin looked up at Cao Cao and frowned. "Mengde, it’s easy for you to say that. The eunuchs hold immense power within the palace now; Zhang Rang and his ilk command the imperial guards. Without external support to strengthen my position, how can I hope to succeed?"
Cao Cao smiled slightly, his tone growing colder. "You command the imperial guards; what do you have to fear? Although Zhang Rang and Duan Gui appear powerful on the surface, they are merely empty titles. How many soldiers in the guards are truly loyal to them? If you strike with thunderous force and enforce your commands strictly, these eunuchs will scatter like frightened dogs—there won’t be time for chaos."
Yuan Shao interjected with a cold smile. "While Mengde's words hold some truth, they underestimate the complexities of our world. Summoning heroes from afar may carry risks but can also demonstrate your might as General and intimidate others in court. Given the current treacherous state of affairs within the palace, relying solely on oneself may not suffice."
Cao Cao turned to Yuan Shao with a hint of mockery in his gaze. "Benchu, your words sound pleasant enough. But I can see through your intentions; you’ve been eager to invite external forces into the capital for your own gain."
Yuan Shao's anger flared as he retorted sharply. "Mengde! You slander me! In this critical situation, I only seek to eliminate threats for the court—how could I have any selfish motives?"
Seeing the two men bickering fiercely, He Jin furrowed his brow and slammed his hand on the table with force. "Enough! This is not the time for infighting; we are discussing matters of great importance!" He turned to Chen Lin with a cold demeanor. "The chaos you fear is trivial compared to what will happen if we do not eradicate the eunuchs' power—it is true calamity!"
Chen Lin sighed upon hearing this, lowering his head in silence, while Cao Cao and Yuan Shao each let out a cold snort, their gazes revealing hidden meanings. Inside the tent, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, yet He Jin remained oblivious, convinced he was the one in control amidst the brewing storm.
The candlelight flickered in He Jin's tent, casting mottled shadows throughout the room. Cao Cao stood at the center, his brow slightly furrowed as he coldly regarded He Jin. His voice was calm but carried an oppressive weight: "General, the calamity of eunuchs has existed throughout history. However, regardless of the time, the true responsibility lies with the sovereign who excessively favors them, handing power to those who should not wield it. While eunuchs may cause great trouble, if one wishes to eliminate them, it suffices to capture the ringleaders and hand them over to the authorities. Why mobilize troops and summon outside forces into the capital?"
He Jin clenched the edge of the table tightly and suddenly raised his head, shouting angrily, "Mengde! What do you mean by this? Do you harbor private intentions and wish for me not to eradicate these treacherous scoundrels?"
Cao Cao's expression remained unchanged as he slowly shook his head, a hint of cold mockery in his tone: "Do you not see, General? If you truly summon outside troops, the capital will instantly become a battleground for local warlords. At that point, not only will the eunuchs remain unpunished, but an even greater chaos will ensue. In my view, this is the path to ruin!"
He Jin slammed his hand on the table and pointed at Cao Cao, shouting, "Mengde! Your words are clearly obstructing my grand plan! Perhaps you wish to use this opportunity to strengthen yourself and plot something sinister!"
Cao Cao let out a cold laugh, stepping back half a pace while fixing a sharp gaze on He Jin: "If you insist on pursuing this reckless course of action, it will be you who brings chaos to the world." With that, he swept out of the tent, disappearing into the thick darkness of night.
He Jin stood within the tent, his chest heaving with anger. After a moment, he abruptly turned to his attendants and commanded, "Immediately send someone to prepare a secret edict and swiftly deliver it to each garrison to summon troops into the capital!"
The attendants dared not say more and hurried away. The candlelight flickered in the tent as He Jin's shadow loomed large and solitary against the wall. He murmured to himself as if trying to convince himself: "With outside troops entering the capital, I, He Jin, will surely control the situation... Those eunuchs won't escape." However, as the night wind blew through the tent opening, disrupting the candlelight, it also left him feeling a chill deep within.
On the Northwest Road, Dong Zhuo's army advanced with impressive momentum. Dong Zhuo sat astride his horse with a furrowed brow as if deep in thought. Behind him was a large contingent of cavalry; banners fluttered in the wind while blades glinted ominously in the light.
"Li Ru," Dong Zhuo turned to look at his strategist beside him, his tone low yet tinged with anticipation. "Although we march under imperial decree into the capital, those in Luoyang will not easily relinquish their hold. What can we do to make them obediently silent and pave our way?"
Li Ru rode closely behind and smiled faintly upon hearing Dong Zhuo's words: "Honorable Duke, while we possess an imperial edict in hand, to gain acceptance from court officials and across the land requires a legitimate reason. Why not draft a memorial first? Directly accuse Zhang Rang and those eunuchs of harming the country and its people so that everyone understands your purpose is to cleanse the court rather than harbor ulterior motives. In this way, who would dare oppose?"
Dong Zhuo laughed heartily and slapped his saddle: "Good! You always think ahead, Li Ru. Quickly write it up for me!"
Li Ru jumped off his horse and quickly set up a table, taking a brush and dipping it in ink. In no time, he had finished writing. He presented the memorial with both hands and smiled, saying, "This document is straightforward. It explains how Zhang Rang and his cohorts have harmed the world, while also indicating that the Honorable Duke's journey is for the sake of the common people. Please take a look."
Dong Zhuo took the memorial, glanced at it, and as he read, his pride grew. He read aloud in a booming voice:
"The world is in chaos today, and the suffering of the common people is unbearable. The reason is none other than Zhang Rang and his fellow eunuchs who abuse their power and oppress the people. They are the root cause of the nation's decline! I, Dong Zhuo, though unworthy, am willing to lead an army into Luoyang to eliminate this group of pests and restore a clear future for the world!"
After finishing, Dong Zhuo nodded in satisfaction, a cold smile on his lips. "Well written, well said! Send my orders to deliver this memorial to Luoyang and see who dares to claim we are here to seize power!"
At that moment, Guo Si rode closer, frowning as he whispered, "My lord, although this memorial has a clear stance, Zhang Rang and his group are very cunning. What if they feign surrender and secretly plot against us?"
Dong Zhuo snorted coldly, his tone icy. "If they honestly hand over their power, I can spare their lives. But if they dare to play tricks, I will turn Luoyang into their graveyard!"
Li Ru listened and quietly reminded him, "Honorable Duke, once we reach Luoyang, the real challenge will just begin. Many court officials have ties with the eunuchs; you must prepare early to prevent them from stalling or secretly causing trouble."
Dong Zhuo turned his head and looked at Li Ru with a cold smile, confidence dripping from his words. "Rest assured, once I enter Luoyang, who would dare defy me? I will make sure everyone knows who truly holds the power!"
The army continued its advance, the sound of horse hooves deafening as iron-clad riders kicked up clouds of dust. The villagers along the way kept their distance, hiding behind bushes in fear as they watched this formidable force roll toward them. Little did they know that this grand spectacle would bring a catastrophic storm to Luoyang and the entire realm.
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