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Li Jue returned to Luoyang, his face flushed with shame and anger, kneeling before Dong Zhuo. He spoke softly, "Chancellor, I went with utmost sincerity, yet I was insulted and threatened by Sun Jian, nearly losing my life! This man has no regard for the law and does not see you as important at all!"
Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo's fury ignited. He sprang to his feet, smashing the table beside him with a single blow, and roared, "How dare that commoner Sun Jian be so disrespectful! If I do not kill him, how can I assert my authority?"
Seeing this, Li Ru stepped forward and advised quietly, "Chancellor, please calm your anger. Wen Hou has recently suffered defeat; the morale of the troops is shaken, and another battle may not guarantee victory. In my opinion, there are better strategies we can pursue."
Dong Zhuo suppressed his rage, his gaze sharp as he asked, "Ru, do you have a brilliant plan?"
Li Ru cupped his hands and bowed his head, responding steadily, "Recently I have heard a children's rhyme in the marketplace that goes: 'One Han in the west, one Han in the east. When the deer enters Chang'an, then this difficulty will cease.' I have pondered this repeatedly; it seems to be a sign from heaven. 'One Han in the west' refers to Emperor Gaozu when Chang'an was the capital and passed down twelve emperors; 'one Han in the east' should refer to Guangwu establishing Luoyang as the eastern capital, also passing down twelve emperors. Now that the heavens have turned against us and the fate of the eastern capital is exhausted, Chancellor should move the capital back to Chang'an to align with the heavenly mandate and ensure stability."
Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo's eyes lit up. He laughed heartily and said, "Li Ru, you truly have a brilliant strategy! If it were not for your reminder, how could I have discerned such profound meaning?" He turned around and commanded his subordinates, "Immediately prepare supplies; we shall return to Luoyang tonight to make arrangements for relocating the capital!"
Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu hurried back to Luoyang under the cover of night and summoned all officials to the court. Dressed in splendid robes and towering above them all, Dong Zhuo's gaze was fierce as he spoke in a deep voice: "Luoyang has been the capital for over two hundred years; its heavenly mandate has waned. I observe that auspicious energy has shifted to Chang'an; this is a sign from above. I am determined to move westward to align with heavenly will and restore our glory. You all must prepare immediately to follow me."
The officials exchanged glances in confusion; the atmosphere grew tense. Some elder ministers furrowed their brows, hesitant to speak; while younger officials bowed their heads in silence, afraid to oppose Dong Zhuo's orders. For a moment, only Dong Zhuo's authoritative voice echoed through the hall: "If anyone has objections, speak up now; I am willing to listen."
Minister Yang Biao rose steadily, his gaze fixed on Dong Zhuo with determination. He spoke firmly: "Chancellor, Guanzhong is devastated and in need of rebuilding. To abandon our ancestral temples and forsake royal tombs without cause may alarm the people. The world is easily stirred but achieving stability is as difficult as ascending to heaven. I urge you to reconsider."
Dong Zhuo leaned slightly forward in his seat; a cold light flashed in his eyes as he replied icily: "Minister Yang, are you trying to obstruct our national plan?"
Grand Commandant Huang Wan took over the conversation, standing beside Yang Biao with a pained expression: "Chancellor, what Minister Yang says comes from his heart. In the past when Wang Mang usurped power during the Xin dynasty and Red Brow entered Chang'an burning cities and causing devastation everywhere—Chang'an has yet to fully recover; many people are still displaced with only one-tenth or one-twelfth remaining. If we abandon prosperous Luoyang for a desolate place where palaces are not yet built, how will the people have homes? Such a decision seems unwise."
Hearing this, veins bulged on Dong Zhuo's forehead as he slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair angrily: "Huang Grand Commandant, do you also wish to stop me? The bandits of Kanto are rising everywhere; chaos reigns across the land! Luoyang has already lost its defenses! On the other hand, Chang'an is protected by Mount Xiaoshan and Hangu Pass and is closer to rich resources from Longyou. With ample timber and stone available for construction, if we exert ourselves fully we can complete a new palace within a month! You scholars are merely indulging in empty rhetoric without any foresight!"
Yang Biao furrowed his brow, took a deep breath, and spoke candidly once more, "Chancellor, even if Chang'an is easy to defend but hard to attack, the common people cannot bear the hardship of relocation. If we lose the people's hearts, it will lead to endless troubles."
Before his words could fade, Xun Shuang stepped forward as well, his tone sincere yet resolute. "Chancellor, the matter of relocating the capital is no small issue. The unrest among the people and their unstable hearts will ultimately bring greater crises to the nation. I implore you to reconsider your orders for the sake of the common people and for the stability of the Han Dynasty."
Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo's face twisted with rage as he pointed a finger at Xun Shuang and shouted, "The people's hearts? The grand plans of the world are not decided by mere commoners! I am planning for the nation's future; how could I retreat just because a few common people suffer some hardships? You corrupt individuals with your short-sightedness are unworthy of holding high positions!"
He suddenly stood up, his voice booming like thunder, intimidating everyone in the hall. "Guards! Yang Biao, Huang Wan, and Xun Shuang are to be stripped of their ranks and immediately expelled from the court! Anyone who dares to dissent will face my ruthless methods!"
Several warriors surged forward and dragged the three ministers out of the hall. Undeterred, they shouted loudly, "Dong Zhuo's relocation of the capital will surely invite heavenly wrath and public outrage, leading to endless consequences!"
Dong Zhuo coldly watched them as they receded into the distance before sitting back down in his chair. His gaze swept over everyone in the hall with a chilling intensity as he spoke in a low voice laced with threat, "Is there anyone else with objections?"
The hall fell silent instantly; all officials bowed their heads in silence. Dong Zhuo let out a cold laugh and waved his hand in command. "Send orders to all departments to prepare for the relocation to Chang'an immediately. No one is allowed to delay; those who do will be punished according to military law!"
Just as Dong Zhuo stepped onto his carriage, he noticed two figures hurrying toward him from afar, bowing deeply before his vehicle. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Minister Zhou Bi and City Gate Captain Wu Qiong. Dong Zhuo's brow furrowed as he regarded them with a dark expression and coldly asked, "What brings you two here?"
Zhou Bi cautiously approached and clasped his hands in salute. "Chancellor, we have heard that you wish to relocate the capital to Chang'an, so we have come to offer counsel. The matter of relocating the capital concerns the foundation of our nation; please think it over carefully."
Wu Qiong immediately added with an urgent tone, "Chancellor, Luoyang is the foundation of the Han Dynasty; hastily abandoning it may shake the people's hearts and provoke resentment across the realm."
Upon hearing these words, Dong Zhuo's expression changed dramatically. His fists clenched tightly as he spoke with a cutting tone directed at both men: "I should have anticipated this! I was misled by your recommendation of Yuan Shao, claiming he was reliable in loyalty and righteousness—what has resulted from that? Now Yuan Shao opposes me; clearly, you two are in league with him, aiding tyranny!"
His fury surged like flames as he suddenly waved his hand and shouted, "Guards! Drag them out! Execute them outside the city gates at once!"
The warriors responded immediately, dragging Zhou Bi and Wu Qiong out of the carriage. In their panic, they shouted loudly, "Chancellor, relocating the capital is a grave mistake! If we lose the people's hearts, the world will be in chaos! The Chancellor must assess the situation for the sake of the Han Dynasty and not act recklessly!"
However, their cries were soon silenced by the deadly blade. Blood splattered across the city gates as Dong Zhuo coldly watched, his face betraying no emotion. With a wave of his hand, the carriage set off again.
As they traveled halfway, Li Ru stepped forward quickly, leaning close to the side of the carriage and whispering, "Chancellor, relocating the capital will incur immense costs, and resources are severely lacking. Luoyang has many wealthy families; if we confiscate their assets, it could alleviate our urgent needs. Moreover, Yuan Shao's faction is deeply entrenched; if we eliminate his supporters and seize their properties, it would yield a fortune."
Dong Zhuo's eyes brightened at these words, a cold smile creeping onto his lips. He lightly tapped on the carriage door and murmured, "A good plan! It will not only replenish the national treasury but also eliminate my greatest threat. Issue an order to target Yuan Shao's relatives first tomorrow; anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy!"
Li Ru bowed respectfully and quickly withdrew to arrange this matter. Inside the carriage, Dong Zhuo leaned against the soft cushions, half-closing his eyes while lightly tapping his fingers on the carriage wall, as if everything was under his control.
Dong Zhuo ordered five thousand iron cavalry to storm into Luoyang like demons, searching house by house for wealthy families. They held lists in their hands; upon finding a household, they planted flags at their doors marked with blood-red characters reading "Traitorous Rebels." Before these families could defend themselves, the cavalry dragged them out—some forced with blades, others driven with long spears—marching them out of the city in a grand procession. At a single command, blades flashed like snow as thousands of heads rolled onto the yellow earth, blood flowing like rivers. With each swing of the sword came cries and wails, but the soldiers remained expressionless, focused solely on executing orders and plundering gold and jewels from within homes to fill carts bound for Dong Zhuo's residence.
Meanwhile, Li Jue and Guo Si were ordered to drive millions of Luoyang's citizens westward to Chang'an along a path soaked in blood and tears. The people were divided into groups of hundreds, each flanked by fully armed soldiers. The soldiers brandished swords and spears with fierce glares like wolves eyeing sheep. Those who lagged behind due to age or weakness were swiftly kicked down by soldiers; without hesitation, blades fell mercilessly upon them as their bodies were carelessly tossed into roadside ditches. The ditches became grim landmarks of this brutal march.
The journey was long; starving and freezing citizens dragged their numb bodies forward step by step, none daring to stop. If anyone fell behind, nearby soldiers would bark coldly, "Do you want to die? Get up!" Before they could finish speaking, a blade was already poised at their throats. For those who slowed down the procession, soldiers simply ended their lives with a single stroke and showed no interest in clearing away the corpses—just kicking them aside into the ditch.
Some soldiers took advantage of the chaos without restraint. With lewd glints in their eyes, they targeted women whose clothing still appeared decent. The women screamed while children cried out; however, their voices quickly faded under the soldiers' control. If husbands or brothers dared to resist, they would be dismembered before everyone’s eyes with blades raining down upon them—body parts scattered along the roadside. The soldiers ruthlessly looted food supplies, stripping even the last piece of dry bread from citizens' pockets until the entire group moved like walking corpses.
All along the way, cries echoed like waves through heaven and earth. A young woman fell to her knees pleading with a soldier to spare her child: "General, please let us go; this child is only five years old; he knows nothing!" The soldier sneered as he used his blade to tear the child from her arms; mother and child wept uncontrollably but received only a cold retort: "Cry more and you’ll die too!" Those words were as sharp as a knife that completely shattered her last hope.
By nightfall, citizens were forced to sleep in the wilderness. The cold wind blew through as cries and laments intertwined like wails from hell itself. Yet for Dong Zhuo, all this was merely "necessary for the greater good." He sat within Hu Lao Pass enjoying fine wine and delicacies under candlelight; occasionally looking up, he could faintly hear distant cries that seemed weak and far removed from his indulgence.
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