Double penetration: This Three Kingdoms has dragon energy

Chapter 181 Dragon Blood Curse
Lu Bu asked in astonishment, "An important matter? What important matter?"

"We'll lie in ambush outside, and after Wang Yun kills Dong Zhuo, we'll rush in and kill Wang Yun!" Ji Qiu said calmly.

Lu Bu stared in disbelief: "Kill Wang Yun? Why? Aren't we on the same side?"

"We have never been on the same side; we are only cooperating temporarily to kill Dong Zhuo."

But our cooperation ended the moment Dong Zhuo died.

The next thing we need to consider is how to accept the political legacy left by Dong Zhuo.

Cai Yong has decided to pledge allegiance to you, but how can you gain their complete trust?
How can we bring the 200,000 Xiliang cavalry left behind by Dong Zhuo under our command?
It's not enough that you didn't directly take action against Dong Zhuo.

More direct action is needed.

For example, avenging Dong Zhuo!
"Only by raising the banner of avenging Dong Zhuo and eliminating the traitor who assassinated Dong Zhuo can you truly inherit Dong Zhuo's political legacy!" Ji Qiu said calmly.

……

Situ Mansion.

The white marble threshold gleamed with a warm luster, and the dark brown gate, though lacking elaborate carvings, was reinforced with brass corner protectors, and the door knocker held a pair of gilded dragon heads that shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

Passing through the hanging flower gate, the winding path paved with bluestone in the central courtyard is flanked by symmetrical pomegranate trees whose fiery blossoms dye the blue bricks of the moon gate a rouge color.

The three main halls are covered with dark tiles. Although there are no phoenixes holding pearls on the eaves, there are small bronze wind chimes hanging from them, which tinkle when the wind blows. The four lanterns under the corridor are covered with brocade and painted with elegant plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemums.

Passing the exquisite brick-carved screen wall, the east wing window lattice has been replaced with a hollowed-out begonia-patterned lattice door covered with translucent mica paper. On the windowsill, a celadon brush washer holds clear water, and several red carp swim leisurely. A small pond has been newly built next to the vegetable patch in the backyard, with a winding stone bridge spanning it, and water lilies are just beginning to bloom in the pond.

The Situ Mansion is the residence of Wang Yun, who is one of the highest-ranking civil officials in the court.

There are currently two major factions of civil officials in the imperial court.

One was Cai Yong's faction, whose members were mainly Cai Yong's disciples.

Secondly, there was Wang Yun's influence.

The members of this force are mostly ministers from powerful families, and they come from all over the country!
Cai Yong alone could not possibly withstand the combined power of all the powerful families in the land, so it was only natural that Wang Yun's influence was greater than Cai Yong's.

However, that's not the main point. The main point is that while Wang Yun wielded such great power, he also enjoyed Dong Zhuo's deep trust.

This sounds very abnormal.

After all, Dong Zhuo now slaughters entire clans of powerful families for fun whenever he has a chance. As a representative of these powerful clans, Wang Yun should hate her to the bone. How could she gain his trust?

But that's just how bizarre things are.

Wang Yun's ability to rise to his current position is well-deserved.

He actually managed to gain Dong Zhuo's trust, making Dong Zhuo believe that he had been terrified and had no choice but to submit obediently.

However, this was only what Dong Zhuo thought.

But what is the real situation?

Wang Yun had already proven his true attitude towards Dong Zhuo through historical records.

They truly hated Dong Zhuo to the bone and would do everything in their power to get rid of him!
study.

Wang Yun sat in the main seat, took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and then said with a gloomy face, "How are things going? Have the assassins been arranged?"

Standing to his left was a middle-aged scholar.

She was tall and slender, her slightly thin body wrapped in a black wide-sleeved ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), yet she could not hide the noble air about her.

His surname was Shisun, his given name was Rui, and his courtesy name was Junrong. He was a man of both literary and martial talents.

In the fifth year of the Zhongping era, Wang Guo, a man from Hanyang Commandery, rebelled and led an army of over 100,000 to attack Chencang, causing shockwaves throughout the Sanfu region.

Gai Xun led 5,000 troops from the prefecture, and requested to have 10,000 men to defend against the enemy. He also recommended Shi Sunrui as the Eagle and Hawk Commandant.

Shi Sunrui thus began to show his talent, making a name for himself in the military field and demonstrating extraordinary abilities, and followed Gai Xun in the campaign against the rebels.

In the first year of the Chuping era, Shi Sunrui was appointed as the Commander of the Imperial Guard, responsible for the security of the capital and protecting the Eastern Han capital amidst turmoil.

Through the recommendation of Minister Wang Yun, he was appointed Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and from then on became involved in the core plot to assassinate Dong Zhuo.

At that time, Wang Yun and others intended to get rid of Dong Zhuo, a powerful minister who was causing chaos in the court. Wang Yun had planned to send Shi Sunrui and Yang Zan to attack Yuan Shu under the pretext of attacking Dong Zhuo, but in reality, they would return to attack Dong Zhuo. Unfortunately, this plan failed because Dong Zhuo became suspicious.

In the spring of the third year of the Chuping era, heavy rains fell in Guanzhong for more than sixty days. Wang Yun, along with Shi Sunrui and Yang Zan, ascended a platform to pray for rain and took the opportunity to discuss the plan to assassinate Dong Zhuo once again.

Based on celestial phenomena, Shi Sunrui believed that since the end of last year, the sun had not shone, there had been continuous rain, the moon had encroached on the law enforcement star, and comets and celestial bodies had frequently appeared. The days were cloudy and the nights were sunny, and fog was encroaching. These were signs that the time was about to change and that the opportunity to kill Dong Zhuo with the help of both internal and external forces had ripened.

Wang Yun agreed wholeheartedly and subsequently secretly contacted Lü Bu, recruiting him as an inside agent. On the day of Dong Zhuo's assassination, Wang Yun and Shi Sunrui reported to Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie. Taking advantage of his position in charge of the emperor's official documents, Shi Sunrui quickly drafted the edict to execute Dong Zhuo and delivered it to Lü Bu.

After Lü Bu successfully killed Dong Zhuo in front of the palace gate, Shi Sunrui promptly sent someone to deliver an edict of pardon, which reassured the people of Dong Zhuo's remaining followers and quickly stabilized the situation inside and outside the palace.

It can be said that Shi Sunrui was a key figure in the historical assassination attempt on Dong Zhuo, from planning to execution, and played a crucial role.

The current situation of Dragon Qi Three Kingdoms has changed significantly from the historical Three Kingdoms period.

However, in some specific situations, nothing has changed.

For example, in the assassination attempt on Dong Zhuo, the main planner on Wang Yun's side was still Shi Sunrui!

"Please rest assured, Minister Situ, the assassins have all been deployed. There are a total of seventeen junior third-rank scholars. With their combined efforts, Dong Zhuo will surely die!" Shi Sunrui said in a deep voice.

Historically, because Lü Bu, who was protecting Dong Zhuo, was turned against him, the assassins hardly needed any preparation; they could rely solely on Lü Bu.

However, in the Dragon Kingdom's assassination attempt on Dong Zhuo, they couldn't rely on Lü Bu to kill him, so they had to prepare their own assassins.

However, this did not deter Wang Yun and his group.

After all, behind them are hundreds of powerful and influential families across the country.

With the support of so many powerful clans, it might be impossible to form a large army to eliminate Dong Zhuo head-on.

However, simply sending skilled assassins to kill Dong Zhuo is not a problem.

Seventeen junior scholars of the third rank—that's a grand gesture for any power.

Even Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu might not be able to produce so many junior scholars of the third rank.

But Wang Yun was able to easily manipulate them, which shows their formidable strength!
Despite the immense power of this force, Wang Yun remained dissatisfied.

He shook his head and said meaningfully, "Only seventeen junior third-rank scholars? That's not enough!"

"Don't worry, Situ, I certainly have more than just seventeen junior third-rank scholars here."

In fact, I currently have as many as thirty junior third-rank scholars at my disposal!
These are the remaining thirteen junior scholars of the third rank; there's no need for them to directly attack Dong Zhuo.

"It would be better to leave them here to deal with other matters," Shi Sunrui said.

He understood Wang Yun's meaning. When Wang Yun said there weren't enough people, he wasn't referring to the fact that the seventeen junior third-rank scholars were still insufficient to kill Dong Zhuo. Rather, he meant that these seventeen junior third-rank scholars were inadequate to handle the subsequent matters after Dong Zhuo's death.

After all, Wang Yun's purpose in this operation was not just to target Dong Zhuo!
"Haha, Junrong really understands my mind! This arrangement is good. Having seventeen junior third-rank scholars assassinate Dong Zhuo will ensure that Dong Zhuo is killed while also lowering Lü Bu's guard."

When he lowers his guard, he can have the thirteen hidden junior third-rank scholars, along with the seventeen junior third-rank scholars who have already been exposed, attack together and surely kill Lü Bu!

Hmph, Dong Zhuo is certainly despicable, but Lü Bu is no better.

If Dong Zhuo was the number one traitor to the country, then Lü Bu was the number two!

"We must eradicate evil completely; we cannot let him go!" Wang Yun said viciously.

In the Three Kingdoms period, Wang Yun never intended to kill Lü Bu in his assassination plot against Dong Zhuo, because at that time, Lü Bu was merely a tool to Wang Yun.

Without a threat, there's no need to bother killing.

But the Lü Bu of today is different from the Lü Bu of the historical Three Kingdoms period.

Lü Bu is currently the second most powerful figure in Dong Zhuo's forces, and is a strong warlord who will likely succeed Dong Zhuo once he dies.

How could this not make Wang Yun wary?

So don't be fooled by his repeated contacts with Lü Bu; he was determined to turn Lü Bu against him.

In fact, he had already decided in his heart to eliminate both Lü Bu and Dong Zhuo in this operation!
However, just as humans plot against tigers, tigers also plot against humans.

Ultimately, the outcome will depend on each side's abilities and methods.

……

May 18th, the second year of the Chuping era.

The scorching sun in Chang'an made the bluestone slabs of Zhuque Street scorching hot.

Three tolls echoed from the bronze bell inside the Grand Tutor's mansion. Dong Zhuo, clad in a nine-tasseled imperial robe, strode out of his sleeping quarters. The taotie pattern embroidered with gold thread on his black cloak gleamed menacingly in the sunlight.

He reached out and straightened the twelve-symbol crown, the tassels of which swayed violently, revealing his narrowed triangular eyes.

Dong Zhuo was in a good mood today because he received news three days ago that Liu Xie intended to abdicate the throne to him.

This delighted Dong Zhuo.

He originally thought he had reached the pinnacle of his life, and that he would spend the rest of his days indulging in debauchery until he died.

Unexpectedly, in the final moments of his life, he was able to become the emperor!

Although he knew that even if he became emperor, he would not be able to obtain more good things.

After all, he had already moved all the good things in the palace back to his own Grand Tutor's mansion.

Emperor Liu Xie, under his control, also lived a miserable life.

But at his position, material enjoyment is nothing special.

It was the spiritual enjoyment that captivated him even more!
So upon receiving this news, he practically jumped out of his decadent lifestyle and began hastily preparing for the abdication ceremony.

After three days of preparation, Situ Wang Yun, who was in charge of presiding over the abdication ceremony, reported to him that everything was ready.

So Dong Zhuo hurriedly put on the emperor's robes and headed towards the palace!
Three hundred armored soldiers led the way, their spears and halberds forming a forest against the sunlight.

Dong Zhuo's six-horse white mule carriage rolled across Zhuque Avenue, the golden beast-shaped rings on the carriage shafts making a jarring sound with each bump.

The people on the street huddled under the eaves, holding their breath and remaining silent. An old woman accidentally knocked over a pottery jar and was immediately beheaded by the guards. Her blood splattered on the yellow silk that read "Welcome Grand Tutor," spreading out in large patches of dark red.

Before the palace gates, the master of ceremonies trembled as he unfurled the imperial edict: "Emperor Liu Xie of Han wishes to emulate the stories of Tang and Yu."

Before he finished speaking, Dong Zhuo strode forward on the verdigris-covered steps, the iron nails on his boots scraping sparks off the jade steps.

He ripped open the front of his imperial robes, revealing a gruesome arrow scar on his chest, and roared with thunderous laughter: "It should have been done long ago!"

However, he did not notice that in the shadows of the corridor, blood had seeped from the tips of Shi Sunrui's fingers as he held the bamboo slip, while Wang Yun stroked the jade pendant at his waist, a fleeting cold smile playing on his lips.

Then Dong Zhuo reached for the imperial edict, but just as his rough fingers were about to touch it, spiderweb-like blue lines suddenly appeared on the neck of the master of ceremonies.

He tilted his head back and let out a shrill, inhuman scream. His hunched body suddenly swelled to three times its original size, and the writhing, protruding object under his robes pushed the fabric into a hideous shape.

With a deafening roar, his chest cavity exploded, and purplish-black flesh and blood splattered like a torrential rain, filling the air with a foul-smelling mist of blood.

Countless jet-black incantations spiraled out from the flesh and blood, transforming into venomous snake-like chains that wrapped around Dong Zhuo's arm.

Wherever the incantation passed, the nine-tasseled imperial robes were charred black, and the veins under the skin bulged out like writhing earthworms.

Dong Zhuo staggered backward, his crown tassels falling away. He saw the incantations condense in mid-air into four bloody characters: "Death to the regicide," carrying the acrid smell of burning air, and stabbing straight toward his face.

As these four blood-red characters appeared, Li Ru, standing behind Dong Zhuo, changed his expression drastically and exclaimed, "Oh no! This is the Dragon Blood Curse!"

He struggled forward, trying to shield Dong Zhuo from the curse with his body, but it was too late.

The curse shot into Dong Zhuo's body with incredible speed.

As the curse shot into Dong Zhuo's body, streaks of black light reappeared, forming black chains that firmly bound Dong Zhuo's body.

These chains did not affect Dong Zhuo's movements, but they sealed the dragon energy within him.

From this moment on, he could no longer use the dragon energy within his body!

"Haha, it's done! It's really done!" Wang Yun laughed loudly, looking up at the sky.

Dragon Blood Curse is an extremely insidious dragon energy secret technique whose effect is to seal the dragon energy within the recipient's body!

In Dragon Kingdom, dragon energy is the most powerful force.

When Dong Zhuo came to the palace, he only brought three hundred guards, but he had the dragon energy gathered by two hundred thousand Xiliang cavalry and millions of Guanzhong people within him.

This is his biggest threat.

We must find a way to break this.

This is very difficult to do under normal circumstances.

Because Dong Zhuo was a regional warlord, the dragon energy he gathered might not have been stored within his own body; it was very likely that he would have given it to someone else.

As for who it was given to, it's hard for anyone but himself to know.

But Dong Zhuo was Dong Zhuo after all; he was different from the other warlords.

He had no one he could trust, so he was destined to store the vast majority of the dragon energy within his own body.

Therefore, as long as the dragon energy in his body is sealed, it is equivalent to directly destroying this dragon energy!

(End of this chapter)