Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

After Lü Bu and Hua Xiong returned to Luoyang, utterly disgraced, Dong Zhuo learned they hadn't captured the Yuan brothers. He flew into a rage. He glared at them, eyes wide, and roared, "You two losers! You can't even handle this! What use are you to me?"

Lü Buxin lowered his head, afraid to speak. Hua Xiong knelt hurriedly and said in a panic, "Grandmaster, please calm down. I have tried my best to catch up, but the Yuan brothers are too cunning. They disappeared without a trace. It is really difficult to track them down."

Dong Zhuo was furious when he heard this and shouted, "Humph! Quibbling! All excuses!"

At this moment, Li Ru hurried forward to persuade him, "Grand Master, please don't be angry. Listen to me. Although we failed to capture the Yuan brothers this time, they have effectively given up their power. Their escape is like a lost dog, no longer of any importance. Now that they are no longer a constraint, you, Grand Master, will have no more concerns at court. At the next court meeting, you can simply announce the establishment of a new emperor. This will allow you to accomplish your great cause. This can be considered a blessing in disguise."

After listening to Li Ru's words, Dong Zhuo frowned and thought for a moment, his expression gradually relaxed, and then he said: "Hmph, well, I'll spare you two idiots for now. But what Li Ru said makes sense. At the next court meeting, I will make sure those ministers are obedient and support the emperor I establish." As he spoke, Dong Zhuo's face showed pride again, and his anger just now turned into joy.

Li Ru approached Dong Zhuo and quietly persuaded him, "Grand Master, you must not let Lu Bu and Hua Xiong harbor any dissatisfaction. Think about it, Lu Bu is a brave man who cannot be matched by ten thousand men. Who can match his bravery on the battlefield? He is an extremely important guarantee of our combat power. And Hua Xiong, his loyalty to you is evident to all. Although it is a pity that he failed this time, his efforts and loyalty cannot be ignored. If they have any resentment in their hearts because of this incident, it will be extremely disadvantageous to us." Dong Zhuo listened to Li Ru's soft words, nodded thoughtfully, then looked at Lu Bu and Hua Xiong, secretly thinking that Li Ru's words did make some sense.

Dong Zhuo then turned to Lü Bu and Hua Xiong and said loudly, "Listen, you two! This Grand Master will never forget your contributions. When this is accomplished, I will promote you to higher positions and reward you handsomely."

Upon hearing this, Lü Bu and Hua Xiong hurriedly knelt to express their gratitude, saying in unison, "Thank you, Grand Master! We will risk our lives for you, even if it means death!"

Dong Zhuo stroked his beard with satisfaction and said, "Get up, go down and prepare well. We have important things to do at the next court meeting." Lu Bu and Hua Xiong retreated respectfully, while Dong Zhuo began to discuss the follow-up details with Li Ru.

The atmosphere at court that day was filled with an exceptionally solemn and dignified aura. Empress Dowager Dong sat solemnly to the left of the throne. Her dignified and majestic expression seemed to command the entire audience, emanating the powerful aura of someone who had held a high position for a long time. Meanwhile, Empress Dowager He sat to the right of the throne, her expression dull, a hint of uneasiness flickering in her eyes, and her hands subconsciously clenched slightly.

At Empress Dowager Dong's side, Prince Liu Xie stood quietly, a hint of reservedness on his still-childish face. His clear eyes frequently scanned the surroundings, as if he was still a little uncomfortable with the solemnity of the occasion. Meanwhile, Dong Zhuo, clad in a majestic military uniform, looked awe-inspiring. Standing beneath the golden steps like a ferocious lion, his hawk-like, piercing gaze mercilessly scanned the courtiers below, as if he could see through every thought. He exuded a terrifying, oppressive aura, shrouding the entire court in an invisible atmosphere of tension.

At this time, the eunuch stepped forward and began to announce the imperial edict in a shrill and high-pitched voice:

I am the Grand Empress Dowager of the Han Dynasty, and I must now address this important matter to you, my beloved ministers. It is said that the wise and virtuous rulers of ancient times all revered Heaven and loved their people, diligently governing their country and cherishing their people. Consider Lu Zhi, who committed such a heinous act as robbing the Emperor. His heart is utterly sinister, his actions appalling, and he is truly a traitor and must be severely punished.

However, the current emperor, Liu Bian, showed lack of virtue and committed many immoral acts during the period of mourning for the late emperor. How can he take on the heavy responsibility of being the ruler of the world?

On the other hand, the crown prince Liu Xie was exceptionally intelligent, gifted, and resourceful, demonstrating his extraordinary qualities. His virtue and talent made him worthy of the great responsibility, making him the perfect choice for the new emperor.

To safeguard the eternal stability of our Han dynasty and to reassure the hearts of all its people, I hereby establish Liu Xie as emperor to inherit the throne and continue the legacy laid by our ancestors, ensuring the prosperity and long-lasting peace of our Han dynasty. This is my decree!

I hope that all of you will understand my intention, assist the new emperor, and create a new glory for the Han Dynasty!

There was a buzzing and whispering sound in the court. The ministers had different expressions, some anxious, some doubtful, and some frightened. They whispered to each other about their anxieties and speculations.

Dong Zhuo's face darkened, his hand resting on his sword. Suddenly, he waved it vigorously. A cavalry of imposing Yulin soldiers, weapons in hand, strode into the Golden Palace. Their heavy footsteps echoed through the hall, and the cold gleam of their weapons chilled the spirit. Instantly, all the ministers fell silent, daring not to utter a single word. A deathly stillness descended upon the court.

At this tense moment, Cai Yong stood up resolutely. He straightened his body and said righteously: "The emperor is innocent! The emperor is still young. Although he may have behaved inappropriately, he can be taught and educated. He must not be deposed or enthroned so easily! This is a taboo that will shake the foundation of the country!" Then, Cai Yong's face flushed, and he was emotionally excited. He looked at Dong Zhuo with a sharp gaze and began to list Dong Zhuo's crimes: "Dong Zhuo, you have your own troops and you have no regard for the law. You entered the capital without authorization and disrupted the court order! You let your soldiers burn, kill and loot, making the people of the capital live in dire straits and complain! You eliminate dissidents for your own selfish desires. How many loyal and good people have been wronged and died because of you! You are domineering and try to control the court and put the Han Dynasty under your control. Your heart is worthy of death and your actions are abominable! What qualifications do you have to talk about dethronement and enthronement here when you do such evil things!" Cai Yong's voice echoed in the court, and every word hit everyone's heart like a hammer.

When Dong Zhuo heard Cai Yong recount his crimes, he flew into a rage. His face flushed purple, his eyes gleamed with murderous intent, and he snarled, "Cai Yong, how dare you be so presumptuous and speak nonsense! Everything I do is to stabilize the government, yet you're here spouting nonsense and slandering my family. I'll kill you!"

At this moment, Ma Chao, startled, hurried out, his face filled with anxiety. He hurriedly advised, "Lord Dong, calm down. Cai Yong's words may have been harsh, but they were impulsive. I hope you will forgive him this time, considering his past service to the court."

However, Cai Yong paid no attention to Ma Chao's advice. He straightened his back, showing no fear, and continued to curse Dong Zhuo: "Dong Zhuo, you old thief, you are a mad villain! You led troops into the capital, acted tyrannically, and made the court a mess! You ignored the rules and laws of the country, trampled on the majesty of the royal family, and made this good world in chaos! To satisfy your own selfish desires, you killed innocent people indiscriminately. How many loyal and good people died tragically at your hands, and how many people were displaced and their families were broken up because of you! You are the greatest disaster in this world, you are... "That unforgivable demon! Nothing you did was for the sake of stabilizing the political situation; it was all driven by your ulterior motives! Your perverse actions will surely be severely punished by Heaven and spurned by history! Even if I, Cai Yong, die today, I will let the world see your ugly face clearly, and let future generations know that you are a traitor who has brought disaster to the country and the people!" With that, Cai Yong suddenly rushed forward and crashed headfirst into the Golden Palace, killing everyone. Everyone was shocked, and blood instantly dyed the ground red. Cai Yong's body slowly fell to the ground, but he maintained an awe-inspiring and unyielding posture. The entire court fell into astonishment and grief. Dong Zhuo was also shocked by Cai Yong's decisive action and was speechless for a moment. He widened his eyes and the muscles on his face kept twitching. It took him a long time to come back to his senses and said viciously: "Hmph, Cai Yong does have some backbone, but it's a pity that he is a fool who doesn't know the current situation!" Ma Chao looked at Cai Yong who was lying on the ground and had no breath, his face full of regret and helplessness, and secretly sighed at Cai Yong's stubbornness in his heart.