Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Dong Zhuo frowned as he slowly paced the hall, his expression grave as he pondered: Li Jue and Guo Si are now at odds with Lü Bu at Hulao Pass. Relying solely on Li Jue and Guo Si would make it difficult to secure a stable defense. Allowing them to continue their internal strife with Lü Bu is absolutely not a solution. Furthermore, the warlords outside the pass are all eyeing Hulao Pass with eagerness; internal unity must be achieved as soon as possible. Dong Zhuo has always been very satisfied with Xu Rong. His loyalty is impeccable, his abilities exceptional, and he possesses neither arrogance nor selfish motives. If, as Li Ru suggested, he were transferred to partner with Lü Bu, it might be a good move. However, diverting troops from Luoyang to support Hulao Pass would inevitably leave the city empty. Dong Zhuo paused, pondering for a moment before turning to Li Ru and saying, "Li Ru, I've considered your earlier suggestion of pairing Xu Rong with Lü Bu. I think it's feasible, and I've decided to adopt it. However, how should we deploy these troops now? This is a thorny issue."

Li Ru thought for a moment before responding, "My Lord, we could consider drawing troops from the Sili region. As long as we can protect Luoyang, the rear of Luoyang will naturally be safe." Dong Zhuo pondered the idea and felt it was feasible. He nodded and said, "Yes, that makes sense. Let's do as you say."

Dong Zhuo stood in the hall, his face dignified. He slowly swept his gaze over the crowd before speaking, "Everyone, after careful consideration, I have decided to adopt Li Ru's suggestion. Effective immediately, I appoint Xu Rong as General Longxiang and instruct him to oversee the defense of Hulao Pass. I hope Xu Rong will live up to my trust and firmly hold Hulao Pass. At the same time, I reward Lü Bu with a hundred gold coins. The Bingzhou army must fully cooperate and make no mistakes!"

After a brief pause, Dong Zhuo looked at the messenger beside him and said solemnly, "Pass the order down. Order Li Jue, Guo Si, and the other generals to lead their troops to Xingyang and garrison there immediately. There must be no mistakes! After Li Jue has made all the necessary arrangements in Xingyang, he will lead his troops to Xuanmen Pass alone. Tell Li Jue, Guo Si, and the others that any further missteps will be severely punished!" The messenger replied respectfully, "As you command!" and hurried off to deliver the order. Dong Zhuo nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand, signaling everyone to withdraw and carry out the order.

Dong Zhuo, in the court, was worried about the tense situation at Hulao Pass. He didn't care about being in front of his ministers and simply shouted his orders. At that moment, Yuan Wei's eyes suddenly lit up in the crowd. When he heard that Dong Zhuo was going to withdraw troops from the vicinity of Chang'an, he was instantly filled with an irrepressible excitement. He keenly sensed that his opportunity had arrived.

Back when Dong Zhuo had just begun his dethronement and enthronement of the emperor, Liu Yan, a relative of the Han Dynasty, had long been resentful of Dong Zhuo's arbitrary dethronement and enthronement of the emperor in Yizhou. His resolve to restore the Han Dynasty only intensified. Liu Yan secretly contacted other ministers at court who also opposed Dong Zhuo, such as Yuan Wei and Zhang Wen, and they plotted a grand plan against him. Furthermore, Lu Zhi's secret contact with the envoys of Emperor Liu Bian years earlier further solidified their resolve. Liu Yan had already dispatched his eldest son, Liu Fan, to station troops at Dasan Pass. Unfortunately, the other Han Dynasty relatives did not take action, preventing Liu Yan from fully implementing his plan.

Now, the princes had all risen up to fight against Dong Zhuo, but Liu Yan did not respond openly, but chose to secretly serve as a surprise force. He had been biding his time, wanting to wait until the princes and Dong Zhuo were in a stalemate, then quickly attack from the rear and capture Chang'an, thus cutting off Dong Zhuo's retreat.

Yuan Wei felt the time was ripe, and without hesitation, he dispatched his trusted retainers to deliver this crucial news to Yuan Shao and Liu Dun, who was at Dasan Pass. He urged Yuan Shao to intensify his attack on Hulao Pass, thereby maximizing Dong Zhuo's attention and entangled him in a confrontation with the allied forces. He also informed Liu Dun that most of the troops in Chang'an had been transferred to Luoyang, leaving Chang'an vulnerable. This presented an opportune opportunity to seize the city and cut off Dong Zhuo's retreat. Once the allied forces successfully captured Luoyang, Dong Zhuo would be trapped, his path shattered. As if foreseeing Dong Zhuo's downfall, Yuan Wei's eyes gleamed with determination, and he silently plotted his subsequent actions, eager for the success of this crucial operation that would determine the fate of the Han Dynasty.

Upon receiving Yuan Wei's orders, the retainer acted with meticulous precision. However, Luoyang was already completely under Dong Zhuo's control. Ever since the Battle of Hulao Pass, the city had been tightly guarded, leaving no room for error. When the retainer attempted to leave the city, he faltered under questioning by the guards, raising their alarm. Desperate, Yuan Wei's retainer revealed his identity and offered a large bribe, claiming that Yuan Wei had sent him outside Luoyang to inspect tax collection. The guard was initially skeptical, but then he considered him a mere retainer, insignificant to the powerful Grand Tutor Dong and Prime Minister Dong. Coupled with the allure of the large sum, the retainer finally gave in and quietly released the retainer. Little did he know that this move would spell disaster for not only himself but also the Yuan family.

Once Dong Zhuo's orders were issued, they were strictly implemented. When Li Jue, Guo Si and other generals arrived in Xingyang, Xu Rong quickly handed over the defense of Xingyang and immediately led his troops to Hulao Pass without stopping.

Upon arriving at Hulao Pass, Xu Rong surprisingly did not challenge Lü Bu for power. Instead, he treated Lü Bu with a peaceful attitude. He consulted with Lü Bu on every matter, and his words and actions were well-reasoned and well-reasoned, demonstrating his respect and regard for Lü Bu. This gesture gradually calmed Lü Bu's initially uneasy heart, and he began to cooperate with Xu Rong in handling the defense of Hulao Pass.

Hulao Pass has long been hailed as the most powerful pass in the world. Now, with a skilled defensive general like Xu Rong meticulously arranging its defenses, and a peerless warrior like Lü Bu guarding it, coupled with the bravery of the Bingzhou army and the ferocity of the Xiliang army, Hulao Pass is as impregnable as a fortress.

After receiving the news from Yuan Wei, Yuan Shao and others further intensified their attacks on Hulao Pass in order to contain Dong Zhuo's army to the greatest extent possible.

The allied forces endured daily arduous battles to capture the pass. However, the prolonged attrition of their forces gradually became too much for the vassal states to bear. Their repeated attacks were ultimately ruthlessly repelled. At this treacherous pass, the allied forces encountered unprecedentedly fierce resistance, and the situation became increasingly stalemated and difficult.

Liu Fan, stationed at Dasan Pass, had been closely following the developments in the Central Plains. He was eager to make a move. Upon receiving the crucial news from Yuan Wei that Chang'an was short of troops, Liu Fan, without hesitation, decisively led his troops and quickly marched towards Chang'an with his brother Liu Dan.

Time slipped by, the weather gradually cooled, and it was already winter in 190. More than half a year had passed since the Suanzao Alliance, a gathering of princes to fight Dong Zhuo. During this time, while the princes had made no progress beyond capturing Sishui Pass and then being blocked at Hulao Pass, the allied forces kept Dong Zhuo from continuously withdrawing troops from Chang'an and other areas in his rear. This left Chang'an's defenses vulnerable, giving Liu Yan's eldest son, Liu Fan, an opportunity to exploit. Liu Fan led his troops on a relentless march upon receiving the news. Although they encountered resistance from the Western Liang army along the way, the disparity in numbers meant they were almost at the gates of Chang'an.

This winter was exceptionally cold, a chill that seemed to penetrate bone marrow, permeating the heavens and earth. Since arriving in Luoyang, Dong Zhuo, already a robust man, had grown increasingly obese and clumsy amidst his comfortable and extravagant lifestyle, his rotund frame resembling a mountain of flesh. He grew increasingly intolerant of the bone-chilling weather, forcing himself to endure it except during court hours. On weekdays, he simply retreated to his mansion, indulging in the pleasures of prostitutes to pass the time, completely ignoring the turmoil of the outside world.

However, suddenly, an urgent war report about the siege of Chang'an was delivered to him like a bolt from the blue. This sudden news instantly pulled Dong Zhuo back from his confused and decadent life state to the cruel reality, making his originally relaxed and lazy nerves suddenly tense up, and fine beads of sweat oozing out of his forehead. He had to face this sudden and serious situation.