Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

This stalemate lasted for several days. Although the Longxi troops led by Dong Bai and Dong Huang were the elite of Dong Zhuo's founding army, they were helpless against the towering towers and deep moats of Chang'an. Against such a fortress, the powerful Western Liang cavalry could not fully exploit its advantages, and the battle remained deadlocked.

Li Jue and Guo Si were intimidated by Dong Zhuo's prestige and knew very well his ruthless methods. They dared not report the news of the defeat to Luoyang under any circumstances. They had no choice but to stay at Hangu Pass, living in constant fear.

Meanwhile, Dong Zhuo had already ordered the burning of Luoyang and, with him, the civil and military officials, marched towards Chang'an. Liu Fan, seeing Dong Bai and his men helpless outside Chang'an, and concerned about the situation in Luoyang, suddenly saw the blaze, and felt a surge of anxiety. He knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; if he could attack Dong Zhuo at this moment, he would surely achieve unparalleled success. So, Liu Fan made a decisive move, leaving General Yan Yan to defend Chang'an while he led Liu Dan to capture Hangu Pass, defeat Li Jue and Guo Si, and then advance on Luoyang.

Liu Fan knew the journey was fraught with danger, but to achieve his great cause and leave his name in history, he was ready to risk everything. He firmly believed that with the right strategy and the dedication of his men, he could overcome the current predicament and achieve a monumental feat.

Dong Zhuo, accompanied by hundreds of civil and military officials, prominent families, and the city's wealthy, marched towards Chang'an. This vast and bloated army, with its large number of personnel, made the procession extremely slow. Furthermore, the Western Liang army had a history of lax discipline, operating with unbridled abandon and lacking any restraint. During this long journey, crimes were frequent. The Western Liang soldiers acted recklessly, plundering and bullying the weak, causing untold suffering for the people.

Dong Zhuo, now nearing madness, not only failed to stop these evil acts, but turned a blind eye, allowing them to continue unchecked. Consequently, the reckless soldiers became increasingly rampant, even harassing the families of civil and military officials. These families, once pampered, were now subjected to terror and torture. Desperate, the officials resorted to offering bribes to the Xiliang generals, hoping to secure their protection and spare their families from further suffering.

Amidst this chaotic and distraught moment, Lü Bu rode slowly by on his majestic horse. He had become somewhat numb to the chaos around him, his mind wandering to the present. A group of dancers were being harassed by the rebellious Xiliang army, screaming in terror as they tried to escape the brutal hands. Lü Bu initially considered turning a blind eye as he passed by; after all, he had witnessed such scenes many times along the way.

Yet, in a moment of casual inattention, his gaze was captivated by a woman in the crowd. That woman was Diao Chan. Amidst the flurry of dancing girls, she stood like a lotus flower untainted by the mud, radiating a captivating radiance. Her breathtaking beauty seemed to eclipse the heavens and the earth. Her eyes, clear as water, shimmered with fear and helplessness.

That single glance instantly captivated Lü Bu. His pity and anger ignited, as if a raging fire were burning within him. Without hesitation, Lü Bu reined in the reins, dismounted, and shouted, "Stop!" Lü Bu's commanding presence intimidated the Xiliang soldiers, yet they refused to give up.

Lü Bu didn't care. With lightning speed, he quickly knocked down the leading soldiers. Seeing this, the others fled in all directions. Diao Chan looked at Lü Bu, her eyes filled with gratitude and admiration.

At this moment, Wang Yun happened to see this scene. He was quick-witted and instantly came up with an idea. He quickly stepped forward, bowed to Lu Bu and said, "Thank you for your help, General. This girl is my daughter Diao Chan, my adopted daughter, Wang Yun." Lu Bu heard this and hurriedly returned the greeting, saying, "So it's you, Master Situ. When I see injustice, I will help." Wang Yun smiled and started chatting with Lu Bu.

Wang Yun, the then Minister of State, held a high position of power, his family flourishing, and his wealth considerable. Yet, amidst the chaos of this forced migration, he suffered untold hardship. His numerous family members were caught up in this massive procession, and his women suffered particularly harassment from the rebellious Western Liang army. The lawless soldiers harassed and bullied them without restraint, leaving the women in tears and terrified.

Although Wang Yun did his utmost to protect his family, facing the chaotic situation and the reckless Xiliang army, he was already overwhelmed and exhausted. Just when he felt hopeless and helpless, Lü Bu appeared like a ray of hope. Having the support of Lü Bu, one of the most powerful generals in the Xiliang army, Wang Yun suddenly felt a sense of relief, as if he had a solid support and felt much safer.

With Wang Yun safe, his thoughts became more active, and he began to think more. With his meticulous mind and sharp eyes, he quickly discerned Lü Bu's awkward position within Dong Zhuo's army. Now, Dong Zhuo, forced into a hasty and utterly humiliated escape by the situation, was in dire straits. Seeing this, Wang Yun began to manipulate Lü Bu into believing he was being misled.

Wang Yun leaned closer to Lü Bu and spoke in a low voice, "General Lü, Dong Zhuo is now at the end of his rope. His actions have infuriated the people and the heavens. What future can he possibly have? But now, the coalition forces are so powerful and their momentum is unstoppable. The Han Dynasty has a chance to recover! If General Lü can act decisively and defeat Dong Zhuo, then with this tremendous achievement, you will surely rise to prominence before the Emperor, Liu Bian. Honor, wealth, fame, and wealth will be yours."

Lü Bu's brow furrowed as he listened to Wang Yun's words, a fierce internal struggle gripping him. On the one hand, Dong Zhuo had been a benefactor to him, granting him trust and power, allowing him to rise to prominence within the army. On the other hand, he was well aware of Dong Zhuo's brutality and unpopularity, his perverse actions fueling widespread public outrage and condemnation. Dong Zhuo's situation was now truly precarious, and Lü Bu felt profoundly uncertain about his future.

Wang Yun's words were like a stone dropped into Lü Bu's already restless heart, sending ripples through it. He began to contemplate his future and fate, and he began to succumb to Wang Yun's persuasion. Although Lü Bu hadn't yet committed murder against Dong Zhuo, his inner resolve was beginning to waver, and tiny cracks began to appear in his once loyal support for Dong Zhuo.

After Cao Cao and Sun Jian arrived in Luoyang, they each had their own opinions on the next steps. Cao Cao, fervently convinced that they should pursue Dong Zhuo and rescue the civil and military officials he had held hostage, declared, "Dong Zhuo is a wicked villain whose crimes are monstrous. Now is the perfect opportunity to annihilate him and rescue the officials. If we miss this opportunity, we will be filled with eternal regret!" Cao Cao was determined to seize this opportunity to continue pursuing Dong Zhuo and eliminate this traitor.

Sun Jian had previously fought numerous battles, and his troops had been severely decimated, leaving only a handful. Most of them had only reached Luoyang thanks to Yuan Shao's support. Although Dong Zhuo had set Luoyang ablaze during his retreat, attempting to reduce it to ashes, Luoyang, as the imperial capital, held deep roots. Even after this disaster, it still held many treasures that could not be taken away. Sun Jian pondered, intending to use the pretext of firefighting and protection to await the arrival of Yuan Shao and his men, so that he could establish a foothold in Luoyang.

Cao Cao repeatedly tried to persuade Sun Jian to no avail, and was filled with resentment. Knowing that time was running out and the opportunity was fleeting, he resolutely decided to lead his troops alone to continue pursuing Dong Zhuo.

In Luoyang, Sun Jian dispatched his soldiers to put out the fire, creating the appearance of a righteous army saving the capital. However, he secretly ordered his soldiers to plunder treasures. He personally led his troops into the imperial palace, hoping to find some precious item amidst the rubble. As they frantically searched the palace, tension and anticipation permeated the devastation.

At that moment, a group of soldiers discovered a dry well in the corner of a deserted palace. One of the brave soldiers peered into the well and vaguely spotted something strange at the bottom. They quickly found a rope and slowly lowered a small soldier into the well. Soon, a cry of joy came from below: "We've found something!" The soldiers above the well pulled the person and their find out. They found a palace maid, her face haggard, clutching a delicate jade box.

Upon hearing the news, Sun Jian hurried over, his gaze fixed eagerly on the jade box. With trembling hands, he opened it, and instantly, a warm light shone forth. It was the imperial seal, the symbol of supreme power. A coiled dragon button adorned the seal, and the eight characters "Received the Mandate from Heaven, May You Live Long and Prosper" were clearly visible in seal script. Sun Jian was overjoyed, knowing full well that this was a priceless treasure.

After seeing the imperial seal, Sun Jian seemed to have lost his mind in an instant. The desire in his heart was infinitely expanded, and his ambition grew wildly. He quickly ordered people to block the news and not let any information be missed.

He stared at the jade seal emitting a mysterious light, as if he saw the glorious vision of his future domination of the world. Sun Jian's breathing became rapid, and his hands trembled unconsciously. He held the jade seal tightly in his hands, as if holding the scepter of his own destiny.

He quickly summoned his confidants and said solemnly and anxiously: "If any news of today's incident leaks out, you will all come to me with your heads in your hands!" Those confidants knew Sun Jian's determination very well, nodded repeatedly, and hurriedly dispersed to carry out the order to block the news.

However, Sun Jian had never anticipated the complexities and unpredictable nature of his own army. Although he had issued a death order, this astonishing secret, like a fire suppressed under a huge rock, eventually found a crack and let out a dangerous light.