Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Cao Cao, with his remaining troops and defeated generals, hurried back dejectedly. His expression was gloomy, filled with regret and resentment. After this tragic defeat, his ambitions had suffered a severe blow.

Cao Cao had no choice but to rush back to meet up with the allied forces. Seeing Cao Cao's distressed state, everyone rushed forward to offer comfort. Yuan Shao stepped forward, his face filled with concern, and said, "Meng De, victory and defeat are common in war. Don't worry too much. There will be opportunities in the future." Zhang Yang echoed, "Yes, Brother Cao, this defeat is merely a temporary setback."

However, Yuan Shu stood aside with a sneer of contempt on his face, and sneered: "Hmph! Meng De, you usually think highly of yourself and overestimate your own abilities when you attack Dong Zhuo. You ended up with such a miserable defeat, it's really laughable!" His voice was sharp and harsh, attracting everyone's attention.

Han Fu frowned, disapproving of Yuan Shu's actions, but due to the alliance, he simply shook his head and said nothing. Bao Xin's face was solemn. Although he felt Cao Cao's actions were somewhat rash, he also sympathized with his current situation and remained silent. Kong Rong, on the other hand, looked embarrassed, unsure how to persuade him.

Liu Bei and his three brothers stood aside. Guan Yu narrowed his eyes and stroked his long beard, quite dissatisfied with Yuan Shu's rudeness. Zhang Fei widened his eyes and was about to scold Yuan Shu, but Liu Bei stopped him and signaled him not to be impulsive.

Bao Xin's eyes flashed with a hint of schadenfreude, but he feigned sympathy and said, "Meng De, don't be discouraged. Just regroup." Tao Qian stroked his beard and sighed, "This is a time for unity, not mutual accusations."

Cao Cao felt humiliated upon hearing Yuan Shu's words, his anger boiling. He clenched his fists, his teeth chattering, yet he fought back. He knew it was not the right time to clash with Yuan Shu, as it would only further embarrass him. Despite his fury, Cao Cao was unwilling to leave. He knew that leaving the coalition would only leave him further isolated and helpless. He had no choice but to endure the humiliation and wait for the opportunity to make a comeback.

Cao Cao took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He glanced at Yuan Shu coldly and said, "Yuan Gonglu, what are you capable of doing now?" Yuan Shu was about to retort, but Yuan Shao hurried out to smooth things over: "Okay, okay, we should unite now and not cause any more trouble." Cao Cao said no more, but stood aside silently, secretly thinking about his future path.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao also brought the latest news about Dong Zhuo's army. Upon learning that Dong Zhuo's army hadn't yet passed Hangu Pass, the princes' minds suddenly became agitated. They all thought that since Dong Zhuo was still alive, great success lay just around the corner. If they could seize this opportunity, they could achieve something truly earth-shattering. Therefore, no one wanted to waste any more time here, and they all decided to lead their armies to Hangu Pass immediately.

Although Xu Rong had decisively defeated Cao Cao on the battlefield, the crisis facing Dong Zhuo's army was not resolved at all. Ahead, a mighty pass loomed, like a giant beast blocking the road.

In the rear, the coalition forces of the princes were still chasing hard, like evil spirits demanding their lives, vowing to wipe out Dong Zhuo's army.

Lü Bu, standing by, had chosen to sit on the sidelines during last night's battle. It was unclear whether he was waiting for a perfect opportunity to achieve both fame and fortune, or if he had some other hidden agenda.

In the tent, filled with tension, Dong Zhuo slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was hazy and weary, as if he hadn't fully regained consciousness. The fat on his face trembled slightly, revealing his inner uneasiness.

Li Ru and Xu Rong saw this and hurried to Dong Zhuo's bedside. Li Ru called softly, "Prime Minister, you're awake." Dong Zhuo's eyes gradually focused. He looked at the two people in front of him, his mouth twitching. He wanted to speak, but only a weak sound came out.

While unconscious, Dong Zhuo had a terrifying dream. In it, he found himself in a sea of ​​blood, surrounded by piles of corpses. The faces of the dead soldiers were twisted and hideous, wailing and cursing at him. He ran desperately, but could not escape this horrific hell. The blood under his feet kept splattering, staining his robes red.

Amidst this endless terror and despair, Dong Zhuo suddenly woke up, his back drenched in cold sweat. He gasped for breath, his eyes filled with fear and confusion. At this moment, he seemed to have lost all his willpower, his former ambition and dominance completely vanished.

He recalled the vast grasslands of his hometown, Xiliang, the familiar windswept sand and melodious pastoral songs. Every blade of grass and tree in his hometown emerged clearly in his mind. He missed the warmth of his family, and those emotions he had once ignored now surged into his heart like a tide.

Especially his beloved granddaughter, Dong Bai. Her innocent smile and clear, melodious laughter seemed to be right before his eyes. He recalled the promise he had made her to live a stable and happy life, yet now he had plunged her into this endless danger. Dong Zhuo's eyes welled up at the thought, his heart filled with guilt and regret. At this moment, he yearned only to return to Xiliang. His voice was weak and filled with longing, as he murmured, "I... I only want to return to Xiliang. That... that is where I can find my home."

Li Ru and Xu Rong hurried forward, their faces filled with concern. Li Ru's face was filled with anxiety, his voice filled with worry: "Prime Minister, you are finally awake. Don't worry too much, just focus on recuperating." Xu Rong tightly grasped Dong Zhuo's hand, tears in his eyes: "Prime Minister, your health is important. Don't overwork yourself."

Dong Zhuo, breathless but still filled with worry, anxiously asked, "What exactly is the situation?" Li Ru and Xu Rong exchanged a worried look, unwilling to burden Dong Zhuo with any more of this complex situation. Li Ru quickly stepped forward, feigning composure, and reassured him, "Grand Master, don't worry. Everything is under control now. Just focus on recuperating." Xu Rong quickly echoed him, earnestly, "Grand Master, these are just minor inconveniences, not worth mentioning. Please don't worry about them."

The two of them stared at Dong Zhuo intently, their eyes filled with concern and worry, fearing he might stumble again. Dong Zhuo, now devoid of his former gravitas, resembled an elderly man, his face etched with age and fatigue. His gaze was glazed over, and he kept muttering, "When can I... return to Xiliang..." He drifted off to sleep again. Li Ru hurried forward and cautiously felt Dong Zhuo's forehead. The scorching heat it felt startled him. Li Ru's face paled, and he quickly summoned the imperial physician for a diagnosis.

The imperial physician stepped forward tremblingly, feeling Dong Zhuo's pulse and examining his symptoms, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. After a long pause, he trembled and said to Li Ru and Xu Rong, "Prime Minister Dong is at the end of his strength, terminally ill. I'm afraid... I'm afraid..." At this point, the imperial physician dared not continue, but lowered his head in fear, awaiting the two men's decision.

Li Ru and Xu Rong were immediately enraged when they heard the imperial physician's words. Li Ru's eyes widened, veins popping out on his forehead as he shouted, "Nonsense! You quack! If you can't save the Grand Tutor, I'll make sure you have your head!"

Xu Rong was so angry that he was shaking all over. He grabbed the imperial physician by the collar and roared, gritting his teeth, "How dare you, useless creature, utter such ominous words! If anything happens to the Grand Tutor, your entire family will die!"

The imperial physician was so frightened by the two men's anger that his face turned pale. He fell to his knees with a plop and begged for mercy: "Sir, please spare my life, sir, please spare my life! I will do my best to find a way to save the Grand Tutor!"

Li Ru and Xu Rong watched the trembling imperial physician kneeling and begging for mercy, and gradually calmed down. Li Ru took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and said, "Forget it, get up. Try your best to treat the Grand Tutor. If you are successful, you will be rewarded handsomely. If anything happens to the Grand Tutor, you will still be held responsible!" Xu Rong also waved his hand and shouted, "Go!" As if granted amnesty, the imperial physician scrambled to his feet and hurried to prepare to treat Dong Zhuo.

The two men didn't dare delay and urgently discussed the matter. Li Ru, his expression grave and worried, said, "We can't stay here for long. If we hesitate any longer, our army will be trapped." Xu Rong nodded and replied, "Indeed, the only way now is to capture Hangu Pass. Only then can we win a chance of survival for our army and escape this predicament." The two men's eyes met, and they both saw determination and resolve in each other's eyes.

Xu Rong was terribly anxious, knowing that Dong Zhuo's army was in dire straits and that they needed to capture Hangu Pass as soon as possible to secure a glimmer of hope. He quickly assembled his forces and launched a fierce assault on Hangu Pass. Under his command, the soldiers surged toward the city walls like a tide, their cries of battle resoundingly resonating.

Little did they know, Ma Chao, leaving Dong Bai and the Longxi troops to defend Chang'an, had already set out from there with his elite troops. Their hooves kicked up clouds of dust as they galloped non-stop. They were nearing Hangu Pass, adding a new twist to the battle.

The allied forces of the various lords also advanced rapidly. Their morale was high, their banners adorning the sky. They understood the importance of this battle and were eager to achieve great things. Within the ranks, chariots rolled, and soldiers marched in unison, advancing towards Hangu Pass with unwavering determination.

At this time, Hangu Pass has become the focus of competition among various forces, and a thrilling war is about to break out.