Chapter 155: Chaos in Chang'an (Part I)

The pages belonging to the year 191 AD were finally turned over the lands of the Great Han.

The swirling dust and sand failed to mask the turmoil of this era, revealing instead the desolate hue of withered autumn leaves in the bitter wind.

November, Sili.
Chang'an, the Li Estate.

"Is there any news of the Grand Tutor?"
"Reporting to the Director of the Palace Writers, the Grand Tutor remains at the Mei Fortress."

Li Ru's expression was gloomy as he gazed out the window at the dim, murky sky.
"In this season, such weather is rarely seen."
"Indeed."
"A disaster is coming. Let us leave."
"Where shall we go?"
"Vast as the world is, I fear there is nowhere left for us to hide." Li Ru gave a bitter laugh. "Let us first leave Chang'an."

Meanwhile, Mei Fortress.

"Report! Inform the Grand Tutor, General of the Household Tiger Warriors Li Su has arrived with an imperial edict!"
"Summon him!"

Dong Zhuo, clad in a purple-gold robe, leaned against a newly crafted imperial couch designed by master artisans. His unkempt, wild facial hair was lightly frosted with gray, making him appear slightly less fierce, yet even more majestic.

Li Su, clad in armor, hurried before the hall and bowed to Dong Zhuo, saying, "Your subject, General of the Household Tiger Warriors Li Su, pays respects to the Grand Tutor!"
"What is the purpose?"
"Reporting to the Grand Tutor, His Majesty has just recovered from his illness and intends to summon the ministers and officials to the Weiyang Palace to discuss abdicating the throne to the Grand Tutor. Thus, this edict has been issued."

The hall fell into an instant, dead silence, so quiet that only Dong Zhuo's heavy breathing could be heard.
"What is Wang Yun's view on this?"
"Minister Wang has already ordered the construction of the abdication altar, awaiting only the Grand Tutor's arrival."
"Hahahaha! Excellent! I, Dong Zhuo, have exhausted my mind and energy for the Han, truly fulfilling my duty of loyalty and righteousness. Now to receive the abdication is to conform to the mandate of Heaven—entirely reasonable and just!"
"For the Grand Tutor to receive the abdication is to conform to the mandate of Heaven, entirely reasonable and just!" echoed the civil and military officials in the hall.

"Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, Fan Chou!"
"Your subjects are here!" Four fierce-looking generals stepped forward to receive their orders.
"You four shall lead three thousand of my Flying Bear troops to guard Mei Fortress and await my return!"

"We obey—your command!"
"Hahahaha!" Hearing such discernment from his beloved generals, Dong Zhuo laughed heartily three times, then rose from the imperial couch and strode down the steps.
"My little phoenix, wait for your grandfather. Once I ascend the throne of the Son of Heaven, I will surely lead our Xiliang iron cavalry to trample Hebei and pacify the realm!"

All the generals in the hall knelt and kowtowed, chanting, "Wherever the Grand Tutor's blade points, every city shall fall, every battle shall be won! You shall surely trample Hebei and pacify the realm!"

Ever since Dong Bai had left Chang'an, Dong Zhuo's temperament had grown increasingly tyrannical. The number of high-ranking court ministers he had executed on whims alone exceeded both hands, while countless families had been ruined over trivial matters involving a few strands of hair.

Having lost his precious granddaughter, Dong Zhuo hardly cared for food or drink, let alone Diao Xiuxai, who had been cast aside. This aging warlord grew increasingly haggard, and his emotions frequently spun out of control, shrouding the entire city of Chang'an in the terror of his capricious rages and rivers of blood.

Yet a few days prior, Dong Bai had indeed sent a letter to her grandfather, stating that she was in Zhongshan State in Hebei, learning martial arts under Wang Wu, and wished to hone her combat skills. She added that her daily life was satisfactory. Only after flying into a rage did Dong Zhuo finally set his anxious heart at ease.

With arms outspread, the warlord accepted the prostrations and praises of the crowd. He walked back to the center of the hall and smiled at Li Su, "If I become emperor, I shall appoint General Li as the Commandant of the Guards!"
"This subject thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace!" Li Su bowed even deeper, though the expression buried within his sleeves was filled with mockery.

Having made arrangements for those around him, Dong Zhuo hurried down from the council hall and trotted all the way to the chambers where his mother rested.

Reaching the age of seventy was rare since ancient times, and Dong Zhuo was already approaching this age of antiquity; yet his mother, well over ninety, remained in robust health.
"My son worries and labors over affairs of state; take care not to ruin your health." The old lady's hands, like withered branches, tightly gripped the arm Dong Zhuo offered for support, her cloudy eyes filled with pure affection and heartache.
"Mother, you worry too much. Your son is as strong as an ox!" Dong Zhuo laughed, patting his chest. "I shall be just like you, living for eternity and lasting several decades more!"
"Good! Then Mother will accompany you and live a long, good life!" The old lady smiled and sat down.

Dong Zhuo sat beside her and said respectfully, "Your son is going to Chang'an to receive the abdication of the Han emperor. Mother, from this day forth, you shall be the Empress Dowager of this realm!"
Dowager Dong was startled at these words. After a moment of silence, she said, "No matter what my son chooses to do, a mother can only support you. Yet recently, my heart has constantly fluttered with unease. I fear this bodes no good. Whatever you do, be extremely cautious."
"Hahahaha!" Dong Zhuo laughed heartily. "Mother is about to become the Mother of the State; how can you not have a premonition of it beforehand? Your son shall go and return in no time!"
"Zhongying, regarding Feng'er..."
"Mother, do not worry. Once your son ascends the imperial throne, I shall immediately dispatch troops to Hebei to find Feng'er and have her stay by your side day and night!"
"There is no need... no need. Feng'er is no longer a child; why should she be tethered to my old bones? Besides, it is time you turned your mind to finding her a good match."
"Hmph!" Dong Zhuo snorted coldly. "I fear she has already found one for herself."
"That is well enough..."

After mother and son chatted for a long while, Dong Zhuo rose to take his leave. Just as he stepped down the stone steps outside the hall, he suddenly heard the old woman calling from before the hall:
"Zhongying!"

Startled, Dong Zhuo turned his head back. "Mother, is there anything else?"
"...Return early. Mother will wait for you."

...

Spring had yet to arrive, and the bitter cold raged on. The next day, a freezing rain suddenly began to fall over Chang'an.

Dong Zhuo had meticulously groomed himself. He stepped out of the fortress and boarded an imperial chariot, driven by four pure white steeds. The carriage was inlaid with gold, silver, jade, precious stones, and pearls, dazzlingly luxurious beyond compare. Carved upon the carriage body were designs of dragons and phoenixes, fully displaying imperial grandeur and opulence.

Such presumptuous acts were nothing new to Dong Zhuo.

Amidst an escort of guards, the grand procession swaggered toward the city of Chang'an.

Less than thirty li into the journey, one of the wheels on Dong Zhuo's carriage suddenly snapped. Startled, Dong Zhuo dismounted and boarded a fine steed to continue his journey.

Before they had traveled another ten li, the usually docile horse suddenly reared and roared, snapping its reins with a single jerk. Even with Dong Zhuo's fine horsemanship, it took him a great deal of effort to calm the beast.

"Where is the General of the Household Tiger Warriors?"
"This subject is here!"
"The carriage wheel has broken, and the horse has snapped its reins. What omen is this?"
Li Su replied unhurriedly, "This is an omen that the Grand Tutor is about to receive the abdication to replace the Han, casting away the old to welcome the new. In a matter of days, you shall ride in a jade carriage with golden saddles!"
"Hahahaha, excellent!" Hearing Li Su's explanation, Dong Zhuo's face broke into a broad smile, and he continued onward.

As the city of Chang'an came into plain view, the freezing rain grew even more violent. Finding it difficult to proceed on horseback, Dong Zhuo re-entered the carriage, which was carried forward by several Xiliang warriors.

At that moment, a gale suddenly arose, and a murky fog blanketed the heavens. Dong Zhuo lifted the carriage curtain and asked outward, "What omen is this now?"
Li Su smiled and replied, "The Grand Tutor is about to ascend the dragon throne; this is the red light and purple mist sent down by Heaven to enhance your heavenly might!" Dong Zhuo was delighted and harbored no further doubts.

恶烈 (cruel/harsh weather) — Even if the weather was atrocious today, how could it be more atrocious than this tyrant? If they failed to show up today, they would undoubtedly incur his lingering resentment later. Who knows, he might fabricate an excuse—or even dispense with an excuse altogether—and their heads would roll.

Compelled by Dong Zhuo's tyrannical might, the civil and military officials had lined up outside the city walls early to welcome him. Dong Zhuo stepped out of the carriage, mounted his previous steed, and looked down condescendingly upon the officials.
"My lords, in weather such as today's, I have kept you waiting long!"
"Aiya!"

Dozens of officials knelt upon the ground in unison. Wang Yun spoke first, "The Grand Tutor exaggerates; this is merely the duty of us subjects!"
"Good! Minister Wang's loyalty is truly commendable!" Dong Zhuo surveyed the crowd with satisfaction, but then his heart suddenly skipped a beat. "Where is the Director of the Palace Writers?"
"Reporting to the Grand Tutor, the Director of the Palace Writers contracted a chill yesterday and is currently resting in bed."
"Bad luck! To fall sick on such a grand day of mine when he was in perfectly good health." Dong Zhuo's face showed displeasure. "Enter the city!"
"Enter the city!"