Chapter 156: Chaos in Chang'an (Part Two)

Grand Tutor's Residence.

"Report to the Grand Tutor, General Lu has come to pay his respects!"

"Hmph!" Dong Zhuo said with a trace of lingering anger, "Summon him in."

Lu Bu received the order and entered. He remained that peerless flying general whose martial might overshadowed the entire age: wearing a triple-forked purple-gold crown with bound hair, a crimson brocade hundred-flower robe from Xichuan, a beast-faced swallow-headed interlocking suit of armor, and a glistening lion-patterned jade belt.

Although he did not carry that divine halberd granting +8 to martial might, an astonishing aura still radiated naturally from his person.

"My child pays respects to Your Father, the Grand Tutor!"

"You still know that I am your adoptive father?"

"This child wouldn't dare."

"Then... what is your intention regarding the matter of Diao Xiu'er?!" It was only then that Dong Zhuo recalled Lu Bu's previous act of defiance.

"This child—"

"When I ascend to the supreme throne of the Son of Heaven, she shall be a noble consort. You would do well to cast aside those thoughts once and for all. If you behave, I shall still regard you as my own flesh and blood, appointing you as the commander-in-chief of all under heaven's armies. Should you dare to disobey my command again, do not blame this old man for disregarding past affection!"

"Understood! This subordinate respectfully thanks Your Father for your boundless grace!"

Lu Bu accepted the command and departed without argument or resistance. This submissiveness instead gave Dong Zhuo the surreal sensation of striking a cotton ball with all his might.

That very night, singing rose from the outskirts of the city. The wind carried the songs within the city walls, and their sound was so mournful and grieving that it pierced the hearts of all who heard it.

"Thousand-li grass, how luxuriant and green! Ten days and a gui, no chance of life seen!"

Dong Zhuo woke up startled by the singing in the dead of night, tossing and turning and unable to sleep again. He immediately dispatched men to find Li Ru, but learning that Li Ru was gravely ill and bedridden, he instead summoned Li Su to his presence.

"Lately, there have been far too many strange occurrences! You tell me, Li Su, what fortune or misfortune does this nursery rhyme portend?"

Li Su pondered for a long time before saying respectfully, "This should signify that the House of Liu is about to perish while the House of Dong is on the rise."

"Hmph!" Dong Zhuo was no fool either. "Cease your flattery toward this old man. If the abdication is obstructed, I shall hold you accountable!"

"Understood! Su obeys the Grand Tutor's disposal!"

Cai's Residence.

"Thousand-li grass, how luxuriant and green, ten days and a gui, no chance of life seen..."

"Brother Bojie, have you managed to glean anything from this?"

Two grey-haired, white-bearded scholars were drinking together on a couch, quietly waiting for the towering waves about to be unleashed within the city.

"'Thousand-li grass' refers to 'Dong', and 'ten days and a gui' refers to 'Zhuo'. This nursery rhyme was composed specifically for the Grand Tutor."

"The Grand Tutor? Ha, mere bandits of Han!" Wang Yun wore an expression of utter disdain and righteous fury.

"Ah..." Cai Yong let out a long sigh. "Whether it be the 'thousand-li grass' or the 'ten days and a gui', these do not follow the usual top-down method of character analysis; rather, they analyze the characters from the bottom up. Perhaps... this symbolizes the Grand Tutor's transgression of superiors and a subject surpassing his monarch."

"Precisely!" Wang Yun no longer fussed over the title of Grand Tutor. "Yun has always deeply admired Brother Bojie's literary attainments."

Cai Yong continued, "'Luxuriant and green' should signify a sudden eruption, darkly hinting that the Grand Tutor will experience a violent surge to supreme power, yet inevitably lose the hearts of the people and march toward destruction, meeting an end with 'no chance of life'."

"Just so!" Wang Yun clapped his hands in admiration. "As expected of Brother Bojie."

"Zisheng..." Cai Yong cast a deep, piercing look at Wang Yun. "Ong knows your intentions, yet this endeavor is fraught with extreme difficulty and numerous flaws. Setting aside how to deal with the Grand Tutor, even this nursery rhyme currently circulating—Jia Wenhe in the Xiliang army, who possesses immense prestige, and Li Wenyou in the court, who is ruthless and cunning—could easily pierce through its hidden meaning. In that case—"

"I am naturally aware of it!" To have his meticulous arrangement disparaged as worthless left Wang Yun with no pleasant expression to show. "Throughout ancient and modern times, how many of those who achieved great things relied solely on the assistance of favorable times and fortunes? Today, Dong Zhuo's tyrannical acts have aroused the wrath of both heaven and earth, and the common people hate him so bitterly they would gladly eat his flesh raw! Moreover, his subordinates are no longer a monolith; they are truly a resource that can be utilized.

As the Minister of the Interior of the Great Han, I have exhausted all human planning and have a clear conscience. If I hesitate further, I will surely incur heaven's wrath. If such an opportunity is lost, one can never hope for such a favorable situation again to assist me in accomplishing this great deed. Even if the probability of success is infinitely small, I, Wang Yun, am willing to shed every drop of blood in this body for our Great Han!"

"Zisheng, supreme righteousness." Faced with Wang Yun's surging passion, Cai Yong merely bowed faintly.

"Cai Bojie..." Wang Yun gritted his teeth. "I know you were restored to favor and gained immense influence because of Dong Zhuo's resurgence, but do not forget... you are an official of the Han!"

"Rest assured, Zisheng. Today's matters shall never be mentioned by Ong to a second person."

"You refuse to assist me?"

"The Minister of the Interior has long since plotted this; Ong knows his own talent is insufficient, so I shall not intervene."

"Fine! I—"

"See the guest out."

Wang Yun flicked his sleeves and departed. Stepping out of the Cai residence, he boarded the Minister of the Interior's carriage waiting at the gates.

"My Lord Minister... how did Palace Attendant Cai respond?"

"Cai Yong? A clever man."

Wang Feng stood guard beside Wang Yun like a shadow, waiting for him to continue.

"I knew long ago that he would not step forward to deal with Dong Zhuo."

"Then why did you still go to persuade him?"

"Cai Bojie is a man of loyalty and righteousness, and holds a lofty position in Dong Zhuo's heart. Now that he has refused my request, his conscience will inevitably feel a sense of debt. If... Lu Bu's assassination attempt fails, he might perhaps speak a few words on this old man's behalf. Even if my life cannot be spared, my family should be able to preserve their lives."

Wang Feng looked at Wang Yun in astonishment, seemingly failing to expect that the Minister of the Interior, who had long since resolved to embrace death, would utter such words.

"Perishing together is the method of a common man. This old man is not one to cling blindly to life out of greed, but one must always plan thoroughly for all contingencies. If I can trade this old and ailing body of mine for Dong Zhuo's instant demise, what would it matter if I were hacked into a thousand pieces!"

"The Minister's profound scheming and boundless righteousness command my utmost respect, Feng!"

Wang Feng bowed, and the journey continued in silence.

The next day, early morning.

The weather completely shed yesterday's gloomy and murky pall, revealing a crisp, cold winter clarity.

Underlings arranged the ceremonial guards, and Dong Zhuo entered the court along the main avenue. Suddenly, he saw a Daoist priest causing quite a commotion in the distance, heading straight toward Dong Zhuo's carriage procession. The man wore a green robe and a white head-wrap, holding a long pole bound with a zhang of white cloth, with the character "Kou" written on each of the two ends.

"Hmph, what sort of mad sorcerer is this?"

Li Su hurriedly said, "This is likely someone afflicted with a wandering madness; the Grand Tutor need not worry! Guards, take him down!"

The men received the order and drove the priest away.

Dong Zhuo then entered the palace grounds. The civil and military officials, along with the hundred lesser ministers, were all dressed in court robes lining the roadside to welcome him. Only Lu Bu and Li Su accompanied him closely—Li holding a treasured sword by his side, while Lu trailed behind the carriage, jointly guarding the vehicle as they advanced.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the North Ye Gate. Dong Zhuo's accompanying troops were all blocked outside the gates, and only some twenty-odd personal guards entered along with the carriage. Dong Zhuo felt an inexplicable wave of agitation, and his mother's words from Meiwu yesterday suddenly rang in his ears:

"Return early, Mother is waiting for you..."

"Thud!"

Dong Zhuo abruptly flung open the carriage curtain. He only saw several high ministers standing before the hall holding treasured swords. Combined with the panic in his heart, he was startled and shouted aloud:

"Why are the men ahead holding swords!"

No one answered!

The carriage continued forward, and Dong Zhuo finally realized the peril. With a sudden flip, he tumbled out of the carriage, attempting to flee outside the palace.

In his panic, he heard a hoarse, elderly voice shouting at the top of its lungs:

"The rebel has arrived here! Where are the warriors?"

Before the words faded, over a hundred men emerged from both sides of the city walls, all gripping halberds and thrusting spears as they charged toward Dong Zhuo.

"Outrageous! This is preposterous!"

Dong Zhuo brandished his personal sharp sword, seemingly recovering a portion of the peerless valor of his youth. Moreover, the treasured armor he wore was exceptionally sturdy, making it difficult for the surrounding attacks to pierce his defense.

After a stubborn resistance, Dong Zhuo gradually grew exhausted, and suddenly cried out:

"Where is my son Fengxian?!"

"Lu Bu is here!"