Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 269 Sorrow
At this time, Yuan Shao's army had arrived in Luoyang.

Dong Zhuo's troops have already stormed the city walls, with Guo Si, Niu Fu, and Zhang Ji guarding the Xia Gate, Gu Gate, and Shangdong Gate respectively.

The city gates have been closed, and some guards have been assigned to the other city gates as well.

But many of the generals never returned after leaving the city.

Of the countless onlookers, only a little over three thousand were able to fully obey Dong Zhuo's direct command.

Yuan Shao's army had a considerable total strength.

Yuan Shao's main force numbered over four thousand, including He Jin's main force which was incorporated at Xiaopingjin.

Lü Bu led Ding Yuan's troops, and Yuan Shao also supplemented them with some of He Miao's remnants, bringing the total to more than two thousand men.

Zhang Yang, Chunyu Qiong, and Xia Mou each had two thousand men, Wu Kuang's group had more than one thousand men, and several local tyrants each had several hundred men.

All together, the force exceeds 15,000.

This is not some peasant army; it is 15,000 regular troops, and most of them are from the Central Army.

With such a large disparity in troop strength and relatively similar overall quality of both sides, Dong Zhuo was unlikely to engage in open field battles.

……

"Traitors on the city walls, open the gates and surrender immediately to welcome the Crown Prince to the capital! Otherwise, you will all be reduced to dust!"

Lü Bu is challenging them to battle outside the Xia Gate, and he has also called the Luoyang garrison a rebel army.

"Traitorous wretch! Your entire clan awaits execution with heads bowed. Quickly retreat your troops and beg for forgiveness!"

On the city wall, Dong Cheng was also shouting to Lü Bu, who was wearing silver armor outside the city.

Lu Bu wore Yuan Shao's armor and was about the same height and build as Yuan Shao. He rode his warhorse back and forth, looking quite imposing.

Dong Cheng had seen Yuan Shao's attire before and assumed that Yuan Shao was outside the city.

More than 700 members of the Yuan family were brought to the city wall by Cui Lie and lined up in a long row, but Cui Lie himself was not on the city wall.

Cui Lie was trembling at the foot of the city wall.

Dong Cheng, accompanied by the Empress Dowager's guards and the Imperial Censor, stood on the city wall, brandishing swords and axes, and escorted members of the Yuan family.

Threatening Lü Bu with the Yuan family members was of course useless. Lü Bu didn't care at all, or rather, Lü Bu didn't listen to Dong Cheng's words at all. He just shook his head and looked at the Yuan family members standing in a row on the city wall.

Especially the women among them.

The Yuan family members are all of good height and appearance, with good family genes. They do not need to work and are well-nourished. Most of the women in the Yuan family are both good-looking and have good figures.

After inspecting the place, Lü Bu sighed to Zhang Liao beside him, "General Yuan said he wanted to arrange a marriage between us with a woman from his clan, but it seems that it won't happen now... What a pity."

Zhang Liao frowned: "Brother Fengxian, the city is being held hostage by the Yuan clan. We should retreat first, otherwise General Yuan will surely take his anger out on you..."

"If we retreat and miss the opportunity to win the battle, wouldn't we lose everything? It is precisely because General Yuan's family members are holding us hostage in the city that we cannot retreat... Otherwise, if General Yuan's will is not firm, wouldn't we be asking for death for nothing?"

Lu Bu shook his head, then looked at the Yuan family woman on the city wall: "...What a pity, beat the drums! Advance!"

Zhang Liao was about to offer further advice, but was pulled back by the person beside him.

That was Wei Yue, Lü Bu's brother-in-law, who, along with Zhang Liao, served as a cavalry commander.

"Fengxian is determined to force General Yuan into a corner..."

Wei Yue shook his head and whispered to Zhang Liao.

Zhang Liao shut his mouth, took two steps back, and stopped trying to persuade him. He watched as Lü Bu raised his halberd and led his troops forward.

Lu Bu seems a bit arrogant now and won't listen to any advice.

After killing Ding Yuan, Yuan Shao put him in charge of all of Ding Yuan's troops, added hundreds of warhorses and hundreds of surrendered soldiers to his service, and granted him the title of Left General of the Household in Liu Bian's name, promising to appoint him as a General of the Capital after entering the capital.

This position of Left General of the Household was obviously illegitimate; it was just a formality. Yuan Shao's main purpose was actually to have Lü Bu deal with Liu Bei—Liu Bei was originally the Left General of the Household, but he had just been promoted to Right General a few hours earlier, and the news hadn't even spread yet.

But Lü Bu felt quite satisfied... Of course, he wasn't satisfied with the official position Yuan Shao had given him, but rather with the opportunity he now faced.

Supporting Liu Bian to the throne would be a meritorious act, and given the current situation, Luoyang is no match for Liu Bian's army. Lü Bu had also heard about the gossip surrounding Yuan Ji and the Empress. Whether Liu Bian was a member of the Yuan or Liu family was a matter of doubt for many, but in Lü Bu's eyes... it didn't matter.

Who cares who gave birth to him...

In places where Han and non-Han peoples live together, the identity of one's biological father is not important, and Lü Bu really didn't care about that.

The key is to prevent Yuan Shao from retreating...

If Yuan Shao dares not fight, if we fail to enter Luoyang, if Liu Bian fails to ascend the throne, if we lose this opportunity, then my killing of Ding Yuan and supporting Liu Bian will be a great act of treason!

Who cares whether the Yuan family members live or die... In Lü Bu's view, it would be better if they died, as it would strengthen Yuan Shao's resolve.

Luoyang City was high up, so it was naturally difficult to attack, but at this time there were not many soldiers defending the city, and the city gates were only closed, not sealed—they were not filled with sand or wood.

"All troops attack!"

The troops behind Lü Bu surged forward, pushing makeshift battering rams toward the city gate.

"cut!"

On the city wall, Dong Cheng shouted, and his subordinates swiftly brought down their knives.

The heads of the Yuan clan members flew off, and blood splattered out, flowing down the city wall of Luoyang and onto the plaque of the Xia Gate.

Dong Zhuo, standing inside the city wall, glanced back at Yuan Wei, whose face was streaked with tears, and whispered, "Lord Yuan, there's nothing I can do... This is the Empress Dowager's order; I cannot restrain Dong Cheng..."

"Hahaha……"

Yuan Wei gave a sorrowful laugh and murmured, "Then let them all die... let them all die!"

Having said that, he suddenly rushed out from the city tower and leaped down towards the city below.

Dong Zhuo stretched out his hand, then withdrew it, sighed, drew his sword, and pointed it down at the city.

"Fire arrows!"

……

Yuan Shao himself was not outside the Xia Gate; he was still in the rear army leading his troops to move siege equipment, and was still a short distance from the Xia Gate.

Previously, siege equipment was stored in Mengjin and Xiaopingjin, but it has now been transported to Luoyang by Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao's departure from the city was not a blind act; he was well aware of his own strengths and weaknesses.

It was impossible for Liu Bei and Dong Zhuo to leave Luoyang to pursue Yuan Shao at that time. Yuan Shao's trip not only brought him a large number of troops and weapons, but also caused He Jin's death in the city, making Yuan Shao the true leader.

Yuan Shao truly hadn't expected Liu Bei to pin so many charges on him... and he certainly hadn't expected Liu Bian to be passed off as a member of the Yuan family...

By this time, Yuan Shao already knew about the various unforgivable crimes he had committed, and even the extermination of his entire family wouldn't be enough.

"Brother Benchu, Lü Bu has already led his army to attack the city... On the city walls..."

Chunyu Qiong rushed over.

"Fengxian, why are you in such a hurry? The weapons haven't even arrived yet... Well, let's see how brave the soldiers of Bingzhou are."

Yuan Shao hesitated for a moment, but since Lü Bu was the vanguard, it was normal for him to start the fight first.

"But... all the Yuan clan members residing in Luoyang were killed by Dong Zhuo on the city wall... and the Duke of Ciyang fell to his death from the city wall..."

Chunyu Qiong looked at the composed Yuan Shao and swallowed hard: "Brother, please accept my condolences..."

Yuan Shao closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, his face grim, and exhaled deeply: "Beat the drums! March quickly! Order Xia Mou to attack the east gate! Today I will breach the city!!"

Chunyu Qiong sighed softly and led his troops away.

After Chunyu Qiong left, Yuan Shao took out an iron mask, seemingly to hide his sorrowful expression, and the armored soldiers behind him all took out the same mask.

Yuan Shao's guards were all dressed in the same armor as Yuan Shao, with both the armor and helmets being the natural color of metal.

But the moment Yuan Shao put the mask on, a smile appeared on his face beneath the iron mask.

(End of this chapter)