My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

Luoyang, Nangong.

The atmosphere in Deyang Palace was as oppressive as an impending storm.

On the dragon throne, the fourteen-year-old Emperor Liu Bian was pale, his fingers gripping his robe sleeves tightly, his body trembling slightly. Behind the beaded curtain, Empress Dowager He had long been under house arrest and was unable to attend court today.

Your Highness, all officials stand solemnly.

But everyone's attention was focused on one person.

Dong Zhuo.

He was not wearing court robes today, but rather a black python robe with a seven-foot-long sword at his waist. He stood boldly below the imperial steps, no more than ten steps from the dragon throne.

What's even more unsettling is that, three steps to his side, Yuwen Chengdu stood with his hand on his sword.

This god of war who single-handedly killed Ding Yuan made all the officials in the hall tremble with fear. He stood there quietly, yet he seemed like a ferocious beast that could suddenly attack and devour people at any moment.

Dong Zhuo's gaze swept over the officials, like that of an eagle eyeing a wolf.

"Gentlemen."

He spoke, his voice booming and carrying an undeniable authority: "The current emperor is weak and incompetent, unfit to serve the ancestral temple. I will follow the example of Yi Yin and Huo Guang."

He paused, then spoke each word with the force of a thunderclap: "He intends to depose the legitimate heir and establish an illegitimate one."

"Who's in favor? Who's opposed?"

Dead silence.

Absolute silence.

Some people broke out in a cold sweat, while others felt their legs go weak.

"I, Yuan Shao, will not allow it."

His voice was clear and resolute, yet it carried an unwavering determination.

Everyone turned their heads sharply.

Yuan Shao stepped forward proudly, holding the seal of the Commandant of the Capital Region, and walked step by step toward the palace gate.

He walked to the east gate, turned around, and looked directly at Dong Zhuo.

"Now that the court has just been established, I have summoned you to the capital to assist the emperor and bring peace to the people."

Yuan Shao's voice rose, each word like a knife: "And you? You have repeatedly and presumptuously proposed to abolish the eldest son's position and establish a son of a concubine. Isn't this tantamount to plotting a rebellion?!"

"Whoosh—"

An uproar erupted inside the hall!

"Has Yuan Shao gone mad?!"

"How dare he..."

Dong Zhuo's face instantly darkened.

He stared at Yuan Shao, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent: "The fate of the world rests in my hands! I will act now, who dares disobey?!"

This is a blatant declaration: I'm in charge of this world!

Yuan Shao laughed.

That smile was full of mockery and sorrow: "The affairs of the world lie with the emperor, with your loyal ministers, and with you?"

He raised the imperial seal in his hand, pointing it at Dong Zhuo: "He's nothing but a usurper, so what?!"

Usurpation!

These two words are like a knife, piercing through all pretense!

Dong Zhuo was furious!

"You brat!" He suddenly drew his sword.

"Would you like to test the sharpness of my sword?!"

The sword light was sharp and cold.

Yuan Shao also drew his sword: "My sword is just as sharp!"

The sword's edge is pointed directly at Dong Zhuo!

Eyes facing each other.

Killing intent collided in mid-air!

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Yuwen Chengdu and dozens of Xiliang soldiers around him drew their swords at the same time!

Wherever the sword points, it points to Yuan Shao!

In an instant, tensions rose in the main hall!

The air condensed.

Everyone held their breath.

The veins on Dong Zhuo's hand, gripping the sword, bulged.

He stared intently at Yuan Shao, his eyes flashing with a fierce light.

kill?

Or not kill?

Yuan Shao... The Yuan family of Runan, with four generations of high-ranking officials, was the leader of the gentry in the land.

Killing him would be easy.

But the consequences of killing...

Dong Zhuo's mind raced as he calculated.

Just then.

"Master Dong, please calm down! Please calm down!"

"Benchu! Quickly apologize to Lord Dong!"

"We are all ministers of the same court, why must we resort to arms against each other!"

Wang Yun, Yuan Wei, Yang Biao, and others stepped forward and stood between the two.

The sounds of persuasion and pleas for mercy filled the air.

Looking at these "gentlemen" who used to talk big but were now as timid as dogs, Yuan Shao suddenly felt a deep weariness and sorrow.

He spent his entire life pursuing legitimacy.

The ethical and moral principles he fought for.

Faced with military power and swords...

It's nothing.

Chaos has truly arrived.

A more savage, more direct era.

Here, high-ranking officials, noble families, poetry, books, and music... are all utter nonsense.

Only swords and soldiers have the right to speak.

Yuan Shao slowly lowered his sword.

He glanced at Dong Zhuo one last time.

His eyes were as cold as an abyss, like a tiger lurking in the darkness, waiting for its chance to devour its prey.

Then he turned around and strode out of Deyang Palace.

He casually tossed the official seal in front of the palace gate.

That night.

Luoyang City Tower.

Yuan Shao stood alone at the top of the battlements, his black cloak fluttering in the cold autumn night wind.

In the distance, the campfires of the Xiliang army stretched out like a galaxy fallen to earth; those were Dong Zhuo's troops, the flames of war in a chaotic world.

He suddenly remembered when he was fifteen years old.

At that time, he was in his prime. After a poetry gathering, he buried a jar of wine under the sycamore tree in the backyard of the Yuan residence.

At that time, he thought that when he achieved fame and success, he would definitely dig out this jar of wine and drink it with heroes from all over the world.

What spirit, what ambition!

But now...

He knew he wouldn't live to see that day.

At least, not in the way he imagined.

"The Primordial Beginning".

A voice came from behind me.

Yuan Shao didn't turn around: "Uncle."

Yuan Wei walked to his side, gazed at the distant campfire, and after a long while, sighed, "You were too impulsive today."

"Impulsive?" Yuan Shao laughed, his laughter full of self-mockery.

"Does my uncle really think I acted impulsively?"

Yuan Wei turned to look at him.

Yuan Shao slowly said, "Our Yuan family of Runan is the most powerful family in the world. Our disciples and former officials are all over the prefectures and counties. Our marriage alliances involve half of the aristocratic families. This network is so vast that even the emperor is wary of it."

He paused for a moment: "Dong Zhuo has just entered Luoyang and his foothold is not yet secure. What he wants is to control the court, not to be at odds with the entire aristocratic group. The living members of the Yuan family are his best hostage. As long as you are still in Luoyang, you can theoretically restrain me."

"And once the Yuan family members are killed..." A cold glint flashed in Yuan Shao's eyes.

"It's like completely tearing off the mask of civility, leaving no room for reconciliation."

Yuan Wei's pupils contracted slightly: "You did this on purpose..."

"Dong Zhuo is a ruthless hero, not a madman," Yuan Shao interrupted.

"He also had wise men like Li Ru and Jia Xu by his side. He knew how to scheme, so he dared not and was unwilling to accept my 'recklessness'."

He looked at Yuan Wei: "Not only that, in order to appease the gentry of the world, he must treat the Yuan family well and make a gesture to show that I, Dong Zhongying, am tolerant of others. Even Yuan Shao, who contradicted me to my face, has his family unharmed."

Yuan Wei remained silent for a long time before finally nodding slowly.

"So, what's next...?"

"Leave Luoyang." Yuan Shao turned and looked north.

"Go to the Bohai Sea."

"Bohai?" Yuan Wei was taken aback.

"There......"

"That place is the gateway to Ji Province, a prosperous coastal area with a fierce and valiant people." Yuan Shao's eyes gleamed.

"It is a good place to stay away from Dong Zhuo's blade and still keep an eye on the Central Plains."

"Uncle, take care. Dong Zhuo won't touch the Yuan family, but you must also be cautious. Once I've established a foothold in Bohai..."

He didn't say anything more.

But Yuan Wei understood.

The world is in chaos. Yuan Shikai's great ship needs someone to steer it, and someone to find a new path.

"Let's go," Yuan Wei sighed.

"I'm here at home."

Yuan Shao bowed deeply.

He turned around and walked down the city wall.

That night, Yuan Shao resigned his post and left the capital.

I only brought two things.

A sword.

A jar of wine, unearthed from under a sycamore tree, sealed for decades.

a few days later.

Bohai Commandery, Prefectural Governor's Office.

"My lord, an imperial edict from Luoyang."

Feng Ji presented a roll of bright yellow silk with both hands, his expression complex.

Yuan Shao took it and unfolded it.

His gaze swept over her, and a slow smile crept onto his lips.

"Dong Zhuo appointed me... as the governor of Bohai?"

Feng Ji whispered, "Is Dong Zhuo trying to curry favor, or...?"

"A gesture of goodwill?" Yuan Shao laughed, his laughter growing louder and louder.

"He's telling me, Yuan Benchu, I see through your scheme, but I have no choice but to follow your script."

He casually tossed the imperial edict onto the table: "This is the game's rules for aristocratic families: outward compromise, inward competition."

Feng Ji seemed to understand, but not quite.

Yuan Shao, however, was already looking westward, his eyes gleaming: "The day when Dong Zhuo will depose and install the emperor is not far off."

"And the calls for the people to oppose Dong Zhuo... should also be heard."

He recalled what he had seen from the city tower that night: the bonfires in the Xiliang army camp.

I recall Dong Zhuo's arrogant and domineering face in the Deyang Palace.

I recall Yuwen Chengdu, who stood beside Dong Zhuo like a ferocious beast.

"What a chaotic world..."

Yuan Shao murmured to himself, "Let's see who can prevail in this chaotic world..."

He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly: "The one who laughs last."

Luoyang.

After reading Yuan Shao's reply confirming his appointment as governor of Bohai, Dong Zhuo sneered and threw the silk into the brazier.

Li Ru bowed and said, "Father-in-law, Yuan Shao's departure is like a tiger returning to the mountains."

"I know," Dong Zhuo waved his hand.

"But at this time, we cannot touch the Yuan family."

Jia Xu lowered his eyes: "My lord is wise. Only by stabilizing the gentry can we proceed with the matter of deposing and installing an emperor."

A fierce glint flashed in Dong Zhuo's eyes: "Then let's begin."

September 28th.

Dong Zhuo held a grand assembly of officials at the Chongde Hall.

He entered the palace with a sword and forced the young Emperor Liu Bian to abdicate.

They established Liu Xie, the Prince of Chenliu, as emperor, who became Emperor Xian.

He appointed himself Prime Minister, and was not allowed to be called by name when receiving imperial greetings. He did not have to bow when entering the court, and he could wear a sword and shoes in the palace.

He spent the night on the emperor's bed and committed adultery with palace maids.

Their transgressions grew more and more blatant each day.

When the news spread, the world was shaken.

The calls to oppose Dong Zhuo spread like wildfire throughout various prefectures and counties.