Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

"This sword is a family heirloom; it can cut through iron like mud and sever a hair in a breath!" Wang Yun handed it to Cao Cao with both hands. "Mengde, the fate of the Han dynasty rests in your hands!"

Cao Cao took the sword, held it above his head with both hands, knelt down facing the direction of the palace, and solemnly bowed three times, muttering incantations:

"Under Heaven and Earth, Cao Cao, the valiant cavalry commander of the Han dynasty, vows to kill the treacherous Dong Zhuo, to secure the court and the nation, and to repay the people of the land! He will brave fire and water, and die ten thousand times without hesitation!"

With tears welling in his eyes, Wang Yun grasped his hand and said, "Take care, Mengde!"

...

The next morning, Cao Cao concealed the Seven-Star Sword in his robe and entered Dong Zhuo's residence as if nothing had happened.

His heart was pounding like a drum the whole way, but he maintained a calm and composed smile, greeting everyone he met with, "Good morning!" "Have you eaten?" "Are you there?"

Everyone in the Prime Minister's residence knew he was a favorite of Dong Zhuo, so no one stopped him.

When they arrived at the small pavilion of the Prime Minister's residence, Dong Zhuo was sitting on the bed, panting heavily. The old man was too fat; he was panting even while sitting.

Standing beside him was a majestic general, none other than Hua Xiong.

Upon seeing Cao Cao, Dong Zhuo casually asked, "Mengde, why are you late?"

Cao Cao smiled apologetically and said, "Prime Minister, please forgive me. My horse is too worn out and can't run."

Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo immediately said to Hua Xiong, "Go, pick a good horse from the stable and send it to Mengde."

Hua Xiong responded and left.

Cao Cao's heart skipped a beat. Hua Xiong was gone, and only he and Dong Zhuo were left in the room! Heaven was on his side!

Dong Zhuo was too fat to sit still, so he lay down on the bed, facing inwards and with his back to Cao Cao, to rest.

Cao Cao held his breath, quietly took out his Seven Treasures Sword, and moved step by step toward the bedside, silently thinking: Old thief, your death is near!

One step, two steps, three steps...

With only three steps between him and Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao gripped his sword hilt, ready to plunge it in...

totally unexpected!

There's a huge full-length mirror next to the bed!

Dong Zhuo clearly saw Cao Cao draw his sword in the mirror, and with a sudden movement, he rolled over and roared in a rough voice:

"Mengde! What are you doing!"

Cao Cao was so frightened that his soul almost left his body, and his mind went blank!

But in that split second, the kid's mind worked faster than lightning...

With a thud, Cao Cao knelt down, holding his sword above his head with both hands, his face beaming with a sincere smile:

"Prime Minister! I recently acquired a peerless seven-treasure sword, incomparably sharp, and have come specifically to present it to you as a token of my loyalty!"

Dong Zhuo took the knife and examined it. It was indeed a rare and excellent knife, with a blade that gleamed coldly and could cut through iron like mud.

"Oh...is it for this old man?"

He immediately laughed, and his earlier suspicions vanished.

"A fine blade! A fine blade! Mengde, you've put in a lot of effort! I'll accept it."

Just then, Hua Xiong returned leading a tall, magnificent horse and stood at the door, calling out, "Prime Minister, the horse has arrived!"

Cao Cao quickly stood up, his face beaming, and said, "Prime Minister, I'll go try out this horse!"

Having said that, he strode out of the small pavilion, mounted his horse, and cracked his whip...

The horse, in pain, let out a long neigh, and galloped away, disappearing from the Prime Minister's residence in a flash, without looking back!

...

Dong Zhuo was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses and said to Hua Xiong, "Hey, Mengde, why were you in such a panic just now?"

Hua Xiong scratched his head and said, "This subordinate...this subordinate didn't notice either."

Just then, Li Ru rushed in, his face ashen, and shouted:

"My lord! Cao Cao is here to assassinate you! Did he just draw his sword?"

Dong Zhuo was taken aback and said, "He said it was to present a knife..."

"Why would someone sneak up behind you and draw their sword to present a knife?" Li Ru stamped his foot in frustration. "He must have failed in his assassination attempt and was just pretending to present the knife! He's probably already gone!"

Dong Zhuo then realized what was happening, and flew into a rage, throwing his sword to the ground:

"Chase him! Chase him now! Capture Cao Cao and tear him to pieces!"

But by this time, Cao Cao had already run dozens of miles away and disappeared without a trace.

Dong Zhuo immediately issued an order: "A nationwide manhunt for Cao Cao is hereby issued! His portrait is to be drawn, and a reward of a thousand gold pieces is to be offered. He must be found alive or dead!"

The gates of Luoyang were tightly shut, and soldiers searched house to house. But Cao Cao seemed to have vanished into thin air; they couldn't find him anywhere.

In fact, after Cao Cao fled Luoyang, he ran wildly, taking only small roads, hiding during the day and going out at night, heading east.

When he passed through a certain county, a local official noticed his suspicious behavior and stopped him for questioning.

Cao Cao, quick-witted as ever, said that he was a merchant who had been robbed by bandits, which was why he was in such a sorry state.

Just as the village head was about to have doubts, a clerk next to him came over, carefully examined Cao Cao, and suddenly whispered:

"You...you are Cao Mengde?"

Cao Cao's heart tightened, and his hand was already on the hilt of his sword.

The clerk smiled and lowered his voice, saying, "Don't be nervous. I know you're being chased by Dong Zhuo. I'm also a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty, and I admire your courage. Hurry up and head east; you'll be safe once you're out of the pass."

Cao Cao gratefully clasped his hands in a fist salute, mounted his horse, and continued galloping.

...

Half a month later, he finally escaped Dong Zhuo's control and arrived in Chenliu.

This was the hometown of his father, Cao Song, and he owned considerable wealth. As soon as Cao Cao arrived, he immediately began recruiting soldiers and horses, preparing to launch a campaign against Dong Zhuo.

He raised a large banner with four big characters written on it: "Loyalty and Righteousness in Punishing Traitors".

Heroes from all over the land, hearing of his arrival, flocked to join him.

Within a few days, they had gathered more than 5,000 men.

Standing on the training ground, Cao Cao looked at these passionate soldiers and was filled with emotion:

You old scoundrel Dong Zhuo, just you wait! I, Cao Mengde, will take your life sooner or later!

...

half a month later.

Youzhou, outside Zhuoxian City.

The autumn wind was chilly, and the poplar trees on both sides of the official road shed their leaves with a rustling sound, carpeting the ground with gold.

Liu Ce only brought Lu Bing and the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun, and stood outside the city waiting.

He wasn't wearing royal robes, just casual clothes with a black cloak draped over his shoulders. He looked quite relaxed, but the moment he stood there, his aura commanded respect.

He had been gazing at the official road to the south for half an hour.

Lu Bing couldn't help but say, "My lord, why don't you go back to your residence and rest? I'll wait for you."

Liu Ce shook his head and said, "No need."

He thought of He Lian, the woman who had looked at him with deep affection in the Luoyang palace.

The sachet she gave me back then is still kept in a hidden compartment in my study.

And then there's Liu Bian, his adopted nephew. He was deposed from the throne and hunted down; I wonder how terrified he must be.

Just then, a carriage appeared at the end of the official road.

The carriage slowly approached, escorted by a dozen or so plainclothes Imperial Guards.

The carriage was getting closer.

The carriage stopped.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and He Lian, Liu Bian, and Consort Tang were helped out of the carriage.

Then, Liu Bian rushed out.

The moment the child saw Liu Ce, it was as if he had seen a savior. Without saying a word, he ran over and hugged Liu Ce's waist, bursting into tears.

"Uncle! I'm so scared! Waaaaah... They... they're going to harm me! They're going to force me to drink poison! I don't want to be emperor anymore! I don't want anything anymore! Uncle... Waaaaah..."