Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

"As for our escape route, Luoyang has been occupied by Xu Da, Hangu Pass is in Li Ji's hands, Chang'an has been breached, and Li Jue and Fan Chou have both been captured alive. Where can we run? The road to Xiliang to the west is completely blocked. Now we can't even fly away."

Li Ru spread his hands and said:

"To put it bluntly, we can't win a fight; we can't run away."

He paused, then held up three fingers and said:

"Now there are three options."

Dong Zhuo's voice trembled as he asked, "Which three?"

"First, we'll open the city gates wide tomorrow, take our brothers out, and fight Liu Ce's army squarely. Even if we die, we'll die on horseback, with dignity, and without disgracing our Xiliang army."

"Secondly, we should surrender the city now, hand over our military power, and see if Liu Ce can spare our lives. But to be honest... you have deposed the emperor, attempted to poison the empress dowager, harmed the people of Luoyang, plundered the imperial tombs, robbed the people, and killed ministers... This record is too thick, and you have gone too far. You probably won't survive."

"Third, we can just stay inside the pass and wait until our supplies run out, the soldiers mutini, and they can tie us up and hand us over to Liu Ce. We'll die an even worse death then, without any dignity whatsoever."

Li Ru's words were crystal clear, without a trace of falsehood.

Dong Zhuo stood there, stunned, for a long time before he came to his senses.

After a long while, he hung his head and waved his hand at Li Ru, saying:

"Okay...I understand...You can go now."

Li Ru sighed, bowed, and withdrew.

Dong Zhuo was the only one left in the tent. He stood there for a long time, staring at the empty room, without moving.

...

That evening, Dong Zhuo laid out a table full of wine and meat in his sleeping tent.

He didn't call anyone; he just sat alone by the oil lamp, drinking one cup of wine after another.

The wine was his aged liquor that he had kept for many years, and the meat was freshly slaughtered fat sheep—both of his favorite things.

But today, as I ate and drank, I felt no taste at all.

As the alcohol took effect, he patted his round belly, his mind racing through his entire life.

He recalled his youth in Xiliang, fighting against the Qiang people with his brothers.

He was only in his early twenties at the time, strong and capable of drawing a hard bow, and could eat half a sheep in one sitting.

When he galloped across the grasslands, the Qiang people would avoid him at the mere mention of his name.

How carefree those were! The world was vast, we could go wherever we wanted, and kill whoever we wanted.

I remember when we fought the Yellow Turbans, I led my brothers into battle, fighting our way to official positions with every sword and spear.

At that time, he thought that this was how his life would be, and he would be content to be a local tyrant in Xiliang.

He recalled that year when He Jin summoned him to the capital, and he led three thousand Xiliang cavalrymen, fighting his way into Luoyang.

The entire court was trembling with fear, and even the emperor had to be mindful of his expression.

Those aristocratic families who were usually high and mighty knelt before him, not daring to raise their heads.

Only then did he understand what power was like.

He recalled how he had deposed Liu Bian, installed Liu Xie as emperor, and become Chancellor and Grand Tutor... He was allowed to enter the court without bowing, and to wear a sword and shoes in the palace... He wielded immense power, his word was law, and he could kill whomever he wanted, sleep with whomever he wanted...

He thought of the mountains of gold and silver treasures piled up in Meiwu, of the concubines he had slept with in the palace, and of the people who knelt at his feet begging for mercy.

He did everything that others wouldn't even dare to dream of in several lifetimes.

After downing a cup of wine, Dong Zhuo suddenly burst into laughter.

He laughed until tears streamed down his face, his fat jiggled from laughing so hard, and he slammed his fist on the table, shouting:

"Worth it! Absolutely worth it!"

"I started as a lowly soldier on the frontier, rising through the ranks to become the most powerful man in the land! I fought the Yellow Turbans, fought the Qiang people, entered the capital, deposed the emperor, slept on the dragon bed, and even held the emperor hostage..."

"I've had my share of glory and power in this world! Even if I die, it won't be a waste!"

"This life has been worthwhile!"

After laughing, he slammed his glass on the table, his eyes no longer showing the panic he had before, but instead a fierce determination to go all out.

Even if I die, I will die on the battlefield.

We can't be like dogs, tied up and beheaded.

...

Early the next morning, Dong Zhuo summoned all the Xiliang generals to his tent.

He was dressed in full, neat armor, which was specially made and was three sizes wider than the old one, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to wear it at all.

Although he was still quite stout, the moment he sat in the main seat, the imposing aura of the former commander of the Xiliang army returned.

He glanced at his old comrades below—Guo Si, Fan Chou, Niu Fu, Hu Zhen, Duan Wei…—and cut to the chase:

"Liu Ce will arrive with his army soon. All the allied lords have surrendered, and we now have nowhere to retreat."

He stood up, his eyes piercing:

"I, Dong Zhuo, have never backed down in my life! I've called you all here today for one reason only: those who are willing to come out with me and fight Liu Ce's army in one last fair fight, stay; those who are not, leave now, and I won't blame you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Guo Si was the first to stand up, patting his chest and shouting at the top of his lungs:

"Prime Minister! I'll go with you! I followed you ever since we left Xiliang, and I'll die with you!"

Fan Chou also stood up and said, "I'm willing too! Let's fight them!"

Niu Fu slammed his fist on the table and said, "At worst, I'll die, but I can't bring shame to the people of Xiliang!"

Hu Zhen and Duan Wei also stood up and echoed, "Prime Minister! We're with you! We'll die a glorious death!"

Fan Chou, Niu Fu, Hu Zhen, Duan Wei... these old subordinates all followed him through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and not one of them was a coward.

They slammed their fists on the table in agreement, their shouts causing dust to fall from the top of the tent.

Looking at his brothers, Dong Zhuo's eyes welled up with tears, and he laughed loudly:

"Good! Good lads! I haven't spoiled you for nothing!"

He waved his hand and said:

"Let's have a good, hard fight! Let's die a glorious death!"

After saying that, he turned to Li Ru and had him write a letter of challenge, which was then sent by fast horse to Liu Ce's camp.

......

Meanwhile, in Liu Ce's central command tent, Li Jing, Guo Jia, and the others were discussing how to attack Hulao Pass.

Some suggested a night raid, some suggested a direct assault, and some suggested continuing the siege.

Just then, a soldier came in with a challenge letter.

Liu Ce opened the challenge letter and saw that it clearly stated:

Dong Zhuo wanted to lead 10,000 elite Xiliang cavalry to fight Liu Ce squarely, accepting the outcome but refusing to compromise.

After reading it, he couldn't help but laugh, and handed the challenge to Li Jing and Guo Jia, saying:

"I didn't expect that old bastard Dong Zhuo would still want to die with dignity. Fine, since he wants to die with dignity, let's grant his wish."

Li Jing took the challenge letter, read it, and nodded, saying:

"This was Dong Zhuo's last gamble. At least he didn't lose face for the Xiliang army, unlike those warlords in Suanzao who were starved to death and surrendered."

Guo Jia also said with a smile:

"My lord, since he wants a fair fight, let's play along. Let him lose fair and square."

Liu Ce immediately made the decision:

"Alright! Reply to him. Tomorrow morning, at Hulao Pass, I will lead ten thousand iron cavalry to confront him. I will not bully the weak with numbers, and I will make him lose with dignity."