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The night wind was chilling, and the torches outside the tent flickered, casting shadows on Lü Bu's face, which was a mix of emotions. In one hand, he held the bloodied Fangtian Halberd, while the other gripped the dagger at his waist. His footsteps were heavy yet resolute as he strode towards Ding Yuan's main tent. The light within illuminated the fabric of the tent, and through the dimness, one could see Ding Yuan reading by candlelight, surrounded by an eerie silence.
Lü Bu pushed aside the tent flap, and a gust of cold wind rushed in, causing the candlelight to flicker. Ding Yuan looked up and, upon seeing Lü Bu, smiled warmly. "Fengxian, it's so late. What brings you here?"
Standing at the entrance, Lü Bu's expression darkened. After a moment of silence, he stepped forward. His voice was low but laced with suppressed anger. "Ding Yuan, I am a man of worth; why must I be subjected to your son's whims and your constant oppression?"
Ding Yuan was taken aback for a moment. He set down his scroll and furrowed his brow in confusion. "Fengxian, what do you mean? I have treated you like my own son; how can you speak of oppression?"
Lü Bu let out a cold laugh and drew his dagger, its blade gleaming ominously in the candlelight. He advanced a few steps closer, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Son? Don't mistake your patronage for kindness! You know full well that I possess great talent, yet you confine me to this camp as your subordinate. Do you not find that laughable?"
At these words, Ding Yuan's expression changed dramatically. He stood up, his eyes filled with shock and disappointment. "Fengxian! I have shown you immense favor and trust; how can you utter such treasonous words? Do you not realize that everything you have now is given by me, Ding Yuan?"
Lü Bu's gaze turned icy; all traces of affection vanished from his face. He spoke softly but firmly: "My talents and strength do not require dependence on anyone, especially not on a mediocre man like you!" Before he finished speaking, he struck down with his dagger; a flash of cold light silenced Ding Yuan's voice forever.
Ding Yuan's head rolled to the ground, blood gushing forth and staining the carpet inside the tent. His unblinking eyes were filled with terror and regret, as if even in death he questioned Lü Bu's motives for this act.
Wiping the blood from his blade, Lü Bu cast a cold glance around before walking to the entrance of the tent. His voice was harsh and commanding: "Ding Yuan is dead! He was unkind; thus I killed him! Will you follow me, Lü Bu, or will you leave? Decide quickly!"
Outside the tent, the soldiers fell into stunned silence. They exchanged glances filled with both fear and confusion. Lü Bu's reputation was formidable; his martial prowess was unquestionable. Yet this act of betrayal sent chills through them. Some soldiers bowed their heads in silence, quietly dropping their weapons and turning to leave; others hesitated for a moment but ultimately chose to stay.
Lü Bu observed all this with a cold stare devoid of remorse or emotion.
The next morning, sunlight broke through the mist, illuminating the desolate mountain path. Lü Bu rode atop Red Hare with an imposing presence, carrying Ding Yuan's severed head at his waist and an icy demeanor in his eyes. He galloped swiftly until he reached Dong Zhuo's camp outside his tent where Li Su awaited him.
As Li Su saw Lü Bu approach on horseback and caught sight of the bloodied head hanging from his waist, a cold smile spread across his face. He stepped forward and lowered his voice. "Brother, your methods are indeed impressive! With this achievement, Duke Dong will surely regard you as a trusted confidant."
Lü Bu coldly nodded, dismounted, and tossed the head of Ding Yuan to Li Su. "Take me to see Duke Dong."
Soon, Lü Bu followed Li Su into Dong Zhuo's grand tent. Inside, the golden armor gleamed in the light, and Dong Zhuo sat at the main seat, his expression filled with anticipation. When he saw the head in Lü Bu's hand, excitement flashed in his eyes. He laughed heartily, stood up, and quickly walked toward Lü Bu.
"General!" Dong Zhuo's voice was loud and full of enthusiasm as he deeply bowed. "Today, with your assistance, it is as if I have received rain in a drought; this battle will no longer be a challenge for us!"
Lü Bu was slightly taken aback by Dong Zhuo's demeanor. After a moment of thought, he returned the bow with a hint of humility in his tone. "Duke Dong's kindness will be remembered by me. If you do not mind, I would like to call you my adoptive father to repay your kindness today."
Dong Zhuo laughed heartily and waved his hand, helping Lü Bu up. "Good! Good! Since that is the case, we are family now!"
Immediately, Dong Zhuo ordered someone to bring a golden armor robe and personally draped it over Lü Bu. He also presented him with a jade belt and a treasured sword. Grasping Lü Bu's hand, they sat down together to drink, the atmosphere lively as if they were long-lost friends reunited.
As they drank to their hearts' content, Dong Zhuo, feeling merry from the wine, slammed the table and exclaimed, "Lü Bu, your arrival truly adds wings to my ambitions! As long as you are here, my great enterprise will surely be as stable as Mount Tai!"
Lü Bu smiled slightly, raising his cup with a respectful tone. "Adoptive father has great aspirations for the world; I am willing to assist you with all my strength and clear the path ahead!"
The tent was filled with laughter and joy; however, sitting nearby was Li Ru, who remained calm throughout. He waited until the banquet began to wind down and Dong Zhuo's drunkenness eased before quietly stepping forward to advise him in a low voice. "My lord, now that Lü Bu has pledged his loyalty and his power is growing stronger, we cannot delay any longer. The matter of succession must be decided soon; otherwise, prolonged uncertainty may lead to unforeseen changes."
Dong Zhuo’s smile faded as he furrowed his brow. After pondering for a moment, he replied softly, "You are right; this matter cannot be postponed any further. Tomorrow, I will summon all officials to Wen Ming Garden for discussion and announce the plan for succession in person."
Li Ru smiled faintly, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes. "My lord is indeed wise; this move will surely make the world follow your lead."
That day, Dong Zhuo held a grand banquet for the officials in Luoyang Palace. The scene was magnificent but the atmosphere was stiflingly oppressive. Lü Bu donned full armor standing behind Dong Zhuo, holding his Fangtian Halberd. Beside him stood a squad of fully armed soldiers with stern expressions, as if any slight movement could trigger deadly violence.
All the officials had already gathered, from Tai Chuan and Yuan Wei to the ordinary court officials. No one dared to be late, nor did anyone dare to speak casually. After several rounds of wine, Dong Zhuo, his face flushed, stood up and drew the treasured sword from his waist. The blade gleamed coldly in the light, resembling a venomous snake ready to strike. His voice was deep and powerful, drowning out every whisper in the hall: "Gentlemen, I have summoned you today for an important matter."
The ministers bowed their heads in silence, the only sound being the faint crackling of the torches.
Dong Zhuo walked to the center of the banquet, his gaze sweeping over each trembling face. With a cold smile, he slowly spoke: "The Emperor is young and incompetent, utterly incapable of managing the affairs of the realm. Such a cowardly person cannot serve the ancestral temple or stabilize the state. I, Dong Zhuo, cannot bear to see the people suffer any longer. Today, I have decided to follow the precedents set by Yi Yin and Huo Guang: to depose the current Emperor and grant him the title of Prince of Hongnong, while establishing the King of Chenliu as the new Emperor. What do you all think?"
At these words, a wave of shock rippled through the hall as ministers exchanged glances, but no one dared to speak; the air felt frozen. Dong Zhuo surveyed them with a cold smile, lightly waving his sword as his voice rose several notches: "Whoever dares to defy me will see if my sword is sharp enough!"
At this moment, fear gripped the ministers as they lowered their heads to avoid his gaze. But amidst this oppressive silence, a cold snort broke through: "Dong Zhuo, you are too arrogant!"
Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Central Army Lieutenant Yuan Shao standing up, his expression stern and his gaze piercing Dong Zhuo. He strode to the center of the hall and met Dong Zhuo's eyes directly, speaking firmly: "The Emperor has only been on the throne for a few years and has not lost his virtue. Yet you wish to depose him in favor of a lesser heir—this is an act of treason! How can you face the world after doing such a thing?"
Dong Zhuo's eyes narrowed dangerously as he pointed his sword at Yuan Shao. His voice was low and thunderous: "Yuan Shao, I hold the power of the realm in my hands; why should I consult you on matters of succession? If you dare utter another word, do you think my sword is not sharp enough?"
Hearing this, Yuan Shao did not retreat but advanced instead. With a cold laugh, he drew his own treasured sword and pointed it at Dong Zhuo: "Dong Zhuo, your sword may be sharp, but does that mean mine is dull? If you dare commit such treason today, do not blame me for drawing my sword against you!"
The two swords faced each other under the flickering candlelight, their blades shimmering with deadly intent as murderous energy filled the entire hall. Dong Zhuo was momentarily taken aback; he had thought all officials feared him like a tiger but did not expect Yuan Shao to openly oppose him and even draw his sword in defiance. Narrowing his eyes with a dark expression, he smirked coldly: "Yuan Shao, you truly are audacious!"
Yuan Shao stood firm without backing down, pointing his sword at Dong Zhuo as he coldly replied: "You dare to depose the Emperor? The people will rise against you! If I sit idly by today, how can I face anyone in the future?"
The tension between them crackled in the air like a storm about to erupt into bloodshed at any moment.
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