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The next day, the sunlight pierced through the thin mist of Luoyang, yet a shadow hung over Wen Ming Garden. Dong Zhuo had ordered a lavish banquet to be set up in the garden, with golden and resplendent tables and seats arranged in a row. Iron-clad soldiers stood guard around the perimeter, their swords glinting ominously, creating an atmosphere so oppressive that it was hard to breathe. Although the officials and ministers were filled with fear, none dared to skip the feast. They entered with heavy expressions, whispering among themselves as they speculated about Dong Zhuo's intentions.
As all the ministers gathered, Dong Zhuo was still nowhere to be seen. The officials exchanged glances, their wine cups untouched on the table, while the only sounds were the clinking of armor and the low coughs of soldiers. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the garden gate as Dong Zhuo made his entrance. Clad in armor and wielding a long sword, he wore a cold smile on his face. His gaze swept over the officials like a blade as he strode confidently into the garden.
Without uttering a word, Dong Zhuo took his seat at the head of the table and waved his hand slightly, signaling for wine to be poured. The musicians began to play, and maidens served exquisite dishes; the banquet became lively, yet it could not mask the underlying tension. Dong Zhuo raised his cup and drank, while the ministers could only force smiles and join in toasting him. After several rounds of drinking, Dong Zhuo suddenly waved his hand, silencing the music instantly and plunging the banquet into an eerie stillness.
Setting down his cup, Dong Zhuo's cold gaze swept across the assembly as he spoke in a deep and authoritative voice: "Gentlemen, I have something to say today; I hope you will listen closely."
The officials held their breath, almost suppressing their very breaths.
Dong Zhuo slowly rose to his feet, his icy demeanor radiating an undeniable power: "The Emperor is the ruler of all people and should possess dignity befitting the ancestral temple and state. However, our current Emperor is weak in character and devoid of virtue, incapable of stabilizing the realm. In contrast, King of Chenliu is clever and astute; he is undoubtedly the best candidate for succession. Therefore, I believe it would be a blessing for the nation to depose the current Emperor and install King of Chenliu as the new ruler."
At this declaration, silence fell over the room like a heavy shroud. Many officials lowered their heads, gripping the edges of their tables tightly in fear of speaking out. The atmosphere was so tense that it felt as if even air itself had come to a standstill.
Suddenly, a loud crash shattered this silence—one man sprang up from his seat and overturned his wine cup onto the floor. He strode boldly to the center of the banquet hall and pointed at Dong Zhuo, shouting angrily: "No! No! Dong Zhuo, who do you think you are to dare speak of deposing an Emperor? The Emperor is the legitimate son of the late sovereign; his foundation is solid and there are no faults in court! On what grounds do you claim he should be deposed? Are you attempting to usurp power for yourself?"
The ministers looked up to see that it was Ding Yuan, Governor of Jingzhou. Clad in military attire with piercing eyes that radiated an aura unafraid of death.
Dong Zhuo's cold smile vanished in an instant, replaced by icy fury. He slowly turned to face Ding Yuan, malice glinting in his eyes as he growled in a voice low enough to resemble a beast's roar: "Ding Yuan, are you challenging my authority?"
Ding Yuan stood firm without retreating a step; he advanced resolutely and met Dong Zhuo's gaze directly: "I challenge your arrogance that distorts truth and blurs right from wrong! Dong Zhuo, the Emperor is legitimate; if you depose him, you are nothing but a rebel! Today I stand here to see how you plan to carry out your treasonous scheme!"
Dong Zhuo's expression darkened further as he slowly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword; a chill crept into his voice: "Those who follow me shall live; those who oppose me shall die. Ding Yuan, I advise you to reconsider carefully; do not seek your own demise."
Ding Yuan let out a cold laugh, unfazed by the tension in the air. "Dong Zhuo, this world is not yours to dictate! If you dare to commit treason, you will be remembered for it for all eternity!"
As soon as his words fell, Dong Zhuo's hand gripped the hilt of his sword, his gaze sharp and focused on Ding Yuan, as if he would draw it at any moment. However, Li Ru, standing nearby, noticed a tall and formidable warrior behind Ding Yuan. Clad in heavy armor and wielding a Fangtian Halberd, the warrior exuded an imposing presence that seemed to promise bloodshed with just a slight movement. His aura was like a raging fire, suggesting that the entire Wen Ming Garden could descend into chaos at any moment.
Cold sweat beaded on Li Ru's forehead as he stepped forward and lowered his voice to Dong Zhuo. "My Lord, this is a banquet, not the place for political discussions. It would be better to leave this matter for tomorrow's court session, where we can decide on the fate of the throne without delay."
This statement served both as a reminder and a warning; Li Ru's eyes involuntarily flicked toward the warrior, already feeling a sense of caution.
Seeing the tense atmosphere among the officials, many stepped forward to mediate, whispering, "Ding Inspector, Dong Minister, please consider the greater good and calm your tempers."
Ding Yuan snorted dismissively, his gaze still filled with disdain. He declared loudly, "Dong Zhuo, if you truly had any self-awareness, you would understand how absurd your words about replacing the emperor are! Unfortunately, your ambition and recklessness are destined to drag the court into an abyss!"
Dong Zhuo's face darkened to an almost dripping intensity, but he managed to restrain himself. With the officials' persuasion, Ding Yuan finally retracted his spear and turned to leave. His imposing figure vanished beyond the tent flaps, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Dong Zhuo cast a cold glance at the officials, his eyes flashing like lightning. His voice was low yet powerful, as if each word carried immense weight. "Gentlemen, is there anything unreasonable in what I have said? How can a ruler without virtue protect our state? My words today are for the sake of the world!"
No official dared to speak up; they lowered their heads to avoid Dong Zhuo's piercing gaze. Just then, one person stood up—Lu Zhi. His expression was calm as he clasped his hands together and spoke with steady conviction. "Duke Dong, forgive my frankness; your statements may lack fairness."
Dong Zhuo furrowed his brow slightly and fixed his gaze on Lu Zhi while the surrounding ministers held their breath in fear of provoking this powerful warlord.
Lu Zhi paused briefly before sweeping his gaze across the room and continued. "Historically, when Tai Jia was incompetent and tyrannical, Yi Yin had no choice but to exile him to Tong Palace. The Prince of Changyi committed three thousand offenses within just twenty-seven days of ascending the throne; it was Huo Guang who petitioned for his removal. But what about our current emperor? Though young, he is kind-hearted and wise, with no faults to speak of and beloved by the people. You are merely a local inspector with no involvement in court affairs and lacking the virtue and talent of Yi Yin or Huo Guang; how can you casually propose replacing the emperor?"
His voice rang out clearly and powerfully, each word striking at Dong Zhuo's authority. The cold smile on Dong Zhuo's face began to freeze over as anger flickered in his darkened eyes. Slowly placing his hand back on the hilt of his sword, he spoke icily: "Lu Zhi, are you implying that I am unworthy of this task?"
Lu Zhi stood firm, his gaze fixed on Dong Zhuo. "The sage once said: 'If one has the ambition of Yi Yin, it is righteous; if one lacks the ambition of Yi Yin, it is usurpation.' Duke Dong, should you not reflect on whether you truly care for the world or merely seek to satisfy your own ambitions?"
A profound silence enveloped the room, even the sound of breathing seemed to vanish. Dong Zhuo's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword, the murderous intent nearly spilling over. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, as if he might draw his sword at any moment.
Dong Zhuo could no longer suppress his fury. He suddenly drew his sword and advanced, his voice booming like thunder. "Today, I shall slay this arrogant fool! Let’s see who dares to defy me!"
The officials around gasped in shock and hurriedly retreated. As the glint of the sword flashed, the councilor Peng Bo rushed forward, kneeling on the ground with urgency in his voice. "Honorable Duke, think twice! Minister Lu commands great respect among the people; if you kill him, it will surely cause upheaval across the land and even destabilize the military! I implore you, Honorable Duke, show mercy!"
Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo's gaze swept over Peng Bo and then around at the terrified officials. Finally, he snorted coldly and sheathed his sword. He muttered, "For your sakes today, I shall spare him. But matters of succession are no trivial matter. Now disperse!"
The officials retreated in trepidation as Dong Zhuo stood by the garden gate with his hand resting on his sword, his expression still dark and his eyes cold as a viper. Just as he was sneering to himself, he suddenly heard the sound of hooves outside—steady and powerful—accompanied by the metallic clashing of weapons. A burly warrior clad in heavy armor rode back and forth on horseback, wielding a Fangtian Halberd as if on guard.
Dong Zhuo frowned and turned to Li Ru. "Who is that?"
Li Ru's expression shifted slightly as he lowered his voice. "My Lord, that is Ding Yuan's sworn brother, Lü Bu, styled Fengxian. This man is unmatched in bravery and is known as a fierce tiger among men. His appearance now likely serves to intimidate us; my Lord should not act rashly."
Dong Zhuo regarded Lü Bu with a flicker of apprehension in his eyes. He snorted disdainfully and waved his hand dismissively. "It would be wise to avoid him for now; let’s see how long this fierce tiger can remain so arrogant."
With that, he turned and vanished into the shadows of the garden while Lü Bu lingered outside like an insurmountable barrier.
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