Chapter 6: Burning The Capital, Dong Zhuo Commits An Atrocity; Hiding The Imperial Hereditary Seal, Sun Jian Breaks Faith

Zhang Fei charged the Pass, but a hail of stones and arrows forced him to retreat. The eight lords praised the three brothers for their efforts, and the victory news reached Yuan Shao, who ordered Sun Jian to advance.

Sun Jian, accompanied by his generals Cheng Pu and Huang Gai, went to Yuan Shu’s camp. Frustrated, Sun Jian confronted Yuan Shu, “I had no quarrel with Dong Zhuo, yet I risked everything to rid the country of him for your family’s sake. You, however, withheld supplies, leading to my defeat. How do you explain this?”

Yuan Shu, scared and speechless, ordered the execution of the slanderer to appease Sun Jian.

Suddenly, Sun Jian was informed that an officer had arrived from the Pass. Returning to his camp, Sun Jian met Li Jue, one of Dong Zhuo’s commanders.

Li Jue said, “My master respects you and proposes a marriage alliance between our families.”

Sun Jian furiously replied, “Dong Zhuo is a rebel! I will never ally with him. Yield the Pass, or I’ll crush you all!” Li Jue fled and reported back to Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo consulted his adviser, Li Ru, who suggested moving the Emperor to Changan, citing an ancient prophecy about the city. Dong Zhuo was pleased and, with Lu Bu, left for Luoyang.

In the palace, Dong Zhuo announced the court’s relocation to Changan. Minister Yang Biao protested, citing the destruction in Changan. Grand Commander Huang Wan supported him, warning about the devastation caused by rebels in the past. Dong Zhuo dismissed them, declaring Changan better protected and fit for rebuilding.

Minister Xun Shuang also protested, but Dong Zhuo ignored him. The three officials were demoted, and Dong Zhuo ordered the relocation. Zhou Bi and Wu Qiong tried to dissuade him but were executed for their opposition. The command to move was issued.

Li Ru suggested plundering the wealthy of Luoyang for resources, and Dong Zhuo sent troops to do so, killing thousands and seizing their properties. Two commanders, Li Jue and Guo Si, were tasked with driving millions of citizens toward Changan, leading to countless deaths and atrocities along the way.

Before leaving, Dong Zhuo ordered Luoyang burned to the ground, leaving nothing but ashes. He also had Lu Bu desecrate imperial tombs for treasure. With loot and the Emperor, Dong Zhuo moved to Changan in AD 190. The allied lords, including Liu Bei and his brothers, seized key positions left behind, preparing for the next phase.

Sun Jian arrived at the devastated capital, enveloped in dense smoke that stretched for miles. Not a soul, not even a stray animal, remained. He commanded his troops to extinguish the flames and establish camps for the allied lords.

Cao Cao sought out Yuan Shao. “Dong Zhuo has fled west. We must pursue him immediately and strike his rear!” he urged.

“Our forces are exhausted, and there’s little to gain,” Yuan Shao replied.

Cao Cao countered, “Amidst this chaos—palaces burned, the Emperor abducted—we have a chance to eliminate Dong Zhuo with one decisive blow. Why hesitate?”

The lords, however, unanimously delayed action. Frustrated, Cao Cao declared, “These men are unworthy of great plans!” and set out with his six generals and 10,000 troops to chase Dong Zhuo.

The pursuit led them through Yingyang, where Dong Zhuo’s adviser, Li Ru, devised a trap. He instructed Governor Xu Rong to ambush Cao Cao’s army from the rear once Lu Bu’s forces had engaged them.

When the two sides met, Cao Cao called out, “Rebels and kidnappers, where will you run?”

Lu Bu sneered, “Fool! Such arrogance!” He charged, supported by flanking attacks from Li Ru and Guo Si. Despite valiant efforts, Cao Cao’s forces were overwhelmed and retreated to Yingyang.

By nightfall, they reached a hill and paused to regroup. While preparing a meal under the moonlight, Xu Rong’s ambush struck. Chaos erupted. Cao Cao, injured by an arrow, fled but was soon captured. At that critical moment, his loyal general Cao Hong charged in, slaying the captors and rescuing him.

Cao Cao protested, “Leave me! Save yourself!”

“My lord, the world needs you, not me!” Cao Hong insisted, giving Cao Cao his horse. On foot, Hong guarded his wounded lord as they pressed on, dodging arrows and hiding by a stream. Pursuers closed in, but just as hope dimmed, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan arrived, defeating Xu Rong and driving off his troops. Reunited, the battered army returned to Luoyang.

Back in the capital, Sun Jian extinguished the remaining fires and began restoring order. While camping near the Dynastic Temple, a soldier spotted a strange glow rising from a well. Investigating, they recovered the jade Imperial Seal, an artifact of immense power. Sun Jian showed it to his advisor Cheng Pu, who recounted its storied history and advised him to return south to secure his position.

Sun Jian resolved to keep the seal a secret, but a treacherous soldier revealed the discovery to Yuan Shao. Confronted the next morning, Sun Jian swore an oath denying possession of the seal. Though the lords believed his words, tensions escalated, and Sun Jian withdrew to Changsha.

Meanwhile, Yuan Shao conspired to stop Sun Jian, sending a letter to Liu Biao, the Imperial Protector of Jingzhou. Liu Biao’s forces intercepted Sun Jian on his journey south, demanding the seal’s surrender. A fierce skirmish ensued. Sun Jian’s general, Huang Gai, defeated Cai Mao in single combat, breaking through the blockade. But Liu Biao himself appeared with reinforcements, accusing Sun Jian of treachery.

Sun Jian protested, “I swear, if I possess this seal, may I meet a violent end!” Liu Biao demanded to search his belongings, but Sun Jian refused and forced his way through. Yet another ambush awaited him on the road ahead.