readytorunbook Chapter 184 Dong Zhuo's Crazy Burning of Luoyang
Chapter 184 Dong Zhuo's Crazy Burning of Luoyang
Cao Cao and Sun Jian were blocked in Xingyang when they suddenly received an urgent order from Yuan Shao. Driven by the tragic murder of his uncle, Yuan Wei, Yuan Shao, as leader of the alliance, issued a strict order for Cao Cao and Sun Jian to swiftly capture Xingyang. Though overwhelmed with frustration, Cao Cao and Sun Jian had no choice but to obey. They immediately mobilized their forces, sharpening their swords and preparing for a ferocious assault on Xingyang.
Duan Wei, who was in Xingyang City, had stopped discussing matters with Zhang Ji since receiving reinforcements from Luoyang. Upon discovering Cao Cao and Sun Jian were sending troops, Duan Wei took matters into his own hands and led his army out of the city to meet them.
Zhang Ji hurriedly intervened, saying, "General Duan, we must not rush into battle! The enemy is advancing with great force, and Cao Cao and Sun Jian are both formidable opponents. Going into battle now would be disastrous. We should take a long-term view and proceed with caution."
Duan Wei, however, was full of disdain and taunted, "Zhang Ji, how can you be so cowardly? Look at my awe-inspiring Western Liang cavalry, each one of them brave and skilled in battle, and will surely annihilate the enemy without a single piece of armor remaining. Our last defeat was simply due to being trapped at the city gates, unable to fully utilize our cavalry's superiority. This time, we will surely avenge our defeat. Don't try to stop us, or you'll be rude!" With that, he led his troops out of the city without looking back. Duan Wei attributed the previous defeat entirely to his own side, as the defenders, being trapped at the city gates, which prevented them from fully utilizing their cavalry's superiority. The arrival of numerous Western Liang cavalry from Luoyang this time gave him immense confidence, and he led them with high spirits, attempting to disperse the armies of Cao Cao and Sun Ce in one fell swoop.
Zhang Ji looked at Duan Wei's receding figure, feeling worried. He sighed deeply, "Alas, I'm afraid I'm going to be in trouble this time..."
After Duan Wei left the city, Jia Xu anxiously advised Zhang Ji, "General, Duan Wei is in great danger. We can't just sit there and wait for death. The situation is chaotic now, so we should make a decision soon!" Zhang Ji frowned, still hesitant. He paced back and forth, his face full of confusion and anxiety, muttering, "What...what should I do?"
On the battlefield, Duan Wei led the fierce Xiliang cavalry, charging like a raging torrent towards the camps of Sun Jian and Cao Cao. The sound of horse hooves was deafening like thunder, and the dust raised by them covered the sky. At first, the Xiliang troops were strong and their morale was high. Their spears formed a forest, and their swords gleamed with a cold light. Duan Wei, riding a tall warhorse, brandished his sword and shouted triumphantly, "My men, kill them! Show them the might of our Xiliang cavalry!"
However, both Sun Jian and Cao Cao were veterans of battle and possessed immense combat experience. They quickly reacted. Sun Jian roared and commanded his troops to re-form their formation, while Cao Cao calmly deployed his troops and quickly stabilized the position. Their armies launched an organized counterattack. Archers unleashed a volley of arrows, scattering like locusts at the Western Liang cavalry. The infantry, tightly arrayed in formation, spears thrust forward, resisted the cavalry's charge. The cavalry then swerved from the flanks, attempting to outflank the Western Liang army.
On Sun Jian's side, Sun Ce led the charge, spear in hand, galloping forward with unstoppable courage. Generals Han Dang, Cheng Pu, and Huang Gai also led their respective troops, valiantly fighting the enemy. Sun Ce, a young and energetic warrior with a shrewd spear, crushed the Western Liang soldiers wherever he went. Han Dang wielded his long sword, slashing left and right with unparalleled ferocity. Cheng Pu wielded his iron spear like a dragon emerging from the sea, his momentum unstoppable. Huang Gai, wielding twin whips, was fierce and fierce, displaying exceptional courage and valor.
Under Cao Cao's command, the brothers Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan led the charge. Xiahou Dun wielded his long sword with unparalleled bravery, while Xiahou Yuan shot his arrows with unerring accuracy. Generals like Li Dian and Le Jin also displayed their prowess, engaging in a desperate battle with the Xiliang troops.
For a time, the situation on the battlefield reversed, and the Xiliang army gradually fell into a disadvantage. Soldiers fell off their horses one after another, suffering heavy casualties.
Seeing this, Zhang Ji gritted his teeth and said, "Forget it, let's go!" He then led his men, along with their families, out of the city, carrying a mountain of gold and silver. Sun Jian and Cao Cao, assuming he was also leaving the city to aid the battle, quickly dispatched a detachment of elite troops, led by Xiahou Dun, to intercept them. This force, gleaming in armor and high in morale, quickly charged towards Zhang Ji's forces.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Ji's army had been planning this for a long time, preparing to break out. Zhang Ji personally led the troops, and his soldiers bravely charged forward like wolves and tigers, charging at the blocking enemy lines. The two sides engaged in close combat, their cries of battle resonating with the earth. Zhang Ji's men displayed incredible fighting prowess, breaking through the enemy lines with overwhelming force. However, Zhang Ji knew he could not afford to fight any longer; once entangled, he would be unable to escape. So, without further ado, he led his troops in a direct escape south.
Sun Jian and Cao Cao, however, were held back by Duan Wei's desperate troops, and the capture of Xingyang was their top priority. Furthermore, adhering to the principle of "don't pursue a desperate enemy," they worried that pursuing Zhang Ji would disperse their forces and give Xingyang's defense an opportunity to exploit. After weighing the pros and cons, they decided not to pursue him.
Duan Wei's troops gradually began to falter under the fierce attacks of the combined forces of Sun Jian and Cao Cao. Countless soldiers were killed and wounded, their blood staining the ground red. Duan Wei fought valiantly, hoping to turn the tide, but the tide was already lost. Ultimately, he was struck down from his horse by a spear from the valiant Sun Ce, and his entire army was completely annihilated, leaving no survivors.
After the capture of Xingyang, Cao Cao and Sun Jian did not dare to slack off in the slightest. They quickly reorganized their troops and sent a message to the coalition camp.
Afterwards, Cao Cao and Sun Jian led their high-spirited armies, advancing towards Luoyang in a mighty procession. The clatter of horses' hooves echoed like thunder, and flags fluttered in the wind. Their gazes were resolute, their hearts brimming with determination to defeat Dong Zhuo and save the Han Dynasty. They rode tirelessly, hoping to reach the gates of Luoyang as soon as possible.
When news of the fall of Xingyang reached Luoyang, Dong Zhuo was furious over Duan Wei's death and Zhang Ji's escape. His eyes widened, veins bulging on his forehead as he raged, "Zhang Ji deserves death! This cowardly scoundrel actually deserted the battlefield, putting our army in such a precarious position!" Dong Zhuo paced back and forth in the hall, his angry roars echoing through the palace, terrifying his courtiers, who trembled in fear, afraid to look up.
Seeing Dong Zhuo's fury, Li Ru hurried forward, anxiously admonishing him, "My lord, please calm your anger for now. The situation is critical. Xingyang has already fallen, and Cao Cao and Sun Jian are leading their highly motivated armies towards Luoyang. Luoyang is in tatters and cannot be defended any longer. We must quickly send word to Lü Bu and Xu Rong to return to Luoyang. Order them to abandon Hulao Pass and immediately intercept Cao Cao and Sun Jian's pursuing forces. We must not allow the enemy to advance directly. Should we follow the plan we discussed earlier and take Emperor Liu Xie hostage to Chang'an to secure a retreat?"
After careful consideration, Dong Zhuo ultimately adopted Li Ru's suggestion. He immediately dispatched a swift messenger, commanding Xu Rong and Lü Bu to abandon Hulao Pass and return to Luoyang with all their might, with the utmost determination to stop the pursuing forces of Cao Cao and Sun Jian. With a sullen expression, he ordered his Western Liang soldiers to relocate all civil and military officials in Luoyang, along with their families and the city's wealthy residents, to Chang'an.
Upon receiving the order, the Xiliang soldiers, like those in a pre-apocalyptic revelry, completely lost their composure. They showed no respect for the civil and military officials, shouting and driving them away with impunity. The officials, usually aloof and regal, were now left utterly bewildered and trembling under the Xiliang soldiers' brutal treatment. The civilians in the city suffered even more, as these wolf-like Xiliang soldiers burned, murdered, and looted with impunity. Houses were set ablaze, their property was plundered, and any resistance met with slaughter. The streets were filled with cries and pleas for mercy.
Upon receiving the order, Xu Rong was filled with anxiety. Worried about Dong Zhuo's safety in Luoyang, he knew the situation was urgent and could not afford any delay. Therefore, he set up a false formation at Hulao Pass to confuse the enemy. Then, he and Lü Bu split their forces. He earnestly urged Lü Bu to lead part of his troops to block Cao Cao and Sun Jian's forces, while he himself led the Xiliang cavalry to anxiously protect Dong Zhuo.
Lü Bu, leading the formidable Bingzhou army, charged fiercely into battle, confronting the armies of Cao Cao and Sun Jian. However, Cao and Sun's forces were high in morale, fighting valiantly and employing sophisticated tactics. Lü Bu's forces gradually became overwhelmed and fell into a difficult situation. After several fierce attacks, Lü Bu's troops suffered heavy casualties and were ultimately defeated. Seeing the situation looming, Lü Bu acted decisively, seizing the opportunity to flee and pursue Dong Zhuo's forces.
Dong Zhuo did not blame Lu Bu too much for his defeat, because the series of defeats had made Dong Zhuo lose his mind. Lu Bu had surrendered not long ago, and it was not easy for him to stay with him at this moment.
During this chaotic period, Lü Bu took advantage of the night to survey Dong Zhuo's camp from afar. He realized that Dong Zhuo's mighty power was on the verge of collapse and that he could no longer rely on him. He knew that continuing to follow Dong Zhuo would lead to a hopeless future, so he began to consider finding another way out.
Dong Zhuo, realizing the situation was hopeless, hurriedly ordered his army, along with all the civil and military officials, the emperor Liu Xie, and the imperial concubines, to march towards Chang'an. Dong Zhuo then ordered the burning of Luoyang. Li Ru remonstrated, "My lord, this is absolutely forbidden. If you burn Luoyang now, you will be condemned for eternity." Dong Zhuo, however, declared, "You all oppose me. If I cannot defend it, no one else can."
With that, Dong Zhuo ignored Li Ru's dissuasion and, with a single command, launched countless torches into the city. Instantly, Luoyang was engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing and flames shooting skyward. Palaces, streets, and homes all groaned in the blaze. The people wailed and ran, the scene heartbreaking.