northernbook Chapter 25 Dong Zhuo: I, the Prime Minister, spared his life, so why should Hua Xiong be allowed to
Chapter 25 Dong Zhuo: I, the Prime Minister, spared his life, so why should Hua Xiong be allowed to
汜水关
Upon learning of Hua Xiong's death in battle, Hu Zhen, Li Su, and Zhao Cen dared not delay and immediately sent someone to Luoyang to report the battle situation to Dong Zhuo.
Subsequently.
The three men reinforced the defenses of Sishui Pass to prevent the allied forces from taking the opportunity to attack Sishui.
Luoyang
Prime Minister's Mansion
Dong Zhuo, who was fat and had a waist, weighing nearly 250 jin, was sitting on a huge folding chair.
Beside him were two maids who had been stripped naked.
Just as Dong Zhuo was about to reach out his lecherous hand, Li Ru's cough came from outside.
A hint of impatience flashed across Dong Zhuo's brows, but he still put on his clothes and went to sit in the main hall.
Li Ru was the chief strategist of the Xiliang army and also Dong Zhuo's eldest son-in-law.
Li Ru played an indispensable role in Dong Zhuo's successful entry into the capital.
Moreover, Dong Zhuo understood that Li Ru's personal visit to the Prime Minister's residence meant that the matter he wanted to discuss was certainly not insignificant.
otherwise.
If it were anyone else, even Lü Bu, who had disturbed Dong Zhuo's mood, Dong Zhuo would definitely have given them a severe scolding!
Li Ru was nearly forty years old, dressed in a gray linen robe, and his body did not look very robust.
Upon seeing Li Ru arrive, Dong Zhuo asked with concern:
"Wenyou, please take a seat quickly."
Li Ru waved his hand and reported:
"Father-in-law, a battle report has come from the direction of Sishui Pass. That scoundrel Hua Xiong is leading the Xiliang cavalry to the allied camp to provoke the various warlords."
"He first beheaded Yu She, a general under Yuan Shu, and then defeated a general named Zhang Fei."
"But unexpectedly, he was ambushed and killed by a junior general under Cao Cao!"
"That young general's name is Zhao Yun."
"boom!"
The words hadn't even finished being spoken.
Dong Zhuo's eyes widened in fury, and his fleshy face trembled.
Enraged, he kicked forward, and the sturdy table instantly overturned to the ground.
"Father-in-law, please calm down!"
Li Ru quickly tried to comfort Dong Zhuo.
But in his heart, he was utterly speechless at Hua Xiong's death.
With tens of thousands of troops, instead of properly guarding Sishui Pass, they insisted on provoking the allied forces at their doorstep.
And so, outmatched, he died!
All I can say is, he deserved it!
But Hua Xiong closed his eyes and died, so be it.
The mess left behind is difficult to clean up!
Dong Zhuo smashed the tables, chairs, and vases in the hall.
After Dong Zhuo finished venting his anger, Li Ru said with a grave expression:
"My lord, it seems unlikely that we can achieve anything further at Sishui Pass."
"But the walls of Sishui Pass are high and the fortifications are strong. Unless the allied forces deploy a large number of soldiers, they will not be able to conquer it in a short period of time."
"There are many intelligent people among the allied forces."
"A desperate fight at Sishui Pass would not benefit the Allied forces."
"I'm afraid the allied forces will turn their attention to Hulao Pass next!"
Two major passes guard the capital city of Luoyang to the east.
These are Sishui Pass and Hulao Pass.
The difference is that Hulao Pass is closer to Luoyang.
Even if we don't capture Sishui Pass, it doesn't matter as long as we break through Hulao Pass.
What is the significance of Sishui Pass?
Its purpose is to tie down the coalition forces.
Although the allied forces did not need to conquer Sishui Pass.
However, no one could guarantee that the garrison inside Sishui Pass would not launch a pincer attack when Hulao Pass was attacked.
Hulao Pass is different.
Once Hulao Pass is captured by the allied forces, the area around Luoyang will be flat and indefensible.
After listening to Li Ru's analysis, Dong Zhuo nodded repeatedly on his thick neck.
After entering Luoyang, Dong Zhuo became much more corrupt due to his extravagant lifestyle of drinking and feasting.
However, Dong Zhuo had not completely lost the rich combat experience he had accumulated in the past.
With Hua Xiong dead, Hulao Pass became the most important pass from then on!
"Wenyou, in your opinion, who should be entrusted with guarding Hulao Pass?"
Dong Zhuo asked Li Ru a question.
Li Ru answered without hesitation:
"Your Excellency Father-in-law, Hulao Pass should be personally guarded by you."
"In this way, our soldiers can muster their strength to fight against the bandits in Guandong!"
Upon hearing this, hesitation appeared in Dong Zhuo's eyes.
Hulao Pass is very close to Luoyang, but no matter how close it is, it is still the front line.
Going to the front lines means that the life of luxury and indulgence will be gone.
For Dong Zhuo, this was worse than killing him!
The saying goes well.
From frugality to luxury is easy, from luxury to frugality.
Dong Zhuo was blinded by the decadent lifestyle.
The moment the topic of going to the battlefield came up, his instinctive reaction was that he didn't want to go.
Li Ru took in Dong Zhuo's expression.
He shook his head helplessly.
Once upon a time, Dong Zhongying, the hero of Xiliang who roamed the world, actually became someone who was afraid to go to the battlefield!
As the chief strategist of the Xiliang army and Dong Zhuo's eldest daughter's son-in-law, Li Ru felt very uncomfortable and had an indescribable sense of frustration.
A full minute passed.
As if after a struggle with his thoughts, Dong Zhuo slowly spoke:
"In that case, I, the Prime Minister, will personally lead elite troops to garrison Hulao Pass."
Li Ru finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But no matter how much he tries to convince himself, he can't deny it.
My father-in-law, Dong Zhuo, is no longer the hero who had the world in his heart before he entered the capital!
……
For Dong Zhuo, as the leader of the Xiliang army and the prime minister of the court, to lead an expedition to Hulao Pass was no small matter.
Generals from Bingzhou and Xiliang, such as Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, and Zhang Ji, naturally followed closely by Dong Zhuo's side.
However, within Dong Zhuo's army, the conflicts between Lü Bu, Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, Zhang Ji, and others, due to the distribution of benefits, gradually reached a fever pitch.
Upon hearing the news of Hua Xiong's death in battle, Lü Bu laughed heartily, mocking Hua Xiong's incompetence.
Did Lü Bu have the right to mock Hua Xiong?
Of course he does.
After all, Hua Xiong had once provoked Lü Bu, but was beaten so badly by Lü Bu that even his own mother almost didn't recognize him.
But no matter what, Hua Xiong was a direct descendant of the Western Liang.
Lu Bu, a member of the Bingzhou faction, is mocking Hua Xiong, who has already died in battle. This is practically slapping the face of the Xiliang direct line!
Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, and Zhang Ji set up an ambush, planning to beat up Lü Bu on Yudao Street and make him lose face.
Unexpectedly, Lü Bu not only dealt with the four of them, but also injured many of the Xiliang elite soldiers.
None of the four of them had ever suffered such injustice.
They arrived at the Prime Minister's residence in tears, seeking to complain to Dong Zhuo.
Regardless of the true intentions and abilities of Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, and Zhang Ji.
Those four were Dong Zhuo's true loyalists and confidants.
As an outsider from Bingzhou, Lü Bu was definitely not going to have the upper hand.
Just as Dong Zhuo was about to punish Lü Bu and avenge Li Jue and the other three, Li Ru quickly grabbed Dong Zhuo and whispered something in his ear.
Dong Zhuo then turned his anger into a smile, and instead of punishing Lü Bu, he showed him some concern.
People are facing forward.
Lü Bu was Dong Zhuo's most powerful general.
With the Battle of Hulao Pass imminent, it was natural not to let him become disloyal.
But this scene was viewed very differently by Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, and Zhang Ji.
The four dared not harbor resentment towards Dong Zhuo.
Naturally, this hatred was transferred to Lü Bu in an even more intense way!
……