Volume One: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss Chapter Thirty-Four: Sun Jian Dies, and the Alliance Falls Apart

Watching Sun Jian’s departing back, a flash of murderous intent flickered in Yuan Shao’s eyes. He knew that with the Imperial Seal now in Sun Jian’s possession, he would never remain in Luoyang, a place of such volatility.

Sure enough, the very next day, Sun Jian requested leave from Yuan Shao, citing that "Jiangdong is unstable and requires immediate suppression." Although Yuan Shao understood the true motive, Sun Jian was leaving in a legitimate manner, and bound by his earlier solemn oath, Yuan Shao could find no pretext to forcibly detain him. He could only grant the departure with a darkened face.

Sun Jian immediately assembled his Jiangdong troops. After resting for a day, he broke camp without a hint of reluctance and galloped toward Jingzhou, intending to pass through the territory to return to Jiangdong.

Standing before his own tent, Liu Heng watched the dust clouds kicked up by Sun Jian’s retreating army. Beside him, Jia Xu whispered, "My Lord, following the Imperial Seal incident, Sun Wentai swore a heaven-defying oath the day before yesterday, and today he leads his troops away... This coalition is likely to fall apart completely."

Liu Heng gave a cold laugh. "This is the beginning of the chaos. I fear Sun Wentai’s journey will be fraught with peril."

Sun Jian’s path home was destined to be a bloody one.

He was desperate to return to his base in Jiangdong, and carrying the scorching-hot Imperial Seal, he marched with great haste. Despite his tight security, he ultimately overlooked one factor: Liu Biao of Jingzhou. This Han imperial kinsman and Governor of Jingzhou, based in Xiangyang, had long since received a secret letter from Luoyang.

In the letter, although Yuan Shao did not explicitly mention the Imperial Seal, he vehemently described Sun Jian as overbearing and treacherous in Luoyang, accusing him of hiding precious treasures and harboring resentment against the imperial court. He warned that Sun Jian might use his army to assert his own power and cause local disorder, urging Liu Biao to "act with discretion to secure the state."

Liu Biao already held a grudge against Sun Jian for the previous killing of one of his generals. Now, spurred by Yuan Shao’s insinuations and the local Jingzhou gentry's inherent dislike for an outsider and brute like Sun Jian, his mind was made up.

Thus, when Sun Jian’s main force reached the borders of Jingzhou, near Mount Xian, Liu Biao’s general Huang Zu had already laid an ambush in the treacherous terrain.

As the vanguard of the Jiangdong army entered the narrow mountain pass, the shrill sound of wooden clappers erupted from the dense forests on both sides!

"Fire!" Huang Zu commanded.

In an instant, arrows poured down from the mountain heights like a swarm of locusts! Like a sudden, torrential downpour, they blanketed the entire mountain path. The Jiangdong troops, caught off guard, were thrown into chaos; men and horses fell, and cries of agony filled the air.

"An ambush! Protect the Lord!" Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and the other generals roared with bloodshot eyes, brandishing their weapons to desperately deflect the arrows and shield Sun Jian.

Sun Jian was both shocked and enraged. He drew his sword and bellowed, "Liu Jingsheng! How dare you do this!"

He attempted to organize a counterattack, but the terrain was too unfavorable. The enemy held the high ground, and the rain of arrows was relentless. In the midst of the carnage, a single, vicious arrow pierced through the guard of his soldiers and struck Sun Jian squarely in the chest.

"Ugh!" Sun Jian’s body jerked violently. He looked down in disbelief at the arrowhead protruding from his chest; a wave of sharp pain and cold weakness swept through him. Several more arrows struck him in succession. His body swayed, and the Ancient Ingot Blade in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.

"My Lord!" Cheng Pu and Huang Gai let out heart-wrenching cries and lunged toward him, heedless of their own lives.

Sun Jian’s vision darkened. He gazed toward the direction of Jiangdong, his eyes filled with bitterness and hatred, before he finally collapsed. The Tiger of Jiangdong had met his end beneath a hail of arrows on an anonymous mountain road.

The Imperial Seal, hidden in the arms of his personal guards, vanished without a trace along with the defeat of the army and the death of its commander.

When the news of Sun Jian’s death reached the coalition camp in Luoyang, the warlords were thrown into an uproar once again. Inside the central command tent, the atmosphere was even heavier and more bizarre than when Sun Jian had left.

Yuan Shao slapped the table and stood up, his face full of "grief and indignation." "Liu Jingsheng dares to kill an official of the imperial court and ambush a hero who fought against Dong Zhuo! This is an act of treason! As the alliance leader, I order an immediate march to punish Liu Biao and avenge Sun Wentai!"

He spoke with high-sounding rhetoric, aiming his spearhead at Liu Biao as if he had completely forgotten his own earlier suspicions and that secret letter.

However, there were few who responded.

Yuan Shu was the first to jump out in opposition. His face was gloomy, his eyes shimmering with greed for the whereabouts of the Imperial Seal and wariness of Yuan Shao’s ambition. "The Alliance Leader is wrong! While Sun Wentai’s death is heartbreaking, he ignored advice and led his troops away from the camp without authorization. Passing through another’s territory inevitably causes misunderstandings! Moreover, Sun Wentai swore an oath the day before yesterday; now that he is dead, does this not confirm that he was hiding the Seal?"

Kong Rong also stood up and said, "General Gonglu’s words are reasonable. The top priority remains pursuing the national traitor Dong Zhuo and rescuing the Emperor! How can we abandon public justice for personal grudges and turn to attack Liu Jingsheng, who is also a servant of the Han? This would only pain our friends and gladden our enemies!"

Other warlords, such as Liu Dai and Wang Kuang, echoed the sentiments of Yuan Shu and Kong Rong. They were already weary of war and even more afraid that Yuan Shao would use this opportunity to annex them.

Sun Jian was dead, the Imperial Seal was missing, and now they were to fight Liu Biao? Who would be willing to exhaust their own troops in such internecine strife? Besides, Dong Zhuo was still to the west!

"Wenju’s words are sound! Dong the traitor is not yet destroyed; how can we fight among ourselves?"

"Governor Sun left the camp without leave; he was also at fault..."

"The priority is to march west to Tong Pass!"

The tent was filled with noise; almost all the warlords opposed attacking Liu Biao at this time, insisting on continuing the march west to crush Dong Zhuo.

Yuan Shao’s face turned livid. He had not expected his authority as alliance leader to be so fragile following Sun Jian’s death and the lure of the Imperial Seal. He looked toward Cao Cao and Liu Heng, who had remained silent.

Cao Cao stood up, his voice somber and calm. "The truth about the Imperial Seal remains unknown. Brother Wentai was loyal and brave; his tragic death is a deep sorrow to me as well! However, Dong Zhuo burned the imperial capital and abducted the Emperor—his crimes are monstrous! This is a national vendetta! The rift between Governor Liu and Brother Wentai is a private grudge! How can we ignore the national tragedy for the sake of a private feud? I believe we should concentrate all our strength to quickly break through Tong Pass, slay the traitor Dong, and welcome back the Emperor! Once the state is stable, it will not be too late to discuss the matter of Governor Liu."

He clearly signaled his support for the western campaign, firmly seizing the moral high ground.

Everyone’s gaze eventually fell upon Liu Heng. As a kinsman of the Han who controlled Tong Pass and had recently absorbed Zhang Ji and Jia Xu, his attitude was of paramount importance.

Liu Heng stood up slowly, his eyes sweeping over the bickering warlords before settling on Yuan Shao’s face, which was twisted with anger and loss. "Lord Mengde’s words are those of a statesman! Dong Zhuo is a traitor to the nation! He killed the monarch, poisoned the Empress, burned the ancestral temples, and plundered the people—his crimes are too numerous to record! This hatred is irreconcilable! While General Sun Wentai’s death must be avenged, it is a private matter and cannot be mentioned in the same breath as the national traitor. Furthermore, the rights and wrongs regarding Governor Liu will be judged by the imperial court in due time. At this moment, our coalition of over a hundred thousand troops lingers in Luoyang, watching Dong Zhuo cling to life at Tong Pass, while we contemplate turning south to fight over private grievances—would this not make the world laugh at us and let the traitor Dong rejoice?"

He paused. "I have received the edict to oversee the military affairs of the Three Prefectures. The garrison at Tong Pass, including Xu Huang and Liang Yan, all follow my commands! I propose that the entire army prepare immediately. In three days, we shall break camp, march west, and strike directly at Tong Pass! We will coordinate with the garrison inside to crush Dong Zhuo from both sides!"

Liu Heng’s words were resonant and powerful!

Yuan Shao’s face turned from red to white. He was trembling with rage but could not utter a single word. The strength and authority Liu Heng displayed at that moment made him, the alliance leader, look insignificant.

Cao Cao’s eyes burned with intensity as he took the lead, cupping his hands. "I am willing to lead my troops with the Marquis of Yangwu to strike Dong Zhuo!"

Yuan Shao’s face was ashen. His authority, already severely crippled by the Sun Jian incident, was now being crushed by Liu Heng’s dominant stance in public, and he was nearly losing his composure. It wasn't that he truly wanted to attack Liu Biao; what he cared about was the attitude of others. How could his influence as alliance leader be inferior to Liu Heng’s?

"Good! A fine Marquis of Yangwu indeed!"

Yuan Shao stood up abruptly, his voice distorted by agitation. "A fine 'overseer of military affairs'! A fine 'all garrisons follow my orders'! It seems that for this great cause of punishing Dong, the Marquis of Yangwu alone is enough! I, the Alliance Leader, have become redundant!"

He looked around the tent at the warlords who were either looking down, avoiding his gaze, or clearly supporting Liu Heng.

"Since the Marquis of Yangwu has decided to march west and command the three armies, my presence here only invites disdain!" Yuan Shao’s voice rose sharply. "I, Benchu, am incompetent and have failed the trust of you all! From this day forth, I resign my position as Alliance Leader! My Bohai troops will break camp and return home today! I entrust the great task of punishing the traitor Dong and rescuing the Emperor to the Marquis of Yangwu and all you loyal and righteous men!"

With that, he swung his sleeves and, without looking at anyone, strode out of the central tent with his trusted advisors Xu You and Feng Ji!

Yuan Shao’s sudden outburst and announcement of withdrawal were like a bombshell dropped in the tent.

"Alliance Leader!"

"Brother Benchu!"

Several cries of alarm rang out, but Yuan Shao’s pace did not falter.

Yuan Shu watched his brother’s angry departure, stunned for a moment before jumping up, his face filled with feigned regret. "Sigh! Why must my brother be so impulsive! With a great enemy before us, how can he act on emotion? Very well, since my brother insists on returning to Bohai, I, Gonglu, must also return to Nanyang to reorganize my troops and secure grain for future needs! Gentlemen, I shall take my leave first!"

He gave a perfunctory salute and hurried away with his generals like Ji Ling, fearful that if he stayed, Liu Heng would conscript him into a suicide mission at Tong Pass.

With the two giants, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, having exited, it was as if the pillars of the alliance had been pulled out. Kong Rong, Wang Kuang, and the others looked at each other, their faces showing clear intent to retreat. The precedent of Sun Jian was right before their eyes, the Seal incident remained unresolved, and now the Yuan brothers had abandoned the mission. To follow Liu Heng to challenge Dong Zhuo at Tong Pass? The risks were too high, and the rewards unclear!

"Ahem."

Liu Dai was the first to cough, standing up to cup his hands toward Liu Heng and Cao Cao. "Marquis of Yangwu, Lord Mengde, the traitor Dong is in a desperate situation; his destruction is imminent now that he is blocked at Tong Pass. However, Yanzhou borders Qing and Xu, and the remnants of the Yellow Turbans rise up from time to time. The province is unstable, and as Governor, I have an inescapable duty to return and suppress them. I shall leave the great cause of punishing Dong to you all!"

The excuse was high-sounding, but his speed in slipping away was faster than anyone else’s.

Kong Rong, Wang Kuang, and others followed suit, either citing instability in their provinces or a lack of grain as reasons to bid farewell to Liu Heng and Cao Cao.

In the blink of an eye, the vast central tent, once filled with warlords, was left with only a handful of men.

Liu Heng watched all this with an expressionless face, his heart undisturbed. He had long anticipated the disintegration of the alliance, and the departure of the Yuan brothers had only cleared away the obstacles. He did not need a mob of people with ulterior motives.

Those who remained were Cao Cao, whose eyes were firm and who had always supported the western march; the stern-faced Gongsun Zan; and Liu Bei, who stood with his brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, his expression resolute.

"Good!"

Liu Heng’s voice broke the silence in the tent. He looked at those present, his face showing a sincere and solemn expression. "A gale reveals the strength of the grass; turbulent times identify loyal ministers! Brother Mengde, Brother Bo-gui, Brother Xuande! With the nation in crisis, the traitors unpunished, and the Emperor shrouded in dust, only you have not forgotten the original intent of punishing the traitors and are willing to risk danger with me! This sentiment and loyalty, I, Liu Heng, will keep in my heart!"

He walked to the map and pointed heavily at the route between Luoyang and Tong Pass. "Dong Zhuo burned Luoyang and drove the people west; his actions have incurred the wrath of heaven and man! His troops are burdened by the masses and their morale is low, yet a trapped beast still struggles! With the natural barrier of Tong Pass in front and our pursuing army behind, he will surely fight a desperate battle! Though our troops are elite, our numbers are much lower than before. This journey will be fraught with hardship and bitter battles!"

Liu Heng’s gaze swept over Cao Cao, Gongsun Zan, and Liu Bei, carrying both a question and undeniable resolve. "I intend to integrate the surrendered Xiliang troops of Zhang Ji, combine them with your forces, and travel light and fast, day and night, to strike directly at Tong Pass! While Dong Zhuo’s morale is shattered and he has not yet established a firm footing, we shall coordinate with Xu Huang and Liang Yan to deliver a fatal blow! What do you three think?"

The fires of battle burned in Cao Cao’s eyes as he clapped his hands. "Brother Boyu’s words match my intent perfectly! Speed is the essence of war; we must crush the enemy’s courage with the force of a thunderbolt! I am willing to lead my troops as the vanguard!"

Gongsun Zan gave a cold hum, his demeanor carrying the ruggedness typical of border troops. "Dong the traitor has acted recklessly and poisoned the Central Plains. My White Horse Profound Riders have long wanted to meet his Xiliang Iron Cavalry! Marquis of Yangwu, I await your command!"

Liu Bei said with great passion, "Although my troops are few and my generals are limited, my heart to punish the traitor is as clear as the sun and moon! I am willing to follow you, Brother Boyu, Brother Mengde, and Brother Bogui, to slay the national traitor, and I would not flinch even at the cost of my life! Yunchang and Yide are also ready to give their all!"

"Good!"

Liu Heng was energized. He slammed his fist onto the table. "With your vigorous support, how can the traitor Dong not be destroyed! Brother Mengde, lead your troops as the vanguard; Brother Bogui, take the left flank; Brother Xuande, oversee the grain transport; and I shall lead Zhang Ji’s troops on the right. Everyone, prepare immediately, and at dawn tomorrow, we break camp and set off!"

...

April, the first year of Chuping, Tong Pass. This majestic fortress, which guarded the throat of the Guanzhong region, stood in silent, towering silence, like the rugged, exposed spine of the earth.

Before the pass lay a wide, flat valley, now covered by a black tide—the Xiliang army under Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo’s massive frame stood on his chariot, his eyes fixed on the tightly shut gates of Tong Pass, and even more so on the flag bearing the character "Xu" that danced wildly in the morning wind atop the gate.

"Xu Huang!" Dong Zhuo spat the name through gritted teeth. "A mere nobody, how dare he block my path home!"

Beside him, Li Jue hung his head in silence. As the vanguard, he had been defeated twice in a row by Xu Huang beneath Tong Pass. It was not until Dong Zhuo’s rear guard arrived that the pass remained unbreached. Having been berated by Dong Zhuo, he dared not provoke his wrath further now.

Dong Zhuo turned his head abruptly, his gaze sweeping over the officers surrounding him before finally landing on a magnificent figure wearing a golden crown with bound hair. "Fengxian, my son!"

Hearing his name, Lu Bu spurred his Red Hare horse and stepped forward.

"Adoptive Father," Lu Bu’s voice was clear.

Dong Zhuo pointed a finger fiercely at the fortress wall. "Go! Smash open that door for me! Bring me the head of that Xu Huang!"

In his rage, spittle flew from his mouth.

"Yes!"

Lu Bu’s response was like thunder. Instead of leading an army to attack the walls, he clamped his legs around his horse’s belly. The Red Hare let out a long neigh and galloped across the front of the Xiliang formation, charging straight toward the pass.

"Xu Huang! Do you dare come out of the pass and fight me!"