Chapter 38

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The Hulao Pass has been taken, and it’s clear to everyone with eyes that Dong Zhuo has abandoned it. But in Yuan Shao’s eyes, it’s all his achievement! Regardless of why Dong Zhuo abandoned Hulao Pass, the fact is that I, Yuan Shao, have taken it.

With the success of the royal rescue mission almost within reach and the great merit almost in hand, Yuan Shao waved his hand and threw all his efforts into taking Luoyang to complete this grand mission!

The allied forces moved quickly, and with the incentives of money and the threat of punishment, the speed of the troops was simply astonishing.

Liu Bei listened to Chen Xi’s strategy and leisurely trailed behind the allied forces. Similarly, Cao Cao was also barely hanging on at the back. Smart people knew that Luoyang was definitely in danger, but most were blinded by the bright future ahead, unable to see the corpses lying ahead.

Luoyang was burning, and the screams and cries could be heard from miles away. Chen Xi looked in the direction of Luoyang with great sorrow, thinking that the vanguard troops that entered first were probably already mostly burned.

"De Mou, over here!" Sun Jian shouted loudly to Cheng Pu. They had just entered Luoyang and hadn’t even started looting when they heard someone shouting about a fire. He immediately felt something was wrong. Soon, the entire Luoyang was engulfed in flames, and it was clear to even a fool that they had been tricked. Clearly, it was now impossible for him to retreat.

" Gong Fu, Yi Gong, go!" Cheng Pu waved his iron-spined snake spear, and the powerful aura suppressed the surrounding flames. However, he soon felt dizzy as the flames consumed a large amount of oxygen, which was more critical for warriors like them, causing them to feel the discomfort earlier.

Huang Gai and Han Dang did not hesitate, following Cheng Pu and rushing down the path where the flames had been suppressed.

"Quickly, put out the fire!" Yuan Shao frantically commanded his subordinates. He never expected Dong Zhuo to be so疯狂, actually setting fire to the capital!

With the efforts of tens of thousands of soldiers, they finally managed to control part of the fire, but most of Luoyang was already burned to the ground. Looking at the ruins and the smoke, Chen Xi felt the cruelty of this era for the first time.

"Ah~" Chen Xi sighed. He had tried to make it rain from the sky, but there wasn’t even a trace of moisture in the air. He could only watch helplessly as Luoyang burned to ruins. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to save it, but he lacked the ability. The allied forces of the warlords had the capability, but they weren’t his.

"Zi Chuan, can you understand how I feel now?" Liu Bei’s face was filled with grief and anger after entering Luoyang. "This is the capital, the capital of our Han dynasty. How dare Dong Zhuo do this!" Liu Bei’s voice echoed in Chen Xi’s ears.

"Yes, this is the capital of Luoyang. We don’t have the power to save them. Even if we had known in advance, it wouldn’t have helped. The allied forces of the warlords have the capability, but they are not ours. If you, Lord Xuande, want to pacify the world, don’t rely on others. Only by having it in your own hands can you prevent such tragedies." Chen Xi said softly.

"We will return to Tai Mountain Commandery now. I am thoroughly disgusted by their inaction. No matter how difficult it is, I must save the Han dynasty!" Liu Bei held Chen Xi’s hand and said solemnly.

At this point, Chen Xi should have bowed and pledged his allegiance, but instead, he stared at his hand, which Liu Bei was holding, feeling disgusted. Two grown men pulling and tugging in public, especially one of them being himself...

He quietly pulled his hand back and bowed to Liu Bei, "Lord Xuande, please wait for two more days!"

On the other side, Sun Jian had fished a female corpse out of a well. There was a brocade pouch on her, and inside the pouch was a box. When he opened it, it was the imperial seal. Sun Jian’s heart almost stopped. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed real. The seal was four inches square, engraved with five intertwined dragons; a corner was missing, inlaid with gold; and on it were eight characters in seal script: "Received the mandate from heaven, long life and prosperity."

Sun Jian was shocked, his hands trembling, and his whole body was almost convulsing with excitement.

Cheng Pu saw what Sun Jian was holding and was first surprised, then overjoyed. "Surviving a great calamity brings great fortune. My lord’s luck has arrived! Now that heaven has bestowed the imperial seal upon you, you will surely ascend to the throne in the future. My lord, quickly hide this treasure, and let us hurry to Jiangdong to plan for greater things!"

Cheng Pu’s eyes turned fierce as he scanned the few soldiers behind them.

"These are all my trusted men; they will not spread the word. Let us quickly return to Jiangdong and plan for greater things!" Sun Jian looked at the six or seven soldiers behind him, who were his bodyguards, and rejected Cheng Pu’s suggestion.

"Alright." Cheng Pu thought for a moment, sighed, and gave up his idea, but he carefully observed the few men.

On the other side, Liu Bei, Chen Xi, and Guan, Zhang, and Zhao were preparing to pay respects at the imperial tombs. Although they were now ruins, in the hearts of those loyal to the Han dynasty, these tombs still protected the Han dynasty.

These were all martyrs, so Chen Xi calmly offered incense to them and then led Guan, Zhang, and Zhao in another direction.

"Count on you. Save as much as you can." Chen Xi pointed to Cai Yong’s house, which was still engulfed in flames.

On the way, Chen Xi had already explained to the three of them that Cai Yong’s house contained 4,000 scrolls, and their task was to save as many as possible, regardless of whether they were rare editions. Just grab the ones closest to them!

Chen Xi was completely wrong. The surrounding fires were easily suppressed by the three of them. The idea of fire rescue was a joke compared to their methods. They simply smothered the flames with a few palm strikes, left, right, and up, and the flames were extinguished due to lack of oxygen.

"Hey, Second Brother, what are you doing?" Chen Xi watched as Guan Yu stuffed another scroll into his robe, having already done so once before.

"Only the Gongyang Commentary. Why make such a fuss?" Guan Yu said calmly, showing no intention of taking it out. He then casually stuffed Cai Yong’s handwritten commentary on the Zuo Zhuan into his robe.

"You’re collecting the Spring and Autumn Annals!" Chen Xi was frustrated as he organized the scrolls. Not many were burned, as the fire started after the warlords entered the city. About 90% of the 4,000 scrolls were saved, and they were quite lucky, although many were charred.

Guan Yu glanced at Chen Xi, took out Cai Yong’s annotated Gongyang Commentary, and began to absorb its contents on the spot. This was his only hobby. With the Spring and Autumn Annals, he could debate with any great scholar. The reason was simple: he had only one book at home, and anyone who spent over an hour a day for twenty years studying a single book would be enough to shock anyone when discussing it.

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