Three Kingdoms, Myth

...

[It was just a push, right? Sometimes the Prime Minister has a bad temper, but it's okay. Hahaha, the Prime Minister still has ambition; he's still eyeing the throne, and he's still got the guts! Abandoning the entire wealth of Luoyang and tossing it to the eastern lords like a bone to dogs—he's finally awakened!] Li Ru was ecstatic, his earlier despair and dissatisfaction evaporating. As long as Dong Zhuo's ambition remained, Li Ru's dreams had a place to anchor!

However, Li Ru completely misunderstood Dong Zhuo's intentions. Dong Zhuo was not thinking of being second in command, waiting to advance further; he was contemplating removing the one person above him...

Alright, this was a wonderful misunderstanding. An invigorated Li Ru was terrifying, especially when Dong Zhuo, in his grand decision to abandon Luoyang, removed all shackles from Li Ru.

"If the Prime Minister is willing to abandon Luoyang, why not also abandon the Imperial Seal? Leave the vast, symbolically rich Luoyang and the Imperial Seal, representing the highest authority, to those eastern rats!" Initially excited, Li Ru then grew worried that Dong Zhuo might have made this decision in a moment of hotheadedness, so he cautiously tested the waters.

Clearly, Dong Zhuo hesitated. Losing Luoyang was one thing—everything of value had been moved out, so losing it wasn't too painful. But the Imperial Seal? It was said to represent supreme authority, something not easily dismissed.

"If the Prime Minister wishes for a better life, discarding this item is the right path. Without the Imperial Seal, the Han dynasty's legitimacy becomes a matter of debate, and the eastern lords will never unite as one. The Seal will cause them to split into factions, fighting among themselves until they're too weak to march west." Li Ru continued to persuade.

To be honest, Li Ru didn't hold much hope that Dong Zhuo would give up the Imperial Seal. This was merely a test. Dong Zhuo's hesitation indicated he was genuinely considering it—this was a display of true courage!

Seeing Dong Zhuo's hesitation, Li Ru was overjoyed. Finally, after so long, he had awakened.

Dong Zhuo hesitated for a long time, looking at the earnest Li Ru, feeling puzzled. [What on earth is he thinking? Never mind, I'll ask what I want to know first.]

"Wen You, if I give up the Imperial Seal, how long can we live peacefully in Yongliang?" Dong Zhuo asked the question that concerned him most. He just wanted to live a peaceful life now. Yesterday's events had terrified him. The indulgences of Luoyang had drained his strength and ambition; he just wanted to get by comfortably now.

"Prime Minister..." Li Ru's voice trembled. The fact that Dong Zhuo even asked this meant he was seriously considering abandoning the Imperial Seal. This wasn't just ambition and courage—this was true imperial spirit! With such a spirit, how could they fail?

After careful thought, Li Ru's eyes brightened. "Prime Minister, if we manage the Imperial Seal correctly, not only can we break the alliance of the eastern lords, but by sealing the Hangu Pass, we can ensure that the storms of the east won't reach Yongliang for five to eight years. This will give us enough time to grow strong enough to defeat all the lords of the land. The Seal is just a stone that once belonged to King Xian of Zhou."

Dong Zhuo didn't have much attachment to the Imperial Seal. Being an uneducated warrior from Xiliang, he didn't understand its symbolic significance as Li Ru did.

To Dong Zhuo, with an emperor and military power, even a brick carved with an official mark would do. Qin Shihuang had the Seal carved from the Heshibi, but it was just a vessel; if lost, it could be replaced. Five to eight years of peace was far more appealing, especially with Li Ru promising they could defeat all the lords by then. That was the crucial point!

Dong Zhuo was now like a frightened child, beaten and unable to fight back, wanting to retreat home. Now, a smart person was telling him that if he discarded a candy he didn't like, the other brats would fight over it and weaken themselves. In a few years, he could return and crush anyone he pleased!

If anyone else had said this, Dong Zhuo wouldn't have believed it. But if Li Ru said it, Dong Zhuo believed him. This guy had never been wrong.

"Fine, the Seal is yours. Do with it as you will. I'm tired. From now on, don't bother me with anything. You handle it!" Dong Zhuo said with a slight, ferocious smile.

Seeing the smile on Dong Zhuo's face, Li Ru thought Dong Zhuo was trying to reassure him, to ease his worries. Hearing that Dong Zhuo was tired and wanted to be left alone only deepened Li Ru's sorrow. Since when did he need Dong Zhuo to make such sacrifices?

"I will repay the Prime Minister's kindness with my life!" Li Ru bowed deeply to Dong Zhuo's retreating figure, his heart aflame with determination, not against Dong Zhuo, but against the eastern lords.

Dong Zhuo walked out, utterly confused. Why was Li Ru suddenly so grateful, even bowing to him? What incredible thing had he done?

Three days later, in Chang'an, Jia Xu, who was fishing meat out of a bronze cauldron, received Li Ru's letter. He was horrified. [Damn it, Li Ru actually succeeded in persuading Dong Zhuo to use Luoyang and the Imperial Seal as bait. This is terrifyingly bold! Wasn't Dong Zhuo supposed to be a decadent mess? How did he regain such ambition right after I left?]

Jia Xu's old servant watched as his master rolled around on the floor, clutching his head, and hurried to fetch medicine and help him up.

"Jia Fu, do you think a man who's had his ambition drained by indulgence can suddenly become a figure of great courage?" Jia Xu asked, frustrated.

Jia Fu kept his head down, remaining silent. His job was to serve Jia Xu, not to get involved in his master's thoughts.

[How could this be? Am I a jinx?] Jia Xu thought helplessly. He had gone to Dong Zhuo because he saw potential, but as soon as he arrived, Dong Zhuo began to deteriorate. He left because he saw no hope in Dong Zhuo, only for Dong Zhuo to suddenly regain his ambition after he left.

Jia Xu didn't doubt Li Ru's sincerity. Li Ru, though ruthless, was dependable. Moreover, such matters couldn't be joked about. Abandoning Luoyang and the Imperial Seal would undoubtedly shock the world! Especially the Imperial Seal—if Li Ru spread it, no matter how secretly it was handled, it would eventually become widely known.

Realizing this, Jia Xu felt even more frustrated...