Chapter Twenty-One: Return to Jinyang
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At the residence of General Niu Fu, a hurried attendant rushed into the study. “General, the lord has married Miss Dong Yuan to Luo Ang!”
Hearing this news, Niu Fu’s fury blazed. “What? Luo Zicheng! We are sworn enemies!”
At the courier inn—where Luo Ang and Dong Yuan resided—both entered the room. Dong Yuan looked at Luo Ang and said, “Husband, I’m so glad to marry you.” She then embraced him warmly.
Luo Ang returned the embrace. “Marrying you is the happiest moment of my life.”
Dong Yuan asked, “When will we return to Youzhou? I want to visit Sister Wen Ji.”
“Don’t worry, we will go back when the time comes,” Luo Ang assured her.
The next morning, as they left the inn, they saw all the officials heading toward the Jiade Hall, puzzled by the commotion.
“What’s happening?” Dong Yuan asked.
“I don’t know. I’ll inquire,” Luo Ang replied and went to ask around.
What he learned shocked him—Dong Zhuo was to depose the current young Emperor Liu Bian and enthrone Prince Liu Xie of Chenliu today. Immediately, he relayed this to Dong Yuan.
She sighed, “I never imagined Father would truly betray the will of the officials.”
Luo Ang said, “Heaven’s will is beyond our power; we cannot stop your father.”
Inside Jiade Hall, the young Emperor Liu Bian trembled as he sat on the dragon throne, facing the officials, Liu Xie, Dong Zhuo, and Li Ru.
Li Ru read from a document: “Emperor Xiaoling has long abandoned his subjects; the empire looks to the successor. Yet, the emperor is frivolous and lacks dignity, slow in mourning, and negligent. His faults are manifest; unworthy of the throne. The Empress Dowager lacks maternal virtue and governs in chaos; the Eternal Joy Empress Dowager’s sudden death confuses the court. The Three Principles and the order of Heaven and Earth seem neglected. Prince Chenliu Xie possesses noble virtue and solemn conduct; in mourning, he is earnest and upright, praised throughout the realm. He should succeed the grand legacy, ruling for all generations. We petition to enthrone Prince Chenliu as emperor to follow Heaven’s will and satisfy the people’s hopes.”
Dong Zhuo ordered Liu Bian to be relieved of his seal and ribbon, to kneel northward, and submit to the decree.
An official below the steps angrily shouted, “Traitor Dong Zhuo, daring to deceive Heaven! I shall spill my blood to oppose you!”
He swung his bamboo tally at Dong Zhuo, who, enraged, commanded his soldiers to seize the man.
The man was dragged away; it was Minister Ding Guan, who cursed relentlessly until his death, his expression unchanged.
Dong Zhuo then invited Liu Xie to enter the hall and ordered that Empress Dowager He, Liu Bian, and Lady Tang be handed over to Luo Ang at the courier inn, instructing him to escort them to Youzhou.
Liu Xie, styled Bohe, the youngest son of Emperor Ling, was the last emperor of the Han dynasty, known as Emperor Xian of Han. When Dong Zhuo enthroned him at nine years old, he changed the era to Chuping and appointed Dong Zhuo as Chancellor.
Dong Zhuo, after being made Chancellor, arrogantly assumed his rank without ceremony, entering the court with sword and boots.
At the courier inn, Luo Ang and Dong Yuan stood outside debating whether to return early to Jixian when a horse carriage approached and stopped before them.
A woman inside lifted the curtain and looked at Luo Ang.
“Marquis Yan,” she addressed him.
Luo Ang, surprised to hear his title, replied respectfully, “That would be me! May I ask who you are?”
“I’m He Jin’s sister,” she introduced herself.
Luo Ang panicked upon hearing this. “I did not expect the Empress Dowager to grace us—please forgive me!”
Empress Dowager He sighed, “I am no longer an Empress Dowager.”
“To loyal ministers of the Han, you will always be Empress Dowager,” Luo Ang assured her.
“You flatter me, Marquis Yan,” she smiled.
“Please step down and rest at the inn; tomorrow we will depart for Youzhou,” Luo Ang invited.
She nodded. “Thank you, Marquis Yan.”
She, along with Liu Bian and Lady Tang, alighted from the carriage.
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Liu Bian and Lady Tang bowed. “Greetings, Marquis Yan.”
Luo Ang bowed in return. “Not at all! Please enter first; I will arrange for two more rooms.”
Empress Dowager He said, “Thank you for your trouble.”
Luo Ang replied, “Your words honor me.”
The next morning, Luo Ang and Dong Yuan escorted Empress Dowager He, Liu Bian, and Lady Tang toward Jixian.
At General Niu Fu’s residence, an attendant rushed in breathlessly. “General, bad news!”
Niu Fu asked, “What’s the matter to cause such panic?”
The attendant reported, “Luo Ang has taken Miss Yuan away!”
Niu Fu was stunned, unable to believe Luo Ang would leave Luoyang.
“What shall we do now?” the attendant asked.
“Mobilize five hundred soldiers from the barracks and come with me outside the city. We must intercept Luo Ang and bring Miss Yuan back!” Niu Fu ordered.
“Understood,” the attendant left to carry out the command.
On the road, Luo Ang and Dong Yuan escorted Empress Dowager He, Liu Bian, and Lady Tang toward Jixian, unaware of the impending danger.
Empress Dowager He lifted the curtain and asked Luo Ang, “Marquis Yan, where are we now?”
Luo Ang clasped his fists. “Your Majesty, we will soon reach Bingzhou in a few miles.”
She nodded, lowered the curtain, and they continued toward Bingzhou.
Suddenly, shouts of battle arose from behind.
Startled, Luo Ang said to Dong Yuan, “Yuan, escort the Empress Dowager to Bingzhou. I will hold off the pursuing army.”
Dong Yuan worried, “But I fear you won’t return.”
“Don’t worry, I will come back,” Luo Ang assured her.
“Then you must return safely!” she urged.
He nodded. “I will.”
Mounting his warhorse, Luo Ang charged toward the oncoming soldiers.
Niu Fu led five hundred cavalrymen in pursuit, intent on tearing Luo Ang to pieces.
Luo Ang suddenly appeared before Niu Fu, who immediately halted the charge.
“Luo Ang, we have no past grudge, no recent enmity. Why do you bring soldiers to hunt me down?” Luo Ang demanded angrily.
“You stole the woman I love. We are sworn enemies!” Niu Fu growled.
“She follows her own will. I cannot refuse her. Besides, your lord consented to my marriage with her. You should give up,” Luo Ang replied calmly.
Niu Fu clenched his teeth. “I’ll kill you!”
Raising his great blade, he charged.
Luo Ang met him head-on.
Their battle began.
Being from the 21st century, Luo Ang lacked great strength and was no match for Niu Fu. Soon, his stamina waned.
Niu Fu sneered, “Luo Ang, if you return Yuan to me, I’ll spare your life!”
“Never!” Luo Ang gasped.
Niu Fu snorted. “Refusing a gift, you’ll drink the penalty! Die!”
He swung his blade at the exhausted Luo Ang.
At that moment, three robust men armed with a long serpent spear, a spear, and a standard blade emerged from the woods, blocking the fatal strike.
Niu Fu scowled. “Who are you to meddle in my affairs?”
The one with the serpent spear bellowed, “Your affair? It looks like you’re trying to kill this man.”
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Niu Fu roared, “Then you all shall die! Attack!”
He looked to his five hundred soldiers, who charged the three men fiercely.
The three men scoffed, “Overestimating yourselves!”
They pushed aside Niu Fu’s troops and engaged in battle.
Luo Ang, seeing the onslaught of five hundred soldiers, gritted his teeth and fought alongside the three men.
Soon, Niu Fu’s troops were nearly wiped out by Luo Ang and the three warriors.
Niu Fu panicked. “Retreat!”
The remaining soldiers abandoned their fallen comrades and fled with Niu Fu toward Luoyang.
Luo Ang approached the three men, clasping his fists. “Thank you for saving me. Without you, I would have died here.”
The one wielding the standard blade returned the gesture. “It was our duty. Passing through, we saw that man trying to kill you and intervened.”
“May I ask your names?” Luo Ang inquired.
“I am Zhang Fei, courtesy name Yide!”
“I am Xu Chu, styled Zhongkang!”
“I am Xu Ding, Xu Chu’s elder brother!”
Luo Ang was astonished. Before him stood Liu Bei’s sworn brother Zhang Fei, Xu Chu’s elder brother Xu Ding, and the fierce warrior Xu Chu himself—renowned as Cao Cao’s Tiger Fool.
Zhang Fei asked, “And this young brother’s name?”
Snapping back to reality, Luo Ang bowed. “I am Luo Ang, also called Luo Zicheng.”
Xu Chu exclaimed, “You are Luo Zicheng?”
“Yes. May I ask why you are here?”
Zhang Fei sighed, “It’s a long story.”
“I invite you to rest in Bingzhou,” Luo Ang said.
Xu Chu queried, “Isn’t Bingzhou under Governor Ding’s jurisdiction? How did it become Marquis Yan’s domain?”
Luo Ang sighed. “Here is the tale.”
He recounted the recent events to Xu Chu and Zhang Fei.
They found it hard to believe.
Luo Ang sighed again. “Governor Ding entrusted me with the affairs of Bingzhou before heading to Luoyang. I thought he would return safely, but he died there. I had no choice but to submit temporarily to Dong Zhuo to resist foreign invaders and protect our land.”
Xu Chu fumed, “Marquis Yan is blameless; Dong Zhuo is truly vile. I shall go slay that villain!”
Luo Ang stopped him. “No, this is fate. Governor Ding met his end in Youzhou but entrusted me with Bingzhou’s governance. By the way, why are you three here?”
Xu Ding sighed, “We came to Luoyang seeking refuge with Yuan Shao or Yuan Shu, but Yuan Shao is arrogant, indecisive, suspicious, and shortsighted; Yuan Shu is narrow-minded, greedy, brave but foolish, capricious, and fickle. They will both fall eventually, so we returned to Qiao and Zhuo counties but unexpectedly met you on the way.”
Luo Ang extended an olive branch. “Gentlemen, would you consider joining my banner?”
Zhang Fei said, “I’ve heard that Marquis Yan governs Youzhou and Bingzhou wisely, reducing taxes on the people, not increasing burdens, providing free education to poor children, and sending monthly supplies to soldiers’ families. Your governance is admirable.”
Luo Ang smiled. “You flatter me, Yide. I simply wish the people not to suffer so.”
Zhang Fei declared, “With such rule, my heart is drawn to you. If you accept me, I will serve loyally!”
Luo Ang was delighted. “Excellent! With your aid, my great endeavor shall succeed. Let us rest in Jinyang.”
He turned to the Xu brothers. “What say you?”
Xu Ding said, “We too have heard of your superior governance. If you accept us, we will serve you as well.”
Luo Ang smiled broadly. “Wonderful! With you three at my side, my great cause will be fulfilled. We shall rest in Jinyang and then journey back to Youzhou.”
Zhang Fei, Xu Chu, and Xu Ding clasped their fists. “Agreed.”
Together, they set forth toward Jinyang.