Chapter 30: Assisting Dong Zhuo (Part II)

Jinyang. The Governor's Mansion.

Luo Ang walked into the main hall and saw Xi Zhicai and the others sitting solemnly on both sides. He asked with confusion, "Why are you all so serious?"

As he spoke, he sat in his seat.

Xi Zhicai said, "My Lord, the envoy you sent was beheaded by Yuan Shao!"

He then recounted what the scouts had discovered to Luo Ang.

Upon hearing this, Luo Ang’s fury surged. He cursed, "That bastard Yuan Shao, I will settle this account with him sooner or later! Zhicai, what else did the scouts find?"

Xi Zhicai replied, "Yuan Shao claimed you are a running dog for the traitor Dong Zhuo. He demands that if you wish to live, you must bind your own hands and go before his army to plead for mercy. Otherwise, once he crushes Dong Zhuo, he will trample Henei Commandery and leave you and your people without a place to be buried!"

Xu Chu was so enraged that he bellowed, "What an arrogant dog! If he dares to come, I will surely chop off his dog head to use as a chamber pot! My Lord, let us march immediately! I want to see how that Yuan Shao intends to leave us without a place to be buried!"

Luo Ang looked at Cheng Yu and asked, "Zhongde, what is your take?"

Cheng Yu frowned slightly and said, "I truly did not expect Yuan Shao to act in such a manner. I had previously overestimated him! Things have reached this point, and we have no other choice."

Luo Ang nodded, scanned the people in the hall, and said, "Since it has come to this, I do not want to waste any more time. I will lead ten thousand elite infantry and cavalry south to attack. Zhicai, Song Xian, you assist Ju Shou, Cao Xing, and Hao Meng in defending Jinyang. The rest will accompany me."

Everyone cupped their hands and said, "Yes."

As soon as he finished speaking, an attendant entered and said, "My Lord, the Third Madam is here!"

Upon hearing that Dong Yuan had arrived, Luo Ang stood up immediately.

Dong Yuan walked in with long strides, wearing armor. "Husband!"

Luo Ang coughed and said, "Go wait for me in the backyard. I will finish arranging these matters and then come to spend time with you."

Dong Yuan nodded. "Very well."

She then headed to the backyard.

Seeing that Dong Yuan had arrived, the others did not want to disturb Luo Ang and tactfully stood up.

Ju Shou said, "My Lord, since the Third Madam has arrived, we shall withdraw."

They retreated, leaving the time for Luo Ang and Dong Yuan. Seeing them leave, Luo Ang understood their intentions. After all, he had been married for so many years without having a single child. He sighed and headed to the backyard.

Ji County. The Governor's Mansion.

At this time, Cai Yan and Diaochan were enjoying the flowers in the backyard, quite at ease.

A maid walked quickly to the side of Diaochan and Cai Yan. "My Ladies, Lord Cai Yong is here!"

Cai Yan said, "I understand, you may go."

"Yes." The maid left.

Diaochan said, "Sister, I should go."

Cai Yan took Diaochan’s hand and said, "There is no need for you to leave, sister. My father is a reasonable man. He agreed to my husband taking concubines, so you need not worry."

While they were talking, Cai Yong walked up to them.

Cai Yan asked, "Father, what brings you here?"

Cai Yong said, "Wenji, you and Zicheng have been married for so many years, why is there still no child?"

Cai Yan’s face turned red instantly. "Father, please, say no more."

Cai Yong looked at Diaochan and said, "Diaochan, when Zicheng returns, tell him to spend these few months with Wenji."

Diaochan replied, "My Lord, my husband always sleeps in Sister Wenji’s quarters."

Cai Yong said, "Is that so? Wenji, since Zicheng sleeps there, you must cherish it well!"

Cai Yan nodded. "I understand, Father."

Jinyang. The Governor's Mansion.

By now, the sky had already descended into night.

Luo Ang sat in a small pavilion outside his bedroom, staring blankly at the silent night. He let out a long sigh, unable to stop himself from thinking of his family back in the modern world, as a sense of melancholy welled up in his heart.

Just then, a sound came from the bedroom.

Luo Ang composed himself and looked inside, seeing Dong Yuan tidying up his travel gear. A gentle feeling arose in his heart, and he smiled slightly; after all, this was his lawfully wedded wife!

He then entered the room.

The next morning, Luo Ang led Cheng Yu, Xu Chu, Dong Yuan, Song Xian, Zhang He, Guan Yu, and Cheng Lian, along with ten thousand elite troops, toward Hulao Pass.

The army marched south, heading in the direction Cao Cao had anticipated, straight toward a small ferry crossing more than twenty miles east of Hulao Pass.

Two days later, Luo Ang and his army arrived at the banks of the Yellow River.

Because it was the dry season, the Yellow River flowed gently, and its width was only about half of what it was during the rainy season—the perfect time to cross.

As soon as the army reached the riverbank, Luo Ang ordered the cavalry to stand guard and the infantry to quickly cut down trees, craft rafts, and build a pontoon bridge.

Accompanied by Xu Chu and Cheng Yu, Luo Ang rode to a hillside on the bank and looked toward the opposite shore.

The mountains stretched out, the forest looked like a carpet, and not a single soul could be seen. The ferry crossing was also silent.

Luo Ang took a cylindrical object from his saddlebag; it was a monocular telescope. He began to observe the southern bank.

Ju Shou, seeing such a strange object for the first time, asked, "My Lord, what is that in your hand?"

Luo Ang lowered the telescope, handed it to Cheng Yu, and pointed to the smaller end. "Look through here at the distance, and you will understand."

Cheng Yu, filled with curiosity, followed the instructions. He was shocked to find that the distant scenery seemed to have been pulled several times closer. The ferry crossing on the opposite bank, which had not been very clear before, now became remarkably distinct—even the stains on a tattered table were clearly visible.

Cheng Yu lowered the telescope, exclaiming, "This is truly a divine object!"

Luo Ang chuckled. "It is no divine object, just a tool I had the workshop create. It is used for observing distant objects, so I call it a telescope."

Cheng Yu felt it was unbelievable. Looking at the telescope in his hand, he thought, "This item can bring distant scenes right before one's eyes; it has immeasurable value for military operations! I never imagined the Lord could create such a marvelous thing. It is truly admirable!"

As he spoke, he returned the telescope to Luo Ang.

Luo Ang took it, played with it for a moment, and said with some regret, "Unfortunately, the lenses can only be polished from crystal, which is quite expensive. It would be better if we had glass."

Cheng Yu had never heard of glass. "My Lord, what is this glass you speak of?"

Luo Ang was startled, realizing he had accidentally revealed a secret. "It is nothing special, just a man-made material similar to crystal."

Cheng Yu blinked, feeling incredulous.

Luo Ang raised the telescope again to observe the opposite bank. "There doesn't seem to be any army on the southern bank."

He lowered the telescope and frowned. "Others might be fine, but Cao Cao should have been able to guess my movements. Why is there no activity on the other side? Perhaps I am overthinking things. Even if Cao Cao guessed I would take action, how could he know I would cross the river here?"

Cheng Yu cupped his hands to Luo Ang. "My Lord, please lend me the telescope so I may observe."

Luo Ang handed it to him.

Luo Ang took the telescope back and scrutinized the main road on the southern bank and the mountains and forests nearby. He really did not find any abnormalities, only many birds circling over several patches of forest.

In that very forest within Cheng Yu’s line of sight, Cao Ren was lurking with ten thousand troops.

Cao Ren stood on a mountain peak covered by thick foliage, looking at the opposite bank, taking in the busy scene.

Cao Ren couldn't help but sigh, "The Lord is truly brilliant. Luo Ang has indeed appeared here. Though Luo Ang is formidable, he is no match for the Lord."

An officer ran to Cao Ren's side and cupped his hands. "General, all units are in position as ordered."

Cao Ren said, "Pass the order down: all officers and soldiers should eat and rest as quickly as possible. When the enemy crosses the river tonight, we will strike them and crush them in one fell swoop!"

The officer asked in confusion, "Tonight? The enemy has only just begun building the pontoon bridge; shouldn't they cross tomorrow?"

Cao Ren shook his head. "This Luo Ang is no ordinary man. I estimate that as soon as the bridge is finished, he will cross the Yellow River immediately. Go pass the order."

The officer obeyed and ran off.

Cao Ren watched Luo Ang's busy army on the other side, a look of excitement in his eyes. He muttered, "The Lord says you are a hero of this age, but today I will let you know the strength of Cao Ren!"

Gradually, the sun set, the sky turned completely dark, and a bright, clear moon rose, hanging high in the sky like a dazzling silver plate against the backdrop of the night.

By this time, the pontoon bridge on the river was basically complete.

Hulao Pass.

When the sun rose in the east, the sound of massive war drums shattered the morning silence. Hundreds of thousands of troops poured out of the camps, closing in on Hulao Pass.

The vast army formation was like a surging sea, countless banners fluttered like clouds, blades and spears stood like a forest, and their cold, icy gleam was like snow. A majestic, murderous aura filled the air along with the shouts, chilling to the bone.

Yuan Shao rode on a tall horse, full of spirit. Looking at the hundreds of thousands of troops under his command, he felt as if the world was at his feet and all things would submit to him.

Yuan Shao drew his precious sword, held it high, and shouted, "Men of Han, the time to break the traitors is today! Attack!"

The war drums roared, and the various divisions of the coalition army surged toward Hulao Pass.

The great battle began.

Countless siege engines rammed against the walls of the pass, producing a series of heart-stopping impacts. Arrow towers, thick as a forest, approached the walls, and coalition archers unleashed waves of arrows at the pass, sending Dong Zhuo’s soldiers reeling.

Scaling ladders and flying towers reached the walls, and the fierce warriors of the coalition army, biting their blades, swarmed up.

Before long, a bloody battle erupted on the ramparts, and soldiers from both sides kept falling from the walls.

The shrill screams and thunderous roars intertwined, making the entire area inside and outside Hulao Pass a scene of chaos.

Yuan Shu watched the battle and said happily to Yuan Shao, "Alliance Leader, the enemy’s resistance today is clearly not as strong as before! It seems the many days of fighting have greatly weakened them!"

Yuan Shao nodded in agreement.

Cao Cao walked over, pointed to a section of the wall to the south, and said, "Alliance Leader, most of the defenders on that section of the wall have been drawn toward the city gate. You could immediately send an elite force to launch a surprise attack there; it might have miraculous results!"

Yuan Shao heard Cao Cao’s words and noticed the situation on that section of the wall. He revealed a confident expression. "I had already noticed! Yan Liang, lead your soldiers to storm that section of the wall! If you succeed, I will record you for the greatest merit!"

As he spoke, he looked at Yan Liang, who was standing beside him.

Yan Liang shouted his compliance and led a special unit dressed in leather armor, carrying specially made heavy bows and double-handed long sabers, charging out of the formation toward the vulnerable section of the wall.

In the blink of an eye, the soldiers he led climbed the ramparts, killing Dong Zhuo’s troops until corpses piled up and blood flew, directly scattering the defenders at that spot.

Seeing this, Yuan Shao was overjoyed. "Good, worthy of being my top general, Yan Liang!"

Yuan Shu seized the opportunity to flatter him, "Such an elite force can be called invincible under heaven!"

Yuan Shao was extremely proud and burst into laughter.