Chapter 33: The Withdrawal of Dong Zhuo (Part Two)

Dong Zhuo heard Li Ru's words, nodded, and frowned, saying, "These fellows are all plotting against me! If we fail to defeat these rebels in today's battle, I fear we will ultimately be unable to hold Hulao Pass! If Hulao Pass falls, Luoyang will certainly be lost as well!"

The others, all contemplating this problem, could not help but grow anxious.

Luo Ang thought to himself: It seems that ever since I arrived in this era, everything has changed because of me!

At this moment, a messenger hurried into the main tent, holding up a bamboo scroll with both hands, and knelt, saying, "Reporting to the Grand Preceptor, Generals Guo Si and Li Jue have sent urgent military dispatches."

Hearing this, everyone immediately felt a sense of foreboding.

Dong Zhuo said to Li Ru, "Take it and let me see."

Li Ru acknowledged the order, rose quickly, stepped forward to take the scroll, and unfolded it. As he read, his expression changed slightly, and he said, "Grand Preceptor, the situation at Sishui Pass is dire! The coalition forces, led by Sun Jian, are attacking day and night. Our troops have suffered heavy casualties and morale is low. Generals Li Jue and Guo Si request that you dispatch reinforcements!"

Dong Zhuo's brow furrowed even deeper, and he said with a distressed look, "I am hard-pressed here myself; where would I find reinforcements to send them?"

Li Ru dismissed the messenger and bowed to Dong Zhuo, saying, "Grand Preceptor, the situation is critical. I fear Luoyang can no longer be held. It would be better to abandon Luoyang and retreat into the Guanzhong region. Guanzhong is protected by the formidable Xiao and Han passes, a land surrounded by natural barriers. Even if the coalition forces come to attack, we need not fear them. In time, their grain will be exhausted, and they will be forced to withdraw!"

Luo Ang listened, stunned, feeling that Li Ru was truly a disastrous advisor; no wonder Dong Zhuo met his downfall in the end.

Dong Zhuo looked hesitant and said, "Must we really leave such a magnificent city and so much wealth to those rebels?"

Li Ru quickly urged Dong Zhuo, "That is easily solved. You need only issue an order for all the common people to move their households into the Guanzhong region. Once there, we will have the population and the wealth, and it will not take long to turn Chang'an into a new Luoyang. As for the empty city of Luoyang, we can simply burn it to the ground."

Dong Zhuo looked pleased and praised the idea loudly.

Seeing this, Luo Ang interjected, "I disagree!"

All eyes immediately turned to Luo Ang, and even Li Ru's expression grew unnatural.

Dong Zhuo asked with great concern, "What wise insight does my son-in-law have?"

Luo Ang said to Dong Zhuo, "Luoyang is the center of the world. It is not only the capital of the Great Han, but one could also say it is where the Mandate of Heaven resides! It is precisely because of this that the warlords have formed a coalition to attack. Once you, Father-in-law, firmly secure Luoyang, you effectively control the Mandate of Heaven!"

Luo Ang spun this nonsense based on the values of the era, though he felt it sounded far-fetched even as he spoke.

However, to his surprise, the majority of the room, including Dong Zhuo, nodded in deep agreement; after all, Luo Ang's words had struck a chord within them.

Luo Ang secretly found it amusing and continued, "If you abandon Luoyang, Father-in-law, you abandon the Mandate of Heaven, and it will be difficult to compete for the world thereafter! Though things are difficult now, if we can survive this most trying moment, fortune will follow, and the day you rule over all under heaven will be within reach!"

Dong Zhuo nodded in deep agreement, saying, "My son-in-law speaks truly. If not for these golden words of wisdom, I would never have thought of this!"

Li Ru frowned, "While the Marquis of Yan's words have merit, how do we solve the immediate crisis? If we cannot defeat the coalition, isn't this 'Mandate of Heaven' just a flower in the mirror or the moon on the water?"

Luo Ang continued his charade, "Defeating the coalition is not entirely impossible."

Everyone was astonished.

Dong Zhuo asked excitedly, "Does my son-in-law have a brilliant plan?"

Luo Ang smiled and continued, "We can abandon Hulao Pass and Sishui Pass. Once the enemy enters the passes, due to differences in troop quality, logistics, and the courage of the various warlords, it is inevitable that only a few, such as Cao Cao, will be in the vanguard, while the majority of the coalition forces will lag behind. This is where our opportunity lies. We shall set an ambush in advance. If we can strike and crush those strongest vanguard warlords in one blow, the rest of the coalition will surely collapse without a fight, and Luoyang will be preserved."

Dong Zhuo was overjoyed and praised, "My son-in-law is truly a renowned general of our time. Such a strategy is truly brilliant!"

Li Ru asked with unconcealed reluctance, "While the Marquis of Yan's reasoning is sound, there is always a 'what if.' If the coalition does not separate as you expect, but continues to advance together as they are now, what then?"

Dong Zhuo and the others realized the problem and frowned, looking at Luo Ang to see how he would respond.

Luo Ang frowned, "That would be the worst-case scenario. If that happens, it is the will of Heaven. We would then have no choice but to abandon Luoyang."

Li Ru laughed dismissively, "So after all that, we still end up abandoning Luoyang!"

Dong Zhuo immediately looked deeply disappointed.

Luo Ang said, "Even if we are forced to abandon Luoyang as a last resort, I do not advocate destroying it or taking all the wealth and people."

Li Ru asked testily, "Does the Marquis of Yan intend to leave these people and this wealth to those rebels?"

Luo Ang nodded, "Yes."

The crowd was stunned, never expecting Luo Ang to say such a thing.

Luo Ang continued, "Destroying Luoyang brings us little benefit and would only ruin your reputation, Father-in-law. It would be better to emulate the story of 'Two Peaches to Kill Three Warriors.' Leave Luoyang and most of its wealth and population for the warlords to fight over. Once that happens, they will surely tear each other apart for the city, leaving them no energy to deal with us. We can then take the opportunity to recover our strength and wait for the right moment. When they are exhausted, we can march our great army eastward, sweep them away in one stroke, and reclaiming Luoyang will not be difficult."

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes brightened.

Dong Zhuo said, "A fine plan, a fine plan! My son-in-law's strategy is truly brilliant! Hahaha, let it be done!"

Li Ru’s face was sullen; he felt deeply unconvinced but could find no words to argue.

After the meeting, Luo Ang returned to the encampment assigned to them, accompanied by Xu Chu, Guan Yu, Cheng Yu, Cheng Lian, and Zhang He, while Dong Yuan stayed with her father, as they had not seen each other for a long time.

Cheng Yu said, "My lord, your planning today was truly admirable."

Luo Ang waved his hand with a smile, "Zhongde, do not mock me. Were these not the strategies you devised?"

Cheng Yu shook his head, "I only thought of the battle tactics; the 'Two Peaches to Kill Three Warriors' strategy you added, my lord, was something I had not considered at all. Your deep foresight is something I greatly admire!"

Xu Chu, Guan Yu, Cheng Lian, and Zhang He nodded in agreement.

Luo Ang smiled, "The plan is set, but whether the battle progresses as we anticipate remains to be seen! My greatest concern is Cao Cao."

Chen Gong pondered for a moment and bowed, "My lord, you should demand command authority from Dong Zhuo, otherwise the outcome of this battle is already decided without even fighting!"

Luo Ang agreed, stood up, and said, "Dong Zhuo should not have rested yet; I will go see him now."

Saying this, he walked toward Dong Zhuo's tent.

In Dong Zhuo's tent, Dong Zhuo had not yet retired.

When Dong Yuan saw Luo Ang enter, she immediately went to greet him, "Husband!"

Dong Zhuo also saw Luo Ang and came forward, "Son-in-law, you come at just the right time. Yuan-yuan and I were just thinking of finding you! Hahaha! Come, come, sit down and let us talk! Yuan-yuan, you sit down as well."

With that, he pulled Luo Ang to a seat, while he walked to the head of the tent and knelt.

Dong Yuan saw her father and husband sit, so she followed suit.

Dong Zhuo sighed, "Son-in-law, my heart is still uneasy. Do you think we can defeat them? If we fail, I truly do not know what the outcome will be."

Luo Ang smiled, "There is no tactic in this world that guarantees victory, but if we follow my strategy, the chances of success are very high! Even if we take a step back and fail, we can abandon Luoyang and let them fight over it; we shall sit back and reap the rewards. You need not be so worried, Father-in-law!"

Hearing this, Dong Zhuo chuckled and nodded, "Hearing you say this, my worries are much eased. Heaven must be helping me by sending you to assist me!"

Seeing Dong Zhuo's genuine attitude, Luo Ang felt a pang of emotion and bowed, "You are too kind, Father-in-law! To ensure the final victory in this great battle, I have one request."

Dong Zhuo did not hesitate, "Whatever request you have, my son-in-law, I grant it!"

Luo Ang said, "I wish for full command of this battle, including the Xiliang Army. Only then can we have a chance of winning. If we continue to fight separately as we are now, the outcome is clear without even needing to fight!"

Dong Zhuo nodded in deep agreement, "Very well, I appoint you as the supreme commander to lead all the armies and crush those rebels!"

Luo Ang was pleasantly surprised at how easily he had obtained command, and he quickly stood and bowed, "Thank you for your trust, Father-in-law!"

Dong Zhuo laughed, "You are my beloved son-in-law, how could I not trust you? Take my sword, and command the three armies. If anyone dares to disobey, you may execute them first and report later!"

He stood up, fetched his sword encrusted with various precious gems, and handed it to Luo Ang.

Dong Yuan stood up, "Father, I want to stay with my husband."

Dong Zhuo knew he could not deny his daughter, so he nodded, "Very well. Yuan-yuan, take care of yourself!"

Dong Yuan nodded, "I understand, Father."

Luo Ang took the sword given to him by Dong Zhuo and returned with Dong Yuan.

Dong Zhuo then ordered his messengers to announce Luo Ang's appointment as supreme commander to all sectors.

Soon, Luo Ang and Dong Yuan returned to their tent.

Luo Ang asked Dong Yuan to step out, as he had things to discuss with Cheng Yu.

Dong Yuan, knowing what Luo Ang intended to discuss with Cheng Yu, did not press the matter and left.

Luo Ang smiled and showed the sword to Cheng Yu, "I did not expect to obtain command so easily! Dong Zhuo is much more generous than I imagined!"

Cheng Yu nodded, pondering, "While Dong Zhuo is generous, his subordinates may not be, especially Li Ru. Although that man has some intellect, he is narrow-minded. I fear he will not be pleased to see a newcomer like you wield such great power."

Luo Ang was startled, "Are you saying he might plot against me behind my back?"

Cheng Yu bowed, "My lord, you should go see Dong Zhuo again to ensure no complications arise."