Fire the Golden Hall as Dong Zhuo commits violence. Hide the Imperial Seal, while Sun Jian breaks his vow.

Zhang Fei pressed on at full speed and reached the pass gate. Arrows and stones fell like rain, and he could not force his way through before retreating.

The eight lords together praised Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei for their service, and sent men to Yuan Shao’s camp with the news.

Yuan Shao then sent a summons to Sun Jian, ordering him to advance. Sun Jian came with Cheng Pu and Huang Gai to meet Yuan Shu.

With a staff Sun Jian drew lines on the ground and said, “Dong Zhuo and I had no feud. Today I threw myself into danger, risking life and body, and came to fight a desperate battle: above is the state’s duty, to punish the traitors; below is the private grievance of this general’s household. Yet you, general, have listened to slander, withheld grain, and caused me to be defeated and disgraced. How can you still be at peace?”

Yuan Shu, alarmed and speechless, ordered the man who had brought the slander to be executed in apology to Sun Jian.

Just then someone came to report, “A general is waiting outside the gate on horseback and asks to see you, General.”

Sun Jian left Yuan Shu and returned to his own camp, then asked him to come in. It was Dong Zhuo’s favored general Li Jue.

“Why have you come?” Sun Jian asked.

Li Jue replied, “My only one favored by the Chancellor is you, General. I was sent now solely to forge a bond: the Chancellor has a daughter and wishes to marry her to your son.”

Sun Jian’s face darkened. “Dong Zhuo is a rebel against Heaven and has no righteousness. He has overturned the court and trampled the royal house. I would wipe out his nine clans to answer the world. Would I ever agree to make alliance with such a traitor? I will not kill you. You should go quickly and report at the gate. If you do so, your life may be spared. If you delay, your bones will be ground to dust!”

Li Jue lowered his head and fled in fear like a mouse, then returned to Dong Zhuo and reported Sun Jian’s offense.

Dong Zhuo, furious, asked Li Ru. Li Ru said, “Wenhou has just been defeated, and the soldiers have no will to fight. Better to draw the troops back to Luoyang and move the Son of Heaven to Chang’an, in line with the street couplet. Recently in the market, people are chanting: ‘A Han in the west, a Han in the east. When a deer enters Chang’an, the trouble will cease.’ I believe ‘a Han in the west’ refers to Gaozu rising in western Chang’an to pass on twelve emperors, and ‘a Han in the east’ to Guangwu rising in eastern Luoyang, also to pass on twelve emperors. Heaven’s turn is now so; if the Chancellor returns to Chang’an, there will be peace.”

Dong Zhuo rejoiced. “Without your words, I might not have understood this.” He sent Lü Bu back by night to Luoyang to begin discussing a change of capital.

He gathered ministers and commanders in the hall and said, “Luoyang has been Han’s eastern capital for two hundred years, and its mandate is spent. I can feel the vital force at Chang’an; I intend to ride west and go there. All of you should make ready at once.”

Yang Biao, the Chancellor, said, “The lands of Guanzhong are in ruins and scattered. To abandon ancestral temples and imperial tombs without cause would alarm the people; they are easily stirred and hard to soothe. I beg Your Excellency to deliberate carefully.”

Dong Zhuo shouted, “Do you obstruct the great plan of the state?”

Grand Commandant Huang Wan said, “Yang Biao speaks truly. In the time of Wang Mang and the Chimei uprising, Chang’an was burned and left in ruin; the people were displaced and nothing remained. To abandon palace and buildings for waste land is not right.”

Dong Zhuo said, “Bandits from the eastern regions have already raised havoc. Chang’an has the defensive heights of Xiao and Han. It is nearer to Longyou, and timber, stone, and tiles can be prepared in a few days. Build the palaces and halls; do not disturb me with disruptive talk.”

Xun Shuang remonstrated, “If Your Excellency moves the capital, the people will be agitated and unrestful.”

Dong Zhuo answered in anger, “I act for all under Heaven. Would I care so much for commoners?”

That day he demoted Yang Biao, Huang Wan, and Xun Shuang to commoners.

As Dong Zhuo climbed into the carriage, two men bowed as he approached the gate: Zhou Bi, Minister of the Masters of Writing, and Wu Qiong, the gate captain.

Dong Zhuo asked what they wanted, and Zhou Bi said, “We heard Your Excellency intended to move the capital to Chang’an, so we came to remonstrate.”

Dong Zhuo roared, “At first I heard you both and trusted you to guard against Yuan Shao; now Yuan Shao has already revolted, so you are his faction!” He ordered the guards to drag the two out and behead them at the city gate.

He ordered the move immediately, and said all troops must depart by the next day.

Li Ru said, “Funds and grain are now lacking, and Luoyang has too many wealthy households. We can confiscate their property. As for those under Yuan Shao’s following, kill their kin and seize their household stores; we will obtain vast sums.”

Dong Zhuo then dispatched five thousand cavalry, who swept through Luoyang and seized thousands of wealthy households. Poles were tied to them with the inscription “Rebel ministers and traitor factions,” and they were all beheaded outside the city and stripped of gold.

Li Jue and Guo Si drove the people of Luoyang forward by the hundreds—up to several million mouths—interspersed with military units.

As many as those dying in ditches and ravines could not be counted. The troops also raped the wives and daughters, seized grain; the cries of weeping shook heaven and earth. If anyone lagged on the road, three thousand soldiers behind carried white blades and cut people down.

When Dong Zhuo departed, he ordered each gate set aflame and set fire to household houses, along with ancestral temples and palace offices.

The northern and southern palaces burned into one sheet of flame; Luoyang’s palace courts were left a blackened waste.

He also sent Lü Bu to exhume the tombs of former emperors and empresses and seize their jewels.

Taking advantage, the troops dug through officials’ and civilians’ graves almost to exhaustion.

Dong Zhuo loaded thousands of wagons with gold, pearls, silk cloth, and fine goods, carrying off the Son of Heaven and empresses as he headed for Chang’an.

Afterwards Dong Zhuo’s general Zhao Cen, seeing his master had already abandoned Luoyang, surrendered Sishui Pass.

Sun Jian first drove in with troops; Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei smashed into Hulao Pass, and the lords each brought forces in.

Then Sun Jian dashed to Luoyang and from afar saw flames leaping heavenward and smoke spreading for two to three hundred li, with no sign of people, chickens, or dogs. He first sent out troops to extinguish the fires, and ordered the lords to camp their men and horses on the wasteland.

Cao Cao came to see Yuan Shao and said, “The traitor Dong has gone west; now is the moment for strike and pursuit. Why does Benchu hold back?”

Yuan Shao replied, “The troops are exhausted and advancing may do no good.”

Cao Cao said, “The traitor Dong burned the palace and moved the Son of Heaven, and the realm is shaking without place to return. This is a time when Heaven has withdrawn support; one battle will settle the empire. Why do the lords hesitate?”

All the lords spoke against moving too quickly.

Cao Cao was furious, saying, “You are not fit to advise.” He then took more than ten thousand troops himself, with Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Li Dian, and Yue Jin, and rode through the night in pursuit of Dong Zhuo.

When Dong Zhuo reached Xingyang, Superintendent Xu Rong came out to receive him.

Li Ru said, “Your Excellency has just abandoned Luoyang and there may be pursuit. Tell Xu Rong to station his troops in ambush by the hills by the outer stockade of Xingyang. If any army pursues, let it pass through; after I crush it here, block and ambush it. Then those who come after will not dare pursue.”

Dong Zhuo followed his counsel and ordered Lü Bu to lead chosen cavalry to hold the rear.

Lü Bu was moving ahead when Cao Cao’s army caught up to him.

Lü Bu laughed. “This is exactly what Li Ru predicted.”

Cao Cao rode forward and shouted, “Traitor! You looted the Son of Heaven, moved the people, and now what do you seek to do?”

Lü Bu spat back, “Lord-abandoning coward! How dare you speak this way?”

Xiahou Dun raised his spear and leapt onto his horse, charging straight at Lü Bu.

Before they had traded more than a few blows, Li Jue brought one force in from the left, and Cao Cao rushed Xiahou Yuan to meet it.

A shout rose again from the right as Guo Si led in troops. Cao Cao urgently sent Cao Ren to meet him.

The combined three lines of horse were overwhelming.

Xiahou Dun could not hold against Lü Bu for long and wheeled back to rally.

Lü Bu moved his iron cavalry forward and ambushed, and Cao Cao’s force was heavily defeated. He turned back and ran for Xingyang.

When they reached the foot of a barren hill, it was about the second watch; the moon was bright as day. They had only just gathered the survivors.

They were just about to dig a field pot and cook when cries came from every side. Xu Rong’s ambush troops all surged out.

Cao Cao rushed his horse in panic, cut across and fled. He met Xu Rong, wheeled and ran on.

Xu Rong loosed an arrow that struck Cao Cao in the shoulder. Cao Cao kept riding with the arrow still in him.

Around the bend of a slope, two soldiers lay in the grass. As Cao Cao’s horse came, both spears were thrown together. The horse was struck and collapsed.

Cao Cao tumbled from the saddle and was seized by two infantrymen.

A general suddenly rode in, slicing down the two infantrymen with his sword, then dismounting, lifted Cao Cao.

It was Cao Hong.

Cao Cao said, “I die here; worthy younger brother, go at once!”

Cao Hong said, “Your servant must mount at once. I will walk.”

Cao Cao said, “Bandits are on us. What will you do?”

Cao Hong answered, “The realm may do without Hong, but not without Your Excellency.”

Cao Cao said, “If I live again, it is because of your strength.”

Cao Cao mounted again; Cao Hong stripped off his garments and armor and followed the horse, dragging the sword.

By the time they had gone a little further, it was past the fourth watch. Ahead lay a great river blocking the way; from behind the shouting drew near.

Cao Cao said, “My life is at this end; I cannot survive.”

Cao Hong quickly helped him down, took off his own robe and armor, and carried him through the water.

Only when they had crossed to the far bank did the pursuers arrive and fire arrows across the river. Cao Cao pressed on through the water.

By dawn they had gone more than thirty li and rested briefly below an earthen rise. Suddenly cries sounded, and a mass of riders came on. It was Xu Rong crossing from upstream to continue pursuit.

In Cao Cao’s panic, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan appeared with a dozen riders and shouted, “Xu Rong, do not harm our lord!”

Xu Rong immediately charged at Xiahou Dun. Dun lowered his spear and met him in close combat, killing him on horseback and scattering the rest.

Then Cao Ren, Li Dian, and Yue Jin each arrived with troops. Seeing Cao Cao, their fear and joy mingled. They gathered the broken survivors, five hundred or more, and returned together toward Henei.

Dong Zhuo’s army continued on to Chang’an.

The other lords separately camped around Luoyang.

Sun Jian quenched the remaining palace flames, camped his troops inside the city, and set his tents on the foundations of Jianzhang Hall.

He ordered his soldiers to clear away the debris of roof tiles from the palace.

All tombs that Dong Zhuo had dug were fully re-buried.

On the ancestral hall platform, he hastily built three rooms, invited all the lords to line up, raised the spirit tablets of the ancestral gods, and performed the great sacrificial rite.

After the sacrifice, all dispersed.

Sun Jian returned to camp. That night, under starlight and moonlight, he sat with sword unsheathed, looking up at the heavens.

He saw a long white vapor in the Purple Forbidden Enclosure. He sighed, “The star of Heaven’s mandate is unclear. The traitorous ministers have ruined the state; the multitude is in torment; and the capital lies empty!”

When he finished speaking, tears came unbidden.

A soldier pointed out, “Master, in the well south of the hall, five-colored brilliant light rises.”

Sun Jian ordered men to light torches and send down to recover what was in the well.

They brought up a woman’s corpse. Though long dead, the body had not putrefied. She wore court dress, and a silk knot was around her neck.

Opening it they found a vermilion lacquer box locked with gold. Within was an imperial seal, four cun across.

Its top had five coiled dragons; one corner was missing and inlaid with gold. On it were eight seal-script characters: “受命於天，既壽永昌.”

Sun Jian asked Cheng Pu.

Cheng Pu said, “This is the Heirloom State Seal. This jade was first seen by Bianhe under Jing Mountain, where a phoenix rested on a stone. He brought it to King Wu of Chu, and when he opened it, it proved to be true jade.

In the twenty-sixth year of Qin, it was cut into this seal by court jade craftsmen, and Li Si engraved those eight characters. In the twenty-eighth year, Emperor Shi Huang’s southern tour reached Dongting Lake, winds and waves rose, the ship nearly capsized, and he threw this seal into the lake to save the boat.

In the thirty-sixth year, Emperor Shi Huang made a tour to Huayin. Someone raised the seal on the road and said to attendants, “Take this to Ziying.” Then he disappeared. The seal returned to Qin.

The following year, Emperor Shi Huang died. Later, Ziying passed the seal to Emperor Gaozu of Han. In Wang Mang’s usurpation, Empress Dowager Xiao Yuan ordered the seal presented to Wang Xin and Su Xian, broke one corner, and set it with gold.

Emperor Guangwu won this treasure at Yiyang, and it has come down to this day.

I recently heard the ten eunuchs had mutinied, dragged the young emperor out to Bei Mang, and while returning to court the seal was lost. Since this charge is now in your hands, your fate is to rise to the ninth rank. You cannot stay here long. Go quickly back to Jiangdong and seek another great design.”

Sun Jian said, “What you said matches my thought exactly. Tomorrow I will feign illness and ask permission to leave.”

After discussion they settled it. He secretly told his men not to leak a word.

Then, unexpectedly, one soldier of Yuan Shao’s home district slipped out by night to use this for his own advancement and reported to Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao rewarded him and kept him secretly in the ranks.

The next day, Sun Jian asked leave of Yuan Shao, saying, “I have a small illness, and wish to return to Changsha; I came only to bid farewell.”

Yuan Shao laughed. “I know your illness is a pretext for hiding the Heirloom State Seal.”

Sun Jian turned pale. “How did that thought come from?”

Yuan Shao said, “You rose with the people to expel the bandits and remove evil from the land. The Heirloom State Seal is a court treasure. Since you have obtained it, you should show it to the coalition chief, wait to punish Dong Zhuo, and then return it to court. If you hide it and leave, what are you aiming at?”

Sun Jian said, “How could this treasure be in my possession?”

Yuan Shao said, “Where is the one from Jianzhang Hall’s well?”

Sun Jian said, “I did not have it at all. Why do you force this?”

Yuan Shao said, “Bring it out now, and avoid creating trouble for yourself.”

Sun Jian raised his hand to heaven and swore, “If I truly possessed this treasure and concealed it privately, I will die without blessing, under blade and arrow.”

The lords said, “Wen Tai has sworn so; surely he did not.”

Yuan Shao called for a soldier and asked, “Was there anyone there when you dredged it up?”

Sun Jian grew furious, pulled his sword, and stepped to behead the man.

Yuan Shao likewise drew his sword and said, “If you behead a soldier, you cheat me.”

Behind Yuan Shao, Yan Liang and Wen Chou drew their swords.

At Sun Jian’s back, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang also had blades out in hand.

All the lords together restrained him.

Sun Jian immediately mounted and lifted camp, then left Luoyang.

Yuan Shao was furious and wrote a letter, then in the night sent a trusted man to Jing Province to deliver it to Inspector Liu Biao, commanding him to intercept and seize Sun Jian on the road.

The next day, word came that Cao Cao had pursued Dong Zhuo, fought at Xingyang, and returned after a great defeat.

Yuan Shao sent men to summon Cao Cao to camp and gathered everyone to drink and ease grief.

During the banquet Cao Cao sighed, “My first intention was to do what was right and rid the realm of bandits. Since all of you came with upright purpose, my first plan was to ask Benchu to bring the troops of Henei to Mengjin and Suanzao. You all should hold Chenggao, occupy the granaries, block Huan-yuan and Dagu, and control the strategic points. Gonglu should lead the Nanyang troops, station at Danxi and Xixi, and enter Wuguan to shake the Three Divisions:

Make deep trenches and high earthen walls; do not seek open battle. Use feigned reinforcements so the outside can read the situation, then move steadily to punish the traitor and set the realm right. Your present hesitation and delay have failed the world. It shames me.”

No one had an answer.

When the banquet ended, Cao Cao saw that everyone carried divided intent and could not accomplish anything together, so he took his troops to Yang Province.

Gongsun Zan said to Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, “Yuan Shao cannot achieve this. He will change eventually. We should withdraw now.”

They lifted their camps and rode north. At Pingyuan, he appointed Liu Bei as Inspector of Pingyuan and withdrew to defend and strengthen the army.

Liu Dai, Administrator of Yanzhou, asked Qiao Mao, Administrator of Dongjun, for grain. Qiao Mao refused. Liu Dai rode in and charged Qiao Mao’s camp, killing him; all his men surrendered.

Yuan Shao saw everyone dispersing and took his own forces, lifted camp, left Luoyang, and went toward Jiangdong.

At that time, Liu Biao, style name Jingsheng, was from Gaoping in Shanyang. He was a collateral branch of the Han house. As a youth he liked gathering with notable men and had seven famous friends, and they were known as the “Eight Worthies of Jiangxia.”

Those seven were: Chen Xiang of Runan, style Zhonglin; Fan Pang, a fellow-countryman, style Mengbo; Kong Yu of Lu State, style Shiyuan; Fan Kang of Bohai, style Zhongzhen; Tan Fu of Shanyang, style Wenyu; Zhang Jian, a fellow-countryman, style Yuanjie; and Cen Zhi of Nanyang, style Gongxiao.

Liu Biao was also friendly with Kua Liang and Kua Yue, both from Yanping, and Cai Mao, who was from Xiangyang.

When Liu Biao saw Yuan Shao’s letter, he immediately ordered Kua Yue and Cai Mao, with ten thousand troops, to intercept Sun Jian.

As soon as Sun Jian’s army arrived, Kua Yue set the formation and rode out first.

Sun Jian asked, “Kua Yue, why do you bring troops to block my road?”

Kua Yue replied, “You are a Han minister. How can you hide the Heirloom Seal and keep it to yourself? Leave it at once and I will let you go.”

Sun Jian was enraged and ordered Huang Gai to fight.

Cai Mao came on, brandishing his sword.

They fought several exchanges. Huang Gai struck him with a whip directly into the breastplate. Cai Mao turned his horse and fled. Sun Jian pressed on through the gate.

From behind the hills drums and gongs sounded together, and Liu Biao himself arrived with troops.

From horseback, Sun Jian saluted, saying, “Why, Jingsheng, did you trust Yuan Shao’s letter and pressure a neighboring commandery like this?”

Liu Biao asked, “You are hiding the Heirloom State Seal and plotting rebellion?”

Sun Jian said, “If I had this object, I would have died by blade and arrow.”

Liu Biao replied, “If you want me to believe you, place your baggage under my authority and let me inspect it.”

Sun Jian said angrily, “What power do you think you have to look down on me!”

As he moved to engage, Liu Biao withdrew.

Sun Jian drove after him. Behind the hills both sides rose with ambushes. Kua Yue and Cai Mao came from the rear and drove Sun Jian into a surrounded position.

It was this:

The Heirloom State Seal brought no benefit, but this treasure stirred all the blades and the bloodshed.

How Sun Jian might escape this trap, How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.