Zhang Fei galloped his horse to the very foot of the pass, but a rain of arrows and stones poured down from the walls, forcing him to retreat without success. The eight allied warlords, with one voice, invited Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei to celebrate their victory, and sent a messenger to Yuan Shao's camp to announce the triumph. Yuan Shao then issued a dispatch to Sun Jian, ordering him to advance. Sun Jian, accompanied by Cheng Pu and Huang Gai, went to Yuan Shu's camp for an audience. Leaning on his staff, Sun Jian drew a line on the ground and said, "Dong Zhuo and I had no personal grudge. Now I risk my life, charging through arrows and stones, to fight a battle to the death—for the sake of the realm, to punish the traitor above, and for your family's private grievance below. Yet you, General, listened to slander and withheld my grain supplies, causing my defeat. How can your conscience be at ease?" Yuan Shu, trembling with fear, had no reply. He ordered the execution of the man who had brought the slander, as an apology to Sun Jian.
Suddenly, a messenger reported to Sun Jian: "A general from the pass has ridden to our camp and wishes to see you." Sun Jian took his leave of Yuan Shu and returned to his own camp. Summoning the man for questioning, he found it was Li Jue, one of Dong Zhuo's favored generals. Sun Jian asked, "Why have you come?" Li Jue replied, "The one the Chancellor respects most is you, General. He has specially sent me to propose a marriage alliance: the Chancellor has a daughter whom he wishes to betroth to your son." Sun Jian flew into a rage and shouted, "Dong Zhuo defies Heaven's will and has no moral principles! He has overturned and plundered the royal house! I want to exterminate his entire clan to atone for his crimes against the realm. How could I ever form a marriage alliance with such a traitor?! I will not kill you, but you must leave at once. If you surrender the pass quickly, I will spare your life. If you delay even a moment, I will grind your bones to dust!"
Li Jue fled with his head in his hands, returning to Dong Zhuo and reporting Sun Jian's insolence. Enraged, Dong Zhuo consulted Li Ru. Li Ru said, "The Marquis of Wen has just suffered a defeat, and the army has lost its will to fight. It would be better to withdraw to Luoyang and move the Emperor to Chang'an, to fulfill the children's rhyme. Lately, a rhyme has been sung in the streets: 'A Han in the west, a Han in the east. The deer runs into Chang'an, and thus the calamity will cease.' I believe this means: 'A Han in the west' refers to our founder, Emperor Gao, who established his dynasty in the western capital, Chang'an, passing the throne through twelve emperors. 'A Han in the east' refers to Emperor Guangwu, who flourished in the eastern capital, Luoyang, which has also seen twelve emperors. The cycle of Heaven's fortune is turning. If you, Chancellor, move the capital back to Chang'an, we can avoid disaster." Dong Zhuo was overjoyed and said, "Without your words, I truly would not have understood." He then led Lü Bu back to Luoyang that very night to discuss the relocation of the capital.
Summoning all civil and military officials to the court, Dong Zhuo declared, "Luoyang, the eastern capital of Han, has stood for over two hundred years. Its allotted time is now exhausted. I see that the vital energy of prosperity lies in Chang'an. I intend to escort the Emperor westward. You should all prepare your baggage immediately." Minister of Education Yang Biao objected: "The Guanzhong region is devastated and desolate. To abandon the ancestral temples and imperial tombs for no reason will surely alarm the people. It is easy to stir up trouble in the realm, but very difficult to calm it down. I beg you, Chancellor, to reconsider." Dong Zhuo replied angrily, "Are you trying to obstruct the great plan of the state?" Grand Commandant Huang Wan added, "Minister Yang's words are correct. In the past, when Wang Mang rebelled and during the time of the Gengshi Emperor and the Red Eyebrows, Chang'an was burned to the ground, reduced to rubble. Furthermore, the people have scattered, and not one in a hundred remains. To abandon our palaces for a wasteland is not appropriate." Dong Zhuo countered, "The rebels east of the pass have risen, and the realm is in chaos. Chang'an has the natural defenses of the Xiao and Han passes. It is also closer to Longyou, where timber, stone, bricks, and tiles can be gathered in a matter of days. The construction of palaces will not take more than a month. Say no more of this nonsense." Minister of Education Xun Shuang dared to advise, "If you, Chancellor, insist on moving the capital, the people will be thrown into turmoil and unrest." Dong Zhuo, now in a fury, roared, "I am planning for the realm! Why should I care about a few commoners?" That very day, he dismissed Yang Biao, Huang Wan, and Xun Shuang from their posts, reducing them to commoners.
As Dong Zhuo was mounting his carriage, he saw two men bowing to him from the roadside. Recognizing them as Zhou Bi, the Imperial Secretary, and Wu Qiong, the Commandant of the City Gates, he asked what business they had. Zhou Bi said, "We have heard that you, Chancellor, intend to move the capital to Chang'an, and we have come to offer our counsel." Dong Zhuo flew into a rage and shouted, "At first, I listened to you two, and you recommended Yuan Shao for office. Now Yuan Shao has rebelled—you are clearly in league with him!" He ordered the guards to drag them outside the city gates and behead them. He then issued the decree to move the capital, ordering it to be carried out the very next day. Li Ru advised, "Our funds and grain are low. There are many wealthy families in Luoyang. We can confiscate their property and register it as state assets. As for those who are followers of Yuan Shao and his ilk, kill their entire clans and seize their family wealth. We will surely obtain a vast fortune." Dong Zhuo immediately dispatched five thousand iron cavalry to sweep through Luoyang, rounding up thousands of wealthy households. They placed banners on their heads bearing the inscription "Rebels and Traitors," executed them all outside the city, and took their gold and valuables.
Li Jue and Guo Si then drove the millions of people of Luoyang westward toward Chang'an. For every column of civilians, there was a column of soldiers, pressing them forward in mutual coercion. Countless people died in the ditches and ravines. The soldiers were also allowed to rape women and steal food. The wailing and crying shook heaven and earth. Anyone who moved too slowly was urged on by three thousand soldiers from behind, who, with naked blades in hand, slaughtered people along the road.
Before departing, Dong Zhuo ordered fires to be set at every gate, burning down the people's homes, and then set fire to the ancestral temples, government offices, and palaces. The flames from the northern and southern palaces joined together, reducing the Hall of Eternal Joy to ashes. He also sent Lü Bu to dig up the tombs of the former emperors and empresses, seizing their gold and treasures. The soldiers, taking advantage of the chaos, plundered the graves of officials and commoners alike, leaving almost none untouched. Dong Zhuo loaded thousands of carts with gold, pearls, silks, and fine goods, seized the Emperor and the empresses, and set out directly for Chang'an.
As for Dong Zhuo's general Zhao Cen, seeing that Dong Zhuo had abandoned Luoyang, he surrendered the Si River Pass. Sun Jian led his troops through first. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei then charged into Tiger Trap Pass, and the other warlords each led their armies in.
Sun Jian galloped toward Luoyang. From afar, he saw flames leaping to the sky and black smoke covering the ground for two or three hundred li. Not a single dog barked, nor did a single rooster crow. Sun Jian first sent troops to extinguish the fires, then ordered the various warlords to station their forces on the barren ground. Cao Cao came to see Yuan Shao and asked, "Now that the traitor Dong has fled west, this is the perfect time to pursue and attack him. Why are you, Penghigh, sitting still with your army?" Yuan Shao replied, "Our troops are exhausted and hungry. To advance would likely bring no benefit." Cao Cao said, "Dong Zhuo burned the palaces and kidnapped the Emperor, shaking the entire realm, leaving everyone uncertain where to turn. This is the moment Heaven has chosen for his destruction. One battle could decide the fate of the realm! Why do you all hesitate and refuse to advance?" The other warlords all said it would be unwise to act rashly. Cao Cao, in a fury, exclaimed, "You petty fools are not worth consulting!" He then took over ten thousand of his own men, along with Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Li Dian, and Yue Jin, and set out that very night to pursue Dong Zhuo.
Meanwhile, Dong Zhuo had reached the territory of Xingyang, where Grand Administrator Xu Rong came out to receive him. Li Ru advised, "You, Chancellor, have just abandoned Luoyang. We must guard against pursuers. Order Xu Rong to ambush his troops by the mountain ridge outside Xingyang. If any troops pursue us, let them pass through. Then, after we have defeated them, he can cut them off and annihilate them. This will ensure that no one dares to follow us again." Dong Zhuo agreed and also ordered Lü Bu to lead elite troops to cover the rear.
As Lü Bu was marching, Cao Cao's army caught up with him. Lü Bu laughed heartily and said, "Just as Li Ru predicted!" He deployed his men and horses. Cao Cao rode out and shouted, "Traitor! You have kidnapped the Emperor and driven the people from their homes. Where do you think you are going?" Lü Bu cursed back, "You coward who betrayed your lord! How dare you spout nonsense!" Xiahou Dun raised his spear and charged at Lü Bu. After only a few exchanges, Li Jue led a force from the left flank, and Cao Cao hastily ordered Xiahou Yuan to meet them. Then, shouts erupted from the right, and Guo Si led another force into the fray. Cao Cao urgently ordered Cao Ren to engage them. The three-pronged attack was overwhelming. Xiahou Dun could not hold his ground against Lü Bu and fled back to his lines. Lü Bu led his iron cavalry in a devastating charge, routing Cao Cao's army. Cao Cao fled toward Xingyang. Around the second watch of the night, under a moon as bright as day, he reached the foot of a barren mountain and gathered his shattered remnants. Just as they were preparing to light fires and cook a meal, war cries erupted from all sides—Xu Rong's ambush had sprung. Cao Cao frantically spurred his horse, trying to break through, and found himself face-to-face with Xu Rong. He turned and fled. Xu Rong drew his bow and shot Cao Cao in the shoulder. Still carrying the arrow, Cao Cao fled for his life, swerving around a hillside. Two soldiers were hiding in the grass. Seeing Cao Cao's horse approaching, they thrust their spears simultaneously. The horse was struck and fell. Cao Cao was thrown from the saddle and captured by the two soldiers.
Just then, a general came galloping at full speed. He swung his blade, cutting down both foot soldiers, then dismounted and helped Cao Cao up. Cao Cao saw it was Cao Hong. "I am doomed to die here," Cao Cao said. "Brother, save yourself and go quickly!" Cao Hong replied, "You must get on my horse, my lord. I will go on foot." Cao Cao asked, "If the enemy catches up, what will you do?" Cao Hong answered, "The world can do without Cao Hong, but it cannot do without you, my lord." Cao Cao said, "If I live again, it will be thanks to your efforts." Cao Hong helped Cao Cao onto the horse, then stripped off his own armor and, dragging his blade, ran alongside the horse. They traveled until the fourth watch, when a great river blocked their path. The cries of their pursuers grew closer. Cao Cao said, "My fate is sealed. There is no escape now." Cao Hong quickly helped Cao Cao dismount, removed his robe and armor, and carried him across the water on his back. They had barely reached the other side when the pursuers arrived, firing arrows across the river. Cao Cao, soaked through, continued to flee. By dawn, they had traveled another thirty li. They stopped to rest under a low earthen ridge. Suddenly, war cries erupted again, and a band of horsemen appeared—Xu Rong had crossed the river upstream and was pursuing them. Cao Cao was in despair when Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan arrived with a few dozen riders, shouting, "Xu Rong, do not harm our lord!" Xu Rong turned to engage Xiahou Dun, who met him with his spear. After a few exchanges, Xiahou Dun thrust his spear through Xu Rong, unhorsing and killing him. They scattered the remaining enemy troops. Soon, Cao Ren, Li Dian, and Yue Jin arrived with their men, each having searched for Cao Cao. Seeing him alive, their joy was mixed with sorrow. They gathered the remnants of the army—barely five hundred men—and returned together to Henei. Dong Zhuo's army continued on its way to Chang'an.
The various warlords now camped in Luoyang. Sun Jian extinguished the remaining fires within the palace grounds and stationed his troops inside the city, setting up his tent on the foundations of the Jianzhang Palace. Sun Jian ordered his soldiers to clear away the rubble of the palaces. All the tombs that Dong Zhuo had plundered were sealed up again. On the site of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, he hastily built three small halls, invited the other warlords to install the spirit tablets of the former emperors, and sacrificed a bull in their honor. After the ceremony, everyone dispersed. Sun Jian returned to his camp. That night, under a sky bright with stars and a crescent moon, he sat outside with his hand on his sword, gazing up at the heavens. He saw a white haze spreading across the Purple Forbidden Enclosure. Sun Jian sighed and said, "The Emperor's star is dim. Traitorous ministers have thrown the state into chaos. The people are suffering, and the capital lies empty!" As he spoke, tears streamed unbidden from his eyes.
One of his soldiers pointed and said, "There is a five-colored light rising from a well south of the palace." Sun Jian ordered the soldiers to light torches and lower a man into the well to retrieve it. They pulled up the corpse of a woman. Though it had been there for some time, the body had not decayed. She was dressed in palace attire, and around her neck hung a brocade pouch. Opening it, they found a small cinnabar-red box fastened with a golden lock. When they opened it, they discovered a jade seal. It was four inches square, carved with five intertwined dragons, with one corner missing, repaired with gold. On it were eight seal-script characters: "Having received the Mandate of Heaven, may he enjoy long life and eternal prosperity." Sun Jian, having obtained the seal, asked Cheng Pu about it. Cheng Pu said, "This is the Heirloom Seal of the Realm. This jade was originally discovered by Bian He at the foot of Mount Jing. Seeing a phoenix perching on a rock, he presented the stone to King Wen of Chu. After cutting it open, they indeed found the jade. In the twenty-sixth year of the Qin dynasty, a master craftsman was ordered to carve it into a seal, and Li Si inscribed these eight characters upon it. In the twenty-eighth year, the First Emperor, on an inspection tour, reached Lake Dongting. A great storm arose, and his boat was about to capsize. He hastily threw the jade seal into the lake, and the storm subsided. In the thirty-sixth year, when the First Emperor was on another tour near Huayin, a man blocked the road holding the seal. He said to the emperor's attendants, 'Take this and return it to the Ancestor Dragon.' He vanished after speaking, and the seal was returned to Qin. The following year, the First Emperor died. Later, Ziying presented the seal to Emperor Gao of Han. Then, during the usurpation of Wang Mang, Empress Dowager Xiao Yuan threw the seal at Wang Xun and Su Xian, chipping one corner, which was later repaired with gold. Emperor Guangwu recovered this treasure at Yiyang, and it has been passed down through the ages. Recently, I heard that during the rebellion of the Ten Regular Attendants, they kidnapped the Young Emperor and took him to Mount Beimang. When the Emperor returned to the palace, this seal was lost. Now Heaven has bestowed it upon you, my lord. This must mean you are destined for the throne. We cannot stay here long. We should return to Jiangdong as quickly as possible and make other plans for the future." Sun Jian said, "Your words match my own thoughts. Tomorrow, I will feign illness and resign." Having settled the plan, he secretly ordered his soldiers not to reveal a word.
Among the soldiers, however, was a man from the same hometown as Yuan Shao. Hoping to use this information to advance his own position, he slipped out of camp that night and reported everything to Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao rewarded him and kept him hidden in his own camp. The next day, Sun Jian came to take his leave of Yuan Shao, saying, "I have fallen ill and wish to return to Changsha. I have come specially to bid you farewell." Yuan Shao smiled and said, "I know your illness—it is the Heirloom Seal of the Realm." Sun Jian's face went pale. "What do you mean by that?" he asked. Yuan Shao replied, "We have raised an army to punish the traitors and rid the realm of evil. The jade seal is a treasure of the court. Since you have found it, you should present it to the alliance leader for safekeeping, to be returned to the court after we have killed Dong Zhuo. Now you intend to hide it and leave. What is your purpose?" Sun Jian said, "How could the jade seal be with me?" Yuan Shao countered, "And what about the object from the well in the Jianzhang Palace?" Sun Jian insisted, "I have no such thing. Why do you force this accusation upon me?" Yuan Shao said, "Produce it quickly, or you will bring disaster upon yourself." Sun Jian raised his hand to Heaven and swore, "If I have indeed obtained this treasure and hidden it away, may I die a violent death, pierced by swords and arrows!" The other warlords said, "Since Sun Jian has sworn such an oath, it seems he does not have it." Yuan Shao then called forward the soldier and said, "Was this man present when you fished the object from the well?" Sun Jian flew into a rage and drew his sword to kill the soldier. Yuan Shao also drew his sword and said, "If you kill my soldier, you are insulting me!" Behind Yuan Shao, Yan Liang and Wen Chou drew their swords. Behind Sun Jian, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang also drew their blades. The other warlords rushed to calm everyone down. Sun Jian immediately mounted his horse, broke camp, and left Luoyang. Furious, Yuan Shao wrote a letter and sent a trusted agent that very night to Jing Province, to deliver it to Provincial Inspector Liu Biao, ordering him to intercept Sun Jian on the road and seize the seal.
The next day, a report arrived that Cao Cao had pursued Dong Zhuo, fought a battle at Xingyang, and been thoroughly defeated. Yuan Shao sent someone to welcome Cao Cao to his camp and called a gathering of the warlords for a feast to cheer him up. During the feast, Cao Cao sighed and said, "I first raised the banner of righteousness to rid the realm of traitors. Since you all came in the name of justice, my initial plan was to ask Penghigh to lead the forces of Henei to Meng Ford and Sour Jujube. The various generals would hold Chenggao, occupy Aocang, and block the Huan Pass and the Taigu Pass, controlling all strategic points. I wanted Gonglu to lead the army of Nanyang, station at Dan and Xi, and enter Wu Pass to threaten the three capitals of the Guanzhong region. We would dig deep moats and build high walls, avoiding battle, but increasing our feints to show the realm our strength. By punishing the rebels with righteous force, we could have settled the matter in no time. Now you all hesitate and refuse to advance, deeply disappointing the hopes of the realm. I am ashamed of it!" Yuan Shao and the others had no reply. When the feast ended, Cao Cao saw that each of the warlords harbored their own ambitions. He knew the enterprise could not succeed, so he took his own troops and left for Yang Province. Gongsun Zan said to Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, "Yuan Shao is useless. There will soon be a change. We should return as well." He then broke camp and marched north. When they reached Pingyuan, he appointed Liu Bei as its Grand Administrator, while he himself went to guard his own territory and train his troops. Liu Dai, the Grand Administrator of Yanzhou, asked for grain from Qiao Mao, the Grand Administrator of Dong Commandery. Qiao Mao refused. Liu Dai then led his troops in a surprise attack on Qiao Mao's camp, killed him, and absorbed all his men. Seeing that the various warlords were all going their separate ways, Yuan Shao also led his army, broke camp, and left Luoyang, heading east of the pass.
Now, Liu Biao, the Provincial Inspector of Jing Province, styled name Jing Sheng, was a native of Gaoping in Shanyang. He was a member of the Han imperial clan. From his youth, he loved to form friendships, and he had seven famous scholars as his companions, known at the time as the "Eight Talents of Jiangxia." The seven were: Chen Xiang of Runan, styled Zhonglin; Fan Pang of the same commandery, styled Mengbo; Kong Yu of Lu, styled Shiyuan; Fan Kang of Bohai, styled Zhongzhen; Tan Fu of Shanyang, styled Wenyou; Zhang Jian of the same commandery, styled Yuanjie; and Cen Xi of Nanyang, styled Gongxiao. Liu Biao was a close friend of these seven men. He was also assisted by Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue of Yanping, and Cai Mao of Xiangyang. Upon reading Yuan Shao's letter, Liu Biao immediately ordered Kuai Yue and Cai Mao to lead ten thousand troops to intercept Sun Jian. Sun Jian's army had just arrived when Kuai Yue deployed his forces and rode out to meet them. Sun Jian asked, "Why are you, Kuai Yidu, blocking my path?" Kuai Yue replied, "You claim to be a minister of Han, so how dare you secretly hide the Heirloom Seal of the Realm? Hand it over at once, and I will let you go." Sun Jian, enraged, ordered Huang Gai into battle. Cai Mao, twirling his blade, came to meet him. After a few exchanges, Huang Gai lashed out with his whip, striking Cai Mao squarely on his heart-protecting mirror. Cai Mao turned his horse and fled. Sun Jian took advantage of the moment to charge across the boundary line. Then, from behind the hills, drums and gongs thundered as Liu Biao himself arrived with his army. Sun Jian, still on horseback, bowed and said, "Why do you, Jing Sheng, believe Yuan Shao's letter and harass a neighboring commandery?" Liu Biao replied, "You have hidden the Heirloom Seal. Do you intend to rebel?" Sun Jian swore, "If I have such an object, may I die by sword and arrow!" Liu Biao said, "If you want me to believe you, let me search your army's baggage." Sun Jian, now furious, shouted, "What power do you have that you dare to look down on me?" Just as they were about to engage, Liu Biao withdrew. Sun Jian spurred his horse in pursuit, but from behind both hills, ambush troops rose up. At the same time, Cai Mao and Kuai Yue closed in from behind, trapping Sun Jian in the center of a deadly ring.
Truly, the jade seal, once obtained, proved useless, and instead became the cause for swords and spears to be drawn. How would Sun Jian escape from this predicament? The next chapter will reveal the outcome.