Chapter 223 Infighting (1/2)
Chapter 223 – Infighting
Back in time.
October 29th.
Henei Commandery City.
Dong Zhuo Army returned to Henei City with his 100,000 troops. They were expecting a warm welcome from the citizens and the officials as they were part of the Imperial Army.
However.
”Begone, traitors!”
”Thieves!”
”Assholes!”
As they entered the city and marching along the main road, the townspeople cursed at Dong Zhuo and his soldiers, which angered them.
”What the fOOk! I'm fighting for you lots, and you dare to curse me!?” Screamed Dong Zhuo.
Li Ru also frowned. He had received his scout reports that there was a squad pretending to be one of their soldiers ransacking the nobles and the government treasuries.
This group of imposters left the city after a day, which never reappeared again.
”My lord, I'm afraid that we have been scammed,” Li Ru reported to Dong Zhuo.
”What!? Who dares scamming me!?”
”I believe it was Zhang Tong's disguised unit that slipped through the mountain valley a weeks ago. According to our investigation, they visited this city before they left for Shangdang.”
Hearing that he had been played, the face of Dong Zhuo reddened, and his breath became rough. He drew his sword and threw it into the protesting crowd, killing an innocent onlooker.
The peasants, who had been busy spitting and cursing at Dong Zhuo, were shocked by the sudden action of this Prime Minister. They screamed and dispersed in a chaotic manner, thinking that the soldiers would kill them.
”Blasphemy! This is the unfilial act! Li Ru, do not send reinforcement to Shangdang! From this point on, Zhang Tong and I are through! We are not father and son-in-law!”
Dong Zhuo knew that the disguised force was from Tong Army. As a result of his thinking, he believed that Tong had plotted against him.
Li Ru bowed, ”Understood. I shall relay your decree to the others. But, my lord, we still have to appease the city before we move to Luo Yang. I need your permission to take over the domestic affair of this city.”
”No need! We will not waste our precious time with these peasants! Soldiers, arrest all fools that disgraced us! You have the permission to kill and loot! If you find any beautiful girl, tribute them all to me, and I'll reward you!”
Like a devil incarnated, Dong Zhuo disregarded the domestic stability of Henei City and gave a pillage order.
Instead of disapproving their Lord's decree, the soldiers smiled in glee. They rushed toward the town buildings, kicking open doors and started pillaging like bandits.
The one hundred thousand soldiers were like an army of plague, killing, raping, and stealing everything they deemed worthy. Within an hour, the City of Henei turned into a city of Hell. Black smoke from the fire rose from buildings and screams could be heard everywhere.
Numb by the actions of his lord, Li Ru stared at the carnage scene with an indifferent expression on his face.
Furthermore,
”Gather your loots to the treasuries! For those who contribute the most will be given a noble status and slaves!”
Without batting an eye, he also ordered a similar task, arousing his subordinates into more plundering.
Li Ru watched the city while he was thinking, 'Since we only need this city as a fortress to defend the north, civilians are unnecessary. We can turn all of them into slaves and sell them at the western border for profits.'
'Liu Ping is likely to die in the war. I should prepare the men to start building siege weapons in advance.'
'Once we reach Luo Yang, we will take over the city and the Imperial Court by force!'
…
…
November 2nd, 182 A.D.
The Capital City, Luo Yang.
Wang Yun was standing in the throne room with his daughter, Diao Chan. In his hands was a golden scroll, which indicated that it was the edict of the Emperor.
Wang Yun was reading the decree out loud to inform all ministers in the throne room.
…
[I, Liu Ping, have considered the future of our dynasty. While I am trying to suppress the rebels and the Xiongnu, I overlooked an urgent matter of our country.
My father has posted a high taxes on the merchants, nobles, and the peasants, which we have forgotten to adjust the new tax rate to suit our current economic power.
This year, we were narrow-minded and too focused on the Xiongnu invasion, and we did not pay attention to the lack of harvest before we even dispatched our troops.
These two reasons are enough to shame me to death. It made me realized I am not a competence Emperor worthy to succeed The Great Han Wudi.
With me as the only successor to the throne, I felt suffocated, and I have prayed to Heaven to give me an option to salvage our mistakes.
Then, I saw a sign. During our travel to Jinyang, we saw an azure dragon on the night sky, watching us from above. It appeared before me and gave me a prophecy, saying that I am but a stepping stone for the new righteous Empress of our country.
I was confused at first, but it came to me that there was a particular individual who showed exceptional talents at a young age. She is the adopted daughter of Wang Yun, called Diao Chan. The girl has been getting famous these days as her intelligence is not that something of a 6-year-old can possess.