In the grand hall of Dong Zhuo's residence, the lights were blazing brightly. Servants and maids bustled in and out, bringing in a continuous stream of various dishes.
Dong Zhuo, the former general and high-ranking court official, showed no signs of his prestigious status. He held a small silver knife in one hand and a half-roasted lamb leg in the other, cutting into it with gusto. His hands and beard were greasy, but he didn't seem to care. He even wiped his hands on the backside of a maid who was serving dishes, leaving obvious greasy handprints.
Dong Zhuo stuffed a large piece of ruby-red lamb into his mouth, savoring the burst of flavor from the tender meat. Satisfied, he raised a cup of wine to those around him and downed it in one gulp, displaying none of the pretentiousness of a scholar. His demeanor was bold and unrestrained.
Dong Zhuo's behavior put Wu Kuang (Wu Zizhu) and Zhang Zhang (Zhang Yuande), seated on the right side of the hall, at ease. Both were military men by background and found the elaborate rituals of scholars tedious, though they had no choice but to follow them. They had expected Dong Zhuo, as the former general and governor of Xiliang, to be strict about etiquette. To their surprise, Dong Zhuo acted like a rough-and-tumble military man, which made them feel a sense of familiarity.
Li Ru, seated on the left, maintained the decorum of a scholar. He didn't cut the lamb himself but had the maids prepare it for him. He ate more delicately, picking at the food with chopsticks. For him, the food wasn't the main focus—the people were.
Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang were former generals under He Jin, the late Grand General. After He Jin's unexpected death, the soldiers who had once been under his command were left in disarray. Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang were also at a loss, feeling uncertain about their future.
Dong Zhuo's foundation was solid. He commanded a direct force of 100,000 soldiers, but he hadn't been able to bring many troops to the capital. It wasn't convenient to do so, especially since he had only just received He Jin's secret edict. Bringing too many troops would have turned his entry into Luoyang from a "peaceful arrival" into an "invasion." Thus, he had only brought 3,000 Xiliang cavalry.
Now that he was in Luoyang, these 3,000 troops were far from sufficient. They barely managed to control the northern and southern palaces and the city gates. Although Dong Zhuo had already sent orders to summon more troops, the current gap in military strength left him vulnerable. This was why Li Ru had set his sights on the troops formerly under He Jin's command.
As the wine flowed, Li Ru subtly signaled to Dong Min, who was seated nearby. Dong Min understood and raised his cup to toast Dong Zhuo, saying, "General, with many positions in the Western Garden's Eight Commanders vacant and many of the current holders incompetent, it is urgent that you reorganize them for the sake of the court and the nation."
Dong Zhuo stroked his greasy beard and nodded. "The late emperor once told me that the Western Garden's Eight Commanders were meant to be a new force, a hope for the future. But now, alas—"
Li Ru set down his chopsticks and said, "How can those who know nothing of military affairs be allowed to hold command? General, you must appoint those who understand warfare. In my humble opinion, Zizhu and Yuande are skilled in leading troops. You might consider them for these positions." The message was clear, and those who needed to understand would.
Sure enough, Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang exchanged glances and immediately grasped the implication.
Zhang Zhang quickly stood up, stepped away from his seat, and bowed to Dong Zhuo, saying, "We are willing to serve the General to the death!"
Wu Kuang followed suit, bowing and repeating the same words.
Dong Zhuo laughed heartily, stood up, and strode over to Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang. He helped them up and called for maids to bring more wine. He personally handed cups to Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang, and they all drank together. Then, turning to Dong Min, he said, "Shuying, tomorrow you will take ten oxen, fifty sheep, and a hundred barrels of fine wine to reward Zizhu and Yuande's troops!"
Before Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang could react, Dong Zhuo turned to Li Ru and ordered, "Zizhu and Yuande have been training troops away from home for years, leaving their families unattended. Wenyou, take ten bolts of silk and a hundred taels of gold to their residences!"
Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang quickly bowed again, this time with even greater sincerity and gratitude.
"Since we are now one family, there's no need for thanks!" Dong Zhuo waved his hand magnanimously. "Bring in the dancers! Zizhu, Yuande, these dancers are quite charming. If you're interested, feel free to choose one or two to keep you company. Hahaha…"
Li Ru smiled, picking up a piece of lamb with his chopsticks. He nodded as he watched Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang, moved to tears by Dong Zhuo's generosity.
******************
Meanwhile, Bao Xin and Yuan Shao were also drinking, though their gathering was far less grand than Dong Zhuo's banquet. They sat in a pavilion in Bao Xin's backyard, with a few dishes and cups of wine between them.
Bao Xin had been tasked by He Jin with recruiting soldiers. He Jin's original intention was to train a new force loyal to him, but after recruiting a little over a thousand soldiers, He Jin died in a political coup.
Thus, Bao Xin now commanded not only his original troops as the Rear Army Commandant but also a small, unknown force.
Both men were drinking, but their minds were clearly preoccupied, so their conversation was sporadic.
Bao Xin was troubled. He had been recruited by He Jin and had risen from Cavalry Commandant to Rear Army Commandant. However, his strong association with He Jin now left him isolated, with no clear direction for his future.
Yuan Shao was also troubled. The Yuan family's resources were being funneled to Yuan Shu, leaving him in a difficult position. Previously, Yuan Wei had tried to placate him by involving him in the mission to welcome the emperor, but Dong Zhuo had intercepted them, leaving Yuan Shao with no tangible benefits. Instead, he had only managed to alienate Cao Cao, which was deeply frustrating.
After a few rounds of wine, Bao Xin finally broke the silence. "Dong Zhuo has stationed troops at the palace walls, which shows he has ulterior motives. If we sit back and do nothing, we'll be in trouble later. What do you think, Benchu?"
Yuan Shao nodded. "You're right, Brother Yuncheng. But Dong Zhuo has a strong army at his disposal. What can we do?"
Bao Xin lowered his voice. "To be honest, the Grand General had me recruit over a thousand soldiers. They're currently stationed at Chenggao and can be here in no time."
Yuan Shao's interest was piqued, but Bao Xin's next words dashed his hopes. "Right now, Dong Zhuo's position is unstable, and his troops are exhausted. If we strike unexpectedly, we could succeed! But—we lack a just cause, and it would be hard to rally support…"
Yuan Shao hid his disappointment behind his sleeve as he drank. It was clear that Bao Xin wasn't seeking his partnership but rather trying to connect with the Yuan family through him.
"A just cause and rallying support"? Indeed, if a prominent figure were to lead the charge, both would be achieved. But was Yuan Shao such a figure? Clearly not. Bao Xin's intention was obvious: he wanted to use Yuan Shao to gain the Yuan family's backing, and the thousand soldiers were his offering.
But could Yuan Shao tell Bao Xin that he had been sidelined by the Yuan family, that their resources were now focused on Yuan Shu, and that his prestigious status as the eldest son was merely a facade?
Yuan Shao set down his cup and said, "This matter is too significant to act on rashly. Let's discuss it another time."
Bao Xin assumed Yuan Shao needed to consult his family and didn't press further.
With nothing left to discuss, the two men quickly wrapped up their drinking session.
Yuan Shao left Bao Xin's residence under the high moon, the night quiet around him. A large lantern bearing the character "Yuan" hung in front of his carriage, and the wheels creaked as they rolled over the cobblestone road.
Inside the carriage, Yuan Shao sneered. "The Yuan family, the Yuan family! Prestige, prestige!" He had made up his mind. Since the Yuan family no longer supported him, there was no need to involve them in this matter. For now, his most critical task was to seize opportunities to build his own reputation. One day, he would be like the Yuan family, with talented individuals flocking to him based on his prestige alone. That was his goal, and that was how he would achieve his ambitions.