After completing his mission, Li Su rushed back to Luoyang to seek an audience with Dong Zhuo, giving him a detailed report on the situation. Upon hearing the news, Dong Zhuo was overjoyed, his excitement so great that he immediately rewarded Li Su.
Dong Zhuo then called Li Ru for a discussion. He excitedly grabbed Li Ru's hand and happily said, "Wen You, you are truly amazing, simply my Zhang Liang! Your clever little scheme not only helped me successfully resolve my worries but also doubled our strength. You alone are worth an army of a hundred thousand!" Li Ru merely smiled subtly in response, not saying much.
Dong Zhuo calmed himself down and then asked, "Wen You, Lü Bu is leading the Bing Province Army to surrender. How should we receive him to successfully appease his heart?" Li Ru pondered for a moment before replying, "Lord, you can lead all your civil and military officials to open the gates of Luoyang wide and grandly welcome him. This will, on one hand, show our respect and importance to Lü Bu and his generals, and on the other hand, it will show the civil and military officials who will truly be revered in Luoyang from now on."
Dong Zhuo's face lit up with joy upon hearing this, and he nodded repeatedly, saying, "Exactly, exactly! This way, all the ministers in the court will see who dares to oppose me in the court from now on."
Dong Zhuo was ecstatic and immediately rushed to instruct someone to notify all the ministers. He then decisively decided to promote Li Su's official rank by one level and also had Li Su bring more lambs and fine wine to the Bing Province Army camp to show welcome and Reward. As for himself, he meticulously dressed up, eagerly awaiting the assembly of civil and military officials to lead them in a grand reception for the surrender of Lü Bu and other generals in Luoyang City.
The majestic and imposing city gates of Luoyang slowly opened wide, like a gaping maw about to swallow something. The faces of the court's important ministers were as heavy as dark clouds, their eyes filled with a complex mix of helplessness and worry. They were driven mercilessly by the Western Liang soldiers, like cattle and sheep, passively forming a crooked line. Their hearts felt like they held countless jumping rabbits, filled with unease.
"Alas, Lü Bu bringing the Bing Province Army, I wonder if it's a blessing or a curse. Dong Zhuo is so arrogant, our days ahead will likely be even harder," an old minister lamented inwardly, fine beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. "I don't know how this situation will develop. We can only leave it to fate and hope it doesn't get too bad," another minister's heart was also in turmoil, his hands trembling slightly from nervousness.
On the other side, Dong Zhuo was in a completely different state from these important ministers. He wore a magnificent and solemn court robe, every thread on it shimmering with nobility, and the exquisite embroidery seemed to speak of his power. His entire being, from head to toe, exuded an air of self-satisfaction, like a proud rooster. His face was adorned with an arrogant and unrestrained smile, filled with disdain for everything. His hand casually gripped the long sword at his waist, while his other hand leisurely stroked his beard, which seemed to be a symbol of his pride, every strand radiating smugness. His slightly narrowed eyes revealed a confidence of being in control of everything, like an emperor looking down on all living beings.
"Haha, with Lü Bu's surrender, my army's strength has greatly increased. This world will sooner or later be mine," Dong Zhuo's heart was filled with wild joy, utterly self-satisfied. "These ministers, they all have to obey now. Look at their terrified expressions, it's truly laughable." He sat steadily in his incredibly luxurious carriage, which was decorated in a magnificent style, like a moving palace. He waited for Lü Bu and others to arrive with the posture of a victor, seemingly already seeing his even more glorious future, his heart filled with anticipation and excitement for the grand occasion about to unfold, as if the whole world trembled beneath his feet.
The generals from Western Liang all stood upright on the other side of Dong Zhuo's carriage, their armor gleaming. Among them, only Ma Chao stood out, his armor bright and dazzling, riding a fine horse, holding a long spear, quietly attending by Dong Zhuo's carriage.
Ma Chao's heart was currently like an endless surge of waves, a bitter taste secretly rising within him. In the short few months since Dong Zhuo left Western Liang, Dong Zhuo had already rapidly grown from a general with only some influence on the border, as if on a rocket, into a powerful minister with overwhelming authority. He couldn't help but inwardly lament how quickly things changed in the world, and a complex, inexpressible emotion welled up in his heart.
Although Dong Zhuo's courtesy towards him remained as deep as before, seemingly unchanged, Ma Chao keenly perceived that, with great power in hand, Dong Zhuo himself had become increasingly irritable and overbearing. Witnessing the Han Dynasty undergoing so many hardships, Ma Chao's heart was filled with worry and helplessness. Dong Zhuo, however, held little attachment or reverence for the Han Dynasty in his heart; his primary consideration was always his personal and clan interests, and his inflated desires seemed to be slowly devouring any remaining conscience Dong Zhuo might have once possessed. Ma Chao clearly knew that if things continued this way, the situation would inevitably spiral out of control. In the long run, it was probably not a good omen, and the Han Dynasty might face an even more tragic plight, with the common people plunging into deeper suffering.
However, Dong Zhuo's kindness to Ma Chao was as heavy as a mountain, this favor like a heavy shackles binding Ma Chao's heart. On one hand, he felt heartbroken and dissatisfied with Dong Zhuo's actions, but on the other hand, he could not sever that deep bond of gratitude. This left Ma Chao's heart in a state of extreme entanglement and pain. Under this contradictory torment, at this moment, he could only sigh inwardly, thinking of slowly finding an opportunity in the future to persuade Dong Zhuo to change, even if only a little. However, deep down, he also felt a profound sense of powerlessness and uncertainty, unsure if his idea could truly be realized, everything seemed so vague and ethereal.
In the distance, dust suddenly rose, and the thundering sound of hooves rumbled closer, like muffled thunder. Hearing this sound, Ma Chao slowly gathered his complex thoughts, sitting ramrod straight on his horse, his gaze fixed on the direction from which the sound came.
Dong Zhuo also quickly saw Lü Bu and the others approaching. He was so excited that he couldn't control himself, even forgetting his image, and abruptly stood up, his hands trembling slightly. Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, and other generals led the Bing Province Army like a whirlwind, approaching from a distance. Before they even reached him, they hastily dismounted and prostrated themselves on the ground as quickly as possible.
Dong Zhuo, overwhelmed with excitement, was helped down from his carriage. He took three steps in two, rushing forward, and quickly extended both hands to help Lü Bu up. Lü Bu raised his head, his eyes filled with sincerity and determination. He said in a slightly trembling voice, "Dong Gong, today Lü Bu, with the Bing Province Army, sincerely surrenders. I am willing to serve Dong Gong like a dog or horse, to shed my blood and die without regret! From now on, Lü Bu's life is yours, Dong Gong. I will surely follow Dong Gong to conquer the world and achieve unparalleled feats!"
Dong Zhuo's joy at this moment was simply like an overwhelming tide, impossible to suppress. His face was wreathed in smiles, and he quickly said, "Oh, Fengxian, you exaggerate! To gain General Lü's allegiance, I am truly like a tiger with wings! Like a fish in water! This is truly a great opportunity bestowed upon me by heaven!" Then, he eagerly beckoned Ma Chao over. Dong Zhuo's face was filled with wild joy, and he tightly held Lü Bu and Ma Chao, one on each side, saying loudly and contentedly, "Haha, now that I have Mengqi and Fengxian assisting me, how can I fail to achieve great things! With you two fierce generals by my side, I can roam freely throughout the world! Hahahahaha!" At this moment, Dong Zhuo was cheering inwardly. He felt his power instantly grew much stronger. With the addition of a peerless fierce general like Lü Bu, he felt he was one step closer to his goal of dominating the world.
Lü Bu's face showed delight, and he then introduced the generals behind him one by one to Dong Zhuo. With each name he spoke, Lü Bu's gaze would linger on that general for a moment, carrying a hint of solemnity. Dong Zhuo, with a benevolent smile on his face, helped each of them up one by one and comforted them with gentle words. His movements were unhurried, as if he feared that rough actions would startle these generals. Dong Zhuo cordially patted each general's shoulder, saying, "Good, good, you are all fierce generals of my army." In this way, the tightly furrowed brows of the Bing Province Army's generals gradually relaxed, and the unease in their eyes slowly dissipated.
Dong Zhuo then hosted a banquet for these young generals in the spacious and magnificent hall of his mansion, the tables laden with fine wine and delicacies. The important ministers, serving as the audience, some squinted slightly, others exchanged glances, but their hearts were secretly astonished. They looked at Dong Zhuo's spirited demeanor and the surging morale of the generals, thinking to themselves that Dong Zhuo's military might was now so strong that no one in the world could likely contend with him. It seemed that Dong Zhuo's ambition to establish a new emperor would probably be unstoppable. Their faces became somewhat solemn, and a complex emotion welled up in their hearts, a mix of worry, helplessness, and deep concern for the future of the situation.
