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At the foot of Mount Lu, within the main camp, Sun Jian reviewed the endless stream of military supplies that had poured in over the past few days. Finally, he closed the ledger and handed it back to the silently waiting registrar.
Sun Jian commanded, "Prepare swiftly. The army will march in the coming days—do not delay!"
The registrar bowed respectfully and replied, "As you command!" before withdrawing.
Sun Jian tapped his fingers lightly on the table, lost in thought.
Dong Zhuo—this man was an old adversary, and this battle would not be easy.
Back in the day, Bian Zhang and Han Sui had stirred up chaos in Xiliang with the aid of the Qiang and Hu tribes. At the time, Dong Zhuo, then a General of the Household, had been sent to suppress the rebellion but achieved little success. Later, in the third year of the Zhongping era, the imperial court dispatched Minister of Works Zhang Wen, acting as General of Chariots and Cavalry, to lead a western campaign against Bian Zhang and the other rebels.
Since Zhang Wen was from Wu Commandery, he petitioned for Sun Jian to join his staff as a military advisor. Unfortunately, Zhang Wen had an imposing appearance but lacked the courage to match.
That was the first time Sun Jian had met Dong Zhuo.
Though Dong Zhuo was only a General of the Household at the time, he had already established significant influence in Xiliang.
When Zhang Wen summoned Dong Zhuo, the latter deliberately delayed his arrival and spoke insolently when reprimanded. Sun Jian, standing beside Zhang Wen, immediately urged him to execute Dong Zhuo, saying:
"Dong Zhuo shows no fear of punishment and speaks arrogantly. He should be executed under military law for failing to arrive when summoned."
But Zhang Wen, wary of Dong Zhuo's influence in Xiliang, refused to kill him.
Sun Jian remembered presenting Zhang Wen with three compelling reasons to execute Dong Zhuo, but Zhang Wen lacked the resolve. In the end, Dong Zhuo became a hindrance, leading to their defeat.
At the time, Sun Jian had argued:
"You lead the imperial army, your might shaking the realm—why rely on Dong Zhuo? Observe his words: he disrespects you and shows contempt for authority—his first crime. Bian Zhang and Han Sui have run rampant for years; they must be swiftly crushed, yet Dong Zhuo claims it cannot be done—demoralizing the troops and sowing doubt—his second crime. Dong Zhuo has failed in his duties, delayed in responding to summons, and carries himself with arrogance—his third crime. The great generals of antiquity wielded their axes before their troops, never hesitating to execute the disobedient to demonstrate their authority. Thus, Sima Rangju executed Zhuang Jia, and Wei Jiang slew Yang Gan. If you spare Dong Zhuo now, you undermine discipline and weaken your authority."
It wasn't that Sun Jian bore some deep grudge against Dong Zhuo—rather, from their first meeting, Sun Jian recognized that Dong Zhuo was much like himself: a man of towering ambition. That was why he urged Zhang Wen, who held considerable power at the time and was a fellow southerner, to act decisively.
There was another reason Sun Jian hadn't voiced—a suspicion he couldn't prove. He believed Dong Zhuo had deliberately prolonged the conflict with Bian Zhang and Han Sui to strengthen his own position, perhaps even colluding with them.
Later events indirectly confirmed Sun Jian's suspicions. In the eleventh month of the third year of Zhongping, Zhang Wen defeated Beigong Boyu at Meiyang, sending General Zhou Shen to pursue the rebels and besiege Yuzhong, while Dong Zhuo was dispatched to quell the Xianlian Qiang.
Victory seemed certain, yet Zhou Shen and Dong Zhuo both suffered unexpected defeats. Zhou Shen's forces were nearly annihilated, while Dong Zhuo managed to withdraw intact.
Afterward, thanks to Dong Zhuo's lavish bribes, the palace eunuchs not only shielded him from punishment but also stripped Sun Jian of his military authority, appointing him instead as a Court Counselor. Later, when the rebel Ou Xing rose in Changsha, Sun Jian was hastily dispatched there.
Since then, Sun Jian had been stranded far from home, unable to return for four years.
All these years, he had fought tirelessly for the imperial court—against the Qiang, the Yellow Turbans, and countless rebels—yet his only reward was the hollow title of Marquis of Wucheng, with no real power to show for it.
Now, he was about to embark on another campaign, another battle—but this time, Sun Jian was more excited than ever. Because this time, he wasn't fighting for the court.
He was fighting for himself.
Sun Jian was tired of taking orders, tired of being restrained. This time, he would carve out his own domain with his own hands!
With a swift motion, Sun Jian rose to his feet and bellowed: "Beat the drums! Summon the officers!"
Outside the tent, the guards roared in acknowledgment, and moments later, the thunderous roll of war drums echoed through the camp.
Sun Jian stood tall, his head held high—
Dong Zhuo! Since I failed to kill you last time, I'll use your flesh and blood to pave my path to glory!
******
North of Luoyang, at the Cui Estate.
After discussions with his father, Cui Hou had reached a decision.
The Cui family had languished in obscurity for too long. Ever since Cui Lie rose to the rank of one of the Three Excellencies, the family had plummeted from its peak into decline. Cui Hou still remembered vividly how those who had once groveled at their feet turned their backs without hesitation.
All these years, the Cui family had resorted to shameless tactics—even outright theft—to seize treasures from the common folk, all to bribe high-ranking officials. Wasn't it because they still clung to the hope of reclaiming their former glory?
Now, Fei Qian's visit had not only brought weapons and armor but also a glimmer of hope—a chance for the Cui family to re-enter the ranks of the elite, perhaps even to become one of the most renowned noble houses in the land!
Moreover, Cui Hou had personally witnessed Fei Qian's rise from an obscure branch of the Fei family to, in less than half a year, a disciple of Cai Yong, a scholar under Pang Degong of Jingxiang, and even a son-in-law of the Huang family.
Fei Qian's meteoric ascent only strengthened Cui Hou's confidence.
If Fei Qian could achieve so much in such a short time, surely he possessed extraordinary insight. Though Fei Qian hadn't revealed the full extent of his plans, Cui Hou was certain he wasn't acting blindly—there had to be more to it.
And that was only natural. After all, Cui Hou hadn't yet committed to joining the scheme. It made sense for Fei Qian to hold back some details.
The Cui family of Shandong…
Cui Hou chuckled faintly. Though his branch had been independent in Henei for a century, their roots traced back to the Shandong Cuis.
The Cui lineage originated from the Jiang surname, with their legendary ancestor being Jiang Taigong and their earliest forebearer the Flame Emperor, Shennong. During the Western Zhou, Ji Zi, the eldest son of Duke Ding of Qi, was granted the fief of Cui, and his descendants took the name of their land—thus began the Shandong Cui clan, with their ancestral home in Linzi.
If Fei Qian could rise so swiftly, why can't I?
With that thought, Cui Hou strode toward Fei Qian's guest quarters, his steps growing firmer and lighter as he went.