The command tent was sealed in silence.
Outside, the roar of war still echoed faintly—but within, only three men remained.
Zhang Xin.
Xun You.
Cui Yan.
Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Dian Wei stood guard at the entrance like an iron tower, barring all approach.
"Ji Gui."
Zhang Xin's voice broke the stillness.
"In Pingyuan, Lean, Qi, and Beihai—you say the great clans rebelled because of the land survey. That, I understand."
His gaze sharpened.
"But Donglai…"
"I barely touched their lands."
"Why did they rebel?"
Cui Yan bowed slightly.
"The answer came after General Taishi Ci retreated to Pingyuan."
"The great clans of Donglai… were unwilling at first."
A pause.
"Until Liu Dai intervened."
"Liu Dai?!"
Zhang Xin's eyes flashed with fury.
"He bears the blood of the Han—and yet when the empire burns, he fears Dong Zhuo like a beast…"
"But turns his blade on me?"
His voice grew colder.
"I have no feud with him."
"Why?"
Cui Yan sighed.
"Governor… do you remember Tao Qiuhong?"
Zhang Xin froze.
That name.
A shadow from the past.
"The one who tried to assassinate me?"
"Yes."
Cui Yan nodded.
"He once recommended Liu Dai's younger brother, Liu Yao."
"By killing him… you earned Liu Dai's hatred."
For a moment—
Zhang Xin said nothing.
Then a dry laugh escaped him.
"…So that's it."
At the side, Xun You shook his head.
"They called the two brothers 'Twin Dragons' once."
His voice was calm, but his words cut deep.
"Now… they are nothing more than worms gnawing at the state."
Zhang Xin's gaze darkened.
"Aristocratic clans…"
The words were almost a whisper.
Yet filled with killing intent.
He had known they were powerful.
He had not known—
They could blind an entire province.
A memory flickered.
Cao Cao.
Xun Yu.
Yan Province—reduced to three cities.
And now—
Qing Province.
Reduced to one.
Pingyuan.
Zhang Xin closed his eyes briefly.
If Pingyuan had fallen…
His fists tightened.
My family…
"Lord."
Dian Wei stepped in.
"It is noon."
Zhang Xin opened his eyes.
All hesitation vanished.
"Attack."
War erupted.
Siege ladders rose.
Battering rams thundered.
The imperial palace shook beneath the assault.
Within its walls—
The young Emperor trembled.
Outside, drums roared like thunder.
Inside, Dong Zhuo smiled.
Moments later—
The East Gate.
The fiercest battlefield.
And there—
The Emperor was dragged to the wall.
Bound.
Hung high for all to see.
"STOP!"
The command echoed across the battlefield.
Yu Jin and the generals froze the assault instantly.
No one dared advance.
The Emperor could die—
But not by their hands.
Dong Zhuo laughed.
Then—
He struck deeper.
News spread like wildfire across the ranks.
Yu Province—under attack.
Qing Province—collapsing.
Zhang Xin's soldiers wavered.
Sun Jian's army—
Broke.
Back at the camp—
Chaos surged.
Officials gathered outside Zhang Xin's tent, shouting, cursing, accusing.
"Zhang Xin! Do you seek to murder the Emperor?!"
"Is this how you repay the late Emperor's trust?!"
"Traitor! Usurper!"
Inside—
Zhang Xin did not move.
Sun Jian rushed in, face pale with fury.
"My lord—we cannot hold them!"
"The soldiers want to go home!"
"Force them—and they will mutiny!"
Xu He followed.
"Is it true? Qing Province has fallen?"
"Yes."
No denial.
No concealment.
"Then we must retreat!" Xu He exclaimed.
"Our soldiers' families are there!"
Xun You stepped forward quietly.
"My lord…"
"We cannot fight any longer."
"Even if we take the palace—your name will be cursed for eternity."
"The officials already condemn you."
"What we sought… was righteousness."
"If we lose that—what remains?"
Zhang Xin's jaw tightened.
Righteousness?
These same officials who could not protect the Emperor?
Who now dare judge me?
"Useless!"
The thought burned within him.
"Attack again."
The order came cold.
Half an hour later—
Xu He returned.
Defeated.
"We cannot break through."
Sun Jian's forces were collapsing.
Wu Jing and Huang Gai could no longer restrain them.
Cao Cao rushed in.
"My lord—we must stop!"
"If we continue—we all become traitors!"
One by one—
The generals returned.
All with the same plea.
Withdraw.
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Then—
Zhang Xin exhaled.
"The officials…"
"…have ruined me."
Relief flickered across Xun You's face.
He knew—
The decision had been made.
Zhang Xin looked at them all.
Their unwillingness.
Their frustration.
Their anger.
Then—
He smiled.
"Today—we let Dong Zhuo live."
"But one day…"
His eyes burned once more.
"You will follow me again."
"To serve the Emperor."
"We will die for you, my lord!"
The tent roared.
"Withdraw."
Outside the camp—
The officials still raged.
Until—
Dian Wei roared.
"Silence!"
Like a thunderclap.
They fell quiet.
Zhang Xin stepped forward.
Calm.
Cold.
"You need not curse any longer."
"I have ordered the army to withdraw."
"In the future…"
"Take care of yourselves."
He bowed slightly.
Then turned—
And left.
Behind him—
Silence.
Then panic.
"You cannot leave!"
"Who will save the Emperor?!"
Zhang Xin did not turn back.
"Drive them away."
Inside the tent once more—
He looked at Xun You.
"Qing Province is burning."
"Tell me—how do we extinguish it?"
This time—
Xun You smiled.
"My lord need not worry."
"Pingyuan… will not fall."
He spoke steadily.
"Strong walls."
"Abundant grain."
"Capable generals."
"They can hold for months—years, even."
Zhang Xin nodded slowly.
The storm in his chest began to settle.
"The enemy is many—but divided," Xun You continued.
"Tao Qian fears you. Send a stern envoy—he will withdraw."
"Liu Dai seeks reputation—threaten him, and he will falter."
"Han Fu and Yuan Shao distrust each other—divide them."
"As for Yuan Yi—"
Xun You scoffed.
"A dog follows its master."
Zhang Xin laughed.
For the first time that day—
A true laugh.
"With you, Gongda… I have nothing to fear."
He turned to Cui Yan.
"You know Tao Qian."
"Go."
Cui Yan bowed.
"I will."
Zhang Xin's expression hardened.
"When you see him…"
"Tell him this—"
His voice fell like judgment.
"Do not move."
"If you move—"
"Your state will perish."
A pause.
Then colder still—
"If he refuses…"
"Kill him."