Chapter Twelve: The Recapture of Luoyang

That night, Luoyang, already a city of broken walls and shattered ruins, was engulfed in towering flames as the iron cavalry ravaged it once more. Luoyang, once the shining pearl of the great Han dynasty, was now unrecognizable.

When Dong Zhuo had burned Luoyang before, it was mainly the imperial city that suffered. The outer city had been affected but still retained many buildings, and some reluctant villagers continued to live there. But now, with the renewed chaos of war, the imperial city no longer bore any trace of its former grandeur.

Inside the Luoyang city mansion, scattered remnants of fleeing soldiers and servants were everywhere. The five thousand defenders on the city walls were no match for the overwhelming forces led by Gai Xun and Ma Teng.

"Hurry, hurry! Grab whatever you can!" a soldier cried as he entered the city, his eyes reddening. For soldiers, the moment a city fell was the happiest, as their generals always allowed plundering to reward their troops.

Residents huddled trembling in their homes along the streets, listening to the clash of swords and flashing blades outside—sounds like the reaper’s hook beckoning them to death.

But this time was different.

Except for that one soldier, the others stood still, gazing at him with a hint of sympathy before sharply scanning the surroundings. Suddenly, a young general wearing a gleaming silver-white tiger helmet strode over and kicked the soldier who was about to charge into a nearby house to the ground.

“How many times must I tell you? No more looting during battle! Kill on sight if you disobey!” Withdrawing his sword, he swiftly beheaded the soldier, sending a chilling message to the others: “Anyone else who follows his example will meet the same fate!”

This scene caught the attention of Liu Xie, who nodded in approval. Indeed, before the siege, he had instructed Gai Xun and Ma Teng to strictly forbid pillaging of the civilian populace after the city fell.

“Whose subordinate is this?” Liu Xie asked.

Han Sui glanced at the young general and replied, “Your Majesty, that is General Ma’s son, Ma Chao.”

“Ma Chao?!” A trace of surprise flashed across Liu Xie’s eyes. “Is he the famed young hero of Xiliang, the Golden Ma Chao?”

“Exactly.”

Liu Xie had heard tales of this prodigious general from later histories and stories, one of the Five Tiger Generals appointed by Liu Bei—a rare and remarkable talent.

Nodding, Liu Xie knew now was not the time to win over such a fierce warrior; the urgent priority was to reach the Prime Minister’s mansion and ensure that the person they sought was found.

“Hold this street! Buy time for the Chancellor! I will stand and die with you all!”

“Yes, sir!”

Though Jia Xu was a civilian strategist, the Han valued martial spirit so highly that even scholars bore swords and rode horses like generals. Seeing his armored guards around him, loyal to the end, Jia Xu’s eyes gleamed with resolve.

In his heart, he owed Dong Zhuo a debt of gratitude; without Dong Zhuo, he would not be where he was now. A soldier dies for those who recognize his worth—Jia Xu was ready to die.

“Kill!”

Facing the fierce onslaught of the Han forces breaking into the city, Jia Xu showed no fear; in fact, a spark of excitement flickered within him. Perhaps he was meant to be a warrior after all.

Jia Xu commanded just over a hundred armored men—like an ant confronting a chariot against tens of thousands. Within moments, all his guards lay dead.

His own body was stained with blood—enemy soldiers’, his guards’, and his own.

A scholar was still a scholar; his stamina was no match for warriors. Jia Xu gripped his long sword tightly, staggering and gasping for breath, utterly exhausted.

At this moment, the Han forces ceased advancing, encircling Jia Xu completely.

“Jia Xu, Jia Wenhe, will you surrender?”

Jia Xu looked up as the dense Han troops parted to form a path, revealing a youth wearing a splendid helmet who had dismounted his horse and stared intently at him. Jia Xu found the figure somewhat familiar but could not recall exactly who he was.

“An infant, daring to ask me to surrender?”

“Impudent!” Han Sui stepped forward, scolding sharply, “Before you stands the reigning Son of Heaven! How dare you be so disrespectful!”

Only then did Jia Xu examine Liu Xie more closely. Though they had met briefly before, Jia Xu was not well acquainted with this puppet emperor installed by the Chancellor. Yet, no matter how he looked, he could not reconcile the image of this youthful figure with the frail, sickly emperor he had known. To him, Liu Xie was still a puppet controlled by Han Sui.

“My schemes failed; death is but the consequence. I am a defeated general. Kill or mutilate me as you please.” Closing his eyes, Jia Xu accepted death.

“Your Majesty...” Han Sui began to urge Liu Xie to order Jia Xu’s execution, but Liu Xie raised a hand to stop him.

“Take him to the Prime Minister’s mansion and care for him well,” Liu Xie commanded.

Han Sui was startled by Liu Xie’s unexpected leniency but obeyed the order and had Jia Xu taken away.

Liu Xie knew that a strategist like Jia Xu would not surrender easily. Only if he survived such trials could he be entrusted with great responsibility.

This was Jia Xu, one of the finest strategists of the Three Kingdoms era. With such support, Liu Xie’s path to unifying the realm would be far smoother.

Just thinking of the other top strategists and generals he would soon bring under his banner excited Liu Xie.

Jia Xu was merely the beginning; more were to come. Resolute, Liu Xie led his troops alongside Han Sui toward the Prime Minister’s mansion.

By now, all of Luoyang was firmly under Liu Xie’s control.

In April of 190 AD, the sixth year of the Zhongping era, Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, led his forces eastward, reclaimed Luoyang, and exterminated Dong Zhuo, a historical event known as the Restoration of Luoyang in the Zhongping era.

Thus began a magnificent new chapter for the Han dynasty.

Arriving at the mansion’s gates, Gai Xun and Ma Teng hurried out, coincidentally meeting Liu Xie and his entourage.

Exchanging a glance, the two generals knelt and reported, “Your Majesty, Dong Zhuo has been slain!”

Liu Xie laughed heartily, “Good, good!” but noticing Gai Xun’s hesitation, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Your Majesty, when we found Dong Zhuo, he was already dead,” Gai Xun paused, “I am ashamed; he was killed prematurely.”

Liu Xie was taken aback, puzzled. “Already dead?”

“Yes.”

Dead? By whose hand? Doubts filled Liu Xie’s mind.

“Were there any clues at the scene? How did he die?” Liu Xie furrowed his brow.

“It appears he was killed by a single sword thrust to the throat,” Gai Xun replied.

Liu Xie pondered for a moment. “If he is dead, then he was slain by an enemy. Let it be so. Have you found the Chancellor’s seal?”

“I regret to say no.”

“Never mind. Cleanse the battlefield but do not disturb the city’s citizens! Anyone who disobeys will be punished by military law!” Liu Xie ordered.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“All right, find me a place to sleep!” Liu Xie smiled.

“Your Majesty, the palace has been burned by the traitor Dong Zhuo. I believe the Chancellor’s mansion can serve as a temporary resting place,” Ma Teng said.

“Very well. I shall rest here tonight,” Liu Xie said, looking over the splendid mansion, marveling that it rivaled his former palace.

“Your Majesty, this way!” Ma Teng rose to lead him.

…

The next morning, Liu Xie awoke late, the sun already high.

Stretching lazily, he noticed two maids standing by his bedside, staring intently at him. Though both were beautiful, their unwavering gaze embarrassed Liu Xie, who immediately pulled the covers up, eyeing them warily.

“Who are you two?” he asked.

Seeing his reaction, the maids thought they had frightened the emperor and quickly knelt, saying, “Your Majesty, don’t you remember us? I am Xia Hong, who has served you since childhood.”

“I am Qiu Shui! Don’t you recall? We even helped the Empress send you away from the palace,” the other added.

Their voices cracked with tears, clearly alarmed by Liu Xie’s behavior.

These were his former personal palace maids.

Liu Xie hated seeing women cry and now was flustered. “Don’t cry, don’t cry! I just forgot some things. Please don’t cry…”

Hearing his nervous tone, the maids looked up and saw him fumbling to dress himself, trying to help them up.

Their tears turned to laughter as they hurried to assist him.

“No, no… I’ll do it myself…” Liu Xie stammered, even referring to himself the way a child might.

“Look, Your Majesty, you’ve grown thin again…”

“Yes, yes…” the room filled with Liu Xie’s embarrassed protests and the maids’ laughter.

When he finally stepped out, neatly dressed and flushed with an unnatural blush, he whispered to the two, “Next time you help me dress, don’t touch me like that! Do you believe I’ll have you executed on the spot?”

His tone was tinged with unmistakable embarrassment.

Behind him, Xia Hong and Qiu Shui covered their faces, giggling, “Your Majesty, we’ve been yours for so long, why be shy now?” Their words caught the ears of Fu Hu, who happened to be passing by, and the fierce warrior’s body trembled at the remark. He quickly excused himself.

At those words, Liu Xie’s vision darkened. What did they mean by “already yours”? Could it be that before this…

“Your Majesty, are you alright?” Seeing him nearly fall, the two maids hurried to support him. Qiu Shui anxiously asked, “Are you still weak? Should we let you rest some more?”

Liu Xie waved his hand, lost in thought: This is terrible—I am no longer pure; my virginity is gone…

Xia Hong and Qiu Shui had no idea what was running through his mind. Had they known, they might have laughed him to death.

“Your Majesty, how about skipping court today?” Xia Hong suggested, steadying him.

Liu Xie composed himself and recalled having announced an early court session to the officials the night before.

Glancing at the sun’s position, his heart sank.

“Morning court… damn!”