Chapter 97

Late May, first year of Chuping

Inside Luoyang City, the backyard of Dong Zhuo's mansion

"Wenyou, has the imperial edict been delivered?"

"Father-in-law, the messenger is already on his way back!"

Li Ru stood beside Dong Zhuo at this moment, responding in a low voice!

"Tell me, if Yuan Shao, Lin Yang, and the others refuse to obey the edict, what shall we do?"

Dong Zhuo was still slightly worried about Li Ru's plan!

After all!

This time, among the eighteen regional lords, he had only bestowed rewards upon a portion of them!

How could those who received no rewards retreat as wished!

"Father-in-law, do not worry. The eighteen lords may seem powerful, but in truth, as long as the Yuan family is missing and Lin Yang is gone, the remaining group is simply not to be feared!"

The eighteen lords seem powerful, but their foundation lies in Yuan Benchu and Yuan Gonglu, whose family has served the court for four generations, as well as the Yuan family's protégés!

Once Yuan Benchu is moved, the momentum of the eighteen lords will be reduced by at least forty percent!

As for Lin Yang!

As long as his subordinates Dian Wei and Zhao Yun are not present!

With the might of Lu Bu, if those remaining lords do not leave!

They will have only a dead end!

"What if they accept the edict but still do not leave?"

Dong Zhuo asked his next question, and he saw Li Ru beside him, his eyes full of chilling killing intent, yet a smile appeared on his face!

"Father-in-law, whether they leave or not is no longer up to them!"

Meanwhile, outside Hulao Pass, the coalition army camp

"Ziyuan, are you leaving too?"

Before the coalition camp, Cao Mengde looked at Lin Yang before him, asking with full unwillingness!

In a short time, the coalition of eighteen lords had already fallen apart!

A single imperial edict!

Had made the eighteen lords, who were already harboring their own ulterior motives, unable to sit still!

Especially the two brothers, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu!

Although they previously held the name of a family serving the court for four generations!

They lacked any real power!

Now, with this imperial edict, they would each govern a province!

"Sigh, Mengde, if we do not leave now, I fear there will be a danger to our lives!"

With a sigh, Lin Yang was also quite helpless!

Originally, all he needed was the position of Administrator of Guangling Commandery!

The reason he dared not ask for more!

Was because although he had plenty of supplies, he did not have many soldiers!

Dealing with the Administrator of Guangling Commandery, Zhang Chao, was still manageable!

But dealing with the Inspector of Xuzhou, Tao Qian, was simply out of the question!

Tao Qian governed an entire province and had a hundred thousand troops under his command!

Although a portion of them belonged to people like the Administrator of Guangling Commandery, Zhang Chao, the main force of Tao Qian in Xuzhou still numbered a full forty thousand!

Among them were thirty thousand of the renowned Danyang soldiers!

Relying on his current six thousand soldiers to fight Tao Qian's hundred thousand-strong army!

It was not enough, completely not enough!

"Ziyuan, sigh!"

Thinking of Lin Yang's predicament, Cao Mengde did not dare to speak further!

The other party had been set up by the traitor Dong!

Offending both the Administrator of Guangling Commandery, Zhang Chao, and the Governor of Xuzhou, Tao Qian, in one fell swoop!

If he did not leave now!

I fear the Administrator of Guangling Commandery, Zhang Chao, and the Governor of Xuzhou, Tao Qian, would ransack his base!

"Mengde, you should also leave quickly!"

In the vast coalition camp, Lin Yang was not the first to leave!

That fellow Yuan Gonglu had already hurriedly led his main force to take over Qingzhou the day after receiving the edict!

Now the coalition was scattered, and their strength was weak!

Once Lu Bu attacked, the coalition's defeat would be right before their eyes!

"I understand!"

Nodding, Cao Mengde, even if helpless, could only recognize reality!

For a time, Lin Yang also led his soldiers toward Xuzhou!

Yuzhou, Yingchuan Commandery, Changshe County

"Father, we have been sent here, what exactly has happened?"

At this moment, inside Changshe County, a squad of Xiliang soldiers guarded the courtyard, and the family of Cai Yong and Cai Wenji were all here!

Ever since they were brought here by the Xiliang soldiers, they had been under guard!

"Wenji, do not be afraid. I think Dong Zhuo will not harm me!"