Chapter Sixty-Four: The Imperial Seal Emerges, Sun Jian Returns to Jiangdong

Sun Jian ordered his men to quickly stockpile provisions and equipment. Soldiers guarded the camp day and night, and this unusual behavior did not escape Yuan Shao’s notice.

Though Yuan Shao did not yet know the cause, the strangeness of Sun Jian’s actions prompted him to send spies to investigate the camp. The truth, as ever, cannot be hidden forever; soon, news of Sun Jian’s acquisition of the Imperial Jade Seal reached Yuan Shao’s ears.

The Imperial Jade Seal was the most precious treasure, the key to legitimacy and succession to the throne. It was the nation’s great artifact. Now, Yuan Shao commanded powerful armies and aspired to rule; obtaining the seal was essential to his ambitions.

The next day, Yuan Shao invited Sun Jian to his camp under the pretext of discussing military strategy.

Coincidentally, Sun Jian also intended to return to East Wu, claiming exhaustion from his many duties.

The two men conversed warmly, drinking together.

“Brother Sun, why are you so eager to return to East Wu? I suspect there is more beneath the surface. I am no expert, but I have recently studied divination, and I see your thoughts quite clearly,” Yuan Shao said with a cold smile.

“You are too suspicious, my lord. I truly am weary in mind and body,” Sun Jian replied, shaking his head and sighing.

“I know why you are exhausted, Wen Tai. The source of your troubles is the Imperial Jade Seal! Tell me, am I wrong?” Yuan Shao stared fiercely at Sun Jian and spoke harshly.

Sun Jian was startled, but quickly steadied himself and replied, “I hope you will not heed the words of petty men, my lord.”

“Hahaha! Naturally, we must not let such rumors ruin our friendship. But, Wen Tai, why did you react so nervously when you heard the name of the Imperial Jade Seal?” Yuan Shao lifted his cup and watched Sun Jian closely.

Sun Jian immediately raised his own cup. “Why say such things, my lord? Do not slander me.”

At these words, Yuan Shao sprang to his feet and shouted, “We have raised arms to rid the land of traitors and bring peace and prosperity, so the people may live in harmony. The Imperial Jade Seal is the court’s treasure, the nation’s safeguard. If General Sun has obtained the seal, as alliance leader, I must be its custodian and deliver it to the court. Now that you hide the court’s precious artifact, what is your intent? What crime is this?”

“The Imperial Jade Seal is the court’s treasure; how could it be in my possession? I ask you not to falsely accuse me,” Sun Jian retorted, adamantly denying any connection to the seal.

Yuan Shao’s face trembled with rage; his pupils contracted, and a sharp light flashed in his gaze. Sun Jian did not back down, slamming his hand on the table, meeting Yuan Shao’s stare.

Sun Jian dared to sit calmly and drink because he had made preparations. Early that morning, he ordered his troops to arrange themselves and lay in ambush around Yuan Shao’s camp. Before departing, Sun Jian addressed his officers: “The reason I do not depart immediately is to prevent chaos among the troops. Let none neglect this warning.”

Sun Jian’s forces were formidable enough to make Yuan Shao cautious. At this moment, Yuan Shao’s advisor Tian Feng stepped forward to urge restraint.

Once outside Yuan Shao’s main camp, Sun Jian quickly assembled his troops, gathered provisions, and left Luoyang to return to East Wu; staying any longer would only bring trouble.

Yuan Shao, furious, drew his sword and struck off a corner of the table. Tian Feng intervened, saying, “Sun Jian wishes to return, and he must pass through Jingzhou. Sun Jian and Liu Biao have old grudges; if we inform Liu Biao of Sun Jian’s possession of the Imperial Jade Seal, Liu Biao will surely deal with him. We need only wait for news. When the clam and the mussel struggle, the fisherman profits.”

Yuan Shao was instantly delighted, quickly wrote a letter, and dispatched a trusted officer to Jingzhou overnight, delivering it to the governor Liu Biao.

Meanwhile, after rescuing Cao Cao, Zifan gathered troops and pursued Dong Zhuo.

Dong Zhuo led hundreds of thousands toward Chang’an, among them many scholars, strategists, and skilled artisans. If all were brought to Youzhou, it would be a formidable gain, especially since Dong Zhuo’s daughter, Dong Bai, had now been entrusted to Zifan—Dong Zhuo, it seemed, was willing to part with her.

Along the route, the cries of the people echoed everywhere. Dong Zhuo had taken all the able-bodied men from Luoyang, leaving behind only gaunt, starving refugees. Corpses of the common people were piled around.

War leaves only blood, desolation, ruined homes, and wounds that can never be healed.

Some of the starving refugees even rushed to Zifan’s troops, begging for food. Zifan, moved with pity, ordered his soldiers to distribute two-thirds of their provisions to the people along the way.

“General, please—just a little more food! We haven’t eaten in days.”

“Father, mother… I’m so hungry!” The helpless voices of children echoed in the darkness.

Crowds of refugees left their homes, searching for a place of rest.

………………………………………………………………………………

The sky gradually darkened, thick shadows spreading across it, until the world was sealed in darkness, suffocating and impenetrable.

“Report, General! We've found the camp of Dong Zhuo’s commander Niu Fu ahead,” the scout announced, riding swiftly.

“Extinguish the torches. All light cavalry—prepare to raid the camp,” Zifan commanded, drawing his curved blade and tilting his arm in the air. Cloaked in night, the sound of hooves advanced quietly.

The hour of the tiger.

Gazing at the brightly lit camp of a thousand men, Zifan’s eyes were sharp. Behind him, the cavalry lined up, with Dian Wei and Ding Feng at his side.

“Advance!” Zifan ordered.

The silent night was suddenly torn open—the heavy thunder of hooves shattered the darkness.

“Whoosh… whoosh… whoosh…!”

The front ranks of Youzhou soldiers threw their swords upward; blades pierced the breasts of Xiliang soldiers. Riding at speed, they struck with their swords, leaning right from their saddles.

Squadrons of cavalry wielded blades and spears, charging through the camp. Most Xiliang soldiers, caught unprepared, failed to form ranks and were massacred—men and horses fell amid a spray of blood.

Niu Fu, though experienced in battle, hurriedly donned his armor amidst the chaos and ordered his men to gather around him, forming a square: “Don’t run! Don’t run! Listen to my command—spearmen in front, archers behind…”

But the Xiliang army was already in disarray. Few could hear his shouts. The only thought in every soldier’s mind was survival.

Zifan’s eyes gleamed coldly, his sword flashed like a rainbow, unstoppable beneath the shroud of darkness.

A cold glint, another stroke—at that instant, the Xiliang soldier staring at the sky would never close his eyes.

“Xiliang dog, come face your death!” The shout struck terror into the Xiliang ranks; Niu Fu, in panic, found a fast horse and fled alone.

With the commander gone, there was no reason to fight on. As the saying goes, the general is the soul of his troops—without their leader, the spirit of the Xiliang soldiers vanished, chaos spreading.

“Niu Fu has fled!”

“Brothers, let’s retreat!”

Many Xiliang soldiers threw down their weapons and surrendered, while a handful of hardened veterans resisted desperately, fleeing in the direction their commander had escaped.