Three Kingdoms Mythology World.

Chapter 2642 If you do not abandon me, I am willing to become your godfather (Dong)

After experiencing a period of turmoil, Luoyang, the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, returned to peace.

In the imperial court, many petitioned to remove Dong Zhuo from office, but all their efforts were in vain. Helpless, under the reassurance of certain individuals, they could only endure this situation and wait for an opportunity.

Dong Zhuo controlled the city defenses and patrols of Luoyang, the capital.

After everything settled down, Dong Zhuo and his entourage held a banquet at the Sili Commandant's camp to welcome Lü Bu!

After Lü Bu killed Ding Yuan, he directly persuaded the generals and the entire army to surrender to Dong Zhuo. Afterwards, Dong Zhuo simply ordered Lü Bu to lead his troops to carry out missions in various places without giving him a proper welcome.

Dong Zhuo didn't even have time to worry about Ding Yuan's head.

This time, he specifically instructed Lü Bu to take Ding Yuan's head back to the Commandant of the Capital Region.

On the day of the banquet, the Sili Commandant's camp was brightly decorated and bustling with activity. The tents were filled with delicacies and fine wines, and generals from all sides gathered together.

Dong Zhuo sat high in the main seat, his face glowing. After signing the contract with Yang Biao, his preliminary preparations for dominating the capital and seizing the world were almost complete!
"Clatter! ~~~~~" At this moment, a hurried footstep sound came. Lu Bu, wearing the brand-new [Beast-faced Sky-Devouring Chain Armor], entered the tent with a majestic air. He did not bring any personal guards or attendants, but walked up slowly and resolutely alone. In one hand, he carried a wooden box containing Ding Yuan's head, and the other hand was on the hilt of the long sword at his waist.

In the central banquet hall, Dong Zhuo sat in the main seat, with Li Ru, Hua Xiong, and others sitting on either side. All the guests attending the banquet were Dong Zhuo's confidants, and the two sides were lined up in a row, stretching for more than ten feet, filling the hall to capacity.

The moment Lü Bu appeared, the atmosphere of the entire banquet changed completely.

Everyone, including Dong Zhuo, stopped talking and stared intently at Lü Bu.

Although Lü Bu had already surrendered and killed Ding Yuan as a pledge of allegiance, his aura and imposing presence made everyone present extremely wary.

Lu Bu walked steadily and slowly to Dong Zhuo.

"This humble general, Lü Bu, pays his respects to Lord Dong!" Lü Bu knelt on one knee and bowed deeply.

"This is a gift from your humble servant to Lord Dong," Lü Bu said, handing the box to his attendant.

The attendant quietly presented the gift box to Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo took it, glanced at it, and burst into laughter: "Ding Jianyang, Ding Jianyang, you've finally met your match!!"

Seeing his former formidable enemy beheaded in the box, he actually had a complex mix of emotions.

After making a few adjustments, he ordered his men to put it away, and then smiled at Lü Bu, saying, "Fengxian, you have made a great contribution this time, and I will certainly not treat you unfairly."

Lu Bu knelt on one knee and said loudly, "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Dong. I am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse!"

Dong Zhuo rose, stepped down from the main seat, and personally helped Lü Bu up, saying, "Having General Lü Bu is like parched seedlings receiving sweet rain!"

"Fengxian is exceptionally brave and possesses extraordinary strength. I have long desired to recruit him. It is truly my good fortune that you have abandoned the darkness and embraced the light today," Dong Zhuo continued.

Upon hearing this, Lü Bu realized that although he had now submitted to Dong Zhuo, his position was not yet secure, and his achievements were limited to the execution of Ding Yuan and the surrender of the three armies, which did not allow him to advance further. However, if he could further improve his relationship with Dong Zhuo, he would surely rise to prominence in the future. A thought suddenly occurred to him, and that strange idea resurfaced in his mind.

He immediately helped Dong Zhuo back to his seat, then straightened his clothes and appearance, gently patted the dust off his body, and then, with a solemn expression and firm eyes, knelt down on both knees and performed a grand salute.

With an extremely earnest expression, Lü Bu said, "I have wandered for half my life, and I only regret that I have not met a wise ruler. If Lord Dong does not abandon me, I am willing to become his godfather!"

Immediately, Lü Bu kowtowed deeply. A strange energy quietly spread out, which even Li Ru, a shrewd person, did not sense.

However, Li Ruhua, Xiong and the others looked strange and embarrassed when they saw Lü Bu's behavior.

It seems like they can't do this kind of thing!
Then the image of Ding Yuan came to their minds. Lu Bu had once adopted Ding Yuan as his godfather, and Lu Bu had done the same thing.

Could Dong Gong be the next Ding Yuan?!
Li Ru narrowed his eyes slightly, a strange light bursting forth as he stared intently at Lü Bu.

Meanwhile, Hua Xiong and the others gradually realized that Lu Bu, who had just arrived, had actually overtaken them on a curve and formed a deeper bond with their lord!
They instantly felt a sense of crisis!

Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo was overjoyed. His eyes shone brightly, and he laughed heartily, looking up at the sky: "Hahaha! To have Fengxian is like a gift from heaven!"

"My son, get up! My son, get up!"

"Father, I will follow you from now on, and I will go through fire and water without hesitation to help you achieve great things!" Lu Bu was also beaming with excitement.

"Hahaha, with Fengxian by my side, the great cause is sure to succeed!!!" Dong Zhuo stood up, pulled Lü Bu up, and brought him to the seat of honor, next to Hua Xiong.

Seeing this, Hua Xiong immediately stepped back slightly.

“My son, Fengxian,” Dong Zhuo said solemnly.

"Your son is here!" Lü Bu replied firmly. "I hereby appoint you as Left General of the Household and Marquis of Duting, and bestow upon you golden armor and brocade robes!" Dong Zhuo announced loudly.

"Thank you, Godfather!!!" Lü Bu was overjoyed.

Having followed Ding Yuan for so long, he not only held a low position but also lacked a noble title. Now, by following Dong Zhuo, he has gained a high-ranking official position and a noble title. Such different fates for the same people!
Afterwards, Dong Zhuo ordered an incense table to be set up, and the two burned incense, kowtowed, and made a vow of fatherhood and sonhood.

This scene was different from when Lü Bu paid homage to Ding Yuan. But this formal moment greatly reassured Dong Zhuo and the others, because it was a father-son oath witnessed by Heaven.

After burning incense and bowing in reverence, the soldiers in the hall offered their congratulations in unison, their voices shaking the roof tiles. Dong Zhuo, holding Lü Bu's hand, said with emotion, "From this day forward, you and I are father and son. I will treat you as my own son, sharing in your glory and wealth! You and I, father and son, will be of one mind, ruling the world together!"

"Lu Bu will dedicate himself wholeheartedly to assisting his adoptive father!" Lu Bu declared firmly.

Afterwards, the hall was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation.

After drinking quite a bit of wine with his adoptive father Dong Zhuo, Lü Bu came down to exchange pleasantries with the other generals.

When everyone saw Lü Bu arrive, they all stood up to greet him, their words full of flattery and obsequiousness. Lü Bu responded to each of them, a hint of smugness in his expression.

However, beneath this seemingly peaceful facade lurked many undercurrents. Some generals harbored suspicions about Lü Bu's sudden defection, believing him to be too fickle. To kill Ding Yuan's adoptive father and then immediately acknowledge Dong Zhuo as his adoptive father seemed too outrageous.

Lu Bu was willing to use any means necessary to climb the social ladder, disregarding loyalty and moral principles. Could he be trusted?

Meanwhile, Dong Zhuo's advisors were secretly pondering how Lü Bu's arrival would change the situation. Regardless, the banquet temporarily heightened the dangerous atmosphere in Luoyang, the capital.

After the banquet, Dong Zhuo arranged for Lü Bu to stay in the Sili Xiaowei's camp and began to gradually assign him some important tasks. Nominally, Lü Bu was appointed Sili Xiaowei.

Lu Bu also did his best to complete every task, and with his martial arts skills and abilities, he gradually gained a foothold in Dong Zhuo's camp.

However, what Dong Zhuo didn't know was that, on the road ahead, stories like Ding Yuan's would still unfold...

With Lü Bu as his bodyguard, Dong Zhuo's safety was basically guaranteed. He had also cleared many obstacles and could now begin to unleash his full power!

First, we must take control of the palace and control Empress Dowager He and the Emperor!

He ordered Lü Bu and Hua Xiong to lead their elite troops straight to the palace, and then easily took control of the palace without bloodshed!
The process was so smooth that even Lü Bu felt a chill run down his spine. Dong Zhuo had actually managed to control hundreds of thousands of imperial guards so early on—his methods were terrifying!

Dong Zhuo's actions could not be hidden from the civil and military officials, nor did he want to hide them; he did them openly and honestly during the day.

And so, the first court assembly after Lü Bu became Dong Zhuo's adoptive father was held!
After all the civil and military officials took their places, Empress Dowager He, accompanied by the trembling Emperor Liu Bian, emerged amidst the officials' welcome and sat on the imperial throne.

At that moment, a piercing clang rang out.

Dong Zhuo strode in from outside the hall, the sword and ornaments at his waist clanging together, drawing considerable attention.

Dong Zhuo, dressed in exquisite military attire, looked imposing and his presence was completely different from that of the other officials.

Everyone in the hall watched as the arrogant Dong Zhuo walked in.

After Dong Zhuo came Li Ru, Lü Bu, and others.

After Lü Bu brought Dong Zhuo in, he looked around, held his halberd in his hand, and walked proudly to the entrance of the main hall to stand guard. However, this time he did not stand outside the door, but inside, which was a different treatment Dong Zhuo gave Lü Bu.

No one dared to say anything about Dong Zhuo's lateness and arrogance. Even Empress Dowager He had a gloomy face and a deep sense of weariness and resentment in her eyes.

And so, the court meeting began. The first topic was none other than Dong Zhuo's self-appointment as Chancellor, arguing that the emperor was too young to rule and that he had saved the emperor.

When Dong Zhuo became Chancellor, he was praised and not called by name, did not have to bow when entering the court, and could wear a sword and shoes in the palace. His power and influence were unparalleled!
However, that wasn't all; he directly took full control of the affairs of the Minister of Personnel, leaving only Yang Biao to assist him.

As for Lin Mu and others, their positions as registrars were directly revoked.

After that, Dong Zhuo issued a wanted notice, offering a reward for the three fugitives Lu Zhi, Zhu Jun, and Huangfu Song.

Indeed, although Dong Zhuo did not kill the three men, he still stripped them of their official positions and titles and issued arrest warrants for them.

Of course, the wanted notice is just a facade; what he really wants is to intimidate and deter others!

After a series of maneuvers, the court discussions became a one-man show by Dong Zhuo.

But the officials dared not say anything, and Empress Dowager He and the emperor were like puppets, only able to passively comply.

(End of this chapter)