I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 577: Li Ru attacks, the deposed emperor dies in Luoyang City

The matter of moving the capital has been decided.

However, Dong Zhuo did not stop there.

Li Ru said it very clearly before.

Moving the capital is a huge project that requires a lot of money and food.

There were many wealthy families in Beijing, and just the Yuan family's followers were enough for him to eat his fill and plunder huge amounts of wealth.

Thus, the great house raiding began.

Dong Zhuo immediately dispatched 5,000 Western Liang cavalrymen from his own city, led by Xu Rong himself, to capture thousands of wealthy families in Luoyang. They put up flags with "traitors" written on them and beheaded them outside the city to take their money.

While people were killing people and robbing money, Li Ru had his own things to do.

Luoyang City, the residence of Prince Hongnong.

The deposed emperor Liu Bian was sighing and telling the servants in his mansion to pack their luggage when he received the news that Li Ru was coming to visit.

He hurried over to greet her and asked:
"The doctor has sent me here. I wonder if Mr. Dong has any instructions?"

Li Ru laughed and said kindly:
"It's a long journey to the Western Capital. Lord Dong is worried about the health of King Hongnong, so he specially asked me to prepare this bowl of medicine to cure plague and strengthen the body. Please take it, King Hongnong."

When Liu Bian heard this, his heart tightened, and his eyelids twitched when he saw the medicine brought by Li Ru.

Liu Bian stared at the bowl of medicine and felt an ominous premonition in his heart. Although he was not an expert in medicine, he was born into the royal family and had heard about the intrigues and hidden murderous intentions in the palace.

At this moment, facing Li Ru's seemingly kind but actually sinister smile, and the bowl of medicine that was said to "eliminate plague and strengthen the body", Liu Bian already knew in his heart that this was by no means an ordinary thing.

The bowl of medicine in front of him was extremely rich, with an indescribable pungent smell mixed in with its aroma. It was very different from the supplements he usually took. It was obvious that the spices were used to cover up the fierce medicine in it.

He forced himself to remain calm, with a wry smile on his face, and said:
"You are too kind, Doctor. Although I have lived in the palace for a long time, I know how to keep my body healthy."

"In recent days, I feel that I am in good health and do not need this kind of medicine. Please ask the doctor to bring this medicine back and convey my gratitude to Mr. Dong."

Li Ru heard this, his smile remained unchanged, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes. He shook his head and gradually said in a heavier tone:
"King Hongnong is wrong."

"Mr. Dong specifically instructed that this medicine is a secret recipe from the Western Regions. It is extremely precious and has miraculous effects on strengthening the body."

"If the king refuses to accept, wouldn't that be a waste of Mr. Dong's kindness?"

Liu Bian knew very well that this medicine was not a good thing, but facing Li Ru's relentless pressure, he was terrified and looked around for help.

However, the attendants and guards in the palace all lowered their heads and dared not look directly at him, obviously they were extremely afraid of Li Ru and Dong Zhuo behind him.

Liu Bian knew that he was alone and powerless, but he still tried to struggle:

"Doctor, there is no need for this medicine, please..."

——"King Hongnong!"

Li Ru's expression suddenly changed, and he scolded:

"The medicine was given to you by Master Dong himself. If you don't drink it, you will be disobeying orders and will bear the consequences yourself!"

After saying this, the followers behind Li Ru put their hands on the hilt of the knife.

Giving medicine as a gift is a respectable act. If Liu Bian insists on not complying, Li Ru doesn't mind doing it himself.

Seeing this situation, Liu Bian knew that there was no way to resolve the situation peacefully, so he finally took the poison.

However, in exchange for his dignity, Liu Bian still managed to gain some leniency.

He asked Li Ru to wait for a moment and to have a meal with his wife and close followers before taking the medicine.

Considering that the person in front of him was once an emperor, Li Ru agreed to this request.

Liu Bian then ordered his servants to prepare a simple banquet and invited his wife Tang Ji and several of his close followers to join him.

During the banquet, the atmosphere was heavy. Everyone knew that this was a farewell banquet, but no one dared to speak out. Seeing this, Liu Bian raised his glass and said to everyone:
"Everyone, today's gathering may be our last joy."

"Although I am unfortunate to have encountered this difficulty, I have also had fun while working with you all."

"Today, I want to drink to relieve my sorrow and drink with you to remember the past."

When everyone heard this, they all raised their glasses, looked at each other with tears in their eyes, and remained silent.

Liu Bian turned to Tang Ji and said softly:
"My wife, Tang Ji, has never enjoyed a single day of happiness since marrying me, but has suffered the misfortune of today. The pain in my heart is beyond words."

Tang Ji burst into tears after hearing this and was unable to utter a word.

When Liu Bian saw this, he felt even more sad, and immediately raised his cup and sang a song:
"The way of heaven is easy, but I have no difficulty. I abandon my chariots and retreat to the frontier."

"The traitor's life is coming to an end, I will leave you and go to the abyss!"

After the song, he asked Tang Ji to dance.

Tang Ji had a graceful figure, raised her sleeves and sang:

"The heavens are crumbling and the earth is crumbling, and as an emperor my fate is cut short."

"Life and death are different, so we are separated from now on. But I am alone and sad in my heart!"

Liu Bian was so moved by this scene that tears fell on his clothes. He was so mesmerized that he just wanted time to stay at this moment forever.

However, this is obviously unrealistic.

As time went by, Li Ru finally became impatient and stepped forward to urge Liu Bian to take the medicine.

Knowing that his death was approaching, Liu Bian finally held Tang Ji's hand and said affectionately:
"You are the king's wife, and you can no longer be the wife of an official or commoner. I hope you take good care of yourself. Our fate has ended, and we say goodbye forever!"

After saying this, he resolutely picked up the bowl of poison and drank it all.

As the poison entered my stomach, pain instantly spread throughout my body.

At this last moment, Liu Bian, who grew up in a Taoist priest's family, had always been cowardly and indecisive, was said to have no bearing of a king, and even dared not look at others more than a few times, now had an unusually firm look in his eyes.

He stared at Li Ru, the traitor, and clenched his teeth without uttering a single cry.

After a while, Liu Bian's body slowly fell down. Tang Ji and her followers burst into tears but were powerless to save the situation.

Seeing this, Li Ru snorted lightly, waved his hand coldly, and signaled his followers to push Tang Ji and others away. After confirming that Liu Bian was really dead, he turned and left.

A great emperor died at the age of eighteen.

However, this scene in Prince Hongnong's Palace did not cause any waves in the chaotic capital.

This was just a small part of Dong Zhuo's many actions to eliminate dissidents.

Under heavy pressure, Dong Zhuo finally tore off his last disguise.

He no longer played any game of compromise and exchange with those aristocratic families in the court, but directly drew his knife.

Those who follow me will prosper, those who go against me will perish!

People like Zhou Bi and Wu Qiong merely advised Dong Zhuo to stop killing and not bring harm to their relatives and friends because of the support they had received from the Yuan family in the past, but they were bitten back by Dong Zhuo.

On the grounds that they had been friendly with the Yuan family in the past and that all the people they recommended were rebels, these court officials were executed and their property was confiscated.

For a time, no one in the capital dared to go against him.

Only the young emperor Liu Xie in the deep palace sighed after hearing his brother's fate:
"I am deeply saddened by my brother's misfortune, but I am living in a chaotic world and my life is like floating duckweed. I am really powerless to do anything."

"Is there no one who can stop Dong Zhuo's violence?"

(End of this chapter)