"Kill!"
The two forces collided in a chaotic clash.
Amid the melee, a single rider suddenly came charging through.
"Make way! Make way!" Zhao Yun shouted urgently.
The soldiers moving in the same direction instinctively parted, thinking reinforcements had arrived. But when they saw clearly, many were stunned.
Only one rider? And with a woman behind him?
"Stop him!"
The opposing troops rushed forward to block his path.
"Out of my way! Anyone who blocks me dies!"
Zhao Yun's spear flashed as he cut down several men in succession, plunging straight into the enemy ranks.
A rebel officer, seeing Zhao Yun charging and his own men too entangled to respond, led a few guards to intercept him.
Zhao Yun thrust his spear—but the man dodged. In that instant, a cold gleam flashed.
A head flew into the air.
Blood erupted in a fountain.
At some point, Zhao Yun had already drawn his sword—its blade now dripping crimson.
Everyone froze in shock.
The headless body spurted blood high into the air, a terrifying sight.
With sword in his left hand and spear in his right, Zhao Yun pressed forward, scattering the officer's guards.
The adjutant snapped out of it and shouted, "Shoot! Shoot him!"
More than a dozen arrows came flying from all directions.
Zhao Yun deflected them with his spear—when suddenly he heard a muffled groan behind him.
He turned.
Tang Ji had been struck in the back by an arrow. Blood poured from the wound.
Rage surged through him.
Another arrow came.
Zhao Yun reacted instantly—he clamped his spear between his legs, caught the arrow mid-flight, and hurled it back in one motion.
It pierced straight through the adjutant's throat.
With both their commander and deputy slain, the soldiers' morale shattered. They scattered and fled, no longer daring to block his path.
Seeing Zhao Yun's valor, the troops on the other side surged with renewed courage and counterattacked.
An idea struck Zhao Yun.
"Brothers! Follow me—attack!"
"We'll follow the general!"
In moments, he gathered over a hundred scattered soldiers and led them north, cutting through several groups of enemies before reaching the area near Taicang.
Beyond it lay Gumen—the valley gate.
Fighting still raged nearby. Zhao Yun ordered his men to hold the line while he slipped away into a side alley.
At Gumen, the garrison had long vanished. The gate stood open.
Overjoyed, Zhao Yun spurred his horse forward and rode out of the city.
Outside Luoyang, silence returned.
Following Zhang Xin's instructions, Zhao Yun headed north toward Beimang Mountain.
He guided the horse slowly under the moonlight.
After several miles, a dull thud sounded behind him.
Tang Ji, weakened by her wound, had lost consciousness and fallen from the horse.
Zhao Yun quickly dismounted, setting Zhang Ping down.
"Madam! Madam!"
No response.
He lit a tinderbox and examined her wound.
Blood was still flowing heavily.
If they continued like this, she would surely die.
With no other choice, Zhao Yun lifted her onto the horse, carried Zhang Ping again, and led them to a nearby cave to rest.
Not long after they left, another group arrived in haste.
"Your Majesty! Empress Dowager—quickly, run!"
Liu Bian stumbled forward, his face pale with fear. Empress Dowager He followed, equally panicked.
They had fled to the Northern Palace, hoping to hold out—but Yuan Shao's forces pressed relentlessly, scaling the walls and breaking in with ease.
What followed was another round of slaughter, plunder, and chaos.
With no other option, Zhao Zhong and the remaining eunuchs gathered a handful of loyal followers and escorted Liu Bian and the others out through Fanglin Garden, fleeing north on foot.
Officials fled in all directions. None remained.
When Min Gong, the Inspector of Henan, learned that the emperor was escaping north with only eunuchs and no troops, he was alarmed. He immediately led over a hundred soldiers to intercept and protect him.
Liu Bian and his party, thinking they were being pursued, ran desperately.
Several miles from the Yellow River, Min Gong caught up.
"May Yuan Shao die a horrible death!" Empress Dowager He cried.
Liu Bian stood helpless, unable to understand how everything had collapsed so suddenly.
Zhao Zhong and the others stood guard with drawn swords.
Min Gong stepped forward and rebuked them:
"You eunuchs—servants who have abused your power—have led the emperor into ruin. Now, at the brink of death, why not accept your fate?"
He ordered his men forward, killing several eunuchs.
Zhao Zhong protested loudly, accusing Yuan Shao of rebellion.
Min Gong did not believe him.
Even when Empress Dowager He spoke, he only sighed.
"Even if Yuan Shao has rebelled… if not for the eunuchs meddling in state affairs, things would not have come to this."
Zhao Zhong fell silent.
After a moment, he gave a bitter smile.
"You speak of corruption… tell me, among the officials, who is truly loyal and upright?"
Min Gong had no answer.
Zhao Zhong straightened his robes, bowed deeply to Liu Bian.
"If we all perish, the realm will fall into chaos. Your Majesty… take care."
With that, he drew his sword and ended his life.
One by one, Duan Gui, Bi Lan, and the others followed.
In moments, the eunuchs were all dead.
Only Liu Bian, Liu Xie, and Empress Dowager He remained.
Terrified, they trembled in silence.
Min Gong stepped forward and bowed.
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, please return to the capital with me."
Liu Xie asked quietly, "Return… and let Yuan Shao kill us?"
"Do not fear," Min Gong reassured him. "Yuan Shao's actions were likely forced. Now that the eunuchs are dead, he will not dare harm the imperial family. The people of the realm would never allow it."
With no other choice, they agreed.
Exhausted from fleeing all night, Liu Bian could barely walk. Min Gong slaughtered a sheep from a nearby household and offered it to him.
After eating, the emperor regained some strength.
A cart was found, and Min Gong himself pulled it, carrying the imperial family.
At Luoshe, they rested briefly. By dawn, two horses were found. Liu Bian rode one, while Empress Dowager He carried Liu Xie on the other.
As they journeyed south, more officials joined them, forming a growing escort.
At last, Luoyang came into sight.
Just then—
a new force of troops appeared ahead.