When Niu Fu specifically pointed him out, Xu Rong couldn’t help but feel speechless.

He wasn’t sure if this was because of assisting Dong Min when he lost to Qiao Yan last time, he intuitively felt that this might be another problem when confronting Marquis Qiao with an unreliable teammate.

However, this arrangement obviously didn’t leave him any room to refuse.

Dong Zhuo immediately ordered Niu Fu to lead troops to guard Xiaopingjin, and he assigned Niu Ze to station troops at Mengjin.

Then, he appointed Duan Wei as the main general to guard Hangu Pass, Hu Zhi to guard Chenggao, Dong Yue to defend Taigu Pass, and Li Jue and Guo Si to hold Yique Pass.

Fan Chou and Zhang Ji were stationed at Huanyuan Pass.

With these arrangements, apart from Guangcheng Pass, all key positions were fortified.

After making these arrangements, Dong Zhuo felt a sense of security similar to when Liu Hong had stationed troops at the Eight Passes during the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

This feeling of security was perhaps also due to the fact that, after making these arrangements, Dong Zhuo received a visit from the Investigating Censor, Zhaolong Zong.

Seeing that Zhaolong Zong had forgotten to remove his sword, Dong Zhuo coldly ordered him dragged away and beaten to death.

Later, he had the body of He Miao, previously killed and buried, dug up and dismembered, tossing the remains by the roadside.

He also had Lady Wuyang, He Miao’s mother and Grand Empress Dowager, killed.

Rumors and whispers that had arisen in Luoyang due to the edicts he received were temporarily quelled in the face of such ruthless and bloody actions.

To prevent government officials’ relatives from colluding during the tight guard of the Eight Passes and entering Luoyang under the guise of visiting the court, Dong Zhuo immediately ordered the murder of Zhou Hui, son of the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Zhou Zhong.

The court and the people were filled with fear and apprehension.

It was evident that Dong Zhuo was no longer satisfied with targeting military adversaries but had expanded his scope to include civilian officials.

This change was not merely a response to the movement of Bingzhou troops southward and the criticism of Qiao Yan’s military actions.

Today, many in Luoyang hoped she would repel Dong Zhuo and eliminate this ambitious man.

Since elevating himself to Prime Minister after adding official titles, Dong Zhuo had revealed a domineering style.

It was clear that his use of scholars was not out of respect but merely to disguise his disloyal intentions.

Yingchuan’s distinguished scholar Xun Shuang, after Huang Wan’s promotion from Minister of the Left to Minister of the Right and Yang Biao’s move from Minister of Works to Minister of the Left, was falsely accused by Dong Zhuo and appointed Minister of Works.

Looking at Xun You, who had been forcibly relocated to Luoyang, he couldn’t help but feel sorrowful.

“Dong Zhuo is ruthless and cruel, like a tiger or wolf. I’ve lived in seclusion at Hanbin for over ten years, only to face such a tragic end. How pitiful!”

At sixty-two years old this year, he knew his lifespan was limited.

He feared he might not live to see how far Dong Zhuo would go in destroying the Han Dynasty.

Although he devoted his life to studying ancient texts, he also harbored a desire to serve his country and aid in times of crisis.

Now, seeing the talented children of the Xun family before him, he feared they might fall victim to Dong Zhuo’s tyranny if they stayed in Luoyang.

He felt deeply troubled.

Unfortunately, Dong Zhuo forbade anyone from leaving, making it impossible for him, in his current ceremonial role, to send Xun You away.

Xun You replied reassuringly, “Sir, don’t worry. When there’s a will, there’s a way. Dong Zhuo may act recklessly, but by elevating scholars and talents, he inadvertently aids those who seek change.

Outside Luoyang, General Qiao has already defeated Dong Zhuo’s forces in Hedong, stationed at Mengjin and Chenggao.

If there are visionaries beyond Luoyang, now is the time to act.”

He continued gently, “Dong Zhuo struggles to control his commanders, let alone the Northern Army’s five divisions.

His cruelty exposes his vulnerability.

If the provinces unite and attack Xuanmen Gate swiftly, breaking into Luoyang, the Emperor and the court could be saved.”

“Don’t worry about your current reputation. You hold a high position; focus on protecting scholars and classics in Luoyang. There’s no need to worry about your legacy.”

Xun Shuang was silent for a while before murmuring, “Attacking Xuanmen Gate… Yes, it’s risky, but it’s guarded only by a minor commander. If someone with the courage of Marquis Qiao were to enter and support the rightful cause, Dong Zhuo is just a man, no more formidable than anyone else.”

Struggling with his frail body, he stood up and walked into the courtyard, looking at the clear but oddly chilling sky.

He asked again, “So, who do you think has the courage to mobilize troops now?”

Xun You replied from behind him, “On the day of the late Emperor’s funeral, he entrusted Lu Gongfu with authority. He can gather troops and move towards Luoyang, given his military experience and ties with Marquis Qiao in Bingzhou.”

“Captain Cao Mengde, who previously clashed with Dong Zhuo’s forces and retreated to Qiao and Pei, comes from a wealthy family with many martial enthusiasts among his brothers and acquaintances. They might rise up.”

“Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, though blamed for the chaos in Luoyang,…” Seeing Xun Shuang turn to him, Xun You added softly, “the latter.”

“However, Yuan Shu is currently in Nanyang, forming an alliance with Zhang Ziyi, the Prefect of Nanyang, and could unite with Sun Wentai, the Prefect of Changsha, heading north. Meanwhile, in Jizhou, under the Yuan family name, troops could be raised and sent.”

“Discussing bold heroes across the realm, the Prefects of Chenliu, Guangling, Dongjun, Beihai, and the current Governor of Xuzhou, all have potential to raise troops. If someone were to call for action in Central Plains, more than ten officials with a rank of 2000 could assemble outside Luoyang’s eight gates…”

“From your perspective, do you think there’s hope for the world?” Xun Shuang suddenly felt the air clear around him and sighed, “Yes, how can Dong Zhuo control the hearts of the people with such tyranny? With Qiao Yan confronting him in the south, there will surely be brave souls who will rise up. If what you say is true and more than ten factions gather at Xuanguan Pass, then the Han Dynasty may see better days again. What do I have to lose?”

“Prepare the carriage, I’m going to Lan Tai!”

On the day of Liu Hong’s death, the fire at Nangong sparked by Yuan Shu did not reach Lan Tai, and the letters and documents there were preserved—a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

If Dong Zhuo were defeated at Xuanguan Pass, this ruthless man might try to burn Lan Tai.

Although Xun Shuang had been forcibly promoted to Minister of Works, he doubted he could turn the tide.

Yet, there was hope to preserve the capital’s books.

As Xun You helped him into the carriage, he looked into the seemingly gentle but resolute eyes of his descendant.

After some thought, he asked, “Do you think Qiao Yan could break through from Mengjin?”

Xun You replied, “She’s known for surprises. I can’t predict her.”

Meanwhile, across the Yellow River from Mengjin, Qiao Yan herself was busy writing letters in her camp.

On the other side, Niu Fu, stationed at Mengjin, felt a mix of relief and unease as he observed Qiao Yan’s camp across the river.

Her lack of aggressive action left him feeling uneasy.

Disguising his soldiers as fishermen, they crossed downstream and infiltrated her camp.

They reported back that Qiao Yan was mobilizing her troops to build ships together.

Building ships? It seemed like a preparation for attack, but it made no sense at Mengjin!

With the number of ships ready at Mengjin’s docks, including warships suitable for the Yellow River, Qiao Yan’s hurried shipbuilding couldn’t match their military preparations.

A surprise attack would be the best strategy.

If not for crossing the river with ships, but using them to build a floating bridge—it was a joke!

Since the time of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, shipbuilding for bridge construction had been discussed, but such methods were only suitable for smaller rivers like the Wei.

No one had ever managed such a feat on a major river.

Looking at the enemy camp across the river, Niu Fu couldn’t help but sneer, “It’s late April now. Even if they manage to build ships in seven months, by November, with the weather of recent years, the river will freeze! That’s when they can cross.”

After saying this, he was quite pleased to hear the soldiers around him burst into laughter.

But as he touched his face, he couldn’t help but grimace in pain.

That day, Guo Si abruptly turned back with his horse, furious on the way back to the city.

Crossing the river, he snapped an oar in anger, accidentally striking himself in the face and knocking out half a tooth.

This only deepened his resolve to regain face from Qiao Yan.

Unfortunately, neither side found it easy to cross the river for attack or defense, which left him incredibly frustrated.

Even more troublesome, as long as the enemy camped across the Yellow River, he had to stay there with the troops given by the Prime Minister, guarding against any opportunity they might seize to attack Luoyang by crossing the river.

Compared to his impatient state, Qiao Yan remained much more composed.

As Xun You had speculated, after she had pinned down Dong Zhuo’s troops in this location, she sent a letter to Lu Zhi and Cao Cao.

In the letter, she requested that the two launch a joint campaign against Dong Zhuo.

In the letter, she mentioned—

Dong Zhuo’s massacre in the capital city of Luoyang was merely a cover for his inherent weakness, and his corruption had spread rapidly.

Even after Qiao Yan’s proclamation, he continued to commit these atrocities.

The scholarly community is now aware of his true nature.

Those who had once served Dong Zhuo should now prioritize the welfare of the people and the restoration of the imperial court, rather than aligning with his former officials.

With Dong Zhuo’s forces divided and unprepared, now was the perfect time to raise an army.

To eradicate evil, once they assembled at Xuanmen Gate, she would swiftly cross the river, advancing from the northern mountains, directly towards the north of Luoyang, cutting off Dong Zhuo’s escape route.

As for how she would cross the river, they need not worry about it.

[During the early Han Dynasty, in the region of Bingzhou, there were special methods for crossing the river. People often said that northerners were not good at water warfare, but that wasn’t the case in our Bingzhou. Please wait and see with your own eyes.]

Qiao Yan set down her brush and had these two letters sent out.

Afterward, she went north of the camp to the bustling shipbuilding area.

She casually oversaw them placing the newly built small boats on the empty ground by the shore, giving the opposite camp of Niu Fu a spectacle.

Then she turned towards the area concealed by the tent curtains inside the camp.

On the ground here, several open boxes and cages revealed not military provisions for the army, but sheets of sheepskin freshly peeled off while still warm.

The sheep they had captured from their recent attack on the Xianbei were not enough to account for the quantity obtained here.

Before Qiao Yan’s expedition against the Xianbei last year, Guo Jia had already played a trick on the Southern Xiutu King, adding some intimidation.

Combined with this year’s hunting results, the Southern Xiongnu King was now somewhat frightened and had lost his rebellious intentions long ago.

Not to mention, since the pacification of the revolt in Youzhou, Yu Fu Luo, the son of the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu Qiang Qu, had returned to Xihe County in Bingzhou.

This increased the intimidation of the noble families in the Southern Xiongnu Left Division.

The Xiutu King was already considered a surrendered Xiongnu.

Under such fear, he couldn’t even escape far away, so he simply consulted with the other noble families of the Left Division and chose to surrender his wealth to save his life.

This was why Qiao Yan now had over four thousand nearly intact sheepskins here.

Moreover, they were all ram skins.

She reached out and picked up one of the sheepskins that had been baked and stripped of its hair beforehand.

For ease of transport, these sheepskins, which should have been inflated, were now shriveled.

Except for those soldiers outside making boats, everyone else was here.

They were busy inflating the sheepskins, sealing them with hemp rope, applying clear water and grease, and then drying them in the sun.

The inflated sheepskins turned into skin bags, which were tied underneath the sheepskin rafts.

Qiao Yan looked at the dozens of inflated skin bags used for testing and smiled.

These were her means of crossing the river!”