“Relocate the capital to Chang’an!”

The moment this was said, Dong Zhuo had clearly prepared for it, and everyone was greatly astonished.

Huang Wan, who had been appointed to the position of Grand Tutor, immediately stepped forward and asked, “Does the Prime Minister know that relocating the capital is a matter of great importance and cannot be mentioned lightly?”

Dong Zhuo replied unhurriedly, “The former Han Dynasty established the capital at Chang’an. After the restoration under Guangwu, the capital was moved to Luoyang, and it has been ten generations since. It is reasonable to consider moving it back to Chang’an as a way to restore stability.”

He took a few steps forward while holding his sword and continued, “Moreover, strange occurrences have been frequent in Luoyang since the Guanghe years. There have been reports of monstrous births, lamentations of birds on the tombs of Hailing, locust plagues, and epidemics in the outskirts.

These are all signs that this place is unfit to be the capital. The folk songs say, ‘A Han in the east, a Han in the west,’ suggesting it is better to return to the old capital and rely on the protection of the ancestral temple. Your Majesty, do you see any issues with this?”

Dong Zhuo glanced at Liu Xie, the young Emperor, who was only eleven years old this year and was trying hard to appear composed.

Even though he had managed to speak clearly after the turmoil in Luoyang Palace and the escape to the northern Mang Mountain, the constant display of Dong Zhuo’s offenses and plundering over the past month and a half had left him deeply anxious.

It was impossible for him to maintain his composure in the face of Dong Zhuo’s threats.

The issue of relocating the capital, which was closely related to the state’s lifeblood, was now being discussed by Dong Zhuo in such a casual manner, which not only felt like an insult to the imperial dignity but also left him with a deep sense of helplessness.

He struggled to respond in a normal tone, “The Prime Minister’s suggestion is worth considering, but it would be better to hear the opinions of the ministers.”

As Dong Zhuo turned around, he saw Huang Wan step forward again, holding his board and looking even more resolute.

He was not swayed by Dong Zhuo’s arguments about ancestral protection but instead became more forceful, “Prime Minister, where do you place the dignity of the court? Relocating the capital involves moving the officials, ceremonial implements, books and records, and even the people of the capital. The number of problems that would arise is countless, and it would burden the people and disrupt their livelihoods. Please, Prime Minister, reconsider.”

Huang Wan’s words were filled with reasoned argument.

After Huang Wan finished speaking, the Minister of Works, Yang Biao, also stood up.

Yang Biao’s tone was somewhat gentler than Huang Wan’s, but since he was also advising against the relocation, Dong Zhuo was still displeased.

Yang Biao said, “If we consider relocating the capital, we must remember that after Wang Mang’s usurpation, the Red Eyebrows Rebellion caused chaos in Chang’an, resulting in the destruction of many palaces, leaving only the High Temple and the Jingzhao Prefecture. If the court were to move there, where would His Majesty reside? Where would the court conduct its affairs?”

The palaces and temples in Chang’an had been abandoned for many years, and restoring them would be an extremely labor-intensive task.

It was impractical to return to Chang’an just because of the strange occurrences in the current capital.

Moreover, the population of Chang’an was now only about two hundred thousand, while Luoyang had a population of over a million.

The difference in scale was more than fivefold!

Dong Zhuo looked coldly at the two men standing below.

It was actually Xun Shuang, the Minister of Works, who had some insight.

Although he often mentioned the need to re-categorize and protect the Lan Tai records, it was merely about protecting some books, something that was not significant in his eyes.

He did not know that Xun Shuang did not speak up because he and Xun You had already seen through Dong Zhuo’s true nature in their analysis.

They were aware that any advice given at this moment would be futile and that Dong Zhuo would never retract his decision.

Hoping that Qiao Yan and others would attack and break through the Eight Passes before Dong Zhuo could relocate the capital, leaving the old scoundrel trapped, seemed more practical.

However, not everyone shared this vision or remained calm in the face of the relocation proposal.

As Huang Wan and Yang Biao pointed out, relocating the capital was not a preferred choice.

Moving all of Luoyang’s established institutions was difficult and disruptive to the people’s lives.

Moreover, Chang’an, ravaged by the Red Eyebrow Rebellion, no longer possessed the prestige suitable for the emperor, and repairing it would be a troublesome task.

Zhou Bi and Wu Qiong also stood up, voicing their objections.

Dong Zhuo could tolerate one or two dissenters, but when a third and fourth person spoke against him, it made him feel as if these people hadn’t realized who held the real power in Luoyang.

They mistakenly thought Dong Zhuo was someone they could reason with.

Zhou Bi was interrupted before he could finish. “Shut up!”

Dong Zhuo snapped, his eyes locking onto Zhou Bi with a predatory glare that conveyed clear murderous intent.

“Minister Zhou…” Dong Zhuo fixed his gaze on Zhou Bi, the current Minister of Personnel, who sensed danger as Dong Zhuo continued, “If I recall correctly, Liu Dai, Kong Zhou, Zhang Zi, and Zhang Miao were all recommended by you. What did you tell me back then?”

Zhou Bi, a renowned scholar from Liangzhou and son of the former Yuzhou Inspector Zhou Shen, had earned Dong Zhuo’s trust because of their regional connection.

Dong Zhuo, who had followed Zhou Bi’s recommendations for appointments, believed that Zhou Bi, being centrally positioned, knew the central plains’ virtuous men better than Li Ru and himself, who had long been in the west.

But now—

Dong Zhuo roared, “You said they were all virtuous men suitable for governing provinces. And what was the reality?”

“Virtuous men?” he mocked, “These four, instead of governing, used their positions to raise troops against me. And you, Wu Qiong!”

Wu Qiong trembled as Dong Zhuo called his name.

Dong Zhuo continued, “You advised me to let the fugitive Yuan Shao serve as Governor of Bohai, thinking it would turn enemies into friends. But what happened?”

“Even without the governorship, he still managed to cause trouble. Without Lu Zhi suppressing him, do you think he wouldn’t have claimed the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry himself?”

Dong Zhuo strode towards Zhou Bi and Wu Qiong, his gaze piercing, “Now you all want to persuade me not to relocate the capital. Do you have the ability to make those troops retreat with just a word, as you appointed these men with just a word?”

“Prime Minister, you jest,” Zhou Bi replied, trying to defuse the tension.

“Joking? I am not joking with you!” Dong Zhuo shouted loudly. “Everyone, you have seen it. These two people have betrayed me, Dong Zhuo. Today, for some unknown reason, they are advising me against relocating the capital. If I do anything now, I cannot be blamed for failing them. Come here!”

In the Han court, it had never been seen before that a command from an official would lead to the entrance of armored guards into the hall, but today, it happened.

This was a display fit for an emperor.

At this moment, no one dared to protest Dong Zhuo’s audacious actions, because his next words were, “Throw Zhou Bi and Wu Qiong out and have them executed!”

Before anyone could make a reasoned objection to Dong Zhuo’s actions, the Xiliang soldiers following Dong Zhuo’s orders, showing no respect for the court, immediately seized Zhou Bi and Wu Qiong.

The two were gagged, their hands and feet bound, and dragged out of the hall.

They barely had time to let out two cries of despair before being executed by Dong Zhuo’s subordinates outside the hall.

Blood splattered in the court!

No one present had ever seen subjects being executed in front of the emperor, but Dong Zhuo, the Xiliang barbarian, carried out this act with an unspoken sense of righteousness.

He scanned the ministers, who had been intimidated into silence, with a satisfied smile.

Indeed, no one dared to voice any dissent.

Those who truly dared to risk their lives to challenge Dong Zhuo had mostly fled or been assigned to remote provinces before he sealed off the eight passes, or were part of the anti-Dong alliance and were not present here.

For instance, Zhu Jun, known for his integrity and martial prowess, had already fled to Jingzhou and thus could not offer any rebuttal in the court.

Dong Zhuo looked at those present before him and finally showed a look of satisfaction.

“It seems no one has any objections to my decision to relocate the capital. Your Majesty, what do you think?”

Receiving Dong Zhuo’s question again, Liu Xie clearly could not say anything more about listening to the opinions of the ministers, otherwise, he might find even fewer people present in the court.

He responded softly, “We shall follow the Prime Minister’s decision.”

Even though his agreement came quickly, Dong Zhuo still dismissed Grand Tutor Huang Wan and Minister of Works Yang Biao during that morning’s court session.

Afterward, he assigned the task of relocating the capital to various departments.

The people stood rigidly in place, until Dong Zhuo stepped out and disappeared from their view.

Only then did they feel some strength return to their legs, allowing them to leave the hall.

However, as they exited the hall, they saw that the bodies of Wu Qiong and Zhou Bi had not been moved by Dong Zhuo’s men.

The two corpses lay outside the hall in a horrific state, with heads and bodies separated, which left the onlookers in a state of deep unease.

It was Liu Xie who issued an edict, instructing that the two men be taken back to their families for a proper burial.

Yang Biao returned home and stood in the courtyard for a long time, his face filled with sorrow.

Seeing Yang Xiu standing under the eaves, he said with a sigh, “It seems that both our lives will also end here.”

Four years ago, Yang Ci had passed away.

Yang Xiu had gone to Hongnong to keep vigil for his grandfather for three years and had returned to Luoyang last summer, not even a year ago.