Dynasty Warriors: The Rise of Sun

Chapter 9 of my Dynasty Warriors story, enjoy.

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Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Dynasty Warriors or its characters.


Dong Zhuo's Rise

"I knew it, Dong Zhuo has turned his back on the Han." Cheng Pu groused.

Sun Jian nodded sadly. "I fear you are right Cheng Pu."

They currently sat, along with Han Dang and Huang Gai at Sun Jian's residence in Luoyang, where they had been called by He Jin before the startling turn of events that led to now, led to this dire situation in the year 190 AD. Following Sun Jian setting up in Changsha, the Liang Rebellion remained the only one still underway, it only ended in early 189 AD and Zhang Wen returned to the capital while Dong Zhuo continued to rule Yong Province while maintaining ties with Ma Teng and Han Sui who surrendered and help slay Bian Zhang. Then came the death of Emperor Ling and the turmoil that followed. Since Empress He was his sister, He Jin quickly installed her son Liu Bian to the throne as Emperor Shao. This displeased Empress Dowager Dong who favoured Ling's other son Liu Xie, but she soon poisoned to death and the eunuchs began paying lip service to the new Empress Dowager He, thus returning to their former power, only now locked in bitter struggle with He Jin, who wanted them dead.

This ultimately led to He Jin making the rash move of calling the provincial governors to the capital with their armies, to pressure Empress Dowager He to have the eunuchs executed. Instead the eunuchs murdered He Jin and were in turn slain by Cao-Cao, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu. Even He Miao was slain for siding with the eunuchs over his family. Empress Dowager He was saved but Emperor Shao and Liu Xie were captured and taken away by the Ten Attendants, the only eunuchs to escape the initial massacre. They would then come across Dong Zhuo and his army, on their way to Luoyang by He Jin's summons. Quick to betray anyone it I would give him an advantage, Dong Zhuo turned on the men he had bribed to save himself twice before and had the ten slain before escorting the Emperor and Liu Xie back home.

But this did not mark the end, for shortly after Dong Zhuo was rewarded by being named Imperial Chancellor his true tyranny came out and caused great suffering. Only one man dared stand against him, Ding Yuan, Lord of Bing Province. He had tried to force Dong Zhuo out, and would have succeeded thanks to his adopted son, a mighty warrior named Lu Bu. But using the famous horse Red Hare, Dong Zhuo bribed Lu Bu to change sides, which he did by killing Ding Yuan, his forces quickly absorbed by Dong Zhuo. Then, after executing Zhang Wen on charges of conspiracy to assassinate him, Dong Zhuo played his ultimate move. He deposed and later secretly murdered Emperor Shao, along with Empress Dowager He and Consort Tang. He then installed Liu Xie as Emperor Xian and after driving Yuan Shao out and back to his city of Ye, Dong Zhuo ruled unopposed. His tyranny knew no bounds and his lust led to many women fearing for themselves. Meanwhile Lu Zhi had retired in disgust and Huangfu Song died of illness, leaving the elderly Zhu Jun as last of the Han's old guard, but he was too old to fight and so had been reassigned to a mere clerical post. So much had changed in such a short time and now, in 190 AD, at this very moment, Dong Zhuo appeared unstoppable.

It was made all the more daunting given that Dong Zhuo had forced the lords now practically imprisoned in Luoyang to send their armies home or disband them, leaving only the Imperial troops under his control or his own personal troops within the capital, so at prevent another uprising like Ding Yuan.

"We should've put him down when we had the chance." Huang Gai grumbled.

Han Dang sighed. "I don't think that would've helped, Huang Gai."

Sun Jian nodded. "Han Dang is right, someone else would just have risen up in his place. The question is, what do we do now?"

They all went quiet, concerned before being startled by a knocking at the door. They stood as the door then opened and a rather smarmy looking man entered. Sun Jian bowed at once.

"Master Li Ru, what can I do for you?" He asked Dong' Zhuo's strategist, as well as son-in-law.

The man spoke in an oily voice. "Master Sun Jian, You are summoned to the palace, Lord Dong Zhuo demands your presence."

He offered no further explanation, he simply left.

"Urgh, that snake thinks he can just-" Huang Gai growled.

Cheng Pu shook his head. "Calm down, he serves Dong Zhuo and as such, he can talk to us that way. But why are you being summoned my lord?"

"I wonder...perhaps it's something to do with what Cao-Cao and I spoke about this morning." Sun Jian mused. "If it's what I think it is, we need to be prepared. Cheng Pu, go to Cao-Cao's residence and bring Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan here. Huang Gai, go to Master Wang Yun's residence and ask him to visit too. In the meantime, Han Dang, ready our weapons and equipment."

If these instructions shocked them, they didn't show it and went to follow these orders while Sun Jian made his way to go and see Dong Zhuo at the palace.

He arrived and did his best not to show his apprehension at the terrifying muscular tall figure of Lu Bu who stood, glaring at Cao-Cao who was kneeling on the ground, bound and guarded. Dong Zhuo stood over him, also glaring and holding a rather ornamental short but razor sharp sword.

"Ah Sun Jian, take a look at this, do you know this blade?" Dong Zhuo remarked at once upon seeing him.

Sun Jian took the proffered sword and examined it. "It's a rather famous blade, almost anybody in Luoyang would recognise it, my Lord. This is the famed Seven Star Sword."
Dong Zhuo sneered. "Cao-Cao here tried to assassinate me with it...how did he get his hands on this, I know he doesn't have such a weapon."

"No, that is...outrageous." Sun Jian gasped, but when he locked eyes with Cao-Cao he quirked an eyebrow, an unspoken signal. "To be fair, My Lord, this sword is an Imperial treasure, anyone who is an Imperial official could find it in the treasury."

Dong Zhuo narrowed his eyes at that, but knows what that meant, it was likely Cao-Cao who had retrieved the sword for himself.

"I'll return it to the treasury my Lord, I am sorry this has happened."

Dong Zhuo nodded. "It's nothing to worry about, he's been dealt with and tomorrow he will be executed."

'As if that is actually going to happen.' Sun Jian reflected as he turned and left.

He had given Cao-Cao the signal, so Cao-Cao knew that help would be arriving, before that execution would even be close to beginning.

Returning to his dwelling he found his visitors, and their weapons were all ready.

"Ah good, you're all here."

"Yes, now perhaps you'll explain what this is about?" Xiahou Dun snapped.

Sun Jian sighed. "I'm afraid Cao-Cao is in danger of being executed."

"What, no!" Xiahou Yuan gasped.

"Cousin!" Xiahou Dun was about to stand but Cheng Pu stopped him.

"Let's listen to what my Lord has to say first."

Nodding Sun Jian took out the Seven Star Sword and handed it to Wang Yun.

"I'm sorry this plan failed, Master Wang Yun, there may be another way however."

Wang Yun nodded. "True, we must first rescue Master Cao-Cao though."

Sun Jian sat down. "I agree. Everyone, Master Wang Yun, Cao-Cao and I all formulated a plot to take down Dong Zhuo. This was the first attempt, Cao-Cao volunteered to attempt to assassinate Dong Zhuo. He has failed, but we have things in order, grappling hooks, a way to lure the tigers within Luoyang to work for us, escape routes...We just need to act and save Cao-Cao in order to attempt the next part of the plan."

"I have done all I can, the rest is up to you, I am depending on you." Wang Yun explained.

With that he departed, none of them begrudged the elderly man from not getting further involved, taking his age into consideration. So it was Sun Jian then gave the details of their plan to the others, with them getting ready to act and save Cao-Cao.


End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.