Traveling Through Time as Lü Bu to Unify the Three Kingdoms.

Chapter 3: Persuading Ding Yuan to Enter the Palace

On the evening of August 24th, when Ding Yuan returned to the military camp from Luoyang to check on Lü Bu, Lü Bu pretended to wake up in confusion, exclaiming, "Father, what has happened to me?!" Although he called Ding Yuan "father," he was filled with murderous intent. After eliminating Ding Yuan, he would no longer let anyone be his father; instead, he would become a father figure to others.

Ding Yuan was astonished to see Lü Bu awake and quickly put on a kind and gentle demeanor. "My son Fengxian, you’ve woken up! That's wonderful! Two days ago, after you set fire to Mengjin, it seems you angered the heavens and were struck by lightning. Your chestnut horse was killed on the spot, and you have been in a deep sleep ever since. Everyone thought you might never wake up, but here you are after just three days! Truly, heaven has blessed you." Lü Bu thought to himself, "You old fool Ding Yuan, you wish for my death and use the other generals as your shield. Such treachery is why the Bingzhou soldiers are only outwardly loyal to this old man."

Lü Bu increasingly disliked this seemingly righteous old man before him but smiled nonetheless, saying, "It is all thanks to your protection, father."

Ding Yuan turned to Qin Yi and ordered, "Qin Yi, summon the generals."

Before long, generals Gao Shun, Wei Xu, Song Xian, and Cheng Lian entered Lü Bu's tent, all beaming with joy. Lü Bu cast a glance at Hao Meng and found him wearing a similar expression of happiness—what a good actor he was!

With Qin Yi's help, Lü Bu slowly sat up from the bed, donned his battle robe, and carefully stepped down. Once his feet touched the ground, he realized that his body had fully recovered, even stronger than before. It felt as if he had boundless strength, and as he applied a bit of force, deep footprints appeared in the hard ground.

Lü Bu bowed deeply to the generals, saying, "Thanks to all of you brothers for your care, I am safe and sound. I appreciate it."

The generals quickly returned the gesture.

Standing tall, Lü Bu noticed that he had grown quite large, possibly over nine feet tall. No wonder the texts described him as exceptionally tall and strong; with such a physique and divine strength, it was no surprise that only the Red Hare could bear him in battle, as ordinary horses couldn't handle his weight.

Lü Bu stood before Ding Yuan, towering over him and had to lower his head to ask, "Father, has there been any unusual activity in Luoyang over the past three days? What effect did that fire have?"

Ding Yuan was somewhat puzzled. Although Lü Bu was well-versed in literature, he had always been indifferent to political affairs, doing whatever he was told without question. Why was he suddenly so concerned about the situation in Luoyang?

Though confused, Ding Yuan understood he needed to answer Lü Bu’s questions, especially since the Bingzhou generals were unclear about why He Jin had ordered them to set fire to Mengjin. "Our fire was not in vain; it has terrified the corrupt officials. They are begging the Empress Dowager, saying they are willing to give up their power if only their lives are spared. Just now, the Empress Dowager issued an edict for the General to enter the palace tomorrow to discuss matters. With the General’s entry into the palace, we can capture those corrupt officials without bloodshed, and the realm will finally be at peace."

Upon hearing that He Jin was going to the palace, Lü Bu realized that the curtain on this era of the Three Kingdoms was slowly being lifted.

This was destined to be his time.

Lü Bu reflected on history for a moment and then said to Ding Yuan, "Father, since the Grand General's plan to bring in foreign troops to kill the corrupt officials has already been discovered by them, the edict issued by the Empress Dowager must also be suspect. Who knows if the corrupt officials, in a desperate situation, might take the chance to harm the Grand General?"

Ding Yuan was taken aback. He had hoped to rely on He Jin to rise to a high position, not wanting He Jin to die so soon. He said, "What you say makes some sense, Fengxian. I have been promoted to the position of the Inspector of Bingzhou and then to the Captain of the Guard, all thanks to the Grand General’s support. If the Grand General is in trouble, how can I stand by? What should I do?"

Lü Bu realized that Ding Yuan had already been promoted to Captain of the Guard, responsible for overseeing the imperial troops and safeguarding the capital, equivalent to a modern-day commander of the capital garrison. With this title, many matters would become easier, and Lü Bu felt pleased but maintained a serious demeanor. "Father, since the Grand General has already responded to the edict, you must immediately lead elite troops into the city to protect him from any unforeseen events."

Ding Yuan replied helplessly, "Yuan Shao, the Inspector of the Capital, has already chosen five hundred elite soldiers and sent the Tiger Ben Lieutenant Yuan Shu to protect the Grand General. Moreover, without a military order from the Grand General, I cannot carelessly lead troops into the city."

Lü Bu felt disdain for Ding Yuan, who was ambitious yet timid. He lowered his voice to intimidate him, saying, "Father, although Yuan Shu is a Lieutenant, commanding the elite troops, he can only guard outside and cannot enter the palace. If the Grand General enters alone and is harmed by the corrupt officials, then the Yuan family will dominate, and Yuan Wei and Yuan Shao will seize power. You have no ties with the Yuan family, and if you fail to act against the corrupt officials, what will you do if Yuan Shao later uses the fire at Mengjin to impeach you?"

Seeing Ding Yuan sweating, Lü Bu knew that this man, who had risen from a humble background through brute force, was quite intimidated by the powerful Yuan family. With the intimidation complete, he began to entice him. "As the Captain of the Guard, you are responsible for overseeing the imperial troops and ensuring the safety of the capital and palace. You have the authority to lead troops into the city. The Bingzhou army can approach the palace and, should anything happen, we can quickly respond. Father, how can the thousands of Yuan Shao's new army compare to our eight thousand iron cavalry? If you eliminate the corrupt officials and assist the young emperor in ascending the throne, your unprecedented merit will surely elevate you to one of the Three Dukes. Wouldn’t it be possible for you to become the Grand General?"

Ding Yuan hesitantly asked, "What if He Jin is not harmed by the corrupt officials?"

Lü Bu laughed, "Father, as the Captain of the Guard, have you forgotten one of your key responsibilities?"

Ding Yuan frowned and asked, "What responsibility?"

Lü Bu pointed toward the distant city of Luoyang. "The Captain of the Guard must patrol the palace three times a month to prevent and address extraordinary incidents like fires and other emergencies. This plot by the corrupt officials against the Grand General is indeed an extraordinary incident. Even if nothing happens to He Jin, our advance will show our loyalty and protection, and you will not only be innocent but also credited for your service."

At this point, Lü Bu remembered something else. "Do you know why the Grand General summoned you to lead the Bingzhou troops into the capital, in addition to calling in Dong Zhuo from Xiliang?"

Seeing Ding Yuan shake his head in confusion, Lü Bu explained, "He Jin, coming from a humble background, has to rely on the powerful families like Yuan Shao to consolidate his position. Now that Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and others control most of the Western Garden army, they have grown too powerful. The Dong Zhuo recommended by Yuan Shao is related to the late Empress Dowager, who was killed by He Jin. He Jin was deceived by Yuan Shao and, realizing too late, regretted it. That’s why he urgently summoned you to counterbalance the Yuan faction."

Lü Bu understood that Ding Yuan would feel distressed to be used as a pawn. He stoked the flames further. "If Dong Zhuo commands an army of one hundred thousand from Xiliang and has ambitions, why is he remaining idle in Hongnong? Once Dong Zhuo enters Luoyang with his forces, his power will overshadow us. If he splits the power with Yuan Shao or seizes it all for himself, he will certainly place his trusted generals in key positions, including the Captain of the Guard. If He Jin tries to win over Dong Zhuo, you might lose your position as Inspector of Bingzhou, and Dong Zhuo’s son-in-law, Niu Fu, is already stationed in Hedong. At that point, you won't be able to compete with Yuan Shao or Dong Zhuo in Luoyang, and you won’t be able to return to Bingzhou either. In such a vast world, where would you stand?"

Ding Yuan had never considered all these factors before. After Lü Bu laid them out, he became alarmed and broke out in a cold sweat, his face paling. "Then what do you suggest I do, my son Fengxian?!"

The other generals were equally startled by Lü Bu's words and bowed, saying, "Please, General Lü, guide us!"

Note 1: Ding Yuan originally came from a humble family and was known for his rough demeanor, martial prowess, and skill in horseback riding and archery. He served as a minor official in Nanzhong, where he accepted difficult assignments without complaint. In emergencies, he would pursue and confront bandits at the front. He had limited literary knowledge and was seldom used by officials. He was later promoted to Inspector of Bingzhou. — (From "Book of the Later Han")