sbdcsierra Chapter 114 Li Ru's Death in Remonstrance Against Dong Zhuo! Wang Yun Replaces Li Ru as Ministe
Chapter 114 Li Ru's Death in Remonstrance Against Dong Zhuo! Wang Yun Replaces Li Ru as Ministe
"Your Excellency, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is requesting an audience."
Fan Chou's brow was covered in cold sweat as he trembled and asked Dong Zhuo for instructions.
Dong Zhuo was displeased upon hearing this and said:
"Now that Wen You is here, why don't you quickly invite him in?"
Fan Chou suddenly knelt on the ground, his voice trembling:
"The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is holding a white silk ribbon in his hand."
As soon as he finished speaking, all the Han court officials looked shocked.
But their eyes were filled with a look of wanting to watch the drama unfold.
Recently, the relationship between Li Ru and Dong Zhuo has been very tense.
This matter, of course, could not be kept secret from those in Chang'an who were interested.
But would these Han court officials feel sorry for Li Ru?
Obviously not!
In their eyes, Li Ru was Dong Zhuo's eldest son-in-law and Dong Zhuo's number one lackey.
The two were having a disagreement; wasn't this the perfect opportunity?
Ideally, Dong Zhuo, enraged, would kill Li Ru; that would be fantastic!
Just as the Han court officials had expected.
Initially, Dong Zhuo was even somewhat pleased to hear the news of Li Ru's arrival.
They believe the terrible relationship between the father-in-law and son-in-law can finally be thawed!
But to everyone's surprise, Li Ru came with a white silk ribbon!
What does Li Ru want to do?
Did they want to force Dong Zhuo to abdicate?
How come... the two of them were once close comrades-in-arms, but now Li Ru is threatening Dong Zhuo?
In an instant, Dong Zhuo's anger level soared.
It's just one final trigger away from igniting the flames!
soon.
Li Ru walked to the center of the palace on his own.
Li Jue, Guo Si, and Zhang Ji were not in the main hall at the moment, but were each leading their troops to suppress the uprising of the people in Guanzhong.
Only Fan Chou remained by Li Ru's side.
When Fan Chou saw Li Ru enter without permission, his heart leaped into his throat!
At this moment, Fan Chou only wants to say one thing:
"My God!"
"My dear strategist, could you please stop this nonsense? If you and the lord continue to fight, wouldn't it be a lose-lose situation?"
But it is clear that both Dong Zhuo and Li Ru were people with strong opinions.
Even if Fan Chou spoke, Dong Zhuo and Li Ru wouldn't listen to his ramblings.
"Wenyou, it's been almost thirty days since we last saw each other, hasn't it?"
Dong Zhuo looked at Li Ru with a forced smile.
Thirty days was the period of cold war between him and Li Ru.
In fact, when Li Ru was trusted by Dong Zhuo, he was summoned by Dong Zhuo almost every day.
Otherwise, it would be as if something was missing from Dong Zhuo's life.
But during those thirty days, Dong Zhuo only consulted with Wang Yun when he encountered problems.
Li Ru?
They were completely ignored.
Even Li Ru's wife, Dong Yuan, was not allowed to see her father, Dong Zhuo.
"Your Excellency, it has been thirty-four days since we last met."
Li Ru's way of addressing Dong Zhuo has also changed.
Previously, Li Ru always referred to Dong Zhuo as "father-in-law".
Today, for the first time ever, they started calling out Dong Zhuo's title.
Dong Zhuo gave a cold snort and replied:
"The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat has the best memory."
"I'm getting old, so my memory is inevitably a bit off."
The tense standoff between the two put Fan Chou under immense pressure.
But before he could speak, he was immediately silenced by a glare from Dong Zhuo.
Helpless, Fan Chou could only swallow hard and stand aside as a background figure.
"Minister of State, what brings you here with this white silk ribbon?"
In the end, it was Dong Zhuo who broke the silence.
There was no way around it; the white silk ribbon in Li Ru's hand was simply too dazzling.
Even if you wanted to pretend you didn't see it, it wouldn't be realistic.
Li Ru bowed respectfully, then slowly unfurled the white silk, which was three feet long.
"Your Excellency, this three-foot-long white silk ribbon is a gift I am presenting to you in advance to congratulate you on the future completion of Meiwu."
"Be bold!"
Before Dong Zhuo could speak, Wang Yun shouted first.
Li Ru gave him a cold look.
With his intelligence, he naturally saw that Wang Yun was trying to further inflame the situation.
Unfortunately, Li Ru no longer had the time to deal with Wang Yun.
In Li Ru's view, the end was coming for the Xiliang army if they did not persuade Dong Zhuo!
"Gift?"
"Celebrating the completion of the future Mei-wu?"
Dong Zhuo laughed in anger, his fat body trembling.
"Wenyou, I'll give you one more chance. Put away your white silk ribbon, go back to your residence and reflect on your mistakes. I can pretend that today's events never happened."
Although Dong Zhuo was not particularly well-read, he was still familiar with the relevant historical allusions.
Li Ru's use of this white silk as a congratulatory gift was practically telling him that the Xiliang army was doomed, and so was Dong Zhongying.
All the Han court officials held their breath.
They never expected Li Ru to be so bold!
Is he arrogant because he's been favored? Or does he genuinely hope that Dong Zhuo wants to change the status quo?
Whichever it is, isn't this just courting death?
But these Han court officials really didn't understand Li Ru's state of mind.
Normal persuasion could no longer change Dong Zhuo's mind.
To put it bluntly, Dong Zhuo was completely misled by Wang Yun and wouldn't listen to reason.
Like King Zhou of Shang and Bi Gan.
Did Bi Gan really have to threaten to kill himself?
That's because King Zhou of Shang simply wouldn't listen to conventional advice!
Li Ru was at his wit's end.
For a strategist, losing the trust of their lord means that no matter how learned or knowledgeable they are, they cannot win back their lord's trust.
Li Ru remained silent for a full minute.
Is he hesitating?
Not!
He was pondering why Dong Zhuo had become the way he was now.
Could it be that Dong Zhuo really thought that with the people of Guanzhong rebelling everywhere, the Xiliang army could continue to take root in Guanzhong?
When a region can no longer sustain life.
The next step will be for the people to try to leave this place.
Those who are unable to leave will not reproduce.
Years later, the Guanzhong Plain will become a dead land!
If there are no civilians left, who will support the Xiliang army?
What use is it to have tens of thousands of Xiliang troops?
When they couldn't get enough provisions, the first person to turn on them was Dong Zhuo!
This truth has been revealed throughout history.
How could Dong Zhuo not know?
But why, knowing this, do they still exploit the people to the point of exhaustion, driving them to their deaths?
With this in mind, Li Ru spoke again:
"Grand Tutor, do you truly wish to become someone driven to death by the people?"
"If that's the case, then my gift is just right."
"you!!!"
Dong Zhuo's defenses crumbled.
His heart raced, and he pointed angrily at Li Ru.
Fan Chou felt like dying at that moment!
You gods are fighting, don't drag me into it!
But clearly, Dong Zhuo gave him an order the very next second.
"Fan Chou, listen to my command! Take Li Ru back to his residence and make him reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors."
"Without my order, no one is allowed to release him!"
"Furthermore, the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat will be temporarily filled by Minister Wang!"
Wang Yun was overjoyed.
Li Ru remained silent and unmoved as Fan Chou and several guards led him away from the main hall.
His heart was ashen, and he knew nothing more to say.
The demise of the Xiliang army was inevitable.
Unless a miracle occurs.
But... is that even possible?
……