The next day, the sounds of battle in Luoyang City finally began to subside.
In their place, troops from the various districts under the jurisdiction of the Si Li Commandery frantically scoured their territories, searching for Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the two princes.
Cao Cao and Yuan Shao each led a contingent of soldiers, scouring the area in search of the fugitives.
Cao Cao's group had followed the chaotic trail of hoofprints throughout the night, finally uncovering a clue.
"Brother, look at the horse tied up outside that house!" Cao Ren pointed to a pure-colored steed tied up at the entrance of a farmhouse.
Cao Cao followed the direction of Cao Ren's gesture and nodded. "How could a common peasant afford a horse? Let's go have a look!"
The group approached the farmhouse, where they found only an elderly farmer. The old man was terrified at the sight of such a large and formidable group.
"Spare me, General! I know nothing!"
"You deny everything before we've even asked—could it be that you have something to hide?" Cao Ren barked, causing the old man to collapse to the ground in fear.
Cao Cao, exasperated, lightly punched Cao Ren before quickly helping the old man to his feet, speaking kindly,
"Don't be afraid, old man. We're from Luoyang. We just want to ask about the horse tied outside your home. Where did it come from?"
"It's..." The old man, still trembling, glanced nervously at the thousand soldiers behind Cao Cao before speaking the truth.
"Last night, two eunuchs came to my door, bringing with them two young boys. They didn't say a word but exchanged that horse for my broken ox cart before heading toward Henan in the middle of the night."
"An ox cart?" Cao Ren looked at Cao Cao in confusion.
Cao Cao nodded. "Perhaps they were worried the two princes couldn't endure the bumps of riding on horseback..."
"Hurry! Pursue them toward Henan!" Cao Cao quickly mounted his horse upon receiving the information.
"They are princes now, but once they return to the capital, they will be the emperors. Protecting them will be a great achievement for us!"
"Brother, shouldn't we inform Yuan Shao and have him join us in the pursuit?" Cao Ren asked.
Cao Cao sneered, "Fool! Capturing the traitors and rescuing the emperors will be a great achievement. If we let Yuan Shao take this credit, when will we ever rise in the capital?"
Cao Ren nodded thoughtfully, "Given how things have unfolded, I think I'm beginning to understand why Qin Longyang refused to lead troops to assist the emperor."
"Hahaha..." Cao Cao laughed, "What Qin Longyang sees is far more complex than you think. If he had led troops to the capital, he would undoubtedly have been granted a high position."
" But which civil or military officials in the court would respect a young man with no background? In time, he would be torn apart by the bureaucracy."
"Let me ask you, after Dong Zhuo enters the capital, will peace return to the land?"
Cao Ren quickly shook his head. "Absolutely not. I've dealt with Dong Zhuo during the campaign against the Yellow Turbans."
" He's ruthless, and his soldiers have always been entangled in blood feuds with the Qiang people. I believe the land will only become more chaotic once he enters the capital!"
"Exactly," Cao Cao scoffed. "That's why Qin Longyang has been waiting for this moment. The more chaotic the land becomes, the more it needs someone capable to restore order."
"Qin Longyang's current campaign across the sea to attack Gongsun Du must have been planned for years. I even suspect... Gongsun Du was just a pawn for Qin Longyang to retake Youzhou!"
"Brother, look!" Cao Ren suddenly exclaimed, pointing ahead. Cao Cao squinted into the distance, his expression darkening.
A thousand cavalrymen were approaching them, the two leading generals tall and imposing, their attire resembling that of the Qiang people.
As they drew near, the two generals glanced at Cao Cao and his men with a look of disdain and challenge.
"What troops are you leading, General? Step aside; we are escorting His Majesty back to the capital!" one of the generals asked calmly.
"His Majesty!" Cao Cao was startled. He looked in the direction the general indicated and saw two frightened children huddled together in a war chariot at the rear of their formation.
"I am Cavalry Commandant Cao Cao. Last night, I received word that the eunuchs Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong had kidnapped the princes, so I led my men in pursuit..."
"Hmph," the general interrupted Cao Cao impatiently, muttering mockingly, "So it's just a minor Cavalry Commandant."
"General Cao, you may return with your troops," the general continued, lifting two cloth-wrapped bundles from his saddle. "We serve under Dong Zhuo, the Governor of Liangzhou. Early this morning, we intercepted the two traitors in Henan."
" Their heads are here, and the princes are safe. We're heading back to the capital to claim our reward. If you have no further questions, please make way."
Cao Cao clenched his fists in frustration, realizing that Dong Zhuo had beaten him to it. With Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong dead and the princes rescued, Cao Cao had no choice but to swallow his anger and wave his hand, "Make way!"
As Cao Cao's men respectfully stepped aside, the generals in Dong Zhuo's service didn't bother to hide their smirks as they continued forward.
"The banners bear the characters 'Li' and 'Guo.' I fear those two are Dong Zhuo's trusted generals, Li Jue and Guo Si," Cao Ren murmured.
Cao Cao sighed. "It's over. With Dong Zhuo in power, the Central Plains will never know peace!"
...
Meanwhile, off the coast of Liaodong, if one were to look down from the sky, they would see a dense formation of Qin Longyang's warships surrounding the harbor of Changjin Port.
Gongsun Du was firmly bound and kneeling before Qin Longyang, his eyes revealing a defiant spirit toward the young man standing before him.
"The King of Liaodong, how about it? Do you submit?" Qin Longyang asked with a mocking smile as he sat casually on Gongsun Du's throne.
"You've held this throne for a few years, but it's time I took it back."
Gongsun Du sneered, "To think that I, Gongsun Du, who has ruled Liaodong for years, would be overtaken by a boy like you overnight. You're not much older than my son, Gongsun Kang. I must admit, it's impressive."
"Hahaha, you're too kind, Shengji. Liaodong has prospered under your rule, with the people wealthy and the army strong—far beyond my expectations. If not for my little trick, it would have been difficult to defeat you."
Gongsun Du realized that he had been part of Qin Longyang's grand plan all along. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, seemingly resigned to his fate.
Qin Longyang, intrigued, asked, "Shengji, now that you're in my hands, do you have any last words?"
Gongsun Du shook his head slowly. "The victor becomes the king, and the defeated are condemned.
Ever since I took the throne, I knew this day might come, where I would meet my end in defeat. I just didn't expect it to come so quickly, as if these past few years were but a fleeting dream."
"General Qin, I have one request." Gongsun Du looked up at Qin Longyang, as if suddenly remembering something.
"Go ahead," Qin Longyang replied.
"You can kill me without complaint, but please spare my son, Kang. He is innocent!" Gongsun Du's eyes filled with tears as he pleaded with Qin Longyang.
Nearby, Gongsun Kang, who was also bound, cried out in anguish, "Father! I would rather die than live as a prisoner!"
"Silence! Have you forgotten what I taught you? Only by staying alive can you rise again. As long as you live, there are endless possibilities!" Gongsun Du scolded his son harshly.
Qin Longyang smiled wryly. "I understand your fatherly love, Shengji. Since this is your only request, I swear not to harm your son."
"Thank you, General Qin, for your great mercy! This debt of gratitude will be repaid in the next life!" Gongsun Du closed his eyes, ready to be dragged away for execution.
"Lord?" The soldiers around them looked to Qin Longyang, awaiting his command. But Qin Longyang simply smiled, waved his hand, and said, "Shengji is a hero. I will personally send him off."
With that, Qin Longyang rose, drew Gongsun Du's sword, and slowly walked behind him. Gongsun Du felt a rush of wind near his ears, and for a moment, it seemed as if his heart had stopped beating.
However, after a long silence, Gongsun Du opened his eyes in disbelief. He was unharmed, and Qin Longyang had only cut the ropes binding him.
"General, you..." Gongsun Du began.
Qin Longyang sheathed the sword, clapped his hands, and smiled, "The King of Liaodong, who has dominated for years, has already been beheaded by me. Now, there is only Gongsun Du, the Prefect of Liaodong, no longer a king."
With that, Qin Longyang gestured for his men to release Gongsun Kang as well. Everyone looked at Qin Longyang in confusion.
Qin Longyang placed his hands on Gongsun Du's shoulders, speaking sincerely, "Taking Liaodong was easy, but finding a worthy prefect to govern it is difficult. We've come to know each other through battle. I return your soldiers and the command of Liaodong's districts to you."
"But I have one request: Will you, from now on, serve under me as one of my generals, governing Liaodong on my behalf? I would be most grateful."
"I..." Gongsun Du's hands trembled as he stood, contemplating for a moment before suddenly kneeling.
"Thank you, my lord, for sparing my life! I, Gongsun Du, swear by my life that from this day forward, Liaodong will forever belong to you, my lord, and I will forever be your loyal servant! If I betray you, may the heavens strike me down!"
"I'm honored to have your loyalty," Qin Longyang said, equally moved. Subduing a formidable figure like Gongsun Du without shedding a drop of blood meant securing Liaodong entirely, which was exactly what he had hoped for.
Satisfied, Qin Longyang stood with his hands on his hips and looked back at Xi Zhicai and Gao Lan. Xi Zhicai smiled and nodded, approving of Qin Longyang's decision.
Qin Longyang then said, "Our main objective for this campaign has been achieved. Shengji, take your men back to Liaodong. I still need to make a trip to Right Beiping."
"Right Beiping?" Gongsun Du perked up.
"Is my lord planning to attack Gongsun Zan? I have been battling him for nearly two years and have gained much experience. I would be honored to lead the vanguard and fight alongside you!"
"Hahaha," Qin Longyang laughed, "You're overthinking it, Shengji. I'm just going to Right Beiping to collect a debt. You should stay in Liaodong to guard it. If Gongsun Zan learns that Liaodong is undefended, he will surely attack. We must be prepared."
"Understood..." Although Gongsun Du didn't fully grasp Qin Longyang's intentions, he nodded, "I await your command, my lord!"