That same day Zhou Yu was shopping for rice noodles for Qiao Mao when a servant girl approached him in a rush and slipped a small note into his hand. While no one was watching, Zhou Yu unfolded the message and was forced to withhold his shock.
Dong Zhuo is moving the capital. Governor Qiao’s name is not on the list of officials. Hurry and flee.
This graceful handwriting could only belong to Diaochan. He did not know where she had obtained this information; perhaps it had come from Lü Bu. Zhou Yu thought for a moment. If Dong Zhuo was moving the capital, the entire imperial court and every government official would need to follow him. What did it mean to leave Qiao Mao behind? Was this leading to the elimination of Qiao Mao?
Zhou Yu abandoned his errand and sprinted back to the Qiao residence. Still short of breath, he threw open the door, only to see Qiao Mao speaking with another middle-aged man inside the hall.
“You must leave Luoyang immediately,” Zhou Yu announced. “Minister Wang has new information. It is very likely Dong Zhuo wants to harm Governor Qiao.”
“Then let him come!” Qiao Mao’s fuse lit quickly, and he slapped his hand against the table, sending the cups and plates rattling.
As Zhou Yu stepped forward, he gripped his sword. Standing there, stalwart, his tall stature blocking the daylight streaming in from outside, he was as unyielding as a mountain.
“I beg you to listen!” Zhou Yu implored. “Why does Governor Qiao insist on remaining here? You can only contend against Dong Zhuo in the future by ensuring your current survival.”
After taking in Zhou Yu’s words, Qiao Mao suddenly burst out into loud laughter, shaking his head.
“Young man,” Qiao Mao said, amused, “this old man has lived so long even death cannot scare me. Why should I fear a mere traitor to the nation?”
“It’s precisely because you don’t fear death,” Zhou Yu replied. “If you don’t, then why should you fear living?”
“Second Uncle,” the middle-aged man added. “Nephew Zhou is right. Is there any purpose in staying?”
“This old man has already finished what he set out to do, which was to pass on the imperial edict to the various lords and marquises. That snake Dong Zhou’s time is limited. We should leave the world to you youngsters now.”
Qiao Mao thoughtfully sipped a mouthful of wine. Under the flickering light of the oil lamp, he seemed to age significantly. Zhou Yu took a deep breath, then let out a long sigh.
“Cao Mengde already left,” Qiao Mao said. “You should pack. Once this old man finishes making my arrangements, I will escort you and Qiao Xuan out of the city.”
Zhou Yu wanted to say more, but Qiao Mao waved for him to leave. “Qiao Xuan, make sure this nephew of mine goes back to rest.”
As Qiao Xuan stood, he gestured for Zhou Yu to leave first.
“Qiao-daren,” Zhou Yu acknowledged, now standing in the middle of the courtyard.
“Nephew Zhou,” Qiao Xuan replied. “On your way here from the Jiangnan region, did you hear of any news from Wu County?”
“The Jiangnan region hasn’t experienced any unrest, but this…”
“Let’s wait until tonight,” Qiao Xuan said. “Why don’t we think of a way to kidnap my second uncle and force him to leave?”
Zhou Yu could only nod, and he went to pack his things. He could no longer stay in Luoyang, as Dong Zhuo’s purge of the city was imminent. That night, he kept himself awake, awaiting Fei Yu’s return, but it never arrived.
✦ ✦ ✦
Deep into the night Qiao Xuan woke him, signaling him to be quiet. “We’re leaving.”
Zhou Yu slung his satchel over his shoulder. When he passed through the main hall, he saw Qiao Mao sitting there, polishing a long sword, and a tally lay on the table before him.
“This is a travel pass obtained through my connections,” Qiao Mao said. “Cao Mengde already took one and left the city last night. You two ride along, quickly. Take the main road heading east. You must not come back.”
“Second Uncle!” Qiao Xuan protested.
Zhou Yu stepped forward. He intended to manhandle Qiao Mao into coming along, no matter his protests. But at that moment, banging and shouting came from the main gate.
“Open your door! Open up!”
Zhou Yu jumped, and Qiao Mao rushed the two of them toward the back door.
“Not outside!” Zhou Yu protested.
It was too late—the soldiers kicked the doors open. The troops swarmed in like bees, shouting. “No one is allowed to leave! Where are Qiao Mao and Qiao Xuan?!”
Realizing his responsibility to protect Qiao Xuan, Zhou Yu helped the other man out into the backyard alone. Their eyes teared up with sorrow. A soldier’s anguished shout echoed inside the house; Qiao Mao was fighting back.
Qiao Xuan’s eyes darted back, and he moved to return, but Zhou Yu stopped him.
“We have to leave, now!”
The two mounted their warhorses and galloped away.
Screams filled the air. Fires burned along the streets, blazing all around them. Luoyang was submerged in a sea of flame. Arrows flew wildly across the rooftops and along the streets. Yuan Shao’s allied forces were attacking the city. Amid the chaos, Qiao Xuan’s horse was struck by an arrow, and it crashed to the ground.
Stopping suddenly, Zhou Yu dismounted, and then he pushed Qian Xuan onto his own horse. Now sharing the same steed, they rushed to the city’s exit, only to find the Eastern Gate up in flames.
There was no way to escape.
Zhou Yu spurred his horse on, leaping up to higher ground. Several times, he urged it to jump over a collapsed roof, but even the trained warhorse shrank back in fear.
Zhou Yu’s breaths stuttered as he panicked.
“Forget it,” Qiao Xuan said. “Nephew, let me off the horse. I do not want to slow you down any longer.”
Zhou Yu was silent, then he dismounted. With an elegant backhanded swing of his sword, he jabbed the horse’s rump. The steed released a long, pained whinny and shot off, galloping away.
“Zhou Gongjin!” Qiao Xuan roared.
“Have a safe journey!” Zhou Yu shouted back.
The warhorse dashed to the edge of the roof and leaped through the air over the sea of flames that was the East Gate, carrying Qiao Xuan with it to safety.
Zhou Yu’s eyes reflected the raging flames that filled the sky. Ash flew through the air, and as the thousand-year-old ancient capital was cremated in that fiery sea, the countless weeping and wailing voices sounded like a dirge for the glory of the dynasty.
I can’t give up yet… Zhou Yu glanced around at his surroundings. He had to survive. If he could find a well or cellar, he could hide there until the fire ran itself down. Sprinting down the main street, he was barely able to dodge the collapse of flaming buildings. The street was a hell, filled with gray ash and black smoke. He covered his face with a cloth, coughing frantically as he staggered forward.
Fire lay before him and licked at his back. As far as he could see, he was surrounded by towers of crimson lotuses stretching into the sky.
With a screech, a white falcon swooped down from above.
“Fei Yu…” Zhou Yu hacked as he stumbled to the ground of some charred ruins, his hair singed from the high temperatures. The white falcon grabbed his arm with its talons.
“Hurry…hurry and leave…” Zhou Yu swung his hand, trying to fling the bird away. His eyes were bloodshot, and tears streamed nonstop down his cheeks from the smoke. He felt like he was going to cough up his lungs, heart, and everything else. Using his remaining strength, he tried to rise when the faint cries of someone in the distance shouting his name reached him.
“Zhou Gongjin!”
Zhou Yu gaped around, bewildered. The neigh of a warhorse cut through the chaos as a house crumbled behind him. Sparks and flames erupted in all directions, and a tall, sturdy horse appeared, flying through the air before alighting on the ground and rushing toward the middle of the street. Vaulting off the horse, the man who’d called for him pressed himself over Zhou Yu, shielding him with his body.
Sun Ce coughed as he removed his helmet, revealing his red eyes and face covered with ash and dust. Tears flowed down his cheeks, though whether they were from the smoke or his joy at their reunion after such a long separation, no one could say.
“Bofu?!” Zhou Yu shouted. “Bofu!”
The two clung tightly to each other.
Without another word, Sun Ce pulled Zhou Yu up onto his horse and charged into the fire with him.
All Zhou Yu could remember from that day were the raging flames, the thick smoke, blazing embers, and the scorching heat burning his eyes. Through a veil of uncontrollable tears, they reined the horse to a stop high up on the city walls and watched the city of Luoyang immolated in this magnificent sacrificial rite.