The day after Wang Han arrived at Sishui Pass, which was also the fourth day after Wang Han captured Luoyang and the fifth day after he captured Sishui Pass.
The scouts sent by Yuan Shao to investigate finally returned with intelligence after a four-day round trip.
Four days ago, Wang Han, known as the fiercest warrior in the world, stormed into the Prime Minister's mansion where Dong Zhuo was staying. He killed thousands of Xiliang soldiers in the mansion and then chased Dong Zhuo, who had escaped, into the Xiliang soldiers' camp. In the Xiliang soldiers' camp, under the obstruction and siege of tens of thousands of Xiliang soldiers, he not only forcibly killed Dong Zhuo and nearly four thousand Xiliang soldiers, but also cut off Dong Zhuo's head and left unharmed.
The Xiliang soldiers were terrified by Wang Han's killings, and soon after, all the Xiliang soldiers in Luoyang fled with Lü Bu. Now, the city's defenses are made up of the servants and slaves of various ministers, and the city's defenses are extremely weak.
Furthermore, His Majesty, moved by Wang Han's achievements, bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Dingshan, signifying that the Marquis of Dingshan would be able to firmly establish the dynasty.
Upon hearing the news brought back by the scouts, the feudal lords were all shocked. They were astonished that someone could actually conquer a city single-handedly. The previous rumors that Hulao Pass and Sishui Pass had been breached by one person were not just rumors or Dong Zhuo's scheme, but true. These two important passes were indeed breached by Wang Han, who was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Dingshan.
This fact terrified the warlords. Wang Han was truly capable of single-handedly defeating an army of ten thousand, not just an exaggeration; it was a fact. If they hadn't come under the pretext of attacking Dong Zhuo and hadn't revealed their ambitions, they would likely have also incurred the wrath of this terrifying Marquis of Dingshan. They knew that individually, they were no match for Dong Zhuo and his Xiliang troops. Wang Han had forcibly killed Dong Zhuo in his Xiliang camp and escaped unharmed; if they encountered him unprepared, they would almost certainly face certain death.
Yuan Shao quickly asked, "What about the Marquis of Dingshan?"
The other feudal lords also quickly looked at the scouts.
Upon hearing this, the scout quickly replied, "The day after Marquis Dingshan killed Dong Zhuo, he left Luoyang with two of his men and their whereabouts are unknown. Before dawn that morning, His Majesty personally led all the civil and military officials to see him off."
Yuan Shao now regretted his actions. Had he known things would turn out this way, he should have led the allied forces to Luoyang sooner. The fact that Wang Han first breached Hulao Pass and Sishui Pass before attacking Dong Zhuo showed that Wang Han was creating an opportunity for them to arrive in Luoyang as quickly as possible and take over its defenses. Unfortunately, because of his hesitation and doubt, he had missed this golden opportunity. After Wang Han captured Luoyang, its defenses had already been taken over by the ministers' servants and retainers.
"Does that Marquis of Dingshan have any distinctive features, or a portrait?" Yuan Shao asked.
Upon hearing this, the scout quickly replied, "Reporting to the Alliance Leader, there is no portrait yet, but according to the residents of the city, Marquis Dingshan is over two zhang tall, with each step covering five zhang. He is extremely robust and powerful, and incredibly handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. His face exudes an imposing aura even without anger. Moreover, he possesses immense strength; his forearms alone are thicker than a person's waist. He carries a pair of enormous double hammers weighing over ten thousand jin, and on his back is a double-barreled bow capable of shooting hundreds of paces. When he travels, he rides a white-armored divine rhinoceros over two zhang tall, accompanied by two attendant generals over one zhang tall, who are also imposing and tall."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao knew perfectly well that these were just exaggerated rumors spread by the city's residents, so he asked, "Have you inquired with the city's officials?"
Upon hearing this, the scout cautiously replied, "Reporting to the Alliance Leader, I went to inquire with the officers in the city, but none of them told me anything. They only said that what the residents said was true, and they remained silent about everything else."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao understood that the ministers, knowing the current chaotic times and the rise of numerous warlords, feared that someone might try to win over Wang Han. Therefore, they hadn't revealed Wang Han's true appearance, but instead deliberately exaggerated it to make him difficult to find. This also suggests that Wang Han probably hadn't yet pledged allegiance to the Han Dynasty; otherwise, these ministers would likely have loudly proclaimed his loyalty to intimidate the other warlords instead of deliberately concealing it.
Even if it was an exaggeration, he was certain that Wang Han's bravery and his feat of killing Dong Zhuo and thousands of Xiliang soldiers in the Xiliang army camp were not exaggerated, because if the ministers wanted to hide Wang Han, such rumors would not have spread.
"My lord," a general under Han Fu, the governor of Yizhou, suddenly whispered in Han Fu's ear, "Yesterday, when I was on duty at the city gate, three people came from outside the city. One of them was riding a white-armored divine rhinoceros. I think his name was Wang Han. He said he was looking for Xi Zhicai, a subordinate of General Cao. At that time, General Cao and Xi Zhicai, who had come to see General Cao not long ago, personally went to greet him."
"What? Such a thing? Why didn't you report it sooner?" Han Fu asked hastily upon hearing this, "Do you know where that person is now?"
"When those men entered the city yesterday, I assumed they were old acquaintances of Xi Zhicai, so I didn't report it," said Han Fu's general. "They should be in General Cao's camp now."
Upon hearing this, Han Fu quickly looked up and searched among the feudal lords, but Cao Cao was nowhere to be found.
Seeing that Cao Cao had not arrived, Han Fu, the governor of Yi Province, quickly said to Yuan Shao, "Lord Yuan, I have important matters to attend to in my army, so I will take my leave first."
"Since you have important business to attend to, then go quickly." Yuan Shao nodded upon hearing this.
Seeing Yuan Shao nod, Han Fu immediately led his men away hastily. After leaving Yuan Shao's camp, he instructed one of his generals to return to his own army and then rushed towards Cao Cao's camp.
After Han Fu left, Yuan Shao remembered that Han Fu had looked around at the surrounding warlords before leaving. He then looked around at the other warlords as well, but found that Cao Cao was not there. He asked, "Where is Cao Cao?"
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