Events developed rapidly, with news constantly arriving.
They had only just received word of Dong Zhuo's death when, less than half a month later, they learned that Li Jue and Guo Si had gathered Dong Zhuo's remaining forces and besieged Chang'an. Soon after came reports of Lü Bu's ferocity: Li Jue and Guo Si could not force an assault against the city he defended, yet when they drew him out for a field battle, Lü Bu personally led his troops and beat them into a panicked rout. An army several times larger than Lü Bu's was utterly helpless against him.
Before the realm could marvel at Lü Bu's valor, more news came. Lü Bu had defended the city for only eight days before Chang'an fell. Wang Yun and the others, who had enjoyed less than three months of glory, were all killed as well. Only later did people learn that someone under Lü Bu had colluded with the enemy and opened the gates.
The lords were much like Guo Jia. Just as Guo Jia had said when he recommended himself to Liaodong—that he possessed the art of dragon-slaying—in truth, every lord in this age possessed such an art. The knowledge was there; the only question was whether they had put it into practice.
They were eliminated amid the violently changing situation, yet they were also growing. The more one experienced, the more one naturally gained—whether that gain was good or bad, it was still a gain.
Just as when Wang Yan had seized all of You Province, it was not only Gongsun Zan who learned a lesson: interrupt Wang Yan before he could work his magic, never give him the chance to open his mouth and talk people into submission. Others learned it too, each using different methods to strengthen