Three Kingdoms Mythology World.

Li Ru's disappearance surprised many people.

Dong Zhuo, standing atop the Hulao Pass city wall, subtly changed his expression. He sensed a problem with the plan… because Li Ru had told him that they would remain within the [Southern Dipper Seven Kill Martial Arts Arena], and that the Yongzhou Cauldron and Liangzhou Cauldron would be exposed, becoming known to the world…

But now, Li Ru is missing, and the promised Yongzhou Ding and Liangzhou Ding are nowhere to be found. Isn't this a big problem?

Dong Zhuo had a premonition that if any part of his plan went wrong, the entire game would have a chain reaction and collapse rapidly...

Thinking of this, Dong Zhuo took a deep breath and then took out a brocade pouch from his bosom.

That was given to him in advance by Li Ru, who specifically instructed him to open the brocade pouch if the situation changed.

Dong Zhuo quickly opened the brocade pouch, inside which was only a piece of paper. It read: "[If the plan changes, use the remains of Yuan Kui and others to pressure Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu. After Lü Bu's defeat in the duel, prevent the Guandong coalition from pursuing the city. If the Guandong coalition attacks recklessly, Hulao Pass will surely fall!]"

Dong Zhuo frowned upon seeing the information on the paper. It turned out Li Ru had even devised a plan for after a defeat… well, it was a meticulously planned strategy, but it lacked the decisive, all-or-nothing resolve…

Furthermore, Lu Bu could lose?! How could that be... You must know, Lu Bu is far ahead, he was the first to break through to become a Heavenly General, and he has already received the rewards of Heaven and Earth, there's no exaggeration in that.

Even someone as formidable as Lü Bu could be defeated by those three shameless individuals who disregarded the unwritten rules of one-on-one duels.
Dong Zhuo crumpled the paper and exhaled softly.

After a moment's thought, he ultimately followed Li Ru's advice.

He properly handled the remains of Yuan Kui and other members of the Yuan family in Luoyang, the capital of the Southern Tang dynasty, and did not do anything cruel like crushing their bones and scattering their ashes.

Judging from Li Ru's confession, the remains of Yuan Wei and others may have already been transported to Hulao Pass.

"Zishun, where are the remains of Yuan Wei and the others?" Dong Zhuo turned to Li Su and asked.

“Ah…it’s in a warehouse under the city wall.” Li Su was slightly taken aback, but he quickly realized what he meant.

"You do it like this... like this..." Dong Zhuo solemnly explained Li Ru's plan to Li Su.

"Yes, sir! This subordinate will certainly complete the mission." After hearing the instructions, Li Su replied firmly and then left the wall.

After leaving the city wall, Li Su went to a secluded spot and took out a brocade pouch from his robes. The design of this pouch was exactly the same as the one Dong Zhuo had just opened!
Upon opening the brocade pouch, Li Su found another piece of paper inside. After quickly reading it, he exclaimed in surprise, "The strategist is indeed resourceful... The first plan can delay Hulao Pass for another month!"

"The second plan could cause the Kwantung Army to collapse... and might even lead to internal strife..."

After pondering for a moment and making thorough preparations, Li Su secretly descended the city wall with two attendants and headed towards Yuan Shao's camp.

At this moment, Yuan Shao was still in the temporary meeting place, not in the main camp.

However, after sending the message, Yuan Shao hurriedly returned to the camp alone.

As soon as Yuan Shao stepped into the tent, he saw Li Su standing there in plain clothes. His face darkened and he shouted sternly, "Li Su! You are a lackey of Dong Zhuo. How dare you break into my allied forces' camp alone? Are you tired of living?"

Li Su, however, was not afraid at all. Instead, he stepped forward, cupped his hands and said, "Alliance Leader Yuan, please calm down. I have come here not for military strategy, but to present you with a great gift that concerns the face of the Yuan family."

Yuan Shao snorted coldly: "My Yuan family has been loyal and virtuous for generations. How could we accept such a 'grand gift' from a treacherous villain like you? Quickly state your purpose, or don't blame me for being merciless under military law!"

Yuan Shao had already guessed a thing or two; otherwise, given his hatred for Dong Zhuo, he would have surrounded and killed Li Su without asking any questions.

Upon hearing this, Li Su chuckled awkwardly, then took out a ring from his pocket, and with a surge of Yuan energy, a huge red coffin appeared on the ground of the camp.

Upon seeing this object, Yuan Shao's pupils constricted sharply, and a surge of overwhelming rage suddenly erupted from him.

The remains are indeed those of the Yuan family!
Dong Zhuo slaughtered the entire Yuan family in Luoyang, the capital, and now he's using their remains to threaten Yuan Shao!
How hateful! Utterly hateful!! At this moment, he wished he could drink Dong Zhuo's blood and devour his flesh!!!

Yuan Shao's eyes were bloodshot. He suddenly turned his head and stared at Li Su with murderous intent.

Upon seeing this, Li Su shrank back. He had made thorough preparations before coming, precisely because he feared Yuan Shao might go berserk and kill him…

"Hoo!~~~~" Yuan Shao took a deep breath, suppressing the anger that was about to burst out of his chest, but his eyes were still bloodshot!

We are facing numerous external and internal troubles, so we must not act rashly or impulsively!

Seeing Yuan Shao adjust himself, Li Su's expression changed slightly.

He didn't want to see Yuan Shao go berserk, but he also didn't want to see Yuan Shao calm down so quickly. This would show that Yuan Shao was not simple and was a great enemy of his lord, Dong Zhuo!

“The remains of three hundred and seventy-two vengeful souls!!!” Yuan Shao said, his voice trembling and hoarse.

This number represents the deep-seated blood feud between the Yuan family and Dong Zhuo! "The remains of the Grand Tutor and other members of the Yuan family have not been damaged and have been properly preserved, ready for handover at any time!" Li Su understood Yuan Shao's meaning and immediately responded.

"What do you want?" Yuan Shao asked, his voice hoarse.

Dong Zhuo's elaborate and meticulous collection of the remains of the Yuan clan members was definitely for a purpose. He no longer believed that Dong Zhuo possessed any benevolence, righteousness, or loyalty.

Li Su sensed that Yuan Shao was suppressing his emotions. He knew that Yuan Shao had to resolve the immediate issue quickly and leave; the longer he dragged it out, the more dangerous it would be for him.

Li Su immediately said, "After Lü Bu's defeat, the Guandong Allied Forces cannot attack the city immediately. We must wait ten days!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao shuddered and tightly closed his bloodshot eyes.

"Okay!!" he replied in a hoarse voice.

After Lü Bu's defeat, the Guandong coalition immediately attacked the city, and it was basically possible to break through Hulao Pass. This time, they were better prepared, and the warlords brought out their best generals to take Hulao Pass in one fell swoop.

Furthermore, his two generals, Yan Liang and Wen Chou, have already returned to camp and can participate in this siege!
Now, Dong Zhuo is using the remains of the Yuan clan as leverage to prevent the armies of the warlords in Guandong from attacking...

But for the sake of the remains of the Yuan clan, he had no choice but to agree.

It's just missing one opportunity to breach Hulao Pass, it doesn't matter...

“In that case, these thirty coffins will be handed over to the Alliance Leader first, and the others will be transported over later,” Li Su said quickly.

He immediately took the ring off his hand and gently placed it on the table, then bowed and left.

The moment Li Su turned to leave, Yuan Shao suddenly opened his eyes, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Li Su's retreating figure.

As if sensing an overwhelming killing intent looming over his back, Li Su quickened his pace and soon left Yuan Shao's camp.

"Phew!~~~" Li Su breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he left Yuan Shao's camp.

He was truly afraid that Yuan Shao would make a move...

After waiting for a while, as night deepened, Li Su headed toward his second destination—Yuan Shu's camp.

Just as he arrived at Yuan Shu's camp, he happened to encounter Yuan Shu returning.

Unlike Yuan Shao, who was all alone, Yuan Shu was surrounded by personal guards, followers, and retainers, making him a very large and well-organized figure.

With slightly different words, Li Su went through another ordeal of life and death.

Unlike Yuan Shao, who was full of bitterness and deep-seated scheming, Yuan Shu took direct action.

That's right, he thought Li Su was carrying the remains of a member of the Yuan clan, so he directly tried to steal them!

However, Li Su had made prior preparations and withstood Yuan Shu's sneak attack. He then threatened Yuan Shu with the remains of Yuan Shu's relatives, which finally stopped the attack.

Afterwards, Li Su reached a deal with Yuan Shu and left Yuan Shu's camp satisfied.

This time, Li Su also gave Yuan Shu thirty coffins.

However, after visiting Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, Li Su did not return to Hulao Pass, but continued to travel among the various warlords' camps.

It should be noted that at this moment, all the camps are on high alert, all troops are ready to go, and siege equipment, supplies and equipment have long been prepared.

But Li Su still wandered among the various camps like a ghost; he was quite capable.

Apart from the ambush at Yuan Shu's camp, there were no ambushes at the camps of Tao Qian, Kong Zhou, Liu Dai, and others. Everyone was very reasonable and did not kill the envoy.

As for Cao Cao's and Qiao Mao's camps, he didn't go there at all... He didn't dare to go, nor did he need to...

In fact, the warlords such as Tao Qian, Kong Zhou, and Liu Dai had gradually realized that Dong Zhuo's relocation of the capital to Chang'an had already achieved his established strategic goal (the emperor and the palace had been moved there), and the difficulty for the Guandong coalition to kill Dong Zhuo had increased exponentially.

Because the journey from Hulao Pass to Chang'an involves conquering many formidable passes, none of which are much easier than Hulao Pass.

Being on good terms with Dong Zhuo might be helpful later, so none of them rejected Li Su. However, they did not accept Li Su's temptations and suggestions, and for the time being, they only maintained an ambiguous relationship... (End of this chapter)