Three Kingdoms Mythology World.

"My lord, we cannot negotiate with a tiger for its skin. Dong Zhuo is a villain of unparalleled evil, and our Yuan clan has a blood feud with him. If we submit to him, what will the other members of the Yuan clan think of us? Does my lord intend to hand over the entire Yuan clan to Yuan Shu?" Guo Tu stood up and said firmly.

"We are not befriending Dong Zhuo; we are merely making peace for the time being. When the opportunity arises, we will annihilate Dong Zhuo in one fell swoop!"

"Everyone just agreed that Dong Zhuo has moved the emperor to Chang'an, making it much more difficult to punish him. The Guandong Coalition simply cannot hold out. With our plans in place, it will be even more difficult to eliminate Dong Zhuo in a short time."

"We should find a place to settle down and make a living, work hard and gradually build up our strength," Xun Chen said calmly.

“You are right. Dong Zhuo’s forced relocation of the emperor has shaken the morale of the Han Dynasty. Many warlords have begun to harbor the ambition of separatist regimes. We should change our strategic goals at this critical moment, or we will be eliminated by the times!” Xu You said solemnly.

Yuan Shao frowned and paced back and forth in the tent. Guo Tu's words were like a constant alarm bell, and Xun Chen and Xu You's analysis hit the nail on the head regarding the current problems.

He abruptly stopped, his gaze sweeping over the advisors in the tent, and said in a deep voice, “What Youruo and Ziyuan said is exactly what I was worried about. Dong Zhuo’s perverse actions have long been the wrath of both heaven and man, and his downfall is only a matter of time. However, the morale of the Guandong coalition is low, and each has their own agenda, so it will be difficult to achieve anything in the short term. If we stubbornly fight to the death, we may be taken advantage of by others first.”

He paused, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "I have never forgotten the blood feud Guo Tu spoke of! But a gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years. The most urgent task is to find a stable foundation. Bohai is a good place, but it is located on the frontier, making it difficult to make a move. My mind is made up; I will plot against Han Fu and aim my sword at Jizhou!"

"My lord is wise! Han Fu is mediocre and incompetent, unfit to govern. Ji Province is fertile and populous; if we can take it, it will be the foundation for our great cause!" Xun Chen was overjoyed. This time, his lord Yuan Shao was unusually decisive.

What the public didn't know was that at this moment, Yuan Shao was unable to deal with either Dong Zhuo or Yuan Shu, so he had to pick on the weakest opponent!
Upon hearing this, Xu You clapped his hands and laughed, "My lord is wise! Han Fu has no great strategy. Although he has brave generals under his command, they are not used properly. In addition, Han Fu is a protégé of our Yuan family. My lord only needs to send an eloquent person to persuade him with reason and emotion, explain the advantages and disadvantages, and then press the border with heavy troops. Ji Province will be easily obtained!"

Xun Chen and Xu You's words finally moved Yuan Shao. Seeing Yuan Shao's decisiveness, Guo Tu could only sigh in reluctance.

However, Guo Tu was also an opportunist. Since his lord Yuan Shao's first intention was to take over Ji Province, he went along with it and immediately bowed and said, "Your lord's ability to assess the situation and act decisively is truly a blessing for the Yuan family."

"The Yuan family has suffered a great upheaval, the Han Dynasty is in turmoil, and the warlords of the world are restless, which is a sign of great chaos. I hope that you gentlemen will work together to assist me and achieve great things!" Yuan Shao said in a powerful voice.

The advisors in the tent rose one after another, solemnly pledging: "We will swear to serve our lord to the death and work together to achieve great things!"

The strategists inside the tent responded in unison, and for a moment, an atmosphere of ambition filled the tent, as if the land of Ji Province was already under their control.

Seeing this, Yuan Shao showed a hint of satisfaction on his face, and then turned his gaze to Xu You: "Ziyuan, you are quick-witted and have a history with Han Fu's men. I will entrust this matter to you and You Ruo to plan together, and make sure that nothing goes wrong."

"Rest assured, my lord!" Xu You and Xun Chen exchanged a glance and replied in unison.

Xu You's eyes gleamed with excitement, as if he could already see the land of Ji Province being incorporated into Yuan Shao's territory.

Xun Chen, on the other hand, remained relatively calm and nodded slightly. Upon learning of the Yuan family's change of heart, he had already begun to formulate specific strategies.

He could choose to serve the Yuan family, either Yuan Shao or Yuan Shu. Yuan Wei had previously arranged for him to assist Yuan Shao, and he had simply stayed by Yuan Shao's side ever since.

Now that the Yuan family has undergone a dramatic change, he has to choose one, and he still prefers Yuan Shao.

Although Guo Tu was unwilling, he knew that things had come to this point and further words would be useless. So he stepped forward and said, "My lord, if we want to plot against Ji Province, our army needs to secretly gather troops to prevent Han Fu from causing trouble. At the same time, we must also be wary of other warlords, especially Liu Bei, who occupies Hanoi, and Lin Mu, who is nearby. These two are ambitious and may covet Ji Province. We must be on guard early."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao nodded: "Gongze is quite right. This matter is of great importance and requires careful planning. Ziyuan and Youruo will be in charge of internal strategies, and Gongze, you will be in charge of organizing the military and secretly mobilizing troops. You must do so discreetly and wait for the opportune moment to strike decisively!"

"Yes, sir!" Guo Tu bowed and accepted the order. He was so proactive because he wanted to make a contribution in this operation. Otherwise, if Xun Chen and Xu You took all the credit, he would be marginalized.

A conspiracy concerning Yuan Shao's future fate was quietly devised in this military tent.

After everyone had left, Yuan Shao stood alone in his tent, gazing at the deep night outside, his eyes filled with longing and ambition for the future. The remoteness of Bohai had long fueled his discontent; the wealth and strategic location of Ji Province were the foundation for his hegemony.

He seemed to already see himself ruling Ji Province, eyeing the world with predatory intent, and the glory of the Yuan family would once again blossom in his hands.

Once we grow stronger, we can easily kill the likes of Dong Zhuo!
Meanwhile, Han Fu was stationed in a mansion near the city lord's mansion, completely unaware of the impending crisis.

He dealt with trivial matters in the army every day. Although he was not an outstanding military strategist, he was quite diligent. Little did he know that a conspiracy against him and the Ji Province under his rule was quietly brewing and was about to sweep in like a storm.

Before the smoke of the Guandong Coalition's campaign against Dong Zhuo had even cleared, another struggle for territory and power had quietly begun in this chaotic world.

"My lord, news has come from the western city wall that Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei have mobilized their entire army and are heading directly towards Luoyang, the capital!" the messenger reported to Han Fu.

"Report!! General Cao Cao has called for a coalition meeting and has informed our lord to go to the city lord's mansion." Just then, another messenger brought the news.

"They've all started taking action... What will become of the Kwantung Army...?" Han Fu seemed to keenly sense the cruel, oppressive atmosphere of the times from these pieces of information.

After tidying up, Han Fu led Geng Wu, Min Chun, and the others to the city lord's mansion.

Inside the city lord's mansion, Yuan Shao looked at Cao Cao with a furrowed brow.

This guy bypassed him and convened a meeting of the lords in the city. He's too audacious!

However, Yuan Shao didn't say anything, since he also wanted to hold a meeting.

Next, he'll use his advantage as the leader of the alliance to scheme against others!

Soon, all the other feudal lords arrived at the venue.

Looking at the dwindling number of warlords, Yuan Shao sighed slightly.

"Gentlemen, today's meeting is to discuss our next steps."

"Dong Zhuo has already begun a large-scale migration, making it difficult for him to attend to both ends. If we attack directly, we will have the opportunity to wipe out Dong Zhuo's army one by one."

"This general suggests that we launch a full-scale attack, swiftly and unexpectedly reaching Luoyang, the capital, and then attack Chang'an, constantly tying down Dong Zhuo's army and slowly conquering it!" Cao Cao shouted.

Cao Cao directly usurped the host's position.

Yuan Shao's face darkened further. He was plotting against Han Fu and other warlords, and if they were to divide their forces now, it would affect his plans.

He planned to use the power of the Yuan family to pressure Han Fu directly at Hulao Pass, forcing him to transfer control of Ji Province to him. Then, he could reorganize Han Fu's troops, making it much easier to plot against other warlords.

"Alliance Leader, I also believe that we should launch a full-scale attack, march straight to Luoyang, the capital, capture it, and demonstrate the might of our allied forces. Then we can march into Chang'an and purge the court of corrupt officials!" Qiao Mao shouted.

At this moment, Qiao Mao still believed he could storm Chang'an and kill Dong Zhuo. Little did he know that many warlords were preparing for internal strife...

"Leader, I am willing to lead the army to attack Luoyang, the capital!" Kong Zhou, Kong Rong, and others stood up and volunteered.

Regardless of Cao Cao's advice, they still recognized the authority of their alliance leader, Yuan Shao. "Gentlemen, please calm down."

"The soldiers are exhausted from this attack on Hulao Pass. In addition, the distribution of rations has led to a change in the roles of your troops. Most of them have become grooms and ration soldiers. It will take time for them to get used to each other."

"Let's rest for a while before discussing military strategy," Yuan Shao said again, repeating his usual perfunctory words.

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao, Qiao Mao, and others stared at Yuan Shao in disbelief.

Previously, Dong Zhuo threatened Yuan Shao with the remains of Yuan Kui and others to prevent him from launching an attack, which was understandable, as the Han Dynasty valued filial piety.

They felt guilty after they learned the reason.

Now... Dong Zhuo has neither threatened nor bribed them, and the other warlords have fulfilled their agreements and are no longer afraid of the consequences. Why don't they go and plan against Dong Zhuo's army in time!
At this moment, not only Cao Cao, but also Bao Xin and others felt disappointed.

Did the Kwantung Army really split up because of the distribution of food supplies?!

Cao Cao slammed his fist on the table, nearly knocking over the wine cups. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Yuan Shao, his voice hoarse with rage: "Alliance Leader! Opportunities are fleeting! Dong Zhuo's main force is escorting the migrating convoys, and Luoyang is undefended. This is the perfect time for us to press our advantage and strike at the heart of the enemy! If we delay now, and Dong Zhuo recovers and regroups, it will be far more difficult for us to break through Luoyang and enter Chang'an!"

Like Qiao Mao, Cao Cao was still thinking of pursuing Dong Zhuo.

Yuan Shao's face was ashen, his anger already burning at Cao Cao's lack of pragmatism. But his mind was now solely focused on seizing Ji Province; he had no interest in Luoyang or Chang'an. Moreover, pursuing Dong Zhuo's forces would jeopardize his plan to outwardly ally with Dong Zhuo…

He snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve, saying, "Mengde, don't be so short-sighted! The allied forces have just won a victory and entered Hulao Pass. Although their morale is high, they have also suffered heavy casualties, and their food and supplies need to be readjusted. Furthermore, although the remnants of Dong Zhuo's forces who broke through the siege are not a threat, what if our main force leaves Luoyang and they turn back to launch a surprise attack on our rear? Can you shoulder this heavy responsibility?"

The other warlords' armies were unharmed, but Yuan Shao's army was damaged and he lost so many resources. He had to wait...

"Alliance Leader, you are mistaken!" Bao Xin couldn't hold back any longer and stepped forward, saying, "Dong Zhuo's remaining forces are already frightened birds and are not worth worrying about! We can leave a small number of troops to keep watch, while the main force will go straight for Luoyang and then attack Chang'an! If we hesitate any longer, things may get complicated!"

This time, none of the other feudal lords chose to protect themselves.

Liu Dai, Kong Rong, and others also stood up to voice their support.

“General Bao.” Yuan Shao glanced at Bao Xin, his tone tinged with displeasure.

"I, the leader of the alliance, have my own considerations. The internal affairs of the allied forces are complicated right now. The distribution of provisions and the rest of the troops all take time. What we need is a highly capable army, not a rabble. What do you say, Lord Han Fu?" He suddenly steered the conversation toward Han Fu, with a hint of barely perceptible probing.

Han Fu sat upright, his heart already pounding with anxiety. He vaguely sensed that Yuan Shao's attitude today was somewhat unusual, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

When Yuan Shao asked him, he could only vaguely reply, "What the alliance leader said is absolutely right. The soldiers have indeed worked hard, and it is only right that they take a rest."

Han Fu had connections with the Yuan family and thus needed to support Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shu, Yuan Yi, and others also stood up to support Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao's decision was exactly what Yuan Shu wanted.

Seeing that Han Fu and others were also echoing Yuan Shao, Cao Cao was utterly disappointed. He looked around and saw that the other warlords, such as Kong Rong, had lost their edge. Some were silent with their heads down, while others looked troubled. Some were struggling with whether to support Yuan Shao, while others were thinking about their own interests...

He sighed deeply, his voice filled with sorrow and resentment: "Good! What a fine rest! Gentlemen, do you still remember the oath you swore when you first formed an alliance? 'All those who are allied with us will unite as one, to serve as loyal subjects, and will never waver!' Now that Dong Zhuo has not been defeated and the Emperor is in distress, we are here stagnating for the sake of some rest. Have we forgotten our original intentions and forgotten the common people of the world?"

"Mengde, stop spreading alarmist rumors!" Yuan Shao interrupted him sharply. "When did I, the leader of this alliance, ever say that we wouldn't attack Dong Zhuo? It's just that the time isn't right yet! If you're so impatient, why don't you lead your troops there yourself? I, the leader of this alliance, will not stop you!"

At this moment, Yuan Shao was enraged. If Cao Cao had cooperated with him, they might have achieved their goal even faster. If that had happened, they might have accomplished their objective much earlier, threatening Dong Zhuo and preventing him from even having time to relocate the emperor.

These words were extremely harsh, tantamount to putting Cao Cao on the hot seat. If Cao Cao were to lead his troops alone, he would be breaking away from the coalition and forming his own army. Not only would his small force be unlikely to succeed, but he would also be branded as disobedient and insubordinate.

Lin Mu and his group already bore this kind of reputation...

Cao Cao trembled with rage, pointing at Yuan Shao, his lips moving slightly, but he ultimately couldn't utter a word. He knew that further words were useless; Yuan Shao's mind was made up, and the Guandong coalition was likely to truly split at this moment.

"Hahaha..." Cao Cao suddenly looked up and laughed, his laughter filled with bitterness and mockery.

Previously, when he clashed with others, he uttered the phrase "a mere brat, not worth discussing anything with," and after learning more about the situation, he felt somewhat at ease. But this time... it stirred up his disappointment once again... and this time, it truly led to a split.

"What a perfect time! What a fine leader of the Guandong Coalition! Cao Mengde has finally seen through them! This Guandong Coalition is nothing but a rabble, each with their own ulterior motives! To rouse a righteous cause and eliminate the traitors to the nation is difficult indeed! Very difficult indeed!"

"Today, I, Cao Mengde, will lead my troops away from the allied forces, just like General Lin Mu!"

"If there are any like-minded people, you may follow them!"

After saying this, he suddenly turned around and strode out of the tent, leaving the princes in the tent looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Mengde!" Bao Xin called out hurriedly, but did not follow him out.

Cao Cao walked out of the city lord's mansion, his chest heaving with anger and a deep, pent-up frustration. He glanced back at the mansion, a symbol of the power center of the Guandong coalition, his eyes filled with disappointment and resolute determination. He knew that relying on these people, he would never be able to kill Dong Zhuo.

That guy Dong Zhuo will never let him go. He has to kill Dong Zhuo, or he will be wanted by the whole country.

That's right, Cao Cao was also a wanted criminal nationwide!
"My lord, where are we going now?" Xiahou Yuan, Xiahou Dun, and other generals followed closely behind and asked in deep voices.

Cao Cao took a deep breath, his gaze hardening once more. He looked towards Luoyang in the west and said, word by word, "According to Yuan Shao's decision, they probably won't be attacking Luoyang for the time being! With them stationed at Hulao Pass, the wandering troops from the west won't be able to come to Guandong. So let's wipe out the breakout army first!"

"Annihilate the breakout army, then attack Luoyang, the capital!" Cao Cao changed his strategy according to the changing circumstances.

Initially, he intended to head straight for Dong Zhuo's main migrating force. However, this was conditional: the combined forces of tens of millions from the Guandong coalition had to charge together. If Yuan Shao and his allies didn't join, his own army alone wouldn't be enough to withstand the onslaught of Dong Zhuo's Flying Bear Divine Army.

"Yes!" Xiahou Yuan and the others responded in unison, their eyes gleaming with a shared hatred for the enemy.

Thus, while most of the warlords of the Guandong coalition were still hesitant to advance at Hulao Pass, and Yuan Shao was secretly plotting to seize Ji Province, Cao Cao led his army and resolutely embarked on the return journey.

His shadow stretched long in the setting sun, appearing both lonely and tragic.

When Cao Cao left through the eastern gate of the city wall, Bao Xin led his remaining troops to follow him.

(Only one update today... I've been a bit busy lately...) (End of Chapter)