Three Kingdoms Mythology World.

Qiao Mao was killed by Liu Dai, of course!

The list of Heavenly and Earthly Lords has also changed:

……

[The Ninth Warlord]: Grand Marshal, Marquis of Xiangben, Liu Yu!

[Tenth Warlord]: Liu Dai, Governor of Yanzhou!
[Eleventh Warlord]: Tao Qian, Governor of Xuzhou!
……

Liu Dai became the tenth warlord, surpassing Tao Qian. Qiao Mao was removed from the list, and Tao Qian took his place. Those after the eighteenth warlord all rose one rank.

However, there are no rewards updates for this change yet, since the first ranking rewards were delayed due to the palace incident!
"How come it's only up to the tenth town?!" After having Qiao Mao's remains properly treated, Liu Dai felt the surging dragon energy empowering his body, and his initially excited expression cooled down slightly.

I thought that after merging with Qiao Mao's luck, I would surpass Gongsun Zan and Sun Jian and rank seventh, but I didn't expect the actual result to be so different.

Of course, at present it only integrates the fortune of Qiao Mao. After it has taken over its troops, wealth, territory, etc., its ranking may rise a little more.

Although it did not meet expectations, Liu Dai was still quite satisfied.

This not only solved the problem of running out of food, but also caused the ranking to soar, and even allowed them to take over everything Qiao Mao had.

He is currently the governor of Yanzhou, with limited territory, confined to Shanyang County. If he were to annex Qiao Mao's forces, he could take over Dong County, a large, wealthy, and populous county that could certainly support his ambitions!
Liu Dai's eyes gleamed, his fingers unconsciously tapping his thigh as he began to plan how to quickly and safely inherit Qiao Mao's estate.

Dongjun... that is the eastern gateway of Yanzhou, a vital place connecting Jizhou and Yanzhou, with fertile land and the natural barrier of the Yellow River to rely on.

Qiao Mao had been managing Dongjun for many years. Although he died this time, he must still have a lot of soldiers and officials under his command. If he could be successfully incorporated, his strength would take a qualitative leap.

However, the immediate priority is to gather up the remnants of Qiao Mao's forces, strengthen ourselves, and then... plan for other... lords!
Thinking of this, Liu Dai turned around and looked in the direction where Kong Rong and the others were.

"Report! Report!!" Just as Liu Dai was lost in thought, a messenger hurriedly came over.

"My lord, Qiao Mao's army has vanished!!"

"What? What did you say?" Liu Dai, still immersed in the joy of victory, was momentarily stunned upon hearing this and asked again.

"My lord, Qiao Mao's army has vanished. The entire camp is empty. They disappeared with all their provisions and supplies!" The messenger reported the entire situation.

"Impossible! Impossible!!" Upon hearing this, Liu Dai's face turned ashen, and he staggered.

"Oh no, could it be that they've marched back to Dongjun, completely taken control of it, and then turned against me?" The first possibility immediately popped into Liu Dai's mind, and he said in disbelief.

"If they really return to Dongjun, then if I return later, I may be facing a Dongjun that is vengeful and impregnable... No, we have to go there too, and take advantage of its instability and the possibility of internal strife to take Dongjun in one fell swoop!" After the initial shock, Liu Dai quickly calmed down and made the right judgment.

"Notify the entire army to pack up and immediately withdraw from Sili, and proceed according to the established third plan!" Liu Dai said forcefully.

"Yes, sir!" the others immediately responded.

Afterwards, the soldiers quickly cleaned up the battlefield, organized the provisions that Qiao Mao had brought, and began to withdraw.

Compared to dealing with Kong Rong and his men, the territory of Dongjun was more important. Moreover, he wasn't entirely confident in defeating Kong Rong and Kong Zhou. Furthermore, since he hadn't incorporated Qiao Mao's troops into his own forces, the chances were even slimmer. It would be better to leave decisively and seek to acquire more territory.

Thus, having gained something, Liu Dai decisively withdrew from Luoyang, the capital, and from Sili...

It was this decisiveness that saved Liu Dai from disaster!
Half a day after Liu Dai's army withdrew, Lin Mu led his men to this place.

Looking at the empty and chaotic battlefield, a look of regret appeared on Lin Mu's face.

He hadn't expected that Liu Dai wouldn't be blinded by victory; after dealing with Qiao Mao, he actually withdrew immediately.

"My lord, how about we attack Kong Zhou?" Dian Wei suggested in a low voice.

"I have a feeling that Kong Zhou may have escaped as well!" Lin Mu sighed and guessed upon hearing this.

Sure enough, a messenger reported that Kong Zhou had learned of Kong Rong's capture by some unknown means, and then led his core troops away. Le Jin and his army were tied up by the rearguard and had no chance to pursue.

Thus, the chaotic scene outside the capital city of Luoyang, with one lord dead, one lord captured, and two lords having retreated, quieted down.

The powerful and well-equipped Kwantung Army collapsed.

Currently, in Luoyang, the capital, only the armies of Dong Zhuo, the three warlords Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Yuan Yi remain, along with Lin Mu and Liu Bei, whose whereabouts are unknown!

(Jiang Chenglong, Ji Beiqin, Xuan Yuan Changying: What about us! Why aren't we mentioned!)
……

"Damn it! Damn it!!!" Inside Yuan Shao's tent, Yuan Shao was throwing a tantrum.

With so many brilliant strategists and fierce generals under his command, a powerful army, and so many preparations, he had not succeeded in killing a single feudal lord, yet he had managed to eliminate several minor figures. How could this not enrage him?

"Have you found Liu Bei?" After venting his anger, Yuan Shao calmly sat down and asked Wen Chou. "Reporting to my lord, there is still no trace of him," Wen Chou shook his head.

Yuan Shao had four reasons for not leaving the palace: first, the Imperial Seal; second, the heart of Luoyang, the capital of the Han Dynasty; third, the national treasury; and fourth, the imperial veins.

Now that the Imperial Seal of the State has been taken away, the first reason is gone.

Now he is focused on finding the heart of Luoyang!
No subject had ever seen the heart of Luoyang, and even many princes may never have seen it in their entire lives, or even know its location.

(Dong Zhuo: I've searched for so many days and still haven't found it. How could you, a guy who claims your sword is never dull, possibly find it?)

That's right, even Dong Zhuo couldn't find the heart of Luoyang!

Neither the treasury nor the national treasury could be found!
He always felt that Liu Bei, who hadn't shown up much, was a key figure, and that perhaps Liu Bei could lead him to find those two things!

That's why Yuan Shao frantically searched for Liu Bei and others.

Afterwards, Yuan Shao led his army to conduct a thorough search of the palaces deep within the imperial palace, but after many days they still found nothing.

It's not found at places like the Temple of Heaven or the imperial mausoleums...

Like Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu was also searching for those two things...

Unfortunately, neither of them gained anything. Even after Lin Mu finished dealing with the affairs outside Luoyang and rushed back, they had found nothing.

Afterwards, Lin Mu also joined the search team...

Even after the players collected all the meteorites in Luoyang, they still couldn't find them... as if they were waiting for some opportunity...

……

"What did you say? You disagree? Why don't you agree?!?"

In a relatively well-preserved palace, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Yuan Yi, and others gathered together.

The topic they're discussing today is an extremely sensitive one: establishing a new emperor!
That's right. Since Dong Zhuo has taken Emperor Liu Xie hostage and abandoned Luoyang, the capital, and moved in, why not establish a separate court to oppose Dong Zhuo?

Establishing a new emperor is a very sensitive and potentially fatal topic, but now that their military power is too great and they have taken control of the capital city of Luoyang, it's not a big deal to discuss it openly.

But when Yuan Shao brought it up, Yuan Shu actually objected.

That's right... Yuan Shu seems to have taken some kind of medicine; he rejected the suggestion outright.

This infuriated Yuan Shao, who wished he could just kill Yuan Shu.

"Hmph! You still think you're the leader of the Guandong Coalition, saying whatever comes to mind and expecting people to obey your words? Hmph!" Yuan Shu snorted twice and shouted.

"To be honest, I have already made contact with Dong Zhuo and will continue to serve as my General of the Rear, while also concurrently holding the position of Governor of Nanyang," Yuan Shu confessed.

"What?!?!" Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao pointed at Yuan Shu, so angry that he didn't know what to say.

Dong Zhuo is the enemy of the Yuan family by blood, yet you want to submit to him? What about our blood feud?!

"Alright, I am only superficially acquiescing to him. I will not forget the blood feud. Once I have regrouped, I will march north, conquer Chang'an, personally behead Dong Zhuo, and pay tribute to the wronged souls of the Yuan family!!!" Yuan Shu said forcefully.

"As for you, you should stay in Bohai Commandery," Yuan Shu said calmly and confidently.

"Hmph! Hmph! ~~~~" Yuan Shao snorted a few times in a sarcastic tone.

At this moment, Yuan Shao's gaze toward Yuan Shu had completely changed.

Seeing Yuan Shao's gaze, Yuan Yi sensed a change in Yuan Shao's demeanor and sighed inwardly.

After that, Yuan Shu left with his troops, leaving Yuan Shao and the others silently waiting in the main hall.

"Benchu, have you truly chosen that path?" Yuan Yi asked in a low voice, his words carrying a hidden meaning. Just moments ago, he had sensed the murderous intent emanating from Yuan Shao, directed at Yuan Shu.

"I had no choice but to make this decision..." Yuan Shao sighed, his tone filled with a sense of vicissitude.

Upon hearing Yuan Shao's words, Yuan Yi knew that the two most core members of the Yuan family were about to part ways completely!

"Kill them!" Just then, Yuan Shao, who was still sighing, said lightly.

Then, Yan Liang and Wen Chou acted simultaneously, beheading several generals standing in the hall.

Two stood behind Yuan Shao, and five stood behind Yuan Yi… (End of Chapter)