The Three Kingdoms: The entire Cao Cao camp thought I was weak and frail.

The Xun family's caravan did not make a big fuss. They only selected a few sturdy carriages and a few dozen elite guards, claiming that the young master of the Xun family was going out to study and visit friends, and quietly headed towards Suanzao.

The carriage was spacious. This time, Xun Hao hadn't forgotten to have Ma Heng install shock absorbers on the vehicle. Xun Hao's physical constitution was rather weak, and with the vehicle swaying, he was already feeling a bit tired.

His eyelids grew heavy, and his head slowly leaned to his side.

Guo Jia sat beside him, naturally reaching out to put his arm around Xun Hao's shoulder, letting him lean against him. The movement was practiced and fluid, as if he had done it a thousand times. Then, he casually picked up a thin blanket from the side and gently covered Xun Hao with it.

Across from him, Xun Yu, who was discussing something with Xun You, suddenly stopped talking.

He watched Guo Jia's series of matter-of-fact actions, and his younger brother leaning on the other's shoulder to fall asleep without any hesitation, and his eyebrows twitched involuntarily.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something. But the words caught in his throat and he swallowed them back.

These two have always been independent and self-willed; what they said was as good as nothing.

"Never mind, Ah Hao isn't in good health, it's always good to have someone take care of him." Xun Yu comforted himself in this way, but felt a tightness in his chest, so he simply turned his head to look out the window, out of sight, out of mind.

However, the view outside the window made his already bad mood sink even further.

In their imagination, the place where the feudal lords met would be a place where the army was in perfect order and did not commit any offenses.

But reality was quite the opposite. Along the way, groups of three or five scattered soldiers could be seen from time to time, their armor disheveled, weapons in hand, wandering through the countryside. Some were chasing after farmers' chickens and ducks, while others even openly broke into people's homes to demand money and food. How were their actions any different from those of the Yellow Turban rebels of yesteryear?

The convoy had to stop several times and display the banner of "Xun Clan of Yingchuan" before the unruly soldiers with malicious intentions would retreat in frustration.

The closer they got to the jujube trees, the more chaotic the situation became.

The camps of the various warlords stretched for miles, their banners fluttering, creating an impressive sight from afar. But upon closer inspection, however, it became clear that the camps were haphazardly planned and completely disorganized.

The camp was bustling with noise, with vendors hawking food, people gambling, and even scantily clad women laughing and joking among the tents.

Rather than being a military stronghold for suppressing traitors, this place was more like a huge marketplace that flourished abnormally due to the war.

The convoy stopped outside the camp of Yuan Shao, the leader of the alliance. The guards stepped forward, handed over their name cards, and said they requested an audience with Xun Chen, who served as the chief clerk under Yuan Shao.

The guards glanced at them sideways, noticing the small number of people and light carriages, and that their clothes were not luxurious. A hint of arrogance appeared on their faces. They held the name cards, turning them over and over, muttering "never heard of them," and made things difficult for them, refusing to let them pass.

One of them, who looked like a 10-year-old, was even rubbing his fingers together, implying that he wanted some "toll money".

Guo Jia's face immediately turned cold, and Xun You stepped forward.

He was neither humble nor arrogant, with a gentle smile on his face, as he handed over a new calling card and a rather heavy money bag.

The sergeant weighed the money bag in his hand, and his arrogant expression turned into a fawning smile as he waved for them to pass.

Upon entering Yuan Shao's camp, the sight inside opened the eyes of Xun Yu and the others.

Most of the tents were decorated with gorgeous brocade, and many generals wore gleaming armor, but wore exquisite jade ornaments at their waists that seemed out of place on the battlefield.

They soon met Xun Chen, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

When Xun Chen saw the four arrive, a genuine look of joy appeared on his face. He quickly stepped forward, patted Xun Yu's shoulder forcefully, and then looked at Xun Hao's complexion with concern before leading them towards the guest tent.

"Wenruo, Yanruo, you've come from afar, you must be tired. Tonight, the Alliance Leader is hosting a banquet to welcome us, the new talents!" He introduced them enthusiastically as he walked, but behind his smile seemed to hide a trace of fatigue.

Xun Hao and his party were accommodated in a rather exquisite guest tent. The tent was fully furnished, and there was even a low couch covered with soft fur.

After the guards had put away their luggage, they withdrew, leaving only Xun and his three companions and Guo Jia inside the tent.

Xun Chen's smile finally faded. He sighed deeply, sat down in the main seat, and looked at Xun Chen with a complicated expression.

"Elder brother," Xun Yu looked at him and asked in a deep voice, "why is the allied army in such a state?"

Xun Chen picked up his teacup but hesitated to drink it. He just looked at the tea swirling in the cup and said with a wry smile, "Wenruo, you all saw it, didn't you... Actually, it wasn't like this when we first arrived at Suanzao."

His voice was filled with deep helplessness and disappointment.

"At that time, all the lords gathered together, each one full of vigor and high spirits, talking eloquently about supporting the Han Dynasty and punishing the traitors. The leader of the alliance was indeed determined, treating the virtuous with respect and accepting advice widely, showing the style of an ancient wise ruler. I... it was seeing that scene that stirred my heart and I wrote back, hoping that you could come and join us in this great undertaking."

He put down his teacup, his eyes filled with self-mockery.

"Who could have imagined that in just over a month, things would turn out like this? Every day is filled with feasting and comparing themselves to others, with no ambition and military discipline completely neglected... I've offered my advice several times, but the leader has always brushed it off with the excuse of 'boosting morale and fostering camaraderie.' Now..."

He shook his head and didn't say anything more, but the gap between hope and despair was self-evident.

Guo Jia walked to the tent entrance, lifted the curtain and glanced outside. In the distance, he could faintly hear the sounds of string and wind instruments. He lowered the curtain, turned around, and sneered, "What a fine camp for the campaign against Dong Zhuo! I think it's more like a den of iniquity."

Xun Yu felt increasingly cold after hearing his elder brother's explanation. Even Xun Chen, who was involved, was so disappointed, which showed just how rotten the very foundation of this alliance had become.

Xun Hao glanced at his brothers' grim faces but said nothing. He knew this was just the beginning. The real "show" was yet to come at the grand banquet that evening.

He walked to the low couch, sat down, and poured himself a glass of water. The water was surprisingly warm. It seemed that this camp lacked nothing but ambition.

As night fell, Yuan Shao's central command tent was illuminated as brightly as day by countless torches and lanterns.

Inside the large tent, dozens of tables had already been set up, where various lords and their important generals and strategists had gathered. Melodious music filled the air, and alluring dancers swayed gracefully. The air was thick with the rich aroma of wine and food.

Led by Xun Chen, Xun Hao and his entourage were seated at the back of the tent. This position offered a panoramic view of the entire tent.

The alliance leader, Yuan Shao, sat high in the main seat, dressed in magnificent robes and wearing a golden crown, exuding an air of elegance. He frequently raised his cup, drinking with everyone and engaging in lively conversation.

However, he mostly spoke of the glory of Yuan's disciples and former officials being found all over the country, and his prestige of being able to rally the people with a single call to arms. As for how he marched into Luoyang and how he attacked Dong Zhuo, he rarely mentioned them, as if they were just an insignificant background.