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

Yuan Shu, to his left, made no attempt to hide his boasting about the troops and provisions he had brought, loudly comparing himself to the other warlords sitting nearby, his words filled with contempt for those smaller warlords with few soldiers and generals.

On the other side, Kong Rong, the prefect of Beihai, sat upright, trying to quote classical texts and talk to those around him about loyalty to the emperor and patriotism. Unfortunately, his voice was quickly drowned out by the noise of clinking glasses and drinking, and no one paid him any attention.

Singing and dancing filled the air, and cups clinked in celebration. Beautiful dancers twirled gracefully within the tent, their supple waists like water snakes.

The feudal lords watched with great interest, cheering loudly, playing drinking games, and shouting incessantly.

Xun Hao only tasted one bite of the dish before putting down his chopsticks. The exquisiteness of the dishes and the care put into their preparation made them seem more like the food from the top restaurants in Luoyang than military rations.

Guo Jia, standing beside him, completely ignored everything around him. He poured himself wine, one cup after another, his peach blossom eyes half-closed, whether he was enjoying the song and dance or mocking the absurdity of the scene in the tent, it was unclear.

Xun Yu's expression grew increasingly grim. He sat upright, his back ramrod straight, as if trying to distance himself from the decadent atmosphere.

Looking at this absurd scene before him, he felt as if a wad of cotton was stuck in his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.

Is this the anti-Dong Zhuo alliance he once placed so much hope in? Is this the hero Yuan Shao, praised by scholars all over the world?

He finally realized how accurate and insightful Guo Jia's assessment of him as "good at planning but indecisive, fierce in appearance but cowardly in appearance" was.

Halfway through the banquet, the alcohol took effect, and the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

A general with a full beard suddenly stood up, holding a wine bowl, and loudly proposed, "Alliance Leader! We are enjoying this feast here! Why not have the fiercest generals from each faction come out and have a martial arts contest to add to the festivities and broaden our horizons!"

This statement immediately drew cheers. The drunken lords echoed it, as if it were far more interesting than discussing how to advance.

Thus, what should have been a solemn military banquet turned into a large-scale stage for showcasing skills.

One claimed he could draw a bow with a draw weight of several dan (a unit of weight), another boasted he could lift a heavy cauldron with his bare hands. Even more outrageous, some brought their prized horses and galloped around the area outside the tent, performing various high-difficulty equestrian feats, drawing cheers from the crowd.

The entire camp was completely transformed into a giant playground.

Xun Chen sat down beside them, his smile completely gone, replaced by a bitter expression of embarrassment and helplessness.

He watched the farcical scene unfold before him, wanting to say something several times, but in the end, he could only let out a barely audible sigh, pick up his wine glass, and bury his face in the shadows.

Xun Yu heard the sigh, but said nothing. He simply picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. The pungent liquid slid down his throat, but it was even more bitter than gallnut.

"Brother, I'm feeling a bit unwell and would like to go back to my tent to rest first," Xun Hao said softly.

His voice wasn't loud, but everyone present heard him clearly. Xun Chen was taken aback and quickly said, "Is Yanruo suffering from acclimatization issues? I'll call a military doctor right away..."

"No need, elder brother. I'm just a little tired." Xun Hao stood up and gave a slight bow to Xun Chen and the others around him.

Guo Jia immediately put down his wine cup and stood up as well: "I'll go back with him."

Xun Yu and Xun You exchanged a glance, then rose to take their leave.

The four of them stepped out of the noisy tent, where the night wind was unusually cold and clear, blowing against their faces and clearing their muddled minds.

Behind them swayed soft music, before them lay a long, cold night. The four of them looked at each other in silence, each with an incredibly heavy heart.

Back in the guest tent, isolated from the outside noise, Xun Yu's tense nerves finally snapped.

He turned around abruptly and slammed his fist heavily on the table, making a dull thud.

"With the nation in peril and the country on the brink of collapse! They...they're here feasting and making merry, showing off and competing, utterly devoid of any ambition!" His voice was suppressed, yet filled with uncontrollable anger and disappointment. "Yuan Benchu, you've disappointed me terribly!"

In his eyes, the last glimmer of hope for the "four generations of high-ranking officials" and the illusion about this renowned leader of the alliance were utterly shattered in this absurd feast tonight.

The next day, Xun Yu claimed to be ill due to the change in climate and did not go out, unwilling to continue to feign friendship with those feudal lords who only knew how to drink and make merry.

Xun Chen visited him several times, but seeing that his mind was made up, he could only sigh and leave helplessly.

Xun Hao, meanwhile, took Guo Jia for a leisurely stroll through the vast Allied camp. They ostensibly to relax, but in reality, they were observing the area up close.

The scene they witnessed was exactly as Guo Jia had described. Most of the camps were demoralized, with soldiers huddled in small groups, spending their days gambling or boasting around campfires, doing nothing.

Weapons were carelessly tossed on the ground, and armor was piled up haphazardly, giving the entire camp an atmosphere of laziness and decadence.

The two strolled along, and before they knew it, they had arrived at a rather secluded camp.

The tents here are much smaller and simpler than those in Yuan Shao's main camp, and some even have patches on them.

However, in stark contrast to the relaxed atmosphere around them, hundreds of soldiers were practicing diligently on the drill ground in the center of the camp.

Bare-chested, they brandished wooden swords and spears in the winter wind, their battle cries ringing out in unison, brimming with power. Sweat soaked their backs, rising in white steam under the sun.

The flag at the entrance of the camp fluttered in the wind, bearing only a large, vigorous character "Cao".

Xun Hao and Guo Jia exchanged a glance, both seeing understanding in each other's eyes.

Just as they were about to step forward, the curtain of the military tent in the camp was suddenly lifted, and a familiar figure strode out.

He was not particularly tall, but he walked with a steady gait, followed by several generals in bright armor with fierce expressions.

It was none other than Cao Cao, the Commandant of the Army.

Cao Cao was also inspecting the camp. When he looked up, he saw Xun Hao and Guo Jia standing not far away.

His expression faltered for a moment, then a genuine enthusiasm burst forth in his slender eyes.

"Mr. Yanruo! Mr. Fengxiao!" He strode forward, gave the two a deep bow, and said in a loud voice, "I have missed you both dearly since we parted in Luoyang! I never expected to meet you both here; it is truly my great fortune!"

His enthusiasm was genuine, making it impossible for anyone to feel any aversion to him.

"Brother Mengde, you're too kind," Xun Hao returned the greeting.

Without a word, Cao Cao grabbed the two men's hands and led them towards his central command tent. "It's windy outside, gentlemen, please come inside for a chat!"

The furnishings inside the tent were a world apart from the extravagance of Yuan Shao's tent the night before.