Three Kingdoms: Zhang Fei was sent flying by a single spear thrust, leaving Liu Bei stunned.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

The Cao army generals inside the tent could no longer contain themselves and burst into deafening laughter.

Xiahou Dun laughed until tears streamed down his face. Pointing at Xu You, he gasped, "Did you...did you hear that? Xu, the great talent! Our Ziqian only recognizes the roast chicken from our lord's family!"

Xu You's face turned pale and then flushed, as if he had been dyed.

He felt like a clown, being played around with.

He pointed at Zhang Ziqian, trembling with rage: "You...you...you brat! You don't know what's good for you!"

Zhang Ziqian frowned.

He was happily munching on a chicken leg when someone called him over and made him listen to this weasel-faced guy ramble on for ages. And now he still dares to curse at him?

He threw the chicken bones in his hand onto the table and stood up.

As soon as he stood up, the murderous aura he had honed amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood on the battlefield unconsciously emanated from him.

Xu You felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, as if he had been stared at by a prehistoric beast. He was so frightened that he took several steps back and fell to the ground with a thud.

Zhang Ziqian walked up to him, looked down at him, and slowly said, "There are two things I hate most in my life. First, someone disturbing my meals and sleep. Second, someone talking badly about my boss in front of me."

"You have both."

He reached out a hand and grabbed the leg of a solid wood square table next to him, which was used to display dishes.

That table must weigh at least 100 kilograms.

"Do you believe I'll shove this table into your mouth right now?" Zhang Ziqian asked expressionlessly.

Xu You looked at the table that was easily lifted and its arm, which was thicker than his own thigh, and was so frightened that his crotch felt hot and a foul odor spread out.

"No...I don't believe...No! I believe! I believe!" he screamed incoherently, tears and snot streaming down his face, completely devoid of any of the dignity of an envoy.

"Alright, Ziqian," Cao Cao finally spoke.

It wasn't that he didn't want to see Xu You humiliated, but if Zhang Ziqian really managed to depose Yuan Shao's envoy, then there would be absolutely no room for maneuver between the two sides, and they would have to go to war directly. With his current strength, he was no match for Yuan Shao.

When Zhang Ziqian heard his boss speak, he curled his lip and casually threw the table back to its original spot with a "bang".

He looked at Xu You, who was sprawled on the ground, and sneered, "Get lost. Go back and tell your master to stop coveting what others have. Instead of wasting your time, you should mind your own business. I think that so-called Hebei is doomed sooner or later."

After saying that, he didn't even bother to look at Xu You again, picked up the Yuwang Spear that had appeared beside him at some point, and walked straight out of the banquet hall.

"I'd better go back to my 'cultivation' instead; talking to these idiots is a waste of time."

The sound traveled from afar, reaching everyone's ears clearly.

The hall was deathly silent.

Supported by two guards, Xu You stood up dejectedly, glared at Cao Cao with resentment, said nothing, and turned to flee in a sorry state.

As Cao Cao watched his departing figure, the smile on his face finally vanished completely.

He knew that from this day forward, the thin veil between him and Yuan Shao had been completely torn down.

Although they didn't immediately fall out, a grudge had already been formed.

Instead of feeling worried, he felt an unprecedented sense of joy.

From being subservient to others at the Suanzao Alliance to being able to rightfully refuse Yuan Shao's "amnesty" today.

All these changes stemmed from that man who carried a large spear and only loved eating roast chicken.

He turned to all the generals under his command and said loudly, "Pass on my order! From this day forward, our army will intensify its training and reorganize its troops! Since Yuan Shao looks down on me, Cao Mengde, then I will make something of myself and show him what I'm made of!"

"I've made sure I take Yanzhou!"

Xu You fled back to Ye City in disgrace.

When he recounted his ordeal in Chenliu to Yuan Shao with embellishments, Yuan Shao was so enraged that he smashed his most beloved jade cup.

"That scoundrel Cao Cao! How dare he insult me ​​like this!" Yuan Shao roared in fury. "And that brute Zhang Ziqian, he's utterly lawless!"

He originally intended to immediately send troops to teach this arrogant "old friend" a lesson.

However, the strategists Shen Pei and Feng Ji strongly advised against it.

"My lord, please calm your anger!" Shen Pei said. "Our main enemy now is Gongsun Zan in the north. Gongsun Zan occupies Youzhou and has a strong army, posing a great threat to Hebei. At this time, it is not advisable to fight on two fronts and send troops to attack Cao Cao."

Feng Ji echoed, "Although Cao Cao was rude, he did hold off the Black Mountain bandits and Yuan Shu from the south for us. Keeping him alive is beneficial to our army. Once our lord has pacified Gongsun Zan and unified Hebei, dealing with him will be a piece of cake."

Yuan Shao listened to their advice, and although he was still furious, he knew they were right. Compared to his greatest threat, Gongsun Zan, Cao Cao was merely a minor ailment.

"Hmph!" Yuan Shao sneered. "Then let Cao Cao live a few more days! After I deal with Gongsun Zan, he'll be the first one I deal with!"

An imminent crisis was thus temporarily averted.

Meanwhile, in Chenliu, Cao Cao was holding a military conference that would determine the future of the country.

In the main hall, all of Cao Cao's trusted civil and military officials were present.

Generals such as Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Hong, Li Dian, and Yue Jin lined up on both sides, each one full of spirit and high morale.

Cheng Yu, Xi Zhicai, and other newly recruited strategists sat at the lower end of the table, their expressions solemn.

Xi Zhicai, courtesy name Zhicai, was a native of Yingchuan. He was a man of profound wisdom and resourcefulness. After being discovered by Cheng Yu, he was recommended to Cao Cao. Cao Cao had a long conversation with him and was amazed by his "talent for governing the world," thus valuing him greatly.

Cao Cao's gaze swept over the crowd below the hall, finally settling on the huge map of Yanzhou.

"Gentlemen," he said in a deep voice, "Yuan Shao's envoy has already left. Although we didn't fall out on the spot, a rift has formed between us. Yuan Shao is a man who appears lenient on the outside but is actually suspicious and vindictive. Right now, he is busy dealing with Gongsun Zan and has no time to look south. But this is only temporary. Once he has the time, he will surely turn against us."

"We don't have much time left."

The atmosphere in the lobby instantly became serious.

Everyone knows that compared to the behemoth that is Yuan Shao, their current strength is far from enough.

"What you say is absolutely right, my lord." Xi Zhicai stood up and walked to the map. "Although our army has just won a victory, we only occupy Chenliu County. Our troops, money, food, and population are all extremely limited. If we want to contend with a powerful enemy like Yuan Shao, we must expand our strength as soon as possible and occupy a stable base."

His finger drew a circle on the map, encompassing the entire Yanzhou region.

"Yanzhou, bordering Qingzhou to the east, Sili to the west, Yuzhou to the south, and Jizhou to the north, is a strategically vital region, the heart of the empire. Although it has suffered repeated rebellions during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, it still has a sufficient population and fertile land. Currently, Liu Dai, the governor of Yanzhou, is incompetent and only knows how to protect the counties. Qiao Mao, the prefect of Dongjun, was killed by Liu Dai in the campaign against Dong Zhuo, leaving Dongjun leaderless. The other counties are also acting independently, a disorganized mess."

"This is a golden opportunity for us!"

A glint of wisdom shone in Xi Zhicai's eyes.

"Our army should strike swiftly and decisively! We must sustain our war effort through war, first taking Dongjun, then Jiyin and Shanyang, and finally sweeping across the entire Yanzhou! Once we have the entire Yanzhou under our control, our army will possess 100,000 troops and vast fertile plains! At that time, we can either advance to contend for the Central Plains or retreat to protect ourselves as a separate entity. Only then will we have the resources to compete with the heroes of the world!"