The Three Kingdoms: General Yu She, reincarnated a hundred times.

……

With Sishui Pass breached, Hulao Pass cannot be defended. If Yuan Shu, Sun Jian, and others cut off their retreat, Dong Zhuo's 200,000-strong army will be trapped inside Hulao Pass and await their doom.

Moreover, if Yuan Shu and his men were to split their forces and march on Luoyang to seize the emperor, the consequences would be unimaginable.

If it weren't for the need to deceive the traitor hiding somewhere, Li Ru and Dong Zhuo would have preferred to return to Luoyang immediately.

The so-called search for spies, the so-called massacres and rivers of blood, were actually just a grand show staged by Li Ru and Dong Zhuo with their tacit understanding.

If we can find this spy, that would be best. Even if we can't, we should at least deceive and intimidate him for a while, cut off his chance to send messages to the other lords, and buy time for Dong Zhuo to arrange the withdrawal of his troops.

Otherwise, if Dong Zhuo had not yet withdrawn from Hulao Pass, and the allied forces of the warlords outside the pass followed closely behind, wouldn't they be tied up?

At that time, Yuan Shu and other warlords will again bypass and intercept them from behind through Sishui Pass. Under the attack from both sides, there will probably be no way out.

However, it was impossible to completely conceal the withdrawal of 200,000 troops from the warlords outside the pass. Therefore, they merely bought time for the withdrawal and then used a massive fire to completely halt the allied forces' pursuit.

……

Outside Hulao Pass, the warlords, who were still feasting and reveling, suddenly heard the news that Hulao Pass was engulfed in flames and that Dong Zhuo had led his army to retreat.

The crowd looked at each other, bewildered and somewhat at a loss.

"We haven't even fought yet! How come Dong Zhuo has already run away? Do you think holding banquets every day can scare him away?"

Yuan Shao was the first to react, and he burst into loud laughter!

"Great victory! This must be because Dong Zhuo fears our army's might and dares not fight against us. He has fled in panic, like a mouse."

Since the alliance was formed, we have been working tirelessly day and night, never daring to rest. Today's great victory is entirely due to the joint efforts of all of you gentlemen and Shao!

Everyone raised their glasses in celebration, except for Yuan Shu, Cao Cao, Gongsun Zan, Kong Rong, Tao Qian, and a few others who had pretended to stay behind to cover for Yu She and the others. They looked at each other and smiled, their understanding unspoken.

None of them actually went to Sishui Pass, since Liu Bei could leave whenever he wanted, and nobody cared about him anyway.

But if the allied forces were to hold a banquet here and none of the lords were there, how could the others not be suspicious?

Therefore, he secretly transferred his trusted generals and elite troops to assist Sun Jian in breaking through the pass, while he himself stayed here to feast with the other lords, constantly calculating the time and waiting for news.

Upon seeing the raging fire at Hulao Pass and Dong Zhuo's hasty escape overnight, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that:

"This will surely be the success of Zichuan's plan."

Now that things have come to this, what desire do they have to continue their feasting and drinking?

Some said they needed to use the restroom, others said they needed to relieve themselves, and still others said they couldn't hold their liquor. Each of them found an excuse to leave their seats and hurriedly dispatched their troops to Sishui Pass.

With the great mission accomplished, there was no need to continue the charade with these warlords. The fire at Hulao Pass was still burning for who knows how long. Even if the fire was extinguished, the smoke and scorched earth would still make it difficult to march. In addition, Dong Zhuo would definitely send troops to cover their retreat.

Rather than staying here and wasting time by hindering each other and shirking responsibility with these feudal lords, it is better to stay and avoid conflict.

It would be better to head to Sishui Pass as soon as possible, and then advance the army directly to Luoyang.

According to the plan, Sun Jian, Yu She and others would not stop after capturing Sishui Pass, but would continue to advance as the vanguard to clear the way for their main army to reach Luoyang.

The rescue of the emperor was imminent, and the restoration of the Han dynasty depended on this one action. Everyone was eager to take the lead and quickly mobilized a large army to set off.

Cao Cao even called upon his friends Wei Zi and Bao Xin to join him in mobilizing troops to bolster his military strength.

Such blatant behavior by these men could not help but arouse suspicion among the other feudal lords.

Yuan Shao quickly stopped Cao Cao and pressed him for an explanation.

"Mengde, what exactly happened?"

"You all seem to know the cause of the fire at Hulao Pass and the reason for Dong Zhuo's sudden retreat?"

After all, they were childhood friends and close confidants, and he was also the leader of the allied forces. Previously, due to the importance of the matter, Cao Cao couldn't keep it from him any longer, so he told him:

"The Vice Alliance Leader secretly dispatched our elite troops to aid Sun Jian. They have probably already broken through Sishui Pass. We are following the Vice Alliance Leader's orders to send another large army to reinforce him and march all the way into Luoyang to rescue the Emperor."

Yuan Shao: "???"

"The Deputy Alliance Leader's Order?"

Why did you change your mind, Mengde?

We're not the best in the world, okay?

You said you would restore the Han Dynasty and take the lead in raising righteous troops. I responded immediately with my family's reputation as a member of a family that had held high office for four generations, and supported your alliance with the feudal lords of the world.

But now… why are you obeying the highway's orders and helping him keep it from me?

"Oh? May I ask, Vice Alliance Leader, is Mengde's statement true?"

Why is it that neither I, the leader of the alliance, nor any of the lords present here know anything about this?

He gritted his teeth and sneered. Although he was questioning Yuan Shu, his eyes remained fixed on Cao Cao, never looking away.

"Yuan Gonglu, you deliberately deceived us and gave the order without our consent. What exactly is your intention?"

When Yuan Shao didn't even look at him when he asked him a question, how could Yuan Shu not be angry?

He simply ignored Yuan Shao, raising his chin high and looking down arrogantly at the other warlords.

"What is your intention? Of course, it is to restore the Han Dynasty and rescue the emperor."

Gentlemen! The path to serving the King and protecting him has been paved for you. Those who are willing to obey the Deputy Alliance Leader's order shall come to Sishui Pass to form an alliance!

Those who wish to feast and play house with this lowly concubine and her illegitimate son may stay here and go to Hulao Pass to put out the fire.

After saying this, he resolutely turned and left.

"You fool! Reckless and arrogant! You're trying to split the coalition!"

Yuan Shao roared in anger, but Yuan Shu didn't turn around and strode away, his robes fluttering in the wind.

Seeing this, the feudal lords glanced at Yuan Shu's departing figure, then looked back at Yuan Shao. After a moment's hesitation, many of them hurriedly chased after Yuan Shu.

This situation further angered Yuan Shao, who then abandoned the banquet and hastily summoned the other lords to issue orders.

"Quickly mobilize troops and men to fight the fire at Hulao Pass, and order the vanguard to clear the way. Immediately set out for Luoyang to rescue the Emperor!"

……

As the allied forces of the feudal lords split, each following the orders of their leader and deputy leader, they set off from Hulao Pass and Sishui Pass in two separate routes, vying to reach Luoyang.

At this time, Dong Zhuo was also rushing back to Luoyang. Fortunately, their speed was faster than that of the allied forces of the warlords.

After all, there are still some strongholds, passes, towns and cities between Sishui, Hulao and Luoyang that can block the enemy. Although it is impossible to stop the allied forces' offensive, it can at least delay them for some time.

Dong Zhuo assigned 50,000 troops each to Fan Chou and Zhang Ji, ordering them to hold off the allied forces at all costs and delay them for at least twenty days.

On the very day he returned to Luoyang, he immediately arranged for the relocation of the capital, first kidnapping the emperor and then binding all the officials.

Those who disagree, kill! Those who are slow, kill! Those who hesitate, kill! Those who cannot take it, kill!

Because Dong Zhuo was pressed for time this time and had no idea when the allied forces of the warlords would attack, this relocation of the capital was particularly brutal.

……