My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

Within the territory of Pei County, the main camp of Yuan's army.

Night fell, and a cold wind howled.

The winter nights in Pei County are bitterly cold.

In Yuan Jun's camp, campfires flickered, but they could not dispel the chill that seeped into one's bones.

The soldiers sat around the fire, their faces blank, none of them willing to speak.

Occasionally, someone would look up and gaze northward, towards Ye City, their hometown they could never return to.

Inside the central command tent, candlelight blazed brightly.

Yuan Shao sat in the main seat, with a map spread out in front of him.

His gaze was fixed on the location of Xuzhou, his eyes burning with an almost insane obsession.

Below the tent, strategists Xu You, Guo Tu, Xin Ping, Xun Chen, and others sat in order.

Generals such as Jiang Yiqu, Lü Xiang, Lü Kuang, and Zhang He were among them.

Everyone's face was solemn, and no one uttered a sound.

A dead silence.

After a long silence, Yuan Shao slowly spoke: "Gentlemen, our army has reached Pei County. Xuzhou is just a hundred miles ahead."

He paused, his voice hoarse but firm: "My intention is to continue eastward tomorrow, reach the walls of Xuzhou in two days, and capture Xiapi in one fell swoop! What do you all think?"

No one answered.

Yuan Shao frowned, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "What? Are you all mute?"

Xu You sighed softly, about to speak, when suddenly a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the tent.

"Report!"

A scout lifted the curtain and entered, kneeling on one knee with a look of terror on his face:

"My lord! Something terrible has happened! Urgent report from Qingzhou!"

Yuan Shao abruptly stood up: "Speak!"

The scout, panting heavily, reported, "Tian Kai and Kong Rong have suddenly joined forces to attack Prince Yuan Tan! Prince Yuan Tan led 30,000 troops to meet them, but was caught in a pincer attack and suffered a crushing defeat. He is now trapped in Linzi! Tian Kai and Kong Rong are now fiercely attacking Linzi! Prince Yuan Tan is pleading with our lord... to send reinforcements immediately!"

"What?!"

Yuan Shao was struck dumb, staggered back two steps, and slumped back onto his bed!

Tian Kai?

Kong Rong?

Those two guys who have always been enemies have actually joined forces?!

He abruptly looked up and hissed, "Tian Kai is a general under Gongsun Zan, and Kong Rong has always been at odds with Gongsun Zan. How could they join forces?!"

The scout bowed his head and said, "I don't know, but... but there are rumors in the army that Ji Xuanyuan saved Kong Rong from siege, and Kong Rong's expedition is to repay that favor..."

Yuan Shao's mind went blank with a "buzz".

Repaying a debt of gratitude...

He remembered.

When Kong Rong was besieged by the Yellow Turbans, it was Ji Xuanyuan who sent Taishi Ci to relieve the siege.

That time, Ji Xuanyuan formed a good relationship with Kong Rong.

So... so Ji Xuanyuan had been making plans since then.

Yuan Shao felt his vision blur and his throat taste sweet; he almost spat out another mouthful of blood.

Xu You quickly stepped forward to support him: "My lord! My lord, please take care of yourself!"

Yuan Shao pushed him away, panting, his eyes filled with madness and resentment.

"Tian Kai... Kong Rong..."

He muttered, "They think they can stop me like this? I still have 120,000 troops! As long as I take Xuzhou, I'll have the strength to make a comeback! As for Tan'er, let him hold out for a few days. I'll go rescue him after I take Xuzhou!"

Xu You opened his mouth, as if to say something, but ultimately did not utter a word.

He knew in his heart that Yuan Tan's situation was likely dire.

Even if Yuan Tan could hold out for a few days with Tian Kai and Kong Rong joining forces, how long could they hold out?

Even if our lord takes Xuzhou, how can we rescue it from such a distance?

But he no longer wanted to say those words.

It's pointless to say anything.

The next day, at Yuan Jun's camp.

Rumors spread throughout the army, causing widespread panic.

"Have you heard? Qingzhou has been defeated! General Yuan Tan is trapped in Linzi!"

"If Ye City falls, Qingzhou will fall too. What hope do we have left?"

"I've heard that Pei County is where Xiang Yu was trapped at Gaixia... Are we going to follow in Xiang Yu's footsteps?"

"Pah! Don't talk nonsense!"

Whispers spread through the camp like a plague.

The soldiers' faces were ashen, their eyes filled with fear of the future.

Jiang Yiqu returned from his inspection of the camp and walked into the central command tent with a solemn expression.

"My lord, morale is low and rumors are spreading. Some people say... that this is Gaixia, that we are Xiang Yu, that we are doomed."

Yuan Shao suddenly looked up, his eyes blazing with fury!

"Nonsense!"

He suddenly stood up and strode out of the tent.

Outside the tent, countless soldiers were whispering among themselves.

Upon seeing Yuan Shao emerge, they immediately fell silent and lowered their heads.

Yuan Shao surveyed the crowd, his gaze sharp and piercing.

He had already heard the rumors.

He knew that if he didn't stop it in time, this army of 100,000 could collapse at any moment.

"Generals, I have something to say."

The camp fell silent.

He took a deep breath, then suddenly spoke, his voice booming: "Xuzhou has been the site of over thirty large-scale wars throughout history!"

Everyone was taken aback and looked up at him.

Yuan Shao continued, "The rights and wrongs are complex and difficult to explain. Countless powerful families have determined the rise and fall of dynasties on this ancient battlefield. One rises while another falls, which is why there has been the saying since ancient times of vying for the Central Plains!"

His voice grew louder and more impassioned: "Back then, a certain rebel army rose up against Dong Zhuo, gathering eighteen warlords—a feat that shocked the world! It was in Suanzao that Yuan Shao was fortunate enough to lead 50,000 brave soldiers to conquer Dong Zhuo and achieve a great victory!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and said, word by word, "I don't understand!"

"Why is everyone talking about Xiang Yu being trapped at Gaixia? It's as if this ancient battlefield in the Central Plains was destined to be a perilous place for our army!"

His voice echoed in the cold wind, resounding throughout the entire camp:

"Five years ago, I embarked on my journey from Luoyang, gathered the feudal lords, and launched the war against Dong Zhuo! I finally defeated that traitor! How much of the credit for Ji Xuanyuan's ability to control the emperor and command the feudal lords actually went to me, Yuan Shao?!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, his voice growing louder and louder: "After that, wherever our army went, the people welcomed us wholeheartedly. We truly had the perfect timing! That vibrant scene of life and everything flourishing is still vivid in my mind!"

"In just five short years, will Xuzhou become my final resting place?!"

The entire room fell into a deathly silence.

Countless soldiers stared blankly at Yuan Shao, a glimmer of light gradually appearing in their eyes.

Yuan Shao suddenly raised his arm, pointed southeast, and roared hoarsely, "No matter what!"

"The troop strength in this battle is 120,000 to 10,000!"

"The advantage is in my hands!"

The last four words resounded through the heavens!

The entire army fell silent for a moment.

Immediately, someone shouted, "My lord, your insight is brilliant!"

Then came the second sound, the third sound...

"Our lord is mighty!"

"Victory is certain! Victory is certain!"

The shouts grew louder and louder, eventually merging into a torrent that echoed through the night sky of Pei County.

The soldiers' fighting spirit was rekindled in their eyes, and their fear, confusion, and despair seemed to be temporarily dispelled by this roar.

Yuan Shao stood on the high ground, looking at the shouting soldiers, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

He waved his hand, signaling the generals to step down.

After everyone had left, only Yuan Shao and Xu You remained in the tent.

Yuan Shao slowly sat down and let out a long breath.

His body was trembling slightly, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.

His impassioned speech had almost exhausted all his energy.

Xu You stood aside, watching this scene, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He suddenly recalled that when Yuan Shao first became the governor of Bohai, he was just as spirited and inspiring.

At that time, he thought that this person was capable of great things.

But now...

Xu You closed his eyes and sighed softly.

My lord, you are right, the troop strength is indeed 120,000 to 10,000.

Tens of thousands froze and starved to death during the days of fleeing, and countless deserters also perished.

If there are still 30,000 to 40,000 people who can fight now, that would be considered good.

Moreover, these people have long lost their fighting spirit; how can they fight?

Xuzhou, Xiapi City, the governor's residence.

Zhang Fei sat in the main seat, looking at the two generals in front of him, and grinned.

"Hahaha! I thought I'd have to face Yuan Shao's 100,000-strong army alone! Little did I know Gongjin had anticipated this!"

Before him stood Yuwen Chengdu, clad in golden armor, his face serene.

Zhang Liao stood with his hand on his sword, his eyes piercing.

Behind the two, 20,000 elite Jingnan Army troops had already quietly deployed outside Xuzhou City.

Yuwen Chengdu slowly said, "The strategist predicted that if Yuan Shao is defeated, he will be desperate and take Xuzhou in order to make a comeback. Therefore, he ordered me and Wen Yuan to lead 20,000 elite troops to Xuzhou ahead of time to join forces with General Zhang."

Zhang Fei slapped his thigh: "Great! Now, with your 20,000 added, it's 30,000 against 100,000, our chances of winning are much higher!"

Zhang Liao shook his head and said, "General Zhang, the strategist's intention is not for us to hold Xiapi."

Zhang Fei was taken aback: "Then what does he plan to do?"

Yuwen Chengdu walked to the map and pointed to the only road leading from Pei County to Xuzhou.

"This place is called 'Fallen Phoenix Slope'. The mountains on both sides are steep, and there is a narrow path in the middle, making it an excellent place to set up an ambush."

He raised his head, a cold glint in his eyes: "General Zhou ordered me and Wen Yuan to lead a large army to ambush them here. Once Yuan Shao's army enters the valley, we will catch them completely off guard!"

Zhang Fei's eyes lit up, but then he frowned and said, "But Yuan Shao has an army of 100,000. Even if we fall into an ambush, we may not be able to annihilate them all."

Yuwen Chengdu smiled slightly: "General Zhang, rest assured, with an army of 100,000, they will inevitably march in a straight line, unable to support each other. Our army only needs to cut off their head, sever their middle, and disrupt their tail, and Yuan Shao will surely be defeated!"

Zhang Liao interjected, "At that time, General Zhang can lead 10,000 elite troops to attack from Xiapi, flanking Yuan Shao's rear army and encircling him from three sides. Yuan Shao will have no chance of escape!"

After hearing this, Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter!

"Excellent! Excellent! That Gongjin is truly a talent! I'm impressed!"

He abruptly stood up and slammed his fist on the table: "Pass down the order, all troops prepare for battle!"