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

In August of the first year of Jian'an (196 AD), in Liangzhou, Jincheng.

The autumn air is crisp and clear, the sky is high and the clouds are light.

Han Sui stood atop the city wall of Jincheng, gazing at the official imperial edict in his hand, a complex smile playing on his lips.

Governor of Liangzhou.

General Zhenxi.

Equal to the Three Excellencies.

Each of these three titles was enough to excite him.

Han Sui dominated the Western Liang region for thirty years, rising from a minor county official to his current position. What storms hadn't he weathered?

What hardships haven't I endured?

But the words "Governor of Liangzhou" still stirred something within him.

"My lord."

Yang Qiu, a trusted confidant beside him, whispered, "Are you really going to accept the imperial court's reward?"

Han Sui didn't turn around, but simply said, "Why don't you answer?"

Yang Qiu hesitated and said, "But what about Yuan Tan..."

Han Sui turned around, looked at him, and his gaze was deep:

"Yuan Tan? He is Yuan Shao's son, not mine. I took him in out of consideration for his father, but what is that consideration worth?"

He paused, his voice turning deep: "Ji Xuanyuan is at the height of his power, possessing five states, with countless fierce generals and strategists under his command. What can I possibly use to fight him? The troops in Liangzhou are not even enough to fill his teeth."

Yang Qiu remained silent.

Han Sui sighed, his tone softening:

"I am not one to be out of touch with reality. I will accept this opportunity offered by Ji Xuanyuan. As for Yuan Tan..."

He looked eastward, in the direction of Dong Zhuolei:

"I have my own plans."

Several days later, Dong Zhuolei.

Standing on a high point in the camp, Yuan Tan looked at this unfamiliar land, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Han Sui handed this place over to him.

Dong Zhuo's stronghold, located at the border of Liangzhou and Bingzhou, was a strategic location that could be used to retreat to Liangzhou or advance into Bingzhou, making it a place of great importance to military strategists.

Han Sui placed this place under his command, which seems to indicate that he was giving it important responsibilities.

But Yuan Tan felt no joy whatsoever.

His wife and daughters were left behind in Jincheng.

Ms. Wen, his wife.

And his three-year-old daughter, his own flesh and blood.

Han Sui said this was for "convenience in taking care of him".

But Yuan Tan wasn't stupid; he knew that those were hostages.

What chilled him even more was that Han Sui transferred two-thirds of the more than 100,000 troops that Dong Zhuo had originally stationed there.

Only 30,000 to 40,000 men remained, and the vacancies had to be filled by Yuan Tan's 20,000 troops.

They call it "trust," but in reality, they just want his people to fill the holes and deplete his strength.

Yuan Tan clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white.

"General."

Deputy General Wang Zhao whispered, "Han Sui's actions are clearly..."

That's enough.

Yuan Tan interrupted him, his voice hoarse: "You are not allowed to say these words again."

Wang Zhao lowered his head and remained silent.

But just because he doesn't speak up doesn't mean others won't.

Rumors were rampant in the camp.

"Have you heard? Han Sui intends to offer the general to the imperial court in exchange for his own wealth and glory!"

"Really?!"

"Absolutely true! I have a brother who works in Jincheng, and he overheard Han Sui's secret conversation with his confidants!"

"So what do we do? Are we just going to wait to die?"

Shh! Don't make a sound...

Whispers spread like a plague through the army.

Although Yuan Tan ordered a strict ban on discussing the matter within the army, the rumors persisted like weeds, growing back after being cut down.

What's even more frightening is that even he himself began to have doubts.

Han Sui... would he really not betray himself?

He recalled his father's evaluation of Han Sui.

"This person is fickle and cannot be trusted."

He recalled Han Sui's unfathomable eyes and his perpetually smiling face.

He thought of his wife and daughters who had been left behind in Jincheng.

Orphans and widows, far from home, in the treacherous land of Jincheng...

Yuan Tan closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

he does not know.

He knows nothing.

In early September, the Southern Xiongnu tribe of Yufuluo made a move on the border of Liangzhou.

This nomadic tribe, which had been roaming the borders of Bingzhou and Liangzhou for many years, took advantage of the unstable situation in Liangzhou and brazenly marched south to plunder.

When the news reached Jincheng, Han Sui was discussing matters with his generals.

"Report!"

The scout rushed into the hall and knelt on one knee: "The Yufuluo tribe has raided southwards, breaching several stockades, stealing thousands of cattle and sheep, and killing over a hundred of our border residents!"

Han Sui frowned and looked at his generals.

"Gentlemen, what do you think we should do?"

Yang Qiu said, "My lord, the Yufuluo tribe is nothing more than a minor ailment. We can simply send a troop to drive them away."

Han Sui nodded and turned his gaze to the envoy beside him, who was sent by Yuan Tan.

"Go back and tell Xiansi."

Han Sui said calmly, "It's time to move Dong Zhuo's troops. Let him lead them out to drive out Yu Fuluo."

The messenger was taken aback, then accepted the order and left.

Dong Zhuo's fortifications were at Yuan Tan's camp.

After the messenger conveyed Han Sui's order, Yuan Tan's expression turned extremely ugly.

Should we let him lead his troops into battle?

Two-thirds of Dong Zhuo's troops were Yuan Tan's men.

Han Sui transferred his main force away, leaving his men on the border. Now he's sending him to fight Yufuluo head-on?

If this isn't a drain on his strength, then what is it?

"General."

Deputy General Wang Zhao couldn't help but say, "Han Sui is trying to send us to our deaths! Although Yufuluo's troops number only a little over ten thousand, they are swift as the wind, and their cavalry is fierce. If our twenty thousand men are lost, what will we do then?"

Yuan Tan remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "I understand. You may leave."

Wang Zhao was taken aback: "General, what about sending troops..."

Yuan Tan waved his hand: "I know what I'm doing."

Wang Zhao hesitated for a moment, then finally left.

Three days later, in Jincheng.

What Han Sui received was not Yuan Tan's report of victory, but a letter of denial.

The letter stated that Yuan Tan "caught a cold and was seriously ill," making it impossible for him to personally lead the army into battle.

However, he has already sent several thousand men to deal with Yuvro.

Thousands of people.

Han Sui looked at the letter, his face turning terribly grim.

"Is the patient's body very ill?"

He sneered, crumpled the letter into a ball, and slammed it to the ground: "Is Yuan Xiansi too sick to move, or does he simply not want to move?"

Yang Qiu said cautiously, "My lord, please calm your anger. Yuan Tan's actions are probably..."

"What are you afraid of?" Han Sui glared at him.

Yang Qiu lowered his head, not daring to say anything more.

Han Sui paced back and forth in the hall, his chest heaving violently.

"I entrusted Dong Zhuo to him to guard the border, which was a great honor! But he's been making excuses, claiming illness and refusing to come out! He even sent thousands of men to appease me?! Does he think I'm a fool?!"

He abruptly stopped in his tracks and shouted sternly, "Send a messenger! Make him give me an explanation!"

Several days later, Dong Zhuolei.

Han Sui's envoy arrived at Yuan Tan's camp with questions.

Yuan Tan received him and, after hearing the envoy's purpose, remained silent for a long time.

"Go back and tell General Han."

He said slowly, "I am indeed unwell and unable to go on the expedition. As for the matter of Fuluo, I have already dispatched troops to deal with it, and I expect to receive good news soon."

The envoy frowned: "General Yuan, our lord has high hopes for you, yet you do this..."

That's enough.

Yuan Tan interrupted him, his voice turning cold: "As I said, I am not feeling well. If General Han has any objections, let him come and speak to me personally."

The envoy's expression changed, but he dared not say anything more and could only leave dejectedly.

After the messenger left, Wang Zhao stepped forward and whispered, "General, your actions... might anger Han Sui."

Yuan Tan looked at him, his eyes filled with weariness and helplessness: "What good is provoking him? My daughter is still in his hands, what can I do?"

Wang Zhao remained silent.

Yuan Tan looked in the direction of Jincheng and murmured, "Awen...Ayue..."

Those are the names of his wife and daughter.

Those left behind in Jincheng were his wife, Wen, and his daughter, Yuan Yue.

He still remembered the day he left Jincheng. A-Yue tugged at his clothes and asked in her childish voice, "Where is Daddy going? When will he come back to pick up A-Yue?"

He squatted down, stroked his daughter's head, and said with a smile, "Daddy is going to beat up the bad guys for A-Yue, and will be back to pick her up soon."

But this trip lasted for several months.

Jincheng, Han Sui Prefecture.

After the messenger reported back, Han Sui's face grew even more gloomy.

"How dare he speak to me like that?"

He stood up and paced back and forth in the hall, furious.

"I entrusted Dong Zhuo's fortifications to him, ordering him to guard the border, but he claimed illness and refused to come out! I sent someone to inquire, and he dared to defy me! Does Yuan Xiansi still think he's the eldest son of the Yuan family?!"

Yang Qiu advised, "My lord, please calm down. Yuan Tan is young and impetuous, and he's a defeated fugitive. It's understandable that he harbors resentment. Why don't you give him another chance..."

Han Sui glared at him: "Give him another chance? Haven't I given him enough chances already?"

He walked to the window, gazing in the direction of Dong Zhuo's fortifications in the east, and said coldly, "Send another messenger to tell him that he must give me an explanation regarding the matter of Yu Fuluo, otherwise..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the chill he exuded sent a shiver down Yang Qiu's spine.

Dong Zhuo's fortifications were at Yuan Tan's camp.

Han Sui's second group of envoys arrived again, bringing even harsher questions.

This time, Yuan Tan did not receive him.

He simply had Wang Zhao relay the message: "I have said that I am not feeling well, but I will send troops once I am feeling better."

The messenger angrily said, "General Yuan, you are merely placating our lord!"

Wang Zhao said expressionlessly, "The general said he is not feeling well, so please return, envoy."

The messenger left in anger.

Wang Zhao returned to his tent, looked at Yuan Tan's tired face, and said softly, "General, if you continue like this... Han Sui will probably not let this go."

Yuan Tan remained silent.