Three Kingdoms: Cao Cao is stunned when he reveals his time-traveling identity.

At Yuan Shao's residence.

"Tell me, what are the demands Su Chen made?"

Should I say yes or no?

Yuan Shao stood with his hands behind his back, scanning everyone in front of him, his face particularly grim.

Exchanging so much money and grain for 50,000 troops is actually a worthwhile investment.

However, once the money and grain were handed over, Yuan Shao would have completely lost face.

"My lord, we absolutely cannot agree to this!"

"Su Chen's request for supplies was a pretense; his real intention was to humiliate our army!"

"If we give it to them, our army's prestige will be completely destroyed!"

At this moment, Guo Tu couldn't help but say indignantly.

Yuan Shao also narrowed his eyes, his face looking very unpleasant.

He has been thinking about this question for so many days.

Should we use money and supplies to exchange for these 50,000 elite troops?

Although his advisors all disagreed.

But these are 50,000 elite troops!

Although Yuan Shao had a large and powerful family, he would still be very troubled if he were to lose these 50,000 elite troops.

Where are Yan Liang and Wen Chou?

While he was frowning and deep in thought.

Suddenly, not seeing Yan Liang and Wen Chou in the column of military officers, he couldn't help but ask.

Yan Liang and Wen Chou were his generals.

He always stood at the front during daily meetings.

They weren't there, and Yuan Shao could tell at a glance.

Upon hearing this, the strategists couldn't help but turn their gazes toward the row of military officers.

These two are really not here?

"Hmph, I suppose they're too ashamed to come to this meeting now, having lost 50,000 elite troops."

Feng Ji sneered and said dismissively.

Guo Tu and Feng Ji already had a bad relationship with Yan Liang and Wen Chou.

Yan Liang and Wen Chou were currently suffering a setback, and the two of them were naturally gloating over it.

"My general has mysteriously disappeared, and I was unaware of it?"

Does anyone know?

Yuan Shao was already furious.

His general had suddenly disappeared without his knowledge; how could he possibly tolerate this?

"Reporting to my lord, news arrived yesterday that Cao Cao's army has withdrawn from Xuchang."

"The two generals... then..."

"So he led two thousand elite soldiers to catch up."

Just then, an unknown civil official suddenly spoke up.

He saw it clearly yesterday.

But he was of low status and his words carried little weight; how could he possibly persuade two generals?

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao slammed his fist on the table and roared:

"What's wrong with Yan Liang and Wen Chou?"

"How dare you openly disregard military law?!"

Leading troops to attack without authorization is a capital offense under military law!

Even Yan Liang and Wen Chou wouldn't have dared to do this before.

What exactly is going on now?

"The two generals have lost 50,000 troops, and now they hear the news of Cao Cao's army's withdrawal."

"It's probably because they want to make amends and regain their 50,000 troops."

"If we withdraw our troops, two thousand elite soldiers will suffice to launch an attack."

Xu You stroked his beard and slowly began to speak.

"Nonsense, utter nonsense!"

"That Su Chen is cunning, and these two have already fallen for his tricks once."

"How dare you be so reckless now?"

"Aren't you afraid that Su Chen is feigning a retreat to secretly set a trap?"

Yuan Shao's eyes widened, his veins bulging with anger.

"My lord, Su Chen's withdrawal of troops this time may not be a lie."

Tian Feng slowly stood up and said:

"Cao Cao was extremely suspicious."

"Moreover, Cao Cao is currently unable to spare any resources for the battle of Runan."

"He will certainly not let Su Chen make any rash moves."

"After recapturing the city, withdrawing the troops is a logical course of action."

"Generals, this time you might really be able to redeem yourselves through meritorious service."

Xu You also spoke up:

"If the withdrawal is true, then 50,000 troops would be a burden to Cao Cao's army."

"If we attack this time, it may not be impossible to recapture our troops."

Upon hearing Tian Feng and Xu You's words, Yuan Shao frowned, but his anger had subsided considerably.

Clearly, he also wanted to capture Su Chen and teach Cao Jun a lesson.

Or perhaps we could recapture our 50,000 troops and avenge our defeat.

However, he was unaware of this.

The two men were only saying this to comfort Yuan Shao.

Su Chen's withdrawal of troops is most likely part of an ambush.

"Report!"

Suddenly, the sound of a scout came from outside the tent.

Upon hearing this voice, Yuan Shao's heart tightened.

If a scout enters the main tent without explanation, something big is about to happen.

Considering that Yan Liang and Wen Chou have now left the camp...

He already had a bad feeling.

"This is to inform you, my lord."

"Cao Cao's army sent an envoy with a letter."

"Please examine it, my lord!"

As he spoke, the scout handed the letter to the civil official standing beside him.

An envoy sent by Cao Cao's army?

Yuan Shao's expression changed, and he took the letter.

Upon opening the document and seeing the contents, his eyes immediately became bloodshot, and his whole body trembled.

I almost passed out.

A group of people below were looking at Yuan Shao.

Although I don't know what was written in the letter.

But seeing Yuan Shao's fascinating expression, they already knew what was going on.

"Damn it, absolutely damn it!"

"I will tear Su Chen to pieces and avenge this humiliation!"

Yuan Shao could no longer hold back and roared.

"My lord, what did Cao Cao's letter say?"

Seeing Yuan Shao's anger, Guo Tu couldn't help but ask.

"Cao Cao's army is feigning a retreat; Yan Liang and Wen Chou have already been captured alive by Cao Cao's forces!"

"Right now, they're demanding an additional 200,000 shi of grain and 100,000 soldiers' worth of equipment!"

When he read out the contents of the letter, Yuan Shao practically ground his back teeth to powder.

Two hundred thousand shi of grain and fodder, and equipment for one hundred thousand soldiers.

Why don't you just rob someone?!

The others also looked particularly grim, especially Xu You and Tian Feng.

They had anticipated part of it.

I just didn't expect that Yan Liang and Wen Chou would be captured so quickly.

These two are formidable fighters; ordinary generals would be utterly slaughtered in their presence.

Even if we fall into their trap, we can at least stall for a while.

But... it was taken down in less than a day.

This is simply outrageous.

"Su Chen is clearly humiliating me!"

"Guards, relay my order: beat the drums and advance!"

"Gather the troops, I'm determined to kill Su Chen!"

At this moment, Yuan Shao was furious to the extreme. He tore the letter to shreds and roared like thunder.

He couldn't care less about anything else anymore.

Having been humiliated repeatedly, two of their generals have now been captured alive.

He could not accept this humiliation no matter what.

"My lord, please reconsider!"

Seeing that Yuan Shao was blinded by anger, Xu You hurriedly advised him:

"Our army must not assemble its entire force this time!"

"Ma Teng and Gongsun Zan are eyeing us covetously; if we send troops now, it will play right into their hands!"

Tian Feng also hurriedly said:

"Ziyuan is right, my lord, we absolutely must not send troops!"

"If we send troops, Youzhou will be lost!"

Yuan Shao clenched his fists, staring intently at the two men:

"No troops?"

"Am I really going to send all this grain and supplies there?!"

Guo Tu hurriedly spoke up:

"By providing aid to the enemy in this way, Cao Cao's army has become powerful but the matter is insignificant."

"How do you want others to perceive our army?"

"My lord, if we don't send troops now, when will we?"

"That Su Chen clearly doesn't take our army seriously!"

Yuan Shao gritted his teeth and roared:

"Pass on my orders immediately!"

"Assemble the three armies!"

……