I, Zhou Cang, am the number one tank in the Three Kingdoms.

The day before heading to Ye County to exchange Xiahou Yuan with Cao Cao, Liu Bei's army and the Jingzhou troops camped at Fangcheng Pass.

Liu Bei couldn't sleep all night, and only in the early hours of the morning did he finally succumb to sleepiness and fall asleep at his desk.

Suddenly, a dragon rushed into Liu Bei's tent from the darkness, staring intently at Liu Bei, and let out a dragon's roar.

Fires broke out in the surrounding tents, and just as the soldiers were about to perish in the flames, the dragon let out another long roar and soared into the sky.

The fire was extinguished in an instant. Liu Bei was so shocked that he broke out in a cold sweat and chased after the fire outside the tent. At that moment, a cold wind blew in.

"Brother! Brother!" Zhang Fei quickly woke Liu Bei.

At this moment, Xu Shu also entered the tent. Liu Bei opened his dazed eyes and told Xu Shu about the dream he had just had.

"Could it be that the emperor in Xuchang is in trouble?" Xu Shu asked, frowning.

"I hope Your Majesty is alright..." Liu Bei rose to change his clothes as if in a daze.

At noon, the gates of Ye County were wide open, and Cao's army withdrew to the north gate as agreed.

The four people from Jingzhou—Wen Pin, Kuai Liang, Zhang Yun, and Yi Ji—are listed together.

Liu Bei, Xu Shu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Zhou Cang, and Zhang Xiu are arranged in a row.

Apart from Wang Wei, Mi Fang, and Liu Yan, who remained to guard the various city gates, the other important civil and military officers of the two armies slowly stepped into Ye County, surrounded by armored soldiers.

As previously arranged, Zhang Yun stationed his troops directly in the city's mansion, and all four gates were taken over by Jingzhou soldiers.

Liu Bei, Kuai Liang, and others, all dressed in court attire, eventually passed through the city and exited from the north gate, where Cao Cao had been waiting for a long time.

Inside the carriage, Cao Cao looked unusually haggard. He didn't even glance at Liu Bei, but instead shouted, "Where is Miaocai?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Cang from Liu Bei's army dismounted, pushed the bound Xiahou Yuan to the front of the formation, removed the cloth from his eyes, and shoved him forward, saying, "Go."

Two days ago, Xiahou Yuan learned in prison that Cao Cao wanted to exchange him for Ye County. He was so ashamed that he wanted to die.

Seeing Cao Cao's army dressed in mourning clothes, he felt even more heartbroken and walked extremely slowly.

Pei Yuanshao, carrying his spear, whispered beside Zhang Fei's horse, "Third General, why not just shoot this fellow dead with an arrow?"

Zhang Fei rebuked him, "No, no! If my brother blames you, how many lives do you have left?"

Xiahou Yuan walked straight toward Cao Cao, and soldiers immediately came forward to untie his ropes.

"Prime Minister, this humble general is incompetent—"

Xiahou Yuan knelt before Cao Cao's carriage, about to plead guilty, but Cao Cao raised his hand to interrupt him: "It is not your fault, step down."

Xiahou Yuan then silently got up and walked away.

Liu Bei slowly drew his sword, spurred his horse forward, and stared intently at Cao Cao, who was less than a hundred paces away.

Just then, a dozen riders suddenly passed through the rear of Cao Cao's army and charged straight towards the front of the two armies.

"The Emperor's edict has arrived!" the leader shouted, startling both Liu Bei's and Jingzhou armies.

The newcomer was a palace eunuch, who dismounted directly in front of Liu Bei, and Liu Bei and everyone behind him quickly followed suit.

"The Left General, Governor of Yuzhou, and Marquis of Yicheng, shall await the imperial edict!"

"Your subject Liu Bei, heed the imperial edict!" Liu Bei shouted and hurriedly knelt down.

"By imperial decree, General of the Left, Governor of Yu Province, and Marquis of Yicheng:"

I have heard that when the Zhou dynasty was in decline, the states of Qi and Jin supported its collapse; and when the Han dynasty was in decline, virtuous ministers filled the gaps.

The country is in turmoil, the land is torn apart, wolves and jackals block the roads, and the state is in peril.

You are of imperial lineage, possess courage and valor, are resolute and loyal, and are devoted to your country and forget yourself.

He rose up in Youyan, endured hardships in Xuyu, aspired to pacify the world, and vowed to bring peace to the ancestral temple.

Recently, Yancheng was captured and Runan was pacified. The elite troops of Jingzhou and Xiangyang were mobilized again, and the strategic passes of Wan and Ye were secured. The army traveled a long distance to attend to the affairs of the king.

Whenever I speak of this with my attendants, I cannot help but sigh and be moved, saying that Liu Bei was truly a minister of the state and a general of the Han dynasty.

However, I have also heard that the Book of Changes says, "Knowing when to advance and knowing when to retreat," and the Book of Poetry says, "Nothing is without a beginning."

The state of the world is like a game of chess; if one part is rushed, the whole game is in danger.

Your courage and loyalty in leading a small, isolated force deep into Xu and Luo's territory are commendable, but they are a source of deep concern for me.

Although Chancellor Cao Cao has made some minor mistakes, he still commands the troops of Yan and Yu provinces to protect Xuchang. If you and Cao Cao, two wise men, were to fight each other, and the wicked would reap the benefits, leading to the decline of the Central Plains, who could then save it?

I am deeply grateful for your meritorious service and hereby bestow upon you special honors: I promote you to General of the Vanguard, grant you the authority to command troops, and appoint you to oversee the military affairs of Jing and Yu provinces. I also increase your fief by 500 households and bestow upon you gold, silk, bows, and arrows to recognize your outstanding achievements.

The soldiers who accompanied him on the expedition were all recorded for their merits and achievements, and the relevant authorities were ordered to reward them.

However, weapons are instruments of violence, and even sages use them only when absolutely necessary.

Now that you have pacified the southern lands, you should gather your troops and allow the people to rest, and firmly defend the counties and territories you have already acquired.

The newly established camp in Hefei can be dealt with gradually; as for the Huainan region, envoys should be sent to spread the message.

In the best of my ability, I will maintain my authority and act as a bulwark for the nation, preventing my two arms from clashing and allowing wolves to gain power.

Alas! You are a branch of the Han dynasty, and should understand my heart.

The fate of the nation rests on your joint efforts, and the hopes of the people are for an early end to the war.

Strive on, Liu Bei!

They should carefully consider their options and not act rashly.

If we secure Jing and Yu provinces and await the opportune moment, the spirits of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Guangwu will truly be grateful for our efforts.

In the eleventh month of the fifth year of Jian'an (196 AD), on the fifth day of the first month (丙午), an imperial edict was issued.

Upon hearing the contents of the emperor's edict, Liu Bei was struck dumb, and remained prostrate beside his horse for a long time, not daring to get up.

"My lord!" Xu Shu knelt behind him and whispered a reminder.

"Uncle Liu, why do you not accept the imperial edict?" asked the Palace Attendant.

"Your subject... Liu Bei receives the imperial edict!" Liu Bei rose tremblingly, raising his hands above his head with trembling hands to receive the imperial edict from the Yellow Gate Attendant.

After getting up, Liu Bei still couldn't believe what he had just heard.

The emperor actually issued a decree ordering him to withdraw his troops!

If I heard correctly, the official title that the emperor just bestowed upon me was... General of the Vanguard, Acting General of the Imperial Guard, and Commander of the Military Affairs of Jing and Yu Provinces?

"General Liu Bei, until we meet again." Cao Cao, seeing Liu Bei standing motionless in front of his army without reacting, called out coldly from afar, then led his troops away.

Seeing Cao Cao leave, the Palace Attendant whispered to Liu Bei, "General, you have won a great victory over Cao's army. His Majesty is overjoyed, but this was also a last resort. I hope you will not fail the Emperor's grace."

Liu Bei sighed deeply, closed his eyes, and murmured, "Your Majesty..." Tears welled up in his eyes.

This was Cao Cao's ultimate weapon.

Even if they couldn't win on the battlefield, holding onto the emperor as leverage would make it impossible for Liu Bei to move an inch.

More importantly, Liu Bei was not like other warlords who could disregard the emperor's edicts and attack at will, but Liu Bei...

He raised an army with a secret edict, but now Cao Cao has firmly restrained him with a new imperial edict.

Admittedly, he could now disregard the emperor's edict like everyone else and continue to raise troops to attack Cao Cao, but his status would immediately become that of a rebel and a traitor.

It could even plunge the emperor, who was already being bullied by Cao Cao, into an even greater predicament in Xuchang.

This was something Liu Bei could never accept.

Cao Cao used a combination of kindness and coercion from the emperor to end the legitimacy of Liu Bei's military expedition, and also used the title of "Supervisor of Military Affairs of Jing and Yu Provinces" to directly break the alliance between Liu Bei and Liu Biao.

Although he didn't know what Liu Biao would think, Liu Bei could already feel the coldness in the eyes of Kuai Liang, Wen Pin, and others who were right beside him.

Liu Bei, who was in charge of military affairs in Jing and Yu provinces, gained greater military power than Liu Biao, the governor of Jing province.

Although the title of General of the Vanguard was nominal, it still surpassed Liu Biao's title of General Who Guards the South...

Not only Liu Biao, but also temporary anti-Cao allies such as Ma Teng and Yuan Shao, how will they view themselves?

Is the grand plan to overthrow Cao Cao really going to be ended by this imperial edict?

Liu Bei's feelings were extremely complicated.

Seeing Liu Bei's dejected expression, the Palace Attendant sighed softly and advised, "Uncle Liu, why don't we enter the city first? I have official business to attend to."

Liu Bei snapped out of his daze, wiped away his tears with his sleeve, and then waved his hand, saying, "Please!"

"May I ask, Your Majesty, how is Your Majesty's health?" Liu Bei asked the Palace Attendant in a low voice as he walked.

The Imperial Attendant naturally understood Liu Bei's meaning and replied in a low voice, "Your Majesty is in good health, rising early and retiring late, working diligently on state affairs. Thanks to the blessings of our ancestors and the assistance of the Prime Minister, the world is fortunate indeed."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei realized that the emperor had indeed been forced into power by the traitor Cao Cao.

The Imperial Attendant then changed the subject, saying, "His Majesty has another message to convey. The edict points to something that is very promising. Please read it carefully, Uncle."

"Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail your grace."

Upon arriving in Ye County, the palace servants distributed the rewards one by one. The Yellow Gate Attendant then spoke privately with Liu Bei about the procedures for issuing subsequent imperial edicts and memorials regarding the rewards. He left in haste at dusk.

On the way back to Wancheng, Liu Bei couldn't help but say to Kuai Liang, "What happened today is not what I wanted. I hope you and Jing Sheng will explain the whole story to me so that I don't fall into Cao Cao's treacherous trap."

Kuai Liang coldly replied, "Since you have received His Majesty's boundless imperial favor, why do you utter such words?" With that, he spurred his horse and rode away.

Liu Bei was stunned and speechless.

Xu Shu then came over to comfort him, saying, "My lord, there is no need to worry. Since His Majesty arrived in Xuchang, it is common knowledge throughout the land that Cao Cao forged the Emperor's edict. How could Liu Biao not know the reason behind this?"

Liu Bei nodded helplessly.

That evening, Yi Ji went to Liu Bei's camp to say goodbye. Only then did Liu Bei learn that Kuai Liang had left without saying goodbye, not only leaving Wancheng but also taking back the three thousand soldiers that he had promised to leave for Liu Bei.

"Brother, we're stuck in a dilemma, neither advancing nor retreating. We're trying to save the Emperor, but he's just doing Cao Cao a huge favor!" Zhang Fei grumbled in his tent after Yi Ji left.

"Third brother, it's not like that. The emperor has a far-sighted view. I read this edict, and although he was forced by Cao Cao, he still left us enough room to maneuver," Liu Bei said after pacing back and forth in his tent.

"This edict is so vicious. Whether we obey it or not, our lord will become the target of everyone's criticism," Xu Shu said with a furrowed brow and a sigh.

"What do you mean?" Liu Yan asked.

"Gentlemen, consider this: if our lord were to withdraw his troops as ordered, the people of the world would likely only see him as someone who uses allies to gain high positions and riches. Once the hearts of the people are lost, there will be no one to help him if he were to raise an army again in the future."

"If you do not withdraw your troops, my lord will lose the righteous cause of obeying the imperial edict to punish the rebels, and may even put the emperor in danger. From then on, my lord will be a disloyal person in the eyes of all the feudal lords in the world."

"Moreover, the title of this lord is also very significant. Ma Teng already holds the position of General, while the title of Governor of Jing and Yu Provinces is directly given to Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province. It is called a reward, but in reality, it is a division."

"From this, it can be seen that Cao Cao was certain that his lord was loyal to the emperor, which is why he was willing to exchange Ye County for Xiahou Yuan."

"We racked our brains, all thinking that Cao Cao's actions were a conspiracy, and we were on high alert repeatedly, but we never expected it to be such an open scheme, leaving us helpless. Alas..."

Only after Xu Shu explained did everyone realize that the destructive power of this imperial edict was actually greater than that of a thousand troops.

"Back in the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao also forged an imperial edict for Yuan Shao, but Yuan Shao seemed to have no qualms about it..." Zhang Xiu whispered.

"Our lord is different from those people. Now that the Han dynasty is in decline, the emperor's words are something they will listen to if they want to, and laugh off if they don't."

"Our lord is a member of the Han imperial family and has no disloyal intentions. The emperor's words are still golden rules for our lord and cannot be taken lightly."

Xu Shu did not reprimand Zhang Xiu, who was not yet familiar with his lord's temperament, but patiently explained it to him.

"I believe that this edict was both a reluctant act by His Majesty under pressure from Cao Cao, and a concession by Cao Cao," Liu Bei said, glancing at the crowd after the discussion subsided.

"How do you know?" Zhao Yun asked.

The imperial edict stated: "The newly established camp in Hefei can be dealt with gradually; as for the Huainan region, envoys should be sent to spread the message."

"The construction of Hefei has been underway for less than three months, yet Your Majesty has not left the palace. How could you know of this?"

"Does my lord mean that the Huainan region is where Cao Cao will concede?" Xu Shu asked.

"Exactly."

"In my opinion, this move is not a concession, but rather it has deepened the conflict between our lord and Jiangdong and Yangzhou on the surface." Xu Shu disagreed with his lord Liu Bei's optimism.

Seeing Xu Shu's opposition, Liu Bei fell silent and began to consider a solution.

"If what the strategist says is true, Cao Cao's reward is just a pretext to sow discord among our allies... then how should we deal with Liu Biao, Ma Teng, and Yuan Shao?" Liu Yan asked again.

"Liu Jingsheng has always protected the Jianghan region to observe the world. Our lord has already recovered the entire territory of Nanyang for him. Moreover, the biggest enemy of Jingzhou now is Jiangdong. After the withdrawal of troops, our lord can personally visit Jingzhou without any problems," Xu Shu explained.

"After the Battle of Guandu, Yuan Shao was frequently embroiled in internal strife in Hebei, and he was probably no longer able to muster a large army to march south."

"But Ma Teng's situation is indeed a bit tricky. Mr. Gongyou has not returned yet, and we don't know what the situation is."

As everyone was talking, a messenger finally arrived from Chen Chu of Yancheng.

"Yuan Jian?!" Xu Shu was startled when he saw that the envoy was Liao Hua, fearing that something had happened in Yancheng.

"My lord! Strategist! The siege of Yancheng has been lifted, and I have come to report this." Liao Hua knelt before Liu Bei and said.

It turned out that the day after Zhang Xiu received the order to rush to the aid of Wancheng, Man Chong secretly crossed the Ru River upstream and surrounded Yancheng.

During the five-day siege, Xu Shu's two messengers were intercepted and killed by Man Chong. Two days earlier, Man Chong suddenly withdrew his troops overnight, breaking camp at the same time as Xiahou Dun on the north bank of the Ru River.

Upon hearing this news, Xu Shu muttered to himself, "What my lord said is true; Cao Cao has indeed made concessions."

There was silence inside the tent for a moment, with the cold wind constantly blowing through the tent curtains, making a "whoosh" sound.

"In that case, we shall obey the imperial decree to withdraw our troops from Runan, promote the peace of Huainan, and build Hefei. We shall obey the Emperor's decree!" Xu Shu suddenly turned around and said loudly to everyone.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's spirits lifted, and he excitedly asked, "As for allies like Ma Teng, Jing Sheng, and Yuan Shao, surely the strategist already has a good plan to deal with them?!"

Xu Shu nodded slowly and said, "Indeed, I have a brilliant plan, but—"

"Use their own methods against them!"