Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Yuan Shao was now at the peak of his powers, full of vigor and ambition. His campaign against Cao Cao was a resounding success, not only capturing Qingzhou and Yanzhou in one fell swoop but also severely damaging Cao Cao's vitality. From that point on, no one in the Central Plains could rival him.

After fully conquering Yanzhou and Qingzhou, Yuan Shao's power reached its peak. He then successfully captured Chenliu, but now faced a complex situation. Ahead, Yingchuan County lay like a tempting piece of fat, waiting to be snatched. Furthermore, there was the emperor, supported by Lü Bu, and the power behind him, a formidable force. Meanwhile, Cao Cao, having suffered a defeat on the battlefield in Yanzhou, was forced to retreat to Qiao County. Seeking a solution, Cao Cao sent two waves of envoys seeking peace, but both were decisively rejected by Yuan Shao.

At this point, the territories of Cao Cao and Lü Bu intertwined, creating a complex situation that made a conflict inevitable. Faced with this situation, Yuan Shao's advisors, Ju Su and Tian Feng, advised him to prioritize consolidating the vast territories he had already conquered and consolidating his position. After all, newly conquered territories required time to integrate and govern, appease the people, and strengthen military preparations. As for the conflict between Cao Cao and Lü Bu, it would be wise to wait and see, waiting until both sides were equally devastated before intervening to clean up the mess. By then, advancing southward to Yingchuan County and further expanding his power would be a breeze.

Yuan Shao sat upright in his commanding position within the tent, stroking his beard as he listened quietly to the strategies of Ju Su and Tian Feng. The flickering candlelight within the tent cast a flickering shadow on his face, illuminating his moody expression. He pondered that Ju Su and Tian Feng's words were indeed sensible, yet he felt a pang of reluctance to let this golden opportunity slip by. Yuan Shao faced a dilemma: should he follow his advisors' advice and proceed cautiously, or rush forward without regard for the consequences? He needed to make a decision quickly, for this decision would determine the fate of his ambitions.

Yuan Shao looked at Tian Feng and Ju Su with a deep gaze, and said slowly: "Gentlemen, it has been more than a year since the melee in the Central Plains began, but Ma Chao of Xiliang has never appeared in this chaotic world. It is really puzzling. I wonder what he is planning? To be honest, Ma Chao has always been like a huge rock, weighing heavily on my heart." Yuan Shao frowned slightly, and a hint of fear appeared in his expression.

"This time we have sent troops to attack various princes with great momentum and have won victory after victory. Take Cao Cao for example, he was originally on the rise, with a strong army and a fierce momentum. But under the fierce attack of our army, he is now trapped in Qiao County like a stray dog, and he no longer has the prestige he once had." Yuan Shao's words were full of pride, as if Cao Cao's crushing defeat was his most worthy achievement.

"Furthermore, Liu Bei and Liu Biao also started a melee for some reason. In this melee, the fruits of victory in the attack on Cao Cao were almost all reaped by us alone. But on the other hand, those forces that assisted in the attack on Cao Cao, like Liu Biao and Lu Bu, not only did not grow stronger, but their strength decreased instead of increasing." Yuan Shao shook his head slightly, a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes, as if he was quite contemptuous of the incompetence of Liu Biao and Lu Bu.

Tian Feng nodded slightly and said, "My lord, you are absolutely right. Ma Chao is a man not to be underestimated. He is currently holding his troops in place, perhaps secretly gathering strength, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. While our army has won a series of victories, we must remain vigilant to the changing dynamics of various factions and must not let our guard down." Ju Su echoed, "My lord, our immediate priority is to follow our previous strategy, consolidate our newly acquired territory, and strengthen our own strength. As for Ma Chao, we must also closely monitor his movements and formulate countermeasures."

Yuan Shao put away the smug look on his face and said to Tian Feng and Ju Su with a serious face, "That's exactly right, you two. Ma Chao's delay in taking action is like a huge rock hanging over my heart. The less I see him move, the more uneasy I become." Tian Feng and Ju Su exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Lord, you always think of danger in times of peace and don't let your current victory get you carried away. This is a blessing for us and for our great cause. You are truly a wise ruler!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao couldn't help but throw back his head and burst into laughter, his surging desire instantly aroused. His eyes flickered, his tone calculating as he spoke, "Look, the Emperor is currently in Lü Bu's hands. Although Lü Bu holds the Emperor as his trump card, his power hasn't increased. Meanwhile, our army has greatly increased in strength and is now a far cry from what it was before. If we attack Lü Bu now, we'll be handing Cao Cao an advantage. Furthermore, even if we defeat Lü Bu, I haven't yet decided what to do with the Emperor. Better to reap some tangible benefits first."

Upon hearing this, Tian Feng and Ju Su exchanged glances, and Tian Feng was the first to ask, "My lord, what are your thoughts?" Yuan Shao raised his chin slightly, a glint of complacency in his eyes, and said, "A while ago, Xu You came to see me and said that my achievements were worthy of being crowned king." Tian Feng's brow furrowed, and with a look of worry on his face, he said, "My lord, could you please hold off on this idea of ​​a crowning? The situation is complicated right now, with all parties watching. A crowning at this time might cause unnecessary trouble."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao's face darkened. He raised his voice and said, "Hmph, Ma Chao has long been crowned king since he occupied Yong and Liang provinces. Now I control You, Ji, Qing, and Yan provinces, boasting a powerful army. Am I inferior to Ma Chao and therefore unworthy of being crowned king?" Tian Feng was about to persuade him again, but Ju Su, sensing the situation, quietly tugged at his sleeve and continued, "Since our lord is so determined, this is a good opportunity. We can use this power to put pressure on Lü Bu and force the emperor to grant you the title of king. This way, we will both fulfil our lord's wishes and demonstrate the strength of our army, forcing all other factions to fear their underestimate."

After hearing Ju Su's words, Yuan Shao's smile returned to his face. He said repeatedly, "Okay, okay, I'll leave this matter to you. I trust you to handle it. Also, be sure to learn more about the situation in Xiliang. Ma Chao must be making some moves in secret this time, but we haven't noticed yet. These two matters are of vital importance and cannot be delayed."

Ju Su bowed and accepted the order: "Rest assured, my lord. I will do my utmost to complete this matter as soon as possible. As for Xiliang, I have arranged a number of spies, and I believe that there will be news soon."

Yuan Shao nodded in satisfaction and turned to look at Tian Feng. Seeing that Tian Feng still looked a little worried, but did not object, he softened his tone and said, "Yuan Hao, I know you are also concerned about the greater cause, but the situation is different now. The benefits of making me a king outweigh the disadvantages for our army. Once I am crowned king, I will have more bargaining chips to balance the various forces."

Tian Feng bowed slightly and said, "My lord is wise. I am simply concerned that this move will cause dissatisfaction among all parties and bring trouble to our army. Since my lord has made up his mind, I will fully assist you and help you achieve your great cause."

Yuan Shao laughed heartily and patted Tian Feng on the shoulder. "With your two helpers, there's no need to worry about failing to accomplish our great cause! Now, let's focus on completing these two tasks. Gongyu, immediately prepare to put pressure on Lü Bu and force the emperor to grant him the title of king. Yuanhao, assist Gongyu and keep an eye on Cao Cao and Liu Bei's movements. Don't let them take advantage of this opportunity to cause trouble."

Tian Feng and Ju Su again agreed in unison. Then, Ju Su and Tian Feng left the tent and went about their business. Ju Su returned to his own tent and immediately summoned his trusted advisors to discuss how to subtly pressure Lü Bu, achieving the goal of having the Emperor appoint Yuan Shao king without provoking Lü Bu to overreact and potentially causing the situation to spiral out of control. Meanwhile, Tian Feng began mobilizing his forces to closely monitor Cao Cao and Liu Bei's every move, while also considering strategies for various possible scenarios.

Yuan Shao, watching the two departing figures, was filled with anticipation for the future. He knew that once crowned king, his position in these turbulent times would be further solidified, and his path to hegemony would be a solid step forward. However, he also knew that Ma Chao remained a thorn in his side, poised to strike at any moment. Therefore, he remained vigilant to the movements of Xiliang, constantly on guard against the threat posed by Ma Chao. These two events plunged Yuan Shao's entire camp into a state of intense yet measured activity. Beneath this seemingly calm surface, the interplay of forces quietly unfolded.

Upon receiving the order, Ju Su knew the stakes were high and no mistakes could be made. He meticulously planned, mobilizing Yuan Shao's most elite troops and marching them towards Xudu. Wherever the army went, clouds of dust rose, and its momentum shook the heavens. The people along the way were terrified and fled in panic.

When Yuan Shao's army arrived at the gates of Xudu, the scene was truly breathtaking. Tents stretched for miles, flags fluttered, and swords and spears gleamed like a forest. Upon hearing the news, Lü Bu hurried up to the city walls to observe. Seeing Yuan Shao's troops outside, well-organized and high-spirited, Lü Bu groaned inwardly. He knew full well that with his current strength, he would be no match for Yuan Shao.

Ju Su was not in a rush to attack the city, but instead employed psychological tactics to pressure Lü Bu. He ordered his men outside the city to loudly criticize Lü Bu, listing his faults while simultaneously extolling Yuan Shao's military prowess and formidable strength, intentionally disrupting the morale of the Xudu defenders. These words inevitably shook the soldiers within, and morale gradually declined.

Lü Bu, atop the city walls, was utterly distraught, yet helpless. Meanwhile, Ju Su secretly sent a spies into the city to contact Lü Bu's closest confidants, revealing Yuan Shao's intention to have the emperor crown him king. He hinted that if Lü Bu complied, Yuan Shao would grant him a free hand, lest his army storm the city, devastating the city.

Upon hearing this news, Lü Bu found himself in a dilemma. On the one hand, he was unwilling to submit so easily to Yuan Shao and allow the emperor to crown him king, which would undoubtedly embolden Yuan Shao. On the other hand, facing Yuan Shao's overwhelming military pressure, he simply lacked the strength to resist. If he refused to submit, Xudu would likely be engulfed in war, and all he had worked so hard to build would be destroyed.

In this moment of great turmoil, Lü Bu hurriedly sent for Wang Yun to discuss countermeasures. Wang Yun hurriedly arrived, and Lü Bu approached him anxiously, calling out, "Father-in-law, Yuan Shao's army is approaching, and he insists that the emperor make him king. Please help me, your son-in-law, decide what to do."

Wang Yun narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said, "My dear son-in-law, in my opinion, this title of king is just an empty title. Even if you don't make him king, with Yuan Shao's current power, won't he still dominate the world? But if you comply with his wishes and let the emperor make him king, it will only arouse the dissatisfaction of those who claim to be loyal to the Han Dynasty."