Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Cao Cao slowly raised his hand, pressing his throbbing forehead. A ruler must be able to stand firm amidst a sea of ​​blood and corpses, to make decisions amidst the maelstrom of political intrigue, and sometimes even to sacrifice small righteousness for the greater good. Cao Ang's kindness was his strength, but it could also be his fatal weakness.

What about someone else? The image of Cao Pi flashed through his mind. He'd heard from his men recently that Pi'er had shown some talent during the mutiny in Xudu. But... Cao Cao frowned slightly. Pi'er's abilities were ultimately lacking. He sometimes seemed too eager for quick success, and his foundation was still shallow. Carefully training him would take time. His illness was intermittent, so how much time could he wait?

Even more concerning was the situation in Xiliang. Ma Yunlu and his cavalry had come a thousand miles to support him, a lifesaver invaluable to him. But those Ma family members were shrewd and resourceful. Their unwavering support was likely motivated by the bond between Cao Ang and Ma Yunlu. If Cao Ang truly chose a new heir, would the Xiliang cavalry harbor second thoughts? Now was the time to employ his men; how could he let the issue of the succession alienate his allies?

He had fought endless battles throughout his life, seeking only to conquer the world and leave a secure legacy for his descendants. But the question of an heir was like an invisible rope, tightening his grip around him.

"It's so difficult..." He sighed softly, his voice filled with a weariness no one could understand. The candlelight finally burned out, plunging the tent into a brief darkness. Only the waning moon in the sky shone through the crack in the window, illuminating the white hair on his temples.

A few days later, Cao Cao summoned Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, Xiahou Dun and other core civil and military officials to discuss matters. The candles in the tent were brightly lit, reflecting the solemnity on everyone's faces.

Cao Cao sat upright in the main seat, his eyes sweeping across the map on the table. He said in a deep voice, "We both need troops in Xuzhou and Shouchun. Everyone, tell me, which one should we take first?"

Xun You spoke first, "Lü Bu has been raiding the Runan area recently, and many of his main forces have followed him on his campaigns. Xuzhou is mostly populated by old and weak soldiers, leaving its defenses vulnerable. Sending troops now is a good opportunity to take advantage of this opportunity." He pointed at the border of Xuzhou. "Furthermore, Xuzhou faces the sea to the east. If we can capture it, our army will have the sea at our backs, avoiding the threat of being attacked from both sides. We can focus on dealing with Yuan Shao to the north and Lü Bu to the west, which is a much safer strategy."

Cheng Yu stroked his beard and agreed, "Wen Ruo is absolutely right. After all, Shouchun was governed by Yuan Shu for many years. The city has ample food and grass, and the Huai River is a natural barrier. A forced attack would damage its vitality. On the other hand, Xuzhou was recently occupied by Lü Bu, the people are not yet loyal, and the defenders are weak. Our army only needs to send a capable general, supported by elite troops, and we will surely take it in one fell swoop."

Guo Jia waved his folding fan and added, "More importantly, Lü Bu is entangled with Liu Biao and Liu Bei in Runan, and it will be difficult for him to return to support him in a short time. Our army can bluff and feint an attack on Shouchun to attract Yuan Shu's attention, while secretly sending light cavalry to attack Xuzhou and catch him off guard."

Cao Cao listened to everyone's discussion and tapped his fingertips on the map, landing on the location of Pengcheng. "Okay! I'll follow your advice and take Xuzhou first!" He looked up at Xiahou Dun. "Yuan Rang, lead 30,000 elite troops as the vanguard. Set out immediately and march straight to Pengcheng! Remember, speed is of the essence. Don't give Lü Bu a chance to return for reinforcements!"

Xiahou Dun clasped his fists and replied, "I obey your orders!"

Cao Cao then looked at Cao Ang and said, "Zixiu, you should go with Yuan Rang and observe and learn more. The experience on the battlefield will teach you more than the military manuals in the study."

Cao Ang's eyes flashed with excitement, and he bowed and accepted the order: "I obey the order!"

After the tent's occupants dispersed, Cao Cao gazed alone at the map. Xuzhou's location shimmered in the candlelight. Taking this land would not only expand his territory but also pave the way for future campaigns. In troubled times, every step was treading on thin ice, and this one, he must take with all his might.

Meanwhile, Yuan Shao, after arranging for Yan Liang and Wen Chou to lead troops to reinforce Youzhou, had a moment of leisure. The glory of being crowned King of Ji was like a warm hearth, leaving him feeling somewhat intoxicated these days. Banquets were held nearly daily in the palace in Yecheng, and golden cups circulated amidst the flattery of the sons of prominent families and renowned figures from all over the land.

"Your Majesty's divine power! First, you vanquished Gongsun Zan in one fell swoop, bringing Youzhou under your control. This is truly an unprecedented achievement!" During the banquet, the elder of the Qinghe Cui clan raised his glass and stood up, his graying beard trembling slightly as he spoke. "Now, you've trapped Cao Cao in Qiao County, and Liu Bei and Liu Biao are fighting for Jingzhou. Neither of them is a match for Your Majesty. In my opinion, within three years, Your Majesty will be able to march south and establish his rule in the Central Plains!"

As soon as the words fell, someone immediately echoed them, "Mr. Cui is absolutely right! Your Majesty has counselors as numerous as the rain and brave generals as numerous as the clouds. Generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou are the bravest of the three armies. Zhang He and Gao Lan are both veterans of hundreds of battles. This world should belong to Your Majesty!"

Yuan Shao, holding his wine cup, gazed at the fawning smiles on the faces of the people below him, his heart growing larger and larger. He stroked his beard, thinking back to his youthful days traveling with Cao Cao, when they had joked about being the world's greatest hero. Now, Cao Cao seemed like a trapped beast guarding a small corner of the country. How could he compare to the immense wealth of his family, who controlled Jizhou, Qingzhou, Bingzhou, and Youzhou?

"You are all too kind." He waved his hand in mock humility, but the pride in his eyes could not be hidden. "Now that the north has just been pacified, we need to rest and recuperate. Once we have sufficient troops and food, we can discuss the southern expedition at any time."

Amidst the feast, the sounds of stringed instruments swayed, and the dancers' skirts swirled like flowing clouds. Yuan Shao drank from his glass of wine, feeling a sense of relief. The irritation he had felt over Gongsun Zan's renewed invasion of Youzhou had long since been washed away by the relentless flattery. He narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he could already see the day he ascended to the throne. But he didn't notice the fleeting worry that crossed the glances of the advisors below him. With these daily feasts and preoccupations, how could he retain even a shred of the spirit he once possessed as the leader of the Dong Zhuo coalition?

The wind outside the tent blew the fallen leaves past, as if reminding someone of something, but it was completely drowned out by the noise at the banquet.

These days of reveling in the feasting didn't last long. With the external war abating and Yecheng calmed, undercurrents of conflict began to surge. Yuan Shao's three sons—Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Shang—each backed by aristocratic families, competed openly and covertly for greater recognition in their father's sight.

Yuan Shang was the most powerful person in the palace, relying on his mother Liu's deep favor and the support of counselors such as Shen Pei and Feng Ji; Yuan Xi had a gentle temperament, but was secretly supported by the noble families in the Youzhou area, who thought that if they could get a share of the northern land in the future, they would also have stability; only Yuan Tan had become a thorn in Yuan Shao's heart since the last defeat in Chang'an.

On the day Yuan Shao returned victorious, Yuan Tan was supposed to remain in Yecheng, dispatching supplies and appeasing the people, a safe and sound decision. But in Yuan Shao's eyes, "no mistakes" meant "no achievements"—he had already conquered Yanzhou and Qingzhou, doubling his territory. Seeing his eldest son, who remained in Yecheng, seemed even more mediocre. Yet, there were always people whispering in his ears, "The eldest son has been indulging in alcohol and sex while he's been in Yecheng, living a life of excess..." "I heard the eldest son was too close to certain aristocratic families in Yecheng, I'm afraid..."

These words, half true, half false, pierced Yuan Shao's heart like needles. Furthermore, Liu Shi kept muttering to him, "Shang'er may be young, but he's accompanying you on this expedition, and the ideas he came up with are much more calm than Tan'er's. Look at his brothers; there should be a capable one who can help you share the burden."

Yuan Shao, already somewhat bewildered by the constant flattery, had become soft-hearted, and his dissatisfaction with Yuan Tan grew. Sometimes at banquets, when Yuan Tan stood up to toast, he would simply glance at him, stingy with even a kind word. When Yuan Shang casually recounted a military adventure, he would applaud and laugh, praising him with a compliment: "My son, you are both brave and resourceful."

The noble families below watched all this unfold, and their attempts at probing became increasingly brazen. Today, the Zhang family deliberately neglected the people Yuan Tan sent to requisition grain, and tomorrow, the Li family secretly diverted armor meant for Yuan Tan's camp to Yuan Shang's troops. These seemingly trivial actions, like tiny knives, slowly shattered the cohesion within the Yuan family.

Yuan Tan saw it all, and he was filled with anxiety. He tried several times to find his father to explain his feelings, but Yuan Shao always turned him away, claiming he was "busy with military duties." Late at night, he sat alone in his tent, gazing at the sword he had carried for years on his desk, feeling a surge of resentment. What had he done wrong to deserve this fate?

Meanwhile, in the palace in Yecheng, Yuan Shao continued to drink celebratory wine and listen to songs of praise. He could not see the estrangement in his sons' eyes, nor could he hear the ambitions of the aristocratic families behind the divisive words. This territory, newly conquered by force, was being gradually eroded by invisible undercurrents, and he, still immersed in the glory of being the "Prince of Ji," was completely unaware.

Yuan Tan sat alone in his tent, gazing at the cold wine and food on the table, his anger simmering with frustration, unable to find a vent. The wind outside, rustling fallen leaves against the window frame, seemed to mock his predicament. Since the defeat in Chang'an, his father's gaze had rarely fallen on him, and everyone in the palace viewed him with a touch of disdain. Only Xin Ping remained by his side—this counselor, once a captive with him and a shared source of hardship, was now the only person he could speak to.

"Mr. Xin," Yuan Tan raised his hand and drank the remaining wine in the cup. The spiciness of the wine could not suppress the bitterness in his heart. "Do you think my father still cares about me as his son?"

Xin Ping approached slowly and bowed, "Why do you say that, young master? My lord has been busy with military affairs lately, and has been distracted by these slanderous words."

"Slander?" Yuan Tan slammed the table, causing his wine cup to bounce. "Those noble families are openly and covertly praising Shang'er and bullying me, but father turns a blind eye! Even the allocation of armor and food is restricted. If this continues, my status as the eldest son will become a joke!"

Xin Ping was silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Sir, calm down. There are undercurrents in Ye City right now, and the aristocratic families are simply adapting to the situation. My lord, blinded by the false title of 'King of Ji,' is the reason he is confused for a moment."

Yuan Tan slammed his fist down on the table, knocking the celadon wine jar over. The remaining wine spilled all over the table, soaking the open military manual. He gazed at the mess, a suppressed sigh escaping his throat, his brow thick with anxiety. "Lord Xin, that's what you say, but if this throne of Crown Prince is delayed any longer, I'm afraid it will truly fall to the Third Brother!"

He stood up and paced around the tent, his brocade boots making a harsh sound as they rolled over the broken porcelain shards on the floor. "If my mother hadn't died early, how could that woman Liu have been so arrogant? Now my father only has her in his eyes, and he's even liking the third son. If he really makes the third son his heir, won't those aristocratic families, cunning as monkeys, rush to ally with him? By then, the little foundation I have won't even be enough to fill a gap in my teeth. What advantage will I have left?"

He suddenly stopped in his tracks, turned around and looked at Xin Ping, his eyes filled with resentment and anxiety. "Time is running out, Mr. Xin! Father is so complacent right now that he won't listen to honest advice. And the third brother is constantly stirring up trouble. If we don't find a way to break this deadlock, sooner or later I, Yuan Tan, will be driven to death by them and their son!"