Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

As dusk settled, the city gates of Nanyang slowly opened, and Liu Feng led his remaining troops into the city on horseback. Guan Ping, who was waiting on the city wall, had been waiting for a long time. Guan Yu's eldest son saw that Liu Feng was covered in dust and his armor was stained with blood, so he quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands and said, "Brother, you must be tired from your journey. Please come with me into the city to rest."

Guan Ping had always respected Liu Feng. Among his peers, Liu Feng was outstanding in both strategy and courage. Back when they trained together in Jingzhou, Liu Feng often offered unique insights. Now, seeing him defeated in Runan, yet still bearing an indomitable spirit in his eyes, Guan Ping felt even more admiration for him.

"Thank you, my brother." Liu Feng reined in his horse, his voice weary but getting straight to the point, "How is the situation at the Yingchuan front?"

Guan Ping led him toward the government office and sighed, "It's still a stalemate. Father is personally leading a large army to confront Zhang Liao. The Xiliang army is fierce, and our army is unlikely to gain the upper hand for the time being."

Upon hearing this, Liu Feng paused in his tracks: "I need to rush to the front lines immediately."

Guan Ping was taken aback: "My sworn brother has just arrived, why not rest for a day first?"

"Runan has fallen, and I have no face to rest in peace." Liu Feng's gaze was firm. "Being able to lend my second uncle a hand in Yingchuan can be considered as making amends for my mistakes."

Without taking a break, he ordered Fu Shiren to select dozens of elite cavalrymen and rush to the front line in Yingchuan overnight.

A chilling atmosphere permeated the battlefield of Yingchuan, where banners fluttered like a forest on the open field where the two armies faced off. Guan Yu stood under the central banner, and his face darkened as he saw Liu Feng arriving in a dusty state.

"A defeated general, how dare you come to see me?" Guan Yu's voice was as cold as ice. "Runan is the northern border of Jingzhou, yet you lost it in a single battle. What face do you have to stand before the enemy lines?"

Liu Feng knelt on one knee, bowed his head and said, "This humble general is incompetent, please punish me, Second Uncle."

"Punishment?" Guan Yu sneered, twirling his Green Dragon Crescent Blade in his hand, the blade flashing blindingly. "According to military law, you should be executed! But considering you managed to arrive in time, I'll temporarily record this offense. Go to the rear camp to await your punishment, and don't get in my way here!"

Fu Shiren couldn't help but step forward: "General, please calm down! The young master has been holding out in Runan for half a year. Cao Cao, with the combined forces of Yu Jin, has a force far exceeding ours. The fall of the city was not due to a lack of skill..."

"Insolence!" Guan Yu roared, his gaze sweeping over Fu Shiren. "A defeated lieutenant dares to spout nonsense here? If it weren't for the fact that you've served our lord for so many years, I would have executed you, you smooth-talking scoundrel, today!"

Fu Shiren was so ashamed that his face turned red, his throat bobbed, and he couldn't utter another word. Liu Feng was even more ashamed, his forehead pressed to the ground, and his neck flushed red. He knew that Guan Yu was always strict, but he didn't expect to be humiliated like this. For a moment, he felt all the blood rushing to his head, but he could only endure it.

The wind outside the tent swept through, carrying dust and the chill of the battlefield. Liu Feng knelt on the ground, listening to Guan Yu's departing footsteps, his nails digging deep into his palms. He would remember this humiliation. But he knew even more clearly that only by achieving merit in battle could he wash away all of this.

In the following days, several battles broke out, but he had no chance to fight. In his tent, Liu Feng clenched his fists, his nails almost digging into his flesh. For days, Guan Yu's orders always placed him after Zhou Cang and Liao Hua, and even when he volunteered for battle, the only response he received was "retreat." That deliberate distancing was like a thorn, pricking his heart with a dull ache.

“Young Master,” Fu Shiren leaned closer to him, his voice low, “Second Master is probably still holding a grudge about Runan. If we linger here, we’ll only find ourselves with less and less room to maneuver.” He paused, a calculating glint in his eyes, “Our lord isn’t in Jingzhou, and Jiangdong is eyeing Jingnan. Why don’t we return to Xiangyang and ask the strategist for permission to come to our aid? If we can hold off Jiangdong, the achievement will be enough to make our brothers proud.”

Liu Feng remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded. When he came to see Guan Yu, he stood ramrod straight: "Second Uncle, I request to resign and return to Xiangyang to request permission to rush to the aid of Jingnan."

Guan Yu glanced at him, his tone mocking: "What? The battle in Yingchuan is getting tense, so you want to hide in Jingnan?"

"I am not trying to avoid war!" Liu Feng hurriedly defended himself. "Jingnan is the heartland of Jingzhou. If it is taken by Jiangdong, the consequences will be endless. I am willing to fight to the death!"

Guan Yu stopped looking at him and waved his hand as if shooing away a fly: "If you want to leave, then leave. No need for further words."

Seeing the atmosphere become tense, Liao Hua quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Second Master, although Liu Feng has lost Runan, he is still the lord's adopted son and still has spirit. It's good to let him go to Jingnan to gain experience. If he can make contributions, it will be worthy of the lord's cultivation."

Guan Yu snorted coldly and did not stop him further. Liu Feng glanced deeply at the flags inside the tent, then turned and strode away. He knew that once he left, there would be no turning back. Only by fighting his way through Jingnan could he prove himself.

Fu Shiren followed closely behind, and as he stepped out of the tent, he whispered, "Young master, don't worry, we'll definitely turn things around this time."

Liu Feng gazed at the southern horizon, his fingertips trembling slightly. A chance to turn things around? He knew only that once he took this step, there would be no turning back.

In the military tent in Xiangyang, Zhuge Liang frowned as he looked at the map of Jingnan. On his desk lay a pile of urgent reports from Zhao Fan, the governor of Guiyang, filled with anxiety—after the fall of Changsha, Zhou Yu's army had turned to besiege Guiyang, and the city's defenses were in grave danger. He had already learned of the loss of Runan, but he did not reprimand Liu Feng. After all, with Cao Cao personally leading a large army to the border, Liu Feng's ability to hold out for half a year was already remarkable.

A report came from outside the tent that Liu Feng was requesting an audience. Zhuge Liang looked up and saw that the young general was covered in dust and his brows were furrowed with unconcealed melancholy. He knew that Liu Feng was not having a good time under Guan Yu.

"Strategist," Liu Feng said, bowing slightly, his voice tinged with unease.

Zhuge Liang gestured for him to sit down and said gently, "I already know about the matter in Runan. Cao Cao's power is great, it's not your fault, so don't worry about it."

Upon hearing this, Liu Feng felt a warmth in his heart, yet also a pang of sadness. He poured out his desire to go to Jingnan to provide reinforcements, his tone earnest: "Jiangdong has long coveted Jingnan. If Guiyang falls as well, southern Jingzhou will have no more protection. This humble general is willing to lead troops there and defend Guiyang to the death."

A glint of light flashed in Zhuge Liang's eyes. He was just worried about having no one to rely on. Guan Yu was tied down by Zhang Liao in Yingchuan, and his generals were stretched thin. Liu Feng volunteered, which solved his immediate problem.

"Good." Zhuge Liang clapped his hands and stood up. He walked to the map and pointed to the location of Guiyang. "Although Zhao Fan, the garrison commander of Guiyang, is loyal and brave, he lacks practical experience. I will give you 15,000 soldiers, and supplies and weapons will be transported later. You do not need to seek victory. Just hold Guiyang and delay the advance of Jiangdong. That will be a great achievement."

He paused, his gaze falling on Liu Feng, and said solemnly, "Jingnan is a vital place, where the people's hearts are with us. We must not lose it. You should know the weight of this."

Liu Feng stood up and accepted the order, his back ramrod straight: "This humble general will certainly not fail in his mission!"

Watching Liu Feng's departing figure, Zhuge Liang sighed softly. He was well aware of Liu Feng's awkward situation. The lord already had a biological son, A Dou, making this adopted son's position inherently delicate, and Guan Yu had always treated him coldly. Sending him to Jingnan this time was both a reluctant necessity due to the need for manpower and an opportunity to give the young man a chance to prove himself.

Sunlight streamed through the tent window, illuminating the place name Guiyang on the map. Zhuge Liang knew that these 15,000 troops represented Liu Feng's opportunity and the hope for southern Jingzhou. Whether they could seize it depended on the young general's own destiny.

Beneath the walls of Guiyang, the Jiangdong army's offensive noticeably slowed after Liu Feng's reinforcements arrived. Atop the city walls, Liu Feng and Zhao Fan stood side-by-side, watching the temporarily retreating enemy ranks below, their tense nerves easing slightly. Encouraged by this, the soldiers quickened their pace in moving stones and reinforcing the city's defenses, their previously crumbling morale rekindled, and a stalemate was established between them and the Jiangdong army.

Meanwhile, in Yecheng, Hebei, thousands of miles away, a thick layer of gloomy haze covered the area.

Inside Yuan Shao's mansion, the smell of medicine and alcohol mingled, permeating every corner. In the past two years, this once powerful warlord who dominated Hebei had long lost the vigor he displayed when he campaigned against Dong Zhuo. He had completely neglected state affairs, indulging in wine and women day and night. Surrounded by beauties in the harem, he feasted endlessly. The military reports that once piled up on his desk had now been replaced by rouge, face powder, and wine jars.

His body was already completely drained, and he would be out of breath with the slightest exertion. But he refused to admit defeat, always believing he could return to his peak. So, some sycophants seized the opportunity and offered him all sorts of potent drugs. At first, he did feel invigorated for a moment after taking the drugs, and Yuan Shao grasped at them like a lifeline, gradually becoming addicted and increasing the dosage.

On this day, Yuan Shao was feasting with his newly acquired beauty when he suddenly felt a churning in his chest and a metallic taste rising in his throat. He abruptly covered his mouth, and a mouthful of dark red blood splattered onto the luxurious brocade, a horrifying sight.

"My lord!" The concubines around her were terrified and screamed in panic.

Outside the Prince of Ji's residence, the bluestone streets were bustling with people of all kinds, yet eerily quiet, with only suppressed whispers circulating among them. Wang Yun, leading a group of aristocratic scions who had accompanied the emperor from Xuchang, clenched his fists tightly in his sleeves, forcing a calm expression on his face. These men had been able to enjoy their wealth and status in Ye City entirely due to their daily flattery of Yuan Shao. Now, with their patron on the verge of collapse, each of them was filled with apprehension. If Yuan Shao were to fall from grace, they, these "outsiders," feared they would become fish on a chopping block.

"Please calm down, everyone." Wang Yun cleared his throat, his voice low but deliberately confident. "Lord Yuan is a lucky man; he's just feeling unwell occasionally. Besides, the Third Young Master has already taken charge of both internal and external affairs, and his orders are effective. Even if... even if something unexpected happens, with our wholehearted support for the Third Young Master, why should we be afraid of not having a place to stand?"

These words were like a reassuring pill, easing the expressions of the noble scions around him. They nodded in agreement, but unease still lingered in their eyes. Although Yuan Shang held great power, he was ruthless and far less easily fooled than Yuan Shao. If they were to truly submit to him, they would likely have to give up even more bargaining chips.

On the other side, the generals gathered under the eaves, the clatter of their armor particularly jarring. Yan Liang and Wen Chou were locked in a stalemate with the Xiliang army in Youzhou, while Zhang He was guarding Chenliu. Among the veteran generals in the mansion, only Gao Lan and Ju Yi remained who could speak up.

Ju Yi leaned against a pillar, his hand on his sword hilt, his face expressionless. Ju Yi was renowned for his prowess, but he was also stubborn and had long been at odds with the other generals. Seeing everyone's gazes drifting towards him, he merely snorted coldly and turned his head away, clearly having no intention of getting involved.

All eyes turned to Gao Lan. As one of the Four Pillars of Hebei, Gao Lan was known for his composure and held considerable prestige within the army. Someone couldn't help but speak up: "General Gao, what do you think of the current situation…?"

Gao Lan's eyelids were slightly closed, as if he were in a meditative state. After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes and said in a calm and even voice, "Our lord is blessed by Heaven. It is not our place to make presumptuous comments. Just wait patiently."

His words, though seemingly perfunctory, secretly relieved many. Only a few in the know understood that Gao Lan had long been secretly courted by Yuan Shang, with their interactions never ceasing. In his view, if the old lord were to meet with misfortune, Yuan Shang's succession would be a matter of course. The second son, Yuan Xi, was preoccupied with the war in Youzhou and unable to attend to his own affairs; the eldest son, Yuan Tan, was far away in Qingzhou, his relationship with Ye City merely a facade; only Yuan Shang, holding military power in the central government and supported by important ministers like Feng Ji, was a foregone conclusion to his succession.

A chilly wind blew through the corridor, causing the lanterns to sway. Gao Lan gazed at the tightly closed vermilion gates of the Prince of Ji's residence, a barely perceptible glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes. He knew that if bad news were to emerge from behind those gates, the fate of Hebei would be irrevocably altered. And what he had to do was stand firmly by the new ruler's side, protecting his own achievements and reputation.

In the crowd, each person's thoughts were like burning embers in their bosom, both intense and secretive. Some hoped for Yuan Shao's improvement, some waited for Yuan Shang to take power, and some secretly plotted their escape route.