Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

At Yuan Shu's behest, his army bustled into action. Crates of rations, fodder, and weapons were loaded onto wagons, flags fluttering, men shouting, and horses neighing. Yuan Shu also arranged for numerous soldiers to patrol the perimeter of the camp, deliberately having them discuss peace talks and the transport of supplies loudly, fearing that no one could overhear. He even personally penned several letters and sent them to various surrounding factions, exaggerating the peace talks he had made with Ma Chao, his words brimming with pride.

The battle in Runan had already attracted widespread attention. All factions were well aware of its importance. Not only did the emperor closely monitor the situation, but he also dispatched the Marquis of Che to conduct covert surveillance. Various vassal states also deployed spies around Runan to gather intelligence. Consequently, Yuan Shu's every move was closely monitored.

Even before the day of the supply handover, news of the peace talks and the delivery of supplies spread like wildfire throughout the land. Streets and alleys were abuzz with discussion, and the common people were worried, fearing that this change in the situation would bring them even more suffering. Meanwhile, the princes harbored their own ulterior motives, some secretly plotting how to profit from the situation, while others remained vigilant, guarding against the threats posed by the sudden change in the situation.

The battlefields of Jizhou were thick with smoke, and the flames of war had raged for nearly a year. Here, the armies of Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao faced off, the sounds of fighting and the clash of weapons intertwining incessantly.

Gongsun Zan, aided by the support of Liu Bei, his three brothers, and Lü Bu, maintained high morale and fought valiantly. Guan Yu's wielding of the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade was a powerful force, driving enemy forces into retreat wherever he struck; Zhang Fei's elusive wielding of the Zhangba Snake Spear eluded Yuan Shao's forces. While Liu Bei's martial prowess was somewhat lacking, his strategic prowess was exceptional, always able to offer crucial advice. Lü Bu, armed with his painted halberd and his Red Hare astride his horse, charged into battle with unparalleled ferocity, his reputation for valor infuriating Yuan Shao's forces.

Yuan Shao struggled against such a formidable opponent. However, coming from a family with three generations of high officials, he possessed extensive connections, leveraging this advantage to recruit Cao Cao and Bao Xin to his side. Enticed by Yuan Shao's power and the lure of profit, Bao Xin essentially became his subordinate, heeding Yuan Shao's orders. Though reluctant, Cao Cao was forced to temporarily submit to Yuan Shao's orders.

Under Cao Cao's strategic command, Yuan Shao's forces gradually stabilized. A skilled tactician, Cao Cao skillfully deployed his formations, exploiting the terrain to his advantage and repeatedly neutralizing Gongsun Zan's offensives. The two sides exchanged blows, winning and losing, until the battle became evenly matched. Corpses piled high on the battlefield, blood stained the ground red. The people of Jizhou suffered terribly, living in fear and despair every day. Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan, vying for control of this land, showed no sign of truce, and the war seemed to have no end in sight.

In Yuan Shao's camp in Jizhou, upon hearing the news of Yuan Shu's peace talks with Ma Chao and the delivery of supplies, Yuan Shao was stunned for a moment, then burst into a sneer filled with mockery and disdain. With a powerful wave of his hand, he slammed the table, making the cups and glasses clink. He declared, "Yuan Shu is such a fool! He's completely foolish! He thinks peace talks and the delivery of supplies will bring him peace? He's digging his own grave, strengthening the enemy and weakening himself! Ma Chao is so brave, and with the supplies, he'll be even more powerful. He'll definitely become a formidable threat in the future. Yuan Shu is creating a formidable enemy for himself, destroying his own future!"

As Yuan Shao finished speaking, his advisors chimed in. Guo Tu, his face filled with flattery, rushed to say, "Your Majesty, you are absolutely right. Yuan Shu is short-sighted, focused solely on immediate gains, completely disregarding the consequences. This deal with Ma Chao will undoubtedly severely damage him, and we can reap the benefits." Shen Pei also nodded in agreement, adding grimly, "Yuan Shu has always been stubborn and unwilling to listen to advice. It's not surprising that he would do something as foolish as this. We just need to closely monitor the situation and wait for the right opportunity to take him down." Yuan Shao listened to the crowd's agreement, a smug look on his face, as if he had already foreseen Yuan Shu's defeat.

Cao Cao, upon learning of Yuan Shu's peace talks with Ma Chao regarding the transfer of supplies, fell into deep thought. While he disagreed with Yuan Shu's views, he didn't openly scoff at him. After all, on the surface, he and Yuan Shu were allies, fighting Gongsun Zan together, and undermining Yuan Shao's cause would serve him no good. Deep down, however, Cao Cao felt this matter was far from simple.

He narrowed his eyes slightly and whispered to Guo Jia beside him, "Fengxiao, what do you think of Yuan Shu's actions? He's always been reckless, but this time, he's negotiating and sending supplies. I'm afraid there's a mastermind behind this." Guo Jia stroked his beard, his lips curled up slightly, revealing a confident smile. He whispered, "My lord, you're absolutely right. Without the guidance of his advisors, Yuan Shu would never have come up with such a plan. This strategy of sowing discord may seem simple, but it actually holds hidden secrets. If it succeeds, the world will be in chaos."

When mentioning that Ma Chao was willing to accept supplies from Yuan Shu, Cao Cao couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, his face full of regret: "Ma Chao has been famous all his life, but he was blinded by these supplies. I thought he was a loyal and righteous man, but now it seems that his mind has changed." In Cao Cao's heart, Ma Chao was once a hero he admired very much, and his current behavior made him very disappointed.

Cao Cao reflected on his alliance with Yuan Shao, feeling a surge of emotion. He knew Yuan Shao was narrow-minded and self-willed, and he had no desire to side with him, much less aid him in his struggle against the imperial court. However, in these turbulent times, with the complex interplay of various factions, he was forced to temporarily cooperate with Yuan Shao to jointly fight against Gongsun Zan in order to preserve and develop his own power. "This world is in turmoil, and no one is free to act. I, Cao Cao, have great ambitions, yet I am forced to navigate these various forces. When will I truly realize my aspirations?" A flicker of despair crossed Cao Cao's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a resolute determination. He knew that in these turbulent times, only by continuously strengthening himself could he maintain control.

In the tent of Gongsun Zan in Jizhou, flickering candlelight illuminated the diverse expressions of the crowd, creating a solemn, almost oppressive atmosphere. When news of Yuan Shu's peace talks with Ma Chao and the delivery of supplies reached Gongsun Zan, he was momentarily startled, then threw his head back and erupted in a frantic roar of laughter. The shriek, sharp and unbridled, echoed through the tent for a long time, drawing surprised glances from everyone inside.

Gongsun Zan's smile faded, his facial muscles twitching slightly, his expression complex and indecipherable. He thought back to all the years he'd spent serving the emperor, risking his life, only to be rewarded with endless disappointment and heartbreak. His judgment of Ma Chao and Yuan Shu's actions grew unclear. The emperor's actions over the years had made him see clearly the darkness and hypocrisy of the court. The emperor, high and mighty, toyed with these ministers, their dedicated service, at will, toying with their will, with no regard for their lives and hardships on the battlefield, their dedication and sacrifice, their carelessness about the lives and feelings of those beneath them.

Every time he requested support from the imperial court, he received either a perfunctory reply or an indefinite wait. Gongsun Zan still remembered that in a brutal battle, the soldiers suffered heavy casualties and were running out of food and fodder. He anxiously begged the emperor for help, but all he received was a coldly worded edict with only a few empty words of praise but no substantial assistance. Looking at the soldiers who fell from hunger and wounds, Gongsun Zan's heart was filled with endless anger. He guarded the border for the emperor and resisted foreign enemies, but the emperor used them as pawns to manipulate at will for his own power and selfish desires in the court. This feeling of being used and ignored made Gongsun Zan deeply annoyed, and disappointment and resentment continued to surge in his heart.

Inside the same tent, Lü Bu and Wang Yun were quietly conversing. Lü Bu's brow furrowed, his eyes filled with confusion. He whispered, "I really don't understand the deeper meaning behind Ma Chao accepting Yuan Shu's supplies." Wang Yun stroked his beard, his eyes flickering, and whispered, "Fengxian, whether Ma Chao accepts them or not, the Emperor will undoubtedly become even more suspicious of him. Ma Chao's actions have touched a sensitive nerve with the Emperor." Lü Bu snorted coldly, "The Emperor, they say, has no shortage of soldiers, but if he doesn't even provide them with food and fodder, what can the soldiers do? Aren't we also facing a shortage of supplies?" Wang Yun nodded slightly, his expression grave, and reminded him, "Fengxian, the current situation is complex. We should conserve our strength and wait and see what happens. If the Emperor doesn't know how to win over the people, he will surely suffer disaster in the future."

Across from Lü Bu, Liu Bei paced back and forth, his face filled with worry. He couldn't understand why Ma Chao would accept Yuan Shu's supplies. In his mind, Ma Chao was a brave and loyal general, and he had always been a highly regarded general. He always believed that Ma Chao would safeguard the Han Dynasty. Liu Bei had unwavering faith in his teacher, Lu Zhi, in his judgment of people, but Ma Chao's behavior now baffled him. He wondered: Was it really the extreme scarcity of supplies that had driven Ma Chao to such a decision? Or was there something else going on? Wasn't the Emperor aware of Ma Chao's importance to the Han Dynasty? The more Liu Bei thought about it, the more worried he became, as if he saw the Han Dynasty facing an unprecedented crisis, and he was powerless to stop it.

Far away in Chang'an, the emperor had just taken the so-called miracle drug and was lost in a hazy fantasy, feeling as if he were floating in the clouds, lost in thought. Suddenly, a piece of news, like a thunderclap, pulled him back to reality from his illusory world.

It was his beloved general, Zhao Yun, who came to report. Upon hearing about Yuan Shu's peace talks with Ma Chao and the transfer of supplies, the emperor's expression of rejoicing was instantly replaced by anger, his features contorted with fury. He abruptly stood up, kicked the table beside him to the ground, and shouted, "Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!" His voice, hoarse with anger, echoed through the palace, startling the surrounding attendants to their knees, daring not to breathe.

The emperor paced back and forth in the hall, cursing Ma Chao and Yuan Shu alike, his words filled with disgust and hatred. Then, turning to Zhao Yun, his eyes red, he demanded, "Zilong, how do you think we should deal with such sinister individuals?"

Zhao Yun was incredulous when he first heard the news. He had always considered Ma Chao a loyal and righteous man, and his actions were truly unacceptable. That was why he had reported the matter quickly. When the Emperor questioned him, he frowned slightly and clasped his fists, saying, "Your Majesty, Ma Chao's actions, in disregard of court discipline and collusion with Yuan Shu, are tantamount to treason." Zhao Yun's voice was firm and powerful, and in the angry atmosphere, he seemed remarkably calm.