Your Majesty, please spare Diao Chan; your yang energy is too strong.

Cao Cao's face was full of bitterness.

Anger, hatred, regret, and pity filled my heart; a whole host of thoughts were at play.

However, he mostly admired Zhou Heng.

Frankly speaking, if he were in Zhou Heng's shoes, he would never have done better than Zhou Heng.

He is far inferior to Zhou Heng.

"From today onwards, we are rivals."

Cao Cao muttered to himself.

.............

Of course, it wasn't just Cao Cao who felt like the sky was falling as the news spread.

Zhang Yan, far away in the Taihang Mountains, suddenly felt her vision go black and almost fainted.

Lao Tzu spared Liao Hua out of consideration for their shared camaraderie.

That's why I lent you 5,000 soldiers.

And then you betrayed me like this.

How could he possibly resist?

I treated you like a brother, and you betrayed me.

Zhang Yan's face was extremely pale.

If he knew this was the case, he would never lend troops to Zhou Heng, even if it meant his death.

"Where is Wang Dang? Wang Dang, there hasn't been a single word from him for so long. Is he dead?"

Zhang Yan gritted her teeth.

If the other party weren't not here.

Today he should really ask his trusted general a good question.

How do you handle things?

I sent you to protect Zhou Heng, and this is how you protect him.

The guards escorted their Black Mountain Army inside.

Is it possible that after a while, when all of my Black Mountain Army is wiped out, I still won't know what happened?

"My lord, General Wang Dang has not yet returned. However, according to his men, he was held captive by Zhou Heng, so..."

One of his men said cautiously.

“He’s been controlled. He had five thousand soldiers under his command, and you’re telling me he’s been controlled by Zhou Heng, who only has a few hundred men.”

"Are you kidding me?"

"And since the situation was under control at the time, why didn't you report back afterwards?"

"A bunch of good-for-nothings."

It would have been better if she hadn't said anything, because once she did, Zhang Yan got even angrier.

You fucking have five thousand soldiers.

And you actually told me that you were controlled by someone who only had a few hundred men under his command.

Are you talking about mythology?

If this weren't one of his most trusted generals...

He'd take anything, high or low, and dig out the other person's brain to see if it's filled with shit or something else.

Furthermore, if you were being controlled, why didn't you send me any messages afterwards?

If this news hadn't spread throughout the world by now...

I'm still completely in the dark.

Is it after you sell my Black Mountain Army?

I'm still completely in the dark.

Do they still see me as their lord, or as their elder brother?

Zhang Yan became angrier the more she thought about it.

If Wang Dong were here, he would definitely rush up and slap him a thousand times.

Let him know how a fool is made.

"this........."

Others also thought it was outrageous.

After all, five thousand people were controlled by a few hundred; no one would believe it if you told them.

But no matter what, they are still our comrades-in-arms.

The Black Mountain Army is completely different from other warlords.

Most of them came from impoverished backgrounds.

There weren't that many twists and turns, and there weren't that many disputes.

Many of them addressed each other as brothers.

Now his own brother has made such a serious mistake.

We, the people here, would certainly not take advantage of someone's misfortune.

"Tell him to get back here right now. If he doesn't give me an explanation for this, don't blame me for turning my back on him."

"this........"

"Hurry up and get on it."

Zhang Yan said through gritted teeth.

"My lord, you may not know this, but General Wang Dang will not be returning for the time being."

"Because Zhou Heng detained his five thousand soldiers."

"He's all alone now, I'm afraid..."

This statement came out.

Zhang Yan suddenly felt dizzy again.

You said that Zhou Heng controlled what happened before, and you were powerless to stop it, so that's fine.

As a result, he has now lost even his five thousand soldiers.

Holy crap..........

Zhang Yan was completely numb.

He never imagined that his subordinates could be so stupid.

Is this still his trusted general?

Five thousand people, or even five thousand pigs, Zhou Heng has such a small number of people, it would take him half a day to catch them.

And then you tell me that all five thousand people have been detained.

He himself is currently being held hostage by Zhou Heng.

Are you kidding me?

Zhang Yan was completely numb.

His chest heaved violently with anger.

"Damn it, how can there be such an idiot? It's infuriating!"

Zhang Yan felt a slight pain in her heart from anger.

He simply couldn't understand how such a person could rise to such a high position under his command.

He even considered her a confidant.

Are you Zhou Heng's confidant or mine?

"Good, very good, this is my trusted general."

"Very good."

Zhang Yan laughed in her anger.

He no longer doubts whether Wang Dang is acting out his own persona.

He is now 100% certain.

Wang Dang was simply playing himself.

He couldn't think of any other way besides playing himself.

Such a stupid thing could happen.

"Let's talk about anything else that's not good."

It took Zhang Yan a long time to calm down. She waved her hands weakly and said...

"Yuan Shao just sent a letter demanding an explanation from us regarding this matter?"

"Otherwise... their army will surely be pressing in on our borders soon."

His subordinate hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Explain what? I'll explain to him, but who's going to explain to me?"

"this........."

"Immediately send an order to Wang Dang: get back here and explain things to Yuan Shao, or don't blame me for being ruthless."

"Yes."

"Furthermore, tell the Holy Maiden about this. This is Zhou Heng, whom she has been longing for. He has been scheming against us from beginning to end, trying to make her give up on Zhou Heng. There is absolutely no possibility between the two of them. I will never agree to it. Even if I agree, our million-strong Black Mountain Army will not agree."

"Yes."

"Also, go and tell Yuan Shao that I know nothing about this matter. If he doesn't believe me, let him fight if he wants. What do I, Zhang Yan, have to fear?"

"Yes."

.............

Like Zhang Yan, Che Zhou, who had just received a message from Boss Cao, was also completely bewildered.

After all, at first he thought it was something Boss Cao did secretly.

And then you tell me that we've been the scapegoats from beginning to end.

How could he not feel bewildered?

Then I felt an endless rage.

Despite being a general in his own right, he was completely outmaneuvered by Zhou Heng.

If it weren't for Boss Cao's letter.

He's probably still completely in the dark.

However, despite his anger, Che Zhou was different from Zhang Yan.

As of now, Zhang Yan has not yet decided whether to actually go to war with Yuan Shao.

However, Che Zhou had already made thorough preparations.