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

Once Cao Cao has free time, it will be their death.

As for whether Ma Teng and Han Sui will fight Cao Cao later?

That's not something he should be considering.

"Alright, get ready. While Cao Cao is withdrawing his troops and Zhang Yan and Yuan Shao are fighting, leave..."

"Report."

Zhou Heng was just about to instruct his men to prepare to evacuate Ji Province at any time.

But right now.

Suddenly, a messenger came running quickly from a distance, looking very anxious.

"Urgent report from Xuzhou."

"Show it to me."

Zhou Heng frowned.

Mi Zhu's sudden message to him at this time must be something significant.

He immediately took the letter.

In an instant, Zhou Heng's face turned visibly cold.

"What's wrong, my lord?"

Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun were somewhat puzzled.

"Hmph, see for yourself."

Zhou Heng threw the letter in his hand directly into the hands of the two men.

After a while.

The expressions of both of them turned cold at a visible speed.

"Lu Bu and Liu Bei are truly despicable, betraying their lord at this time."

"My lord, I request permission to personally lead two thousand troops to rush to the rescue of Xuzhou. We must not let these two traitors succeed."

Zhang Liao's face was extremely grim.

As their former lord, Lü Bu shouldn't have treated them so badly, no matter what.

But what Lü Bu and Liu Bei did was truly inhuman.

Especially Lü Bu.

It's worth noting that when Zhou Heng took Xuzhou, he didn't touch Lü Bu's family.

They even went so far as to say...

You can take any of the six counties of Xuzhou if you want.

That's already considered very magnanimous.

As a result... you took advantage of Zhou Heng's absence from Xuzhou and launched a surprise attack on Xuzhou.

How could this not make him look ugly?

Especially since this was his former lord.

Thinking of how he once risked his life for such a lord.

Her face felt burning hot.

"My lord, I am also willing to personally lead two thousand troops to rush to the aid of Xuzhou."

Zhao Yun, who was standing next to him, was the same.

In fact, before meeting Zhou Heng, Liu Bei was Zhao Yun's ideal lord.

However, later on, her younger sister went with Zhou Heng.

There was nothing he could do.

In the end, he chose to seek refuge with Zhou Heng.

But don't assume that Zhao Yun had no good feelings towards Liu Bei after joining Zhou Heng.

Even after Zhou Heng's previous act of deliberately smearing Liu Bei.

Zhao Yun still held a considerable amount of goodwill towards Liu Bei.

But now......

When he witnessed Liu Bei's actions firsthand, he felt a burning urge to retaliate.

In his heart, Liu Bei was a man of great benevolence and righteousness.

I never expected him to be such an ungrateful scoundrel.

They kept talking about being relatives of the Han imperial family and serving the country and its people.

So you didn't fight Yuan Shu, who actually declared himself emperor?

Now they've returned to launch a surprise attack on Xuzhou.

He even got involved with the fickle Lü Bu.

Could such a person be the benevolent and righteous Liu Bei in my heart?

If you are truly benevolent and righteous.

Then go and fight Yuan Shu!

Now everyone in the world knows that Yuan Shu's claim to the throne is that of a traitor and rebel against the Han Dynasty, and the whole world should punish him.

So you don't go and hit him.

They ignored the fact that the other party had declared himself emperor.

They turned around and attacked Zhou Heng.

He even got involved with Lü Bu, who was your mortal enemy.

How could this not make him look bad?

It appears that Zhou Heng outmaneuvered Liu Bei and seized Xuzhou.

But if it weren't for Liu Bei ignoring Zhou Heng's advice, how could Xuzhou have fallen into the hands of others?

Moreover, even if Zhou Heng did seize Xuzhou.

It was also taken from Lü Bu.

What does this have to do with you, Liu Bei?

result.........

Such behavior.

How could he not feel extremely uncomfortable?

Especially when I think about it.

I once thought about recognizing someone like that as my master.

Fortunately, that didn't happen.

Otherwise, wouldn't that be a disgrace?

"We definitely need to go back and provide support."

"However, there's no rush."

"Although Lü Bu and Liu Bei had a considerable number of troops, Xuzhou was a high-lying city with abundant food supplies."

“During this period, Mi Zhu recruited a lot more soldiers.”

"It is practically impossible to break through Xiapi in a short period of time."

"What I want to know most now is who ordered them to launch a surprise attack on our Xuzhou at this time."

"Neither Liu Bei nor Lü Bu had such a brain."

Zhou Heng said calmly.

He didn't take Liu Bei and Lü Bu seriously.

What truly worries him is...

The person behind it all.

To put it bluntly, these two are just pawns; they're practically brainless.

Especially Lü Bu.

Even though he knew his family was still in Zhou Heng's hands.

They still dare to do such a thing.

Clearly, this was not his idea.

"Didn't they act on their own?"

The two were stunned.

"That's right. They wouldn't even think of this, and Lu Bu's family is still in our hands. If we weren't absolutely certain, they would never have attacked Xuzhou at this time."

"His regard for his family members was no less than that for Yuan Shao."

Zhou Heng said calmly.

Speaking of it.

His eyes flickered slightly.

A guess quickly emerged.

Liu Bei had already been defeated in Xuzhou, leaving only three brothers.

They were destitute.

To be able to muster 10,000 troops in such a short time.

It's impossible without anyone's support.

He had previously served under Cao Cao and fought alongside him against Yuan Shu.

In that case, it's not hard to guess.

“Interesting, very interesting. It seems that Cao Cao has not only seen through my plan, but also has a way to counter it.”

"It seems I really underestimated Cao Cao."

Zhou Heng clapped his hands and chuckled.

"Does my lord mean that Cao Cao was behind this?"

The two of them frowned.

They quickly understood the meaning behind Zhou Heng's words.

“That’s right. Apart from him, no one in the entire world is qualified.”

"However, he underestimates me too much. He thinks he can take over my Xuzhou with just Lu Bu and Liu Bei."

"Aren't you overthinking it?"

A smile appeared on Zhou Heng's lips.

If it were my past self.

With Lü Bu and Liu Bei by their side, they were naturally stretched thin.

but now.

My own strength has developed rapidly over this period of time.

They are far beyond what the two of them can be compared to.

"But... since Cao Cao has already guessed that I am not in Xuzhou, he must have guessed that all of this was orchestrated by me."

"Then it's definitely not as simple as just letting Lü Bu and Liu Bei take over Xuzhou."

"I suspect our journey back this time might be a bit bumpy."

Zhou Heng said calmly.

"Does the lord mean that Cao Cao will send troops to intercept us?"

"Should we change our strategy and enter Xuzhou from Qingzhou?"

The two hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Change course? Why change course? Not only will I not change course, I will also walk right under his nose."