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

In addition, Cao Cao laid out his plans for Yan Province during this period.

And when Lü Bu and Liu Bei attacked Xuzhou, Zhou Heng did not appear.

Even... some rumors within the Black Mountain Army and Cao Cao's army.

Take into account everything that has happened during this period.

If they still can't understand, then they're truly stupid.

"You mean, this whole thing has nothing to do with Cao Cao, and we've all fallen for Zhou Heng's scheme?"

"To be manipulated at will by a bandit."

"They were almost completely wiped out?"

"is it?"

Yuan Shao gritted his teeth.

"Yes, my lord, from any perspective, Cao Cao has no reason to do this."

“Previously, we were looking at the issue from Cao Cao’s perspective.”

"They believed that Cao Cao was the biggest beneficiary, which is why they kept harping on Cao Cao."

"Now that I think about it, it's very likely that Cao Cao really didn't do it."

"Even Cao Cao was a victim just like us, completely manipulated by Zhou Heng."

Ju Shou thought for a moment and then said.

"That's right, my lord, I think so too."

“If Cao Cao really did what happened before, then Cao Cao had no reason to kill the Second Prince. Keeping the Second Prince alive would have been more beneficial to him.”

"Moreover, Zhongshan's army will definitely try every means to withdraw from Jizhou."

"Even when negotiating with Cao Cao, the other party never mentioned the Zhongshan army from beginning to end."

"So I'd venture a guess: it's very likely that Cao Cao really didn't do this."

"He was a victim just like us."

"Zhou Heng completely manipulated them."

Xu You hesitated for a moment before speaking.

They certainly wouldn't have thought that way before.

But now, after all these events...

They increasingly realized that something was wrong.

In particular, Zhang Yan's army of 100,000 men besieged Ye City.

There are many more doubts.

If it really was Cao Cao who did it, then why did he do it at the most crucial time when he was fighting Yuan Shu?

Here's a trick.

This was not a forced retreat from the battlefield in Jianghuai to fight Yuan Shao.

Totally unnecessary.

If he really succeeds in winning over Zhang Yan.

We can do this after we've dealt with Yuan Shu.

Wouldn't it be much better to work with Zhang Yan from the inside out than to be in this situation now?

In addition, Cao Cao had previously claimed that Zhou Heng was behind the scheme.

Considering the recent attack on Xuzhou by Liu Bei and Lü Bu, and the fact that Zhou Heng has yet to appear.

They discovered...

It's quite possible that Zhou Heng was the one who did this.

Think about it this way.

How can we not make them feel frustrated?

"What about Zhang Yan? Does that mean she has already sided with Zhou Heng?"

"But Zhou Heng was just a lowly bandit."

"His strength is worlds apart from Zhang Yan's."

"Even if Zhang Yan has no great ambitions, she would never side with Zhou Heng, who is much weaker than herself."

Yuan Shao still had some doubts.

He didn't disbelieve it; he simply couldn't believe it.

He, the second most powerful warlord in the land, was actually defeated by a bandit he had once looked down upon.

They can manipulate things at will.

How could this possibly be unbelievable to him?

"This matter is actually very easy to understand."

"Because we misunderstood Zhang Yan and Cao Cao, we called for Zhang Yan to be attacked and killed."

"If the other side doesn't take this opportunity to suppress us."

"Once we free ourselves, he will be doomed."

"Therefore, the other party did this out of desperation, and it was actually an attempt to save themselves."

Xu You explained.

"Then why would Zhou Heng do this, and what benefit would it bring him?"

Yuan Shao gritted his teeth and asked again, already believing most of it in his heart.

"There are many benefits."

"First and foremost is the Zhen family, the richest family in the entire Han Dynasty, whose strength is formidable."

"If we can get their support, Zhou Heng's strength will increase significantly in a short period of time."

“Zhou Heng’s identity has already determined that he cannot gain the support of aristocratic families.”

"Therefore, the only help he could seek was from wealthy merchants and tycoons."

"The Zhen family, which has not yet clearly stated whose support it is, is undoubtedly his best choice."

Xu You said.

"Just because of the Zhen family, they schemed against all the feudal lords in the world at the same time, almost making all our efforts over the years go to waste?"

Yuan Shao found it hard to believe.

Although the Zhen family was not bad, he thought they were just so-so.

As a result, you actually paid such a heavy price for the sake of such a family of merchants.

Aren't you afraid of getting revenge later?

"Perhaps Zhang Yan is also part of his plan. Now Zhang Yan has been driven to the brink of despair. There is almost no place for him in the entire Ji Province. If he wants to survive, he can only leave Ji Province and seek refuge under the power of other warlords."

"And Zhou Heng, as a member of the Yellow Turban Army, also has a considerable opportunity."

"If we can bring Zhang Yan under our command, his strength will increase significantly."

"I just can't see what makes him worthy of Zhang Yan choosing him."

"As for other benefits, there may be many more... we just haven't thought of them yet."

Xu You shook his head.

As a top-notch strategist, Xu You was indeed very intelligent.

It could even be said that, apart from Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, Xu You is also one of the top figures in the second tier.

They're not stupid.

They quickly analyzed the situation thoroughly.

Why didn't I think of this before?

It's because Zhou Heng's identity is too deceptive.

If you were an emperor, would you think that a mere bandit could overthrow your throne?

Obviously it is impossible.

This is also the reason why Zhou Heng was able to successfully manipulate the feudal lords of the world.

It was by taking advantage of their carelessness.

They didn't take me seriously.

However, even though the other party's purpose has now been deduced.

But he still couldn't figure it out.

What methods does Zhou Heng have to bring Zhang Yan's powerful force under his command?

"Ah, I'm so angry! I've never even considered a lowly bandit."

"They've completely outmaneuvered us."

"If this is tolerable, then what is intolerable?"

"Pass on my order: command Yan Liang to lead 100,000 troops to block all roads leading to Xuzhou."

"Find Zhou Heng even if you have to dig three feet into the ground."

"You want to see people alive, you want to see corpses when you're dead."

Yuan Shao was furious.

At this moment, Yuan Shao's hatred for Zhou Heng even surpassed that for Cao Cao.

In his view, all of this was Zhou Heng's scheme, making him look foolish.

They almost perished.

Not to mention he even killed his own son.

It's like a nobleman being completely outmaneuvered by a commoner.

How can we make him tolerate it?