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

Originally, he wanted to persuade Zhou Heng with reason and emotion, using his words to convince him.

After all, he is now under my control.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Heng immediately picked Zhao Yun at the start of the game.

The subsequent reaction was even more intense.

A firm refusal.

Then he would have no choice but to demonstrate his abilities.

This way.

The atmosphere at the scene instantly became tense, as if swords were about to be drawn.

"Sir, are you going to kill me here?"

Zhao Yun was furious and was about to take down his opponent when Zhou Heng stopped him.

"No, today's matter is only for cooperating with the general."

"By the way, I am merely a strategist under my lord, of average status."

"Even if Brother Zhou manages to take me hostage, I'm afraid he might not be able to leave safely."

"Eating the emperor's salary is the only way to be loyal to the emperor."

"Even if I die today, I will be remembered for eternity. I have never thought of leaving unscathed."

"These are my foolish words, General. Please forgive my ignorance."

Xin Ping smiled.

They seemed to think that everything was in their grasp.

"Hmph, my lord has come here with good intentions to meet you."

"You actually had assassins hiding in your backyard."

"What are their intentions?"

"My lord need not concern himself with this. With Zilong by my side, I am certain that no one in the world can harm you in the slightest."

Zhao Yun was furious.

They had to act on the spot.

Gao Lan and Zhang He stepped forward simultaneously.

"Zilong, stop."

At the crucial moment, Zhou Heng interrupted Zhao Yun's actions.

Although with Zhao Yun's skill level, protecting himself and breaking through the encirclement should not be a problem.

But this was under the condition that the other side did not fire any arrows.

If the arrow is released.

Even if Zhao Yun manages to break through the encirclement, he will likely be seriously injured.

This is not what Zhou Heng wanted to see.

"My lord..."

Zhao Yun was unwilling to accept this.

"Go back!"

Zhou Heng shook his head.

"What, Brother Zhou, it seems you've made up your mind?"

Xin Ping said with a smile.

"Cooperation is possible, but I have one condition."

Zhou Heng paused for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

"Appreciate further details."

Xin Ping nodded.

"Such cooperation is just talk, and I'm sure Yuan Shao wouldn't be willing to do it either. I'm just making a verbal agreement, and I might go back on my word later."

"Since that's the case, Yuan Shao wants Mi Zhu to come to your Ji Province as a hostage to ensure our cooperation. In that case, I also want the two generals and you, sir, to be stationed in my camp."

"After all, protons belong to both sides."

"If I were to send a hostage myself, I wouldn't have any problems. But what if Yuan Shao goes back on his word?"

"Wouldn't I be losing both my wife and my army?"

Zhou Heng smiled.

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this, Xin Ping frowned deeply.

Zhou Heng's request was beyond his expectations.

"If not, I apologize that I cannot agree."

"If you wish to take action, then please do so."

"I want to see what gives you the confidence to keep me here."

Zhou Heng said coldly.

Zhao Yun, who was standing next to him, was also ready.

There is a strong tendency for people to resort to violence over the slightest disagreement.

This put pressure on the other party again.

In fact, the cooperation the other party proposed, while seemingly a way of taking advantage of him, was actually a scheme to exploit him.

However, it still has considerable advantages.

Even without Mi Zhu's request, and even without Xin Ping's threat, he would still have chosen to agree.

Unfortunately, the opponent used Mi Zhu.

This left him no choice but to consider it.

After all, Mi Zhu was extremely important to him.

If something goes wrong, the damage to one's reputation will be enormous.

This is not what he wants to see.

This is why the current situation has arisen.

But it's obvious that if they don't agree...

Today, war is inevitable.

Therefore, Zhou Heng opted for a less desirable option: exchanging protons.

After all, it's impossible for me to be the only one providing hostages in this cooperation.

But you guys don't contribute anything.

What kind of cooperation is that?

Wouldn't it be better to just call it "utilization"?

“I can go with you, but the two generals…”

Xin Ping frowned.

Some hesitation.

He can make his own decisions, but he cannot make decisions for others.

"Sir, there's no need for further words. We are willing."

However, before he could finish speaking, Zhang He and Gao Lan, who were standing next to him, agreed without saying a word.

"Alright, in that case, I can agree to your request."

Xin Ping nodded.

"In that case, I shall stay in this city for a while."

Zhou Heng laughed heartily.

This can be considered as agreeing to cooperate with the other party.

It's impossible to say that neither party's cooperation was without their own leverage.

And so the collaboration was successful.

The bargaining chip Yuan Shao offered was, of course, Mi Zhu, the current head of the Mi family, to be a hostage in his military camp.

Why choose Mi Zhu instead of Zhou Heng's woman?

It's a very simple principle.

If you send Zhou Heng's woman to Yuan Shao as a hostage.

Yuan Shao was definitely very worried.

Because it's just a woman. For those feudal lords, what kind of woman didn't they have?

How could he possibly risk his life for a woman?

But Mi Zhu was different.

He was the first person to join Zhou Heng's forces.

He is also one of the most influential people under Zhou Heng.

In addition, he represents the stability of Xuzhou and the entire Mi family.

If Zhou Heng stands by and does not help.

Going back on one's word.

He will surely earn a reputation that will be universally condemned.

At that time, who in the world would dare to pledge allegiance to Zhou Heng?

This is also why Zhou Heng was so furious before.

Because this move by the opponent is essentially a fatal blow.

Xuzhou City was able to remain stable.

A major reason for this was the influence of Mi Zhu.

This includes Zhou Heng's ability to develop in such a short period of time.

It was all thanks to the support of the Mi family.

Even after Zhou Heng left, Mi Zhu had become the highest-ranking administrative commander under Zhou Heng.

Their status is self-evident.

Their status was far higher than that of Zhou Heng's women.

He was considered the second most important person under Zhou Heng.

Given that Zhou Heng has no son...

Mi Zhu was the best candidate for the hostage.

The others are still quite far behind.

Originally, Yuan Shao wanted to choose Zhou Heng's woman.

But then I thought about it again.

Zhou Heng has too many women.

In addition, in this chaotic world, women are the least valuable thing.

Moreover, Yuan Shao was also afraid that Zhou Heng was worried that his woman, being a hostage here, might have her reputation ruined.

So in the end, they focused their attention on Mi Zhu.

It's about cooperation.

It's understandable that the other party asked me to leave Mi Zhu here.

But what if Zhou Heng just agrees like that?

Wouldn't that be equivalent to him controlling my lifeline?

This is also why Zhou Heng suggested that the three of them run the hostage business themselves.

After all, I have protons with you.

You'd better get some protons for me.

Are you kidding me?

There's no sincerity in cooperating at all.

Wouldn't that mean I'd be subject to your control on my own?

so.........