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

In fact, Yuan Shao agreed to let the three of them go as hostages.

Isn't that part of the reason?

If it were a direct descendant, he might actually be a little reluctant to part with them.

But they were just three people who weren't valued.

There's nothing to worry about.

This also gave Zhou Heng an opportunity.

During this period, Zhou Heng would invite the three of them for drinks whenever he had time.

The relationship improved at a visible speed.

If it weren't for each serving their own master.

They probably already submitted to Zhou Heng's command.

After all, compared to Yuan Shao, who practiced nepotism, Zhou Heng, despite his humble origins, was a different person.

However, they only promoted the talented.

This will undoubtedly resonate with them more.

Zhou Heng was well aware of what the other party was thinking.

This is exactly what he wanted to see.

This is why he has been trying to build closer relationships with them recently.

If you swing your hoe well, no corner is too hard to dig down.

This has always been Zhou Heng's idea.

There is one more thing.

That means that the entire army's consumption over the past two months was supplied by Yuan Shao.

After all, you have to work with yourself.

And they've stuck themselves here.

What will your subordinates eat? Don't you need to provide for them?

I can't possibly pay for it myself.

Although Zhou Heng no longer cared about this small amount of food.

With the support of the Zhen family.

It's not as easy as taking it out.

But if you can get something for free, why not?

As for Xin Ping and the other two, it's unclear why, perhaps out of a desire to help their confidants and friends.

He repeatedly helped Zhou Heng obtain food and supplies.

This also successfully aroused Yuan Shao's dissatisfaction.

They no longer had the support of the Zhen family.

Yuan Shao's supplies were also running low.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have thought of issuing vouchers to deceive ordinary people.

As a result, I don't even have anything to eat here now.

Just because it's an unfinished collaboration, it has already cost me two months' worth of food for my 20,000-strong army.

I'm so ripped off.

As a result, Yuan Shao, Xin Ping, and the other two were all very dissatisfied.

Zhou Heng almost died laughing.

The worse you treat them, the more dissatisfied they become.

The greater your chances, the better.

Thus, in such a stark contrast...

Zhou Heng's image grew increasingly impressive.

In contrast, Yuan Shao's image has been declining in their minds.

Zhou Heng guessed.

This was only two months, and it consumed no more than 80,000 shi of grain from Yuan Shao.

If it were a few more months...

Yuan Shao must be furious.

They were so hungry they wanted to eat them.

The cooperation hasn't even started yet, and we've already lost hundreds of thousands in grain and fodder.

This is... such a huge loss!

Unfortunately, Mi Zhu arrived so quickly.

Now that he's here, Zhou Heng has no reason to continue loafing around.

They immediately asked Yuan Shao for 20,000 units of grain.

He then led his army toward Yanzhou.

Yuan Shao initially didn't want to give it.

However, Zhou Heng refused to give it to him and refused to leave.

The thought of Zhou Heng's 20,000 mouths startled Yuan Shao.

They hurriedly sent Zhou Heng away like a plague god.

This led to even Xin Ping and the other two coming to hate him.

When Zhou Heng heard this news from the three of them, he almost died laughing.

Where is this?

Once you truly cooperate with yourself.

You'll regret it then.

Working with yourself is the most regrettable thing you'll ever do in your life.

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

at the same time.

Just as Zhou Heng had been dawdling for two months before finally leading his army away from Ji Province.

These two months.

The changes in the world are also enormous.

The most obvious example is Zhang Yan.

They were originally a group of Yellow Turban rebels, without any outside support.

Facing the mighty and imposing army of Yuan Shao.

They were almost constantly on the verge of defeat.

The counties that had been acquired earlier were being abandoned at a visible rate.

two months.

Except for Changshan, which is closest to the Taihang Mountains, almost all the benefits they had previously gained were lost.

Even this Changshan Mountain.

Their lives were precarious, with their livelihoods hanging by a thread.

It could be breached by Yan Liang at any time.

The most crucial thing is..........

During this period, under Yan Liang's attacks, they suffered heavy losses.

From the original 200,000 who were capable of fighting.

The losses have now plummeted, amounting to nearly a quarter of the original value.

And this number is decreasing rapidly.

The morale of his men also began to waver.

I believe it won't take long.

They would then be forced back to the Taihang Mountains by Yan Liang.

But this time, it's completely different from before.

Previously, they had forced the other party back to the Taihang Mountains.

Yuan Shao then gave up.

But after what happened before, I'm afraid the other party might betray me again.

Yuan Shao was really determined this time.

We must completely eradicate Zhang Yan.

There is absolutely no possibility of negotiation.

It's just a continuous fight.

I will do anything to destroy you.

This caused Zhang Yan a headache and a tingling sensation on her scalp for a period of time.

He hated Boss Cao even more.

If Cao Cao hadn't suddenly withdrawn his troops, Yuan Shao would have been wiped out by now.

He then took over Ji Province as a matter of course.

They might even be able to take Qingzhou.

He will become a major warlord in the world.

result...........

It's all because of that damned Cao Cao.

He dug himself into a miserable mess.

They're about to lose even their base.

How could he not hate this?

However, no matter how much he hated him, he now had to consider his way out.

It's practically impossible for them to hide back in the Taihang Mountains.

Yuan Shao would not give him that opportunity.

They had no choice but to withdraw from Ji Province and seek help from other warlords.

In his original view...

If one day I really can't make a living in Jizhou.

You could go and seek refuge with Cao Cao.

Cao Cao was, after all, the third most powerful warlord in the land.

After becoming mortal enemies with Yuan Shao, this was undoubtedly his best way out.

After all, Yuan Shu, the most powerful warlord in the land, had already declared himself emperor.

Seeking refuge with him would be tantamount to courting death.

I believe it won't be long before it's destroyed by the feudal lords of the land.

He sought refuge with Yuan Shao.

He betrayed Yuan Shao like he had done before.

If you side with him, you might find yourself killed one day without even realizing it.

Just asking are you afraid?

Therefore, when neither the most powerful nor the second most powerful lord in the land could submit to them.

His gaze naturally fell upon Cao Cao.

result...........

I was tricked by Boss Cao like this.

I was so angry I wanted to kill him.

They even sought refuge with him.

Are you kidding me?

Left with no other choice, Zhang Yan could only turn his attention to the other feudal lords in the land.

Ultimately, their focus shifted to the three major warlords.

Liu Biao of Jingzhou, Liu Zhang of Yizhou, and Zhou Heng of Xuzhou.

Actually, he didn't want to put Zhou Heng on this list.

Overall, the reason he ended up in this situation was entirely due to Zhou Heng's actions.

But he couldn't control his holy maiden, who was on his mind every day.

So after some hesitation, I finally decided to include Zhou Heng in this option.

However, even though he couldn't put it in, he naturally wouldn't have chosen Zhou Heng unless it was a matter of life and death.