The strongest devouring system in the Three Kingdoms

"But why would that person want to get rid of you through Third Uncle? Besides Dian Wei, I can't understand what other threat you two pose to anyone else."

Zhang Yang shook his head, and a smile returned to his face.

"A country can only have one crown prince, but a monarch has many sons. If a son born out of wedlock demonstrates more talent than the crown prince, then it's not unreasonable for the crown prince to be replaced. This is true for the royal family, and it's true for every family in the world."

Since things have come to this point, Chen Er has nothing more to hold back.

Zhang Yang's smile vanished. He no longer looked at Chen Er, but instead turned to Zhang Liao:

"Wen Yuan, is that what you think too?"

Zhang Liao spoke without hesitation:

"Yes, that's what I think too, Lord Zhang Yang."

That address of "Lord Zhang Yang" instantly wiped the smile off Zhang Yang's face.

"Alright then, please make yourselves at home."

After saying this, Zhang Yang picked up his teacup. Zhang Liao and Chen Er both understood the meaning of this gesture, exchanged a glance, and then took their leave.

Both of them left the Zhang family, and they both knew perfectly well that they had left.

After that conversation, the facade between the two of them and the Zhang family was completely torn apart.

First, he offended the top figure, Dian Wei, and then he was not tolerated by Zhang Yang. His future path was destined to be a struggle in blood and fire.

But so what!?

Although every year some poor people still die from cold and hunger, Bingzhou is generally in a relatively stable state. Therefore, while neighboring Youzhou and Jizhou are suffering from the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the biggest concern of Ding Yuan, the governor of Bingzhou, is not the uprising of the rioters, but the giant wolf entrenched in the north that occasionally comes south to raid for supplies.

Fortunately, according to informants, no large-scale snow disaster occurred on the grasslands this year, and the Xianbei king and Lian did not plan to mobilize their people to go south to raid for grain. This was not unexpected for Ding Yuan, since only Shan Shihuai was capable of unifying the entire Xianbei and had a long-term vision.

Helian was Shanshihuai's son, but his abilities were far inferior to his father's. The once vast Xianbei tribe had split into three parts, and Helian could only control the central Xianbei. This was undoubtedly a tragic situation for Helian.

However, for the Han Dynasty, which was constantly wavering amidst turmoil, this was definitely a good thing. At least Ding Yuan no longer wanted to relive the fear he felt when facing Shan Shihuai's army in his youth.

Besides the threat of the Xianbei invading southwards, Ding Yuan has recently encountered another problem that is causing him some headaches.

Therefore, despite the alluring banquet scene outside the window, Ding Yuan's face showed no sign of joy.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by Uncle Fu's aged voice:

"Sir, the guests have almost all arrived. Shouldn't you come out and greet them?"

"Did those two little ones come too?" Ding Yuan asked.

"General Zhang Liao and General Chen Er have arrived, but General Dian Wei said he has something to attend to and will be a little late."

The door creaked open, and Ding Yuan, with his white hair, stepped out. He looked at Uncle Fu, who was waiting at the door, hunched over like a shrimp.

"Send someone to inform him and tell him to come over as soon as possible."

Uncle Fu trembled slightly, then responded and left. Ding Yuan, on the other hand, walked slowly in the front hall in another direction.

"Lord Ding Yuan is out!" Zhang Liao pulled Chen Er, who was still lost in thought, and the two of them hurriedly stood up with the others and faced Ding Yuan.

"Please sit down." Ding Yuan glanced around at everyone. When he saw Zhang Liao and Chen Er sitting alone in the corner at the end of the table, while the other civil and military officials were keeping their distance from them, he couldn't help but smile.

Chen Er and Zhang Liao sat down. Although the banquet was nominally Ding Yuan's celebration of their becoming military generals, they were both very aware that they were not the main characters at the banquet.

The protagonist is always surrounded by many people, unlike the two of them now, who seem to be carrying a plague, with everyone avoiding them and no one daring to get close to them.

The toaster was rambling on and on, reciting a long and tedious toast that was as long as a foot binding cloth. Everyone was getting drowsy listening to him. Taking this opportunity, Chen Er began to carefully observe everyone in the hall.

Ding Yuan sat in the main seat, flanked by military and civil officials, clearly separated. The civil officials on the left were headed by Zhang Yang, and he and the group of civil officials sitting next to him hadn't glanced at Chen Er and Zhang Liao since they entered. They treated them not only as strangers, but as if they didn't exist.

Thinking back, when the two of them first walked out of the Warriors' Tower, it was this same group of people who smiled at them. In just a few days, they've become so indifferent.

Chen Er's lips pursed involuntarily, and he looked at the row of military officers again.

The first seat in the military rank, opposite Zhang Yang, was currently empty. That person hadn't come, but no one else dared to sit in his place.

Behind this person were several military officers in uniform, of whom Zhang Liao recognized only two.

One was named Wei Xu, and the other was named Song Xian.

However, at this moment, these military officers acted as if Chen Er and Zhang Liao did not exist, not even bothering to glance at them.

Chen Er had actually anticipated this cold reception. However, he hadn't expected that besides Zhang Liao and himself, there was another equally isolated "unlucky fellow."

Chen Er knew that person.

Gao Shun.

Dressed in military attire, he sat alone in his seat, his eyes clear, as if the lengthy toast had no effect on him whatsoever.

His position was some distance from the other military officers. Chen Er remembered clearly that since he came in and sat down, no one had come to say a word to him.

Gao Shun seemed to have gotten used to this treatment and just sat in his own seat.

Perhaps sensing that someone was looking at him, Gao Shun turned to look at Chen Er.

Chen Er remained silent, as did Gao Shun. It was at this moment that the lengthy toast ended.

Chen Er raised his wine glass to Gao Shun, then smiled and drank the wine in one gulp.

Gao Shun frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed. Amidst the lively chatter, he raised his wine glass to Chen Er.