Chapter 1: The Three Nobles of Guan Du

  In the fifth year of Jian'an, 200 AD, Yuan Shao, who had already conquered Gongsun Zan and unified Ji, Qing, Bing, and You, gathered his forces from four states to march south. He clashed with Cao Cao, who controlled the emperor and commanded the other vassals, at Guandu. The two sides fought back and forth, each having their victories and defeats. This battle, which almost exhausted the entire strength of both warlords, was deadlocked on the battlefield of Guandu for nearly half a year...

  Two heroes clash, the trend of the world is heading towards chaos and obscurity. However, at this juncture, in a luxurious tent near Yuan Shao's central army on the battlefield, a change is quietly taking place.

  "Water... give me water..."

  As soon as Fang woke up, Yuan Shang felt like his head was about to explode, the pain was excruciating, making him extremely miserable.

  Yuan Shang's eyelids were heavy, his brain felt like it was going to crack with pain, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't open them. His ears buzzed with a humming noise, but after a while, he vaguely heard a faint murmur of voices, whispering something in hushed tones.

  "Then a slightly dignified voice echoed in his ear: 'How is my third brother's illness?'"

  But then another voice replied humbly, "Second Master, there's no need to worry. Last night the master had the military doctor examine him carefully, and Third Master is just feeling a bit unwell from following the army for too long and catching a cold. He's not seriously ill, and after taking a dose of medicine this morning, he slept until now."

  In a daze, after hearing these words, Yuan Shang's heart felt slightly bewildered...

  Caught a cold? Drank some medicinal soup? Third Master?

  Is this about me?

  I remember that yesterday was the one-year anniversary of our university graduation, and I had a sleepover with my dormitory brothers. We played wildly until dawn before returning home. How did I wake up with a cold after just one night's sleep?

  Does anyone still use the words "wind and cold" these days? The correct term should be a cold.

  Slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a pale face, it was a familiar yet strange face, belonging to a young man!

  The man appeared to be in his early twenties, with a high crown and two small mustaches, and extremely long black hair scattered over his shoulders. He wore a suit of hard armor, dressed like an ancient general, and had a strange appearance that made Yuan Shang feel a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

  "Third brother, you're awake!"

  The man saw Yuan Shang open his eyes, hastily bent down, raised his hand to gently wipe Yuan Shang's forehead, and slightly furrowed eyebrows finally relaxed, saying: "It's okay... not too hot! Come on, quickly get some water! Not too hot, just slightly cooked is fine!"

  Yuan Shang was slightly surprised, who exactly was this man? Looking at his attire, he seemed like an alien, among the 56 ethnic groups of China, when did such a redundant team emerge?

  Just as he was thinking, a familiar yet strange memory suddenly burst into his mind, the amount of memories was too great, Yuan Shang let out a "hmm" and closed his eyes, instantly fainting again!

  The man in front of Yuan Shang was stunned, and in his anxiety, he wanted to reach out and slap Yuan Shang's face. However, he lifted his hand halfway but didn't dare bring it down. After a moment of desperation, he could only shout desperately: "Third brother, third brother! Don't scare second brother! Third brother!... Someone, quickly call the military doctor, hurry up!"

  In the darkness, his subconscious memory reminded him that he had become another person, a man named Yuan Shang, who was now a great general and the third son of Yuan Shao, the governor of Ji Province. He had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, enjoying wealth and honor, and was a spoiled child who had grown up with a golden spoon, having doting parents and servants at his beck and call... Ah yes, and two older brothers who were not as favored as him.

  And now, this person is himself, he is no longer an ordinary old hundred in the 21st century, but has become a young master of a noble family in the late Eastern Han Dynasty.

  Could it be, could it be that I've traveled through time? I came from the modern era to ancient times and became another unfamiliar yet familiar person...

  Yuan Shang opened his eyes again, looking at the young man pacing back and forth beside the bed with a worried face. He moved his dry throat and unconsciously called out in a low voice: "Second Brother?"

  The memories that had just merged were reminding him that this person was his second brother in this life, Yuan Xi.

  Yuan Xi was taken aback, turned his head to look, and suddenly felt both shocked and delighted. This time, he had come from Youzhou to deliver military equipment and horses to the official camp at Guandu for his father. He had planned to take advantage of this opportunity to have a few drinks with his younger brother, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. But who would have thought that as soon as they met, he would learn that his brother had contracted a cold? He hastily came to visit him, and the result was that as soon as he arrived, he saw his brother drifting in and out of consciousness, which really gave him a good scare.

  "Third brother, you scared me half to death!"

  Yuan Xi exclaimed and wiped the sweat from his forehead, taking two big strides to walk to the bedside. He looked at Yuan Shang's complexion and said: "How is it? Is the feeling better? You just endure for a while longer, I've already ordered someone to go find a military doctor to come over and give you a good examination!"

  "Second brother, don't bother, it's just a minor illness, nothing serious."

  Yuan Shang smiled weakly, although he was unclear what illness he had contracted, but his spirit and body seemed to have reached a certain tacit understanding, as if they were gradually merging together, and were no longer as terrible as before when he fainted.

  Yuan Xi saw that his younger brother didn't seem to be forcing it, and a big stone in his heart fell to the ground. He casually patted the dust off the edge of the bed and carefully sat down beside him.

  "Third brother, I came all the way from Youzhou to Guandu for military exercises and equipment inspection, but it seems I won't be able to stay for long. Initially, I had hoped to have a good drink with you and discuss our plans while getting drunk together. But as soon as I arrived here, I heard that you've fallen ill, so I rushed over to visit you... You're usually fond of knives and guns, enjoy hunting and shooting, and your body is quite robust, but how did you manage to catch a chill after just one military campaign? Where has all your usual training gone?"

  Yuan Xi's words made Yuan Shang feel somewhat uneasy, but his mind was too muddled at the moment, and for a while he couldn't think of anything else, so he weakly forced himself to reply: "Thanks for your concern, Second Brother..."

  Yuan Xi shook his head and helped him tuck in the quilt, smiling: "You little scoundrel, I know your second brother cares about you, and it's good that you have a conscience. But don't you know that although Father is busy with meetings in the main tent, his thoughts have long been on you?"

  Yuan Shang heard this and smiled lightly, his dry lips curling up: "Since you've had thoughts about it for a long time but still haven't come, it just goes to show that Second Brother is more considerate of me."

  Yuan Xi heard this and scolded with a smile: "You little brat got sick and took bitter medicine, but your mouth is still so sweet. Unfortunately, I'm not buying what you're selling... Hehe, do you think your father didn't want to come see you? If it weren't for the big incident in the army, he would have arrived even before me. You said you little brat got sick, but it's been worrying us for so long."

  As they spoke, the military doctor arrived to diagnose Yuan Shang's illness. Yuan Xi stood up and made way for him, standing not far away with a serious expression as he watched the doctor take Yuan Shang's pulse and diagnose his condition.

  Yuan Shang was having his pulse taken by the doctor, and looking at Yuan Xi standing in attendance not far away, he asked: "Second brother, you said earlier that something big had happened in the army? What exactly is the situation?"

  "Ah! Never mind!"

  Yuan Xi let out a long sigh and began to speak with some resentment: "A few days ago, Xu You, also known as Xu Ziyuan, was scolded by his father for the corrupt behavior of his family members in Ye City. He suddenly disappeared without a trace, and despite searching within a radius of over ten miles, no sign of him could be found. My father is worried and suspects that he has defected to Cao Cao out of resentment. The problem is not just that Xu You has followed my father for many years and knows the strengths and weaknesses of our army inside and out. This time, his defection to Cao Cao will certainly bring great harm to us. That's why my father has been gathering his advisors for days to discuss countermeasures..."

  "Xu... Xu You defecting to Cao?!"

  After hearing Yuan Xi's words, Yuan Shang was suddenly like being splashed with a basin of cold water on his head. Combining some chaotic memories in his mind and the information from Yuan Xi's previous words, he suddenly realized why he had been feeling uneasy in his heart.

  "Second brother... we are now... aren't we fighting in the Battle of Guan Du?"

  Yuan Xi heard this and was somewhat taken aback, strangely stretching out his hand to wipe Yuan Shang's forehead, saying: "Third brother, you shouldn't be really muddled with illness, should you? Our army has been locked in a stalemate with Cao Cao at Guandu for nearly half a year now."

  Yuan Shang's heart skipped a beat as he lay on the bed, and a very bad premonition instantly spread to every cell in his body. His whole body was chilled with fear, and his head hurt even more intensely.

  Yuan Shao's son... The Battle of Guandu... Xu You defected to Cao! I've actually been reborn in this godforsaken place!

  The historically famous Battle of Guandu, a classic battle of the weak defeating the strong! The two great heroes of northern China: Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, engaged in a desperate fight to decide the fate of the north. In the end, due to Cao Cao's ability to accept loyal advice, he adopted the plan of Xu You, who had defected from Yuan Shao's camp, and launched a surprise attack on the Wucao granary, causing chaos among Yuan Shao's troops. He then defeated the main force of Yuan's army in one battle, severely damaging the Yuan family's vitality. From then on, they never recovered and were eventually swallowed up and destroyed by Cao Cao.

  The Battle of Guandu was the most brilliant chapter in Cao Cao's life, and this great war laid a solid foundation for the unification of northern China by a generation of heroes.

  However, for Cao Cao, the Battle of Guandu might be a brilliant chapter in his life that later generations would talk about with relish, but for the Yuan family, it was just the beginning of one nightmare after another.

  First, the Yuan family suffered a great loss, with many of their elite soldiers killed or wounded. Yuan Shao soon fell ill and died, leaving his successor Yuan Chang to face off against the powerful warlord Cao Cao on one front, while also dealing with the rebellion of his own brother on another. As the winds of war howled around him, he suffered defeat after defeat, losing territory and cities, until he was forced to flee to a distant land, seeking refuge with Gongsun Kang in Liaodong. However, he was brutally murdered, and his head was presented to Cao Cao as a trophy. In the end, Yuan Chang met a tragic end, dying in exile, his body and head separated forever.

  It can be said that Yuan Shang's short life was both fortunate and unfortunate. Fortunately, he was born into a famous family of four generations and three public officials, as the son of heaven, growing up with a golden spoon in his mouth, enjoying all the wealth and glory of the world. Unfortunately, in the second half of his life, he became the stepping stone for Cao Cao's heroic career, becoming one of the bare white bones among the countless skeletons!

  Yuan Shang, the newly reborn, was very unfortunate. His predecessor had enjoyed half a lifetime of glory and prosperity, but the hardships that began with the Battle of Guandu were left to this poor son who had just borrowed a corpse to return to life.

  Regained life, seemingly with a noble status, but as fleeting as a brief flower. After the Battle of Guandu, everything will change, and his own nightmare will begin in succession. Even years later, he would still die an unnatural death, with his body and head separated.

  God really likes to play jokes on him, a fart blew him back to ancient times, and he was not satisfied with the taste, so he decided to let him mix in ancient times for a few years before killing him again.

  Is this really how it ends?

  Who would be willing? I guess no one would!

  Yuan Shang's face suddenly turned white, his eyes were also slightly wide, and Yuan Xi was instantly panicked.

  "Third brother, third brother, what's wrong with you again? Don't scare me to death, doctor! Take a good look at my brother and see what's happened now?"

  The doctor, upon hearing this, hastily went to examine him again, but saw Yuan Shang suddenly change from his previous weak and feeble appearance, using his hand to prop himself up, and grab hold of Yuan Xi's wrist by the bedside.

  This was a mighty effort, almost pulling Yuan Xi off his feet.

  "Third brother, what are you doing?!"

  Yuan Shang's head was splitting with pain, but he still forced himself to get up, gritting his teeth and saying to Yuan Xi: "Second brother, I want to see Father! Now!"

  "Ah?" Yuan Xi was taken aback, then seemed to understand something and laughed: "Third brother, you're not a child anymore, getting sick and looking for mom and dad, aren't you ashamed?"

  "I don't care about that... it's not this matter!" Yuan Shang's body was weak, and the cold sweat on his forehead dripped down one drop at a time: "I have important military affairs to discuss with Father, which concerns the life and death of the entire army, and cannot be delayed!"

  Of course, it can't be delayed. From what Yuan Xi said earlier, Xu You has already defected to Cao Cao. The Battle of Guandu has reached its final stage, and life and death are only a moment away! If one move is not handled properly, the main force of Yuan Shao will be annihilated, let alone his own life will also be implicated.

  "Do you... have military duties?"

  Yuan Xi looked at Yuan Shang with a mixture of surprise and concern, seeing his handsome face turn pale, his forehead covered in sweat, as he struggled to get up and put on his clothes, but it didn't seem like an act.

  "Third brother, your body is weak, what's the hurry about this matter, can't it wait for a few more days?"

  "How was your day?"

  Yuan Shang heard this and couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh, fearing that in just a few more days, the heads of his soldiers would all be cut off by Cao's army to be used as chamber pots!

  "Second brother, military situation is urgent, can't wait! I have to go see Father... now!"

  Yuan Shang nearly fell over and sat on the ground, but fortunately Yuan Xi was quick-eyed and reached out to support him.

  Yuan Shang waved his hand lightly to indicate that he was fine, and said urgently: "Second brother, my body is too weak, I really can't put on clothes, you call a few people over to help me..."

  Although he disagreed in his heart, Yuan Shang's clothes were all worn out and still wanted to see Yuan Shao, which showed how anxious he was. How could Yuan Xi stop him?

  He let out a long sigh and turned around to shout towards the outside of the tent.

  "Someone's coming... Someone's coming! The Third Master is going to pay respects to the master, quickly help the Third Master put on his hat and clothes!"