Chapter 71: The Allied Army Disperses

  "My lord, this time we owe it to the military advisor's clever plan. When we attacked, the enemy was completely unguarded, and I still remember the surprised look on the Western Liang army's face! Xiahou Dun and the other generals returned victorious, of course, they couldn't forget Zhang Rui's contribution. After all, Zhang Rui's plan almost allowed them to take down the Western Liang army's logistics unit without shedding a single drop of blood. If future battles are fought like this, it would be too easy!"

  "Haha, Zhang Rui is just speaking his mind, which can't compare to the merits of all you generals who have fought and killed on the battlefield. Lord Cao, Tao Qian, Kong Rong, remember that when we arrive at the alliance leader's tent, don't mention anything about winning, just say that we were ambushed by Lü Bu's troops." How could Zhang Rui be so foolish as to argue with the other generals over credit at a time like this? What more merit does he need to gain in his relationship with Cao Cao?

  Cao Cao, Tao Qian and Kong Rong are all clever people, they just need to think a little bit to understand the reason. This time, we gained so many things, how can we divide them in the allied army's camp? And Yuan Shao is a person who attaches great importance to face, this is obviously saying that his decision was wrong! Taking out the spoils of war again would be simply slapping him in the face.

  "My lord, I reckon this alliance won't last long. Now that we have all of Liu Dai's troops from Yan Province under our command, why don't we just head to Yan Province and reassess the situation?" In fact, Zhang Liao had already planned out a strategic direction for Cao Cao, it was just that the timing had finally ripened.

  "Alright, since Meng De is not staying in the alliance, we will also prepare to return to Beihai. Staying in this alliance doesn't make sense anymore." Kong Rong echoed in agreement. Tao Qian naturally didn't plan on staying here either. After this group took down Luoyang, they no longer had any ambition, and staying here would be a waste of time.

  "Alright, Yuan Rang, divide the gold, silver and jewels into two portions and hand them over to Tao Qian and Kong Rong. Then lead the heavy troops directly to Yanzhou and wait for my arrival." Cao Cao had just absorbed Liu Dai's large army and was naturally short of food! So this grain would not be divided between Tao Qian and Kong Rong, as for the two men who followed him around in a circle and got so many gold, silver and jewels, what were they dissatisfied with?

  "Yes, Xiahou Dun takes orders." Xiahou Dun led his men and rushed straight to Yangping.

  "Then let's go, everyone, we still have to put on a show in the Allied Army's camp. Haha haha." Tao Qian and Kong Rong also couldn't help but join in the laughter.

  In the grand camp of the allied forces in Luoyang, Yuan Shao hosted a banquet in the main tent to celebrate Sun Jian's achievement in putting out the fire. "General Sun, I see that you are not injured at all, so why was it said yesterday that you were wounded?"

  "Thank you, Master Alliance, for your concern. I was a bit tired yesterday and couldn't attend the meeting with all of you, so I used my injury as an excuse. Please don't mind, I'll punish myself with a cup to apologize." He finished speaking and downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.

  "General Sun's body is big, what do we care about? It's just that General Sun has taken something he shouldn't have in his hands, and I'm afraid everyone knows but doesn't dare to come!" Yuan Shu said with a crooked smile.

  It seems that Yuan Shao still told Yuan Shu about this matter, after all they are brothers, and when it comes to the imperial seal, the two of them have joined forces despite their usual disputes.

  Yuan Shu finished speaking, and everyone in the crowd was also puzzled. What exactly did Sun Jian get yesterday that made him afraid to attend yesterday's meeting? If it wasn't for everyone visiting his camp today, I'm sure Sun Jian wouldn't have come either! However, since Yuan Shao didn't say a word, no one dared to ask questions.

  "Yuan Gonglu, don't spout nonsense. I haven't even settled the score with you from last time, why are you slandering me again?" Sun Jian was furious. All the soldiers who knew about this matter had already been killed, so how did Yuan Shu know? The problem is that it's not a big deal if Yuan Shu knows, what's scary is if Yuan Shao also knows. But looking at Yuan Shao's calm demeanor, he probably already knows. It seems like I need to find an opportunity to slip away today."

  "General Sun, I was just joking, why are you so worked up if you have a clear conscience?" Yuan Shu thought to himself that the jade seal must be on General Sun's person, and he made up his mind to get it from him no matter what. The Han dynasty was already in name only, and if the Yuans could obtain the jade seal, combined with their four generations of high-ranking officials, it wouldn't be impossible for them to claim the throne!

  "General Sun, since we are both part of the alliance against Dong, if you really got something, just hand it over and we'll redistribute it to you. Why do you need to keep it private?" Yuan Shao finally spoke up after sitting for a long time.

  But Yuan Shao's words are only believed by children, damn it. I hand over the jade seal to you, and then you distribute it according to military merit, cheating fools, Sun Jian thought.

  "Lord Yuan, don't you trust me?" Sun Jian asked directly.

  Yuan Shao suddenly didn't know how to answer. If he said he believed, then there would be no way to ask for the jade seal back. If he said he didn't believe, then all the meritorious officials would think what? After all, Sun Jian had been at the forefront of every battle since joining the alliance, exerting the most effort and suffering the most casualties. Moreover, it was Sun Jian who arrived in Luoyang first, only to find that the city had already been destroyed by others when everyone else arrived.

  "The scouts reported that General Cao and his two men fell into Dong Zhuo's ambush and were defeated by Lü Bu. Just as Yuan Shao was at a loss, the military report from the messenger saved him."

  "Oh? Quickly invite them in and set out wine and dishes." Yuan Shao waved his hand, and the orderly went to make preparations.

  "Meng De, Tao Yi, and Kong Rong, how did you end up in such a sorry state? Come, come, sit down quickly and have a drink to calm your nerves." Yuan Shao took this opportunity to comfort Cao Cao and the other two, and just by looking at their expressions, he knew they must have fallen into an ambush.

  "The leader, there are some things at home in Jiangdong, so I'll head back first." Sun Jian was really fed up with Yuan Shao's attitude and thought of Zu Mao again. At the beginning, he had forgiven Yuan Shu for the sake of justice, but now it seemed that Yuan Shao didn't have any intention to advance westward at all. What's the point of staying here? It's a good opportunity for him to return to Jiangdong and plan his next move.

  "Sun Jian, you can leave if you want to, but hand over the Imperial Seal first. Are you worthy of possessing such a sacred object?" Yuan Shu saw that Sun Jian was about to leave and immediately stood up, directly bringing up the matter of the Imperial Seal.

  What is the concept of the Imperial Seal, it's actually on Sun Jian's body, no wonder he didn't attend the council yesterday for no reason. Cao Cao and others also find it unbelievable, Sun Jian's luck is too against the sky, the key is that Liu Xie didn't bring this thing with him.

  Sun Jian saw the suspicious glances of the crowd, and many people pointing at him. It seemed that if he didn't do something, he wouldn't be able to leave this big tent today. "I, Sun Jian, absolutely do not have the Imperial Seal, if I deceive all of you, let me die under a hail of arrows! Can I go now?"

  The oath of the ancients was still very heavy, so when Sun Jian stormed off in anger, no one dared to stop him.

  "In the beginning, what fault did General Sun commit? In which battle was General Sun not at the forefront? Why must you force him out? I'm extremely disappointed in you. There are still some matters to attend to at the Cao household, so I'll return to Chenliu now." Cao Cao was overjoyed in his heart, as he had been worried about not having an opportunity to leave, and now it had arrived.

  "The leader of the alliance, we also have important matters to attend to at home, so we'll take our leave first." Tao Qian and Kong Rong saw that Cao Cao had left, and they too followed suit. Yuan Shao watched as several people left one after another, wanting to stay but unable to bring himself to do so, and could only watch helplessly as the crowd departed.