But Liu Bei did not give up and bowed once more to Zhuge Liang: "Sir wishes to fulfill filial duties, and I cannot obstruct you."
"When the day cos, I shall certainly go to Jingzhou State."
"And request once again for you to co out of seclusion."
This ti, Zhuge Liang said nothing more but nodded slightly. .....
....
Bohai Sea.
Shouts of battle cries echoed ceaselessly.
Yuan Shao sat at the head seat, his expression exceedingly stern.
He could not have anticipated.
That he would fall into such a state in such a short ti.
The expressions of the gathered strategists were equally grave, each face etched with exhaustion.
At this mont, a frantic shout suddenly pierced the air.
"Report!"
A guard, flustered, rushed in, and upon entering the hall, knelt to the ground imdiately.
"My lord, Lu Bu suddenly abandoned us with his troops, our line is in shambles, Cao’s army has already broken through!"
The atmosphere suddenly shifted.
"That villain Lu Bu! How dare he abandon his lord?"
"What a shaless scoundrel!"
Voices of disbelief rang out imdiately.
But after a few curses, it seed everyone realized sothing, and the voices abruptly ceased.
Abandon his lord?
Lu Bu could even kill his adopted father.
So why would he not abandon his lord?
With these thoughts, so finally reacted, kneeling before Yuan Shao in succession.
"My lord, the situation is dire, we urge you to retreat swiftly!"
"Hurry! Soone protect the lord!"
"...."
The entire hall plunged into chaos, everyone was in a frantic panic.
Yuan Shao, however, after a brief mont of rage, regained his calm.
"Retreat?"
"Retreat to where?"
He looked at everyone with a calm self-deprecation: "To think that I, Yuan Benchu, renowned throughout the realm, would et such an end."
As he spoke, he felt his energies surging within.
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
From his aspirations in youth;
To past alliances with the clans and secret wagers with Gu Xi, to his excitent upon learning of Gu Xi’s death.
When had he beco ambitious?
It seed to be at that mont.
Upon hearing of Gu Xi’s death, he felt heaven had forsaken the Great Han.
The Yuan Clan’s chance had finally co....
Unnoticeably, a stream of blood flowed suddenly from the corner of his mouth.
Yet he paid it no mind, slowly rising to face everyone’s alard expressions before exiting the hall, gazing at the dazzling sky.
"If heaven despises Han, why not favor my Yuan Clan?"
He unleashed a roar of anger, his eyes full of defiance.
The sound of lantation rose sharply.
Yuan Shao slowly drew the sword from his waist, then turned to look at those present: "All of you are capable n."
"No need to follow , Yuan Shao, to death."
"The Yuan’s four generations of ministers, I, as a descendant, cannot die by the hands of that eunuch-backed one."
At this mont, they finally understood Yuan Shao’s intentions.
"My lord!!"
Imdiately, soone shouted, attempting to rush forward to stop Yuan Shao.
But Yuan Shao had already made up his mind.
Without giving anyone a chance, he swiftly sliced his own neck with the blade.
With a "puff,"
Blood spurted out, and Yuan Shao fell imdiately.
"My lord!!"
Desperate cries instantly erupted.
Many rushed to try and stop the spurting blood.
But Yuan Shao’s blade struck a fatal point.
How could he be saved?
And more crucially, not all held absolute loyalty.
In contrast, too many valued their own lives.
Yuan Shao’s entire camp descended into complete chaos.
Cao Cao could not have anticipated the battle would end in such a fashion.
When he led his troops to Yuan Shao’s main tent, he was also stunned.
Dozens of corpses lay on the ground, surrounding Yuan Shao’s body. .....
....
The news spread quickly.
——Yuan Shao’s rapid defeat surpassed everyone’s expectations.
Even Liu Bei did not foresee it.
He had just left Julu when he received the news.
For him, the most critical matter wasn’t the news itself.
Soon after, Cao Cao sent another ssage, Lu Bu was leading thousands of elite soldiers to Qing Province.
Zhuge Liang’s words had co true.
It was as if Liu Bei was being forced to withdraw from Jizhou and Youzhou States.
Whether or not Cao Cao’s words were true, Liu Bei had to return to Qing Province.
Qing Province was his foundation.
Although he had left so troops to defend Qing Province, all his elites were under his command.
If Lu Bu truly attacked Qing Province, it would be in grave danger.
He had to go to its aid!
Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, and others all requested to return to Qing Province, hoping Liu Bei would stay in Jizhou with his army to contest Cao Cao for the benefits of Jizhou and Youzhou.
But Liu Bei refused.
He looked at Guan Yu and Zhao Yun with determination.
"Third Brother is still in Qing Province, the defending army there are elderly and weak, and there are tens of thousands of civilians who followed , Liu Bei."
"How can I watch them take risks?"
No matter if Cao Cao intentionally allowed Lu Bu to head toward Qing Province, Liu Bei had to go back.
This is Liu Bei!
Only he would act in such a manner. ....
——————
"In the seventh year of the Han resurgence, Liu Bei and Cao Cao combined forces to attack Jizhou.
Yuan Shao suffered early defeats at Ye City, retreating to defend Changshan, later allying with the Wuhuan and Xianbei against the royal forces.
On the first day of October, Cao personally led the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry to break Bohai’s fortifications, the valorous Lu Bu betrayed at the front line, causing the Jizhou army to crumble.
Yuan Shao ascended a high mound to observe the defeat, seeing banners fallen, dust covering the sky, he lanted with his sword: "Four generations’ crowns and garlands perished in the wild! If heaven despises Han virtue, why destroy only my Yuan Clan!"
He then held his sword horizontally toward the north, fiercely shouting: "Four generations of Three Ministers’ bones will not be sullied alongside a eunuch! Upon eting Guangwu underground, I shall still question the dared weight of crowns!"
Having said this, he slit his throat with the blade, blood splattering five paces, as a gale arose suddenly, with Bohai lanting."
——"Chronicles of the Late Han Heroes. Yuan Shao Chapter"
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