Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Yuan Shao knew that it was impossible to gloss over Yuan Shu's foolish actions. With Yuan Shu having provoked public anger, he had to relinquish the authority over the army's provisions if he wanted to maintain the allied forces.

After pondering for a moment, Yuan Shao didn't reveal the slightest displeasure. Instead, he nodded with dignity and said righteously.

"Previously, considering that most of the allied forces' provisions were provided by Yuan Gonglu, he was appointed as the sole supervisor of provisions..."

"But now, Yuan Gonglu's subordinates are inadequate, leading to food shortages at the front. To ensure the army's provisions, Sun Wentai and Yuan Gonglu will jointly supervise the provisions from now on, without fail."

For a time, the central army tent echoed with praises for the alliance leader's wisdom, but Yuan Shu's expression was as dark as water.

The lords from all over the country gathered in Suanzao for the alliance. Due to the long distances, it was naturally impossible for each family to supply their own provisions.

Otherwise, except for Liu Bei, who could barely maintain supplies for a period with seaborne transport, lords like Gongsun Zan and Tao Qian, who came from across provinces, simply couldn't sustain such long supply lines.

Therefore, the provisions used by the allied forces were collected from the vicinity of Chenliu Commandery. A small portion came from the official granaries stored by the Han Dynasty in various places, but most were Yuan Shu's own provisions transferred from Runan, Nanyang, and other places.

Originally, Yuan Shu wanted to use the provisions as leverage to become the alliance leader, but he couldn't compete with Yuan Shao and Liu Bei, so he barely managed to get the position of deputy alliance leader in charge of provisions.

Now, even the provisions he provided had to be supervised by others, which made Yuan Shu feel like Sun Jian was about to climb onto his bed and sleep there.

But Sun Jian and Liu Bei posed a threat, and Yuan Shu felt guilty.

Seeing that Yuan Shao, as the alliance leader, had already spoken, unless Yuan Shu simply gave up and withdrew from the alliance, there was no reason to object. He could only grit his teeth and accept it.

It could be said that as the lords in the central army tent dispersed, most of them wore satisfied expressions, except for Yuan Shu, who left in a hurry with a dark face.

As the biggest beneficiary, Sun Jian swept away the dejected and angry look on his face and was extremely grateful for Liu Bei's assistance.

Originally, Sun Jian, who had suffered heavy losses, would have had no choice but to lead his remaining troops and shrink back into the allied camp.

But now, with the large amount of money and provisions that Yuan Shu had to compensate, Sun Jian could seize the time to train his soldiers to make up for the losses to the greatest extent. Moreover, he gained the power to supervise provisions within the allied forces.

With this power in hand, no lord within the allied forces would dare to underestimate Sun Jian. And if the allied forces won in the end, Sun Jian would surely receive rewards for his contribution to ensuring the supply of provisions.

Liu Bei didn't say much about Sun Jian's gratitude, only reminding Sun Jian to carefully supervise the provisions and not allow the allied forces at the front to be short of supplies.

When Liu Bei returned to his garrison and told Li Ji the results, a satisfied smile couldn't help but appear on Li Ji's face.

But Liu Bei instead said with some regret.

"It's a pity that the alliance leader is very protective of Yuan Gonglu. The provisions couldn't be completely controlled by Sun Wentai. In the end, it fell short of success."

"Not so!"

Li Ji shook his head and said.

"Having Yuan Gonglu and Sun Wentai jointly supervise the provisions, checking and balancing each other, is more beneficial than harmful to the allied forces and to our lord."

Li Ji saw this very clearly.

Sun Jian's personality was indeed fierce, but he was also eager for quick success.

If Sun Jian were the sole supervisor of provisions, he might not necessarily have other thoughts.

On the contrary, now that Sun Jian and Yuan Shu had become mortal enemies with almost no possibility of reconciliation, the joint supervision of provisions could ensure that no problems would arise to the greatest extent.

More importantly, with this move, Yuan Shao, who had unconsciously become complacent after becoming the alliance leader, would inevitably feel a sense of crisis and urgency. At least, he wouldn't just focus on wooing the lords and feasting every night as he does now.

Whether it was to regain the prestige and face he had lost, or to suppress Liu Bei, whose reputation seemed to be growing within the allied forces, Li Ji believed that Yuan Shao would stand firm for a period of time.

And Li Ji's prediction was indeed correct. After half of the power to supervise provisions was taken away by Liu Bei's faction.

Last night, Yuan Shao discussed with Xu You and Guo Tu for a long time, and after thinking wildly for a night, he suddenly realized that he was the one who held the righteousness of the alliance leader.

As long as he didn't make mistakes, no matter how well the other lords performed, they would only become the background for the alliance leader.

No one would remember how brave the centurion under Marquis Champion was, only that those squad leaders and centurions roamed the northern desert under the leadership of Marquis Champion, sealing the wolf to live there.

Therefore, the next morning.

Yuan Shao changed his usual unhurried pace and urged the army to set off early, and took the initiative to send his own soldiers to open the way ahead.

This also greatly increased the marching speed of the original allied forces, which was similar to that of a snail.

The journey that was originally estimated to take two to three days was completed by noon the next day, and a camp was set up not far from Hulao Pass.

However, before the allied forces' camp was completely set up.

Hua Xiong led three thousand Xiliang iron cavalry and directly blocked the front of the allied forces' camp and began to challenge the battle.

At this moment, in the central army tent where the lords gathered, listening to the information reported by the messenger, and the faint sound of Hua Xiong's challenge and scolding.

A trace of anger flashed in Yuan Shao's eyes.

"Hua Xiong is just a small man who has won a battle by luck. How dare he be so arrogant, leading only three thousand cavalry to challenge the battle in front of my two hundred thousand troops? It's extremely arrogant."

Yuan Shao said in a deep voice, and then said.

"Who can fight Hua Xiong and take his head to sacrifice to the flag!"

As soon as this statement came out, many lords in the central army tent flashed with eagerness.

Under the circumstances that the allied forces' vanguard had been defeated by Hua Xiong before, whoever could take Hua Xiong's head could greatly boost the morale of the allied forces, and could also become famous all over the world.

Among them, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, who were standing behind Liu Bei and Li Ji, were also somewhat eager to try.

However, before Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun could ask Liu Bei for instructions, Yuan Shu, who wanted to regain face, gave a look to a general behind him.

Immediately, the general who understood stepped out from behind Yuan Shu and said proudly.

"General Yu She is willing to go!"

Yuan Shao heard this and saw that Yu She had come out from behind Yuan Shu, he only felt that Yuan Shu had full confidence, and at the same time, he naturally hoped that Yu She could kill Hua Xiong in battle and wash away the shame for the Yuan family.

Let the world understand that Sun Jian's defeat at the hands of Hua Xiong was not mainly due to the lack of food. As long as the Yuan family sent a family general, they could take his head.

Immediately, Yuan Shao nodded and agreed to Yu She's request to fight, and personally ordered people to beat the drums to cheer for Yu She.

Looking at Yuan Shu's mysterious confidence in sending Yu She to battle, Li Ji really didn't quite understand where Yuan Shu's confidence in Yu She came from.

The sound of drums rang!

One sound...

Two sounds...

Just as the lords in the central army tent were listening to the sound of the drums and unconsciously began to become excited, the sound of the drums suddenly stopped.

Immediately, a messenger came in a hurry to report.

"General Yu She fought Hua Xiong for less than three rounds before being beheaded by Hua Xiong."

Suddenly, an awkward atmosphere filled the central army tent, and many lords looked at Yuan Shu's expression with a bit of weirdness.

The lords originally thought that Yuan Shu was so confident, and thought that Yuan Shu had hidden a fierce general, and was preparing to make a name for himself in the world, but they didn't expect the result to be a big shit.

The general sent by the allied forces was defeated in a single duel, and was beheaded in front of countless allied soldiers in less than three rounds. The blow to the morale of the allied forces was undoubtedly serious.

This made Yuan Shao couldn't help but glare at Yuan Shu, whose face was ashen, and said again.

"Is there anyone else willing to fight Hua Xiong and avenge the allied forces?"

Immediately, Zhang Fei, who had the most violent personality, couldn't help but ask Liu Bei for permission to fight. Guan Yu saw this and took the lead to say.

"Third brother, how about leaving this battle to Guan?"

"Second brother, let me take this battle. I will definitely take Hua Xiong's head and present it to big brother." Zhang Fei said, patting his chest.

Guan Yu narrowed his eyes and said.

"Third brother has already fought a battle in Youzhou, chasing the Wuhuan king, but second brother can only sit in Yizhou, unable to find an opponent. At this moment, I am already itching to fight."

Immediately, Zhang Fei couldn't help but feel a little softhearted.

With Zhang Fei's voice, even if he deliberately lowered his voice a little, it would easily spread throughout the entire central army tent.

Zhang Fei, who had experienced the Battle of Wuhuan, was not an unknown person. Chasing the Wuhuan king and seizing his horse was also spread around the world, and gradually had the reputation of "Fierce Zhang Fei".

However, the general sent by Yuan Shu was defeated first, and if the general under Liu Bei really took Hua Xiong's head back, wouldn't that be slapping the Yuan family in the face, mocking the Yuan family for being unmanned?

Immediately, Yuan Shao, who was a little anxious, noticed Pan Feng, who was standing behind Han Fu, the governor of Jizhou.

Yuan Shao had also heard of Pan Feng.

Although Pan Feng had never fought Yan Liang and Wen Chou under Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao also knew that he was known as "Invincible in Hebei".

As Lu Bu gradually had the reputation of being the number one in the world, the Guandong aristocratic families, in order not to weaken their momentum, also gradually claimed that Pan Feng had the posture of a "Peerless General" to show that Guandong also had a fierce general who could rival Lu Bu.

Immediately, Yuan Shao, who was anxious to save face, couldn't care about so much, and quickly gave Han Fu a wink.

Han Fu nodded slightly, also wanting to make a name for himself, and immediately said.

"I have Peerless General Pan Feng, who can kill Hua Xiong!"

As soon as this statement came out, many lords in the tent unconsciously looked at Pan Feng.

And Pan Feng also lived up to the name of "Peerless General". He wore golden armor, and his body was taller and stronger than Zhang Fei. The axe he held in his hand exuded a stern cold light.

Just from his appearance, Pan Feng's imposing manner stunned Li Ji.

"Excellent, excellent! With the Allied Forces having the unparalleled General Pan Feng, how dare that mere Hua Xiong act so presumptuously?"

Overjoyed, Yuan Shao personally praised Pan Feng. He not only permitted Pan Feng to go into battle but also ordered the armored soldiers to beat the drums to cheer Pan Feng on. (End of Chapter)