"Lord, why do we need to go to that meeting? Why not take this opportunity to develop our strength?" Xi Zhicai asked puzzledly.
"Zhicai, the princes are gathering to attack Dong Zhuo. Why don't I take part in this matter? There is no rush to develop strength." Cao Cao said calmly.
"Wouldn't our efforts in attacking Dong Zhuokuang and supporting the Han Dynasty be in vain?" Xi Zhicai asked in confusion.
"Who told you to help the Han Dynasty?" Cao Cao suddenly said, and Xi Zhicai fell silent.
Anyone who knows anything will understand that attacking Dong Zhuo and supporting the Han Dynasty are completely different things.
"Zhicai, you are too small." Cao Cao said calmly.
"What should we do with the Han Dynasty?" Xi Zhicai couldn't help but ask.
Cao Cao smiled and said, "Let's talk about it later, Han Dynasty."
Once the Han Dynasty is destroyed, the Central Plains will be left without a master.
Whoever conquers the world will be the emperor.
This is the plan of the eighteen princes, and everyone wants to get a piece of the pie.
He attacked Dong Zhuo but did not help the Han Dynasty.
Now, everyone is heading to Hulao Pass to prepare to participate in this alliance meeting.
About half a month later, eighteen princes arrived one after another.
Hulao Pass.
Eighteen flags fly in the wind, each flag represents a prince along the way.
They are: Hou General Yuan Shu, the Grand Administrator of Nanyang, Han Fu, the Mu of Jizhou, Kong Miao, the Governor of Yuzhou, Yuan Yi, the Grand Administrator of Shanyang, Gongsun Zan, the Grand Administrator of Peking, Zhang Yang, the Grand Administrator of Shangdang, Sun Jian, the Grand Administrator of Changsha, the Marquis of Wucheng, Yuan Shao, the Grand Administrator of Bohai, the Marquis of Qixiang, and Xiaoqi
Cao Cao, the captain of the school, Ma Teng, the governor of Xiliang, and other eighteen princes.
There are still many capable people who did not come, such as Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou, Lu Su, the governor of Hanzhong, and so on.
Originally, among the eighteen princes, one belonged to Qiao Mao, the prefect of Dongjun, but Cao Cao eliminated them.
The two brothers Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu sat on the main throne and held a banquet in honor of the other princes.
At the banquet, Yuan Shao swore solemnly: "This call for you to jointly attack Dong Zhuo is actually Dong Zhuo's treason. The following offenders will be punished!"
Yuan Shu nodded in agreement and said: "Yes, we have been gifted by Your Majesty, and we should work for Your Majesty to defeat Dong Zhuo!"
"Yes, Dong Zhuo deserves death!"
Everyone nodded and shouted loudly to attack Dong Zhuo.
The princes of the Eighteenth Route were very understanding. They only talked about attacking Dong Zhuo and kept silent about supporting the Han Dynasty.
"In this coalition, there must be someone in charge, right?" Yuan Shu said suddenly.
"I am not talented, but I am willing to lead the coalition forces." Yuan Shao said directly, saying what Yuan Shu wanted to say.
Yuan Shu glanced at Yuan Shao but said nothing.
"Brother Benchu is the fourth generation and the third prince, so he should have this qualification."
"This coalition to attack Dong Zhuo was originally convened by Brother Benchu, so there is nothing wrong with him being the leader."
"I have no objection."
Everyone expressed their opinions one after another.
Although Yuan Shu had different opinions, he could not stand up to his cousin's high status, and he was also the convener of the coalition, so he could not refute him.
"Haha, then I will lead this coalition to attack Dong Zhuo!" Yuan Shao accepted with peace of mind.
He didn't even intend to give up in the fight for the identity of the leader of the alliance this time.
He knew that once he pretended to refuse, Yuan Shu would immediately raise his eyebrows.
And Cao Cao will also grab it.
While everyone was talking and laughing, Yuan Shao's men came in to report.
"Sir, there are three brothers outside the door asking to see you!" the soldier came in to report.
"Three brothers?"
"Yes, they said they are the three brothers Liu, Guan, and Zhang, and they came to join the crusade against Dong Zhuo." The soldier said again.
"Liu Guan Zhang? I don't know him." Yuan Shao had never heard of these three people.
"If I'm not wrong, when the Yellow Turban Army launched a massive attack on Xuzhou City, the three brothers Liu, Guan, and Zhang swore to defend Xuzhou to the death, right, Mr. Tao?"
When Zhang Yang said this, everyone looked at Tao Qian.
"That's right." Tao Qian had nothing to avoid and answered directly.
"Since these three people are capable, let's call them in and take a look." After Yuan Shao finished speaking, he looked at the soldier.
"Bring people in."
"No!" the soldier responded, turned around and went out, bringing in the three brothers Liu, Guan, and Zhang.
When the three of them came in, someone laughed and said, "Oh, who did I think it was? It turns out it's Liu Xuande who weaves mats and sells shoes, Guan Yunchang who cares for the home, and Zhang Yide, the butcher."
"Ha ha ha ha!"
The crowd burst into laughter.
Zhang Fei's face turned black with anger and he clenched his weapon.
Guan Yu's face turned red and he clenched his sword tightly.
Only Liu Bei remained calm and calm.
"Everyone has the responsibility to crusade Dong Zhuokuang to support the Han Dynasty. Doesn't it mean he can't crusade because of his low status?" Liu Bei said.
"We are not mocking your identity, but we are attacking Dong Zhuo. Do you have the strength?" Yuan Shu said contemptuously.
"When we three brothers come, we naturally have a plan to deal with it." Guan Yu said, stroking his beard.
"Haha, it doesn't matter what you three want, but you still dare to speak arrogantly?" Zhang Yang questioned.
"I think they are just here to cause trouble, check it out." Yuan Shu said angrily.
"Who said there is nothing wrong with my eldest brother? My eldest brother is Queen Jing of Zhongshan!" Zhang Fei said loudly.
As soon as these words came out, everyone laughed again.
"Hahahaha... So what if I am the queen of Zhongshan Prince Jing? Now I am not a mat weaver and shoe seller."
"I came here just to do my part to defeat Dong Zhuo and help the Han Dynasty." Liu Bei suppressed his unhappiness and said calmly.
"But there is no place for you here." Yuan Shao said with a smile.
As soon as this was said, the meaning was obvious.
I didn't invite you, and I didn't prepare a seat for you. You can go away.
Cao Cao drank warm wine and looked at the three brothers Liu, Guan, and Zhang.
"It doesn't matter if you stand." Liu Bei said calmly, we would rather stand than leave.
Liu Bei knew very well that if he wanted to save face at this time, the chance would be gone.
"Then just stand." Yuan Shao didn't give them a good look, and of course he didn't need to.
"Zhicai, go fetch a horse." Cao Cao shouted to Xi Zhicai behind him.
Xi Zhicai nodded, went not far away, and brought in a small horse.
"Brother Xuande, if you don't mind, please sit next to me." Cao Cao shouted to Liu Bei.
Liu Bei looked back at Cao Cao and thanked him: "Thank you very much!"
Immediately, he sat directly on the horse.
Everyone was sitting on the wooden Taishi chair, and he was the only one sitting on the maza, which looked a bit priceless.
But he didn't mind, because he didn't have the strength to sit with them.
Yuan Shao glanced at Cao Cao and said nothing.
It doesn't matter whether they are given seats or not. Anyway, the three of them have no say in the entire coalition and cannot decide things.
At most, he is just a different soldier.
Liu Bei closed his eyes and held back.
He knew very well that he had nothing now and could only wait for the opportunity.
Zhou Sheng stood on the city wall, looking at the coalition forces inside the city and at the dusty Lu Bu outside the city.
The era of competition among heroes is coming soon.
The three Liu Bei brothers will also become famous today.
"Lord Qi, Tianzun has spread out. Some of them are lurking around Sun Jian, some are lurking around Yuan Shu, and some are lurking around Dong Zhuo."
"And the alchemy furnace where Tianzun is located is in Nanyang."
Fengzhimai came back to report.
"It seems that Tianzun knows who will inherit the imperial seal." Zhou Sheng said calmly.