Chapter 330
Chapter 330 – The Collapse of the Coalition
The banquet got noisier when they began voicing their inner thoughts . Most of the warlords were under the pressure of Tong's military might, so they took this chance to expose everything that they could find fault about Tong .
Even the people that did not participate in this banquet were brought out to the discussion .
"Have you notice? Gongsun Zan and Kong Rong withdrew their men since yesterday . "
"Is this connect to Zhang Tong?"
"Gongsun Zan and Zhang Tong are disciples under the same master! They are conspiring together, or else why did Gongsun Zan retreated!?"
"Lord Liu, you are also under Lord Lu Zhi's guidance . Do you know any of this?"
Liu Bei grinned . It was his time to manipulate these clueless minor lords .
"From what I know, both of them are close . Zhang Tong always sent weaponry and supplies to Gongsun Zan while Gongsun Zan sent back their warhorses to Julu . You can tell that if their relationship isn't that good, they won't trade their weapons or strategic resources like this!"
"What about Kong Rong?"
Kong Zhou grimaced . As someone with the same surname, he did not like this minor warlord who directly succeeded the bloodline of Kong Zi, the Confucian .
With a bias opinion, Kong Zhou lashed out, "That bastard Kong Rong has sent someone to contact Zhang Tong long ago! I believe Zhang Tong has already bought him to his side since his territory locates on the Northern Province . His Beihei City is a strategic foothold to gather troops before they can travel southward toward the Xu Province of Lord Tao Qian . It's obvious that Zhang Tong plans to strike Lord Tao Qian's territory next once he unified the north!"
Hearing that his territory might be Tong's target, Tao Qian's face paled . However, as an elite politician, he knew that everyone was led astray from their logical thinking .
In Tao Qian's point of view, Tong was not a warmongering person that waged war left and right without reason . His political scheme on the day of their first gathering, the day that Tong revealed the existence of the Empress and Liu Xie, was the evidence that Tong wanted to unify this country with a peaceful method .
Thus, Tao Qian shook his head, "I'm fine even if Zhang Tong wants to march into my territory . I'm more worried about the Sun Clan and the Cao Clan . Both of them also possesses one or more immortals, right? They also didn't participate in our gathering . Don't you think that they can also be the culprit?"
Tao Qian diverted the topic to delay the unnecessary conflict between Tong and everyone here . Once the banquet ended, he planned to withdraw his troops back to his territories as well .
Yuan Shao noticed how Tao Qian wanted to change the subject . He leaned back and whispered to Tian Feng .
"Send someone to kill Tao Qian and blame it on Zhang Tong . "
"Are you sure? They are our ally right now . "
"We need a territory to reestablish our home base . If Zhang Tong were really the culprit, he would have ordered his troops to occupy Pingyuan by now . I think we're without a place to call home after this coalition ended . "
"I see . I'll let Wen Chou taking care of this . "
…
The banquet ended when the sun rose .
All minor lords like Kong Zhou, Zhang Miao, and Qiao Mao had a suspicion on Cao Cao's Pu Jing and Sun Jian's forces . However, they did not stop doubting Zhang Tong .
Meanwhile, Liu Bei was sure that Tong was the one who killed Jiang Man . He did not really hate Tong for it . Instead, he was grateful .
But the happiest man in this banquet was Yuan Shao . Thanked to the commotion, he could break away from this coalition . Moreover, he found a good reason to kill He Xing, Liu Xie, Tao Qian, Kong Rong, and Tong .
After this banquet, a new coalition had been formed . It was the Anti-Zhang Tong Alliance with Yuan Shao as the ring leader .
Although everyone was confident about their plan and their preparation to ambush Tong Army, their movement did not escape the eyes of Cao Cao .
Spies of Cao Cao rushed to their camp and reported their finding .
Cao Cao listened to the report with interest while Pu Jing had a deep frown on his face .
Pu Jing had a cringed expression, "This doesn't make sense . If Zhang Tong was really the culprit of Jiang Man's death, he could have done it in secret . "
Cao Cao chuckled, "I thought so as well . I think Zhang Tong is their scapegoat this time . The real poisoner mastermind can even be Yuan Shao himself . He's the one that can reap the most profit in this chaos, right?"
"I still don't see how Yuan Shao can benefit from framing Zhang Tong . "
"He does . Well, if I were Yuan Shao, I'll frame Tao Qian, Gongsun Zan, Kong Rong, and even myself, so the Yuan forces can steal the central plain from all lords here . Once he gets everything, he can either form an alliance with Xiongnu to attack Zhang Tong together as the next part of the plan . "
"I can understand about framing Gongsun Zan and Kong Rong . But why Tao Qian? Is he their ally?"
"Tao Qian is an old fox . He will definitely see through those uncanny slanders, and Yuan Shao will sense that he's a threat and want him dead . Well, Tao Qian was a ruler without an heir, so Yuan Shao can also see this old coot's territory as a slice of juicy meat . "
Pu Jing was amazed by how Cao Cao came up with such a deduction . Although he did not know what really happened inside the banquet, his instinct told him that Cao Cao might be very accurate .
"So, what's next Mengde? If it's as you said, do you have a plan?"
"Isn't this your job!? Damn it, Putin . You've made me revealing my thought for a while . It's time for you to use your brain for a change!"
Pu Jing clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers in an acknowledgment that he was busted .
"Oh well, let's go back to Xuchang and prepare ourselves for easy expansion . "
"Hmm? Explain!"
Pu Jing glanced at Cheng Yu, who kept his mouth shut from the beginning .
For the courtesy and manner to the seniors, Pu Jing gestured Cheng Yu to go first . Thus, Cheng Yu stepped forward .
"I have the same idea as Lord Pu Jing . This coalition against Xiongnu will collapse soon, and Yuan Shao's new alliance will move against Zhang Tong . We should get out of the way and use our precious times to prepare for our expansion . "
Pu Jing added, "When their fight is over, I think all minor lords and Tao Qian's forces will be so weak that our forces and move into their cities with ease . We can also steal their empty cities right now, but they might break off Yuan Shao's alliance and come back to bite us in the back . Your choice, Mengde . "
"That's it?"
"Yup, that's it . "
"I thought your idea will be brilliantly ingenious . In the end, it's just waiting to prey on the weak . "
"Do you prefer to fight strong armies instead? Let's attack Puyang, Chenliu, Qiao, and Shouchun, then? We can control both Yan and Yu Province before the end of the year easily, but we'll fight strong enemies that you like . "
"FOOk you . I'm not that stupid!"
"HAHAHA!"
Thus, Cao Cao forces decided to withdraw from this coalition quietly, but their eyes were observing this conflict from afar .
…
The report of this newly formed coalition also got to Tong on the same day .
Without further ado, Tong contacted Zhang He and Li Feihong through clan chat .
Tong: "Withdraw back to Henei . Feihong, take them across the river back to the north . We'll abandon Luo Yang and Henan . "
Li Feihong: "What happened?"
Tong: "I fOOked up . Yuan Shao and Liu Bei want me dead now . "
Li Feihong: "Okay . BTW, Lu Bu is also in a comatose . Mountaineer is left with me, senior Ding, and Zhang Liao . We can't fight with our full force ATM . "
Zhang He: "Let me be the rearguard, my lord!"
Tong: "Sorry about this . Junyi, you'll be the rearguard as you asked . "
Zhang He: "Thank you, my lord! I'll handle all pursuers!"
Tong did not trust that Jia Xu or Xun Yu could handle his Immortal Legion alone since they did not have any assisting general in their army . Bringing back Zhang He and his subordinates was more reassuring in this situation .
Then, Tong recalled that Hua Shi went to Wan City to handle the provision tribute to the other frontline . He wondered how she was doing .
Tong: "Sunday, where are you now? Abandon your mission and retreat ASAP!"
Hua Shi: "I'm still at Wan . I'll leave this place shortly . "
Tong: "Make it quick . All central lords will be chasing us down soon . "
Hua Shi: "Can't you kill them all? You're OP AF . You should be able to deal with them alone, right?"
Tong: "Jiang Man suicide-bombed me . My souls are injured, and I can't use skills . "
Hua Shi: "Well, shit . I'll BRB ASAP . "
Seeing that she was still as cheerful as before, Tong let out a sigh of relief .
Done with the emergency dispatching order, Tong looked up to see the grimaced Jia Xu and the frowning Xun Yu .
"I've failed both of you . Wenhe, I've failed your plan . Wenruo, I've failed for not listening to your advice . I'm sorry . "
Xun Yu had a bitter smile on his face . Though he was disappointed that Tong ignored his suggestion, he was happy that Tong acknowledged his mistakes .
On the other hand, Jia Xu was frustrated that Jiang Man had that soul detonation move . If he had known, he would not have suggested the assassinate plan to Tong . He did not blame Tong for the failure as everyone could experience failure .
Jia Xu bowed first, "I'll arrange our men to get out of here right away . "
Xun Yu also excused himself, "I'll handle the weaponry and the arrangement of our rearguards . I'll leave the command of our rearguards to the Ghost Legion when they arrive . "
Tong nodded, "Please do . "
As Tong was trying to stand up and leave Luo Yang City with his army, he felt the burning sensation within his chest .
*Pfft*
Tong choked and spat a mouthful of blood .
"My Lord!?"
Tong raised his hands while he controlled his blood manually, regenerating his damaged organs . He could not risk himself by activating the [Immortal Yang Vein] 's regeneration ability . Or else, he might die from soul injuries .
"Don't tell this to anyone outside of the clan chat . I'm suffering from injuries to the soul . I can't fight in a battle for a while . "
Xun Yu and Jia Xu's face paled . They did not call for help and did not help Tong up . As competent subordinates who kept the secrets of their boss, they pretended that they saw nothing wrong and exited Tong's tent in peace .
Seeing both of them left and no one else remained in his tent, Tong groaned in pain .
"This can be bad . "
…
…
…
Meanwhile, Guan Yu was resting in his tent after taking care of Jiang Man's dead body . They had held a quiet cremation funeral among themselves while Liu Bei was busy framing Tong .
Among everyone in the banquet, only he and Zhang Fei cared for Jiang Man .
As Guan Yu was sleeping, he had dreams . He dreamt about living three lives .
The first one was a fragment of memories of a mysterious land called 21st-century . There were many things that he did not know, but the person who represented himself in his dream seemed to use every magical stuff in daily life .
The second dream was a dream of this chaotic era during the late Han Period . In this dream, no immortal existed . Guan Yu could see himself, Zhang Fei, and Liu Bei was bowing toward heaven, vowing for their brotherhood in the peach garden . Strangely, he could not find Jiang Man anywhere .
The third dream was a dream about Guan Yu living the life of Jiang Man . He was a powerful immortal that could create shadows of himself or create an illusion to fool enemies .
The dreams were in fragments, and Guan Yu could not understand where they started or how they ended . Everything was not in order, and all memories jumbled together in chaos .
Drenched in sweat, Guan Yu woke up from his dream . When he opened his eyes again, he could see a spirit who looked like himself, floating below the ceiling and looking back at him .
By instinct, Guan Yu somehow could vaguely tell that he was called [Loyalty] .
But Guan Yu did not know that the soul of virtue had the same name to what Jiang Man used to have .
