It was nearing noon.
The blood oath to Heaven had ended. Yuan Shao, Yuan Benchu, had formally and rightfully taken the position of alliance leader of the coalition army formed by the eighteen warlords. After agreeing to formally discuss the specific details of sending troops against Dong Zhuo that afternoon, the warlords dispersed.
Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan returned to camp together. They chatted idly along the way, and somehow the conversation turned to spies. Cao Cao asked, "I heard Brother Bo Gui captured a spy last night. Is that true?" Gongsun Zan gave a puzzled "Oh," seeming not particularly concerned. After thinking for a moment, he said, "...It is true. I've had him thoroughly interrogated. There should be results soon." Cao Cao smiled. "If he truly is Dong Zhuo's spy, I hope Brother Bo Gui will not begrudge us the intelligence." Gongsun Zan said, "Brother Mengde, you flatter me. If he truly is Dong Zhuo's spy, I shall hand him over to Alliance Leader Yuan for judgment, to aid everyone in their campaign against the traitor Dong." Cao Cao praised, "Brother Bo Gui truly is a man of great righteousness!"
"You're too kind, Brother Mengde."
"By the way, Brother Bo Gui, how are Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei doing? Why don't I see them?"
"Well..." Gongsun Zan looked slightly embarrassed, covering it with a smile. "Brother Xuande and the other two are drilling their troops in preparation for battle. Speaking of which, although Brother Xuande has only three hundred White Feather Elite Soldiers under his command, every one of them is a valiant elite. They are no less formidable than my White Horse Volunteers."
Gongsun Zan was deliberately changing the subject. Liu Bei had originally wanted to attend the Heaven-sacrifice alliance ceremony, but Gongsun Zan had feared