After Cheng Yu gave the order, the Cao Army no longer stayed behind to defend. They charged straight into Runan.
Scouts were dispatched in every direction to track down Qin Tian.
Naturally, this news didn't escape Yuan Shu's notice.
After Sun Xiang, the governor of Runan under Yuan Shu, received the news, he sent a message by fast horse toward Shouchun.
At that time, in Shouchun, Huainan.
Yuan Shu sat high in the place of honor, with his officials arranged in two lines below him.
stroking his beard, Yuan Shu smiled and said,
"Long ago, Gaozu was no more than a village headman at the Si River, yet he came to rule all under Heaven."
"Now, four hundred years have passed, the Mandate has run its course, and the realm is in turmoil."
"My family has served as Three Excellencies for four generations, and the people look to us. I would answer Heaven and follow the will of the people, take the throne, and become emperor. What do you think?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the officials beneath him began arguing among themselves.
This was hardly the first time Yuan Shu had wanted to proclaim himself emperor.
Two years earlier, not long after Yuan Shu obtained the Imperial Jade Seal, he had declared his intention to become emperor, but his subordinates had talked him out of it.
Two years had passed, and Yuan Shu's ambition had still not died.
Seeing that Yuan Shu wanted to proclaim himself emperor again, his chief clerk, Yan Xiang, stepped forward.
"My lord, you absolutely must not do this!"
"Long ago, the Zhou Dynasty's founder, Houji, built up virtue and merit. By the time of King Wen, the Zhou held two-thirds of the realm, yet he still served the Shang. Though your family is noble, it does not rival the Zhou at its height."
"Though the Han Dynasty is weakened, it is not as cruel as the tyrant Zhou of Shang!"
"This must not be done!"
When he finished, the officials split into three factions. One, led by Yuan Yin and including Yang Hong and the others, strongly supported Yuan Shu's claim to the throne. Another, led by Yan Xiang and including Yuan Huan and Zhang Fan, firmly opposed it.
The last faction, including Ji Ling and others, sided with neither.
The officials argued endlessly.
Seeing this, Yuan Shu flew into a rage.
"The Yuan family traces its origins to Chen, and Chen was descended from the great Shun. Earth succeeding Fire—this is precisely the order of the Mandate."
"There is also a prophecy: 'He who replaces Han will be the one who is Dangtu Gao.' My courtesy name is Gonglu, which perfectly answers the prophecy!"
"And I possess the Imperial Seal of the Realm. If I do not become ruler, I will be defying the Way of Heaven."
"My mind is made up. Anyone who says another word will be executed!"
The officials fell silent at once.
Seeing this, Yuan Shu was quite pleased with himself. He was just about to speak when a soldier hurried into the hall and cried,
"My lord, an urgent report from Runan!"
Annoyed that the soldier had disrupted his plans, Yuan Shu snapped,
"What is this urgent report? Why are you in such a panic?"
The soldier knew he had incurred Yuan Shu's displeasure, and hurriedly brought out Sun Xiang's letter.
"There has been an incident in Xuchang. The Cao Army is on the move. I had no choice but to report it!"
"An incident in Xuchang? Bring me the military report!"
Hearing that the matter concerned Xuchang, Yuan Shu ordered a guard beside him to fetch the report.
He took it and skimmed it quickly. Before long, he was stroking his beard and laughing.
"Heaven knows I am about to ascend the throne, and has sent this to help me!"
The officials were all astonished.
What had happened in Xuchang to make Yuan Shu so happy?
Yuan Shu's strategist, Yuan Huan, hurried forward.
"May I ask, my lord, what happened in Xuchang?"
"See for yourselves!"
Yuan Shu had someone pass the report to the others, then smiled to himself as he stroked his beard.
"Cao Mengde doesn't know how to use men. He actually fell out with Qin Zixuan!"
"Now Qin Zixuan has left home and headed south. He has reached our army's territory in Runan!"
"I fear neither Cao Mengde nor anyone else—but I do fear Qin Tian. Now that Qin Tian has been driven away, it is Heaven's will that the realm should return to me!"
Yuan Shu and Qin Tian went back a long way. The two had met during the campaign against Dong Zhuo.
Back then, Yuan Shu had paid little attention to the young man who was always standing beside Cao Cao.
But as Cao Cao rose to prominence, Qin Tian's abilities gradually became apparent.
Their most direct clash had been at the Battle of Kuangting.
In that battle, Yuan Shu joined forces with Jin Shang, the governor of Yanzhou, to attack Yanzhou, with the Black Mountain Bandits and the Xiongnu also lending support.
Yet Qin Tian had led the troops left behind to defend and routed them so thoroughly that they fled, leaving their armor behind.
From then on, Qin Tian had cast a long shadow over Yuan Shu.
Compared to Cao Cao, Yuan Shu feared Qin Tian even more.
Alongside that fear was envy that Old Cao had such a brilliant talent serving him.
Now, seeing Qin Tian leave Cao Cao, Yuan Shu was overjoyed.
After reading the report, everyone was astonished. Yuan Huan smiled and said,
"Heaven truly is helping our army. Qin Tian is hailed as a Qilin among men, a talent rarely seen in the world."
"Now that he has left Cao Cao, it is as if Cao Cao has lost an arm!"
"Since he has come to Runan, he must intend to join our army. With his help, my lord's great cause can be accomplished!"
Yan Xiang also stepped forward and cupped his hands.
"My lord, if Qin Tian wishes to join our army, Cao Cao will surely refuse to let him go."
"If we send cavalry after him, Qin Tian may not be able to escape. We should send troops to meet him and make sure Cao Cao doesn't get him back!"
"I had the same intention!"
Yuan Shu stroked his beard and smiled, then immediately gave the order.
"Ji Ling, take thirty thousand troops and go to assist him!"
"Order Sun Xiang to dispatch troops at once. Make sure Qin Tian is welcomed here!"
"I will personally welcome such a great talent!"
"Everyone, prepare for the enthronement as well. When Qin Zixuan arrives, I will appoint him chancellor, and each of you will receive a reward!"
Hearing Yuan Shu's words, the officials' hearts sank.
So the matter of proclaiming himself emperor had already been decided?
Yuan Shu was truly determined to become emperor.
But another thing surprised them: Yuan Shu intended to make Qin Tian his chancellor!
This went beyond mere esteem.
He was yearning for the man!
It was clear how important Qin Tian was to Yuan Shu.
But the officials had nothing to say. After all, the man was famous.
Meanwhile, in Ye City, Ji Province.
At the general's mansion in Ye City, Yuan Shao had also summoned his strategists to discuss matters.
Unlike Yuan Shu, who was dreaming of becoming emperor, Yuan Shao had called his officials together for one purpose: to deliver the final blow to Gongsun Zan!
The two had been fighting in Hebei for years, with victory passing back and forth between them.
Now that Gongsun Zan was retreating at every turn and was already trapped in Yijing, Yuan Shao was preparing to destroy him in one decisive battle and seize the four provinces of Hebei.
As they discussed their plans, Yuan Xi hurried into the mansion, his face alight with joy.
"Father, good news! Wonderful news!"
Seeing Yuan Xi, Yuan Shao frowned.
"Why are you behaving so rudely? Can't you see your father is discussing matters with the gentlemen?"
After being scolded, Yuan Xi hurriedly bowed to the others, then looked at Yuan Shao with delight.
"Father, it's not that I mean to be rude. This matter is truly important!"
Before Yuan Shao could ask, he took out a secret report.
"Our scouts report that, because Cao Cao fears Qin Tian's talent, Qin Tian has resigned and left!"
"Now that Cao Cao has lost his chief strategist, isn't this wonderful news for us?"
"Oh? Qin Tian has left Cao Cao?"
Yuan Shao's eyes lit up.
"Is this true?"
"It must be!"
Yuan Xi smiled.
"In recent days, Cheng Yu and the others under Cao Cao have ordered a search for Qin Tian. Clearly, Qin Tian has escaped Cao Cao's control!"
Hearing this, Yuan Shao was delighted.
"How could Cao Mengde be so intolerant? He even drove Qin Zixuan away?"
He beamed as the officials began discussing the news among themselves.
Amid the chatter, Tian Feng stepped forward.
"My lord, Qin Tian is a rare talent in the realm. Now that he has left Cao Cao, he will surely seek a worthy lord!"
"My lord can spread the word and invite him to join us!"
"If Qin Tian is willing to come, our army will gain an ally, while Cao Cao will lose an arm!"
Yuan Shao stroked his beard, pleased with himself.
"I had the same thought. Though our army is rich in talent, a man like Qin Tian is still hard to find!"
He hurriedly said to Yuan Xi,
"Xianyi, go and give the order. Any scout in our service who finds Qin Tian will receive a hundred gold pieces!"
"If anyone can persuade Qin Tian to join us, they will receive a thousand gold pieces and a thousand mu of good farmland!"
Yuan Xi cupped his hands.
"Yes. I'll pass on the order at once!"
With the Two Yuans taking action, news of Qin Tian's departure from Cao Cao spread across the realm like a virus.
In no time, a great many warlords had heard the news.
Their reactions varied, but nearly all of them took some pleasure in Cao Cao's misfortune.
Liu Biao, Lu Bu, and others even spread the word that Qin Tian would be granted high office and generous rewards if he joined them.
Even Sun Ce in Jiangdong sent scouts to investigate Qin Tian's whereabouts.
But after searching for a long time, these warlords suddenly realized that Qin Tian seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth.
No one knew where Qin Tian had gone.
Before you continue