Silence filled the command tent. All the ministers of Hebei stood rooted to the spot, unable to believe their ears.
Gongsun Zan and Liu Yu were attacking one another, and Ji City had plunged into chaos!
Somewhat bewildered, Yuan Shao said, "I can believe Gongsun Zan would attack Liu Yu, but how could Liu Yu..."
Gongsun Zan had plotted against an unsuspecting opponent, so Liu Yu should most likely have died on the spot. Yet he was still alive.
That meant Liu Yu had harbored the same intention, which was beyond Yuan Shao's expectations.
Luo Yan's thoughts raced like lightning, and a keen gleam flashed through his eyes.
He said directly, "My lord, Liu Yu intended to unite Youzhou under his control.
"But his intentions happened to coincide with Gongsun Zan's, and so unrest broke out.
"This is a heaven-sent opportunity. Refuse what Heaven offers, and you will suffer its punishment instead. Heaven means for our Hebei to seize Youzhou.
"Please dispatch troops to Ji City immediately. Kill Gongsun Zan and relocate Liu Yu, and Youzhou will be ours for the taking."
"Please dispatch the troops, my lord!"
Everyone in the tent spoke in unison.
Yuan Shao drew his sword and drove it hard into the Geomancy Map, shouting, "Hear my command! March at full speed and take Ji City!"
A drizzling spring rain had left the ground slightly damp.
Hooves fell and rose again, throwing up great clods of earth.
More than ten thousand Hebei soldiers were racing toward Ji City.
Of those ten thousand-odd soldiers, only four thousand were regular combat troops.
The rest were auxiliary troops supporting three thousand First-to-Scale Death Warriors and one thousand Great Halberd Soldiers.
Even the auxiliary troops rode horses on the journey, showing how highly Yuan Shao valued the First-to-Scale Death