Now, Yuan Shao led his great army from Ye City. Along the way, banners fluttered, and from front to rear, countless troops stretched in a vast, bewildering sea.
Jizhou, foremost among the Nine Provinces, brazenly displayed its unique prosperity to All Under Heaven.
Perhaps only Yanzhou and Yuzhou could rival Jizhou in all the world.
Along the way, countless reports reached the Han Dynasty.
"Yuan Shao is approaching from Ye City with an army of two hundred thousand!"
"Yuan Shao has sent a proclamation declaring that the Han Dynasty has lost the Mandate of Heaven.
A false emperor sits upon the Imperial Throne, installed by a regicide. Liu Xie lives cravenly in peace alongside the thug who murdered his elder brother. He scarcely deserves to be called human.
Virtueless ministers stand beneath the Imperial Throne. They profess to seek the Han Dynasty's revival, but in truth merely covet its throne."
The proclamation, penned by Chen Lin, enraged Liu Xie so greatly that he fainted before his ministers and spat out a great mouthful of blood. Once this proclamation passed down to posterity, everyone would remember him as an emperor installed by Dong Zhuo, a regicide. His name would stink for ten thousand years.
The Cao Army's main camp.
Cao Cao lay on his bed, groaning incessantly in pain. Upon hearing of Yuan Shao's proclamation, his recurring headaches had grown still worse.
Everyone hurried to gather around him.
Yet Cao Cao continued listening to Yuan Shao's proclamation. When he reached the line, "The Cao Clan rose through women's seductions; without achievement, they suddenly attained eminence, owing no bonds of kindness or friendship, merely clinging to imperial relatives," his agonizing headache slowly began to subside.
"Yuan Shao!"
Cao Cao had never felt so furious. The abuse was simply too vicious, too foul.